bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conciliar courts
Authors: Baker John
Published: March 2024

This chapter is concerned with the so-called ‘prerogative courts’ or ‘conciliar courts’, which were associated with the king’s council. They followed a bill-procedure similar to that of the Chancery, without juries, and applied equity. As with the Chancery, their claims to encroach on the common law by granting injunctions, and their use of imprisonment, were constantly challenged. The Star Chamber—the whole council sitting at Westminster, attended by the chief justices—was legally immemorial and beyond such challenges; but its power to enforce a monetary judgment was questioned in 1614, when the judges were overruled by the councillors. The Court of Requests was a more recent offshoot of the council, attended by a sub-group of councillors but making decrees in its own name. Attacks on its jurisdiction, as contrary to Magna Carta, were made as early as 1501 and continued until the seventeenth century. The judges regarded it with disfavour as having no legal basis, but it was protected by the Privy Council and survived until 1641, when conciliar jurisdiction was abolished. The warmest disputes with the judges involved the two provincial councils in the North and in the Marches of Wales, which wielded strong coercive powers under forceful presidents. Although Chief Justice Coke claimed some victories in curbing their powers, they survived until formal abolition. Many of these disputes were fought through the medium of habeas corpus.
Liberty of the person
Authors: Baker John
Published: March 2024

The protection of personal liberty is largely the story of chapter 29 of Magna Carta 1225. Although the statute clearly bound the crown, it was a contested question whether the law of the land allowed the king and his council to imprison people without giving reasons. The question was not actively litigated until the Elizabethan period, after which the story is linked with the newly developed writ of habeas corpus. A series of cases established that individual councillors could not commit without cause shown, but the prerogative power of imprisonment was not ended until the Petition of Right 1628. In the seventeenth century the scope of habeas corpus was extended to protect wives, children, and slaves. The common law recognized two categories of unfree persons, namely villeins and religious persons, though both disabilities had in practice disappeared by the seventeenth century. The possibility of owning slaves was discussed in a series of cases between 1687 and 1706, which established that the common law knew no distinction between black men and white men and that no man can have property in another. Other restrictions on liberty are represented by cases on ne exeat regnum, banishment, and the impressment of seamen.
Freedom of trade
Authors: Baker John
Published: March 2024

The common law recognized freedom of trade to the extent of invalidating contracts in restraint of trade, and freedom of movement was granted to merchants by Magna Carta. But there were attempts by the crown in the Tudor and Stuart periods to restrict freedom of trade by prerogative action in favour of privileged institutions, such as a town, a guild, a trading company, or individual persons. The most controversial device was the patent of monopoly, which became a common means of raising revenue in the sixteenth century. Monopolies were regarded as legitimate if they encouraged the importation of new inventions, but not if they restricted existing trades. This principle was confirmed by a decision of 1603 to overturn a monopoly in playing-cards, and statutory limits were imposed in 1623. De facto monopolies, such as engrossing, were subject to similar objections and controls. There was also repeated litigation over the legality of bye-laws, made under royal charters, which restricted the exercise of particular trades in towns. The courts drew a distinction between bye-laws which controlled open trades in the public interest, for instance by imposing standards, and those which merely benefited individuals at the expense of the public or of tradesmen who were excluded.
The death penalty and its avoidance
Authors: Baker John
Published: March 2024

The death penalty was automatic on conviction of treason, murder, or felony (other than petit larceny). This chapter is concerned with the various legal methods whereby execution could be avoided. Pardons under the royal prerogative were subject to statutory restrictions. A felon could abjure the realm on his free confession of the offence, but if later caught he could be sentenced without trial; few excuses were recognized. A felon could alternatively flee to sanctuary, but in the early Tudor period claims by monasteries to privileges of sanctuary were reviewed strictly and in 1540 the privilege was abolished. The most pervasive means of escape was benefit of clergy, which could be claimed by laymen on performance of a reading test. In 1489 it was enacted that laymen could only claim it once, and in 1512 that it could not be claimed for murder or robbery in a highway or dwelling house. Although the legislation did not apply to real clergy, it caused a major clash with the Church shortly before the break with Rome. Women could not claim clergy but could plead pregnancy. Jurors could save defendants from death by ‘pious perjury’, finding them guilty of clergiable offences or petit larceny, and judges could overturn inappropriate convictions by searching for technical errors. There were several decisions concerning the inflexibility of the penalties for treason.
Riemannian and Lorentzian geometry
Authors: Choquet-Bruhat Yvonne
Published: March 2024

We give in this chapter a survey of the basic definitions of Riemannian and Lorentzian differential geometry that are necessary in General Relativity. The given definition of a manifold does not imply that it is a Hausdorff topological space; that is, it admits the possibility for two points not to have non-intersecting neighbourhoods.
The Origin of Behaviour
Authors: Lo Andrew W. , Zhang Ruixun
Published: March 2024

Chapter 2 contains a single evolutionary framework for explaining the origin of several behaviours that have been observed in organisms ranging from ants to humans—including risk-sensitive foraging, risk aversion, loss aversion, probability matching, randomization, and diversification. Given an initial population of individuals, each assigned a purely arbitrary behaviour with respect to a binary choice problem, and assuming that offspring behave identically to their parents, only those behaviours linked to reproductive success will survive; less successful behaviours will disappear exponentially quickly. When reproductive randomness is perfectly correlated across individuals, natural selection yields behaviours that may be individually sub optimal but are optimal from the population perspective. When reproductive randomness is independent across individuals, the individual and population perspectives coincide. This framework generates a surprisingly rich set of behaviours, and the simplicity and generality of the model suggest that these derived behaviours are primitive and nearly universal within and across species.
Bounded Rationality and Intelligence
Authors: Lo Andrew W. , Zhang Ruixun
Published: March 2024

Chapter 8 reconciles the contradictory perspectives between Homo economicus—rational man—and observed human behaviours that depart from this ideal. We extend Chapter 2’s binary choice model to incorporate the role of intelligence, which we define as any trait that increases reproductive success. In the absence of intelligence, the model reduces to the baseline behaviours of Chapter 2. When intelligence is present, the type of reproductive randomness also matters: when randomness is independent across individuals, either risk-neutral behaviour or probability matching will occur, depending on the cost of intelligence in terms of reproductive success. When randomness is correlated across individuals, we derive an implicit formula that shows how intelligence can emerge via selection, why it may be bounded, and how such bounds typically imply the coexistence of multiple levels and types of intelligence that reflects specific environmental conditions.
A Computational View of Market Efficiency
Authors: Lo Andrew W. , Zhang Ruixun
Published: March 2024

Chapter 14 presents a new approach to understanding market efficiency from a computational viewpoint. Borrowing from theoretical computer science, a market is defined as efficient with respect to resources S (e.g. time, memory, computational power) if no strategy using resources S can make any excess profits. As a first step, memory-m strategies are considered in which action at time t depends only on the m previous observations at times t−m,…,t−1. A simple model of market evolution, where strategies impact the market by their decision to buy or sell, is studied. We show that the effect of optimal strategies using memory m can lead to market dynamics that were not present initially such as (1) price spikes and crashes, and (2) the possibility that strategies using memory m′ > m can generate larger excess profits than was initially possible. This framework provides an explanation for the technological arms race of quantitative trading firms.
Hedge Funds: The Galápagos Islands of Finance
Authors: Lo Andrew W. , Zhang Ruixun
Published: March 2024

Chapter 16 focuses on the hedge fund industry, studied through the lens of adaptive markets. A selective review of the academic literature on hedge funds as well as empirical results for this industry are presented. This chapter aims to provide four distinct perspectives: the investor’s, the portfolio manager’s, the regulator’s, and the academic’s. Each of these perspectives offers a different set of insights into the hedge fund industry, as well as the broader financial system, and the combination provides surprisingly rich implications for the efficient markets hypothesis, investment management, systemic risk, financial regulation, and other aspects of financial theory and practice.
Introduction
Authors: Langdridge Darren
Published: March 2024

This chapter introduces the structure and key themes of the book by locating the primary argument about the need to be critical of critique itself in the context of the rapid change in rights for sexual minorities in recent years. This is located within the language of citizenship and the claim for rights that have emerged in recent years as new sexual stories. Existing arguments about the complex nature of sexual progress are explored before the primary argument about the need to be hold critique in a dialectical relationship with it’s necessary opposite—tradition—is outlined. Additional context is provided through critical examination of arguments about intersectionality, post-colonial theory and neo-liberalism.
Spectacular critique and abject citizenship
Authors: Langdridge Darren
Published: March 2024

This chapter explores the limits to sexual citizenship and the way that there is a specific distorted and distorting form of critique that seeks out or otherwise serves to create the spectacular. This is critique without tradition, critique without accountability. Three cases act to evidence this claim. The first concerns the ‘down low’ and the claim that bisexually behaving Black males are responsible for HIV transmission. The second case concerns the story of ‘barebacking’ told of gay and bisexual men by queer theorists among others. The final case concerns recent work using the progressive language of sexual citizenship with would-be sexual abusers or ‘minority-attracted persons’. All three cases demonstrate the need for critique to be tempered by tradition and itself subject to greater critical scrutiny or risk damage to minority communities.
Gluconeogenesis in the extraembryonic yolk syncytial layer of the zebrafish embryo
Authors: Furukawa Fumiya , Aoyagi Akihiro , Sano Kaori , Sameshima Keita , Goto Miku , Tseng Yung-Che , Ikeda Daisuke , Lin Ching-Chun , Uchida Katsuhisa , Okumura Sei-ichi , Yasumoto Ko , Jimbo Mitsuru , Hwang Pung-Pung
Published: March 2024

Yolk-consuming (lecithotrophic) embryos of oviparous animals, such as those of fish, need to make do with the maternally derived yolk. However, in many cases, yolk possesses little carbohydrates and sugars, including glucose, the essential monosaccharide. Interestingly, increases in the glucose content were found in embryos of some teleost fishes; however, the origin of this glucose has been unknown. Unveiling new metabolic strategies in fish embryos has a potential for better aquaculture technologies. In the present study, using zebrafish, we assessed how these embryos obtain the glucose. We employed stable isotope (13C)-labeled substrates and injected them to the zebrafish embryos. Our liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based isotope tracking revealed that among all tested substrate, glutamate was most actively metabolized to produce glucose in the zebrafish embryos. Expression analysis for gluconeogenic genes found that many of these were expressed in the yolk syncytial layer (YSL), an extraembryonic tissue found in teleost fishes. Generation 0 (G0) knockout of pck2, a gene encoding the key enzyme for gluconeogenesis from Krebs cycle intermediates, reduced gluconeogenesis from glutamate, suggesting that this gene is responsible for gluconeogenesis from glutamate in the zebrafish embryos. These results showed that teleost YSL undergoes gluconeogenesis, likely contributing to the glucose supplementation to the embryos with limited glucose source. Since many other animal lineages lack YSL, further comparative analysis will be interesting.
National Benchmarks to Understand How Doctor of Physical Therapy Learners From Minoritized Race and Ethnicity Groups Perceive Their Physical Therapist Education Program
Authors: Shields Richard K , Chevan Julia , Kennedy Kai , Bailey Charlotte , Dudley-Javoroski Shauna
Published: March 2024

Objective

The demographic homogeneity of the physical therapist workforce and its educational pathway may undermine the profession’s potential to improve the health of society. Building academic environments that support the development of all learners is fundamental to building a workforce to meet societal health care needs. The Benchmarking in Physical Therapy Education study uses the Physical Therapy Graduation Questionnaire to comprehensively assess learner perceptions of the physical therapist academic environment. The present report examined whether racial and ethnic minoritized (REM) physical therapist learners perceive their doctor of physical therapy education differently from their non-REM peers.

Methods

Five thousand and eighty graduating doctor of physical therapy learners in 89 institutions provided demographic data and perceptions of a range of learning environment domains. Analyses included REM versus non-REM comparisons as well as comparisons among individual race and ethnicity groups.

Results

Compared with their non-minoritized peers, REM respondents expressed less satisfaction with their education and lower confidence in their preparedness for entry-level practice. REM respondents observed more faculty professionalism disconnects and demonstrated less agreement that their program had fostered their overall psychological well-being. REM respondents experienced higher rates of mistreatment than their peers and reported higher rates of exhaustion and disengagement, the 2 axes of academic burnout. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino/a/x (Hispanic, Latino, Latina, and/or Latinx) respondents incurred significantly more educational debt than Asian and White respondents. REM respondents reported greater empathy and greater interest in working in underserved communities.

Conclusion

REM respondents perceived the physical therapist learning environment more negatively than their non-minoritized peers but expressed strong interest in serving people from underserved communities. These national benchmarks offer academic institutions the opportunity to self-assess their own environment and to work to improve the quality of the educational experience for all learners.

Impact

In a nationwide benchmarking study, learners from minoritized race and ethnicity backgrounds reported more negative experiences and outcomes during physical therapist education than their non-minoritized peers. These same learners demonstrated high empathy and interest in serving people from underserved (under-resourced) communities. Learning environments that permit all individuals to thrive may be an essential avenue to improve the health of a rapidly diversifying society.
Adaptation process of decellularized vascular grafts as hemodialysis access in vivo
Authors: Wang Tun , Lu Peng , Wan Zicheng , He Zhenyu , Cheng Siyuan , Zhou Yang , Liao Sheng , Wang Mo , Wang Tianjian , Shu Chang
Published: March 2024

Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) have emerged as the preferred option for constructing hemodialysis access in numerous patients. Clinical trials have demonstrated that decellularized vascular graft exhibits superior patency and excellent biocompatibility compared to polymer materials; however, it still faces challenges such as intimal hyperplasia and luminal dilation. The absence of suitable animal models hinders our ability to describe and explain the pathological phenomena above and in vivo adaptation process of decellularized vascular graft at the molecular level. In this study, we first collected clinical samples from patients who underwent the construction of dialysis access using allogeneic decellularized vascular graft, and evaluated their histological features and immune cell infiltration status 5 years post-transplantation. Prior to the surgery, we assessed the patency and intimal hyperplasia of the decellularized vascular graft using non-invasive ultrasound. Subsequently, in order to investigate the in vivo adaptation of decellularized vascular grafts in an animal model, we attempted to construct an AVG model using decellularized vascular grafts in a small animal model. We employed a physical–chemical–biological approach to decellularize the rat carotid artery, and histological evaluation demonstrated the successful removal of cellular and antigenic components while preserving extracellular matrix constituents such as elastic fibers and collagen fibers. Based on these results, we designed and constructed the first allogeneic decellularized rat carotid artery AVG model, which exhibited excellent patency and closely resembled clinical characteristics. Using this animal model, we provided a preliminary description of the histological features and partial immune cell infiltration in decellularized vascular grafts at various time points, including Day 7, Day 21, Day 42, and up to one-year post-implantation. These findings establish a foundation for further investigation into the in vivo adaptation process of decellularized vascular grafts in small animal model.
Are solid state nuclear track detectors truly integrated devices?—experimental evidence in radon measurements
Authors: Wasikiewicz Jaroslaw M
Published: March 2024

Passive diffusion radon monitoring devices were exposed to a range of radon concentrations and their variations. The experimental results, backed up by the statistical analysis, showed that the radon concentration had virtually no effect on the final integrated exposure results, with the exception for the very low concentration. Therefore, it was proven that such devices are truly integrated exposure devices.
Mathematics anxiety in undergraduate business studies students
Authors: McCullagh Orla , Ryan Maria , Fitzmaurice Olivia
Published: March 2024

Performance in mathematics can be attributed to factors other than mathematical ability. A growing body of literature examines the significant impact of mathematics anxiety (MA) on mathematical performance and individuals' choices concerning study and career pathways. However, much of the focus has been on science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, renowned for their high mathematical content. This study examines the prevalence, characteristics and influence of MA in undergraduate business studies students. In all aspects of business, there is a strong impetus for the adoption of artificial intelligence, data analytics and machine learning, prompting reform of business studies curricula. Hence, this is a critical juncture at which to examine MA within this cohort. We survey undergraduate business studies students using the Mathematics Anxiety Scale-UK as a measure of participants' MA and examine its relevance in business major selection. Gender emerges as a key differentiating factor in levels of MA and the selection of business majors.
Spatial-temporal distribution of visceral leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001–2020: expansion and challenges
Authors: Vasconcelos Alex de O , Bedoya-Pacheco Sandro J , Cunha e Silva Rafael R , Magalhães Mônica de A F M , de Sá Tayana P S O , Dias Cristina M G , Meneguete Patrícia S , de Almeida Paula M P , Pimentel Maria Inês F
Published: March 2024

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis results from complex interactions among humans, dogs and environment. Brazil accounts for 97% of cases in the Americas.

Methods

Twenty years (2001–2020) of the endemic disease in the state of Rio de Janeiro were studied. Incidence, lethality, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were investigated, complemented with spatial methodologies (kernel and clusters).

Results

Ninety-seven human cases and 625 dogs were reported. Of the 92 cities, 22 were human endemic areas. The state had a low incidence level (0.6 per 100 000). Lethality was higher compared with the Brazilian average. More than 90% of infections occurred in urban areas. Most cases (66%) occurred in men. The predominant age groups were 0–4 y (28.7%) and 20–39 y (32.9%). Fever (89.5%), splenomegaly (83.2%) and hepatomegaly (76.8%) were the main clinical manifestations. Spatial analysis showed a displacement of the human endemic: in the first decade (2001–2010), cases were concentrated in the Metropolitan region, and in the second decade (2011–2020) in the Médio Paraíba region of the state. Most of the endemic area (56.4%) had canine infections without reported human cases.

Conclusions

Disorderly urbanisation and precarious living conditions favour the transmission of the disease. Changes in the environment and migratory processes contribute to its expansion.
Research on intelligent fault diagnosis for railway point machines using deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Xiao Shuai , Feng Qingsheng , Li Xue , Li Hong
Published: March 2024

The advanced diagnosis of faults in railway point machines is crucial for ensuring the smooth operation of the turnout conversion system and the safe functioning of trains. Signal processing and deep learning-based methods have been extensively explored in the realm of fault diagnosis. While these approaches effectively extract fault features and facilitate the creation of end-to-end diagnostic models, they often demand considerable expert experience and manual intervention in feature selection, structural construction and parameter optimization of neural networks. This reliance on manual efforts can result in weak generalization performance and a lack of intelligence in the model. To address these challenges, this study introduces an intelligent fault diagnosis method based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). Initially, a one-dimensional convolutional neural network agent is established, leveraging the specific characteristics of point machine fault data to automatically extract diverse features across multiple scales. Subsequently, deep Q network is incorporated as the central component of the diagnostic framework. The fault classification interactive environment is meticulously designed, and the agent training network is optimized. Through extensive interaction between the agent and the environment using fault data, satisfactory cumulative rewards and effective fault classification strategies are achieved. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed method's high efficacy, with a training accuracy of 98.9% and a commendable test accuracy of 98.41%. Notably, the utilization of DRL in addressing the fault diagnosis challenge for railway point machines enhances the intelligence of diagnostic process, particularly through its excellent independent exploration capability.
Factors affecting the dwell times of peripheral intravenous catheters inserted by traditional vs. ultrasound-guided methods
Authors: Harrell Billie B.
Published: March 2024

Securing reliable and high-quality peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) access is vital for patient-centered care. Factors such as patient condition, catheter type, and insertion method can influence PIVC dwell times. This review examines the differences in dwell times between traditional PIVCs and ultrasound-guided PIVCs (USGPIVCs) and their implications for patient care.
Bladder cancer
Authors: Pullen Richard L.
Published: March 2024

Bladder cancer, the 10th most common cancer globally, primarily manifests as urothelial cell carcinoma. Risk factors involve acquired genetic mutations and congenital predispositions, impacting diagnosis and management. This article discusses the risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment strategies, with emphasis on providing comprehensive nursing support and patient education to patients with bladder cancer.
Onychocytic Matricoma: A Clinical, Dermoscopic, and Pathological Analysis of 14 Cases
Authors: Perrin Christophe , Coutts Michael , Boukari Feriel , Ambrosetti Damien
Published: March 2024

Onychocytic matricoma (OCM) is a benign neoplasm of the nail matrix. Only 18 cases of this tumor have been reported in the literature to date. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 14 patients with OCM. The most common clinical feature was longitudinal xanthopachyonychia (n = 9), followed by longitudinal leukopachyonychia (=3) and longitudinal pachymelanonychia (n = 2). The most common clinical findings identified following dermoscopy and analysis at high magnification of classical photographs were free-edge thickening of the nail plate without pitting (n = 14), longitudinal ridging (n = 7), round white clods (n = 7), white dots (n = 7), and filiform hemorrhages (n = 7), followed by oval and linear white clods (n = 5), fuzzy lateral border (n = 5), and red–purple blood clods (n = 3). Nail clipping histopathology showed a thickened nail plate with multiple, small, round-to-oval spaces. The tumor expressed immunopositivity for LEF-1. Dermoscopy of the nail plate and nail clipping histology provides useful information with regards to the differential diagnosis with subungual squamous cell carcinoma and nail melanoma. Ex vivo–in vivo correlation facilitates a better dermoscopic assessment of this unique underrecognized disease. However, the differential diagnosis between OCM and onychocytic carcinoma requires biopsy of the tumor. LEF-1 as an onychogenic marker can be used to resolve the differential diagnosis between OCM and subungual longitudinal acanthoma/seborrheic keratosis.
Ideas and Innovations: Complete Resolution of Surgical Marking Tattoo Postminimal Access Cranial Suspension Facelift Using a High-power Picosecond Laser
Authors: Nemcevic Andjela , Bajaj Shirin , Geronemus Roy
Published: March 2024

Traumatic tattoos can occur when foreign pigment particles are embedded within the dermis, sometimes resulting as traumatic events. Traditional treatment modalities, including surgical excision, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, dermabrasion, CO2 lasers, and argon lasers, have limitations such as nonselectivity for pigment and risks of scarring and discoloration. We present the case of a patient who developed a postoperative tattoo after a minimal access cranial suspension facelift procedure that subsequently completely resolved after treatment with the high-powered 1064-nm picosecond laser. The patient achieved complete resolution of the postoperative tattoo after five laser treatments without adverse events or recurrence of pigmentation on follow-up. High-powered 1064-nm picosecond laser can serve as a fast, safe, and effective modality that in our clinic has become the first-line treatment for traumatic tattoos, and in our patient led to high satisfaction.
Jawline Aesthetic Definition: Enhancement with Masseteric Augmentation Using Ultrasound-Guided Fat Transfer
Authors: Manzaneda Cipriani Raul M. , Cárdenas Larenas Juan Pablo , Viaro Mauricio S.S. , Flores González Emmanuel A. , Adrianzen Gerardo , Babaitis Ricardo , Duran Vega Héctor , Stefanelli Matt , Ventura Ricardo
Published: March 2024

Background:

The rejuvenation and restoration of a well-defined jawline contour are crucial for enhancing facial aesthetics in both men and women. Within the jawline aesthetic unit (mandibular angle), the masseter muscle plays a significant role, as it is responsible for mandibular masticatory movements. We propose a new approach using ultrasound-guided intramuscular fat transfer to enhance the mandibular angle and jawline.

Methods:

The multicenter study included 20 patients from three countries (Peru, Brazil, and Mexico). After fat harvesting, the ultrasound-guided masseteric fat transfer was performed with a 1.5-mm Viaro cannula from an incision beneath the ear lobule. The fat was then injected intramuscularly into the masseter at each side of the mandibular angle.

Results:

Masseter ultrasound-guided fat transfer was performed on 10 men and 10 women between 2021 and 2022. The patients had a mean age of 34.4 ± 6.39 years and a mean body mass index of 22.39 ± 2.59 kg per m2. The mean injected volume was 5.83 mL and 5.58 mL on the right and left sides, respectively. Muscle thickness increased in patients immediately postsurgery, but decreased after 1 month. The muscle remained significantly thicker on each side than the presurgery measurements in patients regardless of gender (both P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

Ultrasound-guided intramuscular fat transfer is a safe and reproducible technique for enhancing the jawline contour at the mandibular angle. We believe that it could be a more durable solution than other procedures, although further evaluation of long-term results is necessary.
Capture, Coding, and Reporting of Health Care and Medicine Information in Australian Workers’ Compensation Systems
Authors: Tefera Yonas Getaye , Di Donato Michael , Sheehan Luke R. , Gray Shannon , Nielsen Suzanne , Xia Ting , Collie Alex
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aims to characterize the approaches to collecting, coding, and reporting health care and medicines data within Australian workers’ compensation schemes.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of data and information professionals in major Australian workers’ compensation jurisdictions. Questionnaires were developed with input from key informants and a review of existing documentation.

Results

Twenty-five participants representing regulators (40%) and insurers (60%) with representation from all Australian jurisdictions were included. Health care and medicines data sources, depth, coding standards, and reporting practices exhibited significant variability across the Australian workers’ compensation schemes.

Conclusions

Substantial variability exists in the capture, coding, and reporting of health care and medicine data in Australian workers’ compensation jurisdictions. There are opportunities to advance understanding of medicines and health service delivery in these schemes through greater harmonization of data collection, data coding, and reporting.
Could nerve transplantation be the future of this field: a bibliometric analysis about lumbosacral plexus injury
Authors: Wang Sheng , Xia Demeng , Song Danyan , Lu Nan , Chen Aimin
Published: March 2024

Background:

Lumbosacral plexus injury is a highly distressing clinical issue with profound implications for patients’ quality of life. Since the publication of the first relevant study in 1953, there has been very limited progress in basic research and clinical treatment in this field, and the developmental trajectory and research priorities in this field have not been systematically summarized using scientific methods, leaving the future direction of this research to be explored.

Methods:

Utilizing publications from the Web of Science (WoS) database, our research employed bibliometric methodology to analyze the fundamental components of publications, synthesize research trends, and forecast future directions.

Results:

A total of 150 publications were included in our study, and the impressive advancement of research heat in this field can be attributed to the continuous increase in the number of papers, ranging from 14 papers in 2000 to 34 papers in 2023 over 5 years. Regarding the country, a central position in both quantity (H-index=125) and quality of publications (65 publications) is occupied by the United States, and close collaborations with other countries are observed. In terms of publication institutions, the highest number of publications (nine publications) is held by the Second Military Medical University. The journal with the most publications (five publications) is the Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection and Critical Care. A pivotal role has been played by basic medical research in the development of this field. Concerning hotspots, the focus of the research core can be divided into three clusters (etiology, diagnosis and treatment; molecular, cells and mechanisms; physiology, and pathology).

Conclusion:

This marks the inaugural bibliometric analysis of lumbosacral plexus injuries, offering a comprehensive overview of current publications. Our findings illuminate future research directions, international collaborations, and interdisciplinary relationships. Future research will emphasize clinical treatment and mechanism research, with a focus on sacral nerve stimulation and nerve transplantation.
Is the Position of the Basal-Most Electrode Depending on Electrode Array Design and Influencing Postoperative Speech Perception? A Retrospective Analysis of 495 Ears
Authors: Beck Rainer Linus , Aschendorff Antje , Arndt Susan , Hildenbrand Tanja , Ketterer Manuel Christoph
Published: March 2024

Objective

The objective of this study is to examine the influence of electrode array design on the position of the basal-most electrode in cochlear implant (CI) surgery and therefore the stimulability of the basal cochlea. Specifically, we evaluated the angular insertion depth of the basal-most electrode in perimodiolar and straight electrode arrays in relation to postoperative speech perception.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 495 patients between 2013 and 2018 using the Cochlear™ Contour Advance® (CA), Cochlear™ Slim Straight® (SSA), or Cochlear™ Slim Modiolar® (SMA) electrode arrays, as well as the MED-EL Flex24 (F24), MED-EL Flex28 (F28), and MED-EL FlexSoft (F31.5) electrode arrays. Cochlear size and the position of the basal-most electrode were measured using rotational tomography or cone beam computed tomography, and the results were compared with postoperative speech perception in monosyllables and numbers.

Results

The straight electrode arrays, specifically the F31.5 (31.5 mm length) and the F28 (28 mm length), exhibited a significantly greater angular insertion depth of the basal-most electrode. No significant correlation was found between cochlear morphology measurements and the position of the basal-most electrode artifact. Cochleostomy-inserted electrode arrays showed a significantly higher insertion depth of the basal-most electrode. Nevertheless, the position of the basal-most electrode did not have a significant impact on postoperative speech perception.

Conclusion

Straight electrode arrays with longer lengths achieved deeper angular insertion depths of the basal-most electrode. Cochlear morphology does not have a substantial influence on the position of basal-most electrode. The study confirms that the basal area of the cochlea, responsible for high-frequency range during acoustic stimulation, is not the primary region for speech understanding via electrical stimulation with CI.
Concordance Analysis of the Pressure Chamber and Tubomanometer According to Estève for the Determination of Eustachian Tube Opening Pressure
Authors: Deuss Eric , Löding Katharina , Breitrück Nils , Lang Stephan , Klußmann Jens Peter , Jansen Stefanie , Meyer Moritz Friedo
Published: March 2024

Introduction

For the diagnosis of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), clinical procedures such as tympanometry, micro-otoscopy, and maneuvers according to Toynbee and Valsalva only allow an indirect assessment for the moment. With a prevalence of up to 5%, the selection of patients with ETD and its subtypes is clinically relevant. Dynamic methods of Eustachian tube function assessment include a hypo/hyperbaric pressure chamber and Estève’s tubomanometer (TMM). One method of assessing ETD is the evaluation of Eustachian tube opening pressure (ETOP).

Material and Methods

We performed a concordance analysis between pressure chamber and TMM to determine ETOP. For this purpose, we analyzed the measurements of both methods from 28 healthy subjects using Bland–Altman plots, regression according to Passing–Bablok and Lin’s concordance correlations coefficient. The maximum tolerated clinical deviation of measured values was set at 10%.

Results

A maximum of 53 measurements of ETOP between pressure chamber and TMM were compared. Mean ETOP for TMM was 28.7 hPa, passive opening was 32 hPa, Toynbee maneuver was 28.4 hPa, and Valsalva maneuver was 54.6 hPa. Concordance analysis revealed following results: passive opening versus TMM: Bland–Altman mean difference 3.3 hPa, limits of agreement ±31.8 hPa; Passing–Bablok regression y = 0.67x + 9.36; Lin’s r
ccc = 0.18. Toynbee versus TMM: Bland–Altman mean difference 0.7 hPa, limits of agreement ±35.8 hPa; Passing–Bablok regression y = 0.47x + 14.03; Lin’s r
ccc = 0.14. Valsalva versus TMM: Bland–Altman mean difference 24.2 hPa, limits of agreement ±117.5 hPa; Passing–Bablok regression y = 0.17x + 25.12; Lin’s r
ccc = 0.18.

Conclusion

Estève‘s tubomanometer and pressure chamber measurements of ETOP are not concordant. The two methods cannot be interchanged without reservation.
Gut hormones and appetite regulation
Authors: Hong So-hyeon , Choi Kyung Mook
Published: March 2024

Purpose of review

Various gut hormones interact with the brain through delicate communication, thereby influencing appetite and subsequent changes in body weight. This review summarizes the effects of gut hormones on appetite, with a focus on recent research.

Recent findings

Ghrelin is known as an orexigenic hormone, whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), cholecystokinin (CCK), postprandial peptide YY (PYY), and oxyntomodulin (OXM) are known as anorexigenic hormones. Recent human studies have revealed that gut hormones act differently in various systems, including adipose tissue, beyond appetite and energy intake, and even involve in high-order thinking. Environmental factors including meal schedule, food contents and quality, type of exercise, and sleep deprivation also play a role in the influence of gut hormone on appetite, weight change, and obesity. Recently published studies have shown that retatrutide, a triple-agonist of GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptor, and orforglipron, a GLP-1 receptor partial agonist, are effective in weight loss and improving various metabolic parameters associated with obesity.

Various gut hormones influence appetite, and several drugs targeting these receptors have been reported to exert positive effects on weight loss in humans. Given that diverse dietary and environmental factors affect the actions of gut hormones and appetite, there is a need for integrated and largescale long-term studies in this field.
Handgrip Strength Predicts Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Freckelton Julia , Rajagopalan Ashray , Moore Gregory T. , Croagh Daniel
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common cancer with a poor prognosis and is associated with a high prevalence of cachexia, a metabolic syndrome of muscle wasting due to complex mechanisms. In addition to loss of muscle mass, cancer patients also experience functional deterioration. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is an association between muscle mass and function and clinical outcomes, particularly survival.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study including all patients with PDAC at Monash Health from March 2016 to December 2017. We conducted body composition analysis for myopenia and handgrip strength testing. We constructed Kaplan-Meier curves to estimate whether myopenia and low hand grip strength were associated with poorer survival.

Results

Myopenia was not associated with a significant difference in PDAC-specific survival (log-rank P = 0.60). However, low handgrip strength was associated with significantly worse PDAC-specific survival compared with other patients (log-rank hazard ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–3.09; P = 0.004).

Conclusions

The relationship between survival in PDAC and handgrip strength, but not anatomical muscle mass, suggests that functional testing of strength may be important in prognostication of patients with PDAC, alongside existing tools such as the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.
The effect of real versus sham intermittent theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with conventional treatment on poststroke dysphagia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Suh InHyuk , You JaeIn , Son Sangpil , Bae Jin Seok , Lim Jong Youb
Published: March 2024

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the pharyngeal motor cortex has shown beneficial effects on poststroke dysphagia. Previous studies, however, using intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for dysphagia have targeted the suprahyoid motor cortex. This study aimed to investigate the effects of iTBS to the pharyngeal motor cortex in patients with poststroke dysphagia, using ultrasound and videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). A randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients with dysphagia due to a first-time unilateral stroke. Patients who had signs and symptoms of dysphagia and showed aspiration or penetration on VFSS were included. Twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to either real or sham iTBS groups, and each patient underwent five sessions of iTBS to the ipsilesional pharyngeal motor cortex. Each iTBS session was followed by conventional dysphagia treatment for 30 min. The hyoid–larynx approximation measured by ultrasound, penetration–aspiration scale (PAS) and functional dysphagia scale (FDS) assessed by VFSS were evaluated before and after completion of iTBS. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, including age and type of stroke. The hyoid–larynx approximation ratio increased in the real iTBS group and decreased in the sham iTBS group (median values of pre–post differences were 0.27 vs. −0.01, P < 0.001). The PAS and FDS showed greater improvements in the real iTBS group than in the sham iTBS group (median values of pre–post differences of the PAS were −2.50 vs. 0.00, P = 0.004; median values of pre–post differences of the FDS were −12.50 vs. −2.50, P < 0.001). No adverse effects were reported during or after iTBS sessions. Five-session iTBS to the pharyngeal motor cortex combined with conventional treatment led to a significant improvement in poststroke dysphagia in terms of hyoid–larynx approximation which is related to the suprahyoid muscle. Considering the short duration of one iTBS session, this can be an efficient and effective treatment tool for patients with this condition.
Individualized prediction of conditional survival for colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Gu Jiani , Zhang Lijun , Zhang Yanjin , Chen Xia , Gu Ting , Cai Jidong , Yao Lifeng , Yan Lihua
Published: March 2024

Background:

Conditional survival (CS) considers the time already survived after surgery and may provide additional survival information. The authors sought to construct and validate novel conditional survival nomograms for the prediction of conditional overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) patients.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with stage I–III SRCC between 2010 and 2019 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The formula calculating CS was: CS(x|y) = S(x+y)/S(x), where S(x) represents the survival at x years. CS nomograms were then constructed to predict the 5-year conditional OS and CSS, followed by internal validation.

Results:

A total of 944 colorectal SRCC patients were finally identified in this study. The 5-year OS and CSS improved gradually with additional survival time. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis conducted in training set revealed that age, race, T stage, LNR, and perineural invasion were independent risk factors for both OS and CSS. Two nomograms with considerable predictive ability were successfully constructed [area under the curve (AUC) for OS: 0.788; AUC for CSS: 0.847] and validated (AUC for OS: 0.773; AUC for CSS: 0.799) for the prediction of 5-year OS and CSS, based on the duration of 1–4 years post-surgery survival.

Conclusions:

The probability of achieving 5-year OS and 5-year CSS in colorectal SRCC patients improved gradually with additional time. Conditional nomograms considering survival time will be more reliable and informative for risk stratification and postoperative follow-up.
Toward subtalar joint axis–driven computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing foot orthoses: Reliability of a noninvasive clinical scanning protocol
Authors: Potier Clément , Claeys Kurt , Deschamps Kevin
Published: March 2024

Background:

The subtalar joint axis (STJA) occupies a key role in the dynamics of the lower limb kinetic chain, and its location has a wide interindividual variability. It has been suggested that considering the STJA location when designing foot orthoses may help to apply the required mechanical dose. However, the evidence is more anecdotal than empirical.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the STJA digitization, a procedure combining the clinical determination of the functional STJA location and its subsequent 3-dimensional (3D) scanning.

Study Design:

Two examiners identified the posterior and anterior exit points of the functional STJA on the skin of 15 healthy participants using a clinical method in a repeated-measure design.

Methods:

A handheld 3D scanner was used to scan the feet and the skin markers. The 3D coordinates of the skin markers were subsequently quantified and (1) STJA digitization intratester within-session, (2) STJA digitization intratester between-session, and (3) STJA digitization intertester between-session reliabilities were evaluated.

Results:

When pooling all skin marker 3D coordinates, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the STJA intratester within-session reliability ranged from 0.74 to 0.98. ICCs for the STJA digitization intratester between-session reliability ranged from 0.58 to 0.94. ICCs for the STJA digitization intertester reliability ranged from 0.56 to 0.81. Standard error of measurement for the mediolateral position of the talus marker (anterior exit point of the STJA) was substantially higher than that for the other coordinates.

Conclusions:

Overall, the STJA digitization demonstrated a good intratester between-session reliability and may be used in a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing workflow to create foot orthoses. However, further efforts should be considered to improve the scanning process and intertester reliability.