Full Review Research Articles

Judging Importance before Checking Correctness: Quick Opinions in Mathematical Peer Review

Peer review has never been a uniform practice but is now more diverse than ever. Despite a vast literature, little is known of how different disciplines organize peer review. This paper draws on ninety-five qualitative interviews with editors and publishers and several hundred written reports to analyze the organization of peer review in pure mathematics. This article focuses on the practice of “quick opinions” at top journals in mathematics: asking (senior) experts about a paper’s importance, and only after positive evaluation sending the paper for a full review (which most importantly means checking the paper’s correctness). Quick opinions constitute a form of “importance only” peer review and are thus the opposite of the “soundness only” approach at mega-journals such as PLOS ONE. Quick opinions emerged in response to increasing submissions and the fact that checking correctness in mathematics is particularly time-consuming. Quick opinions are informal and are often only addressed to editors. They trade on, indeed reinforce, a journal hierarchy, where journal names are often used as a “members’ measurement system” to characterize importance. Finally, quick opinions highlight that a key function of the peer-reviewed journal today, apart from validation and filtration, is “designation”—giving authors items on their CV.

Long Term Cancer Risk of U.S. Service Members Exposed to Burn Pits during Military Deployment to Iraq from 2006-2008: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Burn pits have known individual carcinogenic byproducts, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, which have a presumptive link between deployment exposure and tumorigenesis. However, there are a dearth of epidemiologic data describing the long-term cancer incidence in U.S. service members who were exposed to burn pits during deployment to Iraq. A retrospective cohort study was carried out with the goal of assessing long-term cancer risk in service members who deployed to Iraq and reported exposure to burn pits. Methods: Data were collected from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division. Inclusion criteria were any service member who deployed to Iraq (Joint Base Balad or Camp Taji) between January 1st, 2005 to June 30th, 2007, whose deployment lasted at least 180 days, who reported burn pit exposure on their post-deployment health assessment form, who were at least 35 years old at the time of their deployment, who remained in the military for at least 10 years post-deployment, and who had post-deployment serum available in the DoD Serum Repository. Controls were individually matched to the research cohort by age (+/- 3 years), sex, branch of service, rank, and occupation category. To minimize confounding from the “healthy deployer effect”, controls were also required to have deployed to Germany for at least 180 days, and to have been at least 35 years old at the time of their deployment. Controls could not have ever deployed to Southwest Asia or reported burn pit exposure. Cancer incidence was captured via ICD-9 and -10 codes of 140-209 and C00-C96, respectively. Primary endpoint was assessment of serum monoclonal gammopathy in deployed, exposed personnel vs. non- deployed controls. The secondary endpoint was assessment of long-term neoplasia development via ICD-code, which is reported here. A Fisher test was used for comparison of post- deployment malignancies between deployed/exposed service members and controls. This study was exempt from full IRB review and funded by Murtha Cancer Center Research Program. Results: 534 deployed/exposed service members and 534 matched controls met inclusion criteria. Median age at deployment was 37 (range: 35-55). Most service members were white enlisted males in the Army. Mean follow up from the end of deployment was 14 years for deployed/exposed members and 10 years for controls. In each cohort, 39 service members (7%) developed malignancy post-deployment (p=1.0), of which solid tumors were exceedingly more common as shown in Table 1. Only two hematologic malignancies were diagnosed, both in the deployed/exposed cohort, consisting of multiple myeloma and a lymphoid malignancy. There were no differences in the number of service members with multiple primary tumor types between the exposed and unexposed groups. There were also no differences in the number of service members with anemia, hypercalcemia or kidney disease; however, exposed personnel were more likely to develop obesity after their deployment (n=171 vs. 159, p=0.002). Serum monoclonal gammopathy results will be reported separately. Conclusions: Service members who deployed to Iraq between 2006-2008 for at least 180 days, who reported burn pit exposure, and who were followed for an average of 14 years post deployment did not have higher rates of plasma cell disorders or any other malignancy than matched controls who deployed to Germany. Limitations of epidemiologic studies on service members include response bias on post-deployment health assessment forms, inability to capture service members who leave the military, and lack of details on Veterans seeking healthcare through the VA system or civilian healthcare system. It is possible that with a more expansive patient cohort that includes Veterans and longer follow up, that a difference in cancer incidence could emerge. Further research is needed to better understand cancer risk factors in service members. Disclaimer: The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or policies of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., the Department of Defense (DoD) or the Departments of the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Hidden in plain sight: role of residual myometrial thickness to predict outcome of Cesarean scar pregnancy.

Ultrasound in Obstetrics & GynecologyAccepted Articles Opinion Hidden in plain sight: role of residual myometrial thickness to predict outcome of Cesarean scar pregnancy I. E. Timor-Tritsch, Corresponding Author I. E. Timor-Tritsch [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-9774-3107 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, New York, NY, USACorrespondence to: Prof. I. E. Timor-Tritsch, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, New York, NY, USA, E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorA. Monteagudo, A. Monteagudo Icahn School of Medicine, Carnegie Maternal–Fetal Associate's, NY, USASearch for more papers by this authorG. Calỉ, G. Calỉ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal–Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Villa Sofia-Cervello, Palermo, Italy Maternal–Fetal Unit, Candela Clinic, Palermo, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorA. Kaelin Agten, A. Kaelin Agten orcid.org/0000-0002-3344-0315 Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UKSearch for more papers by this authorJ. M. Palacios Jaraquemada, J. M. Palacios Jaraquemada Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CEMIC University Hospital, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaSearch for more papers by this authorF. D'Antonio, F. D'Antonio orcid.org/0000-0002-7546-8025 Center for Fetal Care and High-Risk Pregnancy, University of Chieti, Chieti, ItalySearch for more papers by this author I. E. Timor-Tritsch, Corresponding Author I. E. Timor-Tritsch [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-9774-3107 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, New York, NY, USACorrespondence to: Prof. I. E. Timor-Tritsch, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University, New York, NY, USA, E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorA. Monteagudo, A. Monteagudo Icahn School of Medicine, Carnegie Maternal–Fetal Associate's, NY, USASearch for more papers by this authorG. Calỉ, G. Calỉ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal–Fetal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Villa Sofia-Cervello, Palermo, Italy Maternal–Fetal Unit, Candela Clinic, Palermo, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorA. Kaelin Agten, A. Kaelin Agten orcid.org/0000-0002-3344-0315 Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UKSearch for more papers by this authorJ. M. Palacios Jaraquemada, J. M. Palacios Jaraquemada Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CEMIC University Hospital, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaSearch for more papers by this authorF. D'Antonio, F. D'Antonio orcid.org/0000-0002-7546-8025 Center for Fetal Care and High-Risk Pregnancy, University of Chieti, Chieti, ItalySearch for more papers by this author First published: 09 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.26246 This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/uog.26246. AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Accepted ArticlesAccepted, unedited articles published online and citable. The final edited and typeset version of record will appear in the future. RelatedInformation

Addressing the Knowledge Gaps for Providing Optimal Drug Pharmacotherapy for the Obese.

The Journal of Clinical PharmacologyAccepted Articles Supplement Article Addressing the Knowledge Gaps for Providing Optimal Drug Pharmacotherapy for the Obese Gilbert J. Burckart Pharm.D., FCP, Corresponding Author Gilbert J. Burckart Pharm.D., FCP [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0003-2005-9301 Office of Clinical Pharmacology, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA Corresponding Author: Dr. Gilbert J. Burckart, Rm 3184, Bldg 51, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorDavid J. Greenblatt M.D., FCP, David J. Greenblatt M.D., FCP Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USASearch for more papers by this author Gilbert J. Burckart Pharm.D., FCP, Corresponding Author Gilbert J. Burckart Pharm.D., FCP [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0003-2005-9301 Office of Clinical Pharmacology, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA Corresponding Author: Dr. Gilbert J. Burckart, Rm 3184, Bldg 51, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorDavid J. Greenblatt M.D., FCP, David J. Greenblatt M.D., FCP Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 02 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.2264 This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.2264 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Accepted ArticlesAccepted, unedited articles published online and citable. The final edited and typeset version of record will appear in the future. RelatedInformation

Reasons for Crown Failures in Primary Teeth: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background There is a tendency nowadays to restore large defects in primary dentition with pediatric crowns instead of conventional restorations. Thus, understanding the factors contributing to the survival or failure of dental crowns in pediatric dentistry is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes. Objective The primary objective of this protocol is to outline the methodological approach for analyzing data from observational studies and randomized controlled trials to investigate reasons for the failure of dental crowns in primary teeth and to compute their survival and failure rates. Methods A comprehensive literature review will be performed in electronic databases, including PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science. As per predefined inclusion criteria, we will include observational studies (prospective clinical studies) and randomized clinical trials that have an English abstract and involve children aged 1-10 years undergoing crown restorations. Two independent reviewers will independently screen all retrieved records and full-text articles and extract data. The study’s methodological quality will be appraised using suitable tools. Assessments of publication bias will be performed using funnel plots. The findings will be described qualitatively for the systematic review. If possible, a meta-analysis will be performed to estimate failure rates by dividing the number of failures by the total exposure time. A Poisson regression model, assuming constant event rates, will be used to compute 3-year and 5-year survival proportions. The Pearson goodness-of-fit statistics will be used to assess the heterogeneity of the model. A P value <.05 will be considered significant. All analyses will be performed using R Statistical software (version 4.1.2; R Core Team). Results This systematic review and synthesis aim to assess the survival and failure rates of dental crowns in pediatric dentistry. By following this rigorous methodology, we seek to provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to the success or failure of these restorations. The results of our full review will have implications for pediatric dentists, researchers, and policy makers, helping to improve dental care for children. Conclusions This systematic review protocol helps in establishing a thorough approach for reviewing failures in pediatric crowns. By following this methodology, standardization and transparency of the process as well as accountability for the stated methods and outcomes will be ensured. The findings of this review and analysis will provide useful data on the survival of crowns to pediatric dentists and researchers. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42023442266; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=442266 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/51505

Can online and app-based interventions be used by people with diabetes to reduce diabetes distress? A protocol for a scoping review

IntroductionDiabetes distress has been defined as "the negative emotional or affective experience resulting from the challenge of living with the demands of diabetes". Diabetes distress affects 20%–25% of individuals living...

A22The use of simulation in paediatric emergency medicine: a scoping review

The use of simulation in healthcare has increased in recent years. It is frequently used for replicating clinical scenarios and allows for the acquisition of skills in a safe environment. Whilst enabling candidates to make mistakes and learn from them without fear of harming patients is used across many specialities including paediatric emergency medicine for a range of teaching across all professional groups, Lateef [1] identifies that in order for it to reach its maximum potential, it needs to be integrated in traditional training programmes. This is becoming more commonplace. In order to know how to fully integrate it into practice, an understanding of how it is currently being used is essential. This scoping view aims to explore how simulation training is being used and what it is used for within paediatric emergency medicine (PEM), as reported by the literature. This review followed a five-step scoping review framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley [2]. Literature searches were conducted in Medline and CINAHL with no limitation applied. Sixty-six studies were screened. Reference lists were also screened. Of the screened studies, 25 were subject to full test review and 19 were included in the final review. Articles were screened at all levels by one reviewer. Data extraction was also carried out by one reviewer. No papers focused on the delivery of simulation within paediatric emergency medicine in the UK, with the majority of papers originating from the USA. There was also no paper that outlined the varied uses of simulation in PEM. Many of the papers described and evaluated single scenarios that were used in varying settings or simulation courses that were not specific to PEM. Both high and low fidelity simulations were reported with much of the focus on high-fidelity simulation. Delivered through either simulation suite-based learning or This scoping review reveals that the extent to which simulation is used within PEM is largely unknown and requires further investigation. Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.

Non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction: A scoping review

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a neurodegenerative disease, likened to Alzheimer's, most commonly seen in dogs over the age of 10 years. CCD is difficult to diagnose and there is no cure, consequently research efforts are focused on maintaining a good quality of life for these dogs for as long as possible. Our scoping review aimed to identify, critically appraise, and map the existing literature on the impact of non-pharmacological treatments for CCD. We followed a systematic approach and utilised established tools to assess the literature. Thirty-one papers were extracted for full review. Of these, 29 investigated supplements or diets as their intervention, with the most common a combination of antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids, which are known for their neuroprotective qualities. There were almost twice as many experiments conducted on laboratory dogs than on pet dogs. The inclusion and exclusion criteria for each study varied widely and was often not well-defined, making comparisons between treatments difficult. This scoping review highlights the need for an accepted measure to determine the presence of CCD, standardised testing methods for cognitive ability in senior canines that translates between laboratory and pet dog populations, and a broader view of non-pharmacological interventions that go beyond supplements or diets.

Iatrogenic Cerebrospinal Fluid Breast Augmentation: Rare Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts and Management Strategies

BackgroundVentriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in the treatment of hydrocephalus. There are reports of migration of the distal catheter to the breast pocket where cerebrospinal fluid then collects and can develop into a pseudocyst. There exist case reports in the literature of patients with prior breast augmentation who present with distal catheter migration from the peritoneal space into the breast tissue. We present a case series of three patients with pre-existing breast augmentation who returned with unilateral breast enlargement after ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In all three patients, the distal catheter migrated out of the peritoneal space and was found to be coiled around the breast prosthesis. Additionally, we offer recommendations for managing these complications and a review of the literature. MethodsWe performed a systematic review without meta-analysis of studies involving management of shunt migration in the setting of pre-existing breast implants. We present a case series of three patients who we treated with breast cerebrospinal pseudocyst after migration of the distal catheter into the breast tissue. ResultsA total of 17 studies, dating from 2002 to 2022, met our inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected for full review. Catheter migration occurred between two weeks and 9 months of initial shunt placement. All patients presented with unilateral breast enlargement and CSF pseudocyst formation. All patients underwent revision shunt surgery. Surgical treatment strategies utilized included re-implantation of the distal catheter into the pleural space or ipsilateral or contralateral peritoneal space or complete removal of the entire shunt system. ConclusionsBreast-related VPS complications is a rare entity that is increasingly seen as more patients receive breast augmentation. Breast related shunt complications most commonly present with CSF pseudocyst formation in the breast. It is important for neurosurgeons to be aware of an underlying breast implant prior to placing a VPS. For patients who have migration of the distal catheter into the breast, a protocol for managing these situations should be followed to ensure no shunt infection and avoidance of future catheter migration complications with subsequent shunt revisions.

An Interdisciplinary Scoping Review of Sustainable E-Learning within Human Resources Higher Education Provision

Background: This paper has identified a gap in the extant Human Resource higher education literature in relation to the use of sustainable e-learning pedagogy. As such, a scoping review has been undertaken to draw conclusions to help narrow this gap. This review is timely, given the rise in e-Human Resource practices in organisations. Introduction: For Human Resource e-learning to be truly sustainable, consideration also needs to be given to the broader driving forces impacting its long-term viability in university provision. The objectives of this paper are focused on exploring the interdisciplinary nature of the context, challenges, benefits, and future directions of sustainable e-learning in tertiary education. Design: the methodological design is based upon the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Discussion: this scoping review also considers the emerging e-learning sustainability issues at the university level to determine if a full systematic literature review would be beneficial in the long term. Conclusions: this paper offers conclusions to support Human Resource researchers and educators who wish to push the boundaries of sustainable e-learning research. Future Direction: this paper also points to the speed of advances in AI and the need to move from a uni-generational to a multi-generational sustainable e-learning focus.

A rapid synthesis of evidence on whole systems approaches to obesity prevention to inform policy

Abstract Background The Department of Health in Northern Ireland is developing a new obesity prevention strategy. To support policy development, the Institute of Public Health commissioned a rapid synthesis of evidence on whole systems approaches to obesity prevention. Objectives were to present evidence from existing reviews on whole systems approach effectiveness, describe case studies where a whole systems approach has been applied and propose key policy considerations. Methods A rapid synthesis of evidence on whole systems approaches, rather than a full systematic evidence review, was conducted to meet policy development timelines. Review articles were included, as were national and international case studies that described whole systems approach implementation and/or evaluation. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies Framework was used to assess the methodological quality of the case studies. Results Five review articles and five case studies (majority moderate-borderline strong quality) were included. Results showed whole systems approaches can be associated with improvements in Body Mass Index, physical activity environment and improved community wellbeing, with a school component being particularly effective. Facilitators to implementation included leadership, community involvement, consistent language, adequate resources and evaluation/systems science knowledge. Conclusions Whole systems approaches can be effective in enhancing the capacity of communities to create healthier environments and deliver measurable reductions in Body Mass Index. Key messages • Whole systems approaches to obesity prevention can be effective in creating healthier environments. • Findings from this research could support any future pilot of this approach in Northern Ireland.

Evaluation of the impact of reliance on the regulatory performance in the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority: implications for African regulatory authorities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates the use of reliance practices to enable national regulatory authorities (NRAs) to improve patients' access to medicines. This study considered whether reliance review translates into swifter medicine authorization. Abridged review outcomes were examined for New Chemical Entity (NCE) and generic applications to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) and clinical/bioequivalence (BE), as well as overall NCE authorization times. SAHPRA NCE CMC review time was 91 days (abridged) vs. 179 days (full), applicant response time was 34 vs. 105 days, respectively, and there was a >2-fold time reduction for abridged vs. full CMC review (125 vs. 284 days). There was a 99-day decrease in clinical approval time through an abridged review (230 vs. 329 days) and a decrease in marketing authorization time for NCE abridged assessment (446 vs. 619 days). SAHPRA review time for generic applications was 97 days (abridged) vs. 191 days (full); applicant response time was 26 days (abridged) vs. 81 days (full) and there was a >2-fold time reduction for CMC and BE abridged vs. full review (122 vs. 272 days). These results clearly support World Health Organization recommendations for the use of reliance-based regulatory review to expedite the worldwide availability of safe, effective and needed medications.

Assessing the risk of using hazardous drugs in Hospital-at-Home Units: a big data study protocol

ObjectiveThis article describes a study protocol for the implementation of quality and traceability control in the hazardous medication circuit through an analysis of risks and the development and introduction of a Big Data-based software application aimed at performing a continuous and dynamic audit of the whole system. MethodA standardized graphical modeling tool called Business Process Model Notation will be used to generate a detailed description of each of the stages in the hazardous medication circuit with a view to ensuring full traceability of the system. The information on each stage will be collected in a flowchart, which will be used —together with each event's likelihood of occurrence and severity— as a basis to calculate the criticality index of the different control points established and to determine any control measures that may be required. The flowcharts will also be used to develop the technological support needed to capture all such data as may be relevant to the model. Proper quality control of the process will be ensured by client software agents intended to allow automatic application of efficient data processing tools at the different phases. In addition, Big Data methodologies, in particular machine learning, will be used to develop algorithms based on the repository of generated data to come up with patterns capable of improving the protocols to be applied. Lastly, proper operation of the process will be ensured by means of clinical-pharmaceutical verification and a full technical-documentary review of control and registration systems. ConclusionsThe development of a risk management system based on mobile technology will allow integration of hazardous drugs into a standardized system, ensuring the safety, quality, and traceability of the hazardous medication handling process.

Expert consensus on MRI diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (version 2023)

Chronic hepatitis B is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the liver in China that frequently results in sustained damage to the liver parenchyma, followed by liver fibrosis, and ultimately progresses to unfavorable outcomes such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Liver fibrosis reversal can be achieved through early and effective intervention. Therefore, timely and accurate assessment of the degree of liver fibrosis is of great clinical significance for the treatment and prognosis assessment of patients with chronic hepatitis B. MRI plays a crucial role in the early assessment and monitoring of the therapeutic efficacy of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. Currently, there is a lack of uniform consensus on MRI scanning protocols and related diagnostic thresholds for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B, which is not conducive to practical clinical evaluation and application. This expert consensus is based on a full review of relevant domestic and international literature and the formulation of methodologies based on evidence-based medical guidelines and standards to develop recommendations for MRI scanning techniques and the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B, with a view to providing a clear basis for the clinical diagnosis.

Extrusion and Dislocation in Titanium Middle Ear Prostheses: A Literature Review.

Titanium middle ear (ME) prostheses are widely used in surgical practice due to their acoustic properties. However, they present a significant drawback shared by all synthetic materials currently in use for ME reconstruction: they can be rejected by the organism of the host. In this study, we aim to review the current literature on titanium partial ossicular replacement prostheses (PORPs) and total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORPs) extrusion and dislocation. Eighty articles were analysed after a full article review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common indication for reconstruction was chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. The average extrusion or dislocation rate was 5.2%, ranging from 0 to 35%. The average improvements in the air-bone gap were 12.1 dB (1.6 dB to 25.1 dB) and 13.8 (-0.5 dB to 22.7 dB) for the PORP and TORP groups, respectively. The data reported on this topic are highly variable, demonstrating that functional outcomes are difficult to predict in clinical practice. We believe that the current limitations could be overcome with technological developments, including bioengineering research focused on promoting prosthesis adaptation to the ME environment.

21st century medicine and emerging biotechnological syndromes: a cross-disciplinary systematic review of novel patient presentations in the age of technology

BackgroundBiotechnological syndromes refer to the illnesses that arise at the intersection of human physiology and digital technology. Now that we experience health and illness through so much technology (e.g. wearables, telemedicine, implanted devices), the medium is redefining our expression of symptoms, the observable signs of pathology and the range of diseases that may occur. Here, we systematically review all case reports describing illnesses related to digital technology in the past ten years, in order to identify novel biotechnological syndromes, map out new causal pathways of disease, and identify gaps in care that have disadvantaged a community of patients suffering from these digital complaints.MethodsPubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for case reports and case series that described patient cases involving biotechnological syndromes from 01/01/2012 to 01/02/2022. For inclusion the technology had to play a causative role in the disease process and had to be digital (as opposed to simple electronic).ResultsOur search returned 7742 articles, 1373 duplicates were removed, 671 met the criteria for full review and 372 were included in the results. Results were categorised by specialty, demonstrating that syndromes were most common in Cardiology (n = 162), Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (n = 36), and Emergency and Trauma (n = 26).DiscussionThe 372 unique patient cases demonstrated a range of severity from mild (e.g., injuries related to Pokemon Go) to moderate (e.g. pacemaker-generated rib fractures) and severe (e.g. ventilator software bugs causing cardiac arrest). Syndromes resulted from both consumer technology (e.g. gaming addictions) and medical technologies (e.g. errors in spinal stimulators). Cases occurred at both the individual level (e.g. faulty insulin pumps) and at the population level (e.g. harm from healthcare cyberattacks).LimitationsThis was a retrospective systematic review of heterogeneous reports, written in English, which may only reflect a small proportion of true prevalence rates in the population.

Management interventions for amputation stump neuromas: evidence based review and cost-benefit analysis

Amputation is a common military and civilian surgery with high morbidity. Patients without prostheses due to neuroma pain lose productivity and lifelong contributions, which is often underestimated. The surgical and non-surgical treatment of painful stump neuromas is controversial. An evidence-based assessment and cost-benefit analysis of painful stump neuroma management modalities emphasizes institutional awareness and disruptive technologies. An Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Methodology critical appraisal and structured literature review were used in the research. We found 154 records using a reproducible literature search strategy that included electronic databases and references. A full review of 27 manuscripts after exclusion criteria yielded data for analysis. Surgical, injectable, and electromagnetic spectrum methods were used. Surgical interventions had longer follow-up times than injection and radiofrequency treatments, which affected outcomes. CEBM level 4 evidence dominated primary literature, indicating low quality. No therapy was superior, but the risks varied. Injection therapies like sclerosing alcohol had limited success and side effects. Despite limited evidence, electromagnetic spectrum modalities showed potential. Including direct and indirect costs, amputation stump refitting costs millions annually. Compared to outpatient non-surgical interventions, laser therapy could save a lot of money. According to the study, surgical interventions are common but expensive and have limited functional success. Low-risk non-surgical methods like co-ablation, pulsed radiofrequency, and transcutaneous laser therapy have mixed results. The short follow-up of all non-surgical studies seems to limit them. Follow-up duration is crucial to outcome assessment. Long-term, low-risk laser-induced thermotherapy is promising for future research. This study emphasizes the need for more research and the economic benefits of disruptive technologies in treating painful stump neuromas.

Machine Learning to Predict Rice Stock for Food Security: A Brief Study

The present study aims at shedding light on machine learning in agriculture by thoroughly reviewing the recent scholarly literature based on keywords’ combinations of “machine learning” and “rice”. Only journal papers were considered eligible that were published within 2020 – 2023. Approximately 49 articles from scopus and google scholar database. It was selected for full content review after the pre-screening process. The results indicated that this topic pertains to different disciplines that favor convergence research at the international level. Prediction criteria related to food security were found to be the most inputs of prediction models. Machine learning models such as Random forest result in high accuracy in predict rice stock on 98%. This study will constitute a beneficial guide to all stakeholders towards enhancing awareness of the potential advantages of using machine learning in predict rice stock and contributing to a more systematic research on this topic.

A structured review on game‐based learning applied to electrical power and energy engineering

AbstractIt has been reported that electrical engineering schools might be facing a decline in newly enrolled students combined with an increase in the number of dropouts due to motivation and engagement problems. At the same time, companies in the electric power industry require safe and realistic training environments for their trainees to reduce induction program times, costs, and accidents. Game‐based learning (GBL) applications offer alternatives in both sectors, that is, education and training, for increasing engagement, motivation, and knowledge transfer in controlled environments. This paper aims to show applications of GBL techniques towards educational and training objectives in electrical power and energy systems in the period spanning from 2002 to 2021. This review points to two main research questions: what GBL tools have been used for education and training purposes in electrical power and energy systems during 2002 to 2021? Also, what are the methodologies used for assessing the efficacy of using GBL applications in electrical power and energy systems? A structured review methodology was applied to identify how GBL has been used in electrical power and energy systems. A total of 81 papers were selected for full review. The procedure included the formulation of research questions, identification and selection of studies, and data synthesis of results. Our review showed that most GBL applications in electrical power and energy systems were developed with education purposes (63%), from which 29% used graphic user interfaces and 23% used serious games. On the other hand, for training purposes, the most popular GBL tool was virtual reality, applications of which were discussed in 56% of the reviewed papers. The review also showed that only 42% of the education papers and 37% of the training papers performed learning efficacy analyses; in which qualitative postevaluations or postsurveys were the most popular methodologies used in over 50% of those papers.

Comparing body image dissatisfaction between pregnant women and non-pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Body image dissatisfaction refers to negative thoughts and feelings individuals have towards their own body appearance and this is thought to be affected by the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. There are two main conflicting theories as to the effect pregnancy has on body image dissatisfaction: 1) Pregnancy related changes are in direct conflict with social ideas of female beauty (e.g. weight gain) and so increase body image dissatisfaction; 2) Due to changes in expectations of bodily appearance during pregnancy, women are liberated from social ideals at this time and thus body image dissatisfaction would decrease. This study aimed to assess these theories by synthesising the current literature. Six databases were searched, and 2,017 study abstracts were screened based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following screening and quality assessment by two blind reviewers, 17 studies (comprising 17 effect sizes) were subject to full review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. These studies included cross-sectional, longitudinal and retrospective designs. Results varied with some studies showing women to feel more positive about their body during pregnancy, others showing a more negative body experience and yet others showing no statistical difference. Overall the analysis showed no statistical difference in body image dissatisfaction between pregnant women and non-pregnant women (p = 0.39). Any changes that do occur are heterogeneous and likely to be largely dependent on the individual experience as well as moderator variables and other factors such as differences in methodology of research studies. Studies in this field of research would benefit from more explicit and complete reporting of data and key variables, in order to allow early intervention for women who display body image dissatisfaction in pregnancy.