bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep vein thrombosis screening in pediatric orthopedic patients
Authors: Tongta Saowalak , Angsnuntsukh Chanika , Saisongcroh Tanyawat , Woratanarat Thira , Tangsopa Yaowaret , Woratanarat Patarawan
Published: April 2023

Background

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an important clinical condition that leads to subsequent morbidity and mortality in children, particularly those who involved operative procedures. The preoperative assessment for DVT in children may vary among different population risk factors and types of surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the screening methods for DVT in pediatric orthopedic patients.

Method

We performed a retrospective cohort study of orthopedic patients aged <18 years at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, from 2015 to 2019. The inclusion criteria were children scheduled for orthopedic surgery; who performed a D-dimer test, Wells score, and Caprini score; and who underwent Doppler ultrasonography for DVT screening. The exclusion criteria were incomplete data or inconclusive ultrasonographic results. Age and results of the D-dimer test, Wells score, and Caprini score were collected from all patients. The outcome assessment was ultrasound-proven DVT. The screening abilities of each test were analyzed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), likelihood ratio (LR) for positive and negative tests, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

A total of 419 children were included in the study. Five (1.19%) patients were diagnosed with DVT. The mean age was 10.16 ± 4.83 years. D-dimer ≥500 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 47.8%–100%), a specificity of 36.7% (95% CI: 32.1%–41.6%), a PPV of 1.9% (95% CI: 0.6%–4.3%), and an NPV of 100% (95% CI: 97.6%–100%). Wells score ≥3 demonstrated a sensitivity of 0% (95% CI: 0%–52.2%), a specificity of 99.3% (95% CI: 97.9%–99.9%), and an LR for a negative test of 1.00 (95% CI: 1.00–1.01). Caprini score ≥11 had a sensitivity of 0% (95% CI: 0%–52.2%) and a specificity of 99.8% (95% CI: 98.7%–100%). The parallel test included D-dimer ≥500 ng/mL, Wells score ≥3, or Caprini score ≥11 points, generating a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 47.8%–100%), a specificity of 36.7% (95% CI: 32.1%–41.6%), an LR for a positive test of 1.58 (95% CI: 1.47–1.70), and an AUC of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.66–0.71).

Conclusions

The D-dimer test exhibited moderate ability in predicting the development of DVT among pediatric orthopedic patients requiring surgery. The Wells score and Caprini score had low performance in identifying hospitalized children at increased risk of DVT events.
Experimental Design of Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control for Valve Regulation under Water Load Uncertainty for Precision Irrigation
Authors: Prakosa Jalu Ahmad , Purwowibowo Purwowibowo , Kurniawan Edi , Wijonarko Sensus , Maftukhah Tatik , Rustandi Dadang , Pratiwi Enggar Banifa , Rahmanto Rahmanto
Published: April 2023

The application of control systems in precision irrigation is critical to ensure the accurate distribution of water in crops under various uncertainties. Shifts in the loading of the water supply on the control valve can be a significant uncertainty. Changes in weather and the uncertainty of the water level in the reservoir are also challenging issues. Sliding Mode Control (SMC) is a robust control technique that is simple to apply to deal with uncertainty, while Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control (FTSMC) has the benefit of the rapid convergence. The DC electric motor, which is a common component of electric control valves, can be employed in designing control techniques for precision irrigation applications. This study aims to design a proposed experimental-based method, namely FTSMC for valve regulation under water load uncertainty for precision irrigation application. Modification of the signum function should be used to eliminate the chattering effect in real experiments.The results of experiments showed that the proposed method was superior to the conventional Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) and traditional SMC techniques in terms of overshoot, convergence rate and error. Because of those reasons, the FTSMC approach should be implemented on control valves against load uncertainty in precision irrigation applications.
Research on the Process of Convective Drying of Apples and Apricots Using an Original Drying Installation
Authors: Dumitru Veleșcu Ionuț , Nicoleta Rațu Roxana , Arsenoaia Vlad-Nicolae , Roșca Radu , Marian Cârlescu Petru , Țenu Ioan
Published: April 2023

After being harvested, fresh apples and apricots have a high moisture content and are put through a drying process to reduce waste and lengthen shelf life. This study intends to evaluate the physicochemical parameters during moisture removal and product heating in order to conduct an experimental investigation of the convective drying of apples and apricots in a pilot drying installation. The drying agent’s temperature and/or speed can be adjusted using the pilot installation. About the raw materials: the apricots (Neptun variety) were dried and cut into halves, while the apples (Golden Delicious variety) were dried and cut into 4 mm thick slices. The fruits’ drying properties were observed at 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C, air speeds of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m/s, and relative air humidity levels of 40–45%. Findings of the ascorbic acid content, color, heating, and dimensional fluctuations are provided and examined. Increased air velocity and temperature had the expected effect of increasing water loss, solid gain, and shrinking. Depending on the drying conditions, different color characteristics were applied.
Analysis of Total Soil Nutrient Content with X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF): Assessing Different Predictive Modeling Strategies and Auxiliary Variables
Authors: Tavares Tiago Rodrigues , de Almeida Eduardo , Junior Carlos Roberto Pinheiro , Guerrero Angela , Fiorio Peterson Ricardo , de Carvalho Hudson Wallace Pereira
Published: April 2023

The difference in the matrix present in soil samples from different areas limits the performance of nutrient analysis via XRF sensors, and only a few strategies to mitigate this effect to ensure an accurate analysis have been proposed so far. In this context, this research aimed to compare the performance of different predictive models, including a simple linear regression (RS), multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least-squares regression (PLS), and random forest (RF) models for the prediction of Ca and K in agricultural soils. RS models were evaluated on XRF data without (RS1) and with (RS2) Compton normalization. In addition, it was assessed whether using soil texture information and/or vis–NIR spectra as auxiliary variables would optimize the predictive performance of the models. The results showed that all strategies allowed the mitigation of the matrix effect to some degree, enabling the determination of their Ca and K contents with excellent predictive performance (R2 ≥ 0.84). The best performance was obtained using RS2 for the Ca prediction (R2 = 0.92, RSME = 48.25 mg kg−1 and relative improvement (RI) of 52.3% compared to RS1) and using an RF for the K prediction (R2 = 0.84, RSME = 17.43 mg kg−1 and RI of 24.3% compared to RS1). The results indicated that sophisticated models did not always perform better than linear models. Furthermore, using texture data and vis–NIR spectra as auxiliary data was promising only for the K prediction, which showed an error reduction in the order of 10%, contrasting with the Ca prediction, which did not reduce the prediction error by more than 1%. The best modeling approach in our study proved to be attribute-specific. These results give further insight into the development of intelligence modeling strategies for sensor-based soil analysis.
Exploring the Macroscopic Properties of Humic Substances Using Modeling and Molecular Simulations
Authors: Escalona Yerko , Petrov Drazen , Galicia-Andrés Edgar , Oostenbrink Chris
Published: April 2023

Soil organic matter (SOM) is composed of a complex and heterogeneous mixture of organic compounds, which poses a challenge in understanding it on an atomistic level. Based on the progress of molecular dynamics simulations and our efforts to create molecular systems that resemble SOM, in this work, we expanded our knowledge of SOM through the use of humic substances (HSs). Specifically, we studied the standardized samples of HS of the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). This society provided the elemental and organic composition used as input parameters for our Vienna Soil Organic Matter Modeler 2 (VSOMM2). We modeled and simulated different HS samples from various sources, including soil, peat, leonardite, and blackwater river. In order to compare between different HS, we reduced the organic composition information to two principal components, which are associated principally with the amount of carboxyl and aromatic groups in the HS, denominated as PCacid and PCarom, respectively. We performed a plethora of analyses to characterize the structure and dynamics of the systems, including the total potential energy, density, diffusion, preferential solvation, hydrogen bonds, and salt bridges. In general terms, at the water content value of 0.2, we observed that most properties depend on the carboxyl group protonation state. The Coulombic interactions from this ionic specie and the interaction with cations determine the overall behavior of the studied systems. Furthermore, the type of cations and the pH influence those properties. This study exemplifies the importance of molecular dynamics to explain macroscopic properties from the structure and dynamics of the molecules modeled, such as the interaction network, i.e., hydrogen bonds or salt bridges of molecules presented in the system and their mobility.
Efficiency of Rph genes against Puccinia hordei in Southern Russia in 2019–2021
Authors: Danilova Anastasia , Volkova Galina
Published: April 2023

Barley leaf rust (Puccinia hordei Otth.) is considered a harmful disease that occurs in barley-growing regions worldwide. In Russia, the disease is among the most prevalent in the Krasnodar region, which is the leader in the production of barley grain and has a favorable climate for disease development. In this paper, we studied the efficiency of 17 varieties and lines of barley from the International and Australian sets containing currently known Rph resistance genes or their combinations to P. hordei in the field, and 15 varieties and lines in the seedling phase in greenhouse conditions during 2019–2021. We concluded that the lines carrying the Rph7 and Rph13 genes remained immune throughout the three years of studies in the seedling and adult plant stages. The Rph1 and Rph23 genes showed moderate efficiency during the three years. The Rph2, Rph3, Rph4, Rph5, Rph6+2, Rph8, Rph12, Rph19, and Rph21+2 genes showed low efficiency over the three years. This was also confirmed by the results of their assessment in the seedling phase: the number of monopustular isolates virulent to lines with the majority of the studied genes for three years was above 90%. Fluctuations in the virulence of the P. hordei population were observed under sufficiently unfavorable weather for disease development in 2019, 2020, and 2021. This proves the ability of the fungus to adapt to changing conditions. Therefore, annual monitoring of the response of lines and varieties carrying resistance genes and studying the virulence of the pathogen are crucial for the selection of rust-resistant varieties, and, hence, the prevention of barley leaf rust epidemics in all grain-producing regions worldwide.
Geometric and Morphometric Analysis of the Auditory Ossicles in the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Authors: Hadžiomerović Nedžad , Gundemir Ozan , Tandir Faruk , Avdić Rizah , Katica Muhamed
Published: April 2023

The use of carnivores as experimental models in auditory biology has led to a significant improvement regarding our understanding of the structure and function of the ear. Considering that data regarding the anatomy of the middle ear in the red fox are rare, this study aimed to describe the morphological and morphometrical features of the auditory ossicles in the red fox, as well as to provide their shape characteristics by geometric analysis. Nine adult red foxes were used in the study. The malleus, incus and stapes were extracted from the middle ear, prepared, photographed and measured using the software. For the geometric analysis, 19 landmarks were used. Following Principal Component Analysis (PCA), PC1 was found to explain approximately half of all variance (incus: 49.97%; malleus: 49.93%; stapes: 58.49%). The study demonstrated the similar anatomical organization of the auditory ossicles in line with important morphometric and basic geometric data, which can contribute to this field and add a useful perspective to the literature.
Systematic Evaluation of Different Fresh Cow Monitoring Procedures
Authors: König Felix , Hancock Andrew , Wunderlich Christian , Klawitter Marcus , Breuer Thomas , Simoni Anne , Weimar Karina , Drillich Marc , Iwersen Michael
Published: April 2023

Establishing fresh cow monitoring procedures is considered beneficial for cow health, welfare, and productivity. However, they are time consuming and require the cows to be locked up, which restricts their natural behavior. In this study, different fresh cow monitoring procedures were evaluated. Two experiments were conducted to determine: (1) the duration of various examinations and treatments; (2) the time cows remain locked up in headlocks; and (3) the proportion of examination and treatment times relative to the total headlock time. In advance, standard operating procedures were established. Three veterinarians conducted the examinations and treatments based on changes in milk yield, clinical symptoms, and alarms by an accelerometer system. The headlock time was evaluated for three workflow strategies, which differed in the order of examinations and treatments. To determine the duration, cameras were installed, and the video footage was analyzed. The examinations lasted between 1 and 227 s, and the cows were locked up in headlocks between 0.01 and 1.76 h. The lock-up times differed significantly among the three strategies, as well as the proportion. This study provides information that can be used as a basis for the development of time-efficient strategies, and to minimize the impact on cows’ time budgets.
All Roads Lead to Rome: Enhancing the Probability of Target Attainment with Different Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modelling Approaches
Authors: Khalid Kashaf , Rox Katharina
Published: April 2023

In light of rising antimicrobial resistance and a decreasing number of antibiotics with novel modes of action, it is of utmost importance to accelerate development of novel treatment options. One aspect of acceleration is to understand pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of drugs and to assess the probability of target attainment (PTA). Several in vitro and in vivo methods are deployed to determine these parameters, such as time-kill-curves, hollow-fiber infection models or animal models. However, to date the use of in silico methods to predict PK/PD and PTA is increasing. Since there is not just one way to perform the in silico analysis, we embarked on reviewing for which indications and how PK and PK/PD models as well as PTA analysis has been used to contribute to the understanding of the PK and PD of a drug. Therefore, we examined four recent examples in more detail, namely ceftazidime-avibactam, omadacycline, gepotidacin and zoliflodacin as well as cefiderocol. Whereas the first two compound classes mainly relied on the ‘classical’ development path and PK/PD was only deployed after approval, cefiderocol highly profited from in silico techniques that led to its approval. Finally, this review shall highlight current developments and possibilities to accelerate drug development, especially for anti-infectives.
DXP Synthase Function in a Bacterial Metabolic Adaptation and Implications for Antibacterial Strategies
Authors: Chen Eric C. , Freel Meyers Caren L.
Published: April 2023

Pathogenic bacteria possess a remarkable ability to adapt to fluctuating host environments and cause infection. Disturbing bacterial central metabolism through inhibition of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) has the potential to hinder bacterial adaptation, representing a new antibacterial strategy. DXPS functions at a critical metabolic branchpoint to produce the metabolite DXP, a precursor to pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP), thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) and isoprenoids presumed essential for metabolic adaptation in nutrient-limited host environments. However, specific roles of DXPS in bacterial adaptations that rely on vitamins or isoprenoids have not been studied. Here we investigate DXPS function in an adaptation of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to d-serine (d-Ser), a bacteriostatic host metabolite that is present at high concentrations in the urinary tract. UPEC adapt to d-Ser by producing a PLP-dependent deaminase, DsdA, that converts d-Ser to pyruvate, pointing to a role for DXPS-dependent PLP synthesis in this adaptation. Using a DXPS-selective probe, butyl acetylphosphonate (BAP), and leveraging the toxic effects of d-Ser, we reveal a link between DXPS activity and d-Ser catabolism. We find that UPEC are sensitized to d-Ser and produce sustained higher levels of DsdA to catabolize d-Ser in the presence of BAP. In addition, BAP activity in the presence of d-Ser is suppressed by β-alanine, the product of aspartate decarboxylase PanD targeted by d-Ser. This BAP-dependent sensitivity to d-Ser marks a metabolic vulnerability that can be exploited to design combination therapies. As a starting point, we show that combining inhibitors of DXPS and CoA biosynthesis displays synergy against UPEC grown in urine where there is increased dependence on the TCA cycle and gluconeogenesis from amino acids. Thus, this study provides the first evidence for a DXPS-dependent metabolic adaptation in a bacterial pathogen and demonstrates how this might be leveraged for development of antibacterial strategies against clinically relevant pathogens.
Perception Regarding the NICE Guideline on Antibiotic Prophylaxis against Infective Endocarditis Following Dental Procedures: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mohd Yunus Siti Salmiah , Nabil Syed , Rashdi Muhd Fazlynizam , Nazimi Abd Jabar , Nordin Rifqah , Tan Huann Lan , Maskon Oteh , Che Hassan Hamat H. , Khaithir Tzar Mohd Nizam , Abdul Aziz Aznida Firzah , Ng Yee Guan , Ismail Ridwan Yeop , Ramli Roszalina
Published: April 2023

This study explores the opinions of Malaysian clinical specialists on the antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis (IE) as described in the 2008 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline. This cross-sectional study was performed from September 2017 to March 2019. The self-administered questionnaire comprised two sections: background information of the specialists and their opinions on the NICE guideline. The questionnaire was distributed to 794 potential participants, and 277 responded (response rate of 34.9%). In general, 49.8% of the respondents believed that clinicians should adhere to the guideline, although the majority of oral and maxillofacial surgeons (54.5%) actually disagreed with this view. The dental procedures that were perceived as presented moderate-to-high risk for IE were minor surgery for an impacted tooth with a recent episode of infection, dental implant surgery, periodontal surgery and dental extraction in patients with poor oral hygiene. The cardiac conditions that were strongly recommended for antibiotic prophylaxis were severe mitral valve stenosis or regurgitation and previous IE. Less than half of Malaysian clinical specialists agreed with the changes in the 2008 NICE guideline, contributing to their insistence that antibiotic prophylaxis is still needed for high-risk cardiac conditions and selected invasive dental procedures.
Effectiveness and Safety of Linezolid Versus Vancomycin, Teicoplanin, or Daptomycin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kawasuji Hitoshi , Nagaoka Kentaro , Tsuji Yasuhiro , Kimoto Kou , Takegoshi Yusuke , Kaneda Makito , Murai Yushi , Karaushi Haruka , Mitsutake Kotaro , Yamamoto Yoshihiro
Published: April 2023

Vancomycin (VCM) and daptomycin (DAP) are standard therapies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia, despite concerns regarding clinical utility and growing resistance. Linezolid (LZD) affords superior tissue penetration to VCM or DAP and has been successfully used as salvage therapy for persistent MRSA bacteremia, indicating its utility as a first-choice drug against MRSA bacteremia. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we compared the effectiveness and safety of LZD with VCM, teicoplanin (TEIC), or DAP in patients with MRSA bacteremia. We evaluated all-cause mortality as the primary effectiveness outcome, clinical and microbiological cure, hospital length of stay, recurrence, and 90-day readmission rates as secondary effectiveness outcomes, and drug-related adverse effects as primary safety outcomes. We identified 5328 patients across 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 1 pooled analysis of 5 RCTs, 1 subgroup analysis (1 RCT), and 5 case-control and cohort studies (CSs). Primary and secondary effectiveness outcomes were comparable between patients treated with LZD versus VCM, TEIC, or DAP in RCT-based studies and CSs. There was no difference in adverse event incidence between LZD and comparators. These findings suggest that LZD could be a potential first-line drug against MRSA bacteremia as well as VCM or DAP.
Gesture Detection and Recognition Based on Object Detection in Complex Background
Authors: Chen Renxiang , Tian Xia
Published: April 2023

In practical human–computer interaction, a hand gesture recognition method based on improved YOLOv5 is proposed to address the problem of low recognition accuracy and slow speed with complex backgrounds. By replacing the CSP1_x module in the YOLOv5 backbone network with an efficient layer aggregation network, a richer combination of gradient paths can be obtained to improve the network’s learning and expressive capabilities and enhance recognition speed. The CBAM attention mechanism is introduced to filtering gesture features in channel and spatial dimensions, reducing various types of interference in complex background gesture images and enhancing the network’s robustness against complex backgrounds. Experimental verification was conducted on two complex background gesture datasets, EgoHands and TinyHGR, with recognition accuracies of mAP0.5:0.95 at 75.6% and 66.8%, respectively, and a recognition speed of 64 FPS for 640 × 640 input images. The results show that the proposed method can recognize gestures quickly and accurately with complex backgrounds, and has higher recognition accuracy and stronger robustness compared to YOLOv5l, YOLOv7, and other comparative algorithms.
Power Distribution IoT Tasks Online Scheduling Algorithm Based on Cloud-Edge Dependent Microservice
Authors: Chen Ruolin , Cheng Qian , Zhang Xinhui
Published: April 2023

The power distribution network business gradually extends from the grid domain to the social service domain, and the new business keeps expanding. The edge device uses microservice architecture and container technology to realize the processing of different services by one physical device. Although the power distribution network IoT with cloud-edge architecture has good scalability, scenarios with insufficient resources for edge devices may occur. In order to support the scheduling and collaborative processing of tasks under the resource-constrained scenario from the edge device, this paper proposes a cloud-edge collaborative online scheduling method for the distribution of station area tasks under the microservice architecture. The article models the characteristics of power tasks and their constraints in the cloud-edge containerized scenario, designs the priority policy and task assignment policy based on the cloud-edge scheduling mechanism of containerized power tasks, and schedules the tasks in real time by an improved online algorithm. Simulation results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper has high task execution efficiency, can improve the completion rate of important tasks with limited resources of edge devices, and improves system security through resource replacement.
Experimental Validation of the Statistical Properties of Speckled-Speckle Fields in the Mesoscopic Intensity Regime
Authors: Bianciardi Camilla , Allevi Alessia , Bondani Maria
Published: April 2023

Several imaging techniques, such as ghost imaging, are based on the use of classical and quantum correlated light states. This fact has encouraged the search for new strategies to produce light states more correlated than the thermal states that are typically used. In this work, we produce and characterize classical states of light with “more than thermal” statistics. Such states are obtained by means of a sequence of two rotating ground-glass disks and by appropriately selecting the speckle field produced at the output of each disk. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with the developed theoretical model, suggesting the potential of this kind of light for imaging applications.
Diagnosis, Follow-Up and Therapy for Secondary Osteoporosis in Vulnerable Children: A Narrative Review
Authors: Dittrich Anne T. M. , Janssen Etienne J. M. , Geelen Joyce , Bouman Karlijn , Ward Leanne M. , Draaisma Jos M. T.
Published: April 2023

By definition, children constitute a vulnerable population, especially when they are chronically ill and/or disabled. A characteristic of chronically ill and disabled children is that they also suffer from indirect effects of their disease, such as immobilization, chronic inflammation, reduced time outdoors in the sun, osteotoxic effects of disease-targeted therapy (like glucocorticoids), and poor nutrition. All these factors may lead to bone fragility due to secondary osteoporosis, a co-morbidity that may be overlooked in the context of serious underlying diseases. The ultimate goal of osteoporosis diagnosis and monitoring in this setting is the early identification, prevention, and treatment of low-trauma long bone and vertebral fractures; indeed, vertebral fractures are a frequently under-diagnosed manifestation of overt bone fragility in this context. Efforts to prevent first-ever fractures are also meritorious, including encouragement of weight-bearing activities, optimization of nutritional status, including calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and the diagnosis and treatment of delayed growth and puberty; however, these conservative measures may be insufficient in those at high risk. Numerous natural history studies have shown that vertebral fractures are more common than non-vertebral (i.e., long bone) fractures in at-risk children. Not surprisingly, the cornerstone of secondary osteoporosis monitoring is lateral spine imaging for the early detection of vertebral collapse. Although dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard to measure bone mineral density, digital X-ray radiogrammetry may be used as a surrogate measure of bone strength if dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is not available. In the event that preventive measures fail, treatment with bisphosphonates may be appropriate. Typically, treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates is reserved for children with overt bone fragility and limited potential for spontaneous recovery. However, there is increasing attention to very high-risk children, such as boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who may benefit from bisphosphonate therapy prior to first-ever fractures (given their high fracture frequency and essentially absent potential for spontaneous recovery). This article provides a contemporary overview of the definition and diagnosis of osteoporosis in children with chronic illness, along with the approach to monitoring those at risk and the evidence for currently recommended intervention strategies.
Chiral Chromonics Confined in Spherical Geometries
Authors: De Santo Maria Penelope , Spina Lorenza , Ciuchi Federica
Published: April 2023

Chromonic liquid crystals have recently received a lot of attention due to their spontaneous self-assembly in supramolecular columnar structures that, depending on their concentration in water, align to form a nematic liquid crystalline phase. The chirality may be induced in chromonics by adding chiral moieties to the nematic phase or enhanced by confining them in curved geometrical constraints. This review summarizes the recent research developments on chiral chromonic liquid crystals confined in spherical geometry, relating the results to what was observed for thermotropic liquid crystals in the same conditions. The review focuses on the studies carried out on commercially available nematic chromonics, investigating the effects on their topologies in different anchoring conditions and different chiral dopants and suggesting an application in the sensor field.
Matrix Stiffness Influences Tubular Formation in Renal Tissue Engineering
Authors: Hamon Morgan , Chen Yuzhen , Srivastava Pratyush , Chang Hsiao-Min , Gupta Vijay , Jin Lihua , Yanagawa Norimoto , Hauser Peter V.
Published: April 2023

Tubular structures contribute to essential organ functions. Therefore, controlling tubulogenesis is essential for bottom-up tissue engineering approaches. Tissue engineering strategies to form tubular structures utilize extracellular matrix (ECM) components and micropatterned molds. To improve the tubular formation rate, we studied the substrate stiffness’s influence on the tubulogenesis of murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD) cells. mIMCD cells were seeded in micropatterned molds with different compositions of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (1:5, 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, 1:30) and agarose (1%, 2%, 3% 5%). We established the Young’s modulus of the PDMS and agarose substrates and determined the ideal substrate stiffness for tube formation to be between 277 kPa and 2610 kPa. Within our parameters, optimal tube formation was observed at 439.9 kPa, a value similar to the Young’s Modulus found in the basement membrane of the murine renal tubular compartment. We also found that different substrate concentrations of agarose or PDMS are associated with different expression levels of the apical polarization marker Zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) in the generated tubular structures. In addition to the substrate stiffness, we observed that the tube formation differed based on the substrate material, with agarose showing a generally greater tube formation rate. While previous research demonstrated that ECM stiffness influences cellular behavior towards tube formation, our results suggest that the stiffness of the substrate influences tubular formation independently of the ECM.
Inactivation of the Plant Pathogen Pythium ultimum by Plasma-Processed Air (PPA)
Authors: Wannicke Nicola , Brust Henrike
Published: April 2023

Pythium species are saprophytic or facultative plant pathogens that cause a variety of diseases. Usually, chemical anti-fungal seed dressing is applied in the conventional pre-harvest for seed protection. Nevertheless, recent legislative rules have created a ban on certain agrochemicals. Therefore, alternative eco-friendly methods have to be identified to ensure healthy field emergence and seedling development. In this study, a proof-of-concept was performed on the inactivation of Pythium ultimum Trow mycelia grown on potato dextrose broth agar (PBA) by plasma-processed air (PPA). Different plasma process parameters were applied using variation in gas flow of air through the microwave plasma generator and PPA exposure time. The PPA treatment was compared to the untreated and gas treated controls. The results showed a complete inactivation of P. ultimum mycelia after the PPA treatment. Inactivation efficiency was independent of the gas flow parameter and even shorter exposure times resulted in complete inactivation. To fully evaluate the potential of PPA as a possible seed hygiene measure, tests regarding the inactivation of P. ultimum after artificial inoculation onto seeds and/or studies using naturally infected seeds should be performed. This may be accompanied by monitoring the disease severity after the PPA treatment on a field scale.
The Effectiveness of Serious Games for Enhancing Literacy Skills in Children with Learning Disabilities or Difficulties: A Systematic Review
Authors: Marinelli Chiara Valeria , Nardacchione Giuliana , Trotta Eugenio , Di Fuccio Raffaele , Palladino Paola , Traetta Luigi , Limone Pierpaolo
Published: April 2023

Serious games (SGs) are often used for learning and cognitive improvement. This systematic review aims to verify the effectiveness of SG in enhancing the reading and writing of children with learning difficulties or disorders. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 Guidelines. The screening processes led to six relevant articles, all of which were randomized trials with a low risk of bias. The number of SGs developed for children with learning disorders with evidence of efficacy is very small, and they focus on enhancing only some aspects of literacy, leaving out the training of some fundamental skills, such as spelling and text comprehension. Serious games are effective in improving reading and metaphonological skills and in ensuring good engagement and enjoyment. However, poor generalization of progress to untreated skills was reported. The importance of investment in this area of research is highlighted.
Comparative Impact Analysis of Cyclone Ana in the Mozambique Channel Using Satellite Data
Authors: Singh Minerva , Schoenmakers Emma
Published: April 2023

There is still insufficient information available for a streamlined impact assessment of tropical cyclones on coastal habitats, particularly in the Mozambique Channel. Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data, along with socio-ecological parameters including mangrove forest health and population density, we modeled the extent of flooding and its impact following the ‘severe tropical storm’ Ana which occurred between the 20 January until 25 January over the Mozambique Channel. Focusing on regions hit by Ana, namely the Sofala and Zambezia regions and the Boeny and Melaky provinces in Mozambique and Madagascar, respectively, we adapted a model by the United Nations Platform for Space-Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) to effectively assess storm impacts at a resolution of up to 10 m. Our results showed that in Mozambique, more than 195,977 people have been potentially affected by Ana, while in Madagascar this number was down to 79,003. The central region of Zambezia accounted for the majority of flooding occurrences, although the Boeny province accounted for most of the flooding as a proportion of its total area. The Sofala region of Mozambique displayed the highest-affected population and highest-affected urban area, with 108,400 exposed people. However, it was found that only a small proportion of affected areas in all regions of interest (ROIs) were urban areas, accounting for 1.4% of the flooded areas on average. Low mangrove normalized-difference vegetation index (NDVI) changes between before the 2021–2022 cyclone season were found throughout all ROIs, despite the appearance of degraded mangrove patches in the proximity of barren areas at a fine scale (<20 m). Finally, it was found that healthy mangrove forest ecosystems in the Mozambique Channel were effective in protecting highly populated areas from cyclonic events for up to 40 km, on average.
A Review of the Important Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Gahamanyi Noel , Umuhoza Therese , Saeed Shamsaldeen Ibrahim , Mayigane Landry Ndriko , Hakizimana Jean Nepomuscene
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity, and the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is among the heavily affected regions due to its weak health systems and limited resources. Due to an escalating number of AMR pathogens and the scarcity of new antimicrobials, efforts in the prevention of infections and the search for alternative treatment options are ongoing. The objective of this review was to assess important weapons against AMR in SSA. The highlighted weapons include vaccines, education and awareness, infection prevention and control (IPC) using water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), alternative treatment options, the One Health (OH) approach, AMR surveillance, operational national action plans (NAPs) on AMR, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs, and good governance and regulations. Despite not being used at a satisfactory level in SSA, advanced techniques in dealing with AMR in SSA include (i) metagenomics, (ii) whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in AMR surveillance to track resistance trends and know when to intervene, and (iii) use of artificial intelligence in AMR prediction based on genomics data. The fight against AMR threat in SSA has embraced a number of currently available strategies, and developing new ones will lower the consequences of such a threat for future generations.
An Interval-Valued Three-Way Decision Model Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory
Authors: Zhou Hongli , Tang Xiao , Zhao Rongle
Published: April 2023

In interval-valued three-way decision, the reflection of decision-makers’ preference under the full consideration of interval-valued characteristics is particularly important. In this paper, we propose an interval-valued three-way decision model based on the cumulative prospect theory. First, by means of the interval distance measurement method, the loss function and the gain function are constructed to reflect the differences of interval radius and expectation simultaneously. Second, combined with the reference point, the prospect value function is utilized to reflect decision-makers’ different risk preferences for gains and losses. Third, the calculation method of cumulative prospect value for taking action is given through the transformation of the prospect value function and cumulative weight function. Then, the new decision rules are deduced based on the principle of maximizing the cumulative prospect value. Finally, in order to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the algorithm, the prospect value for decision-making and threshold changes are analyzed under different risk attitudes and different radii of the interval-valued decision model. In addition, compared with the interval-valued decision rough set model, our method in this paper has better decision prospects.
Investigating Path Integration Cues in Sand Scorpion Homing Behavior
Authors: Merchant Alexis B. , Gaffin Douglas D.
Published: April 2023

Many sand scorpions are faithful to the burrows they dig; however, it is unknown how these animals get back home after hunting excursions. Of the many mechanisms of homing that exist, path integration (PI) is one of the more common tools used by arachnids. In PI, an animal integrates its distance and direction while leaving its home, enabling it to compute an approximate homebound vector for the return trip. The objective of our study was to test whether scorpions use PI to return home under absolute darkness in the lab. We first allowed the animals to establish burrows in homing arenas. Then, after they left their burrow, we recorded the scorpion’s location in the homing arena before we transferred it to the center of the testing arena. We used overhead IR cameras to record its movements in the testing arena. If scorpions exhibited PI, we predicted they would follow a vector in the test arena that approximated the same angle and distance from the capture point to their burrow in their home arena. However, under the conditions of this experiment, we found no evidence that scorpions moved along such homebound vectors. We speculated that scorpions may need a reliable reference cue to accommodate path integration.
Assessing Urban Flood Hazard Vulnerability Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making and Geospatial Techniques in Nabadwip Municipality, West Bengal in India
Authors: Basu Tanmoy , Mondal Biraj Kanti , Abdelrahman Kamal , Fnais Mohammed S. , Praharaj Sarbeswar
Published: April 2023

The flood hazard risks and vulnerability in the urban areas alongside major rivers of India have been gradually increasing due to extreme climatic events. The present study is intended to assess flood hazard vulnerability and potential risk areas and aims to ascertain the management strategies in Nabadwip Municipality, a statutory urban area of West Bengal. The multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) of selected criteria and geospatial techniques have been employed to determine the urban flood vulnerability in the study area. The study has been conducted using secondary datasets including relevant remotely sensed data and participant observation. The potential flood-affected zones have been determined using the normalized difference flood index (NDFI) and flood vulnerability index (FVI). The analysis of the standardized precipitation index (SPI) of 20 years of monthly precipitation shows the variability of seasonal rainfall distribution in the study area. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the composite Ibrahim index of socio-economic development accents that the urban development of the study area was uneven. The municipal wards situated in the central and northeastern portions of Nabadwip Municipality were extremely vulnerable, whereas the western and southwestern wards were less vulnerable. It is also revealed from the strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–challenges (SWOC) of the principal management strategies of the flood situation analysis that the unplanned sewerage system is one of the most effective weaknesses in the area. All-embracing and integrative flood management strategies need to be implemented in the study area considering the intra-regional vulnerability and development for the resilient and sustainable development of the study area.
Comparison of 24 h Surface Ozone Forecast for Poland: CAMS Models vs Simple Statistical Models with Limited Number of Input Parameters
Authors: Pawlak Izabela , Fernandes Alnilam , Jarosławski Janusz , Klejnowski Krzysztof , Pietruczuk Aleksander
Published: April 2023

Surface ozone is usually measured in national networks, including the monitoring of gaseous components important for determining air quality and the short-term forecast of surface ozone. Here we consider the option of forecasting surface ozone based on measurements of only surface ozone and several weather parameters. This low-cost configuration can increase the number of locations that provide short-term surface ozone forecast important to local communities. 24 h prediction of the 1-h averaged concentration of surface ozone were presented for rural (Belsk, 20.79° E, 51.84° N) and suburban site (Racibórz, 18.19° E, 50.08° N) in Poland for the period 2018–2021 via simple statistical models dealing with a limited number of predictors. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were examined separately for each season of the year using temperature, relative humidity, an hour of the day, and 1-day lagged surface ozone values. The performance of ANN (with R2 = 0.81 in Racibórz versus R2 = 0.75 at Belsk) was slightly better than the MLR model (with R2 = 0.78 in Racibórz versus R2 = 0.71 at Belsk). These statistical models were compared with advanced chemical–transport models provided by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. Despite the simplicity of the statistical models, they showed better performance in all seasons, with the exception of winter.
Possible Pre-Seismic Indications Prior to Strong Earthquakes That Occurred in Southeastern Mediterranean as Observed Simultaneously by Three VLF/LF Stations Installed in Athens (Greece)
Authors: Politis Dimitrios Z. , Potirakis Stelios M. , Sasmal Sudipta , Malkotsis Filopimin , Dimakos Dionisis , Hayakawa Masashi
Published: April 2023

In this work, we present the analysis of VLF/LF sub-ionospheric propagation data to study anomalies possibly related to very recent strong (M > 5.5) earthquakes (EQs) that occurred in the southeastern Mediterranean in September–October 2021 and January 2022. We used the signal of one transmitter located at Negev in Israel (29.7 kHz) as received by three VLF/LF receivers (two of them using identical SW and HW) installed, at a close distance to each other, in Athens (Greece). This study employed multiple methods and techniques to analyze the reception amplitude data to identify any possible EQ-related anomalies. More specifically, first, we used both statistical and criticality analysis methods such as the “nighttime fluctuation method” (NFM), the “terminator time method” (TTM), and the “natural time” (NT) analysis method. These methods have satisfactorily been applied in the past in a series of other studies leading to interesting results. Moreover, we additionally used two more analysis techniques focusing on the signal’s amplitude characteristics. The first is the wavelet analysis of the nighttime part of the signal’s amplitude. It is based on the Morlet wavelet function, aiming to unveil the possible existence of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) before EQ. The second is named “long wavelength propagation capability” (LWPC), which simulates the amplitude of the signal and is based on the reflection parameters of ionosphere and by searching for increases or decreases of the electron density profile of the ionospheric D layer concerning the shifts of the minima of terminator times (TTs) in the diurnal variation of the signal. Finally, in this work, we summarize our findings and discuss possible “pre-”, “co-”, and “post-” seismic effects as observed from all the work.
One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks for Detecting Transiting Exoplanets
Authors: Iglesias Álvarez Santiago , Díez Alonso Enrique , Sánchez Rodríguez María Luisa , Rodríguez Rodríguez Javier , Sánchez Lasheras Fernando , de Cos Juez Francisco Javier
Published: April 2023

The transit method is one of the most relevant exoplanet detection techniques, which consists of detecting periodic eclipses in the light curves of stars. This is not always easy due to the presence of noise in the light curves, which is induced, for example, by the response of a telescope to stellar flux. For this reason, we aimed to develop an artificial neural network model that is able to detect these transits in light curves obtained from different telescopes and surveys. We created artificial light curves with and without transits to try to mimic those expected for the extended mission of the Kepler telescope (K2) in order to train and validate a 1D convolutional neural network model, which was later tested, obtaining an accuracy of 99.02% and an estimated error (loss function) of 0.03. These results, among others, helped to confirm that the 1D CNN is a good choice for working with non-phased-folded Mandel and Agol light curves with transits. It also reduces the number of light curves that have to be visually inspected to decide if they present transit-like signals and decreases the time needed for analyzing each (with respect to traditional analysis).