bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating an emotion coaching programme for parents of young adolescents attending Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in New Zealand: protocol for a multi-site feasibility trial including co-design with service users.
Authors: Mansoor Zara , Stanley James , Fortune Sarah , Havighurst Sophie , Bell Elliot
Published: October 2022

Background
Early adolescence is a time of increased vulnerability for the development of common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression (internalising outcomes). Current treatments such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and antidepressant medication are focused on the individual and have small effect sizes, particularly in complex clinical settings. Parents are an important and under-utilised resource in treating these conditions in young adolescents. Teaching parents how to respond to their young person’s emotions can improve emotion regulation and reduce internalising outcomes. One emotion-focused programme for parents of this age group is Tuning in to Teens (TINT). This study aims to investigate the impact of TINT in the clinical setting of publicly funded Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in New Zealand.
Methods
The trial will evaluate the feasibility of a two-arm multi-site randomised control trial (RCT). Participants will be 10–14-year-olds referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Wellington, New Zealand with anxiety or depression, and their parents or guardians. The two arms will be usual care in CAMHS or, usual care plus parents attending a TINT group programme. TINT groups will be facilitated by CAMHS clinicians who have been trained in the programme and will be delivered over 8 weekly sessions. Prior to the RCT, a co-design methodology will be used with service-users to determine how the impact of this programme should be measured. Primary feasibility outcomes will be recruitment and retention of participants, acceptability of the intervention for service-users and clinicians, and acceptability of outcome measures.
Discussion
There is a need to improve outcomes for treatment of adolescent anxiety and depression. TINT is a promising programme to enhance outcomes for those accessing mental health services by providing targeted support to parents of adolescents. This trial will inform whether a full RCT is feasible to evaluate TINT. Including service-users in the design will increase its relevance in this setting.
Trial registration:
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN): ACTRN12622000483752. Registered 28 March 2022.
Tunable Plasmon-Phonon Modes in Nonlinear-Graphene-hBN Heterostructures
Authors: Heydari Mohammad Bagher , Karimipour Majid , Shirkolaei Morteza Mohammadi
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the analytical expressions are derived for the study of Hybrid Surface Phonon-Plasmon-Polaritons (HSP3) in a nonlinear graphene-based structure with hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) layers. The numerical results show that the propagation features of HSP3 can be varied by changing the chemical potential, the relaxation time, and the nonlinear coefficient. Due to the existence of hBN layers in the proposed structure, the investigation is done in two frequency ranges: the upper and lower Reststrahlen bands. The obtained results represent that two kinds of hybrid modes propagate outside the upper and lower Reststrahlen bands which we call “higher and lower modes”. However, only one propagating mode is seen inside the upper or lower Reststrahlen band. A high value of FOM=98 is reported at the frequency of 45 THz (inside the upper Reststrahlen band) for the chemical potential of 0.35 eV. The authors believe that the analytical study done on HSP3 in this paper can help the researchers to design innovative structures such as sensors in the mid-infrared region.
Economic considerations of breeding for polledness versus disbudding in beef cattle
Authors: Oliveira Ingrid Pereira Pinto , Maciel Silel Vinicius Simões Andrade , Carvalho Caio Victor Damasceno , Costa Raphael Bermal , de Camargo Gregório Miguel Ferreira
Published: October 2022

The domestication of animals has rendered horns less necessary for survival. Moreover, the use of polled and disbudded animals is interesting in order to avoid injuries of animals and handlers, among other advantages. We therefore conducted a comparative economic analysis of different disbudding techniques versus selection for polledness in Nelore cattle, the main beef breed of tropical systems in Brazil. Three scenarios for obtaining animals without horns were simulated and their costs were evaluated: disbudding with hot iron, disbudding with caustic paste, and phenotypic selection for polled animals. Price quotations of the materials were obtained in different states of the country and averaged. An initial frequency of horned animals of 92.16% was obtained based on the records of the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders. Selection was found to be the least-cost method. This result differs from intensive production systems of dairy cattle in which disbudding continues to be the least-cost technique. The main explanation is the lack of difference in the price of Nelore semen from polled and horned bulls. Phenotypic selection for polled animals is the least-cost methos and it is in accordance with welfare practices. Care should be taken regarding the intensive use of few polled breeding animals in order to avoid inbreeding depression in other traits.
Detecting Long-term Characteristics of Marine Heatwaves (1982–2021) in the Indonesian Waters
Authors: Beliyana Erlin , Ningsih Nining Sari , Gunawan Sekar Ramdanira , Tarya Ayi
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we investigate the characteristics of marine heatwaves (MHWs) (i.e. frequency, maximum intensity, and duration of occurrences) in Indonesian waters and the mechanisms underlying the formation of MHWs generated by local forcing. The study utilizes the remote sensing data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) dataset for SST and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis data (ERA5) for net surface heat flux components (shortwave radiation, longwave radiation, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux), wind speed, and total cloud cover. The data covered a period within the last 40 years (1982–2021) during the warm (1982–2007) and cold (2008–2021) phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and were processed by statistical analysis methods. This study clearly reveals the highest average frequency and duration of MHWs in the Indonesian waters which were around 3–5 times a year and 10–20 days, respectively, occurring during the cold phase of PDO. Meanwhile, the highest maximum intensity of MHWs in the Indonesian waters was around > 1.5°C during the warm phase of PDO (El Niño dominated in Indonesia) generated by the local net surface heat flux. The most dominant contributors of net surface heat flux were high shortwave radiation (heat gain) and low latent heat flux (heat loss) through the evaporation process, thus keeping the ocean warm. Moreover, this study highlights the highest maximum intensity of MHWs which could reach > 3°C along western Sumatra to southern Java and waters around Papua when El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (pIOD) occur together. In contrast, the lowest maximum intensity of MHWs in the Indonesian waters occurred when La Niña was happening simultaneously with negative IOD (nIOD).
3D printed flexible anatomical models for left atrial appendage closure planning and comparison of deep learning against radiologist image segmentation
Authors: Ravi Prashanth , Burch Michael , Farahani Shayan , Liu Isabella Y. , Wilkinson Kayleigh E. , Feinstein Matthew A. , Chokshi Shivum , Sousa Patrick , Lopes Patricia , Byrd Stephanie , Kondor Shayne , Chepelev Leonid L. , Rybicki Frank J. , Giannopoulos Andreas A. , Costea Alexandru
Published: October 2022

Background:
Medical 3D printing is being increasingly employed for pre-procedural planning and simulation. One important application is in occluder device sizing for left atrial appendage (LAA) closure. Studies have demonstrated clinical utility of 3D printed anatomical models for LAA closure. Artificial intelligence-based segmentation has been applied to multiple cardiovascular diseases, including to LAA segmentation. However, to our knowledge, there has not been a comparison of artificial intelligence-based deep learning segmentation (DLS) where there was a clinical 3D printed model of the left atrium and appendage.
Methods:
Thirty-nine patients had 3D printed models requested by the interventional cardiologist (IC). Standard segmentation (SS) was performed by a trained engineer and approved by a cardiovascular imager (CI). The models were 3D printed using flexible resin and desktop inverted vat photopolymerization technology. The effort expended throughout the workflow was meticulously documented. Thirty-four of the 39 patients underwent left atrial appendage occlusion using the 3D printed model for device sizing. The 34 patients who underwent a procedure using the 3D printed model were followed for 6 months for major adverse events, device embolization, procedure related myocardial infarction (MI), procedural stroke, new pericardial effusion, pericardial effusion requiring intervention, surgical conversion, and peri-procedural death. All 39 patients also underwent DLS using a commercial software and metrics including segmentation time, segmented volume, DICE index were assessed compared to the SS. A Bland-Altman and regression/correlation analysis was also conducted.
Results:
The mean SS time was 72.3 minutes whereas the mean DLS time was 3.5 minutes. The DLS closely matched the SS with a mean DICE index of 0.96. The average number of devices attempted was 1.3. The DLS was highly correlated with the SS volume data (r = 0.99). Bland-Altman analysis showed a negative bias (-5.31%) in the volume difference data. There were no long-term complications in the 34 patients who underwent procedure using the 3D printed model for occluder device sizing.
Conclusions:
We have successfully demonstrated the performance of a commercial DLS algorithm compared to CI approved SS for left atrial appendage occluder device sizing using a clinical 3D printed model.
Conflict resolution for aspect-oriented static modeling
Authors: Pinciroli Fernando , Zeligueta Laura , Palma Marcelo
Published: October 2022

Separation of concerns allows the achievement of important benefits in all phases of the software development life cycle. Thus, it is possible to take advantage of this technique with the consequent improvement of the understanding of the models. However, conflicts of different types may be produced when concerns are composed to form a single system, due to the same fact of having them managed separately. Additionally, this problem is increased by the number of people needed to deal with large projects. This article is focused on the composition of concerns in structural models, in which each concern is realized by an individual class diagram. The same classes are present in several diagrams, although with different members and relationships, due to the specific nature of the concern they realize. In systems of medium to high complexity, the intervention of more than one analyst is required and, because of the working styles each one might have, many other conflicts could arise when all diagrams are composed into only one. In this paper, we present an experience in which four systems analysts elaborated six class diagrams which belong to a single system and we expose the conflicts that occurred after the composition of the diagrams. After the analysis and classification of the conflicts, a set of modeling agreements and recommendations was elaborated in order to reduce them. Then, the models were rebuilt and composed again, with a significant decrease in the number of conflicts detected after the second composition.
Understanding youths’ concerns about climate change: a cross-cultural qualitative study of a generation’s ecological burden and resilience
Authors: Thomas Isaiah , Martin Andrés , Wicker Antoine , Benoit Laelia
Published: October 2022

Background
Climate change has been shown to have long-term effects on mental health, yet, to date, there have been few studies on how children and adolescents experience and respond to ecological changes and how and why they engage in climate action. We explored empirically young people’s views about climate change and how distinct cultural contexts influence individual climate action.
Methods
We invited children and adolescents (ages 7 to 18) and their caregivers from the general population in the United States and France to participate in semi-structured focus groups. We recruited 74 participants, 39 in the U.S. (33 children and adolescents, 6 parents) in the U.S. and 35 in France (32 children and adolescents, 3 parents). Focus groups with participants centered on their emotions, beliefs, and actions around climate change. We analyzed the focus group data and developed themes via grounded theory and symbolic interactionism approaches.
Results
Many participants described experiencing anger, hopelessness, guilt, and sadness in response to climate change, and a smaller number endorsed significant anxiety symptoms; many described frustration about needing to fix the mistakes of earlier generations. Younger participants frequently misunderstood the purpose of their parents’ eco-conscious behaviors unless they were provided with age-appropriate explanations. Participants described a spectrum of experiences when trying to discuss climate change with peers and family, ranging from genuine support to apathy to hostility. Between the two samples, U.S. participants experienced more conflict with adults about climate change than French participants, but French participants expressed a greater lack of political agency compared to U.S. participants. Participants in both samples expressed a relatively balanced view of climate action, recognizing the significance of individual actions while acknowledging the limits of their power in the face of systemic issues. Some participants found hope and empowerment through climate action and building communities around it.
Conclusions
Discussing with children and adolescents what adults are doing to combat climate change can provide reassurance, model prosocial behaviors, and inspire their own investment in climate action. In comparing the U.S. and France, it is evident that adults seeking to support the psychological well-being of young people should both support their concerns and actions around climate change and create avenues for young people to meaningfully engage in climate action.
Fluoxetine attenuates pain-like and depression-related behaviors via reducing neuroinflammation and synaptic deficits in bone cancer mice
Authors: Jiang Li , Yang Xu-li , Qian Yue , Huang Si-min , Mao Yan-ting , Huang Yu-lin , Xu Rui , Zhu Hui-jie , Gu Xiao-ping , Ni Kun , Sun Yu-e , Ma Zheng-liang
Published: October 2022

Background Bone cancer patients are often accompanied with pain and depression, which seriously affects their quality of life and survival time. Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, has been reported to be effective not only in reducing depression-like behaviors but also in alleviating cancer pain. However, the specific mechanisms involved remain obscure. Methods Bone cancer mice were treated with fluoxetine for 7 consecutive days after the formation of pain and depression symptoms. Neuroinflammation and synaptic changes at the basolateral amygdala (BLA) after treatment were examined with western blotting, immunofluorescence and Golgi-Cox staining. Results Compared with the tumor group, fluoxetine significantly improved the mechanical allodynia and sugar water preference ratio, and reduced the immobility time of forced swimming. In addition, we found fluoxetine had an inhibitory effect on reactive glial cells and neurotoxic glial cells of bone cancer pain (BCP) mice. Meanwhile, fluoxetine could improve synaptic function in the bone cancer mice basolateral amygdala regions. Conclusions Fluoxetine can effectively alleviate pain-like and depression-related behaviors in BCP model. The concerned mechanisms may be related to reducing neurotoxic glial cells activation and promoting synapse formation at BLA.
The Impact of Human Capital on Green Economic Efficiency: Evidence from 280 Prefectural Cities in China
Authors: Peng Weibin , Xu Jiaxin , He Zhengxia
Published: October 2022

Balancing the relationship between economic growth and resources and the environment is the key to China's green development. Human capital is considered to be the supporting condition for promoting green development. In recent years, the state has attached great importance to talent cultivation, and major cities have actively introduced relevant policies for talent in various fields. However, there is a lack of relevant studies on whether and how the human capital can impact green economic efficiency (GEE) at the city level. In this paper, we examine the impact of human capital on GEE in each prefecture-level city and test the mechanism of action based on the super-efficient SBM model to calculate GEE, including non-desired output using panel data of 280 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2019. The results of the baseline regression study show that the improvement of human capital level contributes to the GEE of prefecture-level cities. Among the control variables, economic development level, foreign direct investment, city size and science and technology innovation level positively affect GEE, while industrialization and environmental regulation negatively affect GEE. The mechanism of action study results indicate that industrial structure upgrading plays a positive moderating role. That is, industrial structure upgrading can strengthen the effect of human capital on GEE, which is further clarified.
Opposite effects of positive and negative symptoms on resting-state brain networks in schizophrenia
Authors: Wang Xinrui , Chang Zhao , Wang Rong
Published: October 2022

Schizophrenia is a severe psychotic disorder clinically characterized by positive and negative symptoms, but their neural bases remain poorly understood. Here, we utilized a nested-spectral partition (NSP) approach to detect hierarchical modules in resting-state brain functional connectivity networks in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, and we studied the dynamic transitions of segregation and integration as well as their relationships with clinical symptoms. Schizophrenia brains showed a more stable global integrating process and a more variable segregating process, thus maintaining higher segregation, especially in the limbic system. Attention systems were associated with hallucinations, and default-mode network (DMN) and control systems were related to avolition. In a machine-learning model, NSP-based features outperformed classical graph measures at predicting positive and negative symptom scores. Multivariate analysis confirmed that positive and negative symptoms had opposite effects on dynamic segregation and integration of brain networks. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the effect of negative symptoms on brain networks was related to autistic, aggressive and violent behavior; the effect of positive symptoms was associated with hyperammonemia and acidosis; and the interaction effect was correlated with abnormal motor function. Our findings could contribute to the development of more accurate diagnostic criteria for positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
Trace elements zinc, copper, magnesium, and rubidium in pregnant Bulgarian women from an iodine-deficiency endemic region
Authors: Bacelova M. , Gatseva P. , Deneva T. , Davcheva D. , Bivolarska A.
Published: October 2022

Trace elements are essential for the biochemistry of the cell. Their reference values have been found to differ considerably in pregnant women stratified by age, place of residence, anthropometric status, and length of pregnancy. In optimal amounts, these elements reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. We aimed at determining the effects of Zn, Cu, Mg, and Rb on pregnant women in an iodine deficiency endemic region and find their relationship with the thyroid status and nutrition. We evaluated the iodine status of 61 healthy pregnant women from an endemic region in Bulgaria. TSH and FT4 levels were measured using ELISA. We found elevated levels of copper that differed the most between the first and second trimesters; Cu and TSH were found to be positively correlated (р<0.05). Lower Cu levels were found in pregnant women consuming pulses more than 2–3 times a week (р=0.033). The women consuming fish more than 2–3 times a week had higher levels of Rb. We found a pronounced iodine deficiency in more than half of the examined women in the first to third trimesters, without any effect of pregnancy on the ioduria (р=0.834). All second and third trimester cases were associated with severe ioduria (< 150 µg/L). The high Cu levels were associated with SCH and less pulse consumption during pregnancy in an iodine deficiency endemic area. SCH was found in 24% of the pregnant women in such an area while in 13% of them SCH had progressed to overt hypothyroidism.
Separation Effect, Pain Perception During Functional Activity and Gingival Inflammation of Elastomeric and Kansal Separators- A Split Mouth Study
Authors: Thejasri Keerthipati , Singaraju Gowri Sankar , Marya Anand , Priyanka J S Yamini , Shaik Shajin , Mandava Prasad
Published: October 2022

Introduction:
An effective space opening for band placement with minimal pain and gingival inflammation is a prime requisite during fixed orthodontic procedures. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two types of separators, elastomeric and Kansal, in the amount of space opening, pain perception elicited, and gingival inflammation.
Methods
A random split-mouth study was designed with 30 subjects undergoing Fixed orthodontic treatment. Two different separators(Elastomer and Kansal) were placed alternatively on the left and right sides around the mesial and distal sides of the first molars in the mandibular arch of each subject. After three days, the amount of separation after three days was assessed with a leaf gauge on both mesial and distal sides. The subjective pain perception by Visual analog Scale (VAS) at different points and during different functions for each of the three days was evaluated. A self-filled chart was utilized to be performed by the patients.
Results
The most significant amount of separation(0.28mm) was found with elastomers on the mesial side and is statistically significant (p < 0.001) compared to the mesial side(0.18mm). The Kansal separators produced equivalent separation on mesial (0.19mm) and distal sites(0.17mm). The highest pain score was found after 24 hours with elastomeric separators (median-40) for chewing and biting and the least for sleep(median-30). There is a statistical difference of pain perception between elastomers and Kansal separators at different points for the given function ( p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Both the separators produced adequate separation after a minimum 3 days. Kansal produces minimum discomfort and pain compared to elastomeric separators.
Psychoacoustic Characteristics of Different Brake Creep Groan Classes and their Subjective Noise Annoyance in Vehicle and Half-Axle Tests
Authors: Huemer-Kals Severin , Tóth Máté , Prezelj Jurij , Zacharczuk Martin , Fischer Peter , Häsler Karl
Published: October 2022

Brake creep groan is a severely annoying noise and vibration phenomenon. Especially on the Asian market, customer feedback about creep groan is common, indicating creep groan’s impact towards the quality impression of a car. Hence, treatment of these stick-slip related creep groan phenomena is necessary. As numerous design conflicts exist for brake and axle, a complete mitigation of the phenomenon is often not possible. A reduction of creep groan’s annoyance by changing the noise’s level and characteristics is therefore typically aspired. One approach towards this goal could include the usage of psychoacoustics: This work deals with psychoacoustic characteristics of different creep groan classes. Low-frequency groan, high-frequency groan and transition groan classes are compared regarding loudness, sharpness, roughness, fluctuation strength and tonality. Standard statistic methods as well as machine learning approaches are applied on signals from vehicle tests and half-axle tests. Test results depict the different characteristics of each creep groan class. By mapping the results to the subjective rating of trained test drivers, the annoyance of different classes is compared. Low-frequency groan, dominated by longitudinal axle vibrations, is found to be least annoying. This low annoyance is best depicted by the psychoacoustic parameters loudness and roughness. Presented results allow an optimization of brake system design to reduce creep groan’s annoyance, leading to higher customer satisfaction and a more goal-oriented treatment of this NVH problem.
Cognitive-adaptive functioning gap and mediating factors impact on adaptive functioning in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: a retrospective study
Authors: Wang Shi-huan , Zhou Qing , Chen Kai-yun , Ceng Chao-qun , Zhan Guo-dong , You Cong , Xing Yu , Zou Yuan-yuan , Deng Hong-zhu
Published: October 2022

Background Few studies have focused on cognitive-adaptive functioning gap in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and how mediating factors impact on adaptive functioning remains undefined. This study aims to investigate the gap between cognitive functioning and adaptive functioning in preschool-aged children with ASD, especially in verbal and non-verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) level. Mediating factors of cognitive functioning, ASD severity, early development and socioeconomic factors are systematically explored to determine adaptive functioning.
Methods A total of 151 children with ASD were enrolled, aged 2.5-6 years. Adaptive Behavior Assessment System Version II (ABAS-II)，Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale-IV (WPPSI-IV), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) were respectively performed to assess adaptive functioning, cognitive functioning and ASD severity. All children were divided into two groups based on IQ: IQ≥70 group and IQ<70 group. The difference of IQ-adaptive skills gap between the two groups were explored by calibrating age, age of diagnosis and IQ. Verbal acceptation index (VAI) and nonverbal index (NVI) were distinguished to predict adaptive skills.
Results The gap between IQ and adaptive skills was significant in ASD with IQ≥70, and the differences in VIA and NVI were still statistically significant (all P<0.001). VIA was positively association with overall adaptive skills and specific domain, whereas NVI had no significant correlations with adaptive skills. Despite ADOS-Calibrated severity scores were negatively correlated with social and practical skills, the scores accounted for no significant variance. Age of first walking unaided was positively correlation with adaptive skills and specific domain (all P<0.05).
Conclusions The IQ-adaptive functioning gap is significant in ASD with IQ≥70, suggesting that "high functioning autism" is not an appropriate description merely on account of IQ. Verbal IQ is a specific factor to predict adaptive functioning of ASD; The severity of ASD symptoms have no significant contribution to predict adaptive functioning; Early signs of motor development may be a predictor to adaptive functioning in preschool-aged children with ASD.
Determination of Temperature Rise and Heating Rate of Curing Modes of Two Different Dental Light-Curing Units: The Importance of Heating Rate
Authors: Soori Ahmad , Soori Faezeh , Kowsary Farshad , Kasraei Shahin
Published: October 2022

The heat generated in the process of light-curing may cause irreversible damage to the dental pulp. This study aimed to assess heat transfer in the process of irradiation of a dentin disc by using different modes of quartz-tungsten halogen (QTH) and light-emitting diode (LED) dental curing units. The surface temperature was measured by an infrared (IR) thermometer following light-curing with standard, ramp, boost, and bleaching modes of a QTH curing unit, and high, soft and pulse modes of a LED curing unit. Since the maximum temperature rise alone is not sufficient to study the thermal damage to the pulp tissue, we also assessed the temperature rise profile and heating rate, in addition to the maximum temperature rise in this study. The results showed that decreasing the duration of light-curing effectively decreased the risk of pulpal damage. Shorter radiation modes such as the 10 s standard mode, and the 10 s boost curing mode of the QTH curing unit and the 5 s high mode, and the 10 s pulse mode of the LED curing unit all had the lowest risk of thermal damage to the pulp.
Incidence of Fungal Infections Including Mucormycosis in Respiratory Intensive Care
Authors: El-Koa Amal A. , El-Kalashy Mai M. , Awad Samah M. , Torayah Mohammad M. , Tawadros Beshoy B.
Published: October 2022

Background
Recent improvements in the use of wide-spectrum antibiotics for the treatment of life-threatening illnesses have led to an upsurge in fungus infections in critical care units. An invasive fungal illness called Mucormycosis is becoming more common among seriously unwell individuals. Due to its strong invasive power and inherently low susceptibility to antifungal treatments, its prognosis is bleak. Our study aimed to determine the incidence of fungi, especially Mucormycosis, in respiratory intensive care units.
Methods
Patients hospitalized at Menoufia University Hospitals' general and respiratory intensive care units between June 2021 and June 2022 were included in this study. On Sabouraud dextrose agars, bronchial secretions were cultured and evaluated for fungus susceptibility.
Results
Regarding mechanical ventilation and APACHE II score, there was a substantial difference between fungus growth and absence of fungus growth. Regarding Fate, the presence of bilateral lung consolidation associated with cavitations on CT chest, and APACHE II score, there was a significant difference between negative and positive Mucormycosis development. The most susceptible antifungal agent was Caspofungin.
Conclusion
In patients in the pulmonary intensive care unit (ICU) who have a high resistance rate, fungus infections are a big issue. The danger of a fungal infection rises with mechanical ventilation. For quick treatment, isolating and diagnosing the fungus is essential.
Determination of Zinc Sufficiency via the Direct Assessment of Fingertip Blood Samples
Authors: Miyajima Yuka , Nodera Makoto , Adachi Shuichi
Published: October 2022

Zinc (Zn) sufficiency status is commonly determined clinically by serum or plasma zinc concentrations from venous blood collection. To investigate whether the measurement of whole blood Zn concentration using simple and less invasive fingertip blood samples reflects the Zn sufficiency in the body, we first measured the tissue and whole blood Zn concentrations during Zn deficiency and recovery in rats, followed by the same measurements in the fingertip blood samples of young females. Ten microliter of blood sample was diluted, hemolyzed in ultrapure water, and analyzed (50 samples/2 h) without acid digestion or any other pretreatment. Zn restriction in young rats rapidly resulted in Zn deficiency symptoms and a marked decrease in serum Zn concentrations; however, there were no significant changes in Zn concentrations in the liver, muscle tissue, or whole blood from the rat tail vein. In young Japanese women with no health problems (N = 69), average fingertip blood Zn concentration was 793.5 µg/dL (95% confidence interval [C.I.]: 717.0–870.1 µg/dL) and average serum Zn concentration was 76.4 µg/dL (95% C.I.: 78.7–74.2 µg/dL), although no correlation was observed between the two. Average estimated Zn concentration in blood cells was 1271.6 µg/dL (95% C.I.: 1144.0–1399.1 µg/dL), suggesting that individual differences were predominantly influenced by the Zn concentration in blood cells. Whole-blood Zn concentration assay using small amounts of fingertip blood is feasible as a simple evaluation method. Further study will be conducted in all age groups, including males, and the association with variables will be analyzed.
Machine Learning for Power Transformer Sfra Based Fault Detection
Authors: Bjelić Miloš , Brković Bogdan , Žarković Mileta , Miljković Tatjana
Published: October 2022

This paper presents machine learning methods for health assessment of power transformer based on sweep frequency response analysis. The paper presents an overview of monitoring and diagnostics based on statistical Sweep Frequency Response Analysis (SFRA) based indicators that are used to evaluate the state of the power transformer. Experimental data obtained from power transformers with internal short-circuit faults is used as a database for applying machine learning. Machine learning is implemented to achieve more precise asset management and condition-based maintenance. Unsupervised machine learning was applied through the k-means cluster method for classifying and dividing the examined power transformer state into groups with similar state and probability of failure. Artificial neural network (ANN) and Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) as part of supervised machine learning are created in order to detect fault severity in tested power transformers of different lifetime. The presented machine learning methods can be used to improve health assessment of power transformers.
Kidney Stone Trends in Israel – The Relationship Between Patients’ Stone Type and Demographics – 10K Patients Analysis
Authors: Zreik Rani , Solomon Ilona Pilosov , Saliba Walid , Tor Ruth , Cohen Sharon , Friefeld Yuval , Dekel Yoram , Klein Ilan
Published: October 2022

Objectives
To analyze urinary stone composition in Israel and determine the effects of demographic parameters, such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, medical history and geographic region, on stone composition.
Patients and Methods
The stone composition of 10633 consecutive patients from an Israeli database was analyzed between 2014 and 2019 by a central laboratory using the Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy. Chi-squared test was used to determine associations between stone composition and the different demographic parameters.
Results
Calcium oxalate (CaOx) monohydrate was the predominant stone type (51.9%).
5776 stones had pure component (54%) and 4,857 (46%) had mixed components. Men had a higher frequency of CaOx stones (89.6% vs. 85.6%), whereas women had a higher frequency of calcium phosphate, infection, and cystine stones (27.2%, 17.7%, and 0.9% vs. 17.2%, 7.5%, and 0.5%, respectively). Cystine stones were more abundant in Arabs (1.2% vs. 0.5% in the Jewish population). Lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher prevalence of calcium phosphate, uric acid, and infectious stones and a lower prevalence of CaOx stones. Uric acid stones were associated with medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and obesity (28.3%, 24.9%, 25.7%, and 22.6% vs. 9.6%, 8.4%, 12.3%, and 10.3%, respectively).
Conclusions
The most common stone type was CaOx monohydrate. Stone types are highly influenced by patients’ demographics.
Preoperative and intraoperative assessment of myometrial invasion in in patients with non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma—a large-scale, multi-center and retrospective study
Authors: Yang Xiaohang , Yin Jingjing , Fu Yu , Shen Yuanming , Zhang Chuyao , Yao Shuzhong , Xu Congjian , Xia Min , Lou Ge , Liu Jihong , Lin Bei , Wang Jianliu , Zhao Weidong , Zhang Jieqing , Cheng Wenjun , Guo Hongyan , Guo Ruixia , Xue Fengxia , Wang Xipeng , Han Lili , Li Xiaomao , Zhang Ping , Zhao Jianguo , Li Wenting , Dou Yingyu , Wang Zizhuo , Liu Jingbo , Li Kezhen , Chen Gang , Sun Chaoyang , Sun Pengming , Lu Weiguo , Yao Qin
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Myometrial invasion (≤/＞50%) is a prognostic factor for lymph node metastases and decreased survival in non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. Our aim was to explore the mode of myometrial invasion diagnosis in FIGO stage I non- endometrioid carcinoma and to evaluate differences of diagnostic efficiency among intraoperative frozen section, gross examination, MRI and CT in clinical practice and to suggest which one should be routinely performed.
Method: This is a historical cohort study nationwide (thirty centers in China between January 2000 and December 2019). Clinical data including age, histology, method of myometrial invasion evaluation (MRI, CT, intraoperative gross examination, frozen section) and final diagnosis of postoperative paraffin section were collected from 490 non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (serous, clear cell and undifferentiated carcinoma, carcinosarcoma and mixed pathology) women in FIGO stage I.
Results: Among the 490 patients, 89.59% were detected with myometrial invasion. The methods reported for myometrial invasion assessment were frozen section in 23.47%, gross examination in 69.59%, MRI in 37.96% and CT in 10.20% of cases.
The concordance between intraoperative frozen section and postoperative paraffin section was the highest (Kappa = 0.631, accuracy = 93.04%), followed by gross examination (Kappa = 0.303, accuracy = 82.40%), MRI (Kappa = 0.131, accuracy = 69.35%), and CT (Kappa = 0.118, accuracy = 50.00%). A stable diagnostic agreement between frozen section and final results were found through years (2000–2012 Kappa = 0.776; 2013–2014 Kappa = 0.625; 2015–2016 Kappa = 0.545; 2017–2019 Kappa = 0.652).
Conclusion: In China, the assessment of myometrial invasion in non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma is most often performed with intraoperative gross examination, but the reliability is relatively low in contrast to intraoperative frozen section. In clinical practice, frozen section is a reliable method that can help myometrial invasion accurately assessing and intraoperative decision making (lymph node dissection or not). It should be performed routinely in patients with intrauterine non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.
Will Anti-tax-avoidance provisions Reduce the Investment of Multinational Enterprises?
Authors: 项 炀骁 , 张 宇晨 , 张 亚璟
Published: October 2022

Quantitative evaluation of the effect of tax policies is of great practical significance for giving play to the structural adjustment advantages of fiscal and tax policies and strengthening the coordination between different macro-control measures. This paper takes the announcement [2016] No. 42 of the State Administration of Taxation in China as a quasi-natural experiment to study how anti-avoidance policies affect the investment level of multinational enterprises. The research finds that: (1) compared with non-multinational enterprises, multinational enterprises have significantly reduced their investment level after the promulgation of the Anti-tax-avoidance provisions; (2) The mechanism analysis shows that after the policy was issued, the tax burden, financing constraints and internal governance level of the experimental group enterprises have been improved, and the change of enterprise investment level stems from the impact of anti-avoidance policies on the above aspects of enterprises to varying degrees. Under the joint action of different mechanisms, the Anti-tax-avoidance provisions has reduced the level of enterprise investment. The conclusion of this paper provides a basis and reference for the improvement of the subsequent Anti-tax-avoidance provisions.
CD63 regulates cholesterol storage within endosomes and its distribution via exosomes
Authors: Palmulli Roberta , Couty Mickael , Piontek Melissa , Ponnaiah Maharajah , Dingli Florent , Verweij Frederik , Charrin Stéphanie , Tantucci Matteo , Sasidharan Sajitha , Rubinstein Eric , Kontush Anatol , Loew Damarys , Lhomme Marie , Roos Wouter , Raposo Graça , Niel Guillaume van
Published: October 2022

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that are enriched in specific proteins and lipids during their generation as intraluminal vesicles in multivesicular endosomes. Contrary to proteins, the endosomal sorting mechanisms of lipids on intraluminal vesicles are still ill-defined. Here, we find that the tetraspanin CD63, highly enriched in ILVs and exosomes, regulates cholesterol sorting on ILVs and exosomes. This process generates a pool of cholesterol that affects exosomes physical properties and can be mobilized by the NPC1/2 complex from ILVs and exosomes. Absence of CD63 redirects cholesterol from endosomes to the Trans-Golgi Network by actin dependent vesicular transport, placing CD63 and cholesterol at the center of a balance between inward and outward budding of endomembranes. These results establish CD63 as cholesterol sorting mechanism within endosomes and place ILVs and exosomes as alternative providers of cholesterol.
Treatment of Infected Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm with Combined Abscess Debridement and Stent-Graft Wrapping using Pedicled Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flaps after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
Authors: Matsushima Hirokazu , Ishimine Tohru , Taniguchi Naoki , Tengan Toshiho
Published: October 2022

Background: Open thoracic surgery (with infected lesion removal, prosthetic graft replacement, and autologous tissue filling) has remained the main treatment for infected thoracic aortic aneurysms to date. Recent reports have highlighted good prognostic outcomes with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. However, thoracic endovascular aortic repair for infected thoracic aortic aneurysms is associated with an exacerbation of infection due to residual infected tissues. We have discussed control of refractory infections following endovascular treatment of infected thoracic aortic aneurysms
Case Presentation: An 81-year-old man, with a history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and pancreaticoduodenectomy, presented to our emergency department with fever. Blood tests revealed a markedly elevated leukocyte count, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography suggested a descending thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm. We diagnosed the patient with an infected descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, and performed urgent thoracic endovascular aortic repair; he was started on an intravenous antibiotic treatment.Postoperatively, blood tests revealed a decreased leukocyte count and the patient remained afebrile. However, computed tomography revealed temporal enlargement of the abscess cavity; therefore, an abscess debridement and stent graft wrapping with pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flaps were performed, which successfully controlled the infection. Six weeks after abscess debridement, the patient was switched to an oral antibiotic therapy. There was no evidence of recurrence of infection 8 months after the surgery.
Conclusions: A combined abscess debridement and autologous tissue filling approach is useful for patients with poor surgical tolerance in whom infection control is difficult after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for infected thoracic aortic aneurysms. Pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flaps are useful when using the omentum for autologous tissue filling is difficult.
Clinical algorithm reduces antibiotic use for respiratory infections in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Phuong TK , Nguyen Tam TM , Huynh Lan TB , Graham Stephen M , Marais Ben
Published: October 2022

Objective
To assess the safety and utility of a pragmatic clinical algorithm to guide rational antibiotic use in children with respiratory infection
Methods
The effect of an algorithm to guide the management of young (<5 years) children presenting with respiratory symptoms to the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, Vietnam, was evaluated in a before-after intervention analysis. The intervention comprised a single training session of physicians in the use of an algorithm informed by local evidence.
Results
Of the 1290 children evaluated before the intervention, 102 (7.9%) were admitted to hospital and 556/1188 (46.8%) were sent home with antibiotics. Due to COVID-19, only 166 children were evaluated after the intervention of whom 14 (8.4%) were admitted to hospital and 54/152 (35.5%) were sent home with antibiotics. Antibiotic use was reduced (from 46.8% to 35.5%; p=0.009) after clinician training, but adequate comparison was compromised. The reduction was most pronounced in children with wheeze or runny nose and no fever, or a normal chest radiograph, where antibiotic use declined from 46.7% to 28.8% (p<0.0001). The frequency of repeat presentation to hospital was similar between the two study periods (141/1188; 11.9% before and 10/152; 6.6% after; p=0.10). No child represented with serious disease after being sent home without antibiotics.
Conclusions
We observed a reduction in antibiotic use in young children with a respiratory infection after physician training in the use of a simple evidence-based management algorithm. However, the study was severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, requiring further evaluation to confirm the observed effect.
Classification of central nervous system tumors histological diagnosed in a single center of Northwest China 2003-2019
Authors: Zhai Yulong , Ji Peigang , Xu Meng , Chao Min , Wang Na , Liu Jinghui , Wang Yuan , Guo Shaochun , Chen Fan , Cao Haiyan , Wang Liang
Published: October 2022

Background:
The classification of the central nervous system (CNS) tumors has changed greatly. The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) and other institutions have conducted analyses on the new cases of primary CNS tumors. However, there are limited studies analyzing the incidence rate and characteristics of CNS tumors reported in China. To better understand the CNS tumors in China, we summarized the case details of all CNS primary tumors diagnosed pathologically in a single center from 2003 to 2019.
Methods:
All patients with CNS tumors who underwent neurosurgery at our Hospital from Jan 2003 to Dec 2019 were included in the study. The information of all patients was collected from the hospital information system, including diagnosis time, age, gender, anatomical sites, pathological results, etc.
Results:
A total of 17,226 cases of primary CNS tumors were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Among all cases screened, the major tumor types included meningiomas, tumors of neuroepithelial tissue, and pituicytomas. The majority of tumors of neuroepithelial tissue were glioblastoma and astrocytoma. Most tumors of neuroepithelial tissue are located in the frontal lobe. Further, the proportion of the frontal lobe increased with the grade. The median age of all patients was 46 years. The incidence of CNS tumors is higher in women than in men.
Conclusions:
Based on this data set, we analyzed various parameters including the types, biological properties, and anatomical site of CNS tumors as well as patients’ age, gender, and race, and provided researchers and clinicians with information on the incidence rate of CNS tumors.
The Role of E-commerce in Agriculture Digitization Promoting Rural Development in Rwanda
Authors: RUKUNDO Prince , Mbanzabugabo Jean Baptiste , Gilbert UWITONZE
Published: October 2022

This paper sought to analyze pros and cons of the current e-commerce and agriculture digitization in Rwanda and how rural development benefits from them. Since the country emerge in social and economic transformation, ICT has been a prominent tool to inject a rapid Economic growth among Rwanda’s citizens. Agriculture digitization has been successfully implemented, different national and international organization sponsored this ultimate initiative, Rwanda become one of the fewest African country with an electronic world trade platform in Africa. Though a promising progress is noticeable, the researcher found some barrier towards a successful migration from a longstanding model towards an advanced and ultramodern agriculture’s e-commerce and digitization platform.