bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of altered patterns of tactile sensation in the diagnosis and monitoring of leprosy using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments
Authors: Frade Marco Andrey Cipriani , Bernardes Filho Fred , Silva Claudia Maria Lincoln , Voltan Glauber , Lima Filipe Rocha , Abi-Rached Thania Loyola Cordeiro , de Paula Natália Aparecida 
Published: August 2022

Background
Leprosy neuropathy is the most common peripheral neuropathy of infectious etiology worldwide; it is characterized as asymmetric and focal multiple mononeuropathy. Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test is a simple method to assess sensory nerve function.

Methods and findings
In this prospective cohort study, a dermatologist carried out hands and feet tactile sensation test with SWM in 107 multibacillary leprosy patients at diagnosis and in 76 patients at the end of treatment from 2016 to 2019. At diagnosis, 81/107 (75.7%) patients had some degree of functional disability, and 46 (43%) of them had altered SWM-test in the hands and 94 (87.9%) of them in the feet. After one year of multibacillary multidrug therapy, the disability decreasing to 44/76 patients (57.9%) and decreasing of the percentual of patients with altered SWM-test to 18% for the hands, and to 28.7% for the feet. At the end of treatment, the number of SMW-test points presented improvement in the hands of 22 (28.9%) patients, and in the feet of 47 (61.8%). In the hands, by SWM-test, only the radial nerve point demonstrated a significant asymmetry, while in the feet, the difference between the sum of altered SWM-test points showed significant asymmetry between both sides, highlighting the tibial nerve for the establishment of asymmetric leprosy neuropathy. In Spearman’s correlation analysis, a positive correlation with statistical significance was observed between the number of hands and feet SWM altered points at diagnosis and the degree of disability at diagnosis (0.69) and at the end of the treatment (0.80).

Conclusion
The patterns of hands and feet tactile sensation at diagnosis and their consequent modifications with the anti-leprosy drugs define the bacterial etiology of neuropathy, an important tool for the clinical diagnosis and follow up of the disease, highlighting the tibial nerve findings, the most affected nerve among leprosy patients by SWM-test, with significant asymmetry and focality impairments.
Sex differences in rates of permanent pacemaker implantation and in-hospital complications: A statewide cohort study of over 7 million persons from 2009–2018
Authors: Vijayarajan Vijayatubini , Kritharides Leonard , Brieger David , Cheng Yeu-Yao , Chow Vincent , Ng Austin Chin Chwan 
Published: August 2022

Background
Whether a bias exists in the implantation of permanent pacemakers (PPI) and complications according to sex and age in the Australian population is unclear.

Hypothesis
Population rate of PPI and its complications differed between men and women.

Methods
We examined the prevalence of PPI from January-2009 to December-2018 from datasets held by the New South Wales (NSW) Centre-for-Health-Record-Linkage, including patient’s characteristics and in-hospital complications. All analysis was stratified by sex and age by decade.

Results
A total of 28,714 admissions involved PPI (40% women). The mean PPI rate (±standard-deviation) and median age (interquartile range) was 2,871±242 per-annum and 80yrs (73-86yrs), respectively. At the same time-period, the mean NSW population size was 7,487,393±315,505 persons (50% women; n = 3,773,756±334,912). The mean annual age-adjusted rate of PPI was 125.5±11.6 per-100,000-men, compared to 63.4±14.3 per-100,000-women (P<0.01). The mean annual rate of PPI increased from 2009–2017 by 0.9±3.3% in men, compared to 0.4±4.4% in women (P<0.01) suggesting a widening disparity. Total non-fatal in-hospital complications was higher in women compared to men (8.2% vs 6.6%, P<0.01), and this persisted throughout study period even after adjusting for multiple covariates. Overall, in-hospital mortality was low (0.73%) and similar between sexes.

Conclusion
In a statewide Australian population exceeding 7 million, PPI rates were consistently nearly two-fold higher for men compared to women over 10-years, with an apparently widening disparity, that was not explained by age. Overall complication rates were higher in women. Future studies should examine the aetiology behind this disparity in PPI rates, as well as its complications.
Post-COVID syndrome: A prospective study in a tertiary hospital of Nepal
Authors: Shah Sangam , Bhattarai Shreeyash Raj , Basnet Kriti , Adhikari Yagya Raj , Adhikari Tara Ballav , Bhatta Nikita , Chamlagain Rajan , Aryal Susan , Sah Sanjit Kumar , Bhandari Govinda , Bhandari Bibek , Poudel Sujan , Pant Pankaj , Das Santa Kumar 
Published: August 2022

Introduction
The post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome is defined as the persistence of symptoms after viral clearance and the emergence of new symptoms after a few months following recovery from COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome and the risk factors that contribute to its development.

Methods
This study was conducted prospectively in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. The patients were followed up for three months.

Results
The post-COVID status of 300 patients admitted to the COVID emergency of TUTH was studied. The mean age of the patients was 46.6±15.7 years, and the proportion of male (56%) was slightly higher than female (44%). Most of the patients (81.7%) had fever on their presentation to the emergency which was followed by fatigue (81.3%) and cough (78.3%). During the post-COVID phase, fatigue was the most common persistent symptom, with 34% experiencing fatigue after 60 days and 28.3% even after 90 days from the onset of symptoms. Univariate logistic regression showed sore throat (OR 4.6; 95% CI (2.8–7.6)), rhinitis (OR 3.6; 95% CI (2.1–5.9)), fatigue (OR 3.7; 95% CI (1.8–7.6)), diarrhea (OR 4.1; 95% CI (2.4–6.9)), anosmia (OR 6.7; 95% CI (3.9–11.3)), ageusia (OR 7.8; 95% CI (4.5–13.4)) and shortness of breath (OR 14.9; 95% CI (1.8–119.6)) at admission were all predictors of post-COVID syndrome after three months.

Conclusion
Even after recovering from COVID-19, people with COVID-19 may develop symptoms. As a result, COVID-19’s long-term consequences should not be neglected, as they may lead to increased morbidity among patients, consumption of financial resources, and added burden on the health system.
The importance of precise plane selection for female adult Chiari Type I malformation midsagittal morphometrics
Authors: Morkos Mark , Eppelheimer Maggie , Nwotchouang Blaise Simplice Talla , Ebrahimzadeh Seyed Amir , Bhadelia Rafeeque A. , Loth Dorothy , Allen Philip A. , Loth Francis 
Published: August 2022

Introduction
Morphometric assessment of Chiari malformation type I (CMI) is typically performed on a midsagittal MRI. However, errors arising from an imprecise selection of the midsagittal plane are unknown. We define absolute parasagittal error as the absolute difference between morphometric measurements at the midsagittal and parasagittal planes. Our objective was to determine the absolute parasagittal error at various lateral distances for morphometric parameters commonly used in CMI research.

Methods
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI scans of 30 CMI adult female subjects were included. Image sets were evaluated to assess 14 CMI morphometric parameters in the midsagittal plane and four parasagittal planes located 1 and 2 mm lateral (left and right). Comparisons between measurements at the midsagittal and parasagittal planes were conducted to determine the mean individual absolute and mean group parasagittal errors for all 14 parameters.

Results
The mean individual absolute parasagittal error was > 1 unit (1 mm for lengths and 1 degree for angles) for 9/14 parameters within a lateral distance of 2 mm. No significant group parasagittal errors were seen in 14/14 parameters, including tonsillar position within a lateral distance of 2 mm.

Conclusion
Our results show that the absolute errors for imprecise midsagittal plane selection may impact the clinical assessment of an individual patient. However, the impact on group measurements, such as in a research setting, will be minimal.
Assessment of the educational value of endodontic access cavity preparation YouTube video as a learning resource for students
Authors: Jamleh Ahmed , Aljohani Shouq Mohammed , Alzamil Faisal Fahad , Aljuhayyim Shahad Muhammad , Alsubaei Modhi Nasser , Alali Showq Raad , Alotaibi Nawaf Munawir , Nassar Mohannad 
Published: August 2022

Objective
To evaluate the educational value of YouTube as a learning tool for dental students regarding endodontic access cavity preparation.

Methods and findings
YouTube search was made for videos related to endodontic access cavity preparation using specific terms. After exclusions, 41 videos were chosen and assessed for tooth type, video length, days since upload, country of origin, number of views and likes, source of authorship, and viewing rate. To grade the content of videos, a usefulness score with seven elements was developed. Each element was given a score of 0 or 1. Statistical tests were run by using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) at a 5% significance level. The videos received a mean of 181198.5 views with a mean duration of 686.1 seconds. The mean number of “likes” was 1047.8. Almost half of the videos covered content related to molar teeth. Most videos were provided by health care professionals with almost 50% uploaded from India. The mean usefulness score was 4.29 (range: 1–7) and the most discussed elements were description, instruments used, access cavity demonstration, and evaluation criteria. About a quarter of the videos were classified as good, while 46.3% as moderate and 29.3% as poor. Among the content usefulness categories, no difference was found in the video demographics (p>0.05) except “days since upload” (p = 0.018) in which good quality videos were found to have the highest median. Moreover, although insignificant, good videos were found to have the longest duration and lowest number of views, likes, and viewing rate. The mean usefulness score of videos released during the COVID-19 pandemic was lower than that for pre-pandemic videos (p = 0.042), and videos uploaded by academic institutions had a higher mean usefulness score than videos uploaded by health care professionals (p<0.001).

Conclusions
Information on endodontic access cavity preparation is not comprehensive in most of the reviewed YouTube videos and could be of low educational value.
The chemiluminescent and enzymatic activity of blood neutrophils in patients with Graves' disease depending on hyperthyroidism compensation
Authors: Dudina M. A. , Savchenko A. A. , Dogadin S. A. , Gvozdev I. I. 
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress in Graves’ disease can potentiate the cytotoxicity of neutrophils and support autoimmune inflammation. Elimination of hyperthyroidism with conservative therapy with thiamazole only in some cases leads to remission, which determines the necessity to search an immunological markers for etiotropic therapeutic approaches in treatment of the disease.AIM: To study the chemiluminescent and enzymatic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in patients with Graves’ disease depending on hyperthyroidism compensation to determine the intracellular targets of immunotropic treatment.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spontaneous and zymosan-induced chemiluminescence was evaluated using a 36-channel chemiluminescence analyzer «BLM-3607» (MedBioTech, Krasnoyarsk). The reactivity of peripheral blood neutrophils was characterized by: Tmax — the rate of development of the chemiluminescent reaction, Imax — the maximum level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis and the area under the chemiluminescence curve (S — total synthesis of ROS for 90 minutes of measurement). The activity of NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases in neutrophils was determined using the bioluminescent method.RESULTS: The prospective study included 126 women with Graves’ disease, aged 18 to 65 years, 93 (73.81%) with compensated and 33 (26.19%) with uncompensated hyperthyroidism. In uncompensated hyperthyroidism, the indicator S of spontaneous ROS and zymosan-induced lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence increases significantly, both relative to the control and to the values of compensated hyperthyroidism patients. Antigenic neutrophils stimulation during luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in patients with recurrent hyperthyroidism demonstrated more than tenfold increase in the total synthesis of ROS relative to the control, but no statistically significant differences with compensated hyperthyroidism patients. A high level of NADH-GDG was established in patients with recurrent hyperthyroidism, both relative to the control range and to the patients with euthyroidism.CONCLUSION: Violation of oxygen peripheral blood neutrophils metabolism in patients with euthyroidism mainly affects the production of ROS, which is associated with hyperthyroidism compensation and the immunosuppressive effect of thiamazole. In patients with recurrent hyperthyroidism, there are more changes in the production of high-energy oxidants not only at initial oxidative reactions stage, but also at the level of secondary ROS, indicating the activation of cellular response immunological mechanisms.
Impact Of Risk Governance, Associated Practices and Tools on Enterprise Risk Management: Some Evidence from Colombia
Authors: Villanueva Eduart , Nuñez Maria Antonia , Martins Izaias 
Published: August 2022

Enterprise risk management is a discipline that is becoming increasingly necessary due to the changing environment in which companies operate. This paper is based on a research question that propose to hypotheses that question the impact of risk governance and associated practices and tools on ERM development. Hierarchical linear regression models are used to test the hypotheses that suggest a relationship between predictor variables and the ERM criterion variable. A sample of 140 large private companies in Colombia, belonging to different economic sectors, is selected, of which their behaviour and/or organizational performance related to the analysis variables is evaluated. The main results suggest that the risk governance composed of the senior management commitment and the risk management structure has a positive correlation with ERM. Also, it is demonstrating that the practices and tools integrated by the risk maps and the risk treatment measures that are defined, have a positive correlation about the maturity of enterprise risk management. Finally, the study’s, main findings are presented, and their implications are discussed to form the basis for ERM strengthening in emerging markets.
Arterial and venous blood sampling is equally applicable for coagulation and fibrinolysis analyses
Authors: Christensen Silje Hovden , Nissen Peter Henrik , Hjørnet Niels Eykens , Greisen Jacob Raben , Hvas Anne-Mette 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Objectives
No consensus exists upon whether arterial and venous blood samples are equivalent when it comes to coagulation analyses. We therefore conducted a comparative cohort study to clarify if arteriovenous differences affect analyses of primary and secondary hemostasis as well as fibrinolysis.

Methods
Simultaneous paired blood samplings were obtained from a cannula in the radial artery and an antecubital venipuncture in 100 patients immediately before or one day after thoracic surgery. Analyses of platelet count and aggregation, International Normalized Ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), antithrombin, thrombin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), thrombin generation, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, and an in-house dynamic fibrin clot formation and lysis assay were performed.

Results
No differences were found between arterial and venous samples for the far majority of parameters. The only differences were found in INR, median (IQR): venous, 1.1 (0.2) vs. arterial, 1.1 (0.2) (p<0.002) and in prothrombin fragment 1 + 2: venous, 289 (209) pmol/L vs. arterial, 279 (191) pmol/L (p<0.002).

Conclusions
The sampling site does not affect the majority of coagulation analyses. Small differences were found for two parameters. Due to numerically very discrete differences, they are of no clinical relevance. In conclusion, the present data suggest that both samples obtained from arterial and venous blood may be applied for analyses of coagulation and fibrinolysis.
Unified fractional indirect IMC-based hybrid dual-loop strategy for unstable and integrating type CSTRs
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Raja G. Lloyds 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Controlling unstable and integrating type continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) are more difficult due to the presence of poles in the right half and at the origin of the s-plane respectively. The existence of dead-time needs more efficient control requirements for CSTRs. In this work, a modified indirect fractional-order internal model control proportional-derivative (MIFOIMC-PD) decoupled dual-loop control strategy is suggested for unstable and integrating plants with dead time. The external-loop controller is designed using the MIFOIMC strategy for obtaining adequate servo performance. PD controller is designed such that it stabilizes the plant while disturbances occur. Decoupled nature of the suggested strategy allows this PD controller to be designed without considering the external-loop dynamics. Reference tracking and disturbance elimination capabilities of the suggested method are also quantitatively compared with reported methods. It is established that the suggested MIFOIMC-PD control architecture controls CSTRs more effectively than some lately reported schemes.
The polynomial learning with errors problem and the smearing condition
Authors: Babinkostova Liljana , Chin Ariana , Kirtland Aaron , Nazarchuk Vladyslav , Plotnick Esther 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
As quantum computing advances rapidly, guaranteeing the security of cryptographic protocols resistant to quantum attacks is paramount. Some leading candidate cryptosystems use the learning with errors (LWE) problem, attractive for its simplicity and hardness guaranteed by reductions from hard computational lattice problems. Its algebraic variants, ring-learning with errors (RLWE) and polynomial learning with errors (PLWE), gain efficiency over standard LWE, but their security remains to be thoroughly investigated. In this work, we consider the “smearing” condition, a condition for attacks on PLWE and RLWE introduced in Elias et al. We expand upon some questions about smearing posed by Elias et al. and show how smearing is related to the coupon collector’s problem. Furthermore, we develop an algorithm for computing probabilities related to smearing. Finally, we present a smearing-based algorithm for solving the PLWE problem.
Modelling of OFDM modulation technique in HF radio band using MATLAB
Authors: Kavitha Thandapani , Sonika Makam , Prathyusha Namburi Lakshmi , Raj Vysyaraju Tharun 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) – a new wireless multicarrier modulation which uses number of subcarriers that will be orthogonal to each and every other to send signals. An OFDM signal contains tightly spaced modulated providers that every have low bit info on each with the subcarriers. The major objective of our specific model is to apply MATLAB modelling to model OFDM modulation approach among 6, 12 and 15 MHz bandwidths inside the great consistency (HF) radio group (3–30 MHz). Typically, the motive of the pattern is to be able to make HF very long haul transmission more quickly and further trusted in order to each element worldwide, including typically the bulk remote elements, undergo use of rapid speed, very long haul hands-free connection. The designed unit enables us all to alter typically the bandwidth, carrier consistency, type of modulation, sign to noise rate (SNR), and photo dimensions to identify the particular blend regarding criterion provides trusted OFDM details gears in the HF radio band. Desire use four modulation techniques such while 32-QAM, 16-PSK, QPSK and BPSK. 32-QAM always transmitted typically the data the speediest despite the photo size, number regarding subcarriers and company frequency. 16-PSK seemed to be the second speediest type of modulation followed by QPSK and finally BPSK. To look with regard to the success associated with our model, all of us will figure out information rate and the particular bit to error ratio (BER) right next information transfer. Preferably, we wish to possess a bit error rate associated with 10e−5 for a good SNR that will be symbol of the particular noise intensity skilled within the ionosphere.
How do bicornuate uteri alter pregnancy, intra-partum and neonatal risks? A population based study of more than three million deliveries and more than 6000 bicornuate uteri
Authors: Kadour Peero Einav , Badeghiesh Ahmad , Baghlaf Haitham , Dahan Michael H. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Objectives
To explore maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with bicornuate uteri.

Methods
Retrospective population-based cohort study utilizing data from the Healthcare-Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) from 2010 to 2014. There were 3,846,342 births between 2010 and 2014, included in the study. Six thousand and 195 deliveries were to women with bicornuate uterus. The remaining deliveries without other uterine anomalies were categorized as the reference group (n=3,840,147).

Results
Pregnant women with bicornuate uterus were older and more likely to be obese (p=0.0001) with previous cesarean deliveries (CD) (31 vs. 17.1%, p=0.0001). After adjustment for confounders, they were more likely to experience pregnancy-induced hypertension (HTN) (aOR 1.21, 95%CI: 1.1–1.3), p=0.0001), preeclampsia (aOR 1.4, 95%CI: 1.2–1.6, p=0.0001) and placenta previa (aOR 1.7, 95%CI: 1.3–2.2, p=0.0001). Moreover, they were more likely to deliver preterm (aOR 2.8, 95%CI: 2.6–3.1, p=0.0001), deliver by CD (aOR 5, 95%CI: 3.1–4.1, p=0.0001), experience preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PPROM) (aOR 3.5, 95%CI: 2.6–3.1, p=0.0001), and have a placental abruption (aOR 3.0, 95%CI: 2.5–3.5, p=0.0001). There were increased risks of PPH (aOR 1.4, 95%CI: 1.2–1.6, p=0.0001), wound-complications (aOR 2.0, 95%CI: 1.5–2.7, p=0.0001), hysterectomy (aOR 2.6, 95%CI: 1.6–4.1, p=0.0001), blood-transfusion (aOR 1.7, 95%CI: 1.5–2.1, p=0.0001), and DIC (aOR 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1–2.5), p=0.014) in the group with bicornuate uteri. Also there was higher risk of SGA (aOR 2.9, 95%CI: 2.6–3.2, p=0.0001) and IUFD (aOR 2.5, 95%CI: 1.8–3.3, p=0.0001).

Conclusions
Bicornuate uteri can increase risks in pregnancy by many folds. Particularly risks of: premature delivery, CD, PPROM, placental abruption, hysterectomy, SGA and IUFD were increased 250–500%.