bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antithrombotic Treatment, Prehospital Blood Pressure, and Outcomes in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Larsen Kristin Tveitan , Sandset Else Charlotte , Selseth Maiken Nordahl , Jahr Silje Holt , Koubaa Nojoud , Hillestad Vigdis , Kristoffersen Espen Saxhaug , Rønning Ole Morten
Published: March 2023

Background

In acute intracerebral hemorrhage, both elevated blood pressure (BP) and antithrombotic treatment are associated with poor outcome. Our aim was to explore interactions between antithrombotic treatment and prehospital BP.

Methods and Results

This observational, retrospective study included adult patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage diagnosed by computed tomography within 24 hours, admitted to a primary stroke center during 2012 to 2019. The first recorded prehospital/ambulance systolic and diastolic BP were analyzed per 5 mm Hg increment. Clinical outcomes were in‐hospital mortality, shift on the modified Rankin Scale at discharge, and mortality at 90 days. Radiological outcomes were initial hematoma volume and hematoma expansion. Antithrombotic (antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant) treatment was analyzed both together and separately. Modification of associations between prehospital BP and outcomes by antithrombotic treatment was explored by multivariable regression with interaction terms. The study included 200 women and 220 men, median age 76 (interquartile range, 68–85) years. Antithrombotic drugs were used by 252 of 420 (60%) patients. Compared with patients without, patients with antithrombotic treatment had significantly stronger associations between high prehospital systolic BP and in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.14 versus 0.99,
P
for interaction 0.021), shift on the modified Rankin Scale (common OR, 1.08 versus 0.96,
P
for interaction 0.001), and hematoma volume (coef. 0.03 versus −0.03,
P
for interaction 0.011).

Conclusions

In patients with acute, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, antithrombotic treatment modifies effects of prehospital BP. Compared with patients without, patients with antithrombotic treatment have poorer outcomes with higher prehospital BP. These findings may have implications for future studies on early BP lowering in intracerebral hemorrhage.
Using Epidemiological Data to Inform Clinical Trial Feasibility Assessments: A Case Study
Authors: Stanton Robert J. , Robinson David J. , Aziz Yasmin N. , Sucharew Heidi , Khatri Pooja , Broderick Joseph P. , Janis L. Scott , Kemp Stephanie , Mlynash Michael , Lansberg Maarten G. , Albers Gregory W. , Saver Jeffrey L. , Flaherty Matthew L. , Adeoye Opeolu , Woo Daniel , Ferioli Simona , Kissela Brett M. , Kleindorfer Dawn O.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Clinical trial enrollment and completion is challenging, with nearly half of all trials not being completed or not completed on time. In 2014, the National Institutes of Health StrokeNet in collaboration with stroke epidemiologists from GCNKSS (Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study) began providing proposed clinical trials with formal trial feasibility assessments. Herein, we describe the process of prospective feasibility analyses using epidemiological data that can be used to improve enrollment and increase the likelihood a trial is completed.

Methods:

In 2014, DEFUSE 3 (Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke 3) trialists, National Institutes of Health StrokeNet, and stroke epidemiologists from GCNKSS collaborated to evaluate the initial inclusion/exclusion criteria for the DEFUSE 3 study. Trial criteria were discussed and an assessment was completed to evaluate the percent of the stroke population that might be eligible for the study. The DEFUSE 3 trial was stopped early with the publication of DAWN (Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours After Stroke With a Mismatch Between Deficit and Infarct), and the Wilcoxon rank-sum statistic was used to analyze whether the trial would have been stopped had the proposed changes not been made, following the DEFUSE 3 statistical analysis plan.

Results:

After initial epidemiological analysis, 2.4% of patients with acute stroke in the GCNKSS population would have been predicted to be eligible for the study. After discussion with primary investigators and modifying 4 key exclusion criteria (upper limit of age increased to 90 years, baseline modified Rankin Scale broadened to 0–2, time since last well expanded to 16 hours, and decreased lower limit of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score to <6), the number predicted to be eligible for the trial increased to 4%. At the time of trial conclusion, 57% of the enrolled patients qualified only by the modified criteria, and the trial was stopped at an interim analysis that demonstrated efficacy. We estimated that the Wilcoxon rank-sum value for the unadjusted predicted enrollment would not have crossed the threshold for efficacy and the trial not stopped.

Conclusions:

Objectively assessing trial inclusion/exclusion criteria using a population-based resource in a collaborative and iterative process including epidemiologists can lead to improved recruitment and can increase the likelihood of successful trial completion.
Assessing Disparities in Access to Advanced Stroke Care in 4 Northeastern States Using the Social Vulnerability Index
Authors: Isenberg Derek L. , Isenberg Raluca , Henry Kevin A. , Kraus Chadd K. , Ackerman Daniel , Sigal Adam , Herres Joseph , Brandler Ethan S. , Kuc Alexander , Nomura Jason T. , Cooney Derek R. , Gentile Nina T.
Published: March 2023

Background

Access to endovascular stroke centers (ESCs) is crucial for patients to receive optimal care for large‐vessel occlusion strokes. Disparities in stroke care are well documented, including differences in patients who receive intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy. Here, we describe racial, ethnic, sex, and social disparities in access to ESCs using the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a composite measure of a community's health.

Methods

This is a population‐based study of 4 Northeastern states. We geocoded all ESCs in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and calculated the distance from the centroid of each census tract to the nearest ESC. We then used the US Centers for Disease Control's Social Vulnerability Index and its 4 subcomponents to calculate the health of that census tract. Results are presented as mean drive times by quartile of SVI (quartile 1=least vulnerable, quartile 4=most vulnerable) and the mean SVI dichotomized to census tracts located less than and greater than 60 minutes to the nearest ESC.

Results

A total of 42 000 000 people and 10 000 census tracts were included in our data. There were no significant differences in the mean SVI for census with drive times of <60 minutes versus >60 minutes to the nearest ESC. However, there were significant differences in 2 subcomponents of the SVI: Minority Status & Language and Household Composition & Disability. In the Minority Status subcomponent of the SVI, those in the most vulnerable census tracts (quartile 4) were located closest to ESCs compared with the least vulnerable census tracts (quartile 1), while for the Household Composition subcomponent, the most vulnerable census tracts were located farthest from the ESCs.

Conclusion

The SVI is a valuable tool for assessing disparities in access to advanced stroke care and predicting where additional ESCs should be added to benefit the population as a whole.
Recognition of Parapinnixidae Števčić, 2005, and Tetriasidae fam. nov. in Pinnotheroidea De Haan, 1833 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Thoracotremata)
Authors: TSANG LING MING , NARUSE TOHRU
Published: March 2023

The systematic position of three aberrant pinnotheroid genera: Tetrias Rathbun, 1898, Parapinnixa Holmes, 1895 and Sakaina Serène, 1964, are reappraised. A new family, Tetriasidae fam. nov. is established for Tetrias, and Parapinnixidae Števčić, 2005, is recognised for Parapinnixa and Sakaina. Tetriasids differ from all other pinnotheroids in that the articles of the palp of the third maxilliped (carpus, propodus and dactylus) are large and the dactylus is inserted at the distolateral corner of the propodus, whereas parapinnixids are distinctive in having the buccal cavern relatively small, subtriangular with the third maxilliped ischiomerus small, mesioproximally produced to form a triangular projection and is completely fused. The two families are phylogenetically distinct from the family Pinnotheridae based on the multi-locus gene tree, and are basal or near basal lineages in the Pinnotheroidea.
Three new species of Collembola from Sicily with first record of the genus Superodontella Stach, 1949 from Italy
Authors: GIUGA LUCA , JORDANA RAFAEL , BAQUERO ENRIQUE
Published: March 2023

Three new species of soil Collembola from both agricultural lands (vineyards and olive orchards) and a natural habitat (beech forest) located in Sicily (Italy) are described: Superodontella eleonorae sp. nov., first record of this genus for Italy, Lepidocyrtus rapitalai sp. nov. and Pseudosinella francae sp. nov..
Doryctinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Baltic amber: description of a new genus and species
Authors: BELOKOBYLSKIJ SERGEY A. , MANUKYAN ANDRANIK R.
Published: March 2023

A new genus and species of the braconid parasitoid subfamily Doryctinae, Palaeorhoptrocentrus kanti Belokobylskij, gen. et sp. nov., from the late Eocene Baltic amber are described and illustrated from two females. This genus is characterised by the fore wing having postfurcal position of the recurrent vein (m-cu), distally closed brachial (second subdiscal) cell, not interstitial parallel vein (CU1a), and short submedial (subbasal) cell in hind wing. Doryctomorpha tertiaria Brues, 1933 is transferred to the genus Palaeorhoptrocentrus gen. nov., P. tertiaria (Brues, 1933), comb. nov. The new genus is compared with the similar extant genera Dendrosotinus Telenga, 1941, Guaygata Marsh, 1993, and Rhoptrocentrus Marshall, 1897.
The identity of Aragara atra (Duda, 1934) (Diptera: Chloropidae)
Authors: RICCARDI PAULA RAILE
Published: March 2023

N/A
A Novel Preoperative Patient Survey Predicts Adverse Patient Outcomes—Implementation and Preliminary Results of the Tennessee Preoperative Assessment Tool
Authors: Schmocker Ryan K. , Gray Keith D. , Eric Heidel R. , Vanterpool Stephanie G. , McLoughlin James M.
Published: March 2023

Background

Accurate preoperative risk stratification remains elusive. Existing tools are often missing important patient-reported and functional factors. We sought to implement a novel tool, with dynamic functional data and comorbidity variables, to define factors which predict postoperative outcomes.

Materials and Methods

We expanded a previously validated functional questionnaire to create the Tennessee Preoperative Assessment Tool (TPAT). Unique elements included change in functional status, usual and best activity tolerance, and development of new conditions. The survey was administered to all new patients seen in several surgery clinics from July 2021 to June 2022.

Results

A total of 1950 patients completed the survey. Of the completed surveys, 197 patients underwent an elective, inpatient, abdominal surgery and were included in the study. Several patient-reported factors were associated with poor postoperative outcomes. For example, decrease in functional activity in the previous 60 days (n = 50; 25.4%) was a strong predictor of poor postoperative outcomes including readmission (30-day: 8.8% vs .0%; P = .034), wound dehiscence (12.0% vs 3.4%; P = .022), blood transfusion (6.0% vs .0%; P = .003), sepsis (4.0% vs .0%; P = .015), and wound infection (18.0% vs 6.8%; P = .076).

Discussion

In this preliminary implementation study, patients undergoing elective, inpatient, abdominal surgery, utilization of a novel, patient-reported survey tool proactively identifies patients at risk of clinically relevant postoperative outcomes. Patient-reported decreased activity in the 60 days prior to surgeon evaluation was associated with several adverse postoperative outcomes. Additionally, this study demonstrates that the TPAT can be seamlessly integrated into the usual clinical workflow and is hypothesis generating for future interventional studies.
Congenital Lobar Emphysema Developing Massive Hemoptysis in Adulthood Treated by Thoracoscopic Lobectomy
Authors: McNamee Molly M. , Harvell Robert T. , Benton Mary H , Qutob Hisham F. , Budde Jason M.
Published: March 2023

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare developmental lung disorder characterized by lobar hyperinflation secondary to bronchopulmonary obstruction. Half of patients are symptomatic at birth, with many requiring urgent or emergent surgical resection to treat respiratory distress. Meanwhile, patients achieving late childhood or adolescence without symptoms usually never require surgery. We present a case of a 26 year old otherwise healthy female with known CLE who developed massive hemoptysis and required urgent videoscopic (VATS) resection of her right lung upper lobe. We know of no other report of CLE causing life-threatening bleeding at any age, and herein review pathology and pathophysiology of the condition.
A National Survey Assessing the Variability in the Management of Traumatic Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Roche Keelin F. , Quinn Megan , Mannino Elizabeth A. , Ventura Liane , Brown Cecelia , Lawson Christy M. , Burns Bracken J.
Published: March 2023

Background

Resuscitation of traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) is variable, with approaches that overlap Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) algorithms. There is no standard algorithm for TCA, with some withholding ACLS protocols given abysmal outcomes. This study aims to assess surgeon practices and attitudes toward resuscitation practices in TCA.

Materials and Methods

A 16-question web-based survey was distributed to the membership of a national trauma association. Respondent demographics and management of TCA were analyzed. Chi-squared tests determined statistical significance. Open-ended responses were coded and analyzed inductively.

Results

Two hundred and three surveys were completed. 73.4% of respondents reported utilizing ACLS, while 26.6% reported they never utilized ACLS. A statistically significant difference in the performance of ACLS was found based on number of years in practice ( P = .025) and the state of practice ( P = .006). There was no significant difference in self-reported survival rates or legal, ethical, or interpersonal conflicts. Qualitative data highlighted themes of interpersonal conflict and futility.

Discussion

This study shows that one-quarter of respondents never utilize ACLS in TCA. Of those that utilize ACLS, there was variability in the technique, indication, and duration of resuscitation. Despite significant variability in technique, there appears to be similar survival rates and incidence of conflict. The association between years in practice and ACLS use suggests this may represent an emerging change in practice. The low response rate limits generalizability; however, there is significant variability in practice, highlighting a need for evidence-based guidelines.
Small Bowel Intussusception Secondary to Malignant Melanoma 11 Years After Melanoma-In-Situ Excision
Authors: Briscoe W. Eric , Cockerham W. Todd , Harrell Kevin N.
Published: March 2023

Small bowel is a well-described site of malignant melanoma; however, it is a rare cause of intussusception. A patient presented with malignant melanoma causing jejunojejunal intussusception 11 years after resection of melanoma-in-situ. The patient was managed with exploration and resection. Despite complete resection of melanoma-in-situ and limited literature about its metastatic potential, malignant melanoma as a lead point for intussusception should be on the differential for any patient with pertinent history. To our knowledge, this appears to be the first case of melanoma-in-situ causing small bowel intussusception.
The politics of in/visibility: The Jews of urban Tehran
Authors: Sohrabi Narciss M
Published: March 2023

The presence of Jews in Iran has always had its ups and downs. Naturally, political and social changes have influenced their way of life and the interaction of religious minorities in the urban context and neighbourhoods of Tehran. Politics rules society. The architecture of the religious buildings of religious minorities, on the one hand, influences the urban context and, on the other, is influenced by the sociopolitical conditions and structures that govern society. Cities are places for religious presentations and celebrations, which form part of urban consumer cultures and contribute to constructing urban identities and city images. In Iran, Jews are recognized minorities and scattered throughout the country. This study investigates the relationship between urban spaces and religious buildings, especially synagogues in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
Evaluation of Heart Rate Recovery in Obese Children and Adolescents With Prehypertension
Authors: Guo Gang , Hu Yao , Kong Fanjun , Zheng Huan , Liu Guanghui
Published: March 2023

Heart rate recovery (HRR), a noninvasive assessment of autonomic nervous function, is widely studied in adults with hypertension or prehypertension. This study aimed to evaluate whether HRR was independently associated with prehypertension in obese children. A total of 326 obese children aged 7 to 16 years were divided into 2 groups: prehypertension group and normal blood pressure (BP) group (control group). Anthropometric indexes, physical activity (PA) information, biochemical parameters, and HRR were collected. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.116; P < .05), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (OR = 1.258; P < .05), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) (OR = 1.087; P < .01), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (OR = 1.304; P < .01), and HRR values (OR = 0.892; P < .05) were independent risk factors of prehypertension in obese children. Our findings demonstrated decreased HRR was closely associated with prehypertension in obese children, which indicated studying the role of sympathetic/parasympathetic imbalance might be helpful to explore the underlying mechanism.
Exploring Teachers’ Instructional Practice Profiles: Do Distributed Leadership and Teacher Collaboration Make a Difference?
Authors: Özdemir Nedim , Kılınç Ali Çağatay , Polatcan Mahmut , Turan Selçuk , Bellibaş Mehmet Şükrü
Published: March 2023

Purpose: While the literature includes multiple studies on the relationship between school leadership and instructional quality, they often use instructional practice as a continuous variable, assuming that a teacher would perform all sub-dimensions of instructional practice at a similar rate and failing to link distributed leadership to classroom teaching. Addressing these gaps in the literature, this study aims to identify teacher- and school-level latent profiles of teachers’ instructional practices and to investigate how distributed leadership predicts teachers’ membership in different instructional practice profiles, with the mediating role of teacher collaboration. Research Methods/Approach: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design using Türkiye's TALIS data for lower secondary education. Multilevel latent profile analysis with mediation modeling was conducted on data from 3,223 teachers in 192 schools. Findings: This analysis yielded four teacher profiles: laissez-faire, typical, controlling, and versatile; and two school profiles, high controlling and high laissez-faire. Findings indicate that distributed leadership promotes professional collaboration in lessons among teachers, which could, in turn, play a critical role in determining both individual teacher- and school-level profiles. Implications: This study provides practical contributions to understanding the nature of classroom teaching, suggesting that future studies should use instructional practice profiles instead of a single construct of teaching.
Public auditing: What impact does the quality of the institutional framework have on the level of corruption?
Authors: Nonki Tadida Eriole Zita
Published: March 2023

Supreme audit institutions (SAIs) are a component of a nation's institutional system. This article defines the concept of an institutional anti-corruption system centered on the SAI through four main characteristics: independence, accountability, mandate and collaboration. The article aims to assess the impact that the quality of the anti-corruption system has on perceived levels of corruption. Data from the 2019 International Budget Partnership Open Budget Survey covering 117 countries are used for this purpose. The regression results show that the quality of the institutional anti-corruption system centered on the SAI is associated with a low level of perceived corruption. However, other elements must be implemented to create an anti-corruption environment, such as citizens’ involvement as controlling actors.

Points for practitioners

It is important that policy makers recognize and leverage the potential of SAIs in reducing corruption. Contemporary governance and the complexity of corruption require the protection of SAI's independence, but also call for the establishment of collaborative mechanisms that engage civil society and the media.
Unsupervised defect segmentation on denim fabric via local patch prediction and residual fusion
Authors: Gu Mengshang , Zhou Jian , Pan Ruru , Gao Weidong
Published: March 2023

Deep learning-based defect inspection has gained popularity in recent years. The dataset requirements for the supervised learning-based method are currently high, but the types of defects are numerous and difficult to gather. This work proposes a local image reconstruction-based unsupervised fabric defect segmentation method to address this problem. Cyclic structures make up the normal portion of the fabric image, whereas the defects are anomalous and minor in comparison. As a result, the defect will be recreated as a normal texture utilizing the information from its surrounding areas, and the defect information will be preserved in the residual image. By masking the same area with various shapes, different reconstruction outcomes and residual images can be achieved. The signal of the defect will be amplified and the noise will be decreased due to the random distribution when the generated residual pictures are fused, which can effectively identify the defect from the noise and lower the false detection rate. On the denim fabric dataset, the proposed unsupervised method can achieve high precision fabric defect segmentation, with the defect detection rate and detection precision reaching at least 85% and 89%, respectively, with high efficiency (approximately 60 m/min inspection speed), outperforming other fabric defect segmentation methods.
Prevalence of Glycemic Control and Factors Associated With Poor Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Bitew Zebenay Workneh , Alemu Ayinalem , Jember Desalegn Abebaw , Tadesse Erkihun , Getaneh Fekadeselassie Belege , Seid Awole , Weldeyonnes Misrak
Published: March 2023

The primary method for preventing health and health-related problems in diabetic people is glycemic control. Numerous studies have documented the importance of glycemic control and the factors that influence it. However, the results are dispersed. This study sought to identify the prevalence of poor glycemic control and associated factors in Ethiopia. Findings will be crucial to reduce the burden of poor glycemic control. Comprehensive search was performed from databases: PubMed, Global Health, CINAHL, IRIS, and FSTA. Gray literature sources were also explored. This document was prepared based on the PRISMA flowchart. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022296583). STATA software was used for data analyses and I2 test with Cochrane Q statistics, and forest plot were used to verify heterogeneity. When the I2 value was higher than 50% and the p-value was 0.05, heterogeneity was deemed significant. To confirm publication bias, a funnel plot with an Egger’s regression test was performed. The factors related to poor glycemic control were reported using pooled odds ratios (POR) and a 95% confidence interval. In this study, 46 papers totaling 15 457 people were used to calculate the pooled estimates. It was determined that 32.6% (95% CI: 28.3, 36.9) and 61.92% (95% CI: 57.92, 65.92) of the subjects, respectively, had good and poor glycemic control. Being male protected against poor glycemic control, while poor diet adherence, lack of exercise, poor adherence to anti-diabetic medications, and smoking increased the likelihood of poor glycemic control. Lack of formal education, no family history of diabetes, lack of glucometer for blood glucose monitoring, comorbidity, being overweight and prolonged length of stay with diabetes all contributed to poor glycemic control. Ethiopia had a fairly high rate of poor glycemic control. The main determinants are lifestyle factors. Therefore, it is important to focus on behavioral interventions.
Citizen, Subject, Human: For A Humanist Sociology at The End of The Eurocene
Authors: Nicholls Heidi
Published: March 2023

The history of humanism is intertwined with empire and racism. Many in sociology are aware of the significant contributions of Sylvia Wynter in our understanding of how modernity has shaped what it means to be human. ‘Man,’ Wynter argues, was never more that the European bourgeois man of the colonial world. Colonial conceptions of humanity have largely excluded ways of being and living that resist and refuse global empires. I argue that the differences between those who lived under state rule and those whose politics were illegible to European colonists became part of what we now think of as race. Colonists conflated the human with a certain kind of colonial subject, and later, the favored White citizen-subject and fellow colonist of an empire-state. In contemplating this journal’s title and mission for a humanist sociology, I argue that ‘society’ its 20th and 21st century articulations have often stood in for Man in the Wynterian sense. U.S. Sociology promoted ‘society’ as both an object of inquiry and a cognate for the colonial state. As such, sociology as the study of ‘society’ contained a specifically statist bent. Finally, this essay ends by offering examples of anticolonial humanist sociology that nurtures a more egalitarian genres of the human for the future.
“That’s PEGI, the American system!”: Perceptions of video game age ratings among families in Norway
Authors: Azam Khalid Ezat
Published: March 2023

The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system was established as a self-regulatory system in 2003 and has been touted as a success story of modern European media regulation. Today PEGI provides video game age ratings for nearly 40 European countries on a vast array of digital platforms. Now, almost two decades after the introduction of PEGI, little is known about how the self-regulation of video games has been received by the end-user, and how the evolving landscape of digital media platforms has affected this reception. The current study draws on qualitative interview data from families in Norway to investigate perceptions and applications of video game age ratings, emphasizing regulatory challenges. The study finds that while families use video game age ratings actively as a part of their investigative practices, there is a severe lack of knowledge about media regulation and a strong sense of Americanization. The study also indicates that families view media age ratings homogeneously without much attention paid to variations in-between different rating systems. I conclude that research on media regulation needs to move beyond a theoretical and legislative vacuum devoid of the end-user’s reality to better enable public knowledge and scrutiny of media regulation.
Dual left anterior descending artery – a clinical entity in search of an identity: A novel classification
Authors: Sajja Lokeswara Rao , Pusapati Venkata Ramachandra Raju , Gottipati Bhavika , Kamtam Devanish Narasimhasanth
Published: March 2023

A dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) is not an uncommon anomaly of the coronary arterial system. The earlier classifications by various authors lacked standardization and uniformity and are too complex for clinical usage. Therefore, a new classification in the form of coding system is proposed to facilitate the identification and reporting of the anomaly by the cardiologists to maintain uniformity in reporting, which aids in adequate planning of the revascularization strategies in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease involving the dual LAD system.
Comparing the Perception of In-Person and Digital Monitor Viewing of Paintings
Authors: Han Eugene
Published: March 2023

In the context of rapidly developing technologies and widespread online access, it is important to understand how our perception of images on a computer screen may vary from traditional in-person encounters. This research compared the perception of subjects in view of eight paintings, presented either on a computer monitor or as a printed reproduction. Both stationary and mobile eye-tracking technologies were used to analyze the viewing patterns of both forms of engagement. Results suggested that subjects engaging with physical works tended to exhibit more varied fixational patterns than those viewing the same works on a computer monitor. Data showed parity in the high degree of correlation between viewing times and personal preference, regardless of viewing medium. The results indicate that the modalities through which we engage with works of art matter, and that a single image can resonate across an array of media.
The Influence of Demographic Factors on Word Usage in Texts Written About Artworks
Authors: Ahn Hyung J.
Published: March 2023

Research on text analysis has demonstrated that texts can reveal various characteristics of individuals, such as personality, preferences, or future behavior. However, despite its numerous applications in other fields, text analysis has received very little attention in the field of empirical aesthetics. This study aimed to analyze texts written about artworks and examine the relationship between certain demographic factors and the use of words, using a novel framework for computer-based text analysis based on neural embedding. Participants provided textual descriptions of paintings from various genres and eras, along with demographic information such as gender, age, income, frequency of museum visits, and knowledge of artworks. The results revealed a significant relationship between some demographic factors and word usage, while also highlighting the usefulness of the proposed framework.
A rare case of sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary presenting in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Cui Xue , Zhang Xiao , Wang Yue , Wang Lixia
Published: March 2023

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary (SSTO) is a rare benign neoplasm of the ovary, accounting for about 6% of all sex cord stromal ovarian tumors. Only 17 cases of SSTO occurring during pregnancy have been reported to date. We report a case of SSTO occurring during pregnancy and review the existing literature. A 32-year-old pregnant woman was found to have a 10-cm solid mass in the right adnexa, and a large volume of ascites fluid was detected by ultrasound examination in the second trimester. The patient underwent abdominal puncture to relieve her symptoms in the second trimester, and a partial right oophorectomy and cesarean section were performed at 39 weeks of gestation. Final pathology confirmed the diagnosis of SSTO. Both the mother and baby were well at 6 months of postpartum follow-up. Clinical symptoms, and hormone and imaging examinations are all helpful in making a differential diagnosis of SSTO, but the unique histopathological and immunohistochemistry findings remain the main diagnostic features. Pregnant women with SSTO usually undergo enucleation or unilateral oophorectomy, which generally does not have adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Comparison of two surgical strategies for fractures of the anterior process of the calcaneus with or without bridging plate fixation
Authors: Hua Xi , Zhang Junxin , Liu Hao , Guan Yuehong , Chen Kangwu , Qian Zhonglai
Published: March 2023

Objective

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of applying internal fixation with a T-shaped locking plate that was used on the distal radius in fractures of the anterior process of the calcaneus (APC) with calcaneocuboid (CC) joint injury.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled adult patients diagnosed with APC with CC joint injury that had received internal fixation with a T-shaped locking plate of the distal radius. Group NA underwent open reduction with ‘not-across’ CC joint plate fixation; and group A underwent open reduction with ‘across’ CC joint locking plate fixation. The outcomes were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and radiological evaluations.

Results

A total of 72 patients were enrolled in the study; 36 in each group. At 1 month after surgery, the outcomes of group NA were superior to group A in terms of AOFAS and VAS scores. Compared with group A, group NA showed significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, operation time and length of hospital stay. There were no significant differences in the postoperative improvement of Bolher's and Gissane's angles between the two groups.

Conclusion

Early functional recovery was faster in group NA than group A.
Enhanced recovery concepts in paediatric patients who underwent appendectomy: a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary university hospital
Authors: Al-Taher Raed , Alshahwan Hebah , Abdelhadi Saja , Abeeleh Farah Abu , Rashdan Mohammad , Amarin Marzouq , Addasi Rami , Alsaraireh Doha , Abu-shanab Ahmad , Alaridah Nader
Published: March 2023

Objective

To investigate if the implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways could be effective in paediatric patients undergoing appendectomy.

Methods

This retrospective study analysed the data from patients aged ≤18 years that underwent appendectomies. The data collected included age, sex, application of enhanced recovery concepts (ERCs) and clinical outcomes.

Results

A total of 93 paediatric patients were retrospectively categorized into two groups: patients in group 1 did not experience the use of ERCs during their appendectomies; and patients in group 2 had ERCs applied during their appendectomies. Patients in both groups were exposed to some elements of ERAS, including preoperative patient/parent counselling, limited fasting durations, antibiotic prophylaxis and no bowel preparations. Duration of hospital stay was significantly longer in group 1 compared with group 2 (3.47 ± 1.81 days versus 2.24 ± 1.52 days, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in term of postoperative pain control, hospital cost, readmissions, reoperations and emergency room visits.

Conclusion

Implementing ERCs in paediatric patients undergoing appendectomies provided a significant improvement in patient recovery with a shorter hospital stay, with no increase in postoperative pain, hospital cost, rate of readmission and reoperation.
Detection and Reporting of Wireless Channel Congestion and Interference in Connected Vehicle Networks
Authors: Noori Hamed , Shen Ruizhan , Khandakar Amith , de Geuser Lorena , Michelson David G.
Published: March 2023

Connected vehicle (CV) wireless networks based on dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) intelligent transportation systems (ITS-G5), and C-V2X technologies are susceptible to interference from both unintentional emitters and non-CV devices that may be authorized to share the same or adjacent bands. Such interference may lead to unreliable communication and disruption of CV services with a particular impact on safety-related applications. Surprisingly, considering the safety-critical nature of CV applications, there is no simple mechanism for detecting congestion or interference in such networks over wide areas. To address this gap, we propose and demonstrate that both interference and congestion in DSRC and ETSI ITS-G5 networks can be detected simply and inexpensively using capabilities that are already incorporated into the IEEE 802.11p standard, specifically the flags and statistics generated mostly in the physical layer (physical layer convergence procedure and physical medium dependent) state machines. Such a capability could be realized through a relatively minor software upgrade but would resolve a longstanding but underappreciated concern that CV networks are vulnerable to both congestion and a variety of short-range interferers but lack the capability to detect or report this. Although our focus was on DSRC and ITS-G5, similar considerations apply to related schemes such as C-V2X.
Identifying Factors Related to Crash Injury Levels Involving Bicyclists at Different Locations Through Crash Data Analysis
Authors: Ammar Dania , Misra Aditi , Feng Fred , Bao Shan
Published: March 2023

The safety of vulnerable road users, including bicyclists, has become an increasing societal concern. Factors characterizing bicyclists’ crashes with motor vehicles may affect bicyclists’ injuries differently depending on the location of these crashes. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis for identifying significant factors that affect bicyclists’ injury levels from crashes occurring at travel lanes and at non-travel lanes (e.g., crosswalks and bicycle lanes). For this purpose, this study applied Multinomial Logistic Regression on the Crash Report Sampling System data for three consecutive years. Bicyclists’ injuries were categorized into three levels: (1) Possible, (2) Moderate, and (3) Severe. The study found that running a separate model for each location provided better performances than running an aggregated model for both locations. Results showed common factors significantly associated with an increased likelihood of moderate and/or severe injuries at both locations. Five unique factors were associated with higher likelihoods of these moderate and/or severe injuries to bicyclists in the Travel Lane model, whereas two unique factors were found related to increased odds of these injuries to bicyclists in the Non-Travel Lane model. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of bicyclists’ crash scenarios and the development of potential countermeasures by alternating some circumstances characterizing these crashes, when possible, to reduce potential injuries.
Novel Decomposition and Ensemble Model with Attention Mechanism for Container Throughput Forecasting at Four Ports in Asia
Authors: Xiao Yi , Xue Xiaofei , Hu Yi , Yi Ming
Published: March 2023

Container shipping has suffered a sharp decline since COVID-19, and risks associated with container transit will persist in the future. The decrease in container transportation has caused a ripple impact on the global supply chain. However, container throughput forecasting is both critical and complicated under the circumstances of economic uncertainty and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A novel model propounded in this paper for container throughput forecasting to assist the port management bureau and container shipping industry integrates with the variational mode decomposition (VMD) algorithm, SARIMA technique, convolutional neural network (CNN) method, long short-term memory (LSTM) approach, and attention mechanism, among others. In this model, there are three stages: (i) data decomposition, (ii) component prediction, and (iii) ensemble output. In the first stage, the original data of the container throughput time series is decomposed into several different components using the VMD algorithm. Next, from low frequency to high frequency, each component is modeled by the corresponding prediction approach. Subsequently, the prediction results of each component generated by the previous stage are integrated into the final forecasting results by addition strategy. To enhance the prediction accuracy in the second stage, the attention mechanism is adopted in the CNN-bidirectional LSTM method. Finally, six measurement criteria, the container throughput times series at four ports, and a statistical evaluation approach are applied to comprehensively evaluate the proposed model compared with seven benchmark models. The empirical analysis demonstrates that the proposed model significantly outperforms other comparable models with regard to prediction results, level, and directional prediction accuracy.
Effects of Reduced Speed on the Benefits and Pollution of Yangtze River Ships
Authors: Wang Kaisen , Yin Ming , Ayisi Amoah Daniel
Published: March 2023

Yangtze River shipping causes air pollution in cities along the route, and the cost to ships should be considered while controlling emissions. This paper analyzes the impact of speed and other factors on ship emissions and profit. It discusses the potential scenarios of reducing operating costs and the management implications of influencing factors while meeting environmental policies. Partial basins are established as reduced speed zones (RSZs) based on predicting air pollutant concentrations, then modeling the operation and pollutant emissions of container ships. The research indicates that reducing speed appropriately inside RSZs can effectively reduce pollutant emissions in the area, with the extent of variation in the emissions and profit being slight for the entire voyage. Reducing speed throughout the voyage also achieves emission reduction but, ultimately, increases the ship’s sailing time. Meanwhile, the extension of RSZs, the fuel efficiency, and so forth, also affect the emissions and profit of the ship. These findings can provide insights for operators in reducing costs, as well as for environmental regulators in adjusting emission reduction regulations dynamically.
Joint Econometric Model Framework for Transportation Network Company Users’ Trip Fare and Destination Choice Analysis
Authors: Parvez Dewan Ashraful , Tirtha Sudipta Dey , Bhowmik Tanmoy , Eluru Naveen
Published: March 2023

In this study, we examine the factors affecting Chicago, U.S., transportation network companies (TNCs) users’ trip fare and destination choice behavior. While trip fare has been examined from various perspectives, earlier fare models have not considered an exhaustive set of independent variables. Further, trip fare decisions are significantly influenced by trip destination. Therefore, in our study a joint model of trip fare and destination choice is proposed. The joint model system—linear regression for fare and multinomial logit model for destination—is developed based on Chicago TNC weekday trip data from January 2019 to December 2019. A wide range of origin- and destination-specific land use and built environment factors, transportation infrastructure attributes, and weather attributes were found to be significant in the model system. Based on log-likelihood and Bayesian information criterion measures, the model performance of the proposed joint model is found to be superior compared with independent fare and destination models. The applicability of our proposed fare and destination choice model is illustrated through fare prediction and destination elasticity analysis. The framework can potentially be employed to generate TNC fare for inclusion in level of service measures for TNC models in the mode choice model.
Dynamic Viscoelastic Response of Asphalt Pavement With Random Transversely Isotropic Base Courses
Authors: You Lingyun , Wu Hao-Jie , Lu Jia-Tai , Liu Yang , Diab Aboelkasim , Zheng Jun-Jie , Miao Yu
Published: March 2023

Diagnosis of the dynamic response of an asphalt pavement structure coupled with involving inherent anisotropic properties of pavement materials serves as a vital tool for pavement analysis and design platforms. The mechanical response of asphalt pavement is strongly influenced by the random anisotropic properties (simplified as transversely isotropic properties in this study) because of the shape, distribution, orientation, degree of compaction, void structure, and so forth, of the granular materials in asphalt pavements. This study aims to introduce a computational framework by generating a three-dimensional finite element-based program to analyze the influence of thermo-viscoelasticity of the asphalt layer and transverse isotropy of the base courses and its randomness on asphalt pavements under the effect of moving vehicle loading. The accuracy and efficiency of the developed numerical program were verified by comparing our results with previous studies. Concurrently, the influences of random field conditions, transversely isotropic properties, and the temperature field were involved in assessing their action on the fatigue life prediction of pavement. It was concluded that the fatigue life of the asphalt pavement model, considering the transverse isotropy of the material, random field, and temperature field, was reduced by 48.1%, which would mislead the state assessment of asphalt pavements. Therefore, during asphalt pavement design and its viscoelastic response analysis, it is recommended to consider the influence of the random modulus, temperature fields, and transversely isotropic properties on the structural assessments.
Are evaluative bibliometrics neoliberal? A historical and theoretical problematization
Authors: Hammarfelt Björn , Hallonsten Olof
Published: March 2023

In this article, we problematize the notion that the continuously growing use of bibliometric evaluation can be effectively explained by ‘neoliberal’ ideology. A prerequisite for our analysis is an understanding of neoliberalism as both denoting a more limited set of concrete principles for the organization of society (the narrow interpretation) or as a hegemonic ideology (the broad interpretation). This conceptual framework, as well as brief history of evaluative bibliometrics, provides an analytical framing for our approach, in which four national research evaluation systems are compared: Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. On basis of an analysis of the rationales for implementing these systems, as well as their specific design, we discuss the existence or non-existence of neoliberal motivations and rationales. Overall, we find that a relatively homogeneous academic landscape, with a high degree of centralization and government steering, appears to be a common feature for countries implementing national evaluation systems relying on bibliometrics. Such characteristics, we argue, may not be inductively understood as neoliberal but as indications of national states displaying strong political steering of its research system. Consequently, if used without further clarification, ‘neoliberalism’ is a concept too broad and diluted to be useful when analyzing the development of research evaluation and bibliometric measures in the past half a century.