bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional Recovery with Peripheral Nerve Block Versus General Anesthesia for Upper Limb Surgery: A Systematic Review
Authors: Héroux Jennifer , Bessette Pierre-Olivier , Belley-Côté Emilie , Lamarche Daphnée , Échavé Pablo , Loignon Marie-Josée , Patenaude Nicolas , Baillargeon Jean-Patrice , D’Aragon Frédérick 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
Peripheral nerve block is a common anesthetic technique used during orthopedic upper limb surgery. Injection of local anesthetics around the target nerve inhibits the action of voltage-dependent sodium channels, inhibiting neurotransmission of pain impulses and providing motor immobility. Compared to general anesthesia, it could improve functional recovery by inhibiting nociceptive impulses and inflammation, thus reducing postoperative pain and immobilization and improving postoperative rehabilitation. This systematic review evaluates the impact of peripheral nerve block versus general anesthesia on postoperative functional recovery following orthopedic upper limb surgery.
Methods
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, and Scopus trial databases from inception until September 2021 for studies comparing peripheral nerve block to general anesthesia. We collected data on functional recovery, range of motion, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and return to work. We pooled studies using a random-effects model and summarized the quality of evidence with the GRADE approach.
Results
We assessed 373 citations and 19 full-text articles for eligibility, and included six studies. Six studies reported on functional recovery, but failed to detect a significant superiority of peripheral nerve block over general anesthesia (3 RCT studies, N= 160; SMD -0.15; CI at 95% -0.60-0.3; I2=45%; p=0.07; low quality of evidence and 3 observational studies, N= 377; SMD -0.35; CI at 95% -0.71-0.01; I2=64%; p=0.06; very low quality of evidence).
Conclusions
Current literature is limited and fails to identify the benefit of peripheral nerve block on functional recovery. More studies are needed to assess the impact on long-term recovery. Considering the potential impact on clinical practice and training, a prospective study on functional recovery is ongoing (NCT04541745).
Trial Registration: PROSPERO ID CRD42018116298. Registered on December 4, 2018.
Development of a Risk-tailored Approach and Dashboard for Efficient Management and Monitoring of Investigator-Initiated Trials
Authors: Klatte Katharina , Subramaniam Suvitha , Benkert Pascal , Schulz Alexandra , Ehrlich Klaus , Rösler Astrid , Deschodt Mieke , Fabbro Thomas , Pauli-Magnus Christiane , Briel Matthias 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
Most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the academic setting have limited resources for clinical trial management and monitoring. Inefficient conduct of trials was identified as an important source of waste even in well-designed studies. A comprehensive approach identifying and continuously checking critical trial risks (e.g. insufficient recruitment, missing data) to allow the timely initiation of corrective action is, therefore, needed. We developed a risk-tailored approach with an initial risk assessment of an individual trial that informs the compilation of monitoring and management procedures in a trial dashboard.
Methods
We performed a systematic literature review to identify risk indicators and trial monitoring approaches followed by a contextual analysis involving local, national and international stakeholders. Based on this work we developed a risk-tailored management approach with integrated monitoring for RCTs and including a visualizing trial dashboard. We piloted the approach and refined it in an iterative process based on feedback from stakeholders and performed formal user testing with investigators and staff of two clinical trials.
Results
The developed risk assessment comprises four domains (patient safety and rights, overall trial management, intervention management, trial data). An accompanying manual provides rationales and detailed instructions for the risk assessment. We programmed two trial dashboards tailored to one medical and one surgical RCT to manage identified trial risks based on daily exports of accumulating trial data. We made the code for a generic dashboard available on GitHub that can be adapted to individual trials.
Conclusions
The presented trial management approach with integrated monitoring enables user-friendly, continuous checking of critical elements of trial conduct to support trial teams in the academic setting.
Grassland cover declined in Southern Africa but increased in other African subcontinents in early 21st century
Authors: Muraina Taofeek O. , Barnieh Beatrice Asenso , Jimoh Saheed O. , Olasupo Ibraheem O. , Bello Suleiman K. , Usman Samaila , Mudzengi Clarice P. , NourEldeen Nusseiba , Aziz Ammar Abdul , Anibaba Quadri A. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
The African continent has the most extensive grassland cover in the world, providing valuable ecosystem services. African grasslands, like other continental grasslands, are prone to various anthropogenic disturbances and climate, and require data-driven monitoring for efficient functioning and service delivery. Yet, knowledge of how the African grassland cover has changed in the past years is lacking, especially at the subcontinents level, due to a lack of relevant long-term, Africa-wide observations and experiments. Here, we used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Cover Type (MCD12Q1) data spanning 2001 to 2017 to conduct Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change analyses and map grassland distribution in Africa. Specifically, we assessed the changes in grassland cover across and within African subcontinents over three periods (2001–2013, 2013–2017, and 2001–2017). We found that the African grassland cover was 16777765.5 km2, 16999468.25 km2, and 16968304.25 km2 in 2001, 2013, and 2017, respectively. There were net gain (1.32%) and net loss (0.19%) during 2001–2013 and 2013–2017 periods, respectively. Generally, the African grassland cover increased (1.14%) over the whole study period (2001–2017) at the expense of forestland, cropland, and built-up areas. The East and West African grassland covers reduced by 0.07% and 1.35%, respectively, in 2013–2017, and increased in other periods; those of North and Central Africa increased throughout the three periods; but Southern Africa grassland cover decreased over the three periods. Overall, the net gains in the grassland cover of other African subcontinents offset the loss in Southern Africa and promoted the overall gain across Africa. This study underscores the need for continuous monitoring of African grasslands and the causes of their changes for efficient delivery of ecosystem services.
The Presence of Husbands during Physiologic Delivery: A Study of Husbands’ Perception of the Physical Characteristics of Childbirth Rooms in Iran
Authors: Ghamgosar Faeghe Deljoo , Yazdanfar Seyed Abbas 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Background
Nowadays, the presence of husbands during the childbirth process is regarded as an important factor that can contribute to lower rate of the C-section, better success of physiologic delivery and higher satisfaction in childbirth experience. The global rise in mothers’ tendency toward C-section has urged health policymakers to look for various ways to encourage mothers to give natural birth, including the presence of husbands during the childbirth. Considering the special sociocultural characteristics of the Iranian society, this method requires accurate assessment to be practical and effective.
Objective
The aim of this research was finding out how husbands perceive the environmental and physical characteristics of delivery spaces via studying these physical characteristics, exploring them through husbands’ perception and finally discovering the mechanism behind formation of this perception. Study Design: First, the conceptual model of the study was developed after a review of the physiologic childbirth literature. Then, a research questionnaire was designed and distributed among 56 husbands who recently had the experience of accompanying their wives during physiologic childbirth.
Results
The results showed that light, color and temperature play a significant role in husbands’ perception of delivery spaces under the special psychological conditions and stress that they experience during the childbirth. Designer should pay due attention to these three factors when designing the structure of childbirth spaces.
Conclusion
Promoting the environmental quality of the physiologic delivery room based on husband's perception can help mothers and medical staff better manage childbirth pain which is an integral part of natural childbirths.
Longitudinal multi-omic changes in the transcriptome and proteome of peripheral blood cells after a 4 Gy total body radiation dose to Rhesus macaques
Authors: Ghandhi Shanaz A. , Morton Shad. R. , Shuryak Igor , Lee Younghyun , Soni Rajesh K. , Perrier Jay R. , Bakke James , Gahagan Janet , Bujold Kim , Authier Simon , Amundson Sally A. , Brenner David J. , Nishita Denise , Chang Polly , Turner Helen C. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background: Non-human primates, such as Rhesus macaques, are a powerful model for studies of the cellular and physiological effects of radiation, development of radiation biodosimetry, and for understanding the impact of radiation on human health. Here, we study the effects of 4 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) at the molecular level out to 28 days and at the cytogenetic level out to 56 days after exposure. We combine the global transcriptomic and proteomic responses in peripheral whole blood to assess the impact of acute TBI exposure at extended times post irradiation.
Results: The overall mRNA response in the first week reflects a strong inflammatory reaction, infection response with neutrophil and platelet activation. At 1 week, cell cycle arrest and re-entry processes were enriched among mRNA changes, oncogene-induced senescence and MAPK signaling among the proteome changes. Influenza life cycle and infection pathways initiate earlier in mRNA and are reflected among the proteomic changes during the first week. Transcription factor proteins SRC, TGFb and NFATC2 were immediately induced at 1 day after irradiation with increased transcriptional activity as predicted by mRNA changes persisting up to 1 week. Cell counts revealed a mild / moderate hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS) reaction to irradiation with expected lymphopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia that resolved within 30 days. Measurements of micronuclei per binucleated cell levels in cytokinesis-blocked T-lymphocytes remained high in the range 0.27-0.33 up to 28 days and declined to 0.1 by day 56.
Conclusions: Overall, we show that the TBI 4 Gy dose in NHPs induces many cellular changes that persist up to 1 month after exposure, consistent with damage, death, and repopulation of blood cells.
Accuracy of Doppler Assessment of the Uterine Arteries for the Diagnosis of Pubertal Onset in Girls: A Scoping Review
Authors: Cheuiche Amanda Veiga , Moro Candice , Lucena Iara Regina Siqueira , Paula Leila Cristina Pedroso , Silveiro Sandra Pinho 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
The uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) assessed by Doppler ultrasound reflects blood flow impedance in the vessel distal to the sampling point. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the uterine artery PI for the diagnosis of puberty in girls. A PRISMA-ScR-compliant scoping review was performed in the MEDLINE and Embase databases with “puberty” and “Doppler ultrasonography” as the search terms. Studies that included girls aged 0–18 years who underwent pelvic Doppler ultrasound with calculation uterine artery PI were considered eligible. Ten studies comprising 1385 girls aged 1.2–18 years were included. The selected studies were published between 1996 and 2021 and included participants from Italy, Brazil, Iran, Belgium, and Denmark. Six studies included girls who were referred for evaluation of pubertal disorders, while four studies selected only healthy girls. Nine studies found a significant difference in Doppler and PI according to pubertal stage, with PI cutoff points ranging from 2.5 to 4.6 for the diagnosis of puberty onset, with a sensitivity of 77–94%, specificity of 85–100%, and accuracy of 79–98%. Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries with PI calculation is a useful noninvasive tool in the diagnosis of secondary sexual characteristic onset in girls.
Impact of Slab Selection on the Relationship between Choriocapillaris Flow Deficits and Enlargement Rate of Geographic Atrophy
Authors: Alagorie Ahmed , Corradetti Giulia , Byon Iksoo , Tiosano Liran , Ji Yongsok , Nittala Muneeswar , Velaga Swetha Bindu , Nassisi Marco , Sadda Srinivas 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of changing slab position on the correlation between choriocapillaris (CC) flow deficits (FD) in eyes with geographic atrophy (GA) and yearly enlargement rate (yER) of GA.
Methods: OCT and OCTA images obtained on Cirrus HD-OCT device were collected from patients with GA. Each patient underwent OCTA scan at baseline and two OCT scans, one at baseline and one after at least 12 months. GA was delineated on en-face fundus image to calculate yER. OCTA images were generated from three 10 µm thick slabs 11, 21 and 31 µm posterior to RPE-fit line. A 100 µm-wide concentric rings were generated around GA to calculate FD% in each ring which was correlated with yER.
Results: For the 11-21 µm slab, FD% was not significantly correlated with yER for any of the rings (p > 0.05). For the 21-31 and 31-41 µm slab, FD% of rings located in the 500 µm region around GA was significantly correlated with yER (p < 0.05). However, in all slab locations, there was no significant correlation between yER and CC FD% of rings located beyond the 500 µm region (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Slab selection for quantification of CC FD% may have a significant impact on quantitative results in eyes with GA.
Analysis of technological innovation on provincial green development levels of logistics industry in China
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Han Yanan , Ren Xiaohang 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Logistics industry is a crucial component in modern economy, but it also causes environmental damage. Technological innovation is an important measure to mitigate environmental degradation. To explore the impact of technological innovation on the provincial green logistics development level in China, this study utilizes a generalized estimating equations (GEE) regression model to analyze a panel data of 30 provinces during 2001-2019. Firstly, entropy method is applied to calculate the green logistics development level based on an index system considering green factors. Secondly, a GEE model which considers the correlation among different observations is used to investigate the impact of technological innovation, trade openness, government financial investment, logistics infrastructure, energy protection and energy intensity on green logistics development level. Moreover, regional heterogeneity is also analyzed in this paper by comparing the regression results of the Eastern region, Central region and Western region.Based on the above analysis, several conclusions are drawn: (1) Technological innovation positively affect green logistics development level, but its impact gradually decrease after a certain point. (2) Trade openness positively influence green logistics development level. (3) Logistics infrastructure positively affect green logistics development level. (4) Energy intensity of logistics industry negatively affect green logistics development level. Related policy recommendations are proposed based on our finding.
Recovery rate is as critical as desalination efficiency in freeze desalination
Authors: Hendijanifard Mohammad 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Freeze desalination is an emerging technique since it uses much less energy than most other thermal technologies. As a portion of zero liquid discharge technologies, crystallization is being commercially used, however, it is probably the most expensive section of the desalination plant. Several freeze desalination techniques are being developed including progressive layer, falling film, suspension freeze, and gas hydrate desalination. The emphasis of most of these methods are to improve the desalination efficiency. In order to develop a full freeze desalination plant, it is shown that the recovery rate is as critical as the desalination efficiency. In our study, we designed a full freeze desalination plant with the recovery rate of 50% and the desalination efficiency of 50%. For a proper salt rejection from 73% of the incoming sea water, the plant requires 39 stages of desalination. The plant is then redesigned with the recovery rate of 90% and the desalination efficiency of 90%. It is shown that in only 4 stages of desalination, 85% of the whole seawater can be desalinated which is a cost reduction of at least one tenth.
Does Fiscal Decentralization Support Green Economy Development? Evidence from China
Authors: Li Jia , Xu Yibo 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Based on the panel data of China's provinces from 2006 to 2018, this paper uses the Super-SBM model to measure the green economy development index by introducing carbon dioxide emissions and industrial "three wastes" emissions, and analyzes the relationship between fiscal decentralization, green technology innovation and green economy based on the perspective of local government behavior. It is found that fiscal decentralization significantly inhibits the development of green economy, and local green technology innovation activities in the last period will amplify this negative impact, and the above findings pass the robustness test. After introducing comparative analysis of economic growth indicators that is measured by the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), the results show that: only in the eastern region its fiscal decentralization both drives economic growth and does not inhibit green economy development by local government officials' political promotion motives and self-interested preferred expenditures, but the overall economic promotion and green economy inhibition caused by fiscal decentralization exist simultaneously in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region, and significant heterogeneity differences exist in the rest of the regions. This study provides some policy recommendations for the transformation of local government governance, the formulation of green development policies, and the achievement of sustainable development.
SipNose - Topiramate: A Novel Breakthrough Approach to Binge Eating Management
Authors: GREENHUT AYALA KOBO , Beja Adit Zohar , Hadar Liron , Itzhaki Lior , Karasik Avraham , Caraco Yossi , Frankenthal Hilel , Shahaf Daniel , Ekstein Dana , Shichor Iris , Gur Eitan 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background: Binge eating disorder) BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United-States. Chronic, orally administered topiramate has shown BED treatment efficacy, but with two major limitations: frequent and severe side effects and slow time to action. SipNose is a novel-non-invasive-intranasal (IN) direct nose-to-brain (DNTB) drug delivery platform that delivers drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) consistently and fast. Herein, we study SipNose-topiramate combination product, as an acute "as needed"(PRN) solution for BED management.
Methods: First, we evaluate the innovative SipNose-topiramate's pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety. The second part aimed to demonstrate SipNose-topiramate's PRN-treatment efficacy in reducing the number of binge-eating episodes in 12-BED patients (2-weeks of baseline monitoring [BL], 8-weeks of treatment [TX], 2-weeks of follow up [FU]).
In this part 251 treatments were used by the 12 BED patients participated in the study.
Results: The PK profile showed peak plasma levels at 90 minutes post-administration, and a t1/2 > 24hr, and demonstrated consistent topiramate delivery with no AE. In the second part, mean weekly binge events (WBE) and binge event days per week (DPW) showed a significant reduction from baseline to treatment period that was maintained in follow up period. Efficacy was corroborated by improved patient illness severity scales. There were no adverse events during all administered treatments. Patients were exposed to less drug when compared with accepted oral dosing.
Conclusions: This study introduces the novel SipNose-topiramate drug-device combination as a safe, effective, and controlled method for BED management. Its findings represent a breakthrough approach to BED management both as an intranasal and "as needed" therapy for reducing binge eating episodes with a large-scale reduction in patient drug exposure and thus side effects and with improved patient quality of life. Further studies are needed with larger patient populations to establish SipNose-topiramate as a mainstream treatment for BED.
Trial registration: Registration number and date of registration of the clinical studies reported in this article are as follows: 0157-18-HMO, August 15th 2018 and 6814-20-SMC, December 2nd 2020.
Improvement of quality and yield for investment casting of centrifugal pump impeller by tilting mold and optimizing runner/riser system
Authors: Kim Yu-Chol , Paek Nong-I , Ri Bok-Gyu , O Rim-Hyok 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
The impellers must have no defects to endure vibration and centrifugal force. The shell for producing impeller was located at tilt and the runner/riser system was optimized to obtain good quality casting and increase the casting yield. We adopted sprue as riser to increase the casting yield and employed ProCAST to analyze the solidification behavior of molten metal according to the dimension of riser and gate. Although the diameter of riser is change from 133mm to 66mm, the shrinkage defects was removed from the casting due to the proper size and location of runner/riser system. And we predicted the probability occurring gas and non-metal inclusion defects in casting by tilting the shell at 0°, 5°, 10°, 15° and 20°. The ultrasonic detecting results show that the proper designs of the runner/riser systems and mold tiling eliminated casting defects such as shrinkage, gas and non-metal inclusion. In addition, the casting yield was increased from 41.5 to 65.2% with producing a good quality casting.