bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Some new Opial type dynamic inequalities via convex functions and applications
Authors: Saker S. H. , Alzabut J. , Sayed A. G. , O’Regan D. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we prove some new Opial-type dynamic inequalities on time scales. Our results are obtained in frame of convexity property and by using the chain rule and Jensen and Hölder inequalities. For illustration purpose, we obtain some particular Opial-type inequalities reported in the literature.
Common fixed point theorems on quasi-cone metric space over a divisible Banach algebra
Authors: Fulga Andreea , Afshari Hojjat , Shojaat Hadi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this manuscript, we investigate the existence and uniqueness of a common fixed point for the self-mappings defined on quasi-cone metric space over a divisible Banach algebra via an auxiliary mapping ϕ.
Using the absolute advantage coefficient (AAC) to measure the strength of damage hit by COVID-19 in India on a growth-share matrix
Authors: Yang Daw-Hsin , Chien Tsair-Wei , Yeh Yu-Tsen , Yang Ting-Ya , Chou Willy , Lin Ju-Kuo 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic occurred and rapidly spread around the world. Some online dashboards have included essential features on a world map. However, only transforming data into visualizations for countries/regions is insufficient for the public need. This study aims to (1) develop an algorithm for classifying countries/regions into four quadrants inn GSM and (2) design an app for a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation.

Methods
We downloaded COVID-19 outbreak numbers daily from the Github website, including 189 countries/regions. A four-quadrant diagram was applied to present the classification of each country/region using Google Maps run on dashboards. A novel presentation scheme was used to identify the most struck entities by observing (1) the multiply infection rate (MIR) and (2) the growth trend in the recent 7 days. Four clusters of the COVID-19 outbreak were dynamically classified. An app based on a dashboard aimed at public understanding of the outbreak types and visualizing of the COVID-19 pandemic with Google Maps run on dashboards. The absolute advantage coefficient (AAC) was used to measure the damage hit by COVID-19 referred to the next two countries severely hit by COVID-19.

Results
We found that the two hypotheses were supported: India (i) is in the increasing status as of April 28, 2021; (ii) has a substantially higher ACC(= 0.81 > 0.70), and (iii) has a substantially higher ACC(= 0.66 < 0.70) as of May 17, 2021.

Conclusion
Four clusters of the COVID-19 outbreak were dynamically classified online on an app making the public understand the outbreak types of COVID-19 pandemic shown on dashboards. The app with GSM and AAC is recommended for researchers in other disease outbreaks, not just limited to COVID-19.
Intra-articular fibrous bands at the tibiotalar joint: diagnosis and outcomes of arthroscopic removal in 4 ankles
Authors: Beaudet Philippe , van Rooij Floris , Saffarini Mo , Nogier Alexis 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe authors retrieved the records of 4 patients that exhibited unusual structural anomalies or pathologies, notably the presence of a fibrous band at the anterior aspect of the tibiotalar joint, observed during arthroscopic exploration or treatment between January and December 2019. Only 1 patient had surgical antecedents on the ipsilateral ankle (extra-articular tenodesis 10 years earlier). The remaining 3 patients had no surgical antecedents on the ipsilateral ankle. The fibrous band was removed in all patients during arthroscopic Brostöm procedure or exploration. For the first 3 patients, the intra-articular fibrous band was not observed prior to arthroscopy by either the senior surgeon or radiologist on any of the images (2 MRIs and 1 CTA), but retrospective inspection confirmed that the intra-articular fibrous band was present but had been overlooked.At a follow-up of 22.3 ± 5.0 months (range, 15–26), all patients reported a decrease in pVAS (− 5.0 ± 2.6, range, 2–8), and an improvement in AOFAS (51.0 ± 17.7, range, 26–65), EFAS (14.5 ± 8.7, range, 6–23) and EFAS sport (8.0 ± 5.3, range, 2–10).This case report corroborates the findings of an earlier discovery of an intra-articular fibrous band in 4 ankles, with more detailed information for clinical and radiologic diagnosis, as well as outcomes of arthroscopic removal. Clinicians should beware of such foreign bodies in the ankle, particularly in patients with history of sprains, and consider arthroscopic removal in cases with persistent pain and/or functional impairment.
Preservation of renal endothelial integrity and reduction of renal edema by aprotinin does not preserve renal perfusion and function following experimental cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Dekker Nicole A. M. , van Leeuwen Anoek L. I. , van Meurs Matijs , Moser Jill , Pankras Jeannette E. , van der Wel Nicole N. , Niessen Hans W. , Vervloet Marc G. , Vonk Alexander B. A. , Hordijk Peter L. , Boer Christa , van den Brom Charissa E. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundAcute kidney injury is a severe complication following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and is associated with capillary leakage and microcirculatory perfusion disturbances. CPB-induced thrombin release results in capillary hyperpermeability via activation of protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1). We investigated whether aprotinin, which is thought to prevent thrombin from activating PAR1, preserves renal endothelial structure, reduces renal edema and preserves renal perfusion and reduces renal injury following CPB.MethodsRats were subjected to CPB after treatment with 33.000 KIU/kg aprotinin (n = 15) or PBS (n = 15) as control. A secondary dose of 33.000 KIU/kg aprotinin was given 60 min after initiation of CPB. Cremaster and renal microcirculatory perfusion were assessed using intravital microscopy and contrast echography before CPB and 10 and 60 min after weaning from CPB. Renal edema was determined by wet/dry weight ratio and renal endothelial structure by electron microscopy. Renal PAR1 gene and protein expression and markers of renal injury were determined.ResultsCPB reduced cremaster microcirculatory perfusion by 2.5-fold (15 (10–16) to 6 (2–10) perfused microvessels,p < 0.0001) and renal perfusion by 1.6-fold (202 (67–599) to 129 (31–292) au/sec,p = 0.03) in control animals. Both did not restore 60 min post-CPB. This was paralleled by increased plasma creatinine (p < 0.01), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL;p = 0.003) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1;p < 0.01). Aprotinin treatment preserved cremaster microcirculatory perfusion following CPB (12 (7–15) vs. 6 (2–10) perfused microvessels,p = 0.002), but not renal perfusion (96 (35–313) vs. 129 (31–292) au/s,p > 0.9) compared to untreated rats. Aprotinin treatment reduced endothelial gap formation (0.5 ± 0.5 vs. 3.1 ± 1.4 gaps,p < 0.0001), kidney wet/dry weight ratio (4.6 ± 0.2 vs. 4.4 ± 0.2,p = 0.046), and fluid requirements (3.9 ± 3.3 vs. 7.5 ± 3.0 ml,p = 0.006) compared to untreated rats. In addition, aprotinin treatment reduced tubulointerstitial neutrophil influx by 1.7-fold compared to untreated rats (30.7 ± 22.1 vs. 53.2 ± 17.2 neutrophil influx/section,p = 0.009). No differences were observed in renal PAR1 expression and plasma creatinine, NGAL or KIM-1 between groups.ConclusionsAprotinin did not improve renal perfusion nor reduce renal injury during the first hour following experimental CPB despite preservation of renal endothelial integrity and reduction of renal edema.
Back to living well: community-based management of low back pain: a feasibility study
Authors: Macedo Luciana G. , Richardson Julie , Battie Michele C. , Hancock Mark , Kwan Matthew , Hladysh Genevieve , Zhuo Linda 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Low back pain (LBP) is a long-term health condition with an unpredictable pattern of symptomatic episodes, remission, and recurrence. Recently published systematic reviews suggest that exercise is the most effective intervention for preventing recurrences of LBP in persons that have recovered. Similar programs may also be effective in preventing flare-ups in persistent LBP. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of the Back to Living Well program (Physical activity + Education + Self-management) developed to prevent recurrence or flare-ups of LBP. The study evaluated feasibility in terms of recruitment rate, adherence, satisfaction with the exercise and education sessions, and the data collection procedures. We also aimed to evaluate barriers and facilitators to the engagement in the program.

Methods
Seventeen participants with non-specific LBP recently discharged from care from physiotherapy, chiropractors or physician care (< 3 months) were referred to the study by health care providers or community advertisements between December 2018 and February 2019. Participants underwent a 12-week (1 session/week) individualized, group-based exercise in the community and 4 sessions (30 min each) of education. All participants completed an action plan weekly for 12 weeks and wore an activity monitor for 6 months. All participants responded to weekly pain measures and completed study questionnaires at baseline, 3- and 6-months. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, attrition rates and satisfaction. At the end of the intervention, participants completed an end-of-program survey.

Results
Twenty-nine participants were screened for eligibility; 20 were deemed eligible, while 17 were included over a 2-month period meeting our feasibility targets. In total, 16 completed follow-up study questionnaires at 3 months, and 15 completed the 6-month follow-up. Fourteen participants responded to weekly messages, while 3 participants reported not having a mobile device or Internet access. In total, 15 participants responded to our end-of-program survey. Average age was 54.9 (11.7); 9 were female (53%), and the mean duration of LBP was 62.9 (69.7) months. All satisfaction responses in relation to the exercise program, education program and data collection procedures reached our threshold of 70% out of 100%. Reported barriers to engagement in the program included fear of injury, lack of motivation and travel. Facilitators included proximity to home, low cost, flexible schedule and friendly location.

Conclusion
The results show the program is feasible in terms of recruitment, low attrition, and patient satisfaction. Participants highlighted the excellent, relevant education program and the positive, personalized exercise. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention within a fully powered randomized controlled trial.

Trial registration
NCT03328689
Accessing the public workforce: Organisational recruitment practices and the inclusion or exclusion of individuals of immigrant origin
Authors: Lang Christine 
Published: June 2021

AbstractOrganisations are important gatekeepers in the labour market inclusion of immigrants and their children. Research has regularly documented ethnic discrimination in hiring decisions. Aiming to further our understanding of the role of organisations in influencing the professional trajectories of individuals of immigrant origin, this paper investigates the recruitment practices of public administrations. Drawing on approaches from organisational sociology and a qualitative case study of public administrations in the German state of Berlin, the article identifies three crucial elements of organisational decision-making affecting the recruitment of staff of immigrant origin: decisions regarding advertisement strategies, formal criteria, and individual candidates. Further, the article shows the underlying decision-making rationalities and the role of organisational contexts and ethnic stereotypes for recruitment-related decisions.
On the changes of the intention to leave the parental home during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison among five European countries
Authors: Luppi Francesca , Rosina Alessandro , Sironi Emiliano 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWith the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Europe during the first months of 2020, most of the governments imposed restrictive measures to people mobility and physical distance (the lockdown), which severely impacted on the economic activities and performance of many countries. Thus, the health emergency turned rapidly into in an economic crisis. The COVID-19 crisis in Europe increased the uncertainty about the economic recovery and the end of health emergency. This situation is supposed to have conditioned individuals’ life course path with the effect of inducing people to postpone or to abandon many life plans.This paper aims to explore and describe whether the rise of health emergency due to the COVID-19 has delayed or vanished young people’s intention to leave the parental home, in order to establish their own household, during 2020 in five European countries: Italy, Germany, France, Spain and the UK. Using data from an international survey from the “Youth Project”, carried out by the Toniolo Institute of Advanced Studies, this paper implements generalized logistic models for ordinal dependent variables to investigate the factors associated with a possible revision of the choice of leaving the parental home for a representative sample of 6000 respondents aged 18 to 34, interviewed between March and April 2020. In particular, we compare the effect of the occupational condition and the perceived income and employment vulnerability on the chance of confirmation, postponement or abandonment of the pre-pandemic plan across the five selected European countries.Results show that Italy, Spain and the UK are the countries with the highest probability of a downward revision of the intentions of leaving the nest. Especially in these countries, having negative expectations about changes in the individual’s and family’s future income is associated with the choice of abandoning the purpose of leaving the parental home. However, the vulnerability of the category of temporary workers particularly arises in Southern European countries: young people with precarious jobs seem to be the most prone to negatively revise their intentions of leaving, even compared with those not working.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patient-reported outcomes signs and symptoms for the remote management of inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Pinto Sergio , Loddo Erica , Paba Salvatore , Favale Agnese , Chicco Fabio , Onali Sara , Usai Paolo , Fantini Massimo Claudio 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background and aims
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a deep reorganization of hospital services including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) units. In this situation, conversion of in-person routine follow-up visits into phone consultations might be necessary. Here we explored the feasibility of using the validated Crohn’s Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Patient-Reported Outcomes Signs and Symptoms (CD- and UC-PRO/SS) to collect data about abdominal symptoms (abdominal/S) and bowel signs and symptoms (bowel/SS) remotely.

Methods
CD- and UC-PRO/SS were collected during phone consultations and compared among patients with active and inactive disease. The effectiveness of therapeutic intervention in patients with active disease was assessed by PRO/SS variation.

Results
Twenty-one CD and 56 UC patients were evaluated by phone. Six (28.6%) CD and 15 (26.8%) UC patients were considered to have active disease. In CD the bowel/SS but not the abdominal/S module was significantly higher in active patients (mean bowel/SS 2.50 [SE ± 0.44] active vs 0.76 [SE ± 0.18] remission, p = 0.008, AUC 0.87; mean abdominal/S 1.11 [SE ± 0.38] active vs 0.24 [SE ± 0.13] remission, p = 0.066). UC-PRO/SS measures were significantly higher in active patients as compared to patients in remission (median bowel/SS 1.63 [SE ± 0.24] active vs 0.33 [SE ± 0.04] remission; p < 0.0001, AUC 0.91; mean abdominal/S 1.03 [SE ± 0.24] vs 0.37 [SE ± 0.12]; p = 0.009, AUC 0.71). Therapy was escalated in 12 patients (3 CD and 9 UC) due to disease relapse. Therapy escalation resulted in the reduction of PRO/SS as evaluated at the subsequent phone consultation.

Conclusions
PRO/SS might represent a feasible tool to evaluate disease activity and therapy outcome in IBD patients during periods of limited access to outpatient clinics.
Evaluation of a CTA-based convolutional neural network for infarct volume prediction in anterior cerebral circulation ischaemic stroke
Authors: Hokkinen Lasse , Mäkelä Teemu , Savolainen Sauli , Kangasniemi Marko 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging is needed in current guideline-based stroke diagnosis, and infarct core size is one factor in guiding treatment decisions. We studied the efficacy of a convolutional neural network (CNN) in final infarct volume prediction from CTA and compared the results to a CT perfusion (CTP)-based commercially available software (RAPID, iSchemaView).

Methods
We retrospectively selected 83 consecutive stroke cases treated with thrombolytic therapy or receiving supportive care that presented to Helsinki University Hospital between January 2018 and July 2019. We compared CNN-derived ischaemic lesion volumes to final infarct volumes that were manually segmented from follow-up CT and to CTP-RAPID ischaemic core volumes.

Results
An overall correlation of r = 0.83 was found between CNN outputs and final infarct volumes. The strongest correlation was found in a subgroup of patients that presented more than 9 h of symptom onset (r = 0.90). A good correlation was found between the CNN outputs and CTP-RAPID ischaemic core volumes (r = 0.89) and the CNN was able to classify patients for thrombolytic therapy or supportive care with a 1.00 sensitivity and 0.94 specificity.

Conclusions
A CTA-based CNN software can provide good infarct core volume estimates as observed in follow-up imaging studies. CNN-derived infarct volumes had a good correlation to CTP-RAPID ischaemic core volumes.
Impact of home exercise program on self-efficacy and quality of life among primary knee osteoarthritis patients: a randomized controlled clinical study
Authors: Makarm Wafaa K. , Sharaf Doaa M. , Zaghlol Rabab S. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common joint disorder in elderly individuals, causing pain, loss of physical functioning, disability, and reduction of life quality. Home exercise programs (HEP) serve as a crucial complement to outpatient rehabilitation therapy, as they save the cost of supervised physical therapy sessions, while also offering a high level of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the 6-month HEP on pain, quality of life, and self-efficacy in patients with primary KOA and to identify the adherence level to exercises and associations with patients’ characteristics and clinical outcomes.

Results
After 6 months of HEP, there were statistically significant differences between groups for self-efficacy (p ≤ 0.001, from 58.29 to 71.5) (p = 0.23, from 55.98 to 57.72), quality of life (p ≤0.001, from 60.1 to 72.2) (p = 0.074, from 60.35 to 60.92), and pain severity (P ≤0.001, from 58.29 to 41.4) (P = 0.88, from 61.2 to 60.9) in favor of exercise group.

Conclusions
Home-based exercise program improves pain score, self-efficacy, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Adherence level to the exercise program may have a positive impact on patient improvement.
Increasing fetal hemoglobin as a possible key for improvement of hypoxia and saving last breath in COVID-19 patient: “postulating a hypothesis”
Authors: Abdelzaher Muhamed A. , Ibrahim Ashraf E. S. , Negm Essamedin M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
COVID-19 patients normally experience mild cold-like symptoms that progress from the early viral response phase through the lung phase to the hyper-inflammation phase. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) characterizes the most critical stage of the illness with progressive respiratory failure. Hypoxemia is the most dangerous and challenging problem. We suggest an inductive study approach to postulate a hypothesis and synthesis of supporting evidence as a trial to resolve hypoxia in patients with COVID-19 by increasing the volume of fetal hemoglobin which has a high affinity for oxygen using methods for hypothesis related research evidence synthesis.

Conclusion
We recommend involving umbilical cord fetal blood transfusion or the use of hydroxyl urea as a clinical trial on COVID-19 patients and also for all other types of ARDS to determine its efficacy in correction of hypoxemia, controlling progression of the disease, and increasing survival rate.
Green care in first-episode psychosis: short report of a mixed-methods evaluation of a ‘woodland group’ in an early intervention service
Authors: Cuthbert Sharon , Sharp Harriet , Berry Clio 
Published: June 2021

Aims and methodIn the context of increasing recognition of the role of nature in well-being, but limited evidence for specific patient groups, we describe a mixed-methods evaluation of a 10-week green care intervention (a woodland group) for 18- to 30-year-olds who had experienced a first episode of psychosis. Data were collected using the Questionnaire on the Process of Recovery (QPR), semi-structured service evaluation questionnaires, the NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT), and focus group analysis.ResultsAll participants present at week 10 (n = 5) would recommend this group to others; 4/8 participants showed reliable improvement on QPR outcome measures. Thematic analysis identified themes of connection with nature and others, development of a sense of well-being and ‘peacefulness’ and new perspectives on psychotic experience.Clinical implicationsThis small retrospective evaluation describes patient-reported benefits, feasibility and acceptability of green care interventions within early intervention in psychosis services (EIS).
Mortality after electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Watts Bradley V. , Peltzman Talya , Shiner Brian 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundThere are limited studies examining mortality associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and many studies do not include a control group or method to identify all patient deaths.AimsWe aimed to evaluate the risk of death associated with ECT treatments over 30 days and 1 year.MethodWe conducted a study analysing electronic medical record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system between 2000 and 2017. We compared mortality among patients who received ECT with a matched group of patients created through propensity score matching.ResultsOur sample included 123 479 individual ECT treatments provided to 8720 patients (including 5157 initial index courses of ECT). Mortality associated with individual ECT treatments was 3.08 per 10 000 treatments over the first 7 days after treatment. When comparing patients who received ECT with a matched group of mental health patients, those receiving ECT had a relative odds of all-cause mortality in the year after their index course of 0.87 (95% CI 0.79–1.11;P= 0.10), and a relative risk of death from causes other than suicide of 0.79 (95% CI 0.66–0.95;P< 0.01). The similar relative odds of all-cause mortality in the first 30 days after ECT was 1.06 (95% CI 0.65–1.73) for all-cause mortality, and 1.02 (95% CI 0.58–1.8) for all-cause mortality excluding suicide deaths.ConclusionsThere was no evidence of elevated or excess mortality after ECT. There was some indication that mortality may be reduced in patients receiving ECT compared with similar patients who do not receive ECT.