bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic field–driven particle assembly and jamming for bistable memory and response plasticity
Authors: Liu Xianhu , Tan Hongwei , Rigoni Carlo , Hartikainen Teemu , Asghar Nazish , van Dijken Sebastiaan , Timonen Jaakko V. I. , Peng Bo , Ikkala Olli
Published: November 2022

Unlike classic synthetic stimulus-responsive and shape-memory materials, which remain limited to fixed responses, the responses of living systems dynamically adapt based on the repetition, intensity, and history of stimuli. Such plasticity is ubiquitous in biology, which is profoundly linked to memory and learning. Concepts thereof are searched for rudimentary forms of “intelligent materials.” Here, we show plasticity of electroconductivity in soft ferromagnetic nickel colloidal supraparticles with spiny surfaces, assembling/disassembling to granular conducting micropillars between two electrodes driven by magnetic field
B
. Colloidal jamming leads to conduction hysteresis and bistable memory upon increasing and subsequently decreasing
B
. Abrupt
B
changes induce larger conduction changes than gradual
B
-changes. Periodic
B
pulsing drives to frequency-dependent facilitation or suppression of conductivity compared to exposing the same constant field. The concepts allow remotely controlled switching plasticity, illustrated by a rudimentary device. More generally, we foresee adaptive functional materials inspired by response plasticity and learning.
Mechanism of mixed-linkage glucan biosynthesis by barley cellulose synthase–like CslF6 (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan synthase
Authors: Purushotham Pallinti , Ho Ruoya , Yu Long , Fincher Geoffrey B. , Bulone Vincent , Zimmer Jochen
Published: November 2022

Mixed-linkage (1,3;1,4)-β-glucans, which are widely distributed in cell walls of the grasses, are linear glucose polymers containing predominantly (1,4)-β-linked glucosyl units interspersed with single (1,3)-β-linked glucosyl units. Their distribution in cereal grains and unique structures are important determinants of dietary fibers that are beneficial to human health. We demonstrate that the barley cellulose synthase-like CslF6 enzyme is sufficient to synthesize a high–molecular weight (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan in vitro. Biochemical and cryo–electron microscopy analyses suggest that CslF6 functions as a monomer. A conserved “switch motif” at the entrance of the enzyme’s transmembrane channel is critical to generate (1,3)-linkages. There, a single-point mutation markedly reduces (1,3)-linkage formation, resulting in the synthesis of cellulosic polysaccharides. Our results suggest that CslF6 monitors the orientation of the nascent polysaccharide’s second or third glucosyl unit. Register-dependent interactions with these glucosyl residues reposition the polymer’s terminal glucosyl unit to form either a (1,3)- or (1,4)-β-linkage.
Erratum to: Forming of Block Zeolites Using 3D Printing Technology
Authors: Bragina A. A. , Lysikov A. I. , Parkhomchuk E. V.
Published: November 2022

Erratum
Hydrogenation of Lignin Bio-Oil Components over Catalysts Based on Porous Aromatic Frameworks
Authors: Kulikov L. A. , Bazhenova M. A. , Makeeva D. A. , Terenina M. V. , Maximov A. L. , Karakhanov E. A.
Published: November 2022

This study focuses on the hydrogenation of model lignin bio-oil components over ruthenium and platinum catalysts synthesized from a porous aromatic framework, namely PAF-30. This PAF represents a polymeric support with developed porosity and high chemical and thermal stability. The effects of the guaiacol concentration, process temperature, and reaction time on the product composition were identified in the catalytic hydrogenation of guaiacol as a common component of lignin bio-oil. Various guaiacol derivatives were hydrogenated, and the hydrogenate composition was investigated. It was demonstrated that, within one hour at 250°C and a hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa, guaiacol can be hydrogenated exhaustively into 2-methoxycyclohexanol (64%) and cyclohexanol (64%) over the ruthenium catalyst and into a mixture of various hydrogenation products over the platinum catalyst.
Odynophagia in a young adult: revisiting herpetic esophagitis and eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Patel Hiral , Nguyen Samantha Minh Thy , Haque Aaisha , Krishnaswamy Guha
Published: November 2022

An immunocompetent man in his 20s presented with a 24-hour history of severe odynophagia, nausea, vomiting and throat pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed severe esophagitis with ulcerated mucosa, exudative debris, haemorrhage and multiple erosions. Biopsy of the oesophageal tissue demonstrated marginated chromatin, multinucleated giant cells and molding of nuclei, consistent with herpes simplex virus esophagitis (HSE). Treatment with oral acyclovir led to the complete resolution of symptoms. The patient subsequently developed dysphagia again, 8 months later. EGD showed furrowing and concentric rings typical of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. Treatment with a proton pump inhibitor and swallowed topical corticosteroids led to symptomatic improvement. Thus, HSE can occur in immunocompetent hosts and on occasion, HSE may be a harbinger of EoE, as evidenced by our extensive literature review. Mechanical disruption of the mucosal barrier by viruses, facilitating food allergen penetration, and associated immunological signaling abnormalities may be responsible phenomena requiring further elucidation.
More people survived a cardiac arrest when first aiders received an app alert
Authors: Saul Helen , Gursul Deniz , Cassidy Samantha , Smith Chris
Published: November 2022

The study

Smith CM, Lall R, Fothergill RT, Spaight R, Perkins GD. The effect of the GoodSAM volunteer first-responder app on survival to hospital discharge following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care
2022;11:20-31.

To read the full NIHR Alert, go to:
https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/more-people-survived-cardiac-arrest-first-aiders-goodsam-alert/
Induction of labour for predicted macrosomia: study protocol for the ‘Big Baby’ randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ewington Lauren Jade , Gardosi Jason , Lall Ranjit , Underwood Martin , Fisher Joanne D , Wood Sara , Griffin Ryan , Harris Kirsten , Bick Debra , Booth Katie , Brown Jaclyn , Butler Emily , Fowler Kelly , Williams Mandy , Deshpande Sanjeev , Gornall Adam , Dewdney Jackie , Hillyer Karen , Gates Simon , Jones Ceri , Mistry Hema , Petrou Stavros , Slowther Anne-Marie , Willis Adrian , Quenby Siobhan
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Large-for-gestational age (LGA) fetuses have an increased risk of shoulder dystocia. This can lead to adverse neonatal outcomes and death. Early induction of labour in women with a fetus suspected to be macrosomic may mitigate the risk of shoulder dystocia. The Big Baby Trial aims to find if induction of labour at 38+0–38+4weeks’ gestation, in pregnancies with suspected LGA fetuses, reduces the incidence of shoulder dystocia.

Methods and analysis

The Big Baby Trial is a multicentre, prospective, individually randomised controlled trial of induction of labour at 38+0to 38+4weeks’ gestation vs standard care as per each hospital trust (median gestation of delivery 39+4) among women whose fetuses have an estimated fetal weight >90th customised centile according to ultrasound scan at 35+0to 38+0weeks’ gestation. There is a parallel cohort study for women who decline randomisation because they opt for induction, expectant management or caesarean section. Up to 4000 women will be recruited and randomised to induction of labour or to standard care. The primary outcome is the incidence of shoulder dystocia; assessed by an independent expert group, blind to treatment allocation, from delivery records. Secondary outcomes include birth trauma, fractures, haemorrhage, caesarean section rate and length of inpatient stay. The main trial is ongoing, following an internal pilot study. A qualitative reporting, health economic evaluation and parallel process evaluation are included.

Ethics and dissemination

The study received a favourable opinion from the South West—Cornwall and Plymouth Health Research Authority on 23/03/2018 (IRAS project ID 229163). Study results will be reported in the National Institute for Health Research journal library and published in an open access peer-reviewed journal. We will plan dissemination events for key stakeholders.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN18229892.
Effects of patient accessible electronic health records on nurses’ work environment: a survey study on expectations in Sweden
Authors: Cajander Åsa , Huvila Isto , Salminen-Karlsson Minna , Lind Thomas , Scandurra Isabella
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The introduction of information and communication technology influences the work environment of large groups of employees in healthcare. In Sweden, a national healthcare service providing patient accessible electronic health records (PAEHR) has been deployed, and this paper investigates nurses’ expected effects of this implementation.

Setting

Nurses associated with the Swedish Association of Health Professionals working in healthcare such as primary care, hospitals and midwives in Sweden. Before a full-scale national implementation of PAEHR, a web survey study was distributed nationally. The respondents represented all 21 Swedish regions. Questions included five-point Likert scale questions and open questions.

Participants

A survey link was distributed via email to 8460 registered nurses, midwives and union representatives in Sweden. The response rate was 35.4% (2867 respondents: registered nurses 84%; midwives 6%; chief position 5%; in projects 2% and other 3%). Three reminders were sent out, all of them increasing the response rate. A majority of the respondents were female (89.9%), 8.4% male, whereas 1.7% did not indicate their gender. 31.4% were under 40 years old, 53.8% 40–59 and 13.7% over 60.

Results

Data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis with principal component analysis as the extraction method. The analysis revealed three distinct factors related to nurses’ expectations of PAEHR: (1) PAEHR improves the quality of care, (2) PAEHR improves the quality of the work environment and (3) risk and fears concerning patients’ well-being. Some interesting results include that more experienced nurses are more favourable to PAEHR. Our analysis also shows that the view of the nurse–patient relationship is an essential underlying factor related to positive or negative expectations.

Conclusions

Results show that the expectations and perceptions of PAEHR vary depending on the nurse’s view of who the electronic record belongs to. Younger nurses are somewhat more negative towards PAEHR than older nurses.
Change in stunting and its associated factors among children aged less than 5 years in Ethiopia using Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data from 2005 to 2019: a multivariate decomposition analysis
Authors: Dessie Getenet , Tsegaye Gebiyaw Wudie , Mekonnen Berhanu Abebaw , Bayih Mulat Tirfie , Nigussie Zelalem Mehari
Published: November 2022

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess change in stunting and its associated factors among children aged less than 5 years in Ethiopia using Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data from 2005 to 2019.

Design

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted.

Setting

The study was conducted in Ethiopia.

Participants

In 2005, 4586 individuals were examined, followed by 10 282 in 2011, 9462 in 2016 and 4937 in 2019.

Primary and secondary outcomes

The primary outcome of the study was stunting, and the secondary outcome was factors associated with stunting and its change. A multilevel logistic regression model was fitted to identify individual and community-level factors associated with stunting among children aged less than 5 years. Multivariate decomposition analysis was also carried out to assess the role of compositional characteristics and behavioural change for decline in stunting among children aged less than 5 years in Ethiopia.

Results

Over the study period, the prevalence rate of stunting in children aged less than 5 years decreased from 47% to 37% in 2019. Differences in behavioural change among children under the age of 5 years account for 76.69% of the overall decline in stunting prevalence rate in the years 2005–2011, 86.53% in the years 2005–2016, 98.9% in the years 2005–2019, 70.34% in the years 2011–2016 and 73.77% in the years 2011–2019. Behavioural adjustments among breastfed children, diet diversity, place of delivery, ANC follow-up and region have all had a major effect on stunting prevalence rate. The wealth index, parenteral education, child’s age in months, length of breast feeding and area were among the compositional change factors.

Conclusion

A large percentage of children aged less than 5 years remains stunted in Ethiopia. Stunting was associated with alterations in the compositional and behavioural characteristics of children. Stimulating existing nutritional measures and improving the wealth index will make a significant difference in reducing stunting among Ethiopian children aged less than 5 years.
Retrospective study of COVID-19 outcomes among healthcare workers in Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: Eze-Emiri Chidinma , Patrick Foster , Igwe Ezinne , Owhonda Golden
Published: November 2022

Objective

To determine the illness severity and mortality among COVID-19-infected healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design

A retrospective cohort study using population-level data. Secondary analysis was conducted on collated data from the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the State Ministry of Health, Rivers State, Nigeria. Data were gathered from the COVID-19 patient database of the PHEOC on demographics, place of work, illness severity and outcome.

Participants

The cohort included all documented HCWs with confirmed COVID-19 infection (diagnosed by PCR).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Illness severity defined as ‘hospitalisation required’ and treatment outcome labelled as ‘alive’ or ‘dead’ were the outcomes of interest.

Results

The mean age was 43 years and 50.5% of the cohort were female. Of the 301 HCWs infected, 187 patients were symptomatic with 32 requiring hospitalisation. Seven infected HCWs died of their COVID-19 infection, resulting in a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 2.3%. Population proportions for age groups, case presentation and mortality, would be significantly greater than those seen in the study population. Health professionals made up 79.7% (240) of the study cohort, with 68.8% (165) of them working at the teaching hospitals; the association between HCWs and health facilities they worked in, was significant. Symptomatic cases were more inclined to progress to severe illness (χ(1)2=15.219,α=<0.0001;adjusted OR (aOR) 10.658, 95% CI 2.494 to 45.552); patients also had greater odds of dying from COVID-19 (χ(5)2=13.7,α=0.003;aOR 1.079, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.141) per year increase in age adjusted for sex, case class and illness severity.

Conclusions

Frontl-ine HCWs are at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 infections. In Nigeria, there is a higher risk of experiencing severe illness if symptomatic while infected with COVID-19. Preventive strategies, proper education and awareness must be put in place to protect HCWs.

Objective

To determine the illness severity and mortality among COVID-19-infected HCWs.
Identification of barriers, enablers and interventions to inform deimplementation of low-value care in emergency medicine practice: A protocol for a mixed methods scoping review informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework
Authors: Gangathimmaiah Vinay , Evans Rebecca , Moodley Nishila , Sen Gupta Tarun , Drever Natalie , Cardona Magnolia , Carlisle Karen
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Low-value care can lead to patient harm, misdirected clinician time and wastage of finite healthcare resources. Despite worldwide endeavours, deimplementing low-value care has proved challenging. Multifaceted, context and barrier-specific interventions are essential for successful deimplementation. The aim of this literature review is to summarise the evidence about barriers to, enablers of and interventions for deimplementation of low-value care in emergency medicine practice.

Methods and analysis

A mixed methods scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley framework will be conducted. MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, EMCare, Scopus and grey literature will be searched from inception. Primary studies will be included. Barriers, enablers and interventions will be mapped to the domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. Study selection, data collection and quality assessment will be performed by two independent reviewers. NVivo software will be used for qualitative data analysis. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool will be used for quality assessment. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews framework will be used to present results.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review. This review will generate an evidence summary regarding barriers to, enablers of and interventions for deimplementation of low-value care in emergency medicine practice. This review will facilitate discussions about deimplementation with relevant stakeholders including healthcare providers, consumers and managers. These discussions are expected to inform the design and conduct of planned future projects to identify context-specific barriers and enablers then codesign, implement and evaluate barrier-specific interventions.
Understanding what happens to attendees after an NHS Health Check: a realist review
Authors: Duddy Claire , Gadsby Erica , Hibberd Vivienne , Krska Janet , Wong Geoff
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The NHS Health Check offers adults aged 40–74 an assessment of their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Attendees should be offered appropriate clinical or behavioural interventions to help them to manage or reduce these risks. This project focused on understanding variation in the advice and support offered to Health Check attendees.

Design

We conducted a realist review, assembling a diverse body of literature via database searches (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, HMIC, Web of Science) and other search methods, and synthesised data extracted from documents using a realist logic of analysis. Our aim was to develop an understanding of contexts affecting delivery of the NHS Health Check and the underlying mechanisms producing outcomes related to the offer for attendees post-Check.

Results

Our findings demonstrate differences in how NHS Health Check commissioners, providers and attendees understand the primary purpose of the programme. A focus on screening for disease can produce an emphasis on high-volume delivery in primary care. When delivery models are organised around behavioural approaches to risk reduction, more emphasis is placed on advice, and referrals to ‘lifestyle services’. However, constrained funding and competing priorities for providers limit what can be delivered within the programme’s remit. Attendees’ experiences and responses to the programme are affected by how the programme is delivered, and by the difficulty of incorporating its outputs into their lives.

Conclusions

The remit of the NHS Health Check should be reviewed with consideration of what can be effectively delivered within existing resources. Variation in delivery may be appropriate to meet local needs, but differences in how the programme’s primary purpose is understood contribute to a ‘postcode lottery’ in post-Check advice and support. Our findings underline existing concerns that the programme may generate inequitable outcomes and raise questions about whether it can deliver positive outcomes for the majority of attendees.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO CRD42020163822
Healthcare-seeking behaviour of marginalised older people in urban slums: a cross-sectional survey study in Khulna City, Bangladesh
Authors: Jahan Nusrat , Akter Shahinur , Heme Morsheda Akter , Chandra Dipika , Polly Afsana , Siddiqua Laila , Rahman Rumana , Mohsin Kaniz Fatima , Hossain Md Tanvir
Published: November 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to measure healthcare-seeking behaviour and determine its associated factors among older people in the slums of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) areas of Bangladesh.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Settings

Four slums in the KCC areas of Bangladesh.

Participants

The participants were selected following a two-stage area probability sampling with the following specifications: they must be aged ≥60 years and must have lived in the slums of KCC for at least 5 consecutive years.

Outcome measures

A semistructured interview schedule was administered to determine participants’ healthcare-seeking behaviour, with healthcare-seeking behaviour measured through a dichotomous response of ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Results

636 participants were included in the study. Gastrointestinal problems (75.3%) and aches and pains (71.5%) were the two most common health problems among older people in the slums of KCC. Older adults in their 80s had higher adjusted odds of attaining healthcare services (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.028; 95% CI: 1.140 to 3.609; p<0.05) than other older people, while educated older people (AOR=0.664; 95% CI: 0.441 to 1.000; p<0.05) and those with greater satisfaction with domains of life (SDL index; AOR=0.860; 95% CI: 0.811 to 0.912; p<0.01) were less inclined to seek healthcare services than their counterparts. Additionally, widows/widowers (AOR=2.218; 95% CI: 1.080 to 4.556; p<0.05) and married people (AOR=2.750; 95% CI: 1.329 to 5.689; p<0.01) had higher adjusted odds of seeking healthcare services than those who were divorced/separated.

Conclusion

Age, education, marital status and SDL index were significant predictors for the healthcare-seeking behaviour of older people in KCC slums. Effective strategies need to be implemented to reduce existing access barriers to healthcare services for older people in the slum areas of urban Bangladesh.
Effectiveness of two doses of Euvichol-plus oral cholera vaccine in response to the 2017/2018 outbreak: a matched case–control study in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Sialubanje Cephas , Kapina Muzala , Chewe Orbrie , Matapo Belem Blamwell , Ngomah Albertina Moraes , Gianetti Brittany , Ngosa William , Kasonde Mpanga , Musonda Kunda , Mulenga Modest , Michelo C , Sinyange Nyambe , Bobo Patricia , Zyambo Khozya , Mazyanga Lucy , Bakyaita Nathan , Mukonka Victor M
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Zambia experienced a major cholera outbreak in 2017–2018, with more than 5905 cases reported countrywide, predominantly from the peri-urban slums of Lusaka city. The WHO recommends the use of oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) together with traditional control measures, including health promotion, provision of safe water and improving sanitation, in cholera endemic areas and during cholera outbreaks. In response to this outbreak, the Zambian government implemented the OVC campaign and administered the Euvichol-plus vaccine in the high-risk subdistricts of Lusaka. Although OCVs have been shown to be effective in preventing cholera infection in cholera endemic and outbreak settings, the effectiveness of the Euvichol-plus vaccine has not yet been evaluated in Zambia. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of two doses of OCV administered during the 2017/2018 vaccination campaign.

Methods

We conducted a matched case–control study involving 79 cases and 316 controls following the mass vaccination campaign in the four subdistricts of Lusaka (Chawama, Chipata, Kanyama and Matero). Matching of controls was based on the place of residence, age and sex. Conditional logistic regression was used for analysis. Adjusted OR (AOR), 95% CI and vaccine effectiveness (1-AOR) for two doses of Euvichol-plus vaccine and any dose were estimated (p<0.05).

Results

The AOR vaccine effectiveness for two doses of Euvichol-plus OCV was 81.0% (95% CI 66.0% to 78.0%; p<0.01). Secondary analysis showed that vaccine effectiveness for any dose was 74.0% (95% CI 50.0% to 86.0%; p<0.01).

Conclusion

These findings show that two doses of Euvichol-plus OCV are effective in a cholera outbreak setting in Lusaka, Zambia. The findings also indicate that two doses are more effective than a single dose and thus support the use of two doses of the vaccine as part of an integrated intervention to cholera control during outbreaks.
Exploring stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions regarding barriers to effective surveillance of communicable diseases in a rural district of Pakistan: a qualitative study
Authors: Naeem Imran , Siddiqi Sameen , Siddiqui Amna Rehana , Hasan Rumina
Published: November 2022

Objective

To explore the experiences and perceptions of health system stakeholders of a rural district of Sindh, Pakistan regarding the barriers to effective surveillance of communicable diseases.

Design

This qualitative descriptive exploratory design comprised in-depth interviews. Both inductive and deductive thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes from the data.

Settings

The study was conducted in public sector healthcare facilities and the district health office of the rural district of Thatta, in Sindh province, Pakistan.

Participants

Fifteen healthcare managers and healthcare providers working in the eight public sector primary and secondary healthcare facilities were interviewed using an open-ended in-depth interview guide.

Results

Key themes that emerged from the data were: poor governance and absence of surveillance policy framework; fragmentation in the health system leading to lack of uniform reporting; inadequate (human) resources that weakened the infrastructure for disease surveillance; hospital-based reporting of cases that led to a predominantly passive surveillance system; paper-based surveillance system as the key determinant of delayed reporting; non-utilisation of surveillance data for decision making; absence of local laboratory capacity to complement the detection of disease outbreaks and lack of private sector integration in disease surveillance.

Conclusions

Poor governance and lack of policy framework were perceived to be responsible for weak surveillance infrastructure. Resource deficiencies including inadequate human resource, paper-based reporting and the absence of local laboratory capacity were considered to result in delayed, poor quality and incomplete reporting. The lack of private sector engagement was identified as a major gap.
Prognostic significance of radiological pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis inMycobacterium aviumcomplex lung disease: a multicentre retrospective cohort study
Authors: Aono Yuya , Hozumi Hironao , Kono Masato , Hashimoto Dai , Nakamura Hidenori , Yokomura Koshi , Imokawa Shiro , Shirai Masahiro , Akahori Daisuke , Inoue Yusuke , Mori Kazutaka , Karayama Masato , Suzuki Yuzo , Furuhashi Kazuki , Enomoto Noriyuki , Fujisawa Tomoyuki , Nakamura Yutaro , Inui Naoki , Suda Takafumi
Published: November 2022

Background

Mycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC) causes chronic respiratory infectious diseases with diverse clinical features and prognoses. Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare disease characterised by pleural fibrosis with subjacent intra-alveolar fibrosis and alveolar septal elastosis, with unique chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) features (radiological PPFE). An association between recurrent respiratory infections and PPFE formation has been hypothesised; however, the clinical significance of PPFE in MAC lung disease remains unclear.

Methods

This retrospective, multicentre study investigated the prevalence of radiological PPFE in patients with MAC lung disease and its association with clinical features and outcomes. Radiological PPFE was diagnosed on the basis of HRCT findings. Prognostic factors were identified using Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray models.

Results

Of 850 consecutive patients with definite MAC lung disease, 101 (11.9%) exhibited radiological PPFE. Patients with radiological PPFE had unique characteristics, such as lower body mass index, lower survival rate (5-year cumulative survival rate, 63.1% vs 91.7%; p<0.001) and a higher incidence of respiratory-related death (5-year cumulative incidence, 31.1% vs 3.6%; p<0.001), than those without radiological PPFE. In the multivariable analysis, the presence of radiological PPFE was independently associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 4.78; 95% CI, 2.87 to 7.95; p<0.001) and respiratory-related death (adjusted HR, 3.88; 95% CI, 2.14 to 7.01; p<0.001).

Interpretation

This large-scale study demonstrated that in patients with MAC lung disease, radiological PPFE was common, a phenotype associated with unique clinical features and poor prognosis, particularly respiratory-related death. The specific management of this subgroup should be established.
Intensity uniformity improvement for a complex line beam
Authors: Liu Yu , Tao Shaohua , Xia Tian
Published: November 2022

A complex line beam, whose intensity distribution is uniform along a line shape and phase distribution is linearly gradient, can be applied in automatic directional transportation and optical separation of microparticles. Generally, complex amplitude beam shaping methods are used to control both the amplitude and phase of an output beam with a single phase-only element. However, for the complex line beam, although the phase gradient can be controlled well, the intensity of the beam is unevenly distributed, i.e. most of the energy of the beam is distributed in the two ends of the lateral direction. In this paper, we propose an intensity-compensation method based on the complex amplitude beam shaping method, in which the target intensity distribution of the output beam is modulated with a Gaussian profile on purpose. The simulation and experimental results show that the intensity uniformity of the complex line beam has been increased by 80.6% while the phase of the beam has been controlled as linearly gradient.
Realization of low-frequency stop band in Timoshenko beam with periodic IDVAs
Authors: Zhou Linyun , Jiang Chao , Wan Shui
Published: November 2022

The most prominent dynamic characteristic of metamaterials is that they possess the frequency pass bands and band gaps. In the bandgap, the elastic waves will attenuate significantly, and this property is potentially used to control low-frequency vibrations in civil engineering. To open the low-frequency bandgap of the Timoshenko beam, inerter-based dynamic vibration absorbers (IDVAs) are arranged periodically in the beam. An analytical methodology based on transfer matrix method was developed to predict the flexural wave dispersion characteristics, and was validated by test and numerical experiments. The band gaps can be simultaneously tuned by the parameters of the IDVAs, including spring stiffness, inertance and attached mass. Moreover, the band gaps generated by single IDVAs are independent of each other, and a super-wide bandgap can be achieved by splicing the band gaps for metamaterial beams with graded IDVAs. Explicit formulas with respect to the parameters of IDVAs have been developed to determine the condition of bandgap merging, which can broaden the bandwidth effectively. Finally, a computer-based program was presented to determine the reasonable design parameters.
Slowly converging Yamabe-type flow on manifolds with boundary
Authors: Ho Pak Tung , Shin Jinwoo
Published: November 2022

Carlotto, Chodosh and Rubinstein studied the rate of convergence of the Yamabe flow on a closed (compact without boundary) manifold [Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] In this paper, we prove the corresponding results on manifolds with boundary. More precisely, given a compact manifold [Formula: see text] with smooth boundary [Formula: see text], we study the convergence rate of the Yamabe flow with boundary: [Formula: see text] and the conformal mean curvature flow: [Formula: see text]
Left and right-Drazin inverses in rings and operator algebras
Authors: Ren Yanxun , Jiang Lining
Published: November 2022

The paper introduces the left and right versions of the large class of Drazin inverses in terms of the left and right annihilators in a ring, which are called left-Drazin and right-Drazin inverses. We characterize some basic properties of these one-sided Drazin inverses, and discuss Jacobson’s lemma for them. In addition, the relation between the Drazin inverses and these two one-sided inverses is given by means of the spectrum and the operator decomposition. As an application, the left-Drazin and right-Drazin invertibilities in the Calkin algebra are investigated.
Multiscale Modeling and Simulation of Hydrodynamic Inclined Fixed Pad Thrust Slider Bearing
Authors: Huang Chen , Zhang Yongbin
Published: November 2022

Numerical calculations were made for the multiscale hydrodynamic inclined fixed pad thrust slider bearing where the nanoscale non-continuum adsorbed layer flow and the intermediate continuum fluid flow simultaneously occur. They were compared with the results calculated from the analytically derived pressure formulas in the earlier study for the same bearing, which are essentially approximate. It was found that when the surface separation on the exit of the bearing is no less than 13[Formula: see text]nm, the analytically derived pressure formulas are valid for the studied multiscale hydrodynamic bearing for the weak, medium and strong fluid-bearing surface interactions; otherwise, the numerical approach is mandatory for calculating the hydrodynamic pressures in the bearing.
A wavelet-based study on phase and magnitude relationships of the Stockwell transform
Authors: Singh Km. Neeraj , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: November 2022

This paper establishes a relationship between the phase and log-magnitude of the Stockwell transform (S-transform). The proposed relationship is derived by defining the S-Transform in terms of wavelet functions. The proposed work is an extension of the study [Holighaus N., Koliander G., Průša Z., Abreu L. D., Characterization of analytic wavelet transforms and a new phaseless reconstruction algorithm, IEEE Trans. Signal Process. 67(15):3894–3908, 2019] carried out to establish a relationship between the phase and magnitude of the continuous wavelet transform. Our methodology exploits the relationship between partial derivatives of the real and imaginary parts of the wavelet and S-transform for a couple of window functions (Gaussian and bi-Gaussian). Apart from the continuous case, these relationships are explicitly shown for the discrete version of the S-transform.
Multispectral Target Tracking with Robust Correlation and Optimal Position Prediction
Authors: Akli Bousta Mohamed , Abdelkrim Nemra , Latifa Hamami
Published: November 2022

Object tracking using only visible-light sensor is usually problematic when facing some challenging scenes related to a complex environment like darkness, strong light, rain, fog, etc. In this paper, we have taken images, both thermal and visible light spectrum, from RGBT234 dataset as inputs for our proposed tracker which works as follows: First, the single shot multibox detector (SSD) is proposed to produce automatically the initial position of the target for visible and infrared modes. Second, a switching fuzzy logic controller (FLC) has been proposed to ensure automatic selection and switching between tracking modes (visible-light or thermal infrared spectrum) when a new environment is detected using confidence measures on some relevant features of the frames for each mode. Finally, to improve the kernelized correlation filter as a base tracker and overcome the limitation of the multimodal visual tracking, especially during tracking mode switching when visual information is not available, robust optimal smooth variable structure filter (SVSF) is proposed. Experiments on the recently public benchmark RGB-T234 demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method when compared to other state-of-the-art trackers.
Is Your Toxicity My Toxicity? Exploring the Impact of Rater Identity on Toxicity Annotation
Authors: Goyal Nitesh , Kivlichan Ian D. , Rosen Rachel , Vasserman Lucy
Published: November 2022

Machine learning models are commonly used to detect toxicity in online conversations. These models are trained on datasets annotated by human raters. We explore how raters' self-described identities impact how they annotate toxicity in online comments. We first define the concept of Specialized Rater Pools: rater pools formed based on raters' self-described identities, rather than at random. We formed three such rater pools for this study - specialized rater pools of raters from the U.S. who identify as African American, LGBTQ, and those who identify as neither. Each of these rater pools annotated the same set of comments, which contains many references to these identity groups. We found that rater identity is a statistically significant factor in how raters will annotate toxicity for identity-related annotations. Using preliminary content analysis, we examined the comments with the most disagreement between rater pools and found nuanced differences in the toxicity annotations. Next, we trained models on the annotations from each of the different rater pools, and compared the scores of these models on comments from several test sets. Finally, we discuss how using raters that self-identify with the subjects of comments can create more inclusive machine learning models, and provide more nuanced ratings than those by random raters.
Understanding Effects of Algorithmic vs. Community Label on Perceived Accuracy of Hyper-partisan Misinformation
Authors: Jia Chenyan , Boltz Alexander , Zhang Angie , Chen Anqing , Lee Min Kyung
Published: November 2022

Hyper-partisan misinformation has become a major public concern. In order to examine what type of misinformation label can mitigate hyper-partisan misinformation sharing on social media, we conducted a 4 (label type: algorithm, community, third-party fact-checker, and no label) X 2 (post ideology: liberal vs. conservative) between-subjects online experiment (N = 1,677) in the context of COVID-19 health information. The results suggest that for liberal users, all labels reduced the perceived accuracy and believability of fake posts regardless of the posts' ideology. In contrast, for conservative users, the efficacy of the labels depended on whether the posts were ideologically consistent: algorithmic labels were more effective in reducing the perceived accuracy and believability of fake conservative posts compared to community labels, whereas all labels were effective in reducing their belief in liberal posts. Our results shed light on the differing effects of various misinformation labels dependent on people's political ideology.
"I Am Concerned, But...": Streamers' Privacy Concerns and Strategies In Live Streaming Information Disclosure
Authors: Wu Yanlai , Li Yao , Gui Xinning
Published: November 2022

Live streaming is a popular synchronous social media platform that allows users to disclose information to vast audience in real time. It has been increasingly studied in recent years for its unique functions of disseminating user-generated content, enriching streamers' self-presentation, curating online social interactions and fostering online communities. However, little research has been done to explore the privacy issues in live streaming. In the present paper, we aim to understand streamers' privacy concerns and strategies in their information disclosure on live streaming. From an interview study with 20 streamers, we found that they expressed concerns and carefully managed their information disclosure based on whether the disclosure would enhance or weaken their attractiveness to the audience and whether it would disturb their interpersonal boundary with the audience. They adopted various technical and behavioral privacy management strategies to cope with their concerns, but encountered a series of usability and cognitive burdens. Based on the findings, we present design implications to improve the privacy management on live streaming.
How Should the Agent Communicate to the Group? Communication Strategies of a Conversational Agent in Group Chat Discussions
Authors: Do Hyo Jin , Kong Ha-Kyung , Lee Jaewook , Bailey Brian P.
Published: November 2022

In online group discussions, balanced participation can improve the quality of discussion, members' satisfaction, and positive group dynamics. One approach to achieve balanced participation is to deploy a conversational agent (CA) that encourages participation of under-contributing members, and it is important to design communication strategies of the CA in a way that is supportive to the group. We implemented five communication strategies that a CA can use during a decision-making task in a small group synchronous chat discussion. The five strategies include messages sent to two types of recipients (@username vs. @everyone) crossed by two separate channels (public vs. private), and a peer-mediated strategy where the CA asks a peer to address the under-contributing member. Through an online study with 42 groups, we measured the balance of participation and perceptions about the CA by analyzing chat logs and survey responses. We found that the CA sending messages specifying an individual through a private channel is the most effective and preferred way to increase participation of under-contributing members. Participants also expressed that the peer-mediated strategy is a less intrusive and less embarrassing way of receiving the CA's messages compared to the conventional approach where the CA directly sends a message to the under-contributing member. Based on our findings, we discuss trade-offs of various communication strategies and explain design considerations for building an effective CA that adapts to different group dynamics and situations.
Help Me #DebunkThis: Unpacking Individual and Community's Collaborative Work in Information Credibility Assessment
Authors: He Lu , He Changyang
Published: November 2022

The wide spread of misinformation contributes to information consumers' excessed distrust of online information. To cope, information consumers are often actively involved in checking the credibility of information through self-researching or seeking help and opinions from experts and peers. While previous studies investigated the factors that affect people's perceptions of information credibility and how laypeople's judgements compare to experts, little is known about how the information credibility assessment work is performed and cooperated by individuals and communities in real-life, natural online environments. Through a qualitative study of an online community, r/DebunkThis, which is dedicated to information debunking, we found that online information debunking rarely followed a linear and straightforward path. Rather, community members, including the debunkers and the original posters, constantly negotiated, and interacted with each other to determine what to debunk and how to debunk. Individuals adopted various strategies to debunk information, such as questioning the credibility of the information source and citing authoritative external information. Community members supplemented with details and explanations, corrected others, requested clarifications, summarized high-level knowledge and skills, and interacted socially based on individuals' debunking explanations. Our study results broaden the understanding of debunking not only as an outcome but also as a learning and social process for community members to learn high-level debunking skills and form and enforce community rules. We provide implications for designing community and crowd-based information debunking systems which should recognize the complex, cooperative, and socially situated work of community and crowd debunkers. The design of such systems should therefore support not only labeling information as correct or not or simply sharing alternative information sources, but also community interactions and learning processes, as well as recognizing the labor of community debunkers.
Understanding Account Deletion and Relevant Dark Patterns on Social Media
Authors: Schaffner Brennan , Lingareddy Neha A. , Chetty Marshini
Published: November 2022

Social media users may wish to delete their accounts, but it is unclear if this process is easy to complete or if users understand what happens to their account data after deletion. Furthermore, since platforms profit from users' data and activity, they have incentives to maintain active users, possibly affecting what account deletion options are offered. To investigate these issues, we conducted a two-part study. In Study Part 1, we created and deleted accounts on the top 20 social media platforms in the United States and performed an analysis of 490 deletion-related screens across these platforms. In Study Part 2, informed by our interface analysis, we surveyed 200 social media users to understand how users perceive and experience social media account deletion. From these studies, we have four main findings. First, account deletion options vary considerably across platforms and the language used to describe these options is not always clear. Most platforms offer account deletion on desktop browsers but not all allow account deletion from mobile apps or browsers. Second, we found evidence of several dark patterns present in the account deletion interfaces and platform policies. Third, most participants had tried to delete at least one social media account, yet over one-third of deletion attempts were never completed. Fourth, users mostly agreed that they did not want platforms to have access to deleted account data. Based on these results, we recommend that platforms improve the terminology used in account deletion interfaces so the outcomes of account deletion are more clear to users. Additionally, we recommend that platforms allow users to delete their social media accounts from any device they use to access the platform. Finally, future work is needed to assess how users are affected by account deletion related dark patterns.
"We Gather Together We Collaborate Together": Exploring the Challenges and Strategies of Chinese Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Online Communities on Weibo
Authors: Cui Yichao , Yamashita Naomi , Lee Yi-Chieh
Published: November 2022

In China, lesbian and bisexual women face intense stigma and difficulties developing relationships with each other. Although prior research has shown that online communities help LGBT people connect and exchange social support, few studies have explored the challenges Chinese lesbian and bisexual women face when initiating, growing, and sustaining such communities, in an atmosphere of platform censorship of LGBT-related content and intense discrimination from non-LGBT people. To address this gap, we interviewed 40 Weibo users in China, four bloggers and 36 followers of their blogs, who self-identified as lesbian or bisexual women. We found that a key technique these bloggers used to initiate their online communities was helping followers publish posts seeking support, sharing personal experiences, and seeking offline relationships. Then, their followers built relationships with bloggers by journaling their daily experiences as lesbian or bisexual women via private-messaging channels. As the communities' members grew more attached to them, bloggers and their followers began to work together to protect themselves from external threats, including Weibo's censorship and non-LGBT+ infiltrators' harassment. However, such attachment to the communities sometimes might lead to conflicts within them, which in turn prompted many members to leave, raising questions about the communities' long-term prospects. Our findings foreground important design considerations for those seeking to help lesbian and bisexual women in China and other discriminatory environments to develop safe online communities.