bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Level of pain catastrophising determines if patients with long-standing subacromial impingement benefit from more resistance exercise: predefined secondary analyses from a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (the SExSI Trial)
Authors: Clausen Mikkel Bek , Rathleff Michael Skovdal , Graven-Nielsen Thomas , Bandholm Thomas , Christensen Karl Bang , Hölmich Per , Thorborg Kristian
Published: March 2023

Objective

The primary aim was to investigate the effectiveness of adding more resistance exercise to usual care on pain mechanisms (including temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and local pain sensitivity) and pain catastrophising in people with subacromial impingement at 16 weeks follow-up. Second, to investigate the modifying effect of pain mechanisms and pain catastrophising on the interventions’ effectiveness in improving shoulder strength and disability

Methods

200 consecutive patients were randomly allocated to usual exercise-based care or the same plus additional elastic band exercise to increase total exercise dose. Completed add-on exercise dose was captured using an elastic band sensor. Outcome measures recorded at baseline, 5 weeks, 10 weeks and 16 (primary end point) weeks included temporal summation of pain (TSP) and CPM assessed at the lower leg, pressure pain threshold at the deltoid muscle (PPT-deltoid), pain catastrophising and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index.

Results

Additional elastic band exercise was not superior to usual exercise-based care in improving pain mechanisms (TSP, CPM and PPT-deltoid) or pain catastrophising after 16 weeks. Interaction analyses showed that pain catastrophising (median split) modified the effectiveness of additional exercises (effect size 14 points, 95% CI 2 to 25), with superior results in the additional exercise group compared with the usual care group in patients with less pain catastrophising.

Conclusion

Additional resistance exercise added to usual care was not superior to usual care alone in improving pain mechanisms or pain catastrophising. Additional exercise was, however, superior in improving self-reported disability in patients with lower levels of pain catastrophising at baseline.

Trial registration number

NCT02747251
Innovations in mutuality: challenges and learnings for the Universal Health Insurance Plan in Mali
Authors: Touré Laurence , Boivin Pauline , Diarra Yacouba , Diabaté Seydou , Ridde Valéry
Published: March 2023

Background

Many Sahel countries in Africa are looking for solutions for universal health coverage (UHC). Mali is in the process of adopting the Universal Health Insurance Plan, which allows for the mutualisation of existing schemes. Its operationalisation requires numerous adjustments to the current mutualist proposal and innovations in the system. The study focuses on innovations experienced in mutuality and their conditions of scale for UHC in Mali.

Methods

This is qualitative research by multiple case studies. It is based on the collection of data by interviews (n=136), at a national and local level, on the analysis of documents (n=42) and a long field observation (7 months). The analytical framework concerns the dissemination and maintenance of health innovations (Greenhalghet al,2004).

Result

The analysis of this innovation shows an interest in the technical and institutional viability that determines its performance and scale-up. The procrastination and scepticism displayed at the highest level of the state and the international level, the reluctance, both financial and ideological, to renew the old mutualist proposal, penalise this Malian experiment.

Conclusion

This innovation is a decisive step in ensuring the health coverage of Mali’s agricultural and informal sectors. The reform will need to be amplified and supported in the future to expect the scale-up of a cheaper, technically and institutionally more efficient system. Without a political intention to mobilise national resources and accept a fundamental paradigm shift in health financing, the search for the financial viability of mutuality may, again, be at the expense of the performance.
Local political climate and spill-over effects on refugee and migrant health: a conceptual framework and call to advance the evidence
Authors: Bozorgmehr Kayvan , Kühne Simon , Biddle Louise
Published: March 2023

The health of refugees and migrants is determined by a wide range of factors. Among these, the local political climate in the postmigration phase is an important determinant which operates at interpersonal and institutional levels. We present a conceptual framework to advance theory, measurement and empirical evidence related to the small-area factors which shape and determine the local political climate, as these may translate into variations in health outcomes among refugees, migrants and other marginalised population groups. Using the example of Germany, we present evidence of small-area variation in factors defining political climates, and present and discuss potential pathways from local political climates to health outcomes. We show that anti-immigrant and antirefugee violence is a Europe-wide phenomenon and elaborate how resilience of individuals, communities, and the health system may function as moderator of the effects of the local political climate on health outcomes. Building on a pragmatic review of international evidence on spill-over effects identified in other racialised groups, we present a conceptual framework which incorporates direct effects as well as ‘spill-over’ effects on mental health with the aim to spark further academic discussion and guide empirical analysis on the topic. After presenting and discussing methodological challenges, we call for collective efforts to build coalitions between social sciences, conflict and violence studies, political science, data science, social psychologists and epidemiology to advance theory, measurement, and analysis of health effects of local political climates.
Postural stability in blepharospasm: the effects of dual-tasking and botulinum toxin therapy
Authors: Balal Mehmet , Demir Turgay , Erdem Miray , Demirkiran Meltem
Published: March 2023

Background

Blepharospasm is a focal dystonia that presents as involuntary, intermittent, continuous contractions of the eyelids. Abnormal eyelid contractions in blepharospasm are expected to cause balance problems, but there is no clear information.

Objective

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of blepharospasm on postural stability (PS) in patients with blepharospasm. As a secondary endpoint, the efficacy of botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) treatment on static balance in patients with blepharospasm was investigated.

Methods

Twenty-four patients with blepharospasm receiving regular BoNT-A injections and 20 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. All subjects were evaluated on a static posturography force platform performing four tasks (eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), tandem Romberg (TR) and verbal cognitive task (COGT)). Evaluations of the patients were repeated 4 weeks after the injection.

Results

Pretreatment lateral and anterior–posterior sways, sway area and velocities of the sways were significantly higher in patients than controls during the COGT and TR (p<0.05). In the patient group, with EO and EC, a few parameters improved after BoNT-A injection. On the other hand, in the TR and COGT, most of the sway parameters and velocities improved significantly after treatment (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Blepharospasm may cause functional blindness in patients. This study demonstrated that PS worsens in patients with blepharospasm under dual-task conditions. BoNT-A injection treats the disease itself and, thus, markedly improves PS under dual-task conditions in blepharospasm.
Women’s experiences with using patient-reported outcome and experience measures in routine perinatal care in the Netherlands: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Laureij Lyzette T , Depla Anne L , Kariman Shariva S , Lamain-de Ruiter Marije , Ernst -Smelt Hiske E , Hazelzet Jan Antonius , Franx Arie , Bekker Mireille N
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To gain insight into the experiences of women with completing and discussing patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and patient-reported experience measures (PREM), and tailoring their care based on their outcomes.

Design

A mixed-methods prospective cohort study.

Setting

Seven obstetric care networks in the Netherlands that implemented a set of patient-centred outcome measures for pregnancy and childbirth (PCB set), published by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement.

Participants

All women, receiving the PROM and PREM questionnaires as part of their routine perinatal care, received an invitation for a survey (n=460) and an interview (n=16). The results of the survey were analysed using descriptive statistics; thematic inductive content analysis was applied on the data from open text answers and the interviews.

Results

More than half of the survey participants (n=255) felt the need to discuss the outcomes of PROM and PREM with their care professionals. The time spent on completing questionnaires and the comprehensiveness of the questions was scored ‘good’ by most of the survey participants. From the interviews, four main themes were identified: content of the PROM and PREM questionnaires, application of these outcomes in perinatal care, discussing PREM and data capture tool. Important facilitators included awareness of health status, receiving personalised care based on their outcomes and the relevance of discussing PREM 6 months post partum. Barriers were found in insufficient information about the goal of PROM and PREM for individual care, technical problems in data capture tools and discrepancy between the questionnaire topics and the care pathway.

Conclusions

This study showed that women found the PCB set an acceptable and useful instrument for symptom detection and personalised care up until 6 months post partum. This patient evaluation of the PCB set has several implications for practice regarding the questionnaire content, role of care professionals and congruity with care pathways.
Is Nigeria on course to achieve universal health coverage in the context of its epidemiological and financing transition? A knowledge, capacity and policy gap analysis (a qualitative study)
Authors: Ogundeji Yewande Kofoworola , Tinuoye Oluwabambi , Bharali Ipchita , Mao Wenhui , Ohiri Kelechi , Ogbuoji Osondu , Orji Nneka , Yamey Gavin
Published: March 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to assess Nigeria’s preparedness to finance and drive the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda within the context of changing health conditions and resource needs associated with the disease, demographic and funding transitions.

Nigeria is undergoing transitions in the healthcare system that include a double burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, and transition from concessional donor assistance towards domestic financing for health. These transitions will affect Nigeria’s attainment of UHC.

Design and setting

We conducted a qualitative study, including semistructured interviews with relevant stakeholders at national and subnational levels in Nigeria. Data from the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Participants

Our study involved 18 respondents from government ministries, departments, and agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and academia.

Results

Capacity gaps identified by respondents included limited knowledge to implement health insurance schemes at subnational levels, poor information/data management to monitor progress towards UHC and limited communication and interagency collaboration between government agencies and ministries. Furthermore, participants in our study expressed those current policies driving major health reforms like the National Health Act (basic healthcare provision fund) appear adequate to support UHC advancement in theory, but policy implementation is a key challenge due to a lack of policy awareness, low government spending on health and poor evidence generation for information to support decisions.

Conclusion

Our study found major gaps in knowledge and capacity for UHC advancement in the context of Nigeria’s demographic, epidemiological and financing transitions. These included poor knowledge of demographic transitions, poor capacity for health insurance implementation at subnational levels, low government spending on health, poor policy implementation and poor communication and collaboration among stakeholders. To address these challenges, collaborative efforts are needed to bridge knowledge gaps and increase policy awareness through targeted knowledge products, improved communication and interagency collaboration.
Changing Agendas on Sleep, Treatment and Learning in Epilepsy (CASTLE) Sleep-E: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial comparing an online behavioural sleep intervention with standard care in children with Rolandic epilepsy
Authors: Al-Najjar Nadia , Bray Lucy , Carter Bernie , CASTLE Advisory Panel , Collingwood Amber , Cook Georgia , Crudgington Holly , Currier Janet , Dietz Kristina Charlotte , Hardy Will A S , Hiscock Harriet , Hughes Dyfrig , Morris Christopher , Roberts Deborah , Rouncefield-Swales Alison , Saron Holly , Spowart Catherine , Stibbs-Eaton Lucy , Tudur Smith Catrin , Watson Victoria , Whittle Liam , Wiggs Luci , Wood Eifiona , Gringras Paul , Pal Deb K
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Sleep and epilepsy have an established bidirectional relationship yet only one randomised controlled clinical trial has assessed the effectiveness of behavioural sleep interventions for children with epilepsy. The intervention was successful, but was delivered via face-to-face educational sessions with parents, which are costly and non-scalable to population level. The Changing Agendas on Sleep, Treatment and Learning in Epilepsy (CASTLE) Sleep-E trial addresses this problem by comparing clinical and cost-effectiveness in children with Rolandic epilepsy between standard care (SC) and SC augmented with a novel, tailored parent-led CASTLE Online Sleep Intervention (COSI) that incorporates evidence-based behavioural components.

Methods and analyses

CASTLE Sleep-E is a UK-based, multicentre, open-label, active concurrent control, randomised, parallel-group, pragmatic superiority trial. A total of 110 children with Rolandic epilepsy will be recruited in outpatient clinics and allocated 1:1 to SC or SC augmented with COSI (SC+COSI). Primary clinical outcome is parent-reported sleep problem score (Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire). Primary health economic outcome is the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (National Health Service and Personal Social Services perspective, Child Health Utility 9D Instrument). Parents and children (≥7 years) can opt into qualitative interviews and activities to share their experiences and perceptions of trial participation and managing sleep with Rolandic epilepsy.

Ethics and dissemination

The CASTLE Sleep-E protocol was approved by the Health Research Authority East Midlands (HRA)–Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee (reference: 21/EM/0205). Trial results will be disseminated to scientific audiences, families, professional groups, managers, commissioners and policymakers. Pseudo-anonymised individual patient data will be made available after dissemination on reasonable request.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN13202325.
Acupuncture in chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia (AcuDysg): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Huber Christine , Zhang Linxin , Schlaeppi Marc , Müller Twyla , Roll Stephanie , Voiss Petra , Barth Jürgen , Driessen Christoph , Witt Claudia M
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Dysgeusia is a common side effect of chemotherapy in patients with cancer, but to date, there is no effective treatment. Many patients with cancer request complementary medicine treatment in addition to their cancer treatments, and acupuncture is highly accepted for patients with cancer; however, evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for dysgeusia is scarce.

The study investigates the effectiveness of an additional dysgeusia-specific acupuncture plus self-acupressure intervention compared with supportive acupuncture plus self-acupressure intervention alone for chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia in patients with cancer.

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre, randomised, controlled and two-armed parallel-group, single-blind trial involving 130 patients. Both groups will receive eight sessions of acupuncture treatment over a period of 8 weeks and will be trained to perform self-acupressure (eLearning combined with therapist instruction) at predefined acupressure points once a day during the whole treatment period. Patients in the control group will receive supportive routine care acupuncture and self-acupressure treatment only; in addition to this treatment, the intervention group will receive the dysgeusia-specific acupuncture and acupressure within the same treatment session. The primary outcome is the perceived dysgeusia over 8 weeks, measured weekly after the acupuncture treatment. Secondary outcomes include the indices from the objective taste and smell test, weight loss, perceived dysgeusia, fatigue, distress, nausea and vomiting, odynophagia, xerostomia and polyneuropathy, as well as quality of life at the different time points.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Cantonal Ethics Committee (CEC) (Kanton Zürich Kantonale Ethikkommission) (approval no. KEK-ZH-Nr. 2020–01900). The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

Trial registration numbers

DRKS00023348, SNCTP000004128.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of patients with skin cancer: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Mostafavi Zadeh Seyed Mostafa , Rezaei Yasaman , Barahimi Ahmadreza , Abbasi Ebrahim , Malekzadeh Roudabeh
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed aspects of patient care in the many scheduled medical activities, restricted access to healthcare facilities, and affected the diagnosis and organisation of patients with other health problems, specifically skin cancer. Skin cancer, the uninhibited progress of atypical skin cells, happens with unrepaired DNA genetic faults that lead them to multiply and create malignant tumours. Currently, dermatologists perform skin cancer diagnosis based on their specialised experience using the results of pathological tests from the skin biopsy. Sometimes, some specialists advise sonography imaging to check the skin tissue as a non-invasive method. The outbreak has led to postponements in the treatment and diagnosis of patients with skin cancer, including diagnostic delays because of limitations of diagnostic capacities and delays in referring patients to the physician. The purpose of this review is to improve our understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the diagnosis of patients with skin cancer and conduct a scoping review to identify whether routine skin cancer diagnoses are affected by the persistent incidence of COVID-19.

Methods and analysis

The structure of research was compiled using Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcomes/Study Design and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. First, we will find the main keywords to capture scientific studies related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of skin cancer: COVID-19 and skin neoplasms. To warrant sufficient coverage and identify potential articles, we will search the combination of four electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE, and ProQuest from 1 January 2019 until 30 September 2022. The screening, selection and data extraction of studies will be performed by two independent authors, who will then assessed the quality of the included studies according to Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.

Ethics and dissemination

As this study will be a systematic review without human participants’ involvement, no formal ethical assessment is required. Findings will be presented at conferences related to this field and will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022361569.
MDM2for the practicing pathologist: a primer
Authors: Menon Aswathy Ashok , Deshpande Vikram , Suster David
Published: March 2023

The mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 12 and is the primary negative regulator of p53. TheMDM2gene encodes an E3 ubiquitin–protein ligase that mediates the ubiquitination of p53, leading to its degradation. MDM2 enhances tumour formation by inactivating the p53 tumour suppressor protein. The MDM2 gene also has many p53-independent functions. Alterations ofMDM2may occur through various mechanisms and contribute to the pathogenesis of many human tumours and some non-neoplastic diseases. Detection ofMDM2amplification is used in the clinical practice setting to help diagnose multiple tumour types, including lipomatous neoplasms, low-grade osteosarcomas and intimal sarcoma, among others. It is generally a marker of adverse prognosis, and MDM2-targeted therapies are currently in clinical trials. This article provides a concise overview of theMDM2gene and discusses practical diagnostic applications pertaining to human tumour biology.
Accumulation of T-cell-suppressive PD-L1highextracellular vesicles is associated with GvHD and might impact GvL efficacy
Authors: Baur Rebecca , Karl Franziska , Böttcher-Loschinski Romy , Stoll Andrej , Völkl Simon , Gießl Andreas , Flamann Cindy , Bruns Heiko , Schlötzer-Schrehardt Ursula , Böttcher Martin , Schewe Denis M , Fischer Thomas , Jitschin Regina , Mackensen Andreas , Mougiakakos Dimitrios
Published: March 2023

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) represents the only curative treatment option for a number of hemato-oncological disorders. In fact, allo-HSCT is considered as one of the most successful immunotherapies as its clinical efficacy is based on the donor T-cells’ capacity to control residual disease. This process is known as the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) reaction. However, alloreactive T-cells can also recognize the host as foreign and trigger a systemic potentially life-threatening inflammatory disorder termed graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that lead to GvHD or disease relapse could help us to improve efficacy and safety of allo-HSCT. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as critical components of intercellular crosstalk. Cancer-associated EVs that express the immune checkpoint molecule programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) can suppress T-cell responses and thus contribute to immune escape. At the same time, it has been observed that inflammation triggers PD-L1 expression as part of a negative feedback network.

Here, we investigated whether circulating EVs following allo-HSCT express PD-L1 and tested their efficacy to suppress the ability of (autologous) T-cells to effectively target AML blasts. Finally, we assessed the link between PD-L1 levels on EVs to (T-)cell reconstitution, GvHD, and disease relapse.

We were able to detect PD-L1+EVs that reached a peak PD-L1 expression at 6 weeks post allo-HSCT. Development of acute GvHD was linked to the emergence of PD-L1highEVs following allo-HSCT. Moreover, PD-L1 levels correlated positively with GvHD grade and declined (only) on successful therapeutic intervention. T-cell-inhibitory capacity was higher in PD-L1highEVs as compared with their PD-L1lowcounterparts and could be antagonized using PD-L1/PD-1 blocking antibodies. Abundance of T-cell-suppressive PD-L1highEVs appears to also impact GvL efficacy as patients were at higher risk for relapse. Finally, patients of PD-L1highcohort displayed a reduced overall survival.Taken together, we show that PD-L1-expressing EVs are present following allo-HSCT. PD-L1 levels on EVs correlate with their ability to suppress T-cells and the occurrence of GvHD. The latter observation may indicate a negative feedback mechanism to control inflammatory (GvHD) activity. This intrinsic immunosuppression could subsequently promote disease relapse.
Multistate transition modelling of e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking among youth in the UK
Authors: Parnham Jennie C , Vrinten Charlotte , Radó Márta K , Bottle Alex , Filippidis Filippos T , Laverty Anthony A
Published: March 2023

Introduction

E-cigarette use remains a controversial topic, with questions over how people transition between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking. This paper examined transitions into and out of nicotine product use in a representative sample of UK youth.

Methods

We used Markov multistate transition probability models on data from 10 229 participants (10–25 years old) in the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2015–2021). We used four product use states (‘never’, ‘non-current use’, ‘e-cigarette only’ and ‘smoking and dual use’) and estimated likelihood of transitions according to sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Among participants who had never used nicotine products, most were still non-users a year later (92.9% probability; 95% CI 92.6%, 93.2%); a small proportion transitioned to using e-cigarettes only (4.0%; 95% CI 3.7%, 4.2%) and cigarettes (2.2%; 95% CI 2.0%, 2.4%). Those aged 14–17 years were the most likely to start using a nicotine product. E-cigarette use was less persistent overtime than cigarette smoking, with a 59.1% probability (95% CI 56.9%, 61.0%) of e-cigarette users still using after 1 year compared with 73.8% (95% CI 72.1%, 75.4%) for cigarette smoking. However, there was a 14% probability (95% CI 12.8%, 16.2%) that e-cigarette users went onto smoke cigarettes after 1 year, rising to 25% (95% CI 23%, 27%) after 3 years.

Conclusion

This study found that although overall nicotine product use was relatively rare, participants were more likely to experiment with e-cigarette use than cigarette smoking. This was mostly not persistent over time; however, approximately one in seven transitioned to cigarette smoking. Regulators should aim to deter all nicotine product use among children.
Retarded solutions for Weyl gravitoelectromagnetic fields
Authors: Garza Armando , Luna Carlos , Ramos Jairzinho
Published: March 2023

The retarded solutions to the Maxwell-like equations of Weyl gravitoelectromagnetism (GEM) are obtained in a similar way to those of electromagnetism. These solutions keep an analogous structure as their electromagnetic counterparts and they become the Jefimenko-type equations of GEM.
Effect of generalized uncertainty principle on anharmonic oscillator
Authors: Nag Aniket , Sahoo Sukadev
Published: March 2023

The minimal length Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) is a proposed theory based on the basic phenomenology of Quantum Gravity (QG) to study the effect of gravity in the quantum realm in a nonrelativistic way. In this paper, we study the GUP effect on anharmonic oscillator by the ladder operator and perturbation theory. Taking different orders of perturbation from the potential of anharmonic oscillator, the first and second order energy corrections and the first order correction of wavefunction have been derived. We have also studied the variation of energy spectrum in general harmonic and anharmonic oscillator in an undergraduate nonrelativistic approach.
Transition disks: the observational revolution from SEDs to imaging
Authors: van der Marel Nienke
Published: March 2023

Protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars are the birth place of planets. Of particular interest are the transition disks with large inner dust cavities of tens of au, hinting at the presence of massive companions. These cavities were first recognized by a deficit in their Spectral Energy Distribution (SED), later confirmed by millimeter interferometry observations. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has truly revolutionized the field of spatially resolved imaging of protoplanetary disks in both dust and gas, providing important hints for the origin of gaps and cavities. At the same time, new types of substructures have been revealed. Also infrared observations show a large range of substructures both in resolved imaging, interferometry and spectroscopy. Since the last review paper of transition disks in Protostars and Planets VI, a huge amount of data has been taken, which led to numerous new insights in the origin of transition disks. In this review I will summarize the observational efforts from the past decade, compare their insights with the predictions from SED modeling, analyze the properties of the transition disk population and discuss their role in general disk evolution.
New methods to achieve meson, muon and gamma light sources through asymmetric electron positron collisions
Authors: Fu Dawei , Ruzi Alim , Li Qiang , Lu Meng
Published: March 2023

We propose methods to produce gamma light source, muon and energetic meson beams such as charged and neutral Kaons, which are boosted to be collimated and with relatively long lifetime. The first type of method is based on asymmetric electron positron collisions with a center-of-mass energy of, e.g. 1020[Formula: see text]MeV, and Kaons can be produced at a rate of [Formula: see text]. The electron and positron beams are either asymmetric in energy, e.g. 10[Formula: see text]GeV electron beam with 26[Formula: see text]MeV positron beam, or asymmetric in space, e.g. 10[Formula: see text]GeV electron and positron beams collisions with an angle around 0.05 radius. Such proposals should be able to be achieved with a reasonable budget. The other type of method relies on TeV positron on target experiment, where Kaon beams can be achieved at around [Formula: see text] per bunch crossing. Such Kaon beams are clean with small contamination, and can have great physics potential on, e.g. hyperon searches through Kaon nuclei collision, Kaon rare decay measurement, and Kaon proton or Kaon lepton collisions. The same technique can also be extended to other final states such as pions and tau leptons.
Theoretical Investigation of Dual-Material Stacked Gate Oxide-Source Dielectric Pocket TFET Based on Interface Trap Charges and Temperature Variations
Authors: Nigam Kaushal Kumar , Dharmender  , Tikkiwal Vinay Anand , Bind Mukesh Kumar
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the performance of dual-material stacked gate oxide-source dielectric pocket-tunnel field-effect transistor (DMSGO-SDP-TFET) has been investigated by considering fixed interface trap charges (ITCs) at the Si–SiO2 interface. During the analysis, both types of trap charges, positive (donor) and negative (acceptor), have been considered to investigate their effect on the DC, analog/ radio frequency, linearity and harmonic distortion performance parameters in terms of the carrier concentration, electric field, band-to-band tunneling rate, transfer characteristics, transconductance ([Formula: see text]), unity gain frequency ([Formula: see text]), gain–bandwidth product, device efficiency ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]), transconductance frequency product, transit time ([Formula: see text]), second- and third-order transconductance and voltage intercept points ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], VIP2 and VIP3), third-order Input Intercept Point and Intermodulation Distortion (IIP3, IMD3), second-, third-order and total harmonic distortions (HD2, HD3 and THD), respectively. Further, the impact of temperature variations from [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K in the presence of ITCs is investigated and the results are compared with conventional DMSGO-TFET. In terms of percentage variation, DMSGO-SDP-TFET depicts lower variation than conventional DMSGO-TFET, indicating that the proposed device is more immune to trap charges and can be used for energy-efficient, high-frequency and linearity applications at elevated temperatures.
A Graph Neural Network-Based Digital Assessment Method for Vocational Education Level of Specific Regions
Authors: Luo Weitai , Huang Haining , Yan Wei , Wang Daiyuan , Yang Man , Zhang Zemin , Zhang Xiaoying , Pan Meiyong , Kong Liyun , Zhang Gengrong
Published: March 2023

With the prevalence of artificial intelligence technologies, big data has been utilized to higher extent in many cross-domain fields. This paper concentrates on the digital assessment of vocational education level in some specific areas, and proposes a graph neural network-based assessment model for this purpose. Assume that all vocational colleges inside a specific region are with a social graph, in which each college is a node and the relations among them are the edges. The graph neural network (GNN) model is formulated to capture global structured features of all the nodes together. The GNN is then employed for the sequential modeling pattern, and the evolving characteristics of all the colleges can be captured. Some experiments are also conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed GNN-VEL. It is compared with two typical forecasting methods under evaluation of two metrics. The results show that it performs better than other two methods.
Finite groups satisfying the independence property
Authors: Freedman Saul D. , Lucchini Andrea , Nemmi Daniele , Roney-Dougal Colva M.
Published: March 2023

We say that a finite group G satisfies the independence property if, for every pair of distinct elements x and y of G, either [Formula: see text] is contained in a minimal generating set for G or one of x and y is a power of the other. We give a complete classification of the finite groups with this property, and in particular prove that every such group is supersoluble. A key ingredient of our proof is a theorem showing that all but three finite almost simple groups H contain an element s such that the maximal subgroups of H containing s, but not containing the socle of H, are pairwise non-conjugate.
The Yang–Baxter equation and Thompson’s group F
Authors: Chouraqui Fabienne
Published: March 2023

We define non-degenerate involutive partial solutions as a generalization of non-degenerate involutive set-theoretical solutions of the quantum Yang–Baxter equation (QYBE). The induced operator is not a classical solution of the QYBE, but a braiding operator as in conformal field theory. We define the structure inverse monoid of a non-degenerate involutive partial solution and prove that if the partial solution is square-free, then it embeds into the restricted product of a commutative inverse monoid and an inverse symmetric monoid. Furthermore, we show that there is a connection between partial solutions and Thompson’s group F. This raises the question of whether there are further connections between partial solutions and Thompson’s groups in general.
Lefschetz open book decompositions of 4-manifolds
Authors: Ghanwat Abhijeet , Pandit Suhas , Selvakumar A.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we introduce the notion of Lefschetz open book decompositions for closed oriented smooth [Formula: see text]-manifolds. We define the notion of a Murasugi sum of Lefschetz open book decompositions. We show that the closed oriented [Formula: see text]-manifold associated to a Murasugi sum of Lefschetz open books of two closed oriented [Formula: see text]-manifolds [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is the connected sum of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We also introduce the notion of a stabilization of a Lefschetz open book. We introduce the notion of a Lefschetz fibered link in a closed oriented [Formula: see text]-manifold and using the stabilization of Lefschetz open book, we show that in a simply connected closed oriented [Formula: see text]-manifold [Formula: see text], every oriented link [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] is Lefschetz fibered. We also discuss the existence of a folded Kähler structure on a closed oriented [Formula: see text]-manifold associated to a given Lefschetz open book which essentially follows by the work of Baykur.
The Stockwell transform on locally compact abelian groups
Authors: Esmaeelzadeh Fatemeh
Published: March 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be a locally compact abelian (LCA) group and [Formula: see text] be a topological automorphism on [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text], the Stockwell transform on the locally compact group [Formula: see text] with respect to the automorphism [Formula: see text] is defined and denoted by [Formula: see text]. The inversion formula for the Stockwell transform [Formula: see text] is established and as a result it is concluded that [Formula: see text] is an isometry. Moreover, some properties of the Stockwell transform [Formula: see text] are examined. Finally, some examples are given to support our technical considerations.
On the existence of derivations as square roots of generators of state-symmetric quantum Markov semigroups
Authors: Vernooij Matthijs
Published: March 2023

Cipriani and Sauvageot have shown that for any [Formula: see text]-generator [Formula: see text] of a tracially symmetric quantum Markov semigroup on a C*-algebra [Formula: see text] there exists a densely defined derivation [Formula: see text] from [Formula: see text] to a Hilbert bimodule [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. Here, we show that this construction of a derivation can in general not be generalized to quantum Markov semigroups that are symmetric with respect to a non-tracial state. In particular, we show that all derivations to Hilbert bimodules can be assumed to have a concrete form, and then we use this form to show that in the finite-dimensional case the existence of such a derivation is equivalent to the existence of a positive matrix solution of a system of linear equations. We solve this system of linear equations for concrete examples using Mathematica to complete the proof.
Least squares type estimators for the drift parameters in the sub-bifractional Vasicek processes
Authors: Kuang Nenghui , Xie Huantian
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we consider least squares type estimators for the drift parameters in the sub-bifractional Vasicek processes defined by [Formula: see text], with unknown parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a sub-bifractional Brownian motion with indices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The strong consistency results as well as the asymptotic distributions of these estimators are obtained.
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FLOORING ON FRICTION AND GAIT VARIABLES IN THE ELDERLY
Authors: RAFEIE R. , EFTEKHARI YAZDI M. , NAKHAEE K. , KHORRAMYMEHR S.
Published: March 2023

Purpose: The effect of different flooring on sole somatosensory and the resulting changes on the dynamic balance of people while walking have interested researchers, as the motor control response in the elderly is the particular importance as a risk factor. Therefore, in this study, the effect of different floor coverings on friction as well as temporal and spatial parameters of walking in the elderly have been analyzed and evaluated in order to prevent slipping and falling. Methods: In this study, 22 elderly people over 60 years of age without a history of falling participated in this experiment. Each participant with a selected speed walked on three surfaces including the control surface (CO), soft spongy (FL) and plastic patterned (SF) non-slip flooring. The amount of ground reaction forces were recorded by force plates and kinematic data by VICON capture motion. Maximum shear force friction coefficient values (COFoMSF) in the anterior–posterior and medio-lateral directions in two consecutive stance phases and gait variables including the normalized length of step and stride, width of step, time of step and stride, as well as average velocity of step length and stride were measured. Results: No significant difference was observed between different levels in the value of friction coefficients [Formula: see text], but the friction coefficient of the maximum shear force in the anterior–posterior direction, step width and normalized step length in hard and patterned surfaces (SF & CO) compared to the soft sponge flooring (FL) decreased considerably. The results showed a significant correlation between the friction coefficient of the maximum shear force in the anterior–posterior direction with the velocity, width and duration of the step and stride only in the soft spongy flooring. Conclusion: The results of this study can help to better understand the design and level of surface adhesion in order to improve dynamic balance and reduce the risk of falling and possible failure in the elderly. In addition, it suggests the necessity of further investigation and the use of auxiliary exercises to improve and increase stability.
Identifying Causal Relationships in a Strategy Map Using ANP and Multi-Objective Integer Optimization Model
Authors: Quezada Luis E. , López-Ospina Héctor , González Miguel Ángel , Oddershede Astrid , Palominos Pedro
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a method for identifying causal relationships between strategic objectives within a strategy map of a Balanced Scorecard. Strategy maps are modeled as a network of strategic objectives (nodes) and causal relationships (directed arcs). The nodes are also grouped into clusters that represent the perspectives of a Balanced Scorecard: (a) Finances, Clients, Internal Processes and Growth and Learning. The method uses the Analytic Network Process (ANP) to establish the importance of every relationship and uses a multi-objective integer linear programming model to select the relationships to be included within a strategy map of a company. The method provides a method that optimizes the selection of the relationships to be included in a strategy map. An illustration of the application of the method in a manufacturing company is presented.
All quantum mixtures are proper
Authors: Castellani Leonardo
Published: March 2023

It is argued that proper and improper quantum mixed states have no observable differences, and hence should not be distinguished. This has implications for subjective approaches to quantum mechanics, and invalidates one of the main motivations for relational interpretations.
Geometric 3-space and multiplicative quaternions
Authors: Aslan Selahattin , Bekar Murat , Yayli Yusuf
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we introduce a new vector space, the three-dimensional geometric real vector space [Formula: see text], and a new number system, multiplicative quaternions [Formula: see text]. We give some basic algebraic properties of these concepts. We define spatial rotation in [Formula: see text] by using multiplicative quaternions. Finally, we give an example to illustrate our results.
Description of the interior of the neutron star in EXO 1785-248 by mean of the Karmarkar condition
Authors: Téllez Vázquez José Oswald , Murguía Aurelio Tamez , Yépez-García Víctor Manuel , Vázquez-Nambo Manuel , Campuzano Elivet Aguilar
Published: March 2023

Starting from the known condition of Karmarkar, which guarantees that a static and spherically symmetrical space-time is embedded in a manifold of dimension 5, and that it generates a differential equation between the metric coefficients [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we solve Einstein’s equations for a fluid with anisotropic pressures. This allows us to represent the interior of the neutron star EXO 1785-248, with observational data around the pair of mass and radius [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. It is shown that the density, radial and tangential pressure are monotonically decreasing functions, while the radial and tangential speeds of sound satisfy the causality conditions. The model presented depends on the compactness [Formula: see text] and two other parameters that characterize the internal behavior of the Hydrostatic variables, in particular the values of the central density [Formula: see text]. In particular for the observational values of mass and radius [Formula: see text], we have [Formula: see text] meanwhile that for [Formula: see text] we have [Formula: see text]. In a complementary manner it is shown that the model satisfies the causality condition and that according to the stability criteria of Harrison–Zeldovich–Novikov and of cracking the solution is stable.
A quintessence type interior solution with Karmarkar condition
Authors: Cambrón Muñoz Nancy , Vazquez José Oswald Tellez , Vázquez-Nambo Manuel , Yépez-García Víctor Manuel , Murguía Aurelio Tamez
Published: March 2023

In this report, we present an interior solution to Einstein’s equations in a spherically symmetric and static spacetime filled by two sources with anisotropic pressures, one of these of ordinary matter for which the radial pressure is described by the MIT Bag state equation associated to the presence of quarks and the other by non-ordinary quintessence type matter. The solution is obtained from imposing the Karmarkar condition considering a metric function [Formula: see text] resulting in a physically acceptable, stable and adequate model to represent compact objects with compactness rate [Formula: see text]. Which allows to take different value of mass and radius in the range of the observational data of mass [Formula: see text] and radius [Formula: see text] of the star 4U1608-52 with compactness [Formula: see text], from these data we determine the range of [Formula: see text].
Designing Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Using Deep Learning and Steered Molecular Dynamic Simulations
Authors: Tam Nguyen Minh , Tran Linh Hoang , Vo Quan V. , Pham Minh Quan , Phung Huong Thi Thu
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic raised an unprecedented race in biotechnology in search for effective therapies and a preventive vaccine. Scientists worldwide have been attempting to stop the viral infection by interfering with the biological function of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a critical protein required for viral transcription and replication during infection. In this study, we employed an effective approach integrating deep learning model calculations and steered molecular dynamic simulations to generate highly promising inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. First, using deep learning calculations, a natural molecule that was identified as a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro was chemically altered to boost its ligand-binding affinity to the Mpro protease. The proposed compounds were then verified using steered molecular dynamic simulations to estimate their binding free energies to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The procedure was repeated until the binding free energies of the proposed compounds did not improve further. Overall, one proposed compound was shown to have a high nanomolar affinity, and two others were estimated to possess nanomolar affinities for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, indicating that they are highly promising inhibitors of the protease. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion and toxicity analysis show that all three chemicals are drug-like compounds following the MACCS-II Drug Data Report database, orally absorbed, tightly attached to the plasma membrane, and noncarcinogenic in rats. The results obtained potentially support COVID-19 treatment.