bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of a commercial immunochromatographic strip crossmatch kit and standard laboratory crossmatch methods for blood transfusion compatibility in dogs
Authors: Zaremba Rebecca M. , Brooks Aimee C. , Thomovsky Elizabeth J. , Moore George E. , Johnson Paula A.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate agreement between 2 standard laboratory (SL) methods and an immunochromatographic strip (ICS) method to crossmatch dogs receiving RBC transfusions. A second objective was to evaluate uninterpretable SL crossmatch results as compared to ICS in the presence of autoagglutination.

Design

Prospective observational study (September 2018 to October 2019).

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Forty anemic dogs receiving RBC transfusions.

Interventions

None.

Measurement and Main Results

All dogs received DEA 1‐negative packed RBCs. Three crossmatch methods were evaluated against the same unit transfused to each dog: SL method performed at institutional laboratory (SL‐I), SL method sent to a commercial laboratory (SL‐C), and a commercially available point‐of‐care ICS method. Major and minor crossmatches were incompatible for 2.5%/7.5% of ICS tests, 82.5%/52.5% of SL‐I tests, and 52.5%/27.5% of SL‐C tests. Agreement between ICS and SL‐C major (κ = 0.05) and minor (κ = 0.02) crossmatches and between ICS and SL‐I major (κ = 0.009) and minor (κ = 0.03) crossmatches was slight. Agreement between SL‐C and SL‐I major (κ = –0.06) and minor (κ = –0.12) crossmatches was poor. Results of major and minor crossmatches were uninterpretable due to autoagglutination in 38%/38% for SL‐I and 29%/18% for SL‐C crossmatches. ICS method was interpretable for 93% (major) and 98% (minor) crossmatches. After exclusion of uninterpretable SL pairings, agreement still remained poor to slight between all tests. Only 1 of 40 dogs (2.5%; 95% confidence interval: <1.0%–13.2%) had an immediate immunological transfusion reaction.

Conclusions

Lack of agreement between all methodologies was noted. The high level of incompatibility predicted by SL methods despite lack of clinically relevant reactions suggests a high false incompatibility rate as compared to the ICS test. ICS testing was also able to give results more frequently in the face of autoagglutination. Further work is needed to investigate the ICS method's ability to predict clinically significant transfusion reactions.
Right auricle aneurysm in dogs can be detected with multidetector‐row CT and presents with varying morphology
Authors: Costa Arianna , Cordella Alessia , Caldin Marco , Bertolini Giovanna
Published: July 2022

Right auricle aneurysm (RAA) has been reported to be a rare congenital or acquired condition in dogs, however published CT characteristics are limited to a small number of cases. The aim of this 13‐year, single‐center, retrospective, cross‐sectional study was to describe the prevalence and appearance of RAA in a larger group of dogs. Reports of 10,886 dogs that underwent thoracic CT examination for various reasons were reviewed. Computed tomographic data of dogs with presumed RAA (based on published imaging characteristics) were retrieved from the archive. Oblique multiplanar reformatted images were used to record RAA site, shape, and dimensions (neck, maximum height and width). Patients’ sex, age, and body weight were evaluated for any association with the presence of RAA. Presumed RAA was detected in 23/10,886 dogs having thoracic CT in the selected period of time (prevalence 0.21%). Three RAA phenotypes were described: diffuse saccular dilation in 19 of 23 dogs, focal saccular dilation in three of 23 dogs, and fusiform in one of 23 dogs. The bodyweights of dogs with presumed RAA were significantly lower than those of the remaining 10836 dogs without RAA (median 8 kg [IQR 5; range 37.6] and median 16 kg [IQR 23; range 116.9] respectively; P < 0.003. Female sex was also significantly associated with RAA (P = 0.03). Findings indicated that RAA has a low prevalence in dogs, can be detected with CT, can be present in asymptomatic dogs, and can have varying appearances. In this sample of dogs, female sex and low body weight were significantly associated with RAA.
Evaluation of LiDAR Point Clouds Density in the Interpolation of Digital Terrain Models for Power Line Planning in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Pacheco Admilson Da Penha , Centeno Jorge Antonio Silva , Silva Claudionor Ribeiro
Published: July 2022

Mapping activities for the implementation of basic and executive projects for electric power transmission lines systematically involves topographic surveys. This study presents the results of a comparative study on the influence of the density of aerial survey points, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), for the calculation of digital terrain models (DTMs) in typical areas of the northeastern region of Brazil, in the context of modeling ground for planning electricity transmission lines. The study area is the region covered by the 230 kV Ibicoara/Brumado transmission line, located in the state of Bahia/Brazil.. In part of this region, elevations of the mountains of the Western Edge of Chapada Diamantina predominate. Therefore, points with varying densities were used to interpolate DTMs in different environments. Point cloud classification (Airborne LiDAR) was performed using the TerraScan program using semi-automatic classification methods, followed by manual refinements. To evaluate the terrain models obtained with different point densities, four areas were selected under transmission line: Area 1 (24.4/m2), Area 2 (46.0/m2), Area 3 (33.7/m2) e Area 4 (29.7/m2). The Airborne LiDAR survey was performed with an Optech ALTM Pegasus HD500 sensor, calibrated to obtain a density of 15 points/m2. The results showed that, depending on the nature of the vegetation cover, less dense laser surveys do not offer enough quality to generate DTMs. However, in some cases, when the vegetation is denser and the terrain is not flat, the quality of the DTM decreases as the density of the points decreases. The study shows that the survey density must be suitable for the region to be analyzed. An important guideline would be to repeat this study in other areas with different coverage and relief variations, in order to create specifications to serve as a basis for planning LiDAR surveys on other transmission lines.
Geostatistical Mapping of Folded Itabiritic Rocks of the Bonito Mine, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Fonteles Helano , Veríssimo César Ulisses
Published: July 2022

Geological modeling is the primary task of any exploratory geological investigation, and it is performed even during the mine development. In the study area, the Serra dos Quintos Formation hosts banded iron formations represented by assorted itabirites. The database used in this work was exploited from a geological databank which was structured to gather data and information depicted from an exhaustive exploratory drilling program. A survey was performed throughout the entire databank to collect the available thickness data values (measured in meters) from drill core logs that intersected the itabirite. Since structural heterogeneities can occur within these rocks, this study aims to identify such features. Geostatistical estimation and simulation methods were employed to map folded itabiritic beds based on thickness data accurately. Kriging estimators are often used for practical reasons; however, sometimes, the estimates can be smoothed and do not represent the entire original data range. Simulation algorithms can yield several stochastic images, but local accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Simulated annealing was performed by adjusting the global statistics and preserving the local accuracy. We demonstrated that the banded iron formations’ thicker areas might correspond to the antiform fold as the dominant tectonic feature in the study area. Finally, we show that the simulated thickness map discloses the thicker mineralized spots. Meanwhile, the thinner ones may unveil intrinsic structural heterogeneities mainly observed at the limbs of the Bonito fold, where intensive deformation within the itabiritic layer was higher than expected. Concerning the mining issues, information obtained from the simulated thickness map could provide ancillary data to improve mining planning in the study area.
Estrogenic Activity and Endocrine Disruptor Compounds Determined in Guanabara Bay (Brazil) by Yeast Estrogen Screen Assays and Chemical Analyses
Authors: Nascimento Marilia Teresa Lima do , Santos Ana Dalva De Oliveira , Cunha Danieli Lima da , Felix Louise Cruz , Gomes Giselle , Hauser-Davis Rachel Ann , Fonseca Estefan Monteiro da , Bila Daniele Maia , Baptista Neto José Antônio
Published: July 2022

Studies assessing the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds in marine environments have increased in the last decades. In Brazil, the combination of poor sanitation conditions and low investment in sewage treatment plants leads to significant contamination of receiving waters. The risks of these micropollutants in the aquatic biota include biochemical and histopathological alterations of the liver, gonads, and kidneys, as well as, reproductive process and development modifications, and behavioral changes, among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the surface and deep waters of Guanabara Bay, southeastern Brazil, regarding the presence of estrogenic substances. Acute toxicity assays were also conducted employing Vibrio fischeri. The estrogenic activity of the water samples was determined by Yeast Estrogen Screen assay and the quantification of the Bisphenol A, estriol, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol by high-performance liquid chromatography, using fluorescence and diode array detectors. Estrogenic activity ranged from 9 to 77 ng L-1 of estradiol equivalents. The highest micropollutants concentrations were detected for bisphenol A (298.5 and 465.5 ng L-1), followed by 17α-ethinylestradiol (248 and 256.9 ng L-1), estriol (70.7 and 179.6 ng L-1), and 17β-estradiol (167 and 174.8 ng L-1) for surface and deep waters, respectively. The findings indicate significant risks for the Guanabara Bay ecosystem. No acute toxicity effects were observed in the V. fisheri assay. These data reflect the current environmental degradation situation of the bay’s waters and highlight the need for the systematic monitoring of this important estuary.
Modelos de sistematización de la parte especial del derecho penal
Authors: De la Vega Martinis Orlando Humberto
Published: July 2022

El texto enfatiza la importancia de una correcta sistematización de la parte especial. Para esto, se presentan dos modelos históricamente relevantes, pero conceptualmente contrapuestos. Después se rastrea la influencia de los modelos expuestos en la doctrina colombiana del derecho penal especial.
Effect of Slp4-a on Membrane Bending During Prefusion of Vesicles in Blood-Brain Barrier
Authors: Van Dinh Quyen , Liu Jin , Dutta Prashanta
Published: July 2022

Vesicle exocytosis is a promising pathway for brain drug delivery through the blood-brain barrier to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In vesicle exocytosis, the membrane fusion process is initiated by the calcium sensor protein named synaptotagmin-like protein4-a (Slp4-a). Understanding conformational changes of Slp4-a during the prefusion stage of exocytosis will help to develop vesicle-based drug delivery to the brain. In this work, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with a hybrid force field coupling united-atom protein model with MARTINI coarse-grained (CG) solvent to capture the conformational changes of Slp4-a during the prefusion stage. These hybrid coarse-grained simulations are more efficient than all-atom MD simulations and can capture protein interactions and conformational changes. Our simulation results show that the calcium ions play critical roles during the prefusion stage. Only one calcium ion can remain in each calcium-binding pocket of Slp4-a C2 domains. The C2B domain of calcium-unbound Slp4-a remains parallel to the endothelial membrane, while the C2B domain of calcium-bound Slp4-a rotates perpendicular to the endothelial membrane to approach the vesicular membrane. For the calcium-bound case, three Slp4-a proteins can effectively bend lipid membranes at the prefusion stage, which could later trigger lipid stalk between membranes. This work provides a better understanding how C2 domains of Slp4-a operate during vesicle exocytosis from an endothelial cell.
Effects of Soret and Dufour Numbers on the Three-Dimensional MHD Flow of Micropolar Fluid Containing Gyrotactic Microorganisms Over a Bidirectional Stretching Sheet With Cattaneo–Christov Heat and Mass Flux Model
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad , Alduais Fuad S. , Dawar Abdullah , Saeed Anwar , Kumam Poom , Watthayu Wiboonsak
Published: July 2022

Stretching flow problems have several real-world applications in engineering, biological, and industrial fields. The real-world applications of the stretching sheet flow problems are continuous cooling of fiber, manufacturing of rubber and plastics sheets, metal-working processes, crystal growth processes, drawing of the filaments through a quiescent fluid, and consideration of the liquid's films and many others. The present problem focuses on the study of heat and mass transmission phenomena of the magnetohydrodynamics flow of three-dimensional micropolar liquid over a bidirectional stretching surface. In the current analysis, the heat and mass transport mechanism are demonstrated by incorporating the Cattaneo–Christov heat and mass flux model. The micro-organisms are only used to stabilize suspended nanoparticles via bioconvection, which is caused by the combination of magnetic field and a buoyancy force. The current model is demonstrated in the system of higher order partial differential equations (PDEs), which are changed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by the exploitation of appropriate similarity variables. For the analytical solution, the resulting nonlinear ODEs are simulated by employing the homotopy analysis scheme. The physical significance of velocities, microrotation, temperature, concentration, and micro-organism profiles of the fluid via various embedded parameters are calculated and discussed in a graphical form. The Nusselt number, Sherwood number and micro-organism density number are calculated via tables. Some major findings of the current problem are that the Nusselt number is weakened for the boosted estimation of radiation and thermal relaxation time parameter. The bioconvection Lewis number raised the micro-organism density number. The nanofluid microrotation profile is boosted with the augmentation of the microrotation parameter. The temperature of nanoliquid is lower for thermal relaxation time parameter and nanofluid concentration is lower the for solutal relaxation time parameter.
Performance and Sensitivity Analysis of an Automated X-Ray Based Total Knee Replacement Mass-Customization Pipeline
Authors: Burge Thomas A. , Jeffers Jonathan R. T. , Myant Connor W.
Published: July 2022

The objective of this study was to outline a fully automated, X-ray-based, mass-customization pipeline for knee replacement surgery, thoroughly evaluate its robustness across a range of demographics, and quantify necessary input requirements. The pipeline developed uses various machine learning-based methods to enable the automated workflow. Convolutional neural networks initially extract information from inputted bi-planar X-rays, point depth and statistical shape models are used to reconstruct three-dimensional models of the subjects' anatomy, and finally computer-aided design scripts are employed to generate customized implant designs. The pipeline was tested on a range of subjects using three different fit metrics to evaluate performance. A digitally reconstructed radiograph method was adopted to enable a sensitivity analysis of input X-ray alignment and calibration. Subject sex, height, age, and knee side were concluded not to significantly impact performance. The pipeline was found to be sensitive to subject ethnicity, but this was likely due to limited diversity in the training data. Arthritis severity was also found to impact performance, suggesting further work is required to confirm suitability for use with more severe cases. X-ray alignment and dimensional calibration were highlighted as paramount to achieve accurate results. Consequentially, an alignment accuracy of ±5–10 deg and dimensional calibration accuracy of ±2–5%, are stipulated. In summary, the study demonstrated the pipeline's robustness and suitability for a broad range of subjects. The tool could afford substantial advantages over off-the-shelf and other customization solutions, but practical implications such as regulatory requirements need to be further considered.
Targeted Model Error Determination for Limit Load Formulas for Axial Surface Defect in a Pressurized Pipe
Authors: Orynyak Igor , Marchenko Vladyslav , Mazuryk Roman , Oryniak Andrii
Published: July 2022

There are dozens of formulas in literature and standards for residual strength calculation of the pressurized ductile pipes with axial rectangular defect. Their accuracy is usually characterized by the so-called “model error” notion. The latter is established as the averaged deviance of experimental data from the calculated results. In fact, the model error determined in such way is partly related to the validity and range of the chosen experimental data. The idea of our work is to introduce the notion of “targeted model error.” It is expected to characterize the accuracy of given formula for the particular defect only with given ratio of its dimensions, which is named as the “point of interest.” So, every experiment can give the contribution to the targeted model error according to its weight on the point of interest. These weights are subjectively established based on the difference between the dimensionless residual strengths calculated for the point of interest and for the real defect dimensions of the considered experiment. Practical examples of determination of the targeted model errors are performed for the ratios of the defect depth to wall thickness equal to 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8 for three well-known formulas—ASME, PCORRC, and O-formula.
Pearson Correlation and Chi-Squared Methods Applied to the Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis of Hydrogen Generation During a Boiling Water Reactor STSBO Using MAAP5 and AZTUSIA
Authors: Ortiz-Villafuerte Javier , Sánchez-Mora Heriberto , Queral César , Reyes-Fuentes Melisa , Valle-Gallegos Edmundo del-
Published: July 2022

After the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, hydrogen generation has resurfaced as a key issue, with respect to its quantification in the simulation of severe accidents (SAs), because of the potential risk of deflagration or detonation, which would compromise the integrity of the plant facilities. Severe accident simulation codes may have different models to predict cladding oxidation rates and the consequent hydrogen generation. Thus, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis can be applied to determine which input variables of the code have a significant impact in the implemented models, and consequently on the overall predicted values of key figures of merit. In this work, the generation of hydrogen in the reactor core during a short-term station blackout (STSBO) is studied as a figure of merit for a boiling water reactor (BWR). The scope of the analysis is until the failure of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). This study shows a sensitivity and uncertainty analysis through the complementary calculations of two methods: Chi-squared parameter and Pearson simple correlation coefficient (PSCC). The severe accident simulation code was MAAP 5.0.3 (Modular Accident Analysis Program, EPRI, USA) and the AZTUSIA code (AZtlan Tool for Uncertainty and SensItivity Analysis, Mexico) was used as the statistical tool for the sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. Ten uncertain parameters were chosen, of which two are MAAP models options, and the values were generated via the simple random Monte Carlo technique. The results show that the Chi-squared parameter in conjunction with correlation coefficients provides a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of both quantitative and qualitative input variables on the figures of merit.
Comparison of two multiplexed portable cold-atom vacuum standards
Authors: Ehinger Lucas H. , Acharya Bishnu P. , Barker Daniel S. , Fedchak James A. , Scherschligt Julia , Tiesinga Eite , Eckel Stephen
Published: July 2022

We compare the vacuum measured by two portable cold-atom vacuum standards (pCAVSs) based on ultracold 7Li atoms. pCAVSs are quantum-based standards that use a priori scattering calculations to convert a measured loss rate of cold atoms from a conservative trap into a background gas pressure. Our pCAVS devices share the same laser system and measure the vacuum concurrently. The two pCAVSs together detected a leak with a rate on the order of 10−6 Pa l/s. After fixing the leak, the pCAVS measured pressure of about 40 nPa with 2.6% uncertainty. The two pCAVSs agree within their uncertainties, even when swapping some of their component parts. Operation of the pCAVS was found to cause some additional outgassing, on the order of 10−8 Pa l/s, which can be mitigated in the future by better thermal management.
Blind estimation of sound coloration in rooms using chi-square distributions of damping constants
Authors: Mohlin Peter , Höstmad Patrik
Published: July 2022

Depending on the room type and various other assumptions, the damping distribution of a room will follow a specific “reference distribution,” i.e., any deviation from the distribution should indicate sound coloration. In this paper, sound coloration will be caused by the acoustic feedback when operating sound reinforcement systems at relatively high gain settings. A sound reinforcement system based on measured impulse responses as well as an “emulated” system are studied using two speech and two music samples with system gains ranging from low to just before instability. Using one microphone placed in the audience area, blind estimation of sound coloration is achieved by computing decay times of non-harmonic components in the time-frequency domain. The results show that the computed damping distributions agree well with the chi-square distributions at low system gains. As the system gain increases, the distributions are shifted toward lower damping constants, and their shapes deviate more and more from the reference distribution, thus, giving a clear indication of sound coloration. The suggested objective measures show that deviations from the reference damping distribution can be detected at substantially lower system gains compared to results of related listening tests where audible coloration is evaluated.
Safety and effectiveness of the fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (ILUVIEN): 3-year results from the European IRISS registry study
Authors: Khoramnia Ramin , Peto Tunde , Koch Frank , Taylor Simon R , Castro de Sousa João Paulo , Hill Lauren , Bailey Clare , Chakravarthy Usha
Published: July 2022

Background

The ILUVIEN Registry Safety Study was a multicentre, open-label, non-randomised, observational, phase 4 study designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant in all indications in real-world practices in Europe.

Methods

The study included data collected prospectively and retrospectively. Patients receiving FAc implants between 2013 and 2017 were included and monitored until the last patient reached ≥3 years of follow-up. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) data over the course of the study, along with IOP events, use of IOP-lowering therapy, mean change in visual acuity (VA) and information on supplemental therapy use were analysed post-FAc implantation.

Results

Six hundred and ninety-five eyes from 556 patients, with a mean±SD follow-up of 1150.5±357.36 days, were treated with a FAc implant. 96.7% of eyes had chronic diabetic macular oedema (cDMO). IOP lowering was achieved in 34.5% of eyes using topical agents and 4.3% by surgery. Seventy-three eyes (64.6% of 113 phakic) required cataract surgery during follow-up. Mean VA increased from a baseline of 52.2 letters to 57.1 letters at month 36, with improvement observed up to month 48. Supplementary therapies were given in 43.7% of eyes. When classified by length of cDMO less than or greater than the median duration those with a shorter history experienced greater VA gains than those with a longer history.

Conclusion

This study confirms the favourable, long-term benefit-to-risk profile of the FAc implant in eyes with cDMO, with an additional benefit in patients when this therapy is administered earlier.
The economic burden of congenital Zika Syndrome in Brazil: an overview at 5 years and 10 years
Authors: Fernandes Silke , Pinto Marcia , Barros Letícia , Moreira Maria Elisabeth Lopes , de Araújo Thália Velho Barreto , Lyra Tereza Maciel , Valongueiro Sandra , Jofre-Bonet Mireia , Kuper Hannah
Published: July 2022

Background

The aim of this paper is to estimate the economic burden of children with congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in Brazil over 5–10 years.

Methods

We conducted a modelling study based on data collected in a case–control study in Brazil, including children with CZS (cases) and typically developing children (controls), born in 2015 and 2016. In total, 484 participants were recruited in two sites, Recife and Rio de Janeiro. Social and economic information was collected in a survey from the carers of cases and controls, and detailed healthcare utilisation was recorded for each child in the Rio de Janeiro cohort prospectively in a database. We used this information to estimate the cost per child with severe, moderate and no CZS and incremental cost per child with severe and moderate versus no CZS from a disaggregated societal perspective. These estimates were incorporated into an economic burden model to estimate the incremental burden of the CZS epidemic in Brazil over 5 years and 10 years.

Findings

The societal cost per child with severe CZS was US$50 523 to 10 years of age (born in 2015 and 2016), substantially higher than the costs for moderate CZS (US$29 283) and without CZS (US$12 331). The incremental economic burden of severe versus no CZS in Brazil over 10 years was US$69.4 million from the household and US$129.0 million from the government perspective. For moderate CZS, these figures amounted to US$204.1 million and US$86.6 million. Over 10 years, 97% of the total societal economic cost of severe CZS is borne by the government, but only 46% for moderate CZS.

Interpretation

The economic burden of CZS is high at the household, provider and government levels. The compensatory government payments helped to alleviate some of the additional costs incurred by families with a child qualifying for the disability benefits, and could be scaled to include the children with moderate CZS.
Direct delivery of an investigational cell therapy in patients with Parkinson’s disease: an interim analysis of feasibility and safety of an open-label study using DBS-Plus clinical trial design
Authors: Quintero Jorge E , Slevin John T , Gurwell Julie A , McLouth Christopher J , El Khouli Riham , Chau Monica J , Guduru Zain , Gerhardt Greg A , van Horne Craig G
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate the interim feasibility, safety and clinical measures data of direct delivery of regenerating peripheral nerve tissue (PNT) to the substantia nigra (SN) in participants with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

Eighteen (13 men/5 women) participants were unilaterally implanted with PNT to the SN, contralateral to the most affected side during the same surgery they were receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Autologous PNT was collected from the sural nerve. Participants were followed for safety and clinical outcomes for 2 years (including off-state Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III assessments) with study visits every 6 months.

Results

All 18 participants scheduled to receive PNT implantation received targeted delivery to the SN in addition to their DBS. All subjects were discharged the following day except for two: post-op day 2; post-op day 3. The most common study-related adverse events were hypoaesthesia and hyperaesthesias to the lateral aspect of the foot and ankle of the biopsied nerve (6 of 18 participants experienced). Clinical measures did not identify any hastening of PD measures providing evidence of safety and tolerability. Off-state UPDRS Part III mean difference scores were reduced at 12 months compared with baseline (difference=−8.1, 95% CI −2.4 to −13.9 points, p=0.005). No complications involving dyskinesias were observed.

Conclusions

Targeting the SN for direct delivery of PNT was feasible with no serious adverse events related to the study intervention. Interim clinical outcomes show promising results meriting continued examination of this investigational approach.

Trial registration number

NCT02369003.
Evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of the UK and Dutch growth referral criteria in predicting the diagnosis of pathological short stature
Authors: White Gemma , Cosier Shakira , Andrews Afiya , Martin Lee , Willemsen Ruben , Savage Martin O , Storr Helen L
Published: July 2022

Objective

The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the UK and Dutch referral criteria for short stature to determine their sensitivity and specificity in predicting pathological short stature. Adherence to the recommended panel of investigations was also assessed.

Study design

Retrospective review of medical records to examine the auxological parameters, investigations and diagnosis of subjects referred to two paediatric endocrine clinics at the Royal London Children’s Hospital between 2016 and 2021. We analysed: height SD score (HtSDS), height SDS minus target height SDS (Ht-THSDS) and height deflection SDS (HtDefSDS). The UK referral criteria were HtSDS <−2.7, Ht-THSDS >2.0 and HtDefSDS >1.3. The Dutch referral criteria were HtSDS <−2.0, Ht-THSDS >1.6 and HtDefSDS >1.0.

Results

Data were available for 143 subjects (72% males) with mean (range) age 8.7 years (0.5–19.9). HtSDS and Ht-THSDS were significantly lower in the pathological stature (n=66) versus the non-pathological stature (n=77) subjects (−2.67±0.82 vs −1.97±0.70; p<0.001 and −2.07±1.02 vs −1.06±0.99; p<0.001, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity to detect pathology was 41% and 83% for the UK criteria (HtSDS <−2.7) compared with 59% and 79% for the Dutch criteria (HtSDS <−2.0), 48% and 83% for UK criteria (Ht-THSDS <−2.0) compared with 74% and 72% for Dutch criteria (Ht-THSDS <−1.6) and 33% and 68% for UK criteria (HtDefSDS >1.3) compared with 44% and 63% for the Dutch criteria (HtDefSDS >1.0). On average, each patient had 88% of the recommended investigations, and 53% had all the recommended testing. New pathology was identified in 36% of subjects.

Conclusions

In isolation, the UK auxological referral thresholds have limited sensitivity and specificity for pathological short stature. The combination of HtSDS and Ht-THSDS improved the sensitivity of UK criteria to detect pathology from 41% to 68%. Attention to the child’s genetic height potential prior to referral can prevent unnecessary assessments.
Tobacco minimum packaging policy to reduce cigarillo use among young people: results of an experimental study
Authors: Mays Darren , Johnson Andrea C , Jeong Michelle , Ganz Ollie , Audrain-McGovern Janet , Strasser Andrew A , Delnevo Cristine D
Published: July 2022

Objective

The Food and Drug Administration has the authority to set a minimum for cigar pack size, a product feature linked to price. This study examined the effects of cigarillo package size and price on young adults’ smoking and purchase intentions.

Design

Young adults (n=1032) 18–30 years old who smoked cigarillos in the past 12 months completed an online 3×2 within-subjects experiment testing the effects of cigarillo pack size (1, 2, 5) and price (actual price, standardised price per stick) on intentions to purchase and smoke cigarillos. We modelled the main effects and interactions of pack size and price on intentions to buy and smoke cigarillos overall and by cigarillo use frequency.

Results

Intentions to buy and smoke were strongest for lower priced singles and two packs compared with higher priced five packs. Under standardised price conditions, participants preferred larger packs, but under actual pricing conditions smaller packs, especially two packs, were preferred. Participants who smoked cigarillos less than monthly were more likely to buy and smoke the least expensive products (buy: singles actual price adjusted OR (aOR)=4.51, 95% CI 3.76 to 5.42; two packs actual price aOR=9.76, 95% CI 8.11 to 11.75; five packs standardised price aOR=3.17, 95% CI 2.89 to 3.48) with the strongest preference for two packs and singles.

Conclusions

Young adult cigarillo smokers prefer smaller packs in conditions where pricing incentivises smaller packs. Minimum pack size policies may reduce the appeal of cigarillos among young adults, especially less frequent cigarillo smokers. Pack size policy should take into consideration price, and ideally these two factors should be addressed together.
Trends in unit sales of cooling flavoured e-cigarettes, USA, 2017–2021
Authors: Ali Fatma Romeh M , Seaman Elizabeth L , Diaz Megan C , Ajose Julianah , King Brian A
Published: July 2022

Objective

Flavours that produce a cooling sensation, such as menthol, enhance the appeal of e-cigarettes among youth; but not all e-cigarettes that produce cooling sensations are labelled as menthol. This study assessed trends in unit sales of cooling flavoured e-cigarettes in the USA.

Design

E-cigarette retail sales during 26 January 2017 to 28 November 2021 were licensed from Information Resources, Inc, which records brick-and-mortar retail scanner sales but not online or vape shop sales. Cooling flavours were identified using six descriptors: menthol, ice, cool, chill, freeze or frost; ambiguous flavours were verified using online searches. Cooling flavours were categorised by characterising flavour (menthol, mint, other) and product type (prefilled cartridges, disposables, e-liquids). Joinpoint regression was used to assess sales and price trends.

Results

During January 2017 to November 2021, unit sales of cooling flavoured e-cigarettes increased by 693.0% (1.5 to 12.0 million units); the percentage of these sales from total sales increased from 26.4% to 54.9%. Among cooling flavours, percentage of menthol sales decreased from 94.5% to 73.0% (p<0.001). Among menthol cooling flavours, percentage of prefilled cartridges increased from 67.2% to 96.6% (p<0.001); among non-menthol cooling flavours, percentage of disposable e-cigarettes increased from 5.2% to 99.2% (p<0.001). There were no significant price differences between cooling and non-cooling flavoured disposable e-cigarettes.

Conclusion

The percentage of cooling flavoured e-cigarette sales from total sales doubled during 2017–2021, and sales of non-menthol cooling disposable e-cigarettes experienced the highest percentage increase. Cooling flavoured e-cigarettes are important to consider when developing strategies to address flavoured e-cigarette use among youth.
Cushioned on the way up, controlled on the way down during resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA): investigating a novel compliant balloon design for optimizing safe overinflation combined with partial REBOA ability
Authors: Power Adam , Parekh Asha , Parry Neil , Moore Laura J
Published: July 2022

Background

There are a variety of devices capable of performing resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), with most containing compliant balloon material. While compliant material is ideal for balloon inflation due to its “cushioning” effect, it can be problematic to “control” during deflation. The COBRA-OS (Control Of Bleeding, Resuscitation, Arterial Occlusion System) was designed to optimize inflation and deflation of its compliant balloon and was tested in vitro and in vivo with respect to its overinflation and partial REBOA abilities.

Methods

For overinflation, the COBRA-OS was inflated in three differently sized inner diameter (ID) vinyl tubes until balloon rupture. It was then overinflated in six harvested swine aortas and in all three REBOA zones of three anesthetized swine. For partial REBOA, the COBRA-OS underwent incremental deflation in a pulsatile benchtop aortic model and in zone 1 of three anesthetized swine.

Results

For overinflation, compared with the known aortic rupture threshold of 4 atm, the COBRA-OS exceeded this value in only the smallest of the vinyl tubes: 8 mm ID tube, 6.5 atm; 9.5 mm ID tube, 3.5 atm; 13 mm ID tube, 1.5 atm. It also demonstrated greater than 500% overinflation ability without aortic damage in vitro and caused no aortic damage when inflated to maximum inflation volume in vivo. For partial REBOA, the COBRA-OS was able to provide a titration window of between 3 mL and 4 mL in both the pulsatile vascular model (3.4±0.12 mL) and anesthetized swine (3.8±0.35 mL).

Discussion

The COBRA-OS demonstrated the ability to have a cushioning effect during inflation combined with titration control on deflation in vitro and in vivo. This study suggests that despite its balloon compliance, both safe overinflation and partial REBOA can be successfully achieved with the COBRA-OS.

Level of evidence

Basic science.
Trichomycetes from the Columbia Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Strongman D.B. , White Merlin M.
Published: July 2022

Trichomycetes are a group of fungi and protists living in the guts of immature aquatic insects and other arthropods. The nature of this relationship is poorly understood but it is mostly described as obligately commensalistic, with the microbes exploiting a unique microhabitat. Collections of trichomycetes were made from freshwater insects in aquatic habitats near Castlegar in the Columbia Mountains, part of the Rocky Mountain Range in southeastern British Columbia. The collection sites were at altitudes ranging from 435 to 935 m and were made in July 2006. A total of 32 species were recorded including four new species, Harpella filispora sp. nov., Orphella columbiensis sp. nov., Smittium nodiradicatum sp. nov., and Smitium basiangustatum sp. nov. described here. These are the first records from Western Canada and two, Austrosmittium patagonicum and Glotzia distorta are new continental records. These findings are compared to reports from the western edge of the Rocky Mountain range near the Boise Mountains in Idaho and the Southern Rockies in Colorado.
Immediate effects of chemical and mechanical soil preparation techniques on epigaeic arthropod assemblages during reclamation of in situ oil and gas sites in northern Alberta, Canada
Authors: Hammond H.E. James , Hoffman Philip G.K. , Pinzon Jaime , Krygier Richard , Wu Linhao , Hartley Dustin J.
Published: July 2022

Epigaeic arthropods have been used worldwide as indicators of post-disturbance recovery in many different types of ecosystems. We used them to evaluate the merit of different reclamation prescriptions applied to areas disturbed by oil and gas exploration and extraction. We compared the short-term effects of different mechanical and chemical site preparation techniques on the epigaeic arthropod fauna of previously reclaimed borrow pits in arrested succession with results from plots in untreated disturbed sites and undisturbed adjacent forest. In general, arthropod diversity increased and abundance decreased with the severity of soil disturbance involved in the silvicultural prescription. We place arthropod communities into four discrete groups reflected in the treatments and the environmental characteristics of the sites: forest species, grassland species, species primarily found in herbicide plots, and species found in disturbed soil. Individual borrow pits accounted for a significant amount of variation in faunal assemblages, suggesting that site location, vagaries of colonization, or disturbance history play a significant role in how the fauna recovers post disturbance. Our study provides baseline data required to document the trajectory of recovery in these sites. Long-term monitoring is essential to evaluate the relative usefulness of reclamation prescriptions in meeting targets established by law.
Annual adult survival rates for four sympatric breeding swallow species: effects of environmental factors and density-dependence
Authors: Imlay Tara L. , Mann Hilary A.R. , Ding Andrew C. , Thomas Peter , Whittam Rebecca M. , Leonard Marty L. , Zhao Qing
Published: July 2022

Swallow (Family: Hirundinidae) populations in the Canadian Maritimes have declined since the 1980s. Using mark–recapture data from 2012 to 2019, we determined apparent annual adult survival rates for Barn ( Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758), Tree ( Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)), Bank ( Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758)), and Cliff ( Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot, 1817)) swallows. For two data-rich species (Barn and Tree swallows), we modelled the relationships between survival and weather (cold snaps, precipitation, temperature, and wind speed), climate (El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) as a measure of primary productivity during the winter, number of active nests as a measure of site quality, and the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) annual population index as density-dependent processes. Survival rates for all four species were typically higher (Barn and Tree) or similar to (Cliff and Bank) of estimates from populations that have not undergone severe, long-term declines. Across weather and climate variables, conditions that are typically favourable for high insect availability (e.g., higher precipitation, warmer temperatures, and lower wind speeds) resulted in higher survival. For female Barn and Tree swallows, survival was higher when EVI was lower, and for Barn Swallows, survival was also higher when the BBS index was higher. Collectively our results demonstrate that conditions throughout the annual cycle affect survival, and the relationships with weather and climate variables support the importance of high insect availability.
General considerations for effective thermal neutron shielding in detector applications
Authors: Backis Alexander , Al Jebali Ramsey , Fissum Kevin , Bentley Phillip , Hall-Wilton Richard , Kanaki Kalliopi , Kittelmann Thomas , Livingston Kenneth
Published: July 2022

For thermal neutron detectors, effective shielding is a crucial aspect of signal-to-background optimization. This is especially important for cold to thermal neutrons, as the detectors are most sensitive in this energy range. In this work, a few common shielding materials, such as cadmium, B4C and epoxy-Gd2O3 mixtures, are analytically evaluated based on interaction cross sections extracted from Geant4. For these materials, the neutron absorption and scattering dependence on material thickness and incident neutron energy are examined. It is also considered how the absorption and scattering change with different material compositions, such as 10B-content in B4C, and component ratio in epoxy-Gd2O3 mixtures. In addition, a framework is introduced to quantify the effectiveness of the neutron shielding, comparing the relationship between absorption and scattering of different shielding materials. The aim is to provide a general tool kit, which can be used to quickly identify an appropriate shielding material, with the required thickness, to reach a desired thermal neutron shielding performance. Finally, as an example, the developed tool kit is applied to the specific shielding application for the Multi-Grid CSPEC detector, currently in development for the European Spallation Source.
Thermal history of the southern Antarctic Peninsula during Cenozoic oblique subduction
Authors: Twinn G. , Riley T. , Fox M. , Carter A.
Published: July 2022

Apatite (U–Th)/He and apatite fission-track thermochronology is used to constrain the cooling and uplift history of the southern Antarctic Peninsula where easterly-directed subduction of the Phoenix Plate, including ridge–trench collisions, has been taking place along its western margin since the Late Cretaceous. Apatite ages and thermal history models are similar on eastern Palmer Land but are younger and vary across westernmost Palmer Land and Alexander Island. Transformation of thermal history models to a single plot shows how cooling rates varied as a function of distance from the trench zone. Eastern Palmer Land preserves a record of uplift during the Late Cretaceous that coincides with changes in Phoenix Plate convergence rates and direction. In contrast, western Palmer Land and Alexander Island experienced a period of increased rates of cooling between
c.
25 and 15 Ma. This younger phase of exhumation is bounded by major fault zones related to the extension and rifting that formed the present-day George VI Sound. It was probably triggered by cessation of subduction owing to trench collision of a ridge segment NE of the Heezen fracture zone. No evidence was found for slab window influences as seen along the northernmost part of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Supplementary material:
QTQt thermal models, a PDF with analytical protocols and supplementary tables are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6086234
Code Structure–Guided Transformer for Source Code Summarization
Authors: Gao Shuzheng , Gao Cuiyun , He Yulan , Zeng Jichuan , Nie Lunyiu , Xia Xin , Lyu Michael
Published: July 2022

Code summaries help developers comprehend programs and reduce their time to infer the program functionalities during software maintenance. Recent efforts resort to deep learning techniques such as sequence-to-sequence models for generating accurate code summaries, among which Transformer-based approaches have achieved promising performance. However, effectively integrating the code structure information into the Transformer is under-explored in this task domain. In this article, we propose a novel approach named SG-Trans to incorporate code structural properties into Transformer. Specifically, we inject the local symbolic information (e.g., code tokens and statements) and global syntactic structure (e.g., dataflow graph) into the self-attention module of Transformer as inductive bias. To further capture the hierarchical characteristics of code, the local information and global structure are designed to distribute in the attention heads of lower layers and high layers of Transformer. Extensive evaluation shows the superior performance of SG-Trans over the state-of-the-art approaches. Compared with the best-performing baseline, SG-Trans still improves 1.4% and 2.0% on two benchmark datasets, respectively, in terms of METEOR score, a metric widely used for measuring generation quality.
Efficient Instruction Scheduling Using Real-time Load Delay Tracking
Authors: Diavastos Andreas , Carlson Trevor E.
Published: July 2022

Issue time prediction processors use dataflow dependencies and predefined instruction latencies to predict issue times of repeated instructions. In this work, we make two key observations: (1) memory accesses often take additional time to arrive than the static, predefined access latency that is used to describe these systems. This is due to contention in the memory hierarchy and variability in DRAM access times, and (2) we find that these memory access delays often repeat across iterations of the same code. We propose a new processor microarchitecture that replaces a complex reservation-station-based scheduler with an efficient, scalable alternative. Our scheduling technique tracks real-time delays of loads to accurately predict instruction issue times and uses a reordering mechanism to prioritize instructions based on that prediction. To accomplish this in an energy-efficient manner we introduce (1) an
instruction delay learning mechanism
that monitors repeated load instructions and learns their latest delay, (2) an
issue time predictor
that uses learned delays and dataflow dependencies to predict instruction issue times, and (3)
priority queues
that reorder instructions based on their issue time prediction. Our processor achieves 86.2% of the performance of a traditional out-of-order processor, higher than previous efficient scheduler proposals, while consuming 30% less power.