bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Classification Technique of Hand Motor Imagery Using EEG Beta Rebound Follow-Up Pattern
Authors: Wang Jiachen , Chen Yun-Hsuan , Yang Jie , Sawan Mohamad
Published: June 2022

To apply EEG-based brain-machine interfaces during rehabilitation, separating various tasks during motor imagery (MI) and assimilating MI into motor execution (ME) are needed. Previous studies were focusing on classifying different MI tasks based on complex algorithms. In this paper, we implement intelligent, straightforward, comprehensible, time-efficient, and channel-reduced methods to classify ME versus MI and left- versus right-hand MI. EEG of 30 healthy participants undertaking motional tasks is recorded to investigate two classification tasks. For the first task, we first propose a “follow-up” pattern based on the beta rebound. This method achieves an average classification accuracy of 59.77% ± 11.95% and can be up to 89.47% for finger-crossing. Aside from time-domain information, we map EEG signals to feature space using extraction methods including statistics, wavelet coefficients, average power, sample entropy, and common spatial patterns. To evaluate their practicability, we adopt a support vector machine as an intelligent classifier model and sparse logistic regression as a feature selection technique and achieve 79.51% accuracy. Similar approaches are taken for the second classification reaching 75.22% accuracy. The classifiers we propose show high accuracy and intelligence. The achieved results make our approach highly suitable to be applied to the rehabilitation of paralyzed limbs.
Effects of Aerobic Training on Brain Plasticity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Farhani Farid , Shahrbanian Shahnaz , Auais Mohammad , Hekmatikar Amir Hossein Ahmadi , Suzuki Katsuhiko
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this study was to systematically review to find if aerobic exercise compared to no exercise or any other intervention affects brain plasticity among people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Searches were conducted in the Scopus, SciELO, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. The included studies were randomized control trials (RCTs) written in English comprising individuals with MCI that evaluated the effects of aerobic training on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), brain structures, or brain activity. The quality of trials was evaluated using the PEDro scale for RCTs. Twelve studies with medium to high quality were included, of which five studies focused on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (four articles reported elevation and one article reported no changes in BDNF levels following the aerobic exercise), two studies focused on brain structures (both reported increases in hippocampus volume following the aerobic exercise), and five studies focused on brain activity (four articles reported positive changes, and one article reported no changes in brain activity following the aerobic exercise). Research regarding the effects of aerobic training on brain plasticity in people with MCI is in its infancy. Still, aerobic exercise seems to be a promising therapy in people with MCI.
Effect of Ipsilateral, Contralateral or Bilateral Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients with Lateralized Tinnitus: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study
Authors: Li Yi , Shen Yong-Cong , Galvin John J. , Liu Ji-Sheng , Tao Duo-Duo
Published: June 2022

The relative benefit of ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for tinnitus treatment remains unclear, especially for patients with lateralized tinnitus. In this study, we compared outcomes after 10 sessions of 1-Hz rTMS at 110% of resting motor threshold over a two-week period. In total, 104 right-handed patients with lateralized subjective tinnitus were randomly divided into four groups according to rTMS treatment: Left (n = 29), Right (n = 23), Bilateral (n = 30), and Sham stimulation (n = 22). Outcomes included estimates of tinnitus severity, psychological state, and psychoacoustic measures. Patients with left- or right-sided tinnitus were similarly distributed across treatment groups. There were no significant changes in outcome measures for the Right or Sham treatment groups. For the Left and Bilateral groups, tinnitus severity was significantly lower after treatment (p < 0.05). The reduction in tinnitus severity was largest for ipsilateral treatment in the Left group. The overall response rate was 56.1% for the Left group, 46.7% for the Bilateral group, 8.3% for the Right group, and 8.3% for the Sham group. For the Left and Bilateral groups, the response rate was larger for patients with left- than right-sided tinnitus. Changes in tinnitus severity were best predicted by changes in anxiety, depression, and the loudness of the tinnitus. The results suggests that rTMS on the left temporoparietal cortex is more effective for patients with left-sided than with right-sided tinnitus.
Finite Element Modelling of Bolt Shear Connections in Prefabricated Steel Lightweight Aggregate–Concrete Composite Beams
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhang Xiedong , Ren Yu , Bai Fanglong , Li Chaohui , Li Zhiguo
Published: June 2022

Steel lightweight aggregate–concrete composite beams (SLACCBs) with bolted shear connections provide several advantages, such as reducing the overall self-weight, shortening the construction period, and improving the structural seismic performance. However, current research on the mechanical behavior of bolted connections is primarily concentrated on composite structures with normal concrete (NC), and there is no investigation focused on the shear performance of bolt connections embedded in lightweight aggregate concrete (LAC) slabs. Therefore, this paper developed a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model to study the shear properties of the bolt connections embedded in SLACCBs by utilizing ABAQUS software. Nonlinear geometric effects and material nonlinearities were considered in the finite element (FE) modelling. The accuracy and reliability of the FE modelling were initially calibrated and validated against the push-off tests described in the literature. Subsequently, the basic shear properties of the bolted connection embedded in SLACCBs were studied and compared with those of the bolted connection embedded in the NC slab by applying the verified FE modelling. Meanwhile, the effects of the concrete strength, concrete density, bolt diameter, and bolt tensile strength on the shear behavior of the bolt connections embedded in SLACCBs were also investigated using extensive parametric studies. Finally, some design formulae were proposed to predict the bolt connection shear strength.
Resilience in Infrastructure Systems: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Liu Wenque , Shan Ming , Zhang Sheng , Zhao Xianbo , Zhai Zhao
Published: June 2022

When encountering crisis events, systems, organizations, and people must react and handle these unpredictable events. Under these circumstances, important social functions and infrastructures must be restored or adapted as quickly as possible. This capacity refers to resilience. Although considerable research has been conducted on the resilience of infrastructure systems over the past years, a critical review of these studies remains lacking. Therefore, this study aims to bridge the knowledge gap by presenting a comprehensive review of infrastructure research conducted in the past decade, namely, from 2011 to 2021. On the basis of a systematic search, this study identified 222 journal articles investigating infrastructure resilience. A review of the identified papers revealed five research streams in the area of infrastructure resilience (IR), namely, the assessment of infrastructure resilience, improvement of infrastructure resilience, conceptualizing infrastructure resilience from various perspectives, factors influencing infrastructure resilience, and the prediction of infrastructure resilience. This study also presented some directions that future research can pursue. These directions include analyzing factors influencing infrastructure resilience based on simulation, assessing the resilience of green infrastructure, improving the resilience of interdependent infrastructure, and predicting the resilience of infrastructure based on empirical research.
Antigen-Specific T Cell Immunotherapy Targeting Claudin18.2 in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Xu Bo , Chen Fangjun , Zhang Xin , Wang Zhongda , Che Keying , Wu Nandie , Yu Lixia , Fan Xiangshan , Liu Baorui , Wei Jia
Published: June 2022

T cell-based immunotherapy has led to many breakthroughs in the treatment of solid tumors. In this study, we found that membrane protein Claudin18.2 was a promising antigen in T cell-based immunotherapy for gastric cancer (GC). Firstly, we identified five HLA-A*0201- and seven HLA-A*1101-restricted T cell epitopes of Claudin18.2. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated by Claudin18.2 peptides showed progressive anti-tumor ability and higher effective cytokine secretion than unstimulated PBMCs in vitro. In total, 81.8% of GC patients were Claudin18.2-positive by immunohistochemical (IHC) detection, and a positive correlation between Claudin18.2 expression and peptide reactivity (p = 0.002) was found. Clinicopathological features analyses demonstrated that Claudin18.2 expression did not correlate with gender, age, stage or Lauren classification. Survival analysis showed that a longer median progression-free survival (mPFS) was not related to peptide reactivity (p = 0.997), but related to a lower Claudin18.2 expression level (p = 0.047). These findings establish a foundation for the clinical application of Claudin18.2 targeted T cell-based immunotherapy in GC.
mTORC1-Inhibition Potentiating Metabolic Block by Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Ponatinib in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Nazim Uddin Md. , Bishayee Kausik , Kang Jieun , Yoo Dongkwan , Huh Sung-Oh , Sadra Ali
Published: June 2022

Studies in targeting metabolism in cancer cells have shown the flexibility of cells in reprogramming their pathways away from a given metabolic block. Such behavior prompts a combination drug approach in targeting cancer metabolism, as a single compound may not address the tumor intractability. Overall, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling has been implicated as enabling metabolic escape in the case of a glycolysis block. From a library of compounds, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ponatinib was screened to provide optimal reduction in metabolic activity in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), pyruvate, and lactate for multiple myeloma cells; however, these cells displayed increasing levels of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), enabling them to continue generating ATP, although at a slower pace. The combination of ponatinib with the mTORC1 inhibitor, sirolimus, blocked OXPHOS; an effect also manifested in activity reductions for hexokinase 2 (HK2) and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) glycolysis enzymes. There were also remarkably higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in mouse xenografts, on par with increased glycolytic block. The combination of ponatinib and sirolimus resulted in synergistic inhibition of tumor xenografts with no overt toxicity in treated mice for kidney and liver function or maintaining weight.
Daratumumab Improves Bone Turnover in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma; Phase 2 Study “REBUILD”
Authors: Terpos Evangelos , Ntanasis-Stathopoulos Ioannis , Kastritis Efstathios , Hatjiharissi Evdoxia , Katodritou Eirini , Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou Evangelos , Verrou Evgenia , Gavriatopoulou Maria , Leonidakis Alexandros , Manousou Kyriaki , Delimpasi Sosana , Malandrakis Panagiotis , Kyrtsonis Marie-Christine , Papaioannou Maria , Symeonidis Argiris , Dimopoulos Meletios-Athanasios
Published: June 2022

Biomarkers of bone turnover in serum are suggestive of bone dynamics during treatment in multiple myeloma (MM). We evaluated the role of daratumumab on bone remodeling among patients with relapsed/refractory MM in the prospective, open-label, phase 2 study REBUILD. Daratumumab was administered according to the approved indication. A total of 33 out of 57 enrolled patients completed 4 months of treatment. The median percent change from baseline to 4 months in C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) (primary endpoint) was 3.9%, with 13 (39.4%) and 11 (33.3%) patients showing at least 20% and 30% reduction in CTX levels, respectively. The median percent decrease from baseline to 4 months in tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) levels (co-primary endpoint) was 2.6%, with 10 (30.3%) and 6 (18.2%) patients showing at least 20% and 30% reduction in TRACP-5b levels, respectively. However, the changes in these markers of bone catabolism were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the levels of osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and procollagen type-I N-pro-peptide (bone formation markers) increased from baseline to 4 months (secondary endpoints) by 18.4%, 92.6% and 10.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the median levels of dickkopf-1 and C-C motif ligand-3 showed a significant decrease at 4 months by 17.5% and 16.0%, respectively. In conclusion, daratumumab improved bone turnover by inducing bone formation and reducing osteoblast inhibition.
HydrAd: A Helper-Dependent Adenovirus Targeting Multiple Immune Pathways for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Rosewell Shaw Amanda , Porter Caroline , Biegert Greyson , Jatta Lisa , Suzuki Masataka
Published: June 2022

For decades, Adenoviruses (Ads) have been staple cancer gene therapy vectors. Ads are highly immunogenic, making them effective adjuvants. These viruses have well characterized genomes, allowing for substantial modifications including capsid chimerism and therapeutic transgene insertion. Multiple generations of Ad vectors have been generated with reduced or enhanced immunogenicity, depending on their intended purpose, and with increased transgene capacity. The latest-generation Ad vector is the Helper-dependent Ad (HDAd), in which all viral coding sequences are removed from the genome, leaving only the cis-acting ITRs and packaging sequences, providing up to 34 kb of transgene capacity. Although HDAds are replication incompetent, their innate immunogenicity remains intact. Therefore, the HDAd is an ideal cancer gene therapy vector as its infection results in anti-viral immune stimulation that can be enhanced or redirected towards the tumor via transgene expression. Co-infection of tumor cells with an oncolytic Ad and an HDAd results in tumor cell lysis and amplification of HDAd-encoded transgene expression. Here, we describe an HDAd-based cancer gene therapy expressing multiple classes of immunomodulatory molecules to simultaneously stimulate multiple axes of immune pathways: the HydrAd. Overall, the HydrAd platform represents a promising cancer immunotherapy agent against complex solid tumors.
Solar-Energy-Driven Cu-ZnO/TiO2 Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for the Rapid Degradation of Congo Red Azo Dye
Authors: Landge Vividha Kondba , Huang Chao-Ming , Hakke Vikas Sadashiv , Sonawane Shirish Hari , Manickam Sivakumar , Hsieh Ming-Chun
Published: June 2022

This study effectively demonstrates the sonochemical synthesis of visible-light-responsive Cu-ZnO/TiO2 ternary Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalyst. The as-prepared photocatalyst was comprehensively characterized by techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and elemental dot mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis-DRS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The photocatalytic activity of the Cu-ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst was assessed for the degradation of Congo red (CR), an azo dye, under direct sunlight. The pseudo-first-order rate constant for CR degradation was found to be 0.09 min−1. The outcome implies that the synthesised nanocomposite photocatalyst demonstrates excellent photocatalytic activity under direct sunlight as 98% degradation of CR dye was achieved in approximately 20 min using the Cu-ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst. Furthermore, its high recoverability and reusability of five times indicate its excellent catalytic potential.
Ex Vivo Perfusion Using a Mathematical Modeled, Controlled Gas Exchange Self-Contained Bioreactor Can Maintain a Mouse Kidney for Seven Days
Authors: Won Natalie , Castillo-Prado Jorge , Tan Xinzhu , Ford John , Heath David , Mazilescu Laura , Selzner Markus , Rogers Ian
Published: June 2022

Regenerative medicine requires better pre-clinical tools in order to increase the efficiency of novel therapies transitioning to the clinic. Current monolayer cell culture methods are suboptimal for effectively testing new therapies and live mouse models are expensive, time consuming and require invasive procedures. Fetal organ culture, organoids, microfluidics and culture of thick sections of adult organs all aim to fill the knowledge gap between monolayer culture and live mouse studies. Here we report on an ex vivo organ perfusion system that can support whole adult mouse organs. Ex vivo perfusion of healthy and diseased mouse organs allows for real-time analysis that provides immediate feedback and accurate data collection throughout the experiment. Having a suitable normothermic ex vivo perfusion system for mouse organs provides a tool that will help contribute to our understanding of kidney physiology and disease and can take advantage of the many mouse models of human disease that already exist. Furthermore, an ex vivo kidney perfusion system can be used for testing novel cell therapies, drug screening, drug validation and for the detection of nephrotoxic substances. Critical to the success of mouse ex vivo organ perfusion is having a suitable bioreactor to maintain the organ. Here we have focused on the mouse kidney and mathematically modeled, built and validated a bioreactor that can maintain a kidney for 7 days. The long duration of the ex vivo perfusion will help to advance studies on kidney disease and can rapidly test for new regenerative medicine therapies compared to whole animal studies.
Breakthroughs and Applications of Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
Authors: Koyilot Mufeeda C. , Natarajan Priyadarshini , Hunt Clayton R. , Sivarajkumar Sonish , Roy Romy , Joglekar Shreeram , Pandita Shruti , Tong Carl W. , Marakkar Shamsudheen , Subramanian Lakshminarayanan , Yadav Shalini S. , Cherian Anoop V. , Pandita Tej K. , Shameer Khader , Yadav Kamlesh K.
Published: June 2022

Organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) is an emerging technology based on microfluid platforms and in vitro cell culture that has a promising future in the healthcare industry. The numerous advantages of OOAC over conventional systems make it highly popular. The chip is an innovative combination of novel technologies, including lab-on-a-chip, microfluidics, biomaterials, and tissue engineering. This paper begins by analyzing the need for the development of OOAC followed by a brief introduction to the technology. Later sections discuss and review the various types of OOACs and the fabrication materials used. The implementation of artificial intelligence in the system makes it more advanced, thereby helping to provide a more accurate diagnosis as well as convenient data management. We introduce selected OOAC projects, including applications to organ/disease modelling, pharmacology, personalized medicine, and dentistry. Finally, we point out certain challenges that need to be surmounted in order to further develop and upgrade the current systems.
Assessment of Sustainable Biogas Production from Co-Digestion of Jatropha De-Oiled Cake and Cattle Dung Using Floating Drum Type Digester under Psychrophilic and Mesophilic Conditions
Authors: Sharma Amit Kumar , Sahoo Pradeepta Kumar , Mukherjee Mainak , Patel Alok
Published: June 2022

Biodiesel is an emerging alternative fuel that is generally made from edible and non-edible oilseed crops. Jatropha curcus has a high potential for producing biodiesel, which yields 25–35% oil along with 75–65% solid byproduct, generally called a de-oiled cake. The present manuscript deals with the co-digestion of Jatropha de-oiled cake along with cattle dung (1:1 ratio) for biogas production in a floating-type biogas digester. The experimental study was carried out in a modified KVIC biogas plant of 6 cubic meter capacity for 60 days’ retention time under psychrophilic and mesophilic temperature conditions. During all the experiments, the total solid content of the slurry was maintained fixed at 10–12% by mixing 10 kg Jatropha de-oiled cake and 10 kg cattle dung with 80 kg water. The experimental results showed that the average specific biogas production of Jatropha de-oiled cake and cattle dung slurry was observed to be 0.216 m3/kg TS, 0.252 m3/kg VS and 0.287 m3/kg TS, 0.335 m3/kg VS, respectively, under the aforementioned conditions. Moreover, the biogas methane concentration was observed to be 62.33% to 69.16% under mesophilic temperature conditions compared to the psychrophilic temperature conditions, 65.21% to 69.15%, respectively. Furthermore, the average total volatile solids mass removal efficiency of feeding material in the abovementioned process was 7% higher under mesophilic temperature conditions than psychrophilic temperature conditions. Additionally, the results indicated that a total 588.8 kg of input volatile solids produced a total of 7306.56 MJ/m3 and 5177.88 MJ/m3 energy in 60 days under psychrophilic and mesophilic temperature conditions. On the basis of the results, it is concluded that Jatropha de-oiled cake may be a superior solution for improving biogas quality and composition as well as a value-added product, i.e., organic manure.
Near-Infrared Absorbing Molecule Based on Triphenylamine Radical Cation with Extended Homoaryl π-System
Authors: Yano Masafumi , Tamada Kohei , Nakai Misaki , Mitsudo Koichi , Kashiwagi Yukiyasu
Published: June 2022

Four triphenylamines with extended π-systems were synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements showed that they gave radical cations, which are stable in solution. Radical cations obtained upon one electron chemical oxidation showed strong absorption in the near-infrared region. The radical cations of the naphthalene-substituted derivatives show a maximum absorption wavelength above 1000 nm and are classified as NIR-II dyes. Molecular design rules of novel near-infrared absorbing dyes are described.
Three New Species of Cystolepiota from Laos and Thailand
Authors: Sysouphanthong Phongeun , Thongklang Naritsada , Liu Yuan S. , Vellinga Else C.
Published: June 2022

Cystolepiota Singer is rarely studied in Southeast Asia; here, we survey and describe three new species of Cystolepiota from tropical Laos and Thailand. Cystolepiota pyramidalis is related to C. fumosifolia (Murrill) Vellinga and C. pseudofumosifolia M.L. Xu & R.L. Zhao, but it is distinguished by pale to pastel yellow lamellae. Second, Cystolepiota thailandica differs from other members in the genus by the greyish-orange granulose or powdery pileus and stipe covering made up of globose to subglobose and sphaeropedunculate elements. Furthermore, Cystolepiota rhodella is characterized by the pink-violet granulose covering of the pileus and stipe and white lamellae with distinctly violet edges. Each species is provided with a full description of the morphological characters, photos in situ, line drawings of the microcharacters, discussion of related and similar species, and molecular data.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Following Chemotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Combination in a Patient with Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Evin Cécile , Lassau Nathalie , Balleyguier Corinne , Assi Tarek , Ammari Samy
Published: June 2022

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare neurological complication that occurs following a sudden blood pressure increase. We report the case of a 64-year-old patient presenting PRES several hours after the administration of a combination of chemotherapy and a checkpoint inhibitor (carboplatin-etoposide-atezolizumab) for small-cell lung cancer. He presented consciousness disorders associated with partial epileptic seizure secondarily generalized. His arterial blood pressure was elevated and brain imaging showed multiple bilateral subcortical parietal, temporal, occipital and cerebellar T2 high signals, predominantly in the posterior region. There were no abnormal T1 signals nor bleeding but a left apparent diffusion coefficient restriction was noted. On arterial spin labelling perfusion sequences, there was an increased perfusion within the left temporo-parieto-occipital, left thalamic and right cerebellar regions. Finally, the neurological symptoms completely regressed after several days of optimal antihypertensive and antiepileptic treatment. The clinical context and radiological features, as well as the progressive resolution of the neurological symptoms, were all in favor of PRES. PRES can occur after the administration of chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Prompt diagnosis is crucial through a spectrum of suspicious clinical and radiological characteristics that must be rapidly recognized to quickly anticipate the optimal therapeutic strategy and avoid unnecessary complications.
Teledermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Melanocytic and Non-Melanocytic Skin Lesions: NurugoTM Derma Smartphone Microscope as a Possible New Tool in Daily Clinical Practice
Authors: Veronese Federica , Tarantino Vanessa , Zavattaro Elisa , Biacchi Francesca , Airoldi Chiara , Salvi Massimo , Seoni Silvia , Branciforti Francesco , Meiburger Kristen M. , Savoia Paola
Published: June 2022

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teledermoscopy has been increasingly used in the remote diagnosis of skin cancers. In a study conducted in 2020, we demonstrated a potential role of an inexpensive device (NurugoTM Derma) as a first triage to select the skin lesions that require a face-to-face consultation with dermatologists. Herein, we report the results of a novel study that aimed to better investigate the performance of NurugoTM. Objectives: (i) verify whether the NurugoTM can be a communication tool between the general practitioner (GP) and dermatologist in the first assessment of skin lesions, (ii) analyze the degree of diagnostic–therapeutic agreement between dermatologists, (iii) estimate the number of potentially serious diagnostic errors. Methods: One hundred and forty-four images of skin lesions were collected at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in Novara using a conventional dermatoscope (instrument F), the NurugoTM (instrument N), and the latter with the interposition of a laboratory slide (instrument V). The images were evaluated in-blind by four dermatologists, and each was asked to make a diagnosis and to specify a possible treatment. Results: Our data show that F gave higher agreement values for all dermatologists, concerning the real clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, a medium/moderate agreement value was obtained also for N and V instruments and that can be considered encouraging and indicate that all examined tools can potentially be used for the first screening of skin lesions. The total amount of misclassified lesions was limited (especially with the V tool), with up to nine malignant lesions wrongly classified as benign. Conclusions: NurugoTM, with adequate training, can be used to build a specific support network between GP and dermatologist or between dermatologists. Furthermore, its use could be extended to the diagnosis and follow-up of other skin diseases, especially for frail patients in emergencies, such as the current pandemic context.
Follow-Up of a Rare Case of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis Associated with Persistent Blood Eosinophilia and Multiple Food Allergies
Authors: Leru Polliana Mihaela , Anton Vlad Florin , Muntean Ioana Adriana , Neagoe Carmen Daniela , Matei Dumitru
Published: June 2022

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a subgroup of the eosinophilic gastro-intestinal disorders (EGIDs), characterized by eosinophilic infiltration and chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. These are rare diseases with still incompletely elucidated causes and mechanisms, with frequently delayed diagnosis and variable outcome. Despite increased interest in eosinophilic diseases in recent years, fewer data have been published on EGE and no standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approach exists. This paper reports the case of a young male patient diagnosed with EGE in 2017 based on clinical and histopathological criteria and constantly monitored during five years. Besides gastrointestinal eosinophilic infiltration, biopsies also revealed eosinophilic infiltration of the oesophagus, despite no declared characteristic oesophageal symptoms. We found increased specific IgE to multiple foods and progressive blood hypereosinophilia which preceded EGE diagnosis by three years. The EGE management included selective dietary restrictions and pharmacologic therapy based on daily budesonide non-enteric coated tablets, proton pumps inhibitors, antihistamines, cromoglycate, correction of iron, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. The clinical outcome was good, while blood eosinophilia and endoscopic appearance remained almost unchanged. After one year the patient complained of respiratory symptoms suggesting asthma, needing continuous combined inhaled therapy. The reported case is illustrative for complex presentation, diagnosis and outcome of a rare case of mucosal chronic EGE associated with oesophageal involvement, peripheral eosinophilia, multiple food allergies and asthma.
Improving Glaucoma Diagnosis Assembling Deep Networks and Voting Schemes
Authors: Sánchez-Morales Adrián , Morales-Sánchez Juan , Kovalyk Oleksandr , Verdú-Monedero Rafael , Sancho-Gómez José-Luis
Published: June 2022

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good eyesight. This damage is often caused by higher-than-normal pressure in the eye. In the past few years, the applications of artificial intelligence and data science have increased rapidly in medicine especially in imaging applications. In particular, deep learning tools have been successfully applied obtaining, in some cases, results superior to those obtained by humans. In this article, we present a soft novel ensemble model based on the K-NN algorithm, that combines the probability of class membership obtained by several deep learning models. In this research, three models of different nature (CNN, CapsNets and Convolutional Autoencoders) have been selected searching for diversity. The latent space of these models are combined using the local information provided by the true sample labels and the K-NN algorithm is applied to determine the final decision. The results obtained on two different datasets of retinal images show that the proposed ensemble model improves the diagnosis capabilities for both the individual models and the state-of-the-art results.
Dental Academic Degrees in Germany Compared to the USA
Authors: Vargas Nikoletta , Romanos Georgios E.
Published: June 2022

There are different avenues for obtaining postgraduate doctoral/Ph.D. degrees in Germany and abroad. Depending on their interests and career plans, candidates can choose a postgraduate doctorate/Ph.D. that focuses on a career in academia or a doctorate that does not involve all elements of a Ph.D. and is obtained for the title’s sake. Germany offers this type of diversity and flexibility, whereas the USA postgraduate doctorate model presents a more structured doctorate. The current article provides insight regarding various and more flexible pathways for obtaining a postgraduate doctorate by comparing the German and the American model. The diversity of academic degrees in dentistry and medicine, such as postgraduate doctoral degrees and the higher postdoctoral degrees available in Germany for graduates interested in academia, makes educational evaluation processes and credentials recognition challenging. The lack of transparency and a systematic approach for the academic acknowledgment of the different scientific values of each doctorate type is creating confusion, primarily when German postgraduate doctorate holders pursue academic careers internationally. The current article aims to enhance the knowledge about the different academic degrees and facilitate the educational evaluations, specialty applications, and employment processes. Understanding the additional scientific value of each doctorate type offered in Germany is imperative for their credential recognition internationally.
Age Analysis of Status Updating System with Probabilistic Packet Preemption
Authors: Zhang Jixiang , Xu Yinfei
Published: June 2022

The age of information (AoI) metric was proposed to measure the freshness of messages obtained at the terminal node of a status updating system. In this paper, the AoI of a discrete time status updating system with probabilistic packet preemption is investigated by analyzing the steady state of a three-dimensional discrete stochastic process. We assume that the queue used in the system is Ber/Geo/1/2*/η, which represents that the system size is 2 and the packet in the buffer can be preempted by a fresher packet with probability η. Instead of considering the system’s AoI separately, we use a three-dimensional state vector (n,m,l) to simultaneously track the real-time changes of the AoI, the age of a packet in the server, and the age of a packet waiting in the buffer. We give the explicit expression of the system’s average AoI and show that the average AoI of the system without packet preemption is obtained by letting η=0. When η is set to 1, the mean of the AoI of the system with a Ber/Geo/1/2* queue is obtained as well. Combining the results we have obtained and comparing them with corresponding average continuous AoIs, we propose a possible relationship between the average discrete AoI with the Ber/Geo/1/c queue and the average continuous AoI with the M/M/1/c queue. For each of two extreme cases where η=0 and η=1, we also determine the stationary distribution of AoI using the probability generation function (PGF) method. The relations between the average AoI and the packet preemption probability η, as well as the AoI’s distribution curves in two extreme cases, are illustrated by numerical simulations. Notice that the probabilistic packet preemption may occur, for example, in an energy harvest (EH) node of a wireless sensor network, where the packet in the buffer can be replaced only when the node collects enough energy. In particular, to exhibit the usefulness of our idea and methods and highlight the merits of considering discrete time systems, in this paper, we provide detailed discussions showing how the results about continuous AoI are derived by analyzing the corresponding discrete time system and how the discrete age analysis is generalized to the system with multiple sources. In terms of packet service process, we also propose an idea to analyze the AoI of a system when the service time distribution is arbitrary.
Do Faculty Members Apply the Standards for Developing Gifted Students at Universities? An Exploratory Study
Authors: Abunasser Fathi , AlAli Rommel
Published: June 2022

Many studies indicate the importance of the management and nurturing of giftedness. They also focus on talent development, primarily, where the main objective is enhancing academic abilities. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to explore the reality of faculty members’ application of talent development standards; this is necessary for laying the practical foundations to enhance the academic abilities of talented students according to the standards for verifying quality, and for clarifying the skills and concepts that are taught. The current study was based on the opinions of 122 faculty members from Saudi public universities who had experiences with gifted students, whereby they answered the following question: Do faculty members apply the standards for developing gifted students at universities? The data were collected by developing an instrument. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics that mostly showed the reality of the application of the selected gifted development standards. The results of the perceptions of the faculty members participating in the study showed differences in the application of the proposed gifted development standards according to their academic rank.
A Communication Framework for Image Transmission through LPWAN Technology
Authors: Chaparro B. Fabián , Pérez Manuel , Mendez Diego
Published: June 2022

Analyzing the conditions of use and selecting which technology is more efficient to apply is required when transmitting information through wireless networks.The Internet of Things (IoT) has gained traction in industry and academia as a paradigm in which information and communication technologies merge to deliver unique solutions by detecting, actuating, calculating, and sharing massive volumes of data via embedded systems. In this scenario, Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) appear to be an attractive solution for node connectivity. Typical IoT solutions demand flexible restrictions for wireless communication networks in terms of data rates and latency in exchange for having larger communication ranges and low energy consumption. Nonetheless, as the amount of data and data speeds demanded for particular applications increase, such as image transmissions, IoT network connectivity deteriorates. This paper proposes a communication architecture for image transmission across LPWAN networks utilizing LoRa modulation. The framework combines image processing techniques (classification, compressive sensing (CS), and reconstruction) with an investigation of LoRa modulation parameters using a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) environment. The results show that is possible to communicate an image of 128×128 pixels with four packets and one frequency channel in 2.51 s.
A Proposed Waiting Time Algorithm for a Prediction and Prevention System of Traffic Accidents Using Smart Sensors
Authors: Cho Seongsoo , Shrestha Bhanu , Salah Bashir , Ullah Inam , Salem Nermin
Published: June 2022

One of the applications of neural networks is to predict the fault section results of traffic utilizing the combined model estimation of the fault section and self-learning models with smart sensors. The prediction of the fault section can autonomously develop the internal model of the network to fit the pre-entered “traffic accident” section data and predict the occurrence of traffic accident sections. In this paper, we propose the results of waiting time for traffic accidents in case of traffic accidents by using a neural network and fuzzy expert system, in comparison with existing algorithms and algorithms for determining traffic accidents. It is used to estimate or predict traffic accident reliability as well. Typically, the type of fault data collected is the number of faults (the number of faults recorded during a given time interval) or the time of fault (the time-of-fault data recorded when each fault occurred), and this can be utilized only for group data types, rather than the time-of-fault data type.
Spectrum Anomaly Detection Based on Spatio-Temporal Network Prediction
Authors: Peng Chuang , Hu Weilin , Wang Lunwen
Published: June 2022

With the miniaturization of communication devices, the number of distributed electromagnetic devices is increasing. In order to achieve effective management of the electromagnetic spectrum, prediction and anomaly detection of the spectrum has become increasingly critical. This paper proposes an algorithmic framework for detecting spectrum anomalies using deep learning techniques. More specifically, the framework includes spectrum prediction and anomaly detection. We use the sliding window method to divide the time series, construct multi-timescale historical data, and train the model with normal data to have high accuracy spectrum prediction capability. We analyze and determine the discriminant function to distinguish the spectral anomalies by calculating the differences between the predicted and real data. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms existing baseline algorithms based on real-world spectrum measurement data and simulated anomaly data.
Crude Oil Price Shocks and European Stock Markets during the COVID-19 Period
Authors: Katsampoxakis Ioannis , Christopoulos Apostolos , Kalantonis Petros , Nastas Vasileios
Published: June 2022

This paper investigates the interrelations between stock returns and crude oil prices for European oil-importing/exporting countries. A vector autoregression (VAR) model is applied to estimate the significance of stock market responses to changes in oil prices during the pandemic period 2019–2021. A Granger causality test is applied to find the direction and the intensity of the relation between crude oil and the indices of the European stock markets. The findings of this paper hold with or without the COVID-19 pandemic episode and reveal the interaction between the European stock markets and the crude oil prices. The results indicate that in steady periods, before the COVID-19 outbreak and after the announcement of vaccinations, there is no interdependence between crude oil and stock prices, whereas in high volatility periods, the causality from stock markets to oil prices increases and both oil-exporting and -importing countries are equally influenced. These findings have implications both for investors and fund managers.
The Role of Non-Energy Impact Assessment in Boosting Energy Efficiency and Urban Regeneration Projects: The RenOnBill Project and Experiences from Liguria Region
Authors: Delponte Ilaria , Bianco Vincenzo , Costa Valentina
Published: June 2022

Buildings play a significant role in terms of energy consumption and polluting emissions production across Europe and this huge contribution to consumption and environmental impact becomes even more alarming when attention is switched from single buildings to entire urban systems. Although great efforts have been made to support energy efficiency investments, distrust and suspicion are shared attitudes among private investors (and stakeholders in general) towards large-scale implementation of these kinds of projects. Within this framework, on-bill schemes were implemented in the United States more than 30 years ago. In particular, on-bill energy efficiency is a method of financing energy efficiency improvements that uses the utility bill as the repayment vehicle. A detailed analysis of on-bill schemes is currently addressed by the H2020 RenOnBill project, which focuses on these schemes to enhance and support large-scale investments for energy efficiency and deep residential stock renovation. In this study, firstly, the authors focus on assessment methodologies for non-energy benefits of retrofitting projects; then, a case study of the Liguria region (Italy) is examined in depth for its interesting legal framework regarding energy efficiency-led urban regeneration projects. The results deriving from the initial analysis of projects and the case study lead the authors to reiterate that, even today, projects based on energy efficiency usually focus exclusively on energy impacts and that energy performances and urban quality are addressed in separate ways.
Cost-Risk Analysis Reconsidered—Value of Information on the Climate Sensitivity in the Integrated Assessment Model PRICE
Authors: Khabbazan Mohammad M.
Published: June 2022

Infeasible solutions or negative expected values of future climate information are undesired problems if climate policies are adopted under Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) to reach uncertain temperature targets. Cost-Risk Analysis (CRA) was developed to resolve these issues. It allows for a trade-off between expected welfare losses of mitigation and avoided risk of transgressing a climate target with a certain probability of compliance (Safety). Some of the significant contributions of this paper are: (i) It updates the Probabilistic Integrated model of Climate and the Economy (PRICE) as a probabilistic version of the latest version of the Dynamic Integrated Climate-Economy model (DICE) 2016, and it extends the model to run welfare-maximizing decision analytic frameworks readily. (ii) It highlights that the standard method of applying CRA (Old CRA) leads to an extra welfare cost. (iii) It proposes revised instruction on how to use CRA. (iv) It simulates and compares welfare-maximizing decision analytic frameworks on the level of risk, damages, and carbon prices. (v) It measures the value of information using risk-based methods and compares them with the value of information calculated using the damage-based method. (vi) It measures the carbon prices for the CRA scenarios for the first time. The results show that the choice of the disutility function governs the magnitude of the value of information. Using a damage function or Old CRA, the value of information is significantly high for new information arriving between 2020 and 2060. If the New CRA is applied, however, such benefits are negligible.
Energy Efficiency of Pressure Shock Damper in the Hydraulic Lifting and Leveling Module
Authors: Dindorf Ryszard , Wos Piotr
Published: June 2022

This study evaluates the energy efficiency of pressure shock damping in a hydraulic lifting and leveling (HLL) module of a mobile robotic bricklaying system (RBS). The HLL module includes a servohydraulic actuator (SHA) and a hydraulic shock damper (HSD). The proposed adjustable HSD consists of a hydraulic accumulator circuit (HAC) and proportional damping valve. The frequency characteristics of the impedance and damping efficiency indices were used to evaluate the effectiveness of HSD damping. The dynamic responses of the SHA with and without HSD were analyzed based on a nonlinear state-space model. To control the damping of the pressure shock in the SHA-HSD system, a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller that follows two measurement signals was implemented. The LQG controller was adapted to the specific dynamic requirements of the SHA-HSD control system and nature of the RBS shock loads. The effectiveness of the LQG controller was evaluated during RBS operation under laboratory conditions. The main purpose of this study was to dynamically stabilize a leveled robot base subjected to shock loading during automatic operation of the RBS.
Numerical Study of the Pyrolysis of Wood Chips for Biocharcoal Production: Influence of Chips Geometry and Initial Moisture Content
Authors: Tagne Ablain Tagne , Simo-Tagne Merlin , Kharchi Razika , Ndukwu Macmanus Chinenye , Assoumani Nidhoim , Compaoré Aboubakar , Bennamoun Lyes , Rogaume Yann , Zoulalian André
Published: June 2022

This study presents the modeling of wood chips pyrolysis, considering the initial moisture content and taking into account the near-parallelepiped geometry of common wood chips, which is not available among the simulated shapes of wood in the literature. The goal is to extend the research and generate useful data on how different varieties of shapes and initial moisture contents influence wood chips pyrolysis. The effects of temperature and thickness variation on the pressure of volatile products, core temperature, and densities of pyrolysis products were studied. The model was validated with the mass fraction of experimental data obtained from beechwood chips with a density of 700 kg/m3 and thickness of 10 mm–30 mm at 973.15 K–1273.15 K. The mean absolute error (MAE) and mean relative error (MRE) values were, respectively, 0.066 and 10.376% at 973.15 K, and 0.065 and 22.632% at 1273.15 K. High temperature favored the rate of biocharcoal production from the surface to the core, though part of the biocharcoal was lost at the surface.