bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-Invasive On-Site pXRF Analysis of Coloring Agents, Marks and Enamels of Qing Imperial and Non-Imperial Porcelain
Authors: Colomban Philippe , Simsek Franci Gulsu , Burlot Jacques , Gallet Xavier , Zhao Bing , Clais Jean-Baptiste
Published: February 2023

On-site pXRF analysis in various French collections (Musée du Louvre, Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet, Paris) of porcelains decorated with painted enamels from the Qing Dynasty, in particular porcelains bearing an imperial mark, identifies the types of enamels/glazes, the ions and coloring phases or the opacifier. The study of the elements associated with cobalt (nickel, manganese, arsenic, etc.) and of the impurities of the silicate matrix (yttrium, rubidium and strontium) differentiates the use of ‘Chinese/Asian’ raw materials from ones imported from Europe by the initiative of the European missionaries (chiefly Jesuits) present at the Court (Beijing). Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the blue color of the marks and to the elements associated with the use of gold or copper nanoparticles as well as to the compositions of the pyrochlore phases (tin yellow, Naples yellow). The comparison is extended to pXRF and Raman microspectroscopy measurements previously made on other Qing imperial porcelains as well as on Cantonese productions (on porcelain or metal) from different Swiss and French museums and blue-and-white wares of the Ming and Yuan Dynasties (archaeological and private collections).
Overview on Photoreforming of Biomass Aqueous Solutions to Generate H2 in the Presence of g-C3N4-Based Materials
Authors: García-López E. I. , Palmisano L. , Marcì G.
Published: February 2023

Photoreforming (PR) of biomass can be considered a viable technology under mild experimental conditions to produce hydrogen with a high reaction rate using compounds from renewable resources and waste materials. The application of biomass PR gives rise to both hydrogen generation and biomass waste valorization. The process could be scaled up to obtain hydrogen under natural sunlight irradiation, and research on polymeric carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts has been widely carried out in recent years. The non-metallic-based carbon nitride materials are economical and (photo)stable polymer semiconductors, and their physicochemical surface and electronic properties are optimal for obtaining H2, which can be considered a gas that does not cause major environmental problems. Some hindrances related to their structure, such as the low absorption of visible light and the relatively high recombination rate of electron-hole pairs, restrict the performance; therefore, it is necessary to improve their activity and the yield of the reaction by modifying them in various ways. Various types of solutions have been proposed in this regard, such as, for example, their coupling with other semiconductors to form composite materials. The current mini-review aims to overview the PR field, reporting some of the most interesting papers devoted to understanding the role of g-C3N4 in biomass PR. Information on many physico-chemical aspects related to the performance of the process and possible ways to obtain better results than those present up to now in the literature will be reported.
SIFT-MS: Quantifying the Volatiles You Smell…and the Toxics You Don’t
Authors: Langford Vaughan S.
Published: February 2023

The human olfactory system is highly attuned to detection of a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but the sensitivity varies considerably based on chemical functionality. Whereas most humans can appreciate the sensory properties of certain foods, beverages, and fragrances, and at times be alerted to volatile chemical hazards, many VOCs are hazardous below the human odor detection threshold. Since its introduction in the mid-1990s, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been widely applied to quantitative analysis of a broad range of VOCs in applications from food products to workplace safety to environmental monitoring, and most recently to pharmaceutical testing. This review surveys the applications of SIFT-MS in odor analysis and in workplace, environmental and consumer protection, with a particular focus on the complementarity of this real-time mass spectrometry analyzer to sensor technology and conventional laboratory techniques—in particular, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
Electrochemical Detection of Surfactant-Encapsulated Aqueous Nanodroplets in Organic Solution
Authors: Kim Pankyu , Moon Hyeongkwon , Park Jun Hui
Published: February 2023

We report enhanced electrochemical detection of single water-in-oil emulsion droplets using the nano-impact method. To detect the emulsion droplets, the water molecules in the droplets were directly oxidized (i.e., water splitting) without additional electroactive species when the droplets collided with the ultramicroelectrode. The water molecules in the emulsion droplet cannot be directly electrolyzed in an organic solvent because the emulsifier does not require a hydrophobic electrolyte. To enhance the signal intensity, the electrochemistry of sub-microscale single droplets was investigated considering the charge neutrality and limiting reagent. Therefore, effective electrolysis of the droplets was achieved. Approximately 10% of water molecules in the droplet (55.6 M H2O) were oxidized based on calculations from the electrochemical peak analysis and DLS measurements.
Associations between Parenting, Temperament-Related Self-Regulation and the Moral Self in Middle Childhood
Authors: Schütz Jessica , Bäker Neele
Published: February 2023

The moral self is increasingly being debated in research, i.e., what causes children to internalise and evaluate the importance of certain moral values. The aim of the present study is to analyse associations between parental warmth and harsh parenting, temperamental self-regulation (inhibitory control and impulsivity), and the moral self in middle childhood. A total of 194 (n = 52 children with special educational needs in emotional–social development) six- to eleven-year-old children (Mage = 8.53, SDage = 1.40) and their primary caregivers (Mage = 40.41, SDage = 5.94) participated in this cross-sectional questionnaire study. Parental warmth and impulsivity were associated with the moral self. Impulsivity mediated the relationship between harsh parenting as well as parental warmth and the moral self. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance to social information processing theory. The importance of parenting and temperamental self-regulation is discussed as implications that may in turn strengthen children’s moral selves.
Development of a Group Emergent Literacy Screening Tool
Authors: Cruz Joana , Mendes Sofia , Marques Sofia , Alves Diana , Cadime Irene
Published: February 2023

It is important to identify children who are struggling with emergent literacy skills as early as possible to provide them with the support they need to prevent future academic failure. Screening tools administered in groups are more cost-effective than those administered individually, but few are available in Portugal. The goal of this study was to explore the psychometric properties (difficulty, reliability, and validity) of a group emergent literacy screening test for Portuguese-speaking children. The test includes two phonological awareness tasks, one vocabulary task, and one concepts of print task. The sample comprised 1379 children from pre-K (n = 314), kindergarten (n = 579), and first grade of primary education (n = 486). Measures of emergent literacy, reading and writing skills, and academic achievement were used to test the validity of the screening test. The Rasch model results suggest that the tasks were suitably difficult for the kindergarten group, but had varying levels of difficulty for pre-K and first grade. Reliability was adequate for the tasks with an appropriate level of difficulty. Scores for the screening test were highly correlated with measures of literacy and with academic achievement. These findings suggest that the presented emergent literacy screening test is valid and reliable, making it a useful tool for practice and research.
Development and Optimization of Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics under Different Crossing Periods of Bottle Gourd
Authors: Malik Anurag , Mor Virender Singh , Punia Himani , Duhan D. S. , Tokas Jayanti , Bhuker Axay , Alyemeni Mohammed Nasser , Shakoor Awais
Published: February 2023

Bottle gourd, a common vegetable in the human diet, has been valued for its medicinal and energetic properties. In this experiment, the time-resolved analysis of the changes in the proteins’ electrophoretic patterning of the seed development at different crossing periods was studied in bottle gourd using label-free quantitative proteomics. Hybrid HBGH-35 had the highest observed protein levels at the 4th week of the crossing period (F4) compared to the parental lines, viz. G-2 (M) and Pusa Naveen (F). The crossing period is significantly correlated with grain filling and reserve accumulation. The observed protein expression profile after storage was related to seed maturation and grain filling in bottle gourds. A total of 2517 proteins were identified in differentially treated bottle gourd fruits, and 372 proteins were differentially expressed between different crossing periods. Proteins related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism, anthocyanin biosynthesis, cell stress response, and fruit firmness were characterized and quantified. Some proteins were involved in the development, while others were engaged in desiccation and the early grain-filling stage. F4 was distinguished by an increase in the accumulation of low molecular weight proteins and enzymes such as amylase, a serine protease, and trypsin inhibitors. The seed vigor also followed similar patterns of differential expression of seed storage proteins. Our findings defined a new window during seed production, which showed that at F4, maximum photosynthetic assimilates accumulated, resulting in an enhanced source–sink relationship and improved seed production. Our study attempts to observe the protein expression profiling pattern under different crossing periods using label-free quantitative proteomics in bottle gourd. It will facilitate future detailed investigation of the protein associated with quality traits and the agronomic importance of bottle gourd through selective breeding programs.
Techno-Economic Efficiency Estimation of Promising Integrated Oxyfuel Gasification Combined-Cycle Power Plants with Carbon Capture
Authors: Donskoy Igor
Published: February 2023

The study concerns promising coal-fired power plants that can gain an advantage over traditional options in the context of decarbonization. The calculations show that combined-cycle plants with integrated coal gasification and carbon dioxide recirculation may have better technical and economic characteristics compared to existing gasification processes (one- and two-stage). The recirculation of carbon dioxide improves the efficiency of the gasification process (the combustible gases yield and the fuel carbon conversion degree) and reduces the energy costs of the flue gas cleaning and carbon capture unit, thereby improving the economic performance of the plant. The estimates show that the decrease in the efficiency of electricity production associated with the removal of carbon dioxide is approximately 8% for the recirculation of combustion products and 15–16% for traditional processes, and the increase in the cost of electricity is 20–25% versus 35–40%, respectively.
Impact of Paraffin Composition on the Interactions between Waxes, Asphaltenes, and Paraffin Inhibitors in a Light Crude Oil
Authors: M'barki Oualid , Clements John , Salazar Luis , Machac James , Nguyen Quoc P.
Published: February 2023

The effect of wax molecular weight distribution on the efficacy of two alpha olefin-maleic anhydride paraffin inhibitors (PIs) having different densities of alkyl side-chains were examined in light West Texas crude in the absence and presence of asphaltenes. Interpretation of the data was aided by cross-polarization microscopy. Primary differences in wax crystal morphology appear to be driven by the composition of the wax, with secondary differences being associated with the choice of PI. In the absence of asphaltenes, the effect of wax composition on PI performance (i.e., reducing oil viscosity and wax appearance temperature) is greater for the PI having the higher chain density, with the one having the lower chain density being generally more effective regardless of the wax composition. These differences are diminished in the presence of asphaltenes such that the PI having the higher chain density is somewhat more effective. Trends in both morphology and viscosity suggest a steric effect associated with wax composition that is lessened on interaction of the PIs with asphaltenes.
A New Extension of the Kumaraswamy Generated Family of Distributions with Applications to Real Data
Authors: Abbas Salma , Muhammad Mustapha , Jamal Farrukh , Chesneau Christophe , Muhammad Isyaku , Bouchane Mouna
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we develop the new extended Kumaraswamy generated (NEKwG) family of distributions. It aims to improve the modeling capability of the standard Kumaraswamy family by using a one-parameter exponential-logarithmic transformation. Mathematical developments of the NEKwG family are provided, such as the probability density function series representation, moments, information measure, and order statistics, along with asymptotic distribution results. Two special distributions are highlighted and discussed, namely, the new extended Kumaraswamy uniform (NEKwU) and the new extended Kumaraswamy exponential (NEKwE) distributions. They differ in support, but both have the features to generate models that accommodate versatile skewed data and non-monotone failure rates. We employ maximum likelihood, least-squares estimation, and Bayes estimation methods for parameter estimation. The performance of these methods is discussed using simulation studies. Finally, two real data applications are used to show the flexibility and importance of the NEKwU and NEKwE models in practice.
Onset of Mental Disorders Following Hospitalization for COVID-19: A 6-Month Follow-Up Study
Authors: Chamorro-Delmo Jaime , Portillo De-Antonio Pablo , Porras-Segovia Alejandro , de León-Martínez Santiago , Figuero Oltra Marta , del Pozo-Herce Pablo , Sánchez-Escribano Martínez Adela , Abejón Pérez Irene , Vera-Varela Constanza , Postolache Teodor T. , Lopez-Fernandez Olatz ,   COVID-MH Collaboration Group, Baca-Garcia Enrique
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: The present study aimed to investigate the onset of mental disorders in the six months following hospitalization for COVID-19 in people without a previous psychiatric history. (2) Methods: This was a longitudinal study carried out among adults who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. Six months after discharge, a series of questionnaires were administered (the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7, and the Drug Abuse Screen Test, among others). Based on these scores, a compound Yes/No variable that indicated the presence of common mental disorders was calculated. A multivariate logistic regression was built to explore the factors associated with the presence of common mental disorders. (3) Results: One hundred and sixty-eight patients (57.34%) developed a common mental disorder in the 6 months following hospital discharge after COVID-19 infection. Three variables were independently associated with the presence of common mental disorders after hospitalization for COVID-19, and the WHO-5 duration of hospitalization), and severity of illness. (4) Conclusions: Among people with no previous psychiatric history, we observed a high incidence of mental disorders after COVID-19 hospitalization. A moderate (1–2 weeks) duration of hospitalization may pose a higher risk of post-COVID-19 onset of a mental health condition than longer or shorter durations of medical hospitalization. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the psychopathological consequences of COVID-19 and their predictors.
Assessment of the Ecological Association between Tobacco Smoking Exposure and Bladder Cancer Incidence over the Past Half-Century in the United States
Authors: Seisen Thomas , Labban Muhieddine , Lipsitz Stuart R. , Preston Mark A. , Mossanen Matthew , Bellmunt Joaquim , Rouprêt Morgan , Choueiri Toni K. , Kibel Adam S. , Sun Maxine , Trinh Quoc-Dien
Published: February 2023

Background: Since tobacco smoking represents the most established risk factor for bladder cancer, we sought to assess the ecological association between tobacco smoking prevalence and bladder cancer incidence and to contrast it with lung cancer. Methods: The annual overall tobacco smoking prevalence rates were extracted from the Report of the Surgeon General and the Center for Disease Control between 1953 and 1983. The overall age-adjusted incidence rates for bladder and lung cancers were derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1983 and 2013 (30-year latency period). Weighted least square regression models were used to assess bladder and lung cancer incidence rate differences (IRD) related to trends in tobacco smoking prevalence. A Wald test was used to compare whether the prevalence of tobacco smoking, as an explanatory variable, differentially predicts bladder versus lung cancer incidence rates. Results: The associations between tobacco smoking prevalence and bladder cancer incidence were not significant in the overall (IRD = +0.04; 95%CI (−0.14; +0.22); p = 0.63), male (IRD = +0.07; 95%CI (−0.09; +0.23); p = 0.37), or female (IRD = +0.12; 95%CI (−0.01; +0.25); p = 0.06) populations. There was an association between tobacco smoking prevalence and lung cancer incidence in the overall (IRD: +3.55; 95%CI ( +3.09; +4.00); p < 0.001), male (IRD: +4.82; 95%CI (+4.44; +5.20); p < 0.001), and female (IRD: +3.55; 95%CI (+3.12; +3.99); p < 0.001) populations. The difference between the observed associations of tobacco smoking prevalence with bladder versus lung cancer incidence was also significant in all examined populations (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Variations in tobacco smoking prevalence only partially explained the trends in the incidence of bladder cancer, indicating that its etiology is complex.
A Medical Image Segmentation Method Based on Improved UNet 3+ Network
Authors: Xu Yang , Hou Shike , Wang Xiangyu , Li Duo , Lu Lu
Published: February 2023

In recent years, segmentation details and computing efficiency have become more important in medical image segmentation for clinical applications. In deep learning, UNet based on a convolutional neural network is one of the most commonly used models. UNet 3+ was designed as a modified UNet by adopting the architecture of full-scale skip connections. However, full-scale feature fusion can result in excessively redundant computations. This study aimed to reduce the network parameters of UNet 3+ while further improving the feature extraction capability. First, to eliminate redundancy and improve computational efficiency, we prune the full-scale skip connections of UNet 3+. In addition, we use the attention module called Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) to capture more essential features and thus improve the feature expression capabilities. The performance of the proposed model was validated by three different types of datasets: skin cancer segmentation, breast cancer segmentation, and lung segmentation. The parameters are reduced by about 36% and 18% compared to UNet and UNet 3+, respectively. The results show that the proposed method not only outperformed the comparison models in a variety of evaluation metrics but also achieved more accurate segmentation results. The proposed models have lower network parameters that enhance feature extraction and improve segmentation performance efficiently. Furthermore, the models have great potential for application in medical imaging computer-aided diagnosis.
Benign Intranodal Thyroid Tissue Similar to Nodal Metastasis of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Kang Yoo-Na , Cha Jung-Guen
Published: February 2023

In patients with thyroid nodules, if the cervical lymph nodes gradually enlarge, a histological confirmation is required to rule out malignancy. Here is a case of benign intranodal thyroid tissue with cystic changes resembling lymph node metastasis of a papillary thyroid carcinoma. A 47-year-old man received ethanol sclerotherapy because of repeated enlargement of the thyroid gland 2 years prior to presentation. Subsequently, the patient underwent abscess removal from the deep neck and partial lobectomy of the attached left thyroid gland. Two months before the visit, extensive cervical lymphadenopathy was detected on ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). Total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection were performed to differentiate between metastatic papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland and benign thyroid inclusions. Microscopic examination revealed multiple variable-sized nodules of benign thyroid follicles with cystic changes in both thyroid glands and bilateral cervical lymph nodes. An occult papillary microcarcinoma strongly positive for HBME-1 was also observed in the left thyroid lobe. However, the benign intranodal thyroid tissue was negative in both the real-time PCR-based BRAF V600E mutation test and HBME-1 immunohistochemical stain. Similarly, benign intranodal thyroid tissue can be enlarged by multiple cystic changes in a large number of lymph nodes along the neck node chain. For the differentiation of metastatic thyroid papillary carcinoma, real-time PCR-based BRAF V600E mutation test and HBME-1 immunohistochemical staining in addition to histological examination are helpful.
Quality Measures in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Aboabat Aos , Ahmad Zareen , Steiman Amanda , Johnson Sindhu R.
Published: February 2023

Quality improvement is an emerging field, that applies principles of improvement science and utilizes measurement methods with the aim of improving patient care. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease associated with increased healthcare burden, cost, morbidity, and mortality. Gaps in delivering care to patients with SSc have been consistently observed. In this article, we introduce the discipline of quality improvement and its use of quality measures. We summarize and comparatively evaluate three sets of quality measures that have been proposed to evaluate the quality of care of patients with SSc. Finally, we highlight the areas of unmet needs and indicate future directions for quality improvement and quality measures in SSc.
Validation of the Measuring Protocol for the Infraspinatus Muscle with M-Mode Ultrasound in Asymptomatic Subjects. Intra- and Inter-examiner Reliability Study
Authors: Ortega-Santamaría Marina , Torralbo-Álvarez-Novoa María-Eugenia , Cuenca-Zaldívar Juan-Nicolás , Naranjo-Cinto Fermin , Fernández-Carnero Samuel , Pecos-Martín Daniel
Published: February 2023

M-mode ultrasound is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing muscle activity. However, it has not been studied in any of the muscles belonging to the shoulder joint complex, particularly in the infraspinatus muscle. The aim of this study is the validation of the infraspinatus muscle activity measurement protocol with the M-mode ultrasound in asymptomatic subjects. Sixty asymptomatic volunteers were evaluated by two physiotherapists who were blinded; each of them carried out three measurements with the M-mode ultrasound in infraspinatus muscle and analysed the muscle thickness at rest and contraction, velocity of muscle activation and relaxation and Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC). Intra-observer reliability was significant in both observers, showing good thickness at rest (ICC = 0.833–0.889), thickness in contraction (ICC = 0.861–0.933) and MVIC (ICC = 0.875–0.813); moderate in the activation velocity (ICC = 0.499–0.547) and relaxation velocity (ICC = 0.457–0.606). The inter-observer reliability also had good thickness at rest (ICC = 0.797), thickness in contraction (ICC = 0.89) and MVIC (ICC = 0.84); poor in relaxation time variable (ICC = 0.474) and not significant at the activation velocity (ICC = 0). The muscle activity measurement protocol of the infraspinatus muscle measured with M-mode ultrasound has been found to be reliable in asymptomatic subjects, for both the intra-examiner and inter-examiner.
Clinical and Technical Validation of Novel Bite Force Measuring Device for Functional Analysis after Mandibular Reconstruction
Authors: Steffen Claudius , Duda Katharina , Wulsten Dag , Voss Jan O. , Koerdt Steffen , Nahles Susanne , Heiland Max , Checa Sara , Rendenbach Carsten
Published: February 2023

Bite force measuring devices that are generally suitable for edentulous patients or patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction are missing. This study assesses the validity of a new bite force measuring device (prototype of loadpad®, novel GmbH) and evaluates its feasibility in patients after segmental mandibular resection. Accuracy and reproducibility were analyzed with two different protocols using a universal testing machine (Z010 AllroundLine, Zwick/Roell, Ulm, Germany). Four groups were tested to evaluate the impact of silicone layers around the sensor: no silicone (“pure”), 2.0 mm soft silicone (“2-soft”), 7.0 mm soft silicone (“7-soft”) and 2.0 mm hard silicone (“2-hard”). Thereafter, the device was tested in 10 patients prospectively who underwent mandibular reconstruction using a fibula free flap. Average relative deviations of the measured force in relation to the applied load reached 0.77% (“7-soft”) to 5.28% (“2-hard”). Repeated measurements in “2-soft” revealed a mean relative deviation of 2.5% until an applied load of 600 N. Maximum bite force decreased postoperatively by 51.8% to a maximum mean bite force of 131.5 N. The novel device guarantees a high accuracy and degree of reproducibility. Furthermore, it offers new opportunities to quantify perioperative oral function after reconstructive surgery of the mandible also in edentulous patients.
Preanalytical Errors in a Hematology Laboratory: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Iqbal Mohammad Shahid , Tabassum Aisha , Arbaeen Ahmad Fawzi , Qasem Ahmed H. , Elshemi Adel G. , Almasmoum Hibah
Published: February 2023

Background: Laboratory errors arise at any stage of testing. Detecting these inaccuracies before results are revealed might delay diagnosis and treatment, causing patient distress. Here, we studied the preanalytical errors in a hematology laboratory. Methods: This one-year retrospective analysis was conducted at the laboratory of a tertiary care hospital and included information on blood samples that were taken for hematology tests from both outpatients and inpatients. Laboratory records included sample collection and rejection information. The type and frequency of preanalytical errors were expressed as a proportion of total errors and sample number. Microsoft Excel was utilized to enter data. The results were presented in the form of frequency tables. Results: This research included 67,892 hematology samples. For preanalytical errors, 886 samples (1.3%) were discarded. The most common preanalytical error was insufficient sample (54.17%), and the least common was an empty/damaged tube (0.4%). Erroneous samples in the emergency department were mostly insufficient and clotted, whereas pediatric sample errors were caused by insufficient and diluted samples. Conclusion: Inadequate samples and clotted samples account for the vast majority of preanalytical factors. Insufficiency and dilutional errors were most frequent from pediatric patients. Adherence to best laboratory practices can drastically cut down on preanalytical errors.
Simple and Convenient Method for Assessing the Severity of Bleeding during Endoscopic Prostate Surgery and the Relationships between Its Corresponding Surgical Outcomes
Authors: Weng Shu-Chuan , Tsao Shu-Han , Tsai Han-Yu , Juang Horng-Heng , Lin Yu-Hsiang , Chang Phei-Lang , Chen Chien-Lun , Hou Chen-Pang
Published: February 2023

Bleeding during endoscopic prostate surgery is often overlooked, and appropriate measurement techniques are rarely applied. We proposed a simple and convenient method for assessing the severity of bleeding during endoscopic prostate surgery. We determined the factors affecting bleeding severity and whether they affected the surgical results and functional outcomes. Records from March 2019 to April 2022 were obtained for selected patients who underwent endoscopic prostate enucleation through either 120-W Vela XL Thulium:YAG laser or bipolar plasma enucleation of the prostate. The bleeding index was measured using the following equation: irrigant hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (g/dL) × irrigation fluid volume (mL)/preoperative blood Hb concentration (g/dL) × enucleated tissue (g). Our research revealed that patients who underwent surgery employing the thulium laser, those aged over 80 years, and those with a preoperative maximal flow rate (Qmax) of more than 10 cc/s experienced less surgical bleeding. The patients’ treatment outcomes differed depending on the severity of the bleeding. Enucleating prostate tissue was easier in the patients with less severe bleeding, who also had a lower risk of developing urinary tract infections and an improved Qmax.
Vertebral Artery Dissection Following Anterior Cervical Decompression and Artificial Disc Replacement
Authors: Ahn Seong Hwan , Kim Haksung , Kim Dae Kyun , Kim Seok Won
Published: February 2023

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a rare vascular cause of acute stroke. Although VAD may be classified as spontaneous or traumatic, it is increasingly recognized that trivial mechanical stress typically precipitates this potentially dangerous condition. Herein, we report a rare case of VAD and acute stroke following anterior cervical decompression and artificial disc replacement (ADR). To our knowledge, there have been no other cases of acute vertebrobasilar stroke caused by VAD following anterior cervical decompression and ADR. This case highlights that, although rare, acute vertebrobasilar stroke may occur after the anterior cervical approach.
Structural Component Phenotypic Traits from Individual Maize Skeletonization by UAS-Based Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry
Authors: Herrero-Huerta Monica , Gonzalez-Aguilera Diego , Yang Yang
Published: February 2023

The bottleneck in plant breeding programs is to have cost-effective high-throughput phenotyping methodologies to efficiently describe the new lines and hybrids developed. In this paper, we propose a fully automatic approach to overcome not only the individual maize extraction but also the trait quantification challenge of structural components from unmanned aerial system (UAS) imagery. The experimental setup was carried out at the Indiana Corn and Soybean Innovation Center at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) in West Lafayette (IN, USA). On 27 July and 3 August 2021, two flights were performed over maize trials using a custom-designed UAS platform with a Sony Alpha ILCE-7R photogrammetric sensor onboard. RGB images were processed using a standard photogrammetric pipeline based on structure from motion (SfM) to obtain a final scaled 3D point cloud of the study field. Individual plants were extracted by, first, semantically segmenting the point cloud into ground and maize using 3D deep learning. Secondly, we employed a connected component algorithm to the maize end-members. Finally, once individual plants were accurately extracted, we robustly applied a Laplacian-based contraction skeleton algorithm to compute several structural component traits from each plant. The results from phenotypic traits such as height and number of leaves show a determination coefficient (R2) with on-field and digital measurements, respectively, better than 90%. Our test trial reveals the viability of extracting several phenotypic traits of individual maize using a skeletonization approach on the basis of a UAS imagery-based point cloud. As a limitation of the methodology proposed, we highlight that the lack of plant occlusions in the UAS images obtains a more complete point cloud of the plant, giving more accuracy in the extracted traits.
Characterizing Child–Computer–Parent Interactions during a Computer-Based Coding Game for 5- to 7-Year-Olds
Authors: Ehsan Hoda , Ohland Carson , Cardella Monica E.
Published: February 2023

In this study we characterize ways that interactions children have with their parents and a coding game can support them in engaging in computational thinking. Taking a qualitative approach, we analyzed the video-recordings of 14 families of 5-to-7-year-old children as they played a computer-based coding game in an engineering and CT exhibit at a small science center. The findings revealed a variety of different types of interactions children had with the coding game and with their parents. We discuss the opportunities these interactions provided for children’s engagement in different CT competencies. While aspects of the computer interaction were crucial for children’s CT engagement, some interactions did not occur in ways that encouraged children’s use of CT. Parent–child interactions played a very important role in enabling the children’s computational thinking. Overall, we believe the parent–child and child–computer interactions complemented each other to fully engage children in CT. We provide implications for practitioners and designers who aim to support children’s engagement in different CT competencies.
Teacher Motivation to Teach in Challenging School Contexts on the Cape Flats, Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Christian Desiré , Sayed Yusuf
Published: February 2023

This study emerged from a desire to understand the motivation of teachers to teach in challenging school contexts on the Cape Flats of South Africa where the legacy of apartheid continues to impact the quality of teaching and learning as the communities experience abject poverty, violence, and gang activity and have little regard for schooling, teachers, or education. This qualitative study employed an interpretative paradigm to understand the personal, lived experiences of teachers teaching in three purposively selected primary schools in Manenberg on the Cape Flats. The participants agreed to at least one semi-structured interview with follow-up questions for clarity if required. The findings suggest that the motivation of the teachers to teach at schools in a marginalised community is positively linked to the relationships they develop with their teacher community and the students and their families. If these relationships are positive, teachers are able to live out their beliefs and remain committed to the school community, which increases their perceived levels of self-efficacy and therefore their motivation to teach in the Manenberg area. Where they have support from the larger school community, their motivation is further enhanced. This motivation can be applied to countries with marginalised communities, particularly countries in the global south.
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Community-Based Art Education among Students in Higher Education
Authors: Blatt-Gross Carolina
Published: February 2023

Advocating for the academic value of community-based art education requires empirical evidence that students are not just participating in community-building activities, but also effectively learning content. Unfortunately, little is known about the short- and long-term cognitive outcomes on student participants, particularly in higher education. Based in a phenomenological methodology with a reflective lifeworld research design, this longitudinal study seeks to understand the interwoven cognitive and social outcomes of participating in community-engaged art projects among college students. Informed by a theoretical framework in which CBAE situates learning in authentic social contexts, findings suggest that it may be decisively poised to yield short- and long-term educational benefits in which student learning deepens through the development of social connectedness. These findings expand the possibilities for collaboration as a pedagogical model for inclusive postsecondary education.
Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview: Psychometric Properties in Family Caregivers of People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Domínguez-Vergara Julio , Santa-Cruz-Espinoza Henry , Chávez-Ventura Gina
Published: February 2023

Caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities may feel overburdened in their work and experience negative psychological consequences. The purpose of this instrumental study was to determine the evidence of internal structure and reliability of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview scale. A total of 398 family caregivers, including women and men, participated (M = 47.33, SD = 10.44). The structure of the scale was evaluated by factor analysis and the McDonald Omega coefficient was used to estimate reliability. Sixteen models of the scale were tested, differing in number of items and factor structures. A model of 15 items and 4 dimensions (overload, competence, social relationship, and interpersonal relationship) obtained acceptable fit (χ2 = 184.72; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.95; TLI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.055; SRMR = 0.05) and reliability coefficients above 0.70 in their dimensions. It is concluded that the Zarit scale is valid and reliable for use in caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities.
Reinforcement-Learning-Based Software-Defined Edge Task Allocation Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Tianhao , Zhu Xiaojuan , Wu Cai
Published: February 2023

With the rapid growth in the number of IoT devices at the edge of the network, fast, flexible and secure edge computing has emerged, but the disadvantage of the insufficient computing power of edge servers is evident when dealing with massive computing tasks. To address this situation, firstly, a software-defined edge-computing architecture (SDEC) is proposed, merging the control layer of the software-defined architecture with the edge layer of edge computing, where multiple controllers share global information about the network state through an east–west message exchange, providing global state for the collaboration of edge servers. Secondly, a reinforcement-learning-based software-defined edge task allocation algorithm (RL-SDETA) is proposed in the software-defined IoT, which enables controllers to allocate computational tasks to the most appropriate edge servers for execution based on the global network information they have obtained. Simulation results show that the RL-SDETA algorithm can effectively reduce the finding cost of the optimal edge server and reduce the task completion time and its energy consumption compared to various task allocation methods such as random and uniform.
Facial Image Encryption for Secure Face Recognition System
Authors: Abusham Eimad , Ibrahim Basil , Zia Kashif , Rehman Muhammad
Published: February 2023

A biometric authentication system is more convenient and secure than graphical or textual passwords when accessing information systems. Unfortunately, biometric authentication systems have the disadvantage of being susceptible to spoofing attacks. Authentication schemes based on biometrics, including face recognition, are susceptible to spoofing. This paper proposes an image encryption scheme to counter spoofing attacks by integrating it into the pipeline of Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) based face recognition. The encryption scheme uses XOR pixels substitution and cellular automata for scrambling. A single key is used to encrypt the training and testing datasets in LDA face recognition system. For added security, the encryption step requires input images of faces to be encrypted with the correct key before the system can recognize the images. An LDA face recognition scheme based on random forest classifiers has achieved 96.25% accuracy on ORL dataset in classifying encrypted test face images. In a test where original test face images were not encrypted with keys used for encrypted feature databases, the system achieved 8.75% accuracy only showing it is capable of resisting spoofing attacks.
Asymmetric 5.5 GHz Three-Stage Voltage-Controlled Ring-Oscillator in 65 nm CMOS Technology
Authors: Ciarpi Gabriele , Monda Danilo , Mestice Marco , Rossi Daniele , Saponara Sergio
Published: February 2023

The current trend of increasing the complexity of hardware accelerators to improve their functionality is highlighting the problem of sharing a high-frequency clock signal for all integrated modules. As the clock itself is becoming the main limitation to the performance of accelerators, in this manuscript, we present the design of an asymmetric Ring Oscillator-Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (RO-VCO) based on the Current Mode Logic architecture. The RO-VCO was designed on commercial-grade 65 nm CMOS technology, and it is capable of driving large capacitance loads, avoiding the need for additional buffers for clock-trees, reducing the silicon area and power consumption. The proposed RO-VCO is composed of three closed-loop differential and asymmetrical stages, and it is able to tune the working frequency in the range from 4.72 GHz to 6.12 GHz. The phase noise and a figure of merit of −103.2 dBc/Hz and −186 dBc/Hz were obtained at 1 MHz offset from the 5.5 GHz carrier. In this article, the analytical model, full custom schematic, and layout of the proposed RO-VCO are presented and discussed in detail together with the experimental electrical and thermal characterization of the fabricated device.
Device Status Evaluation Method Based on Deep Learning for PHM Scenarios
Authors: Wang Pengjun , Qin Jiahao , Li Jiucheng , Wu Meng , Zhou Shan , Feng Le
Published: February 2023

The emergence of fault prediction and health management (PHM) technology has proposed a new solution and is suitable for implementing the functions of improving the intelligent management and control system. However, the research and application of the PHM model in the intelligent management and control system of electronic equipment are few at present, and there are many problems that need to be solved urgently in PHM technology itself. In order to solve such problems, this paper studies the application of the equipment-status-assessment method based on deep learning in PHM scenarios, in order to conduct in-depth research on the intelligent control system of electronic equipment. The experimental results in this paper show that the change in unimproved deep learning is very subtle before the performance change point, while improvements in deep learning increase the health value by about 10 times. Thus, improved deep learning amplifies subtle changes in health early in degradation and slows down mutations in health late at performance failure points. At the same time, comparing health-index-evaluation indicators, it can be concluded that although the monotonicity of the health index is low, its robustness and correlation are significantly improved. Additionally, it is very close to 1, making the health index curve more in line with traditional cognition and convenient for application. Therefore, an in-depth study of methods for health assessment by improving deep learning is of practical significance.
Uniform Linear Antenna Array Beamsteering Based on Phase-Locked Loops
Authors: Chepala Anil , Fusco Vincent , Naeem Umair , McKernan Adrian
Published: February 2023

Phased arrays are extensively used in many modern beam-scanning applications such as radar and satellite communications. Electronic beam scanning makes phased arrays an important aspect of modern antenna array systems. This Tutorial aims to promote the basic understanding of the principle and operation of a phased array to general undergraduate students. This paper starts with a discussion on the theory of operation and some basic definitions of antenna parameters followed by derivations of two-element and N-element array patterns and, finally, a five-element array design. The essential hardware based on Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) as phase controllable RF sources required to build an array and the basic tools required for software and measurement set-up to demonstrate the beam-scanning phased array operation are presented. This enables students to quickly understand and set-up an experiment to verify the phased array operation with commercial off-the-shelf components. In addition, the hardware and software necessary for autonomous control are discussed. By combining basic concepts of phase arrays with a series of simple coding and intuitive laboratory experiments, students can easily understand the Uniform Linear Array (ULA) scanning operation.
Data-Driven Constraint Handling in Multi-Objective Inductor Design
Authors: Lorenti Gianmarco , Ragusa Carlo Stefano , Repetto Maurizio , Solimene Luigi
Published: February 2023

This paper analyses the multi-objective design of an inductor for a DC-DC buck converter. The core volume and total losses are the two competing objectives, which should be minimised while satisfying the design constraints on the required differential inductance profile and the maximum overheating. The multi-objective optimisation problem is solved by means of a population-based metaheuristic algorithm based on Artificial Immune Systems (AIS). Despite its effectiveness in finding the Pareto front, the algorithm requires the evaluation of many candidate solutions before converging. In the case of the inductor design problem, the evaluation of a configuration is time-consuming. In fact, a non-linear iterative technique (fixed point) is needed to obtain the differential inductance profile of the configuration, as it may operate in conditions of partial saturation. However, many configurations evaluated during an optimisation do not comply with the design constraint, resulting in expensive and unnecessary calculations. Therefore, this paper proposes the adoption of a data-driven surrogate model in a pre-selection phase of the optimisation. The adopted model should classify newly generated configurations as compliant or not with the design constraint. Configurations classified as unfeasible are disregarded, thus avoiding the computational burden of their complete evaluation. Interesting results have been obtained, both in terms of avoided configuration evaluations and the quality of the Pareto front found by the optimisation procedure.