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In this article, an approach to enhance the balance control in humanoid robots through a LQR controller with integral action is presented. The primary objective of this research is to significantly reduce the impact of disturbances generated during the robot's interaction with its environment. To evaluate the effectiveness of this technique, its implementation is carried out on a NAO robot, followed by extensive experimental testing. These tests encompass both simulations using Webots software and implementations on a physical robot. Furthermore, an efficiency comparison between the proposed controller and a conventional LQR controller is made, highlighting the advantages of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate whether extraction laparotomy (EL) for intact specimen removal adversely affected the feasibility or safety of same-day discharge (SDD) in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for confirmed or suspected gynecologic malignancies. Retrospective study. Single-institution study. Patients undergoing MIS for gynecologic malignancy at a single institution, who underwent EL (N = 67) and age-matched controls (N = 134). Comparing SDD rates, complications, readmission, and outpatient follow-up after between patients requiring EL and those who did not after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. A total of 1224 patients were identified. Sixty-seven patients underwent EL for specimen extraction. From the remainder, 134 patients were selected as age-matched controls. SDD rate was 83% (EL) vs 87% (no EL) (p =.39). There was no difference in median pain scores (1.8 vs 1.9 p =.86), length of stay (0 days for both) (p =.41), 30-day readmission rate (6% vs 3%) (p =.45), emergency department visit (13% vs 10%) (p =.76), or any patient contact (34% vs 39%) (p =.53), between the groups. Specimen weight was higher for EL (524 g vs 142 g, p <.001), as was estimated blood loss (104 mL vs 46 mL, p <.001), and surgery time was increased by 22 minutes in the EL group (121 min vs 99 min, p <.001). Patients who underwent EL did require more narcotics in postanesthesia care unit (20.5 vs 12.2 oral morphine equivalent, p =.033); however, this did not translate to increased number of narcotics prescribed at discharge. On logistic regression, a higher specimen weight trended to increase the likelihood of admission (odds ratio, 1.04; confidence interval, 1.01–1.08); however, surgery time, time in postanesthesia care unit, race, body mass index, surgery type, or need for EL did not predict SDD or need for admission. MIS patients who require EL can still achieve SDD. SDD is safe and feasible without increased risk of readmission, pain score, or unscheduled patient contact postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervertebral disc degeneration is commonly associated with back and neck pain, and standard surgical treatments do not restore spine function. Replacement of the degenerative disc with a living, tissue-engineered construct has the potential to restore normal structure and function to the spine. Toward this goal, our group developed endplate-modified disc-like angle-ply structures (eDAPS) that recapitulate the native structure and function of the disc. While our initial large animal studies utilized rigid internal fixation of the eDAPS implanted level to ensure retention of the eDAPS, chronic immobilization does not restore full function and is detrimental to the spinal motion segment. The purpose of this study was to utilize a goat cervical disc replacement model coupled with finite element modeling of goat cervical motion segments to investigate the effects of remobilization (removal of fixation) on the eDAPS, the facet joints and the adjacent paraspinal muscle. Our results demonstrated that chronic immobilization caused notable degeneration of the facet joints and paraspinal muscles adjacent to eDAPS implants. Remobilization improved eDAPS composition and integration and mitigated, but did not fully reverse, facet joint osteoarthritis and paraspinal muscle atrophy and fibrosis. Finite element modeling revealed that these changes were likely due to reduced range of motion and reduced facet loading, highlighting the importance of maintaining normal spine biomechanical function with any tissue engineered disc replacement. Back and neck pain are ubiquitous in modern society, and the gold standard surgical treatment of spinal fusion limits patient function. This study advances our understanding of the response of the spinal motion segment to tissue engineered disc replacement with provisional fixation in a large animal model, further advancing the clinical translation of this technology. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cranioventral pulmonary consolidation (CVPC) is a common lesion observed in the lungs of slaughtered pigs, often associated with Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae infection. There is a need to implement simple, fast, and valid CVPC scoring methods. Therefore, this study aimed to compare CVPC scores provided by a computer vision system (CVS; AI DIAGNOS) from lung images obtained at slaughter, with scores assigned by human evaluators. In addition, intra- and inter-evaluator variability were assessed and compared to intra-CVS variability. A total of 1050 dorsal view images of swine lungs were analyzed. Total lung lesion score, lesion score per lung lobe, and percentage of affected lung area were employed as outcomes for the evaluation. The CVS showed moderate accuracy (62–71%) in discriminating between non-lesioned and lesioned lung lobes in all but the diaphragmatic lobes. A low multiclass classification accuracy at the lung lobe level (24–36%) was observed. A moderate to high inter-evaluator variability was noticed depending on the lung lobe, as shown by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC: 0.29–0.6). The intra-evaluator variability was low and similar among the different outcomes and lung lobes, although the observed ICC slightly differed among evaluators. In contrast, the CVS scoring was identical per lobe per image. The results of this study suggest that the CVS AI DIAGNOS could be used as an alternative to the manual scoring of CVPC during slaughter inspections due to its accuracy in binary classification and its perfect consistency in the scoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to assess and compare outcomes of robotic inguinal hernia repair (RIHR) in patients under and over 70 years old, performed by a fellowship-trained robotic surgeon at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing robotic primary transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair between 2020 and 2022 was conducted. Patients were categorized into two age groups: those under 70 years and 70 years and older. Data were collected through chart reviews with a mean follow-up of 30 days. Concurrently, a systematic review (SR) of relevant high-level literature was carried out. Results: Among the 37 patients studied, 75.7% (n = 28) were male, with a mean age of 64.8 years. Demographic features did not significantly differ based on age groups. Patients > 70 years had a higher incidence of reported complications (52.3% vs. 87.5%, p < 0.461). There were no differences in operative time or length of stay between the groups. In the SR, only 23.7% (n = 9) of studies provided age-related conclusions. Three studies identified age over 70 as a risk factor for postoperative complications, while two studies suggested that RIHR is feasible and safe in patients aged 80 years and older. Conclusion: Patients over 70 years old demonstrated a higher incidence of complications compared to younger patients. However, current literature indicates that the robotic approach may offer a safe and minimally invasive option for inguinal hernia repair in both younger and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthotopic liver transplantation is the recommended treatment option for patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma and concomitant cirrhosis. Waitlist candidacy can be affected by social determinants of health that vary across races and ethnicities. Our study sought to evaluate whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in access to orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The National Cancer Database participant use file was used to analyze data between 2004 and 2020. Patients 18–70 years of age with TNM clinical stage I and II hepatocellular carcinoma who received either orthotopic liver transplantation or liver directed/nonsurgical therapies were included. Baseline demographic variables and treatment modalities were collected. Patients were assigned fixed categories on the basis of race and ethnicity. Descriptive statistics, multivariable logistical regressions, effects modification analysis, and propensity matching were used. There were 23,313 non-Hispanic White, 5,215 non-Hispanic Black, 5,581 Hispanic, and 2,768 other patients included in this analysis. Significant socioeconomic variation was observed across races. Non-Hispanic White patients were more likely to undergo orthotopic liver transplantation than non-Hispanic Black patients. The proportion of patients insured by Medicare was the same between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black patients. There was a graeter proportion of non-Hispanic Black patients with Medicaid compared with non-Hispanic White patients, whereas a lower proportion of non-Hispanic Black patients were insured via private insurance compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Effect modification analysis showed the non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to undergo orthotopic liver transplantation for those with private and Medicare coverage compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Propensity matching showed a significantly decreased rate of orthotopic liver transplantation in non-Hispanic Black patients compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to undergo orthotopic liver transplantation for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, despite adjusting for cancer stage and socioeconomic factors, compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Social determinants of health were associated with the probability of undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Understanding disparities related to social determinants of health will help guide health policy changes and improved access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de México is the property of Publicidad Permanyer SLU and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The longitudinal associations between DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and suicide-related ideation and behaviors have not been explored. In this study, we therefore seek to examine the association between baseline IGD and incident suicide ideation, plans, and attempts. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 2586Mexican college students followed up from September 2018 to June 2022. We estimated hazards ratios modeling incidence of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts by fitting proportional hazards Cox models with person-time scaled in years. Results: Among 2140 students without suicide ideation at baseline, there were 467 incident cases in 3987.6 person-years; ideation incidence rates were 179 cases per 1000 person-years among students with IGD and 114 cases per 1000 person-years among those without IGD. Incidence rates for suicide plans were 67 and 39 per 1000 among IGD and non-IGD students, and 15 and 10 per 1000, respectively for attempts. After controlling for age, sex, and mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, IGD was associated with an 83% increased risk of suicide ideation. Although incidence rate estimates for plans and attempts were higher among students with IGD, results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study helps to raise awareness of the increased risk of at least suicidal ideation in people experiencing IGD. Clinicians treating patients with IGD may encounter complaints of suicide ideation over time, and even reports of suicidal behavior that should not be disregarded. Identifying these patients and treating/referring them for underlying suicidality should form part of IGD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited Bone Marrow Failure syndromes account for approximately 25% of cases of aplastic anemia in pediatric patients. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have allowed the diagnosis of an increasing number of hereditary causes of bone marrow failure. Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield and clinical concordance of NGS in the diagnosis of a cohort of pediatric patients with bone marrow failure. Patients and Method: Patients included were those aged between 0-17 years with a diagnosis of Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome according to the ICD-10 classification codes, who had undergone a genetic study between 2018 and 2022. The information was obtained from the electronic medical records system. Genomic DNA was isolated and quantified through the Qubit™ 3.0 fluorometer. Regions of interest were selected using a hybridization probe that inclu-ded the intronic and exonic regions adjacent to the genes included in the panel. Clonal amplification and paired-end sequencing of the selected regions were performed using the Illumina MiSeq™ system. Bioinformatics analysis was performed in alignment with the reference genome (GRCh38). Variants classified as probably pathogenic or pathogenic were confirmed through Sanger sequencing. Results: Out of 18 patients included, a genetic diagnosis was achieved through NGS in 5 (27.8%) of them: two cases of Fanconi Anemia, two cases of Dyskeratosis Congenita, and one case of TP53- associated bone marrow failure. Clinical concordance was 100%. Two novel variants were found in the FANCA and PARN genes as causing disease. Conclusions: The use of NGS in patients with bone marrow failure identified the etiology in close to a third of patients of our cohort, with higher yield in patients with a clear clinical diagnosis and syndromic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Horizonte Médico is the property of Universidad de San Martin de Porres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de la Asociación Colombiana de Dermatología y Cirugía Dermatológica is the property of Asociacion Colombiana de Dermatologia y Cirugia Dermatologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monitoring wildlife health is essential for understanding global disease patterns, particularly as vector-borne infections extend the geographic ranges and thereby hosts due to environmental shifts. Anaplasma marginale, primarily impacting cattle, has economic implications and has been found in diverse hosts, yet its presence in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), influential in tick- borne pathogen spread, lacks comprehensive understanding. From 2015 to 2022, 14 capybaras were surveyed across two different areas of northeastern Argentina. In 1 of 14 (7%) capybaras, the presence of A. marginale was confirmed through ugh the amplification of specific genes, msp5 and msplß. In addition, A. marginale DNA was detected in the capybara's blood sample through quantitative PCR, with a cycle threshold value of 30.81 (800 copies per reaction). Amplification of a fragment of the mspla gene revealed PCR products of three different sizes, suggesting the presence of at least three coinfecting A. marginale variants in the capybara host. This study suggests that capybaras are wild hosts for A. marginale in the Ibera Wetlands in Argentina, potentially influencing the infection dynamics of both domestic and wild species. This finding finding highlights the necessity for thorough studies on the role of capybaras in disease dynamics, crucial for understanding wildlife health and the spread of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the proliferation of new video streaming OTT service applications, content providers must guarantee an efficient, effective and satisfactory interaction between the user and the service application, to measure this they use the quality of experience (QoE). QoE in the context of telecommunications can be understood as the acceptability of a service perceived by end users. However, given the variability of the network and the different factors that can intervene during the service, this perception can be altered and one of these causes is stalling events. It is necessary to have an accurate method to detect stalling events, allowing content providers to make better decisions in the design of their OTT applications and thus reduce customer desertion and the economic losses of service or content providers. For this reason, in this paper firstly we show a comparative analysis of supervised algorithms showing its invalidity given the imbalance of the data despite the high levels of accuracy. Therfore, we propose as a contribution a novel method based on algorithms provided by SSAD (Semi Supervised Anomaly Detection) for the detection of stalling events. Finally, we observe that in our method the Isolation Forest model has the best performance, closer to 1 and we will show more detail about its performance in future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Internacionales is the property of Instituto de Estudios Internacionales de la Universidad de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Tecno Lógicas is the property of Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Salud Uninorte is the property of Fundacion Universidad del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de México is the property of Publicidad Permanyer SLU and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)