bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Concept of Autonomous Multi-Agent Navigation System for Unmanned Surface Vessels
Authors: Lazarowska Agnieszka , Żak Andrzej
Published: September 2022

The paper introduces a proposal of an Autonomous Navigation System for Unmanned Surface Vessels. The system architecture is presented with a special emphasis on collision avoidance and maneuver auto-negotiation. For the purpose of maneuver auto-negotiation, the concept of multi-agent systems has been applied. The algorithm developed for the task of collision avoidance is briefly described and the results of the simulation tests, confirming the effectiveness of applied method, are also given. Presented outcomes include solutions of test scenarios from the perspectives of different ships taking part in the considered situations, confirming the applicability of the collision avoidance algorithm in the process of maneuver auto-negotiation.
A Comparative Study on System Profit Maximization of a Renewable Combined Deregulated Power System
Authors: Basu Jayanta Bhusan , Dawn Subhojit , Saha Pradip Kumar , Chakraborty Mitul Ranjan , Ustun Taha Selim
Published: September 2022

Electrical energy plays a key role in the development of the social as well as the economic front. The power sector has historically been owned and operated by state agencies due to its tremendous importance. It has been restructured over time, and the power market is being deregulated. In terms of consumer prices, efficiency, and environmental implications, both regulated and deregulated electricity markets offer advantages and disadvantages. Policy-based techniques are typically used in regulated markets to address the costs of fossil-fuel resources and boost the viability of renewable energy sources. Renewables can be integrated into deregulated markets through a combination of regulatory and market-based measures to extend the system’s economic stability which has been deployed in this paper. As the need for energy has expanded dramatically over the last few decades, particularly in developing countries, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions has climbed rapidly, as have fuel prices, which are the key driving forces behind initiatives to use renewable energy sources more effectively. Despite the apparent benefits of renewable energy, it has significant downsides, such as generation of optimization methods applied to renewable consistency, because most renewable energy supplies are climate-dependent, necessitating complicated design, planning, and control optimization methods. There have been numerous optimization strategies applied to the renewable integrated deregulated electricity system. With the increased use of renewable energy, energy storage technology has grown in importance, as these devices can capture electricity generated by renewables during off-peak demand hours and put it back into the grid during peak demand periods. Using stored renewable energy instead of adding generation based on fossil fuel can help to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. There is an interest in better utilizing available power system capacity by implementing FACTS to maximize the social benefit in a deregulated system. As a result, effective FACTS device placement provides novel control capabilities in both steady-state power flow regulation and dynamic stability control. This study reviews several aspects of renewable integrated deregulated power systems and provides a clear picture of the most recent research developments on this subject. The main objectives of the reviews are the maximization of system profit, maximization of social welfare, and minimization of system generation cost and loss by optimal placement of energy storage devices and FACTS controllers.
Topology-Aware Mapping of Spiking Neural Network to Neuromorphic Processor
Authors: Xiao Chao , Wang Yao , Chen Jihua , Wang Lei
Published: September 2022

Neuromorphic processors, the new generation of brain-inspired non-von Neumann computing systems, are developed to better support the execution of spiking neural networks (SNNs). The neuromorphic processor typically consists of multiple cores and adopts the Network-on-Chip (NoC) as the communication framework. However, an unoptimized mapping of SNNs onto the neuromorphic processor results in lots of spike messages on NoC, which increases the energy consumption and spike latency on NoC. Addressing this problem, we present a fast toolchain, NeuToMa, to map SNNs onto the neuromorphic processor. NeuToMa exploits the global topology of SNNs and uses the group optimization strategy to partition SNNs into multiple clusters, significantly reducing the NoC traffic. Then, NeuToMa dispatches the clusters to neuromorphic cores, minimizing the average hop of spike messages and balancing the NoC workload. The experimental results show that compared with the state-of-the-art technique, NeuToMa reduces the spike latency and energy consumption by up to 55% and 86%, respectively.
Respiration-Based COPD Detection Using UWB Radar Incorporation with Machine Learning
Authors: Siddiqui Hafeez Ur Rehman , Saleem Adil Ali , Bashir Imran , Zafar Kainat , Rustam Furqan , Diez Isabel de la Torre , Dudley Sandra , Ashraf Imran
Published: September 2022

COPD is a progressive disease that may lead to death if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage. The examination of vital signs such as respiration rate is a promising approach for the detection of COPD. However, simultaneous consideration of the demographic and medical characteristics of patients is very important for better results. The objective of this research is to investigate the capability of UWB radar as a non-invasive approach to discriminate COPD patients from healthy subjects. The non-invasive approach is beneficial in pandemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where a safe distance between people needs to be maintained. The raw data are collected in a real environment (a hospital) non-invasively from a distance of 1.5 m. Respiration data are then extracted from the collected raw data using signal processing techniques. It was observed that the respiration rate of COPD patients alone is not enough for COPD patient detection. However, incorporating additional features such as age, gender, and smoking history with the respiration rate lead to robust performance. Different machine-learning classifiers, including Naïve Bayes, support vector machine, random forest, k nearest neighbor (KNN), Adaboost, and two deep-learning models—a convolutional neural network and a long short-term memory (LSTM) network—were utilized for COPD detection. Experimental results indicate that LSTM outperforms all employed models and obtained 93% accuracy. Performance comparison with existing studies corroborates the superior performance of the proposed approach.
Design a Compact Printed Log-Periodic Biconical Dipole Array Antenna for EMC Measurements
Authors: Abdulhameed Abdulghafor A. , Kubík Zdeněk
Published: September 2022

This article presents the design, modeling, and fabrication of a printed log-periodic biconical dipole array antenna (PLPBDA) for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) measurements. The proposed structure used bow tie-shaped dipoles instead of typical dipoles to achieve a size reduction of 50% and bandwidth enhancement of 170% with the help of PCB technology. Furthermore, the balanced feeding method and the modifications in bow tie-shaped dipole dimensions were utilized to obtain broad bandwidth of 5.5 GHz (from 0.5 GHz to 6 GHz). This structure comprises 12 dipole elements with a compact size of 170 × 160 × 1.6 mm, reflecting low fluctuations gain of about (4.6–7) dBi with the help of an extra dipole. Moreover, the achieved frequency and radiation characteristics (simulated and measured) agree with each other and are compatible with the results of classical EMC antennas. The achievements of this structure showed promising results compared to both literature reviews and reference antenna Hyper LOG® 7060 offered for sale.
Versatile Electronics for Microwave Holographic RADAR Based on Software Defined Radio Technology
Authors: Bossi Luca , Falorni Pierluigi , Capineri Lorenzo
Published: September 2022

The NATO SPS G-5014 project has shown the possibility of using a holographic RADAR for the detection of anti-personnel mines. To use the RADAR on a robotic scanning system, it must be portable, light, easily integrated with mechanical handling systems and configurable in its operating parameters for optimal performance on different terrains. The novel contribution is to use software programmable electronics to optimize performance and to use a time reference to obtain synchronization between the RADAR samples and the position in space, in order to make it easy to integrate the RADAR on robotic platforms. To achieve these goals we used the Analog Devices “ADALM Pluto” device based on Software Defined Radio technology and a time server. We have obtained a portable system, configurable via software in all its operating parameters and easily integrated on robotic scanning platforms. The paper will show experiments performed on a simulated minefield. The electronics project reported in this work makes holographic RADARs portable and easily reconfigurable, therefore adaptable to different applications from subsurface soil investigations to applications in the field of non-destructive testings.
A Refined Supervision Model of Rice Supply Chain Based on Multi-Blockchain
Authors: Peng Xiangzhen , Zhang Xin , Wang Xiaoyi , Xu Jiping , Li Haisheng , Zhao Zhiyao , Qi Zhibo
Published: September 2022

With the development of Agriculture 4.0, the requirements for sustainable agriculture and precision agriculture continue to grow. As one of the three major staple foods globally, the quality and safety of rice affect human health as well as social development. To ensure the quality and safety of rice and reduce the flow of problematic rice, a multi-layer blockchain-based rice supply chain refinement supervision model MBRRSM (Multi-blockchain Rice Refined Supervision Model) is proposed from the information level. First, the characteristics of information flow in the rice supply chain are analyzed, and a classification table of key information is constructed. Second, the MBRRSM framework is designed. Based on a multi-party hybrid encryption algorithm, secure multi-party computing algorithm, multi-mode storage mechanism, and SPOP (Supervision Proof of Peers) consensus algorithm, a set of mechanisms is designed for the transmission, use, storage, and consensus of rice data in MBRRSM. Subsequently, the security and performance capabilities of MBRRSM are analyzed. Meanwhile, the SPOP consensus algorithm is analyzed. Finally, a prototype system is built based on MBRRSM and verified through exemplary scenarios in different usage situations. The results show that research on the refined supervision of the rice supply chain based on multi-blockchain can finely supervise all types of data in the rice supply chain, and provide a guarantee for enterprise users to safely transmit and use data with different privacy levels. This study presents a unique research paradigm that introduces the theories and methods of the new information field generation into the field of agricultural research, and thus assists in the strategy implementation of “holding grain in the land and storing grain in technology”.
Effect of Chitosan/Thyme Oil Coating and UV-C on the Softening and Ripening of Postharvest Blueberry Fruits
Authors: Sun Haiyan , Hao Danqing , Tian Yun , Huang Yigang , Wang Yulin , Qin Gongwei , Pei Jinjin , Abd El-Aty A. M.
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the possible mechanism of softening and senescence of blueberry after harvest using chitosan/thyme oil coating combined with UV-C (short wave ultraviolet irradiation) treatment. On the 56th day of storage, the CBP, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents in the chitosan/thyme oil coating +UV-C-treated group were 1.41, 1.65, and 1.20 times higher than those in the control group. Compared with the control group, the activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), β-glucosidase (β-Gal), and cellulose (Cx) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after chitosan/thyme oil coating +UV-C, and their maximum values decreased by 5.41 μg/h g, 5.40 U/g, 12.41 U/g, and 3.85 μg/h g, respectively. Moreover, chitosan/thyme oil coating combined with UV-C treatment inhibited the gene expression of PG, PME, Cx, and β-Gal and then regulated the decrease in PG, PME, Cx, and β-Gal activities, inhibited the degradation of cell wall polysaccharides, and delayed the softening and senescence of postharvest blueberries. The results showed that chitosan/thyme oil coating, UV-C, and chitosan/thyme oil coating + UV-C could significantly inhibit postharvest softening of blueberry; chitosan/thyme oil coating +UV-C had the best effect.
Detecting the Mechanism of Action of Antimicrobial Peptides by Using Microscopic Detection Techniques
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Zohaib , Firdos Shumaila , Li Zhousi , Wang Xiang , Liu Yangtai , Qin Xiaojie , Yang Shuo , Ma Yue , Xia Xuejuan , Zhang Bolin , Dong Qingli
Published: September 2022

Increasing antibiotic resistance has shifted researchers’ focus to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternatives to antibiotics. AMPs are small, positively charged, amphipathic peptides with secondary helical structures. They have the ability to disrupt the bacterial membrane and create wedges due to electrostatic differences. Water molecules enter the pathogens through those wedges and disrupt their normal cellular functioning, eventually causing the death of the pathogens. Keeping in mind the importance of AMPs, this review compiles recent data and is divided into three parts. The first part explains the AMP structure and properties, the second part comprises the spectroscopy techniques currently used for evaluating the AMP-bacterial targeting mechanism as well as its structure and safety; and the third part describes the production of AMPs from an animal source (whey protein). Most of the peptides that were used in recent studies have been either the precursors of a natural peptide or synthetic peptides with some modifications, but data on the exploitation of dairy protein are scarce. Among the little-studied milk proteins and peptides, in the last three years, whey protein has been studied the least based on the reported data. Because whey protein is a leftover part of cheese making that often drains out as cheese waste, causing soil and environmental pollution, today, the need of the hour is to produce safe AMPs from whey protein. The use of whey protein that is based on hydrolyzing lactic acid bacteria with some structural modifications can increase AMPs’ potency, stability, and safety, and it can also help to avoid soil and environmental pollution as a result of whey drainage.
Exploring Landscape Composition Using 2D and 3D Open Urban Vectorial Data
Authors: Pedrinis Frédéric , Samuel John , Appert Manuel , Jacquinod Florence , Gesquière Gilles
Published: September 2022

Methods and tools for assessing the visual impact of objects such as high-rises are rarely used in planning, despite the increase in opportunities to develop automated visual assessments, now that 3D urban data are acquired and used by municipalities as well as made available through open data portals. This paper presents a new method for assessing city visibility using a 3D model on a metropolitan scale. This method measures the view composition in terms of city objects visible from a given viewpoint and produces a georeferenced and semantically rich database of those visible objects in order to propose a thematic vision of the city and its urban landscape. As far as computational efficiency is concerned and considering the large amount of data needed, the method relies on a dedicated system of automatic data organization for analyzing visibility over vast areas (hundreds of square kilometers), offering various possibilities for uses on different scales. In terms of operational uses, as shown in our paper, the various results produced by the method (quantitative data, georeferenced databases and 3D schematic images) allow for a wide spectrum of applications in urban planning.
Extracting Skeleton Lines from Building Footprints by Integration of Vector and Raster Data
Authors: Chen Guoqing , Qian Haizhong
Published: September 2022

The extraction of skeleton lines of buildings is a key step in building spatial analysis, which is widely performed for building matching and updating. Several methods for vector data skeleton line extraction have been established, including the improved constrained Delaunay triangulation (CDT) and raster data skeleton line extraction methods, which are based on image processing technologies. However, none of the existing studies have attempted to combine these methods to extract the skeleton lines of buildings. This study aimed to develop a building skeleton line extraction method based on vector–raster data integration. The research object was buildings extracted from remote sensing images. First, vector–raster data mapping relationships were identified. Second, the buildings were triangulated using CDT. The extraction results of the Rosenfeld thin algorithm for raster data were then used to remove redundant triangles. Finally, the Shi–Tomasi corner detection algorithm was used to detect corners. The building skeleton lines were extracted by adjusting the connection method of the type three triangles in CDT. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively extract the skeleton lines of complex vector buildings. Moreover, the skeleton line extraction results included a few burrs and were robust against noise.
Chest Drainage Therapy: What Comes out of Pandora’s Box Can Affect Patient Outcomes
Authors: Antonicelli Alberto , Monaco Fabrizio , Carretta Angelo , Burt Bryan M. , Sonett Joshua R. , Veronesi Giulia
Published: September 2022

Background: Over the last 100 years, the original three-bottle chest drainage system has been variously engineered into compact disposables and electronic units. Clinicians are now surrounded by a plethora of different types of systems, but little is known about the way that they work and perform. Thus, we sought to test the performance of the most commonly used chest drainage units under conditions that are relevant to clinical practice. Methods: A pleural space environment simulator was built. Thirty-two units were tested under four clinical scenarios: air leak interpretation during quiet breathing and after obstructed inspiration (−5 to −150 cmH2O), a buildup of negative pressure (−100 cmH2O), a bronchopleural fistula (10 L/min) and the need for effective external suction in the presence of air leakage. Twenty-five units were “traditional” thoracic drainages, five were “digital” low-flow/low-vacuum pumps and two were hybrids (a combination of the two). According to the design of the seal and of the suction control, the units were classified as wet-wet, wet-dry and dry-dry. Results: All wet units showed reverse air flow, with the potential to mimic an air leak when there was none. Ten wet units showed no automatic negative pressure relief features, while five dry-dry did but were slow to react. Ten wet and five dry-dry units showed no capability to handle a 10 L/min leak, as they were restrictive to flow (peak pressure up to 55 cmH2O). Only seven dry-suction units were able to maintain the set suction at high airflow rates (>20 L/min). Conclusions: Different chest drainage unit designs lead to different performances, some of which may negatively impact patient outcomes. This sounds the call to tailor our clinical practice for the individual patient. A paradigm shift to better understand all components of pleural physiology post-surgical intervention on this relatively neglected topic is needed to improve our daily practice.
Procedural Outcomes of a Self-Expanding Transcatheter Heart Valve in Small Annuli
Authors: Eckel Clemens , Sötemann Dagmar , Kim Won-Keun , Grothusen Christina , Tiyerili Vedat , Dohmen Guido , Renker Matthias , Charitos Efstratios , Hamm Christian W. , Choi Yeong-Hoon , Möllmann Helge , Blumenstein Johannes
Published: September 2022

Background: Self-expanding transcatheter valves (THV) seem superior to balloon-expanding valves in regard to the incidence of prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM). Data on the occurrence of PPM with the ACURATE neo/neo2 system as a representative of self-expanding prostheses in very small annuli, even below the applicable instructions for use (IFU), are scarce. Methods: Data from 654 patients with severe native aortic stenosis treated with the smallest size ACURATE neo/neo2 valve (size S, 23 mm) at two German high-volume centers from 06/2012 to 12/2021 were evaluated. We compared clinical and hemodynamic outcomes among patients with implantation in adherence to the recommended sizing (on-label n = 529) and below the recommended sizing range (off-label n = 125) and identified predictors for PPM in the overall population. BMI-adjusted PPM was defined according to VARC-3 recommendations. Results: Post-procedure, the mean gradient (10.0 mmHg vs. 9.0 mmHg, p = 0.834) and the rate of paravalvular leakage (PVL) ≥ moderate (3.2% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.770) were similar between on-label and off-label implantations. The rate of moderate to severe PPM (24%) was comparably low in ACURATE neo/neo2 S, with a very low proportion of severe PPM whether implanted off- or on-label (4.9% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.552). Thirty-day all-cause mortality was higher among patients with off-label implantations (6.5% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.036). In the subgroup of these patients, no device-related deaths occurred, and cardiac causes did not differ (each 5). Besides small annulus area and high BMI, a multivariate analysis identified a greater cover index (OR 3.26), deep implantation (OR 2.25) and severe calcification (OR 2.07) as independent predictors of PPM. Conclusions: The ACURATE neo/neo2 S subgroup shows a convincing hemodynamic outcome according to low mean gradient even outside the previous IFUs without a relevant increase in the rate of PVL or PPM. In addition to known factors such as annulus area and BMI, potential predictors for PPM are severe annulus calcification and implantation depth. Nevertheless, the ACURATE neo/neo2 system seems to be a reliable option in patients with very small annuli.
Relationship between Chronic Rhinosinusitis and the Incidence of Head and Neck Cancer: A National Population-Based Study
Authors: Han Kyung-Do , Park Sang-Hyun , Son Sumin , Kim Seung-Ho , Kim Ikhee , Kim Jong-Yeup , In Seung-Min , Kim Yeon-Soo , Lee Ki-Il
Published: September 2022

We analyzed the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and the incidence of head and neck cancers (HNCs) in a Korean adult population. This retrospective cohort study included data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Adjustments were made to minimize risk variables for sex, age, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and rhinitis between the two groups. The primary endpoint was newly diagnosed HNC between January 2009 and December 2018. Among 1,337,120 subjects in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, data from 324,774 diagnosed with CRS (CRS group) and 649,548 control subjects (control group) were selected. Patients with CRS exhibited a statistically significant greater risk for nasal cavity/paranasal sinus cancer, hypopharynx/larynx cancer, and thyroid cancer compared with the control group. In the CRS group, the adjusted hazard ratios for nasal cavity/paranasal sinus cancer were 1.809 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.085–3.016), 1.343 (95% CI 1.031–1.748) for hypopharynx and larynx cancer, and 1.116 (95% CI 1.063–1.173) for thyroid cancer. CRS was associated with a higher incidence of HNCs. Therefore, physicians should carefully consider the possibility of HNC progression and implement therapeutic strategies to minimize the impact of these diseases.
Prognostic Value of Preoperative Systemic Inflammatory Parameters in Advanced Gastric Cancer
Authors: Kim Sung Gon , Eom Bang Wool , Yoon Hongman , Kim Young-Woo , Ryu Keun Won
Published: September 2022

Background: The predictive value of various systemic inflammatory parameters has been reported. However, it is still unclear which inflammatory parameters are the best predictors of prognosis in advanced gastric cancer and what are their mechanisms of action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative systemic inflammatory parameters and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 489 patients with stage II/III advanced gastric cancer treated at the National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea, between January 2012 and December 2015. We divided the patients into survivors and non-survivors and compared their clinicopathological characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of inflammatory parameters. Results: The absolute lymphocyte count was significantly higher in survivors (2.07 ± 0.62 × 103/µL vs. 1.88 ± 0.63 × 103/µL, p = 0.001). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were marginally lower in survivors. Survival analysis revealed that the NLR and PLR were independent prognostic factors for OS. Survival was significantly different depending on NLR and PLR in the same pathologic stages. Conclusions: NLR and PLR were independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Regarding single inflammatory parameters, an elevated lymphocyte count was the only factor associated with a favorable prognosis. These results suggest that the enhanced immune function of patients affects their prognosis more than the increased systemic inflammatory response.
Infrarenal Remains Infrarenal—EVAR Suitability of Small AAA Is Rarely Compromised despite Morphological Changes during Surveillance
Authors: Becker Corinna , Bülow Tanja , Gombert Alexander , Kalder Johannes , Keschenau Paula Rosalie
Published: September 2022

The aim was to analyze small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) morphology during surveillance with regard to standard endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) suitability. This retrospective single-center study included all patients (n = 52, 48 male, 70 ± 8 years) with asymptomatic AAA ≤ 5.4 cm undergoing ≥2 computed tomography angiography(CTA)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies (interval: ≥6 months) between 2010 and 2018. Aneurysm diameter, neck quality (shape, length, angulation, thrombus/calcification), aneurysm thrombus, and distal landing zone diameters were compared between first and last CTA/MRI. Resulting treatment plan changes were determined. Neck shortening occurred in 25 AAA (mean rate: 2.0 ± 4.2 mm/year). Neck thrombus, present in 31 patients initially, increased in 16. Average AAA diameters were 47.7 ± 9.3 mm and 56.3 ± 11.6 mm on first and last CTA/MRI, mean aneurysm growth rate was 4.2 mm/year. Aneurysm thrombus was present in 46 patients primarily, increasing in 32. Neck thrombus growth and neck length change, aneurysm thrombus amount and aneurysm growth and aneurysm growth and neck angulation were significantly correlated. A total of 46 (88%) patients underwent open (12/46) or endovascular (34/46) surgery. The planned procedure changed from EVAR to fenestrated EVAR in two patients and from double to triple fenestrated EVAR in one. Thus, standard EVAR suitability was predominantly maintained as the threshold diameter for surgery was reached despite morphological changes. Consecutively, a possibly different pathogenesis of infra- versus suprarenal AAA merits further investigation.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Adult HIV-Infected Patients-Is Sexually Transmitted Infections Misdiagnosis Possible?
Authors: Siwak Ewa , Suchacz Magdalena M. , Cielniak Iwona , Kubicka Joanna , Firląg-Burkacka Ewa , Wiercińska-Drapało Alicja
Published: September 2022

Background. The aim of our study was to describe 50 cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and HIV co-existence that are under medical supervision in Warsaw. Methods. This was a retrospective descriptive study. Fifty HIV-infected patients, diagnosed with IBD during the years 2001–2019, were identified. IBD was diagnosed endoscopically and then confirmed by biopsy. All data was obtained from medical records. Results. All studied patients were male with a median age of 33 years old (range 20–58 years). All, except one, were men who have sex with men (MSM). The median CD4 cell count was 482 cells/µL (range 165–1073 cells/µL). Crohn’s disease (CD) was diagnosed in 7 patients (14%), ulcerative colitis (UC) in 41 patients (82%), and 2 patients (4%) had indeterminate colitis. Forty-nine patients (98%) reported a history of unprotected receptive anal intercourse and different sexual transmitted infections (STIs). Only in 10 patients (20%) were one or more IBD relapses observed. Conclusions. We recommend HIV testing for every MSM with IBD suspicion. Moreover, STIs testing should be performed in every IBD patient with colorectal inflammation, using molecular and serological methods. Persons who reported unprotected receptive anal intercourse seem to have the biggest risk of STI-associated proctitis or proctocolitis mimicking IBD.
Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Receiving Antifibrotic Drug Treatment
Authors: Iwanami Yuji , Ebihara Kento , Nakao Keiko , Sato Naofumi , Miyagi Midori , Nakamura Yasuhiko , Sakamoto Susumu , Kishi Kazuma , Homma Sakae , Ebihara Satoru
Published: September 2022

Background: Although patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often receive treatment with antifibrotic drugs (AFDs) and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) concurrently, there are no reports on the effect of PR on patients with IPF receiving AFDs. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PR on patients with IPF receiving AFDs. Methods: Eighty-seven eligible patients with IPF (61 male; 72.0 ± 8.1 years; GAP severity stage I/II/III: 26/32/12) were recruited for the study. Patients who completed a 3-month outpatient PR program and those who did not participate were classified into four groups according to use of AFDs: PR group (n = 29), PR+AFD group (n = 11), treatment-free observational group (control group; n = 26), and AFD group (n = 21). There was no significant difference in age, sex, or severity among the groups. Patients were evaluated for physical functions such as 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and muscle strength, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at baseline and at 3 months. Results: In the PR group, dyspnea and 6MWD showed significant improvement after the 3-month PR program (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). HRQOL was significantly worse at 3 months (p < 0.05) in the AFD group, but not in the other groups. The change in 6MWD from baseline to the 3-month time point was significantly higher in the PR+AFD group than in the AFD groups (p < 0.01). Conclusions: It was suggested that AFD treatment reduced exercise tolerance and HRQOL at 3 months; however, the concurrent use of PR may prevent or mitigate these effects.
Skin Autofluorescence Measurement as Initial Assessment of Hepatic Parenchyma Quality in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection
Authors: Krasnodębski Maciej , Morawski Marcin , Borkowski Jan , Grąt Karolina , Stypułkowski Jan , Skalski Michał , Zhylko Andriy , Krawczyk Marek , Grąt Michał
Published: September 2022

Skin autofluorescence (SAF) can detect advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that accumulate in tissues over time. AGEs reflect patients’ general health, and their pathological accumulation has been associated with various diseases. This study aimed to determine whether its measurements can correlate with the liver parenchyma quality. This prospective study included 186 patients who underwent liver resections. Liver fibrosis and/or steatosis > 10% were found in almost 30% of the patients. ROC analysis for SAF revealed the optimal cutoff point of 2.4 AU as an independent predictor for macrovesicular steatosis ≥ 10% with an AUC of 0.629 (95% CI 0.538–0.721, p = 0.006), 59.9% sensitivity, 62.4% specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of 45.7% and 74.1%, respectively. The optimal cutoff point for liver fibrosis was 2.3 AU with an AUC of 0.613 (95% CI 0.519–0.708, p = 0.018), 67.3% sensitivity, 55.2% specificity, and PPV and NPV of 37.1% and 81.2%, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression model, SAF ≥ 2.4 AU (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.05–4.43; p = 0.036) and BMI (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10–1.33, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of macrovesicular steatosis ≥ 10%. SAF may enhance the available non-invasive methods of detecting hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients prior to liver resection.
Outcomes of Pregnancies and Deliveries of Patients Who Underwent Fertility-Preserving Surgery for Early-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Nishio Shin , Takeno Takayo , Fukuda Takeshi , Shikama Ayumi , Nakai Hidekatsu , Nakamura Hiroko , Tokunaga Hideki , Takahashi Kazuaki , Okuma Emi , Mori Masahiko , Terao Yasuhisa , Ushijima Kimio , Yaegashi Nobuo
Published: September 2022

Some studies have shown increased risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and cesarean delivery after oncologic treatment; others have shown the opposite. We evaluated the outcomes of pregnancies and deliveries of patients who underwent fertility-preserving surgery (FSS) for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and examined their perinatal prognosis. This retrospective study included women with a history of stage IA or IC ovarian cancer reported in our previous study. The primary outcome was preterm birth after cancer diagnosis was considered. Secondary outcomes were neonatal morbidity and severe maternal morbidity. Thirty-one children were born to 25 women who had undergone FSS. The mean number of weeks at delivery was 38.7 ± 0.7, and the mean birth weight of infants was 3021 ± 160 g. With respect to pregnancy outcomes, 5 patients had preterm labor and 26 had full-term labor. The delivery mode was vaginal delivery in 18 patients and cesarean delivery in 13. Complications during pregnancy included placenta previa (one case) and pelvic abscess (one case). Except for three preterm infants with low birth weight, there were no other perinatal abnormalities. Pregnancy after fertility preservation in EOC has an excellent perinatal prognosis, although the cesarean delivery rate is high.
Correlations between Morphology, the Functional Properties of Upper Airways, and the Severity of Sleep Apnea
Authors: Neagos Adriana , Dumitru Mihai , Neagos Cristian Mircea , Mitroi Mihaela , Vrinceanu Daniela
Published: September 2022

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is considered the silent killer pathology of the new millennium. This is due to increased risk factors such as obesity. Healthcare systems face an increasing burden from severe cases of OSA. We performed a study on a group of 152 Romanian patients with OSA recording data obtained through polysomnography and cephalometric variables, recorded in lateral plain X-rays. The results confirmed some of the data available from previous studies worldwide, but some of the variables presented a positive statistical correlation specific to our study group. For example, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) correlated with the uvula length but surprisingly did not correlate with body mass index (BMI) because obesity tends to become endemic in Romania. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies focusing on cephalometric data in Romanian OSA patients. The results obtained through this study will be further analyzed in research on larger groups of Romanian OSA patients.
Development of an Application for Electronic Retrieval of Patient and Sample Information in Latin American Regions with a High Incidence of Gallbladder Cancer
Authors: Guinez-Molinos Sergio , Gonzalez Diaz Jaime , Barahona Ponce Carol , Lorenzo Bermejo Justo
Published: September 2022

The European–Latin American Consortium towards Eradication of Preventable Gallbladder Cancer, EULAT Eradicate GBC, is collecting high-quality data and samples in four Latin American countries with high gallbladder cancer incidence (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru) to build a unique biorepository integrated into a tailored IT platform, to identify, validate, and functionally characterize new risk biomarkers, and to develop prediction models that integrate epidemiological and genetic–molecular risk factors. We decided to develop an application for electronic data collection to facilitate the retrieval of sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, dietary, and sample-related information from 15,000 Latin American study participants. The application EULAT eCollect will facilitate the work of study nurses, reduce time spent by participants, limit the use of paper and ink, minimize costs and errors associated with filling out written forms and subsequent digitisation, and support the monitoring of local recruitment rates and data quality. We describe in this article the design and implementation of the EULAT eCollect application, which started with the specification of functional and non-functional requirements, and ended with the implementation and validation of four separate application modules: Socio-Demographic Interview, Sample Information, Case Report Form, and Food-Frequency Questionnaire. We present both general and technical results, and our experience with the free and open-source software, Open Data Kit (ODK), which may be of interest for future related research projects, especially those on personalised cancer prevention carried out in low- and middle-income regions.
Factors That May Impact the Noninvasive Measurement of Central Blood Pressure Compared to Invasive Measurement: The MATCHY Study
Authors: Chi Chen , Lu Yi , Zhou Yiwu , Li Jiaxin , Xu Yawei , Zhang Yi
Published: September 2022

Calibration affects central blood pressure (BP) estimation accuracy. Factors influencing the accuracy of noninvasive central BP measurement, type of calibration method implemented (systolic/diastolic BP or mean/diastolic BP), and type of BP measurement device used (devices using the transfer function method, directly measurement from the carotid artery, and the transfer function-like method), were investigated. Fifty participants (aged 62.4 ± 8.9 years) without overt heart diseases were recruited. Invasive aortic and radial BP was measured. Simultaneously, noninvasive central BP was measured using three types of devices. The mean invasive aortic BP was 127 ± 19/95 ± 14 mmHg. Noninvasive central BP tended to be slightly lower than invasive BP, though without statistical significance. The type of calibration method did not significantly influence the noninvasive cSBP measurements (p ≥ 0.24). Results from cuff-based devices were significantly lower than invasive measurements (p = 0.04). Multiple regression analyses showed that gender was significantly correlated with the accuracy of noninvasive cSBP measurement. In conclusion, noninvasive cSBP measurements are comparable to invasive measurements but might underestimate true cSBP. The type of device may affect the accuracy of measurement. Either of the two calibration methods is acceptable.
Exosome-Derived microRNAs from Mouthrinse Have the Potential to Be Novel Biomarkers for Sjögren Syndrome
Authors: Yamashiro Kouta , Hamada Tomofumi , Mori Kazuki , Nishi Keitaro , Nakamura Maya , Beppu Mahiro , Tanaka Akihiko , Hijioka Hiroshi , Kamikawa Yoshiaki , Sugiura Tsuyoshi
Published: September 2022

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is diagnosed based on invasive tissue biopsies and blood sampling. Therefore, a novel non-invasive and simple inspection diagnostic marker of SS is required. Here, we identified exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers for SS using non-invasive mouthrinse samples collected from patients with SS and healthy volunteers. We compared miRNAs derived from exosomes in mouthrinse samples from the two groups using microarrays and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and identified 12 miRNAs as biomarker candidates. The expression ratios of four miRNAs were significantly increased in the SS group compared to the control group. Logistic regression analysis revealed a more significant influence of miR-1290 and let-7b-5p in the SS group than that in the control group. We combined these miRNAs to create a diagnostic prediction formula using logistic regression analysis. The combination of miR-1290 and let-7b-5p distinguished SS from the control samples with an AUC, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 0.856, 91.7%, 83.3%, 84.6%, and 90.9%, respectively. These results indicated that an increased ratio of these miRNAs could serve as a novel and non-invasive diagnostic marker for SS. This is the first report of diagnosis and screening of SS by adopting a non-invasive method using mouthrinse.
iPSCs in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Unique Platform for Clinical Research and Personalized Medicine
Authors: Pandey Shashank , Jirásko Michal , Lochman Jan , Chvátal Alexandr , Chottova Dvorakova Magdalena , Kučera Radek
Published: September 2022

In the past, several animal disease models were developed to study the molecular mechanism of neurological diseases and discover new therapies, but the lack of equivalent animal models has minimized the success rate. A number of critical issues remain unresolved, such as high costs for developing animal models, ethical issues, and lack of resemblance with human disease. Due to poor initial screening and assessment of the molecules, more than 90% of drugs fail during the final step of the human clinical trial. To overcome these limitations, a new approach has been developed based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The discovery of iPSCs has provided a new roadmap for clinical translation research and regeneration therapy. In this article, we discuss the potential role of patient-derived iPSCs in neurological diseases and their contribution to scientific and clinical research for developing disease models and for developing a roadmap for future medicine. The contribution of humaniPSCs in the most common neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, diabetic neuropathy, stroke, and spinal cord injury) were examined and ranked as per their published literature on PUBMED. We have observed that Parkinson’s disease scored highest, followed by Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, we also explored recent advancements in the field of personalized medicine, such as the patient-on-a-chip concept, where iPSCs can be grown on 3D matrices inside microfluidic devices to create an in vitro disease model for personalized medicine.
The Local Land Finance Transformation with the Synergy of Increment and Inventory: A Case Study in China
Authors: Wu Yuzhe , Zhu Huiqiong , Zheng Sheng
Published: September 2022

Since 1998, the land finance model based on residential and commercial land transfer revenue has played an important role in Chinese social and economic growth, especially in urban infrastructure construction. With China’s population peak and stable urbanization, the “incremental” land-transfer-heavy development paradigm is unsustainable. At the same time, as a developing country, local governments in China must have enough fiscal revenue to encourage high-quality growth. The transformation of land finance is a practical issue that needs to be explored urgently. This article, which was based on the local government financial balance theory, proposed supporting the optimization of the land finance incremental model with the reform of the property tax system. A local land finance transformation mechanism with increment and inventory synergy was then created. Specifically, to avoid a cliff-like fall in the local government’s land-transfer fee, it was proposed that the land-transfer fee change from the original collection, from ordinary commercial housing to improved housing. The property tax should be levied on the second set of ordinary commercial housing to obtain fiscal revenue from the “inventory”. Concurrently, the fiscal money from property taxes could be utilized to build cheap rental housing or to support housing vouchers for new urban residents and young people.
Business Income Tax from Profit-Seeking Enterprises and Spatial Autocorrelation: Do Local Economic Characteristics Matter?
Authors: Huang Hao-Chen , Hung Chin-Fu , Peng Chi-Lu , Liao Ting-Hsiu
Published: September 2022

We seek to explore whether local economic characteristics affect the collection of profit-seeking enterprise (PSE) income tax in Taiwan, by adopting panel data from 2001 to 2020 collected in its counties and cities. The results of this analysis of spatial econometric modeling indicate that the increase in sales of profit-seeking enterprises (SPSE) has a positive and significant direct effect on the collection of PSE income tax in this county and city. In terms of spatial spillover effects, when the number of profit-seeking enterprises (NPSE) in neighboring regions increases and the percentage of employees working in industrial sectors (PEI) increases, they will then impact the increase in PSE income tax collection in any particular county and city. We find that the amount of PSE income tax collection relates to the agglomeration economy. The findings of this study may be provided as a reference for local governments to conduct administrative construction on the formulation of PSE income tax collection.
Scale Effects and Regional Disparities of Land Use in Influencing PM2.5 Concentrations: A Case Study in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, China
Authors: Yang Dongyang , Meng Fei , Liu Yong , Dong Guanpeng , Lu Debin
Published: September 2022

Land use has been demonstrated to have an important influence on PM2.5 concentrations; however, how the scale effects and regional disparities in land use influence PM2.5 concentrations remains unclear. This study investigated the scale differences in spatial variations in PM2.5 concentrations, in spatial associations between PM2.5 concentrations and land use, and explored the effects of the spatial heterogeneity and action scale of land use on PM2.5 concentrations. The main findings indicated greater intra-unit variation at small scales and greater inter-unit variation at large scales. PM2.5 concentrations had a positive association with the surrounding cultivated land and artificial surface, and had a negative association with surrounding forest and grass; the positive spatial association between PM2.5 concentrations and the surrounding artificial surface was stronger at small scales. Cultivated land and forest negatively influenced PM2.5 concentrations generally. Artificial surfaces showed a strong positive influence on PM2.5 concentrations in most urban areas. The action scale of cultivated land in influencing PM2.5 concentrations was the largest (4698.05 m). The findings provide a new interpretation of the relationship between PM2.5 concentrations and land use, and may contribute to effective policy making from the perspective of land use planning to PM2.5 pollution control and abatement.