bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Skull Traction, Anterior Debridement, Bone Grafting, and Internal Fixation for Cervical Tuberculosis with Severe Kyphosis
Authors: Zhang Zhuang , Zhu Ce , Liu Li‐min , Li Tao , Yang Xi , Song Yue‐ming 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveCervical tuberculosis (CTB) readily causes local kyphosis, and its surgical strategy remains controversial. Although some previous studies suggested that the anterior approach could effectively treat CTB, patients in these studies only suffered mild to moderate kyphosis. Therefore, little is known about whether the anterior approach can achieve satisfactory outcomes in CTB patients with severe kyphosis. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative skull traction combined with anterior surgery for the treatment of CTB patients with a severe kyphosis angle of more than 35°.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we enrolled 31 CTB patients with severe kyphosis who underwent preoperative skull traction combined with anterior surgery from April 2015 to January 2021. Patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Clinical data, such as operative time, blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay, were collected. The clinical outcomes included American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) spinal cord injury grade, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and related complications. The radiological outcomes included the Cobb angle of cervical kyphosis at each time point and the bony fusion state. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by paired Student's t‐test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and others.ResultsSix patients had involvement of one vertebra, 21 had involvement of two vertebrae, and four had involvement of three vertebrae. The most common level of vertebral involvement was C4‐5, whereas the most common apical vertebra of kyphosis was C4. The mean kyphosis angle was 46.1° ± 7.7° preoperatively, and the flexibility on dynamic extension‐flexion X‐rays and cervical MRI was 17.5% ± 7.8% and 43.6% ± 11.0%, respectively (p = 0.000). The kyphosis angle significantly decreased to 13.2° ± 3.2° after skull traction, and it further corrected to −6.1° ± 4.3° after surgery, which was well maintained at the final follow‐up with a mean Cobb angle of −5.4° ± 3.9°. The VAS and JOA scores showed significant improvement after surgery. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels normalized at 3 months after surgery. All patients achieved solid bone fusion, and no complications related to the instrumentation or recurrence were observed.ConclusionPreoperative skull traction combined with anterior debridement, autologous iliac bone grafting, and internal plate fixation can be an effective and safe surgical method for the treatment of cervical tuberculosis with severe kyphosis. Skull traction can improve the safety and success rate of subsequent anterior corrective surgery.
Simple Minimally Invasive Method to Reduce Valgus‐Impacted and Tilted Femoral Neck Fractures without Soft Tissue or Cartilage Injury: Radiological and Clinical Results
Authors: Kweon Seok‐Hyun , Song Joo‐Hyoun , Park Hyun Woo , Kang Muhyun , Lim Young‐Wook , Lee Se‐Won , Parikh Darshil , Oh Seungbae 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveThis is a rare study comparing the radiological and functional outcomes of fixation after reduction with in situ fixation group using Femoral Neck System (FNS). The aim of this study was to introduce a simple, innovative, minimally invasive method to reduce valgus‐impacted and tilted femoral neck fractures without soft tissue or cartilage injury.MethodsA retrospective comparative analysis of 46 patients between May 2020 and February 2022 was performed. In the control group, 23 patients underwent in situ fixation without reduction. In the study group, another 23 patients were managed by fixation after reduction using a percutaneous pull‐out technique with a full threaded Steinmann pin. Caput‐collum‐diaphysis (CCD) angle, tilt, and femoral neck shortenings were compared between the two groups. In addition, Harris Hip Score (HHS) was evaluated and compared at 1 year after surgery. Basically, independent samples t‐test was used to compare radiological and functional results.ResultsPatients' initial valgus and tilt angles were not significantly different between the groups (n.s.). However, the CCD and tilt angles measured immediately and at one year postoperatively were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05). Regarding femoral neck shortening, shortening in the three directions, the x, y, and z vectors, was significantly less in the reduction group immediately postoperatively and at 1 year post‐surgery (p < 0.05). The mean HHS at 1 year postoperatively was 79.7 ± 8.4 in the in situ fixation group and 87.9 ± 6.6 in the reduction groups, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe pull‐out method with a threaded Steinmann pin to reduce valgus‐impacted and tilted femoral neck fracture is safe and effective for accomplishing anatomical restoration. This may achieve successful bone union and maintain the femoral neck length and original tilt without nearby soft tissue or cartilage injury.
Drug provocation tests in children: All that glitters is not gold
Authors: Moral Luis , Mori Francesca 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA proper allergy work‐up, based on the gold standard drug provocation test (DPT), usually rules out suspected drug hypersensitivity in children. These tests are generally open, given their high efficiency compared with double‐blind placebo‐controlled DPTs. Although their negative predictive value is excellent, no studies have calculated their positive predictive value, highly dependent on the prevalence of the disease. Most studies have found a rate of <5%–10% of true beta‐lactam hypersensitivity in children. Given this low prevalence (pre‐test probability), a few false‐positive results can significantly reduce the estimated positive predictive value. False positives may arise from the nocebo effect during the test, including nocebo by proxy, or from observer bias, which depends on professional expertise and organizational circumstances. Some studies have found a high rate of tolerance on a second DPT in children who failed the first, but these results may be affected by the interval between the two tests, of a year or more in most cases, reflecting a loss of hypersensitivity over time. Taking into account the low rate of positive DPTs, with commonly mild reactions, we suggest confirming nonsevere positive DPTs with a second provocation performed soon after the first, especially in the case of beta‐lactam antibiotics, in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy, de‐label more patients, and achieve a better estimation of true drug hypersensitivity prevalence. In case of mild immediate reactions, the potential benefits of a second DPT should be carefully weighed against the risk of anaphylaxis.
Inhalation anesthesia without any intravenous management for pediatric proton beam therapy
Authors: García‐Aroca Miguel A. , Fernández‐de Miguel José M. , Franceschi María Aymerich‐de , Fernández‐Vaquero Miguel A. , Meléndez‐Salinas Diego A. , Piñero‐Merino María , Álvarez‐Avello José M. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionProton beam therapy is an oncological treatment, argued to be an appropriate tumor irradiation technique for childhood solid tumors. Due to its duration and the need for immobility, many children require anesthesia for proton therapy sessions. As not many centers in the world provide this therapy, there is little published research about pediatric anesthesia for these cases, and the available data suggest a preference for intravenous anesthesia or combined intravenous and inhalation anesthesia. We conducted this study with the aim of describing and analyzing the inhalation anesthetic management of children undergoing proton therapy at our medical center, comparing our results with studies that have followed different anesthetic protocols.MethodsWe reviewed two major databases (Web of Science and Scopus) to find papers that had addressed, to date, anesthesia for pediatric proton therapy. To describe our anesthetic management, we included all pediatric patients treated with proton therapy under anesthesia in our center between June 2020 and August 2021. The characteristics of the patients, their diagnoses, treatments, airway management, drugs administered, duration of induction, and recovery from anesthesia, and adverse effects where all recorded. All anesthesiologists followed a strict anesthetic protocol based only on inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane delivered via laryngeal mask airway.ResultsOf the total of 1082 papers found in Web of Science and Scopus on pediatric proton therapy, 11 have addressed its anesthetic management, using intravenous or combined intravenous and inhalation anesthesia. Between June 2020 and August 2021, 31 children were anesthetized in our center to receive proton therapy under inhalational anesthesia (total number of sessions: 873). The mean anesthesia induction time was 4.1 min (SD = 0.7, 95% CI [3.9, 4.4]). The mean anesthesia recovery time was 13.8 min (SD = 4.1, 95% CI [12.3, 15.3]). The percentage of non‐serious adverse effects was 0.7% (Clopper–Pearson 95% CI [0.3, 1.5]). The percentage of serious adverse effects was 0.1% (Clopper–Pearson 95% CI [0, 0.6]), without statistically significant difference with other published works with different anesthetic approaches.ConclusionInhalation anesthesia without any intravenous management for pediatric proton therapy is, in our experience, an effective technique with a complication rate similar to other anesthetic approaches.
HIV testing among immigrant men who have sex with men in Brazil
Authors: Cruz Aiala Xavier Felipe da , Neto João Cruz , Araújo Agostinho Antônio Cruz , Sousa Anderson Reis de , Oliveira Layze Braz de , Sena Inara Viviane de Oliveira , Sena Sousa Luciana , Santos Jaqueline dos , Batista Odinea Maria Amorim , Mendes Isabel Amélia Costa , Fronteira Inês , Sousa Álvaro Francisco Lopes de 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of non‐testing for HIV among immigrant men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in Brazil and identify associated factors.DesignAn analytical web‐survey study was conducted across all Brazilian states from January 2020 to May 2021.SampleThe study included 804 MSM immigrants from Portuguese‐speaking countries.MeasurementsOdds ratio (OR) and adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) were utilized to determine the strength of the association between non‐HIV testing and associated factors.ResultsAmong the participants, 63.7% had never undergone HIV testing. Multivariate analysis revealed several factors associated with a higher likelihood of not being tested for HIV: having a steady/monogamus partner (AOR: 1.5; 95%CI: 1.1‐2.3) or both casual and steady partners (AOR: 1.8; 95%CI: 1.2‐3.4), not engaging in bareback sex (AOR: 1.91; 95%CI: 3‐3.5), being an immigrant in the country for less than 12 months (AOR: 3.7; 95%CI: 2.5‐9.7), and having a preference for insertive (AOR: 1.5; 95%CI: 1.1‐2.5) or receptive (AOR: 2.9; 95%CI: 1.4‐5.7) roles. However, practicing chemsex was found to be a protective factor for testing (AOR: 4).ConclusionTo enhance HIV prevention strategies, it is crucial to implement specific measures that ensure accessibility, confidentiality, and a reduction in stigma associated with HIV testing.
Understanding regulation using the Institutional Grammar 2.0
Authors: Siddiki Saba , Frantz Christopher K. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractOver the last decade, there has been increased interest in understanding the design (i.e., content) of regulation as a basis for studying regulation formation, implementation, and outcomes. Within this line of research, scholars have been particularly interested in investigating regulatory dynamics relating to features and patterns of regulatory text and have engaged a variety of methodological approaches to support their assessments. One approach featured in this research is the Institutional Grammar (IG). The IG supports syntactic and semantic analyses of institutional statements (e.g., regulatory provisions) that embed within regulatory text. A recently revised version—called the IG 2.0—further supports robust analyses of regulatory text by offering an expanded feature set particularly well‐suited to extracting and classifying content relevant for the study of regulation. This paper (i) provides a brief introduction to the IG 2.0 and (ii) discusses theoretical and analytical advantages of using the IG 2.0 to study regulation.
Partial correlation graphical LASSO
Authors: Carter Jack Storror , Rossell David , Smith Jim Q. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractStandard likelihood penalties to learn Gaussian graphical models are based on regularizing the off‐diagonal entries of the precision matrix. Such methods, and their Bayesian counterparts, are not invariant to scalar multiplication of the variables, unless one standardizes the observed data to unit sample variances. We show that such standardization can have a strong effect on inference and introduce a new family of penalties based on partial correlations. We show that the latter, as well as the maximum likelihood, and logarithmic penalties are scale invariant. We illustrate the use of one such penalty, the partial correlation graphical LASSO, which sets an penalty on partial correlations. The associated optimization problem is no longer convex, but is conditionally convex. We show via simulated examples and in two real datasets that, besides being scale invariant, there can be important gains in terms of inference.
Understanding the utility of “Talk‐to‐Me” an online suicide prevention program for Australian university students
Authors: Afsharnejad Bahareh , Milbourn Ben , Brown Cherylee , Clifford Rhonda , Foley Kitty‐Rose , Logan Alexandra , Lund Stephan , Machingura Tawanda , McAuliffe Tomomi , Mozolic‐Staunton Beth , Sharp Nicole , Hayden‐Evans Maya , Baker Young Ellie , Black Melissa , Zimmermann Frank , Kacic Viktor , Bölte Sven , Girdler Sonya 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundAustralian university students are at risk of experiencing poor mental health, being vulnerable to self‐harm and suicidal ideation.Aim“Talk‐to‐Me” is a suicide ideation prevention Massive open online course (MOOC) previously showing it can support Western Australian university students' knowledge of identifying and responding to suicide ideation in themselves and others.MethodsA multi‐site one‐group pre‐test/post‐test design with a 12‐week follow‐up explored the efficacy of “Talk‐to‐Me” for university students Australia‐wide, evaluating the influence of COVID‐19 and location. Overall, 217 students (55% female; mage = 24.93 years [18, 60]) enrolled in this study from 2020 to 2021. Participants' responses to suicidal statements, mental health literacy, generalized self‐efficacy, help‐seeking behavior, and overall utility of the program were collected at baseline, post‐MOOC (10 weeks from baseline) and 12‐week follow‐up. The effect of time and location interaction was explored using a random‐effects regression model.ResultsFindings indicated significant improvement in participants' knowledge of positive mental health support strategies (ES = 0.42, p < 0.001) and recognizing appropriate responses to suicidal statements (ES = 0.37, p < 0.001) at 10‐weeks, with further improvement at 12 weeks follow‐up (ES = 0.47 and 0.46, p < 0.001). Students reported higher generalized self‐efficacy at the 12‐week follow‐up compared to baseline (ES = 0.19, p = 0.03) and an increased tendency to seek professional help for mental health issues (ES = 0.22, p = 0.02).ConclusionThese findings provide preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the “Talk‐to‐Me” program in supporting ‎university students across Australia to increase their suicide‐related knowledge and skills, ‎general self‐efficacy, and overall mental fitness.
Cross‐sector collaboration for refugee employment: An anthropology of development perspective
Authors: Gunasekara Asanka , Eversole Robyn , Hiruy Kiros , Sendjaya Sen , Breitbarth Tim 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEmployment plays a crucial role in the successful resettlement of migrants. However, there is a paucity of research on how to facilitate refugee employment outcomes and the role of cross‐sector collaborations. Using a qualitative, multi‐layered analysis of primary and secondary data from Australian settlement service providers (SSPs) and the businesses they work with, this study explores how public service organisations co‐create value with stakeholders (i.e., public service logic) through cross‐sector collaborations. By identifying differing notional and strategic logics of both SSPs and employing businesses in supporting refugee migrants, we reveal the dynamics of cross‐sector value co‐creation in refugee management settings. We also identify four main strategic logics that SSPs use to address barriers and connect refugee migrants to employment. Our study offers theoretical contributions and practical implications for public, private, not‐for‐profit and community organisations working together to support refugee employment.
On the Verification of Finite Element Determinations of Stress Concentration Factors for Handbooks
Authors: Kardak A. A. , Sinclair G. B. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Here we offer an approach for being reasonably sure that finite element determinations of stress concentration factors are accurate enough to be included in engineering handbooks. The approach has two contributors. The first consists of analyzing a stress concentration on a sequence of systematically refined meshes until the error estimates of ASME have that sufficient accuracy has been achieved. The second consists of constructing a test problem with an exact and somewhat higher value of its stress concentration factor, then analyzing this test problem with the same sequence of meshes and showing that, in fact, sufficient accuracy has been achieved. In combination, these two means of verification are applied to a series of U-notches in a plate under tension. Together they show that it is reasonable to regard finite element values of stress concentration factors on the finest meshes as being accurate to three significant figures. Given this level of accuracy, it is then also reasonable to use the approach to verify other existing stress concentration factors and resolve any discrepancies between them, as well as to verify new stress concentration factors.
Uncertainty Quantification and Sensitivity Analysis for the Self-Excited Vibration of a Spline-Shafting System
Authors: Ma Xinxing , Zhong Yucai , Cao Peng , Yuan Jie , Zhang Zhenguo 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Self-excited vibrations can occur in the spline-shafting system due to internal friction of the tooth surface. However, due to manufacturing errors, design tolerances, and time-varying factors, the parameters that induce self-excited vibrations are always uncertain. This study provides new insights into the uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis of a spline-shaft system suffering from self-excited vibrations. The nonintrusive generalized polynomial chaos expansion (gPCE) with unknown deterministic coefficients is used to represent the propagation of uncertainties in the rotor dynamics, which allows rapid estimation of the statistics of the nonlinear responses. Furthermore, the global sensitivity analysis of the stochastic self-excited vibration response of the rotor system with probabilistic uncertain parameters is evaluated by Sobol indices. The relative influence of different random parameters on the vibration behavior and initial displacement conditions for the occurrence of self-excited vibration is investigated. The accuracy of the adopted method based on the gPCE metamodel is validated by conventional Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). Finally, the effects of parameter uncertainties considering random distribution characteristics on the stochastic vibration characteristics of the rotor system are discussed, which demonstrates the need to consider input uncertainties in analysis and design to ensure robust system performance.
Compilation of a Solar Mirror Materials Database and an Analysis of Natural and Accelerated Mirror Exposure and Degradation
Authors: Farrell Tucker , Cao Yue , Burkholder Frank , Celvi Daniel , Schreiber Christa , Zhu Guangdong 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been conducting exposure experiments on solar reflectors for over four decades. Thousands of mirror samples from over 100 suppliers have been exposed to and monitored in a range of relevant environments. These test conditions include outdoor test settings and several controlled laboratory environments. These samples have been rigorously individually characterized using a series of reflectance measurements, visual inspections and, in some cases, in-depth composition analysis to identify degradation modes, reflectance losses, and other mirror properties integral to understanding the solar reflector’s life cycle. This article compiles the decades of measurement data into a concise statistical analysis. It includes exposure and degradation data for numerous reflector types, including secondary-surface reflector permutations of polymer and glass superstrates with silver and aluminum reflectors as well as front-surface reflectors. The results herein are intended to analyze environmental stressors and degradation trends among various historical and state-of-the-art solar reflectors. This article may be used to support solar reflector design, effective testing methodology, and inform manufacturing decisions moving forward. Presented are the results of the compiled database and an initial analysis for degradation rate modeling using full-spectrum and wavelength-dependent approaches. The database is a growing resource hosted on a live, publicly accessible website. In conjunction with the analysis presented here, the database provides a valuable resource to the solar reflector manufacturing and testing industry.