bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bicriteria Shapes: Hierarchical Grouping and Aggregation of Polygons with an Efficient Graph-Cut Approach
Authors: Rottmann Peter , Driemel Anne , Haverkort Herman , Röglin Heiko , Haunert Jan-Henrik 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
An important task of pattern recognition and map generalization is to partition a set of polygons into groups and to aggregate the polygons within each group to a representative output polygon. We introduce a new method for this task called bicritria shapes. Following a classical approach, we define the output polygons by merging the input polygons with a set of triangles that we select from a conforming Delaunay triangulation of the input polygons’ exterior. The innovation is that we control the selection of triangles with a bicriteria optimization model that is efficiently solved via graph cuts. In particular, we minimize a weighted sum that combines the total area of the output polygons and their total perimeter. In a basic problem, we ask for a single solution that is optimal for a preset parameter value. In a second problem, we ask for a set containing an optimal solution for every possible value of the parameter. We discuss how this set can be approximated with few solutions and show that it is hierarchically nested. Hence, the output is a hierarchical clustering that can be used to obtain multiple levels of detail. An evaluation with building footprints as input concludes the article.
Perception towards nursing profession: A comparative study between Sudanese, Yemeni and Egyptian communities
Authors: Abdulla Yahya Hussein Ahmed , Alshameri Faroq Abdulghani , Alkhadher Mugahed Ali , Osman Abdalla Mohamed Ahmed , Alwesabi Sadeq Abdo Mohammed , Abd-Elsalam Nahed Abd-Elazeem , Nimer Mohammed Jabreldar Abuanja , Ahmed Waled AM 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Background: Communities’ perception is one of the most important factors in the development of the nursing profession. The purpose of this study is to identify the perception of Arabic communities (Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt) towards the nursing profession.Methods: A descriptive comparative study was used to identify the perception of Arabic communities (Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt) towards the nursing profession. The study was conducted in three Arabic countries (Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt) using an online approach by sending the link of questions to the targeted population using emails, WhatsApp, and social media. There were 529 participants from the three Arabic countries.Results: Almost 75.6% of the participants were less than 40 years, and most respondents (82.9%) were between 21 to 30 years old. There was a generally positive perception towards the nursing profession among these communities: 97.6% of Sudanese, 94.9% of Yemenis, and 96.1% Egyptian. There was a borderline statistical significance between the Sudanese and Egyptians' age and their perception toward their profession.Conclusions: Overall, the perception of Sudanese, Yemeni, and Egyptian communities towards the nursing profession is acceptable. The only influencing factor on the level of perception was Egyptian females who have high positive perception towards the nursing profession and Sudanese males who have high positive perception towards nursing profession We recommend further research to assess the perception towards nursing from different sociocultural backgrounds and on a larger sample size.
Dispersive Liquid - Liquid Microextraction for the Determination of Sulfonamide Residues i n Egg Samples
Authors: Bekele Eskinder Teklu , Dube S. , Nindi M. M. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection was developed for the extraction and determination of 15 sulfonamide residues in the egg matrix. The effects of various parameters such as the type, volume, and composition of extraction solvent for sample treatment procedure, the type and volume of disperser solvent, centrifugation time, salting-out effect and solution pH were studied, and optimum conditions were established. Linearity was found in the range of 5.4- 1 000 µg kg-1 with regression coefficients ranging from 0.9918–0.9987. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of the proposed method were in the range of 4.3–8.0 µg kg-1 and 12.9–24.0 µg kg-1, respectively. Satisfactory intra-day and inter-day precision results in the range of 6.3–17.5% and 4.8–16.8%, respectively, were achieved. The accuracy (percentage recovery) and precision (relative standard deviation (RSD)) of the method were also evaluated. The accuracy of the method was acceptable with percentage recovery in the range of 73–108% and %RSD values in the range of 1.1–16.5%. The proposed method was applied in chicken egg samples obtained from supermarkets, and findings confirmed that the method is feasible to be used for extraction and determination sulfonamide residues in egg and related complex biological matrices.
Blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, Angola
Authors: Sebastião Cruz S. , Sacomboio Euclides , Francisco Ngiambudulu M. , Cassinela Edson Kautelela , Mateus António , David Zinga , Pimentel Victor , Paixão Joana , Vasconcelos Jocelyne Neto , Morais Joana 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
SARS-CoV-2 infection is a global public health concern. Several aspects related to the pattern of infection remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, the capital city of Angola, a sub-Saharan African country.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis containing 343 blood donors from December 2019 to September 2020. Parametric tests compared means while Chi-square and logistic regression checked features associated with high blood pressure and were considered significant when p < 0.05.
Results
The mean age of blood donors was 32.2 ± 8.81 years (ranging from 18 to 61 years) and 93% of the men's gender. Overall, 4.7% of the studied population had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. High blood pressure prevalence increased from unexposed to exposed SARS-CoV-2 (6.7–18.8%, p = 0.071). SARS-CoV-2 exposure increase systole (131 ± 12.2mmHg to 136 ± 14.2mmHg, p = 0.098), diastole (79.9 ± 9.53mmHg to 84.2 ± 12.7mmHg, p = 0.086), pulse in beats per minute (72.0 ± 11.1 to 73.7 ± 8.50, p = 0.553), and decrease donating time (6.31 ± 3.72 minutes to 5.48 ± 1.61 minutes, p = 0.371). Chances of having high blood pressure were high [OR: 3.20 (95% CI: 0.85–12.1), p = 0.086] in exposed SARS-CoV-2. Blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 with abnormal donation time increased from the donor up to 40 years to over 40 years (from 35.7–50%, p = 0.696). The mean systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure were higher for non-O blood group donors (p > 0.05). A statistically significant link was observed, between the Rhesus factor and blood pressure status (p = 0.032).
Conclusions
We showed important variations in blood pressure indices of the Angolan population exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Older age and non-O blood groups appear to be important biological factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular disease after or during SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Further studies assessing the impact on cardiovascular functions with ongoing or long-term SARS-CoV-2 exposure in individuals from resource-limited countries should be considered.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator with Prolonged Dwell Time Effectively Evacuates Pleural Effusions
Authors: Townsend Alexandra , Raju Harsha , Serpa Krystina A , Pruett Rachel , Razi Syed S , Tarrazzi Francisco A. , Tami Catherine M , Block Mark I 
Published: October 2022

AbstractObjectives Fibrinolytic therapy can be effective for management of complex pleural effusions. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, 10 mg) and deoxyribonuclease (DNAse) every 12 hours with a dwell time of one hour is a common strategy based on published data. We used a simpler protocol of tPA (4 mg) without DNAse but with a longer dwell time of 12 hours, repeated daily. We reviewed our results. Methods Charts were reviewed and demographics, clinical data and treatment information were abstracted. Outcomes were assessed based on radiographic findings and need for surgery. Results 215 effusions in 207 patients (8 bilateral) were identified. 85% were either infectious or malignant. 249 chest tubes were used: 84% were 10 Fr or 12 Fr and 7% were PleurX®. 531 doses of tPA were given. The median number of doses per effusion was 2 (range 1–10), and 84% of effusions were treated with three or fewer doses. There were no significant bleeding complications. Median time to chest tube removal was 6 days (range 1 to 98, IQR 4 to 10). Drainage was considered complete for 78% of effusions, while 6% required decortication. Conclusions Low dose tPA daily with a 12 hour dwell time may be as effective as the standard regimen of tPA and DNAse twice daily with one hour dwell. For the most patients only three doses were required, and small pigtail catheters were sufficient. This regimen uses less medication and is logistically much easier than the current standard.
Evaluation of ureteral injuries caused by ureteral access sheath insertion during ureteroscopic lithotripsy
Authors: Taguchi Makoto , Yasuda Kaneki , Kinoshita Hidefumi 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate ureteral injuries caused by insertion of a 13-Fr ureteral access sheath, and to identify factors (other than pre-stenting) that are predictive of ureteral injury.
Methods:
We enrolled 201 patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL). We excluded 80 patients who underwent ureteral stent insertion before URSL, 10 patients who did not use a ureteral access sheath, and two patients in whom a ureteral access sheath could not be inserted. In total, 109 patients were analyzed; all underwent insertion of a 13-Fr ureteral access sheath. We investigated ureteral injuries using the Traxer ureteral injury scale.
Results:
There were 21 (19.3%) cases of ureteral access sheath-related ureteral injury, including 11 (10.1%) grade 2 cases and 10 (9.2%) grade 3 cases. The ureteral injury location was the proximal ureter in 20 cases (18.3%), middle ureter in one case (0.9%), and distal ureter in 0 cases. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male sex was a significant predictive factor for ureteral injury (p = 0.045, odds ratio: 4.87, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–23.01). Postoperative ureteral stricture did not occur in any cases.
Conclusion:
The rate of ureteral injury caused by a 13-Fr ureteral access sheath was considerable, and most ureteral injuries occurred in the proximal ureter. Male sex was a significant predictive factor for ureteral injury, according to multiple logistic regression analysis. The proximal ureter should be confirmed when using a 13-Fr ureteral access sheath, particularly in male patients.
Associations among malnutrition, muscle loss, and postoperative walking ability in intertrochanteric fractures: a retrospective study
Authors: Sato Kohei , Tsuji Hironori , Yorimitsu Masanori , Uehara Takenori , Okazaki Yuki , Takao Shinichiro , Hata Toshiaki , Fukuoka Shiro , Noda Tomoyuki , Kanda Hideyuki , Ozaki Toshifumi 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background: Sarcopenia and malnutrition are increasing in older populations and are reported to be among the risk factors for functional impairment after hip fracture surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between loss of skeletal muscle mass, malnutrition, and postoperative walking ability in older adults with hip fractures.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for intertrochanteric fractures between 2015 and 2020 at our institute. The psoas muscle index (PMI), the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, and the functional ambulation category (FAC) score were used for the evaluation of skeletal muscle mass, nutritional status, and walking ability. Patients were assigned to a disturbance gait (DG) or independent gait (IG) group based on walking ability 6 months after surgery. Using multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis, skeletal muscle mass, nutritional status, and other factors were used to predict the risk of being assigned to the DG group.
Results: This study included 95 patients with a mean age of 85.2 years. Seventy patients were female. Low skeletal muscle mass was prevalent in 66 patients, 35 suffered from malnutrition, and 28 had both low skeletal muscle mass and malnutrition. Malnutrition and low skeletal muscle mass were significantly associated with postoperative gait disturbance (FAC<3) in the multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis.
Conclusions: Both skeletal muscle loss and malnutrition before surgery were risk factors for poor walking ability after intertrochanteric fracture surgery. Preventive interventions should focus on maintaining or building skeletal muscle mass and improving nutrition in older adults who are at risk of experiencing hip fractures to optimize postoperative functional outcomes if surgery is required.
Explicit Factorization of a Categorical Center
Authors: Guu Jin-Cheng , Tham Ying Hong 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Given a braided fusion category C, it is well known that the natural map F: C ⊠ Cbop → Z(C) from the square of C to the (Drinfeld) categorical center Z(C) is an equivalence if and only if C is modular. This provides a non-constructive structure theorem for Z(C) for the modular case. However, it is not clear how to construct the inverse. In this work, we provide an explicit construction using insights from a specific quantum field theory. In particular, we construct an adjoint functor for F that is its inverse precisely when C is modular. The witnessing natural transformations are also constructed as values at certain cobordism of a specific 4-dimensional extended topological quantum field theory, the Crane-Yetter model. Such construction provides a (partial) factorization of the structure of Z(C) even when C is not modular. It is useful for understanding the extended structure of the Crane-Yetter model (future work).
MSC: 18M20, 57K30, 57K40.
Prognostic factors in adults with primary intracranial ependymoma: a population- based study
Authors: Zulfiqar Amna , Yang Helen , Malhotra Armaan , Malik Abdullah , Das Sunit 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
INTRODUCTION

Ependymomas are rare central nervous system neoplasms associated premature mortality. National registry-based datasets are therefore useful for identification of prognostic factors for adults with intracranial ependymoma. We aimed to assess demographic and clinical factors associated with survival for adults with intracranial ependymoma.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry was queried for prognostic factors and survival outcomes of adult (≥ 18 years) patients diagnosed with intracranial ependymoma from 2004–2018.

RESULTS

We identified 183 adults with primary intracranial ependymoma; 89 patients (49%) had WHO grade II tumors and 94 patients (51%) had WHO grade III tumors. Increased age (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04), higher tumour grade (HR: 2.14 95% CI: 1.31–3.48) and tumor location (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.04–2.75) were significant predictors of mortality. Adjuvant therapy and extent of resection were not predictive of overall survival. In anatomic subgroups, age (p < 0.001), sex (p = 0.022), and tumor grade (p = 0.011) were associated with overall survival among supratentorial ependymoma cases, whereas extent of surgery (p = 0.035) was significant for infratentorial ependymomas survival.

CONCLUSION

Leveraging large national registry data, our findings add to the body of evidence informing clinical decision making for adults with intracranial ependymoma.
Luminosity Normalized Symmetric Deep Convolute Tubular Classifier for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection
Authors: Muthusamy Dharmalingam , Palani Parimala 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common eye disease and a notable starting point of blindness in diabetic patients. Detecting the existence of microaneurysms in the fundus images and the identification of DR in the preliminary stage has always been a considerable question for decades. Systematic screening and appropriate interference are the most efficient mechanism for disease management. The sizeable populations of diabetic patients and their enormous screening requirements have given rise to the computer-aided and automatic diagnosis of DR. The utilizationof Deep Neural Networks in DR diagnosis has also attracted much attention and considerable advancement has been made. However, despite the several advancements that have been made, there remains room for improvement in the sensitivity and specificity of the DR diagnosis. In this work, a novel method called the Luminosity Normalized Symmetric Deep Convolute Tubular Classifier (LN-SDCTC) for DR detection is proposed. The LN-SDCTC method is split into two parts. Initially, with the retinal colorfundus images obtained as input, the Luminosity Normalized Retinal Color Fundus Preprocessing model is applied to produce a noise-minimized enhanced contrast image. Second, the obtained processed image is provided as input to the Symmetric Deep Convolute network. Here, with the aid of the convolutional layer (i.e., the Tubular Neighborhood Window), the average pooling layer (i.e., average magnitude value of tubular neighbors), and the max-pooling layer (i.e., maximum contrast orientation), relevant features are selected. Finally, with the extracted features as input and with the aid of the Multinomial Regression Classification function, the severity of the DR disease is determined. Extensive experimental results in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio, disease detection time, sensitivity, and specificity reveal that the proposed method of DR detection greatly facilitates the deep learning model and yields better results than various state-of-art methods.
Inhibition of P2X7 receptor downregulates neuronal TRPV1 expression in rat dorsal root ganglion
Authors: Wang Hongji , Chen Lisha , Xing Juping , Shi Xiangchao , Xu Changshui 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The purinergic 2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ATP-gated ion channel that can conduct extracellular signals and induce corresponding biological effects. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel that maintains normal physiological functions. Numerous studies have shown that P2X7R and TRPV1 are strongly associated with inflammatory reactions, so we aimed to investigate the effect of knockdown of P2X7R in rat satellite glial cells (SGCs) on neuronal TRPV1 expression under a high glucose and high free-fat (HGHF) environment. We found that treatment with P2X7 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) reduced the expressions of the P2X7R protein and mRNA of SCGs in the dorsal root ganglion, downregulated the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta via the Ca2+/p38 MAPK/NF-kB pathway. After coculture of neurons with SGCs, TRPV1 expression in neurons was reduced via Ca2+/PKC-ɛ/p38 MAPK pathway. These results suggest that reducing P2X7R on SCGs in an HGHF environment results in decreasing neuronal TRPV1 expression via the Ca2+/PKC-ɛ/p38 MAPK pathway.
Cross-modal interference and facilitation on counting performance
Authors: Gatto Claudia Del , Indraccolo Allegra , Pedale Tiziana , Brunetti Riccardo 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
During the act of counting, our perceptual system may rely on information coming from different sensory channels. However, when the information coming from different sources is discordant, such as in the case of a de-synchronization between visual stimuli to be counted and irrelevant auditory stimuli, performance in a sequential counting task might deteriorate. Such deterioration may originate from two different mechanisms, both linked to exogenous attention attracted by auditory stimuli. Indeed, exogenous auditory triggers may infiltrate our internal "counter", interfering with the counting process, resulting in an overcount; alternatively, the exogenous auditory triggers may disrupt the internal "counter" by deviating participants’ attention from the visual stimuli, resulting in an undercount. We tested these hypotheses by asking participants to count visual discs sequentially appearing on the screen while listening to task-irrelevant sounds, in systematically varied conditions: visual stimuli could be synchronized or de-synchronized with sounds; they could feature regular or irregular pacing; and their speed presentation could be fast (approx. 4/sec.) or slow (approx. 3/sec.). Our results support the second hypothesis since participants tend to undercount visual stimuli in all harder conditions (de-synchronized, irregular, fast sequences). We discuss these results in detail, adding novel elements to the study of crossmodal interference.
Machine Learning-Enabled Exploration of the Electrochemical Stability of Real-Scale Metallic Nanoparticles
Authors: Bang Kihoon , Hong Doosun , Park Youngtae , Kim Donghun , Han Sang Soo , Lee Hyuck Mo 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Surface Pourbaix diagrams are critical to understanding the stability of nanomaterials in electrochemical environments. Their construction based on density functional theory (DFT) is, however, prohibitively expensive for real-scale systems, such as several nanometer-size nanoparticles (NPs) involving at least thousands of noble metal atoms, and this limitation calls for machine learning (ML)-driven approaches. Herein, with the aim of accelerating the accurate prediction of adsorption energies for a wide range of surface coverages on large-size NPs, we developed a bond-type embedded crystal graph convolutional neural network (BE-CGCNN) model in which four bonding types were treated differently. Owing to the much enhanced accuracy of the bond-type embedding approach compared to the original CGCNN, we demonstrate the construction of reliable Pourbaix diagrams for very large-size NPs involving up to 6,525 atoms (approximately 4.8 nm in diameter), which enables the exploration of electrochemical stability over various NP sizes and shapes. We reveal that ML-based Pourbaix diagrams well reproduce the experimental observations with increasing NP size, such as the increasing O- to OH-covered phase ratio and the decreasing Pt dissolution phase in the diagrams. This work suggests a new method for accelerated Pourbaix diagram construction for real-scale and arbitrarily shaped NPs, which would significantly open up an avenue for electrochemical stability studies.