bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of three fitting rationales in adults in an artificial intelligence parallel processing hearing aid
Authors: Shabana Mohamed I. , Dabbous Abeir O. , El-Dessouky Tarek , Koura Rabab A. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Introduction
Hearing rehabilitation using nonlinear hearing aid (HA) fitting formulae provides hearing-impaired individuals with the audibility, comfort, and speech intelligibility for a better life.

Objective
To compare three nonlinear HA fitting formulae in adults in a Channel Free artificial intelligence parallel processing HA.

Materials and methods
The study included 19 adults with bilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss, monaurally fitted with nonlinear HA. Comparisons were made on the basis of aided speech intelligibility in quiet and in noise, aided sound field thresholds, and functional performance in real life using APHAB, COSI, and GHABP questionnaires.

Results
The three formulae have significantly improved speech discrimination in adults, with no significant difference among the formulae for speech intelligibility in quiet or in noise, with no sex or HA experience differences. The three formulae have significantly improved functional performance in real-life speech communication, with the NAL-NL1-based formula showing the greatest degree of benefit and improvement in listening needs, followed by NAL-NL1 and then DSL [I/O]. However, amplification with the three formulae increased aversiveness to environmental sounds. Participants reported significant benefits using NAL and NAL-NL1-based formulae. Experienced HA users, using the NAL-NL1-based formula, showed significantly less difficulty in listening quality in large spaces and greater capacity to recognize speech within competitive noise and better tolerance to environmental sounds than nonexperienced users. The SPIN test correlated well with real-life speech communication.

Conclusion
The three fitting rationales have equally improved intelligibility, with variable degrees of improvement in real-life speech communication with preferences for NAL-NL1 and the manufacture-specific NAL-NL1-based formula.
Endoscope-assisted surgery: a major adjunct in cholesteatoma surgery
Authors: Badr-El-Dine Mohammed , Shewel Yasser G. , Ibrahim Ahmad A. , Khalifa Mohammed 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of middle-ear endoscopy in the effective control over cholesteatoma through visualizing hidden areas of the middle-ear cleft.Materials and methodsA total of 60 ears with retraction pocket cholesteatoma were operated upon. They were subdivided into 40 cases operated upon using the canal wall up technique and another 20 cases operated upon using transcanal atticotomy. Endoscopically guided ear surgery was incorporated complementary to the microscope as a principal part in the procedure.ResultsThe incidence of cholesteatoma in the facial recess that was visualized by the endoscope was 25% compared with 20% by the microscope, whereas the incidence of detection of cholesteatoma in the sinus tympani by the endoscope was 35% compared with 5% by the microscope. Cholesteatoma in the anterior epitympanic recess was detected by the endoscope in 10% of ears compared with 0% by the microscope. In this series, no morbidity or complication was encountered secondary to the use of endoscopes in the mastoid or the middle ear.ConclusionEndoscope-assisted ear surgery has many benefits in cholesteatoma surgery as endoscopy helps explore hidden areas of the middle-ear cavity with a much lesser requirement for surgical exposure and the need to drill healthy bone; therefore, effective control over the disease can be achieved, thus establishing the concept of functional endoscopic ear surgery.
Assessment of narrative skills in preschool children
Authors: Safwat Rasha F. , EL-Dessouky Hossam M. , Shohdi Sahar S. , Hussien Ibtihal A. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Background
Narrative skills are a form of discourse that describes real or fictional events. In recent years, the study of communicative competence has extended to examining longer discourse units, including narratives in many languages. Unfortunately, few studies have been carried out to assess narrative skills in Arabic-speaking children.

Objective
The aim of this study was to design an assessment protocol for narrative skills in Arabic-speaking children in order to reach a better understanding of their developmental pattern.

Participants and methods
The study was carried out on 60 Arabic-speaking normal Egyptian children aged between 2 and 6 years. The children were divided into four groups according to their age. An assessment tool was designed to assess their narrative skills on three aspects, namely, story structure, language structure, and narrative productivity.

Results
The results revealed significant differences between the groups in all studied aspects. Narrative skills were found to develop with age. However, the age at which narrative skills are acquired varies from one skill to the other.

Conclusion
Children start to acquire narrative skills at the age of 2 years and these skills become well developed around the age of 6. Some narrative skills are acquired at an earlier age compared with others.
Effect of a prolonged topical glucocorticosteroid on interleukin-5 production and eosinophilic recruitment in the nasal submucosal compartment
Authors: Mostafa Hany S. , Fawzy Tamer O. , Ayad Essam , Soliman Ahmed A. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Aim
Intranasal corticosteroids offer effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. The action of interleukin 5 (IL-5) (Th2-type cytokine) and its response to intranasal steroids has not been thoroughly studied in the deep compartment of the nasal mucosa. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of prolonged topical glucocorticosteroid on the allergic inflammatory responses in the deep compartment of the nasal mucosa in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Materials and methods
Fluticasone furoate spray was used once daily. Biopsies were obtained from 22 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis at different intervals: before treatment with nasal corticosteroids, and after 1, 6, and 12 months. Biopsies were taken from 18 individuals serving as a control group. All biopsies were examined by light microscopy and immunohistochemisty.

Results
The results showed the efficacy of fluticasone in reducing the number of eosinophils in both epithelial and subepithelial layers, which suppresses the allergic manifestations. The maximum reduction occurred after 12 months. This is achieved by reducing the number of eosinophils and IL-5 in both epithelial and subepithelial compartments.

Conclusion
Intranasal corticosteroids effectively reduce both the number of eosinophils and IL-5 expression inside activated eosinophils. They influence both the epithelium and the deep compartment of the nasal mucosa.
Hairy polyp of the nasopharynx, an unusual presentation, a case report and literature review
Authors: Al-Qudehy Zeinab A. , Al-Nufaily Yasser , Yagi Hashim 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe report a rare tumor of the nasopharynx with an unusual presentation in a 15-year-old female: the teratoid or hairy polyp. Hairy polyps are rare benign congenital tumors that present at birth or shortly after. Usually, they arise from the ectoderm and endoderm. Their presence in older individuals is unusual. Their clinical presentation depends on the site and size. Our patient presented late with nasal obstruction, snoring, and mouth breathing, and the clinical examination indicated a nasopharyngeal mass. The tumor was removed without complications and the histopathology was consistent with hairy polyp. In this short communication, we raised awareness of such a rarity of nasopharyngeal mass that has to be suspected in pediatric age group. A review of this unusual malformation will be included. We believe, after a computerized literature search, that this is the first report of its kind from the Arabian Peninsula.
Hypoglossal nerve conduction studies in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Ragab Samy M. , El Din Mohamed H. Bader , Hefny Mohamed A. , El Tabakh Mohamed T. 
Published: September 2023

EnAbstract
Aim of the work
To identify the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and motor nerve conduction study of hypoglossal nerve in terms of amplitude and terminal latency.

Patients and methods
The present study included 16 adult OSA patients who presented to the Otolaryngology outpatient clinic of the Suez Canal University Hospital. Exclusion criteria included previous significant facial trauma, head or neck cancer, previous surgery (including tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy), previous radiation therapy to head or neck, known diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, any implanted device (nerve stimulator, implanted pump, pacemaker, and defibrillator), and known pregnancy. All patients were subjected to an assessment protocol that included thorough assessment of history (age, sex, snoring, nasal obstruction, and excessive daytime sleepiness), clinical examinations [BMI, apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), Friedman tongue position (FTP), and Mallampati grading], and electrophysiological studies of hypoglossal nerve.

Results
87.5% of the patients had moderate to severe AHI (15 to >30). The degree of excessive daytime sleepiness was slight in 18.8% of the patients, mild in 50% of the patients, and moderate in 31.3% of the patients. FTP grades ranged from grade II (FTP II) (37.5%) to grade III (FTP III) (62.5%). Mallampati grading of tonsils also ranged from grade 2 (T2) (43.8%) to grade 3 (T3) (56.2%). Seventy-five percent of the patients had delayed distal latency of hypoglossal nerve. The mean distal latency of the patients was 3.24±123 ms, with the range of 2.5–7.7 ms. All the patients had low motor amplitude of the hypoglossal nerve. There were significant positive correlations between excessive daytime sleepiness and BMI, snoring, FTP, Mallampati grading, and decreased hypoglossal nerve distal latency.

Conclusion
Most patients with OSA had significantly impaired hypoglossal nerve conduction in the form of delayed distal latency and low motor amplitude.
Factors Associated with Increased Cases of Brucelosis among Patients at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Bushenyi District, Uganda
Authors: Emannuel Gutaka , Martin Odoki , Isaac Edyedu , Ifeanyi Emmanuel , Rogers Muland 
Published: September 2023

Background: The government has employed numerous strategies ranging from animal vaccination, quarantines, free tests and diagnosis.
The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with increased cases of brucellosis at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital.
Methodology: We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study which employed simple random sampling to select 36 patients aged 18 years and above attending at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital who consented to take part.
Results: The majority of the respondents (n=14, 38.9%) belonged to the age group of 26-30years, followed by the respondents belonged to the age group of 31 years and above 12 (n=12, 33.3%) while the interrogated persons belonged to the age group of 18-25 years were weak (n= 10; 27.8%). Majority of the respondents (n= 15; 41.7%) revealed that they were Christian-catholic. Moreover, most of these respondents (n= 19; 52.8%) revealed that they studied only secondary education meanwhile only (n=10, 27.8%) were primary leavers. These respondents belonged in the majority to Banyankole/Bakiga tribe (n= 19; 52.8%) and were married (n= 28; 77.8%). The results of this study showed that 36.1% (n= 13) of respondents lived with the incomes included between 100,000 and 150,000 Uganda shillings. They were in majority 14 (n= 14; 38.9%) at 1 – 2 kilometers to the nearest health facility meanwhile 27.8% (n= 10) of respondents were at 5 and above kilometers. Approximately 58.4% (n= 21) of respondents were agreed that there is presence of diagnostic facilities of brucellosis and 63.9 % (n= 23) of these respondents adhered to treatment of brucellosis.
Conclusion: This study showed that age, level of education, tribe, household income, property ownership, cost of treatment, distance from the health facility and poor service utilization influence increase in brucellosis cases among patients at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. Brucellosis places significant burdens on human healthcare systems and limits the economic potential of individuals, communities, and nations where such development is especially important to diminish the prevalence of poverty.
Premorbid Sociodemographic Status and Multiple Sclerosis Outcomes in a Universal Health Care Context
Authors: He Anna , Manouchehrinia Ali , Glaser Anna , Ciccarelli Olga , Butzkueven Helmut , Hillert Jan , McKay Kyla A. 
Published: September 2023

ImportanceMultiple sclerosis (MS) severity may be informed by premorbid sociodemographic factors.ObjectiveTo determine whether premorbid education, income, and marital status are associated with future MS disability and symptom severity, independent of treatment, in a universal health care context.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis nationwide observational cohort study examined data from the Swedish MS Registry linked to national population registries from 2000 to 2020. Participants included people with MS onset from 2005 to 2015 and of working age (aged 23 to 59 years) 1 year and 5 years preceding disease onset.ExposuresIncome quartile, educational attainment, and marital status measured at 1 and 5 years preceding disease onset.Main Outcome and MeasuresRepeated measures of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores and patient-reported Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) scores. Models were adjusted for age, sex, relapses, disease duration, and treatment exposure. Secondary analyses further adjusted for comorbidity. All analyses were stratified by disease course (relapse onset and progressive onset).ResultsThere were 4557 patients (mean [SD] age, 37.5 [9.3] years; 3136 [68.8%] female, 4195 [92.1%] relapse-onset MS) with sociodemographic data from 1-year preonset of MS. In relapse-onset MS, higher premorbid income and education correlated with lower disability (EDSS, −0.16 [95% CI, −0.12 to −0.20] points) per income quartile; EDSS, −0.47 [95% CI, −0.59 to −0.35] points if tertiary educated), physical symptoms (MSIS-29 physical subscore, −14% [95% CI, −11% to −18%] per income quartile; MSIS-29 physical subscore, −43% [95% CI, −35% to −50%] if tertiary educated), and psychological symptoms (MSIS-29 psychological subscore, −12% [95% CI, −9% to −16%] per income quartile; MSIS-29 psychological subscore, −25% [95% CI, −17% to −33%] if tertiary educated). Marital separation was associated with adverse outcomes (EDSS, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.18 to 0.51]; MSIS-29 physical subscore, 35% [95% CI, 12% to 62%]; MSIS-29 psychological subscore, 25% [95% CI, 8% to 46%]). In progressive-onset MS, higher income correlated with lower EDSS (−0.30 [95% CI, −0.48 to −0.11] points per income quartile) whereas education correlated with lower physical (−34% [95% CI, −53% to −7%]) and psychological symptoms (−33% [95% CI, −54% to −1%]). Estimates for 5-years preonset were comparable with 1-year preonset, as were the comorbidity-adjusted findings.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study of working-age adults with MS, premorbid income, education, and marital status correlated with disability and symptom severity in relapse-onset and progressive-onset MS, independent of treatment. These findings suggest that socioeconomic status may reflect both structural and individual determinants of health in MS.
Bridging the Gap: Electrode Microstructure and Interphase Characterization by Combining ToF‐SIMS and Machine Learning
Authors: Lombardo Teo , Kern Christine , Sann Joachim , Rohnke Marcus , Janek Jürgen 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis article presents a new analytical methodology to analyze large (hundreds of µm) battery electrode microstructures by mapping the spatial distribution of the main phases (e.g., active material and carbon‐binder domain) and degradation products (solid‐ or cathode‐electrolyte interphase) formed during cycling. The methodology can be used for a better understanding of the relationships between electrode architecture and degradation, paving the way toward the analysis of interphases spatial distribution and their correlations to the electrode formulation, microstructure, and cycling conditions. This work is based on time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), and focuses on analyzing large 2D electrode cross‐sections at both the microstructure and single particle/agglomerate level. It also shows that this analysis can be expanded to 3D electrode microstructures when combining ToF‐SIMS and devoted machine learning procedures, which can be of particular interest to the 3D electrochemical modeling community.
N=8 Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons: Solution Synthesis and High Charge Carrier Mobility**
Authors: Yao Xuelin , Zhang Heng , Kong Fanmiao , Hinaut Antoine , Pawlak Rémy , Okuno Masanari , Graf Robert , Horton Peter N. , Coles Simon J. , Meyer Ernst , Bogani Lapo , Bonn Mischa , Wang Hai I. , Müllen Klaus , Narita Akimitsu 
Published: September 2023

AbstractStructurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have emerged as promising candidates for nanoelectronic devices. Low band gap (<1 eV) GNRs are particularly important when considering the Schottky barrier in device performance. Here, we demonstrate the first solution synthesis of 8‐AGNRs through a carefully designed arylated polynaphthalene precursor. The efficiency of the oxidative cyclodehydrogenation of the tailor‐made polymer precursor into 8‐AGNRs was validated by FT‐IR, Raman, and UV/Vis‐near‐infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy, and further supported by the synthesis of naphtho[1,2,3,4‐ghi]perylene derivatives (1 and 2) as subunits of 8‐AGNR, with a width of 0.86 nm as suggested by the X‐ray single crystal analysis. Low‐temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and solid‐state NMR analyses provided further structural support for 8‐AGNR. The resulting 8‐AGNR exhibited a remarkable NIR absorption extending up to ∼2400 nm, corresponding to an optical band gap as low as ∼0.52 eV. Moreover, optical‐pump TeraHertz‐probe spectroscopy revealed charge‐carrier mobility in the dc limit of ∼270 cm2 V−1 s−1 for the 8‐AGNR.
Optimizing the Relationship Between Perioperative Personnel and Infection Preventionists to Reduce Surgical Site Infections
Authors: Reese Sara M. 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACTPrevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) is a critical aspect of ensuring positive patient outcomes. One of the challenges of SSI prevention is the communication barrier between perioperative staff members and infection preventionists (IPs), which may lead to frontline staff members who are primarily responsible for infection prevention being unaware of pertinent hospital SSI data. To overcome this challenge, IPs and perioperative staff members should develop a partnership that facilitates the sharing of feedback on SSI case review data and effective key performance indicators. A partnership also can help engage perioperative staff members in quality improvement efforts and increase collaboration with IPs. Perioperative leaders should identify effective methods to improve data transparency, SSI case reviews, audit and feedback programs, and education for perioperative team members. A strong perioperative–IP partnership and increased sharing of data in accessible formats may improve engagement and interest in SSI prevention.
Measurements of visual double stars with PISCO2 at the Nice 76‐cm refractor in 2013–2014 (new data) and in 2015
Authors: Prieur J.‐L. , Gili R. , Rivet J.‐P. , Vakili F. , Scardia M. , Pansecchi L. , Argyle R. W. , Ling J. F. , Piccotti L. , Aristidi E. , Koechlin L. , Bonneau D. , Maccarini L. , Serot J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe present relative astrometric and photometric measurements of visual double stars made in 2013–2015, with PISCO2 installed at the 76‐cm refractor of Côte d'Azur Observatory in Nice (France). Our observing list contains orbital couples as well as double stars whose motion is still uncertain. Most of the observations were done in 2015, but some other observations of wide couples were done in 2013–2014 (0.3% of the total of the observations). Three different techniques were used for obtaining measurements: lucky imaging, speckle interferometry and the direct vector autocorrelation method. From our observations of 2837 multiple stars, we obtained 5182 new measurements with angular separations in the range of 0.1–32 and an average accuracy of . The mean error on the position angles is 0°.8. Most of the position angles were determined without the usual 180° ambiguity with the application of the direct vector autocorrelation technique and/or by inspection of the Lucky images or the long integration files. We managed to routinely monitor faint systems () with large magnitude difference (up to ). We have thus been able to measure 21 systems containing red dwarf stars that had been poorly monitored since their discovery, from which we estimated the stellar masses thanks to Gaia measurements. We also measured the magnitude difference of the two components of 1079 double stars with an estimated error of 0.2 mag. Except for a few objects that are discussed, our measurements are in good agreement with the ephemerides computed with published orbital elements, even for the double stars whose separation is smaller than the diffraction limit. Thanks to good seeing images and with the use of high‐contrast numerical filters, we have also been able to obtain 196 measurements with an angular separation smaller than the diffraction limit of our instrumentation, and consistent with those obtained with larger telescopes. We also report measurements of the 164 new double stars that we found in the files obtained during the observations. Finally, from a study of the DR3 Gaia release, it is shown that all the objects of the Tycho Double Star Catalog that we did not resolve in 2015 are probably false detections by Tycho.
Highly selective production of phenolic compounds from lignin pyrolysis with the strategy of hydrogen self‐supply
Authors: Liu Chao , Xie Zhanghong , Tong Lili , Fan Yuyang , Kong Xiangchen , Xiao Rui 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn this study, a sealable fixed‐bed reactor was developed to investigate the influence of gaseous products on lignin pyrolysis with a strategy of hydrogen self‐supply, and lignin pyrolysis performances at various temperatures were monitored by the comprehensive characterization of the generated products, including gas, bio‐oil and char. The results showed that the release of volatiles (both gas and bio‐oil) from lignin was strengthened in this sealable system when the temperature rose, and therefore less char was left. Meanwhile no H2 was detected under any of the operating conditions, which is a common component in pyrolysis gas from conventional reactors, indicating its participation in lignin pyrolysis. Furthermore, the formation of CO and CO2 in the employed pyrolyzer benefited from not only the thermal evolution of feedstock, but also the interactions between char residues and generated gas components. Meanwhile, because of the hydrogen self‐supply, compounds in bio‐oil were enriched and only nine species were detected, which were all phenolic compounds. Vanillic acid was dominant, and its relative content was up to 38.86% for Alcell organosolv lignin and 34.41% for soda alkali lignin. This illustrates that highly selective production of phenolic compounds from lignin pyrolysis can be achieved by self‐supplying hydrogen from pyrolysis gas.