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Cureus May 2024Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious airborne infection of the lungs. It can present in active form, as well as latent form. The clinical manifestations of...
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious airborne infection of the lungs. It can present in active form, as well as latent form. The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis can present as either subacute or chronic. Some symptoms include weight loss, night sweats, fevers, and hemoptysis. This case highlights the importance of clinical judgment and follow-up testing when patient presentation does not correlate with initial results. We share a perplexing encounter where a 34-year-old male presented with hemoptysis, fevers of unclear origin, and an indeterminate QuantiFERON Gold result and was empirically started on rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (RIPE) therapy. RIPE therapy includes the gold standard medications used to treat tuberculosis.
PubMed: 38872684
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60282 -
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Jun 2024Osteoarthritis (OA) prevalence and incidence varies between women and men, but it is unknown whether this follows sex-specific differences in systemic factors (e.g....
OBJECTIVE
Osteoarthritis (OA) prevalence and incidence varies between women and men, but it is unknown whether this follows sex-specific differences in systemic factors (e.g. hormones) and/or differences in pre-morbid joint anatomy. We recognize that classifications of sex within humans cannot be reduced to female/male, but given the lack of literature on non-binary individuals, this review is limited to the sexual dimorphism of articular morphotypes.
METHODS
Based on a Pubmed search using relevant terms, and input from experts, we selected articles based on the authors' judgment of their relevance, interest, originality, and scientific quality; no "hard" bibliometric measures were used to evaluate their quality or importance. Focus was on clinical rather than pre-clinical studies, with most (imaging) data being available for the knee joint.
RESULTS
After introducing "sexual dimorphism", the specific literature on articular morphotypes is reviewed, structured by: radiographic joint space width (JSW), meniscus, ligaments, articular cartilage morphology, articular cartilage composition and deformation, and articular tissue response to treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Sex-specific differences were clearly observed for JSW, meniscus damage, ligament size, and cartilage morphometry (volume, thickness, and surface areas) but not for cartilage composition. Ligament and cartilage measures were smaller in women even after matching for confounders. Taken together, the findings indicate that female (knee) joints may be structurally more vulnerable and at greater risk of OA. The "one size/sex fits all" approach must be abandoned in OA research, and all observational and interventional studies should report their results for sex-specific strata, at least in pre-specified secondary or post-hoc analyses.
PubMed: 38871022
DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.05.014 -
Global Spine Journal Jun 2024Systematic review, expert opinion and Delphi technique, and validity and reliability studies. (Review)
Review
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review, expert opinion and Delphi technique, and validity and reliability studies.
OBJECTIVE
We developed Jakarta Instability Score (JIS) to identify spinal instability and the need of fusion in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).
METHODS
This study consisted of systematic review to find predictors of spinal instability, expert opinion and modified Delphi technique to develop JIS, and validity and reliability studies of the newly developed JIS.
RESULTS
A total of 54 studies were included in the systematic reviews to obtain predictors of spinal instability. Through expert opinion and modified Delphi technique, JIS was developed and consisted of the clinical component (back pain), dynamic radiograph component (dynamic translation and angulation), and MRI component (facet joint effusion), each of the component would be scored, and the total scoring would be from 0 to 14. The final scoring would classify patients into three groups: stable group (score of 0 to 4) in which the fusion is not needed, potentially unstable group (score of 5 to 8) in which the decision of fusion is based on surgeon's clinical judgment, and unstable group (score of 9 to 14) in which the fusion is needed. Final step of study concluded that this JIS had a high validity and reliability.
CONCLUSION
The newly developed JIS was a valid and reliable scoring system that could help to identify the presence of instability in LSS and can be used as a guideline to decide whether spinal fusion will be needed.
PubMed: 38867437
DOI: 10.1177/21925682241262713 -
Cognitive Research: Principles and... Jun 2024We empirically examined the effectiveness of how the Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH) technique structures task information to help reduce confirmation bias (Study...
We empirically examined the effectiveness of how the Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH) technique structures task information to help reduce confirmation bias (Study 1) and the portrayal of intelligence analysts as suffering from such bias (Study 2). Study 1 (N = 161) showed that individuals presented with hypotheses in rows and evidence items in columns were significantly less likely to demonstrate confirmation bias, whereas those presented with the ACH-style matrix (with hypotheses in columns and evidence items in rows) or a paragraph of text (listing the evidence for each hypothesis) were not less likely to demonstrate bias. The ACH-style matrix also did not confer any benefits regarding increasing sensitivity to evidence credibility. Study 2 showed that the majority of 62 Dutch military analysts did not suffer from confirmation bias and were sensitive to evidence credibility. Finally, neither judgmental coherence nor cognitive reflection differentiated between better or worse performers in the hypotheses evaluation tasks.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Judgment; Bias; Middle Aged; Military Personnel
PubMed: 38866984
DOI: 10.1186/s41235-024-00560-y -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Assessments of highway feasibility frequently lack the detailed data and geological information necessary to conduct hazard evaluations of debris flows. This study...
Assessments of highway feasibility frequently lack the detailed data and geological information necessary to conduct hazard evaluations of debris flows. This study discusses the processes of debris flow development when regional rainfall meets the critical level required for debris flow initiation. It utilizes geomorphic evolution theory and establishes a regional risk assessment matrix for debris flow by combining information about gullies and source sensitivity. Considering the location relationship between the highway and debris flow gullies, a rapid evaluation method for debris flow risk assessment along the G318 highway in Sichuan Province is proposed by modifying the judgment matrix. The four debris flow gullies constructed during the upgrading project in Yajiang County, stretching from the west of the city to the Shearer Bay section, were analyzed via examples. The results show that, among the four selected debris flow gullies, two had medium hazard levels, and two had high hazard levels. The validation results are consistent with the actual results, implying that the evaluation method used in this study is accurate and feasible. This method is suitable for the rapid evaluation of debris flow disaster hazards in the feasibility assessment stage of a highway because it relies on readily available data sources, and the evaluation results are fast and convenient. The highway passes through four debris flow gullies, which directly impact the alignment of this particular section of the geological route and the engineering layout. Based on current specifications, the maximum impact range of a one-time debris flow under the given frequency conditions was calculated using the "rainfall method." The results showed that the maximum impact ranges of a debris flow, occurring once in 100 years, for four gullies would be 9.08 m, 9.09 m, 10.86 m, and 10.08 m. The safe clearance heights of bridges over the four gullies should be 14.58 m, 14.59 m, 16.36 m, and 16.3 m. Additionally, the safety clearance width for all gullies should be 5.0 m.
PubMed: 38866853
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64279-y -
Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria Jun 2024Suicide in people without a mental health diagnosis pose a clinical challenge that is still poorly understood by psychiatrists, generating the debate between respecting...
INTRODUCTION
Suicide in people without a mental health diagnosis pose a clinical challenge that is still poorly understood by psychiatrists, generating the debate between respecting the patient's autonomy right or supporting involuntary admissions after a lethal gesture to rule out psychopathology.
AIMS AND METHODS
The authors take a case of an 81-year-old man without mental health history who, after his first suicide attempt by ingesting floor cleaners, presented acute kidney failure that required to initiate haemodialysis to preserve his life. Despite being aware of the fatal outcome in case of rejecting it, he denied the dialysis and verbalize the persistence of suicide ideation. This publication complies with the agreements of the Declaration of Helsinki and the informed consent was obtained from his wife.
RESULTS
It was finally considered that the patient maintained his capacity for judgment and no involuntary measures were taken, with family consent. Finally, he passed away ten days after carrying out the suicide attempt.
DISCUSSION
He was evaluated up to three times by mental health professionals and, after deciding that he had preserved judgment, his decision was respected. The patient passed away ten days later.
CONCLUSIONS
This approach could help psychiatrics better understand suicide behaviour in cases we don't make a mental health diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Aged, 80 and over; Suicide, Attempted; Fatal Outcome
PubMed: 38863040
DOI: 10.62641/aep.v52i3.1655 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Theoretical considerations on motor imagery and motor execution have long been dominated by the functional equivalence view. Previous empirical works comparing these two...
INTRODUCTION
Theoretical considerations on motor imagery and motor execution have long been dominated by the functional equivalence view. Previous empirical works comparing these two modes of actions, however, have largely relied on subjective judgments on the imagery process, which may be exposed to various biases. The current study aims to re-examine the commonality and distinguishable aspects of motor imagery and execution via a response repetition paradigm. This framework aims to offer an alternative approach devoid of self-reporting, opening the opportunity for less subjective evaluation of the disparities and correlations between motor imagery and motor execution.
METHODS
Participants performed manual speeded-choice on prime-probe pairs in each trial under three conditions distinguished by the modes of response on the prime: mere observation (Perceptual), imagining response (Imagery), and actual responses (Execution). Responses to the following probe were all actual execution of button press. While Experiment 1 compared the basic repetition effects in the three prime conditions, Experiment 2 extended the prime duration to enhance the quality of MI and monitored electromyography (EMG) for excluding prime imagery with muscle activities to enhance specificity of the underlying mechanism.
RESULTS
In Experiment 1, there was no significant repetition effect after mere observation. However, significant repetition effects were observed in both imagery and execution conditions, respectively, which were also significantly correlated. In Experiment 2, trials with excessive EMG activities were excluded before further statistical analysis. A consistent repetition effect pattern in both Imagery and Execution but not the Perception condition. Now the correlation between Imagery and Execution conditions were not significant.
CONCLUSION
Findings from the current study provide a novel application of a classical paradigm, aiming to minimize the subjectivity inherent in imagery assessments while examining the relationship between motor imagery and motor execution. By highlighting differences and the absence of correlation in repetition effects, the study challenges the functional equivalence hypothesis of imagery and execution. Motor representations of imagery and execution, when measured without subjective judgments, appear to be more distinguishable than traditionally thought. Future studies may examine the neural underpinnings of the response repetition paradigm to further elucidating the common and separable aspects of these two modes of action.
PubMed: 38860046
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363495 -
Optics Express Apr 2024In order to improve the safety of spacecraft, the research on artificial neural network and digital twin technology based on, to our best knowledge, a novel fiber Bragg...
In order to improve the safety of spacecraft, the research on artificial neural network and digital twin technology based on, to our best knowledge, a novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor array is proposed for intelligent sensing monitoring of spacecraft on-orbit collisions. Femtosecond FBG arrays were fabricated on the novel oxide-doped fiber by point-by-point writing technique. The femtosecond FBG is analyzed using the time-dependent perturbation theory of quantum mechanics. The FBG array can achieve high-temperature measurement of 1100 °C and large strain measurement of 15000 µε. The sensing arrays were deployed on the surface of the spacecraft. Constructed the multi-layer perceptron neural network structure and convolutional neural network structure. 1200 samples were trained. Conducted model accuracy testing. The accuracy rate is above 98%, and accuracy verification has been implemented. The digital twin model was designed based on various data such as strain and temperature of the spacecraft structure under impact monitored by FBG sensors. A precise mapping has been formed between the physical entities of spacecraft and digital twins. Empower spacecraft with functions such as self-monitoring, judgment, and response. To ensure the stable and safe operation of spacecraft.
PubMed: 38859286
DOI: 10.1364/OE.515568 -
Optics Express May 2024Conventional radar jamming and deception systems typically necessitate the custom design of complex circuits and algorithms to transmit an additional radio signal toward...
Conventional radar jamming and deception systems typically necessitate the custom design of complex circuits and algorithms to transmit an additional radio signal toward a detector. Consequently, they are often cumbersome, energy-intensive, and difficult to operate in broadband electromagnetic environment. With the ongoing trend of miniaturization of various devices and the improvement of radar system performance, traditional techniques no longer meet the requirements for broadband, seamless integration, and energy efficiency. Time-varying metasurfaces, capable of manipulating electromagnetic parameters in both temporal and spatial domains, have thus inspired many contemporary research studies to revisit established fields. In this paper, we introduce a time-varying metasurface driven radar jamming and deception system (TVM-RJD), which can perfectly overcome the aforementioned intrinsic challenges. Leveraging a programmable bias voltage, the TVM-RJD can alter the spectrum distribution of incident waves, thereby deceiving radar into making erroneous judgments about the target's location. Experimental outcomes affirm that the accuracy deviation of the TVM-RJD system is less than 0.368 meters, while achieving a remarkable frequency conversion efficiency of up to 96.67%. The TVM-RJD heralds the expansion into a wider application of electromagnetic spatiotemporal manipulation, paving the way for advancements in electromagnetic illusion, radar invisibility, etc.
PubMed: 38858959
DOI: 10.1364/OE.521602 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jun 2024The perception of sensory attributes is often quantified through measurements of sensitivity (the ability to detect small stimulus changes), as well as through direct...
The perception of sensory attributes is often quantified through measurements of sensitivity (the ability to detect small stimulus changes), as well as through direct judgments of appearance or intensity. Despite their ubiquity, the relationship between these two measurements remains controversial and unresolved. Here, we propose a framework in which they arise from different aspects of a common representation. Specifically, we assume that judgments of stimulus intensity (e.g., as measured through rating scales) reflect the mean value of an internal representation, and sensitivity reflects a combination of mean value and noise properties, as quantified by the statistical measure of Fisher information. Unique identification of these internal representation properties can be achieved by combining measurements of sensitivity and judgments of intensity. As a central example, we show that Weber's law of perceptual sensitivity can coexist with Stevens' power-law scaling of intensity ratings (for all exponents), when the noise amplitude increases in proportion to the representational mean. We then extend this result beyond the Weber's law range by incorporating a more general and physiology-inspired form of noise and show that the combination of noise properties and sensitivity measurements accurately predicts intensity ratings across a variety of sensory modalities and attributes. Our framework unifies two primary perceptual measurements-thresholds for sensitivity and rating scales for intensity-and provides a neural interpretation for the underlying representation.
Topics: Humans; Perception; Sensory Thresholds; Sensation; Judgment
PubMed: 38857385
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312293121