bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adapting Audiology Procedures During the Pandemic: Validity and Efficacy of Testing Outside a Sound Booth
Authors: Serpanos Yula C. , Hobbs Melissa , Nunez Karina , Gambino Lucia , Butler Jasmin 
Published: December 2021

Purpose:
This investigation aims to provide outcomes from a clinical perspective on the validity and efficacy of a wireless automated audiometer system that could be used in multiple settings when a sound booth is not accessible. Testing was conducted in a clinical setting under modified protocols meeting safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method:

Four doctoral students in audiology served as examiners. Participants were 69 adults between the ages of 20 and 69 years, with normal hearing (≤ 25 dB HL;
n
= 110 ears) or hearing loss (> 25 dB HL;
n
= 25 ears). Two versions of a pure-tone air-conduction threshold test following a modified Hughson-Westlake approach were performed and compared at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz (a) in a sound-treated test booth using standard manual audiometry and (b) in a quiet, nonsound-treated clinical room (sound booth free) using automated KUDUwave audiometry. Participants were asked to complete a five-item feedback questionnaire, and examiners were interviewed to report on their experience.

Results:

Clinical validity to within ±10 dB of standard audiometry was demonstrated for 94.5% of the total thresholds (
n
= 937) measured with the sound booth–free approach. Less accuracy (73.3%) was observed using a ±5 dB comparison. When comparing the mean thresholds, there were significant differences (
p
< .01) between the mean thresholds at most frequencies, with mean sound booth thresholds being higher than the sound booth–free mean thresholds. A strong threshold correlation (.91–.98) was found between the methods across frequencies. Participant and examiner feedback supported the efficacy of the sound booth–free technology.

Conclusions:
Findings support sound booth–free, automated software-controlled audiometry with active noise monitoring as a valid and efficient procedure for pure-tone hearing threshold assessment. This method offers an effective alternative when circumstances require more transportable hearing assessment technology or do not allow for standard manual audiometry in a sound booth.
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Melatonin and Triclofos for Inducing Adequate Sedation for Sleep Electroencephalogram in Children
Authors: Panda Prateek K. , Panda Pragnya , Dawman Lesa , Sharawat Indar K. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Introduction Triclofos and melatonin are commonly used oral sedatives in children for obtaining a sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) record. There has been no systematic review till now to compare the efficacy and safety of these two medications.

Objectives The review intended to compare the efficacy of oral triclofos and melatonin in children <18 years of age for inducing adequate sedation for obtaining a sleep EEG record. We also attempted to compare the adverse effects, impact on EEG record, the yield of epileptiform abnormalities, and sleep onset latency in both groups.

Methods A systematic search was conducted on “MEDLINE/PUBMED, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar” till November 30, 2020, with the following keywords/the Medical Subject Headings (MESH) terms while searching: “sleep EEG,” “electroencephalogram,” “triclofos,” “melatonin” OR “ramelteon” AND “epilepsy,” “seizure,” OR “convulsion.” ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tool was used to determine the risk of bias. To assess heterogeneity in studies, Higgins and Thompson's I
2 method was utilized. When I
2 was more than 50%, a random effects model was utilized and a fixed-effect model was used for other parameters. To assess the presence of publication bias, Egger's test was used.

Results For describing the efficacy of triclofos in 1,284 and melatonin in 1,532 children, we selected 16 articles. The indirect comparison between the pooled estimate of all children receiving individual medications revealed comparable efficacy in obtaining successful sleep EEG record with a single dose (90 vs. 76%, p = 0.058) and repeat dose (p = 0.054), detection of epileptiform abnormalities (p = 0.06), and sleep onset latency (p = 0.06), but more proportion of children receiving triclofos had adverse effects (p = 0.001) and duration of sleep was also higher with triclofos (p = 0.001).

Conclusion Efficacy of triclofos and melatonin are comparable in inducing sleep for recording EEG in children, although triclofos is more likely to cause adverse effects. However, the level of evidence is low for this conclusion and the weak strength of recommendation for the results of this review is likely to change in the future after completion of controlled trials exploring these two medications.
Effect of N-95 Mask on Oxygen Saturation Level in Health Care Workers and Their Experience While Using N-95 Mask
Authors: Sinha Devika , Bhandary Satheesh Kumar , Aroor Rajeshwary , Reddy Rashmitha , Alva Shravan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background N-95 masks are in high demand during this COVID-19 pandemic but wearing an N-95 mask is a real challenge to the health workers during their duty hours. The present study aims to measure the effect of the N-95 mask on oxygen saturation level in the blood and the discomforts experienced while using it.
Materials and Methods Oxygen saturation was measured in 80 health care workers before and after wearing the N-95 mask continuously for more than 6 hours. The participants were asked to fill a questionnaire regarding various discomforts of N-95 mask usage, which consisted of 14 questions.
Results The most common discomfort was pain around the pinna followed by difficulty in breathing and fogging of spectacles or goggles. In addition, 71% of them had decreased oxygen saturation by 1%.
Conclusion N-95 mask can alter the oxygen saturation but it does not produce significant effects in healthy individuals. It can significantly affect patients with compromised airways.
Opinions, Attitudes, and Prescribing Practices of Oral Contraceptive Pills of General Practitioners and Gynecologists in India
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Dwivedi Varsha , Pradeep Yashodhara , Pakhare Abhijeet , Agrawal Girdhar Gopal , Saksena Anil Kumar , Kumar Vishwajeet 
Published: December 2021

Background
To study the prescription behavior of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) by physicians, gynecologists, and alternative medicine practitioners (AMPs).

Materials and Methods
Close-ended questionnaire-based cross-section study was performed between 1st September 2012 and 28th February 2014 in three groups of responders, i.e., AMP, general medical practitioners (GMPs), and obstetricians and gynecologists (ObGy). A stratified random cluster sample was used. Data of 400 subjects in all three groups were obtained using both univariate and multi-variate sophisticated statistical analyses for analyzing attitude and practices and were recorded on an ordinal scale using appropriate non-parametric test.

Results
Of the 1,237 subjects surveyed, 400 completed questionnaires were received from each of the three groups viz; AMPs, GMPs, and ObGy. Remaining 37 incomplete questionnaires were not included in the final analysis.

Conclusion
There are equal misconceptions regarding OCPs among users and prescribing physicians. Preference for OCPs in married and unmarried women is also equally low. OCP usage and their prescription practices can be improved by removing potential barriers, developing public–private partnership, and training promoters.
Potential Association between Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis and Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis
Authors: Adamo Angelo , Spiezia Luca , Dalla Valle Fabio , Avruscio Giampiero , Simioni Paolo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackground Several studies have previously reported an association between idiopathic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and atherosclerosis, but whether spontaneous distal DVT is associated with asymptomatic atherosclerosis is still unknown.Methods Ultrasonography of the carotid arteries was done for plaque detection and intima-media thickness (IMT) evaluation, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in 116 patients with spontaneous DVT and without symptomatic atherosclerosis. Fifty-seven patients (M/F 19/38, age range 54–78 years) had distal DVT and 59 (M/F 24/35, age range 51–73 years) had proximal DVT. A group of 57 (M/F 21/36, age range 64–70 years) matched subjects acted as controls.Results No significant difference was found in carotid plaques between patients with distal or proximal DVT versus controls (p> 0.05 in all comparisons). Carotid IMT (mean ± SD) was significantly increased in patients with distal (1.00 ± 0.20 mm) and proximal (0.98 ± 0.16 mm) DVT versus controls (0.88 ± 0.15 mm, p <0.01 in both comparisons). An ABI £ 0.9 was found in 3/57 (5.3%) and 5/59 (8.5%) patients with distal and proximal DVT, respectively versus no controls with abnormal ABI.Conclusion Our results revealed that there may be an association between spontaneous distal DVT and asymptomatic atherosclerosis, and confirmed the known association between idiopathic proximal DVT and asymptomatic atherosclerosis. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results and to evaluate their clinical implications.
Sod1 integrates oxygen availability to redox regulate NADPH production and the thiol redoxome
Authors: Montllor-Albalate Claudia , Kim Hyojung , Thompson Anna E. , Jonke Alex P. , Torres Matthew P. , Reddi Amit R. 
Published: December 2021

SignificanceCu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1) is a key antioxidant enzyme, and its importance is underscored by the fact that its ablation in cell and animal models results in oxidative stress; metabolic defects; and reductions in cell proliferation, viability, and lifespan. Curiously, Sod1 detoxifies superoxide radicals (O2•−) in a manner that produces an oxidant as byproduct, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). While much is known about the necessity of scavenging O2•−, it is less clear what the physiological roles of Sod1-derived H2O2are. We discovered that Sod1-derived H2O2plays an important role in antioxidant defense by stimulating the production of NADPH, a vital cellular reductant required for reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes, as well as redox regulating a large network of enzymes.
Nutrient availability and senescence spatially structure the dynamics of a foundation species
Authors: Bell Tom W. , Siegel David A. 
Published: December 2021

Significance
Landscapes are spatially heterogeneous, and the measurement of spatial pattern is dependent upon observation scale. Understanding plant populations requires assessing their extrinsic interactions with the environment as well as intrinsic biological processes and has been difficult because of the inability to track both plant abundance and health on appropriate scales. We introduce remote sensing observations that assess the abundance and health of giant kelp, an important ecosystem-structuring species, over regional and local scales. We find that both extrinsic nutrient availability and intrinsic senescence processes regulate population dynamics but on regional and local scales, respectively. This suggests that future satellite missions will be able to assess plant abundance and health and their interactions with the environment on local to global scales.
Deepfake detection by human crowds, machines, and machine-informed crowds
Authors: Groh Matthew , Epstein Ziv , Firestone Chaz , Picard Rosalind 
Published: December 2021

Significance
The recent emergence of deepfake videos raises theoretical and practical questions. Are humans or the leading machine learning model more capable of detecting algorithmic visual manipulations of videos? How should content moderation systems be designed to detect and flag video-based misinformation? We present data showing that ordinary humans perform in the range of the leading machine learning model on a large set of minimal context videos. While we find that a system integrating human and model predictions is more accurate than either humans or the model alone, we show inaccurate model predictions often lead humans to incorrectly update their responses. Finally, we demonstrate that specialized face processing and the ability to consider context may specially equip humans for deepfake detection.
Modeling for COVID-19 college reopening decisions: Cornell, a case study
Authors: Frazier Peter I. , Cashore J. Massey , Duan Ning , Henderson Shane G. , Janmohamed Alyf , Liu Brian , Shmoys David B. , Wan Jiayue , Zhang Yujia 
Published: December 2021

Significance
Decisions surrounding how to safely reopen universities directly impact 7% of the US population (students, staff) and indirectly impact tens of millions more (families, communities). After witnessing large COVID-19 outbreaks among students from August 2020 to the present, universities want to provide safety while minimizing social and financial costs, despite uncertainty about vaccine hesitancy, vaccine efficacy, more transmissible variants with the potential for immune escape, and community prevalence. When the Delta variant is dominant, we find substantial risk reduction in moving student populations from mostly (75%) to fully (100%) vaccinated, in testing vaccinated students once per week even when all students are vaccinated, and in more frequent testing targeted to the most social groups of students.
A virus-specific monocyte inflammatory phenotype is induced by SARS-CoV-2 at the immune–epithelial interface
Authors: Leon Juliette , Michelson Daniel A. , Olejnik Judith , Chowdhary Kaitavjeet , Oh Hyung Suk , Hume Adam J. , Galván-Peña Silvia , Zhu Yangyang , Chen Felicia , Vijaykumar Brinda , Yang Liang , Crestani Elena , Yonker Lael M. , Knipe David M. , Mühlberger Elke , Benoist Christophe 
Published: December 2021

Significance
By modeling in vitro the cross-talk between epithelial and immune cells, this work provides possible origins for the profound inflammatory perturbations that are a hallmark of COVID-19, and the relative protection of children from severe disease. The initial interaction between immune cells and epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2, or transduced to express the proteins the virus encodes, elicits a specific response, not observed with other pathogenic viruses, that presages perturbations seen in patients with severe COVID-19. Thus, the severe manifestations of COVID-19 may be rooted in the very first response that it elicits from immunocytes.
Deflections of dynamic momentum flux and electron diamagnetic thrust in a magnetically steered rf plasma thruster
Authors: Imai Ryoji , Takahashi Kazunori 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Two-dimensional characterization of the plasma plume is experimentally performed downstream of a magnetically steered radiofrequency plasma thruster, where the ion beam current, the ion saturation current, and the horizontal dynamic momentum flux, are measured by using the retarding field energy analyzer, the Langmuir probe, and the momentum vector measurement instrument, respectively, in addition to the previously measured horizontal thrust. The measurements show the deflections of the dynamic momentum flux including both the ions and the neutrals; the change in the direction of the dynamic momentum flux is consistent with the previously measured horizontal thrust. Furthermore, the ion saturation current profile implies that the deflected electron-diamagnetic-induced Lorentz force exerted to the magnetic nozzle contributes to the change in the thrust vector. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the deflections of both the dynamic momentum flux and the electron-diamagnetic-induced Lorentz force play an important role in the thrust vector control by the magnetic steering.
Investigation of Ni catalyst activation during plasma-assisted methane oxidation
Authors: Li Yudong , Hinshelwood Michael , Oehrlein Gottlieb S 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Atmospheric pressure plasma has shown promise in improving thermally activated catalytic reactions through a process termed plasma-catalysis synergy. In this work, we investigated atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ)-assisted CH4 oxidation over a Ni/SiO2
.Al2O3 catalyst. Downstream gas-phase products from CH4 conversion were quantified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The catalyst near-surface region was characterized by in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. The catalyst was observed to be activated at elevated temperature (500 °C) if it was exposed to the APPJ operated at large plasma power. ‘Catalyst activation’ signifies that the purely thermal conversion of CH4 using catalysts which had been pre-exposed to plasma became more intense and produced consistently CO product, even if the plasma was extinguished. Without the application of the APPJ to the Ni catalyst surface this was not observed at 500 °C. The study of different exposure conditions of the activated catalyst indicates that the reduction of the catalyst by the APPJ is likely the cause of the catalyst activation. We also observed a systematic shift of the vibrational frequency of adsorbed CO on Ni catalyst when plasma operating conditions and catalyst temperatures were varied and discussed possible explanations for the observed changes. This work provides insights into the plasma-catalyst interaction, especially catalyst modification in the plasma catalysis process, and potentially demonstrates the possibility of utilizing the surface CO as a local probe to understand the plasma-catalyst interaction and shed light on the complexity of plasma catalysis.
Comprehensive study on unipolar RRAM charge conduction and stochastic features: a simulation approach
Authors: Maldonado D , Gómez-Campos F M , González M B , Roldán A M , Jiménez-Molinos F , Campabadal F , Roldán J B 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
An in-depth analysis of resistive switching (RS) in unipolar devices is performed by means of a new simulator based on resistive circuit breakers of different features. The forming, set and reset processes are described in terms of the stochastic formation and rupture of conductive filaments (CFs) of several branches in the dielectric. Both, the electric field and temperature dependencies are incorporated in the simulation. The simulation tool was tuned with experimental data of devices fabricated making use of the Ni/HfO2/Si stack. The variability and the stochastic behavior are characterized and reproduced correctly by simulation to understand the physics behind RS. Reset curves with several current steps are explained considering the rupture of different branches of the CF. The simulation approach allows to connect in a natural manner to compact modeling solutions for the devices under study.
Performance recovery of plasma actuators in wet conditions
Authors: Lilley Alexander James , Roy Sarthak , Michels Lucas , Roy Subrata 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Plasma actuators have been extensively studied for flow control applications over the past two and a half decades. While these studies have been traditionally focused on characterizing their performances as flow control devices, the performance of plasma actuators under adverse conditions such as dew or light rain remains to be less explored. This paper seeks to study the effects of water adhesion from droplets directly sprayed on to a plasma actuator using thrust recovery as the performance metric. It was found in all tests that wet actuators quickly recover plasma glow, before gradually regaining performance comparable to the dry actuator. The measured thrust for the wet actuator after 5 s of operation recovered by 46% and 42% of the thrust of the dry actuator for 50.0–62.5 g m−2 and 125–150 g m−2 of sprayed water droplets, respectively. At 22.5 kVpp and 14 kHz, the highest thrust recovery was recorded at 84% of that of the dry actuator after 80 s of operation. For 17.5 kVpp and 14 kHz the wet thrust recovered by 79%, while for 22.5 kVpp and 10 kHz the wet thrust recovered by 68% of their dry counterpart in 80 s. For 17.5 kVpp and 14 kHz, the thrust almost fully recovered in comparison to the dry actuator after about 290 s of operation. These results indicate that both applied voltage and operating frequency plays a critical role in the performance recovery while the latter may have a stronger influence. Performance recovery for a wet serpentine shaped plasma actuator is also included for general applicability. The power data in all cases show that wet actuators consume more power which with time gradually approach the dry actuator power data. This is because during the initial stages of operation, the rolling mean current of the wet actuator is higher than the dry actuator even though the ionization spikes of dry actuator is stronger.
Solutions of Schrodinger equation and thermodynamic properties of Iodine and Scandium Fluoride molecules based on Formula method
Authors: Njoku I J , Onyenegecha C P , Okereke C J , Omugbe E , Onyeocha E 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The study presents the thermodynamic properties of the Iodine and Scandium Fluoride molecules with molecular Deng-Fan potential. The bound state energy solution of the radial Schrodinger equation is obtained via the formula method. The partition function and other thermodynamic properties are evaluated via the Poisson summation approach. The numerical values of energy of the I2 and ScF molecules are found to be in agreement with results obtained from other methods in the literature. The results further show that the partition function decreases, and then converges to a constant value as temperature increases.
Histological analysis of tattoo removal by water cavitation bubbles and jet formation using Nd: YAG and nanosecond laser pulses
Authors: Hamoudi Walid K. , Al-keedi Janan M. , Hassan Susan I. , Abdulhameed Noor R. , Mustafa Muna B. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background: For efficient laser tattoo removal, photodisruption of tissue can ensure a very powerful means to shutter ink granules. At very high laser intensity level, photodisruption dominates and selective photothermolysis will have secondary effect in clearing the tattoo ink. Lower laser fluence is all what to trigger non-linear photons absorption and the generation of exploding cavitation bubbles that can tremendously hammer the ink granules.
Subjects, materials, and methods: Three domestic white rabbits; each received simultaneous injections of a color pigment tattoo under general anesthesia, followed by a single session of (1064) Q.S Nd: YAG nanosecond laser pulses for tattoo removal.
Results and Discussion: Spectroscopic properties of black, dark brown and red tattoo inks were studied. Near threshold laser fluence was selected to select the optimum conditions for obtaining scar-free treatment. Histological images of the biopsies, taken after thirty days of laser treatment of black, dark brown and red tattoos showed a marked reduction in pigment granules size with no appearance of hyperplasia or inflammatory cells. Coexistence of macrophages was suggested to be responsible for actively phagocytizing the laser-dispersed tattoo fragments.
Conclusion: skin biopsies have demonstrated ink granules local redistribution. Photodisruption at 1064nm laser effectively targeted black and dark brown tattoo pigments by the generation of cavitation bubbles. The weaker laser light absorption of red pigments at 1064nm only showed tattoo clearance when using 532nm wavelength.