bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of a Clinical Pathway for Pediatric Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis
Authors: Celo Gwyn , Guzman Johann Paulo , Sombong Esteban Wilfredo , Granada Jose Nemesio , Binayas Noel 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
PurposeClinical Pathway (CP) for Pediatric Acute appendicitis (AP) was implemented in our institution to improve healthcare delivery, lessen hospital costs and decrease complications. AP remains to be one of the most common surgical procedure throughout the world. We present our results comparing outcomes before pathway and after pathway implementation.Methods.This is a time-series study in which data of all patients who underwent appendectomies done one year before the pathway implementation (prepathway) and a year after (pathway) were collected.Results.Eighty-seven (87) cases were included (47 prepathway vs 40 pathway). The pathway group had a decreased average length of stay (4.13 vs 2.95 days, p = 0.000) with improved antibiotic timing (80 vs 53 minutes, p = 0.000). There was a decreasing trend in monthly cost per procedure but not statistical significant (Philippine peso 1977 vs 620.91, p = 0.323) after pathway implementation. Other outcomes were SSI rate (12.7 vs 2.5%, p = 0.081), negative appendectomy rate (14.9 vs 7.5%, p = 0.284), readmission (0 vs 2.5%, p = 0.278), time-to-appendectomy (5 hours, 8 minutes vs 4 hours, 25 minutes, p = 0.180).Conclusion.Since CP implementation, we have improved our healthcare delivery indicators for pediatric AP. We recommend CP use by other institution tailored to specific needs in their patients.
Influence of Hofmeister cations and composition on carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized o/w Pickering emulsions and application in the encapsulation of vitamin E
Authors: Olusanya S.O , Sodeinde K.O , Fapojuwo DP , Nishinari K. , Koschella A , Lindemann H , Heinze T , Lawal O. S 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Pickering emulsions have gained considerable interest due to their applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, we investigated the roles of pH, oil/water volume ratio, Hofmeister cations (Na+, NH4+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) as well as chitosan concentrations on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) stabilized Pickering emulsions and their application in the encapsulation of vitamin E. Morphology, crystallinity and functional groups were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical Microscopic Techniques, X-ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. SEM images revealed a thread-like morphology for CMC, while sponge-like morphology was observed in the images of chitosan and CMC-chitosan complex (CMC-CH). The combination of CMC and chitosan resulted in a complex structure with remarkable improvement in the stability of the emulsions to both creaming and coalescence compared to systems stabilized by either CMC or chitosan alone. At fixed oil:water ratio, the transitional phase inversion of emulsions stabilized by CMC occurred upon increasing the concentration of NH4+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ Hofmeister cations, whereas emulsions containing Na+ ions are o/w at all concentrations. An increase in contact angle upon increasing the salt concentration was observed, which might be responsible for the observed phase inversion. Emulsion stability to coalescence is more favoured at lower pH for chitosan particles, while CMC is more favoured at higher pH. A CMC-Chitosan stabilised Pickering emulsion system was successfully applied in the encapsulation of Vitamin E.
High Incidence and Predictors of Loss to follow-up among children and adolescents on Life Long Antiretroviral therapy in the conflict-affected Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon: A Retrospective cohort study
Authors: Tih Pius Muffih , Ayima Charlotte Wenze , Boeyeo Forsi Nwebim , Atanga Pascal Nji , Khan Eveline Mboh 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: Retention in care and transition to adulthood are critical for children and adolescents living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in HIV treatment programs. This study aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of loss-to-follow-up (LTFU) in the context of ongoing crisis caused by an armed conflict in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon, where staff in HIV treatment programs may face unique challenges of retention of children/adolescents. Methods: We employed a multi-stage mixed method design in which we conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine incidence and risk factors for LTFU through data abstraction from medical records of children and adolescents from five (5) ART treatment centers, followed by seventeen (17) key informant interviews conducted with healthcare workers to gain further insights into the reasons for LTFU among children and adolescents enrolled between January 2018 to December 2021. Kaplan–Meier plots were used to determine the probability of LTFU as a function of time.Cox regression model was used to measure predictors of LTFU.Endpoint recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, and then analyzed using Atlas-ti Version 9.Results: A total of 1,030 children and adolescents (p-y) were enrolled for follow-up,138 (13.4%) were LTFU with an overall incidence rate of 33.0 LTFU per 1000 person years. Receiving care in a rural health facility, lower age category, non-biological caregivers, short duration on ART, and long distances to health facility were significant predictors of LTFU. Multiple Caregivers (94.1%), long distances/cost of transportation (88.2%), socio-political crises (75.5%), peer pressure, refusal, dating and marriage among adolescents(70.5%), stigma(64.7%), competitive life activities (58.8%), lack of timely disclosure (53%), poverty/lack of partner/family support (48.2%), lack of understanding on the disease process(47.0%), alternative forms of health care(29.4%) and shortage of ARVs (13.8%) were reasons for poor retention from the interviews.Conclusions: The overall incidence rate of LTFU was 33.0 per 1000 persons years for children and adolescents initiated on lifelong ART over a period of four (4) years in the conflict-affected areas. The study portrays the need of innovative multifaceted strategies to mitigate the predictors of this high risk LTFU in displaced populations in the context of a sociopolitical crisis.
Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Geriatric 8 Screening Tool in Chinese Older Inpatients with Cancer
Authors: Zhang Qianqian , Wang Li , Zhang Shuping , Hu Biyue , Li Qingfeng , Yang Yuling , Wang Wanxia , Yin Tongtong , Yu Shihui , Zhou Qilian , Tang Yuxia 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackground:Frailty is emerging as an important determinant of human health. The Geriatric 8 (G8) questionnaire, originally produced in English, is a common frailty screening tool designed specifically for older cancer patients. However, this tool has not yet been applied in China, partly due to a lack of a Chinese version. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the original G8 questionnaire into Chinese and validate its psychometric properties in Chinese older inpatients with cancer.Methods:The Chinese version of the G8 (C-G8) questionnaire was generated using Brislin’s model of translation. The psychometric properties of the C-G8, including content validity, known-group divergent validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability, were all examined.Results:A total of 296 eligible subjects were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The content validity index of the C-G8 were 0.8~1 at the item level and 0.975 at the scale level, respectively. The C-G8 identified more frail individuals among these older participants (>75 years) compared to their younger counterparts (65~75 years) (frailty prevalence: 87.1%vs.70.9%,P=0.010). In addition, the convergent validity of the C-G8 was tested by correlating it with the FRAIL scale (r=-0.592,P<0.001), indicating a moderate correlation between these two instruments in screening frailty. Nevertheless, the C-G8 had a lower internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient=0.501) but higher test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.913 and 0.993, respectively,P<0.001).Conclusion:The C-G8 questionnaire was demonstrated to have acceptable validity and reliability and hence could be applied to Chinese older cancer patients.
Counterfeit Pepper Spray: a Case Report
Authors: Logrado Lúcio Paulo Lima , de Figueiredo Alberthmeiry Teixeira , Barbosa Amanda das Graças 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Pepper spray is one of the less lethal instruments used by law enforcement agencies around the world. Basically, pepper spray is composed of the active ingredient, a carrier solvent and a propellant. The purpose of pepper spray, a non-lethal weapon, is to briefly incapacitate and restrain an individual, without causing permanent damage. Therefore, the presence of hazardous substances is undesirable. Pepper sprays confiscated by the Brazilian federal police were analyzed to identify their ingredients. This analysis indicated several discrepancies between the findings and product labels, flammable gases (used as propellant), and of greatest concern, methanol (flammable and highly toxic) as a carrier solvent. Therefore, this investigation revealed the serious risk of low quality pepper spray causing damage to both users and other people subjected to its effects.
FeRM Model for Time Series Forecasting
Authors: Vijayakumar Vibinkumar , Domanic Gifty , Ummar Shaik , Afsal Muhammed 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Time series forecasting is a way of analyzing the data points indexed in time order and fitting a model to predict future values. Time series data can be hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or sometimes annual. Time series analysis is used to understand the underlying trends and patterns over time to accurately predict future outcomes. Traditional models such as ARIMA, and deep learning models such as RNNs, Transformers are used for long-term forecasting of time series because they effectively utilize historical information. However, there is still great room for improvement when it comes to the situation where historical data for training is limited. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel time series model with better predictions where the traditional models failed to exploit in view of the fact that not all time series problems can be solved by the traditional models. To this end, our model incorporates the sum of Fourier extrapolation, Rate of change approximation and arithmetic Mean of data points that elicit better predictions and reduced errors which importantly outweighed the state-of-the-art models with little computational overhead.
Knockout of the neonatal Fc receptor alters immune complex trafficking and lysosomal function in cultured podocytes
Authors: Haddad George , Dylewski James , Evans River , Lewis Linda , Blaine Judith 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Podocytes are key to preventing the filtration of serum proteins into the urine. Recent evidence also suggests that in immune mediated kidney diseases, podocytes are the targets of immune complexes (ICs). The mechanisms whereby podocytes handle and respond to ICs remain unknown. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is involved in IgG handling in podocytes and is also required in dendritic cells to traffic ICs to the lysosome for proteolytic degradation of antigen and presentation on MHC II. Here we examine the role of FcRn in handling ICs in podocytes. We show that knockout of FcRn in podocytes results in decreased trafficking of ICs to the lysosome and increases IC trafficking to recycling endosomes. FcRn KO also alters lysosomal distribution, decreases lysosomal surface area and decreases cathepsin B expression and activity. We demonstrate that signaling pathways in cultured podocytes differ after treatment with IgG alone versus ICs and that podocyte proliferation in both WT and KO podocytes is suppressed by IC treatment. Our findings suggest that podocytes respond differentially to IgG versus ICs and that FcRn modifies the lysosomal response to ICs. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying podocyte handling of ICs may provide novel pathways to modulate immune mediated kidney disease progression.
Survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Versus Without Prior Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sato Akira , Morishima Toshitaka , Takeuchi Masato , Nakata Kayo , Kawakami Koji , Miyashiro Isao 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Clinical trials on cancer treatments frequently exclude patients with prior cancer, but more evidence is needed to understand their possible effects on outcomes. This study analyzed the prognostic impact of prior cancer in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients while accounting for various patient and cancer characteristics. Using population-based cancer registry data linked with administrative claims data, this retrospective cohort study examined patients aged 15–84 years diagnosed with NSCLC between 2010 and 2015 in Japan. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause mortality in patients with versus without prior cancer. The analysis was stratified according to NSCLC stage and diagnostic time intervals between prior cancers and the index NSCLC. We analyzed 9,103 patients (prior cancer: 1,416 [15.6%]; no prior cancer: 7,687 [84.4%]). Overall, prior cancer had a non-significant mortality HR of 1.07 (95% CI: 0.97–1.17). Furthermore, prior cancer had a significantly higher mortality hazard for diagnostic time intervals of 3 years (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.06–1.43) and 5 years (1.18, 1.04–1.33), but not for longer intervals. However, prior cancer in patients with more advanced NSCLC did not show a higher mortality risk for any diagnostic time interval. Smoking-related prior cancers and prior cancers with poorer prognosis were associated with poorer survival. NSCLC patients with prior cancer do not have an invariably higher risk of mortality, and should be considered for inclusion in clinical trials depending on their cancer stage.
Morphological, histological and molecular characteristics of Myxobolus spp. (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) infecting the kidney of silver carp in Lake Taihu
Authors: Zhou Qingjie , Cao Zeyi , Gao Zhipeng , Xi Bingwen , Liu Kai 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Myxozoans are common microscopic endoparasites in fish, and some are highly pathogenic to their wild and farmed fish hosts. In the present study, myxosporeans infection in the kidney of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844) from Lake Taihu, was investigated, and two dominate species, Myxobolus lieni (Nie & Li, 1973) and Myxobolus varius (Achmerov, 1960), with infection prevalence 60.2% and 35.2% respectively, were well characterized based on morphological, histopathological and DNA sequence data. M. lieni formed small roundish plasmodia in the epithelial cells of renal tubules. The mature myxospores appeared suborbicular, slightly flat in frontal view and fusiform shaped in sutural view. Dispersed myxospores of M. varius were found in the renal interstitium without forming plasmodia structures and enclosed within melano-macrophage centers. The spore appeared elliptical in frontal view, with wider anterior than posterior and shuttle shaped in sutural view. Interestingly, the occurrence of myxozoans in the kidney detected with SSU rDNA PCR and clone sequencing, revealed co-infection of five Myxobolus species. BLASTn search indicated SSU rDNA gene sequences obtained here were not identical to any sequence available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the five Myxobolus detected here were clustered together, forming a separate clade of cyprinid-infecting myxozoans.
Effect of Ni Concentration in Cu-Fe-Ni alloys Coating on mild steel substrate Prepared by Electrochemical Deposition
Authors: Ayoub Abbas , Ahmad Naseeb , Rehman M Haseeb u 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Mild steel has applications in construction, automobiles, mechanical engineering and general purpose fabrication, fencing, cages, frames, furniture components for different shapes, pipelines and other in industries. Cu-Fe-Ni alloy coating with different concentration of Ni was produced on low carbon steel substrate by electrodeposition in this research. This technique is favorable to us because of its low cost and easy to approach. The electrolytic bath contained the 31.92g/l CuSO4, 54.2 g/l FeSO4, NiSO4.7H2O (0.00 g/l, 14.04 g/l, 28.08 g/l, 42.12 g/l) and 15.4 g/l H3BO3 as buffer to maintain pH at 3. The electrodeposition is done at suitable deposition parameters. The effect of Ni concentration on the surface morphology, structure and mechanical properties of coating were revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Vicker hardness tester respectively. Obtained results showed that with the increase in Ni content grain size increases and elongation decreases while the mechanical properties increases. The thickness of deposited Cu-Fe-Ni alloys has decreasing trend of thickness with increasing of Ni contents.
Generation and Detection of Terahertz Electrical Waveforms
Authors: Uzorka Afam , Makeri Yakubu Ajiji , David Kibirige , David Makumbi 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

This paper presents theoretical and experimental work on development of Tetrahertz (THz) generation and detection schemes. Here, the PC THz generation processes are applied to the formation of transmission line coupled THz electrical waveforms. After a brief explanation of the experimental setup employed, the concept of PC self-switching is introduced through theoretical and experimental work on coplanar gallium arsenide (GaAs) PC self-switching. Here, it is shown that ultrashort THz electrical pulses can be formed on transmission lines through a time delayed multi switching process. The coplanar PC switch was presented to explain the operation of the device. By employing sufficiently short electrode spacings, it was found that the operation of the device could be extended into the THz frequency domain.
Reliability Evaluation of Radial Distribution Network for Educational purpose using Greedy Search Approach- Distribution Network Data and Results
Authors: Agarwal Umesh , Chhipa Abrar Ahmed , Chakrabarti Tulika , Gupta Amit , Praveen S Phani , Chakrabarti Prasun , Sharma Neha , Elngar Ahmed A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Porous Metal Block Based on Topology Optimization to Treat Distal Femoral Bone Defect in Total Knee Revision
Authors: Zhang Jiangbo , Zhang Aobo , Han Qing , Liu Yang , Chen Hao , Ma Mingyue , Li Yongyue , Chen Bingpeng , Wang Jincheng 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Metal block augmentations are common solutions in treating bone defects of total knee revision. However, the stress shielding and poor osteointegration resulted by metal block augmentation could not be neglected in restoration. In this study, a novel porous metal block was designed with topology optimization to improve biomechanical performance. The biomechanical difference of the topologically optimized block, solid Ti6Al4V block, and porous Ti6Al4V block in treating bone defects of total knee revision was compared by finite element analysis. The inhomogeneous femoral model was created according to the computed tomography data. Combined with porous structures, minimum compliance topology optimization subjected to the volume fraction constraint was utilized for the redesign of the metal block. The 10 mm area of the distal femur underneath the contacting surface was defined as the region of interest. The biomechanical performance of daily motions was investigated. The von Mises stress, the strain energy density of the region of interest, and the von Mises stress of metal blocks were recorded. The results were analyzed in SPSS. In terms of the region of interest, the maximum von Mises stress of the topological optimized group increased obviously, and the average stress of this group was significantly higher than other groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the maximum strain energy density of the topologically optimized block group was the highest among the three groups, and the lowest maximum stress of block was found in the topological optimized group. In this study, the stress shielding reduction and stress transfer capability was found obviously improved through topology optimization. Therefore, the topological optimized porous block is recommended in treating bone defects of total knee revision. Meanwhile, this study also provided a novel approach for the mechanical optimization in block designing.
Tandem Base-Metal Oxide Catalyst for Automotive Three-way Reaction: MnFe2O4 for Preferential Oxidation of Hydrocarbon
Authors: Maruichi Keisuke , Sakai Ryosuke , Ueda Kakuya , Oda Akira , Satsuma Atsushi 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
A combination of two base-metal oxides in tandem configuration can realize three-way reaction without platinum group metals. For this purpose, catalysts for hydrocarbon preferential oxidation (HC-PROX) and for NO reduction by CO are required. For the design of HC-PROX catalysts, competitive oxidation of propene and CO on spinel-type MFe2O4 (M= Co, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn) was investigated. MnFe2O4 preferentially oxidized propene in the co-presence of CO showing the best propene oxidation activity. Among the series of MFe2O4, the activity controlling factor was correlated to the M-O bond energy of the second metal oxides, and the HC preferential oxidation property was dependent on the electronegativity of the second ion. A tandem catalyst using MnFe2O4 for HC-PROX and CuCo2O4 for NO-CO reaction showed TWC activity comparable to a Rh/CeO2.
The tip cross-sectional area (TCSA) method strengthened and constrained with ethno-historical material from sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Lombard Marlize , Lotter Matt G. , Caruana Matthew V. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Work on large samples of southern African lithics, probably used to tip hunting weapons amongst other things, exposed limitations in the tip cross-sectional area method’s robustness for hypothesising about variation in Stone Age/Palaeolithic weapon-delivery systems. Here we list some of the limitations and discuss a few recently published improvements in tip cross-sectional area ranges and data presentation. Our main contribution is the meaningful enlargement of datasets obtained from hafted weapon tips and/or weapon tips of known use mostly from sub-Saharan Africa. We briefly discuss why this region is relevant for studying trends in the evolution and development of hunting weapons. Our new data are used to strengthen and constrain the different TCSA ranges used as proxies for poisoned arrow tips, un-poisoned arrow tips, javelin tips, stabbing-spear tips, and to suggest a working TCSA range for thrusting-spear tips. We demonstrate that the calibrated TCSA ranges have robust statistical integrity as proxies for the different weapon-delivery systems they represent. Apart from the dart-tip category, the TCSA method has now been improved to accommodate more nuanced and accurate interpretations, while further strengthening hypothesis building about ancient weapon systems.