bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Recreational Therapy and 3D Ultrasonography for High-Risk Pregnancies on Psychological Well-Being during Hospitalization and in the Puerperal Phase
Authors: Kuehnle Elna , Jungk Jessica , Brodowski Lars , Kohls Fabian , Hillemanns Peter , Staboulidou Ismini
Published: September 2023

Hospitalization during pregnancy often produces psychosocial distress for pregnant women. In this study, 3D ultrasound and recreational therapy were compared to the standard treatment for their influence on depressive symptoms and anxiety. In this prospective one-year intervention study, women who were admitted to the hospital for any pregnancy complication, other than psychiatric, were included. A control group, with standard clinical treatment, and two intervention groups, both additionally receiving either 3D ultrasound or recreational therapy, were established. Psychological well-being was assessed at defined times by the PHQ-health-questionnaire. A total of 169/211 women were included: control group n = 79, 3D ultrasound group n = 43, and crochet group n = 83. A higher than estimated underlying depression was seen for all women on admission. The intervention groups showed less depression (p = 0.02762). No difference was seen between the intervention groups (p = 0.23029). Anxiety decreased throughout intervention, but not significantly. On admission, all women showed similar results of underlying depression, indicating that hospitalization itself already causes mild psychological stress. Both interventions decreased depressive symptoms. Intervention with either recreational therapy or 3D ultrasound can prevent the development of mild and major depression and decrease anxiety disorders, and therefore has a positive effect on well-being during hospitalization. These results emphasize the need to implement forms of interventions to improve the well-being of women, as this might improve pregnancy and neonatal outcome.
Updates on Emerging Interventions for Autosomal Recessive ABCA4-Associated Stargardt Disease
Authors: Wang Liang , Shah Serena M. , Mangwani-Mordani Simran , Gregori Ninel Z.
Published: September 2023

Autosomal recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1) is an inherited retinal degenerative disease associated with a mutated ATP-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 4 (ABCA4) gene. STGD1 is the most common form of juvenile macular degeneration with onset in late childhood to early or middle adulthood and causes progressive, irreversible visual impairment and blindness. No effective treatment is currently available. In the present article, we review the most recent updates in clinical trials targeting the management of STGD1, including gene therapy, small molecule therapy, and stem cell therapy. In gene therapy, dual adeno-associated virus and non-viral vectors have been successful in delivering the human ABCA4 gene in preclinical studies. For pharmaceutical therapies ALK-001, deuterated vitamin A shows promise with preliminary data for phase 2 trial, demonstrating a decreased atrophy growth rate after two years. Stem cell therapy using human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells demonstrated long-term safety three years after implantation and visual acuity improvements in the first two years after initiation of therapy. Many other treatment options have ongoing investigations and clinical trials. While multiple potential interventions have shown promise in attenuating disease progression, further exploration is necessary to demonstrate treatment safety and efficacy.
Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes after Poor-Quality Embryo Transfer and Prognostic Parameters
Authors: Kadioglu Nezaket , Kahyaoğlu İnci , Kaplanoğlu İskender , Dilbaz Serdar , Engin Üstün Yaprak
Published: September 2023

We aimed to investigate the clinical results following poor-quality embryo transfer and the parameters to foresee the prognosis. In this study, 2123 cycles that had day 3 and day 5 single-fresh embryo with poor-quality embryo transfers and good-quality embryo transfers were compared. The cycles according to transfer day were evaluated by conducting a subgroup analysis. The correlation between all the obtained demographic characteristics, controlled ovarian stimulation parameters, and cycle results were analysed. Clinical pregnancy was established in 53 patients that underwent transfer in the poor-quality embryo group (14.9%). Of these patients, 36 had live birth (live birth rate per clinical pregnancy 67.9%). In cleavage-stage embryos, live birth rates per clinical pregnancy were higher in poor-quality blastocyst transfer. When analysing the factors affecting live births in the poor-quality embryo group, as the total gonadotropin dose increases, the probability of live birth decreases, as in the probability of hCG positivity. In conclusion, although the probability of pregnancy is low, when clinical pregnancy is established, there is a high chance of having a live birth after poor-quality embryo transfers. This could be regarded as an acceptable option in cycles when only poor-quality embryos are available.
Risk and Prognostic Factors for Glaucoma Associated with Peters Anomaly
Authors: Yokota Chika , Hirooka Kazuyuki , Okada Naoki , Kiuchi Yoshiaki
Published: September 2023

Glaucoma secondary to Peters anomaly is an important factor affecting visual prognosis, but there are few reports on the condition. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of glaucoma associated with Peters anomaly and glaucoma surgery outcomes. This retrospective study included 31 eyes of 20 patients with Peters anomaly. Peters anomaly was classified into three stages: Stage 1, with a posterior corneal defect only; Stage 2, a corneal defect with iridocorneal adhesion; and Stage 3, a corneal defect with lens abnormalities. The associations between glaucoma and anterior segment dysgenesis severity, visual prognosis, and glaucoma surgery outcomes were analyzed. Sixteen eyes of ten patients developed glaucoma. Stage 1 Peters anomaly had no glaucoma, 52% of Stage 2 had glaucoma, and 75% of Stage 3 had glaucoma. Of the 16 eyes with glaucoma, 11 underwent surgery. Eight of these eleven eyes achieved intraocular pressure (IOP) control. Five of the nine eyes that underwent trabeculotomy (TLO) succeeded, and none had corneal staphyloma. Three of the four eyes for which TLO was ineffective had corneal staphyloma (p = 0.0331). Patients with Peters anomaly are more likely to develop glaucoma as anterior segment dysgenesis progresses, and the effect of TLO is limited if corneal staphyloma is present.
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Reported Health Status and Smoking and Drinking Habits in the General Urban Population
Authors: Chlabicz Magdalena , Szum-Jakubowska Aleksandra , Sowa Paweł , Chlabicz Małgorzata , Sołomacha Sebastian , Kiszkiel Łukasz , Minarowski Łukasz , Guziejko Katarzyna , Laskowski Piotr P. , Moniuszko-Malinowska Anna M. , Kamiński Karol A.
Published: September 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic created a significant crisis in global health. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-rated health status and smoking and alcohol habits. The Bialystok PLUS cohort study was conducted in 2018–2022. A total of 1222 randomly selected city residents were examined and divided into two groups: before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants’ lifestyle habits and medical history were collected from self-reported questionnaires. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were used to assess the degree of alcohol and nicotine dependence. The survey revealed a reduced frequency of reported allergies vs. an increased frequency of reported sinusitis and asthma; increased incidence of declared hypercholesterolemia and visual impairment; a reduced number of cigarettes smoked per day, lower FTND score, and a greater desire to quit smoking in the next six months; and an increase in hs-CRP and FeNO levels in the population during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic population. The COVID-19 pandemic had a measurable impact on the general population’s prevalence of certain medical conditions and lifestyle habits. Further research should continue to examine the long-term health implications of the pandemic.
Predicting Survival for Veno-Arterial ECMO Using Conditional Inference Trees—A Multicenter Study
Authors: Braun Julia , Sahli Sebastian D. , Spahn Donat R. , Röder Daniel , Neb Holger , Lotz Gösta , Aser Raed , Wilhelm Markus J. , Kaserer Alexander
Published: September 2023

Background: Despite increasing use and understanding of the process, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) therapy is still associated with considerable mortality. Personalized and quick survival predictions using machine learning methods can assist in clinical decision making before ECMO insertion. Methods: This is a multicenter study to develop and validate an easy-to-use prognostic model to predict in-hospital mortality of VA-ECMO therapy, using unbiased recursive partitioning with conditional inference trees. We compared two sets with different numbers of variables (small and comprehensive), all of which were available just before ECMO initiation. The area under the curve (AUC), the cross-validated Brier score, and the error rate were applied to assess model performance. Data were collected retrospectively between 2007 and 2019. Results: 837 patients were eligible for this study; 679 patients in the derivation cohort (median (IQR) age 60 (49 to 69) years; 187 (28%) female patients) and a total of 158 patients in two external validation cohorts (median (IQR) age 57 (49 to 65) and 70 (63 to 76) years). For the small data set, the model showed a cross-validated error rate of 35.79% and an AUC of 0.70 (95% confidence interval from 0.66 to 0.74). In the comprehensive data set, the error rate was the same with a value of 35.35%, with an AUC of 0.71 (95% confidence interval from 0.67 to 0.75). The mean Brier scores of the two models were 0.210 (small data set) and 0.211 (comprehensive data set). External validation showed an error rate of 43% and AUC of 0.60 (95% confidence interval from 0.52 to 0.69) using the small tree and an error rate of 35% with an AUC of 0.63 (95% confidence interval from 0.54 to 0.72) using the comprehensive tree. There were large differences between the two validation sets. Conclusions: Conditional inference trees are able to augment prognostic clinical decision making for patients undergoing ECMO treatment. They may provide a degree of accuracy in mortality prediction and prognostic stratification using readily available variables.
Utility of Covered Self-Expanding Metal Stents for Biliary Drainage during Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Furukawa Masaru , Ishii Yasutaka , Serikawa Masahiro , Tsuboi Tomofumi , Tatsukawa Yumiko , Hirano Tetsuro , Nakamura Shinya , Ikemoto Juri , Kiyoshita Yusuke , Saeki Sho , Tamura Yosuke , Miyamoto Sayaka , Nakamura Kazuki , Yamashita Yumiko , Iijima Noriaki , Uemura Kenichiro , Oka Shiro
Published: September 2023

Objectives: We aimed to compare the utility of covered self-expanding metal stents (CSEMSs) with that of plastic stents (PSs) for biliary drainage during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Methods: Forty patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer underwent biliary stenting during neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Hiroshima University Hospital. PSs and CSEMSs were placed in 19 and 21 patients, respectively. Two gemcitabine-based regimens for chemotherapy were used. Treatment outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between both groups. Results: The incidence of recurrent biliary obstruction was significantly lower in the CSEMS group (0% vs. 47.4%, p < 0.001), and the median time to recurrent biliary obstruction in the PS group was 47 days. There was no difference in the incidence of other complications such as non-occlusive cholangitis, pancreatitis, and cholecystitis between the two groups. Delays in the chemotherapy schedule due to stent-related complications were significantly frequent in the PS group (52.6% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusions: CSEMSs may be the best choice for safely performing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for several months in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer with bile duct stricture.
Diagnostic Value of an Additional Sequence (Large-Field Coronal Stir) in a Routine Lumbar Spine MR Imaging Protocol to Investigate Lumbar Radiculopathy
Authors: Patriat Quentin , Prigent François-Victor , Aho Serge , Lenfant Marc , Ramon André , Loffroy Romaric , Lambert Aurelien , Ornetti Paul
Published: September 2023

Objective. Lumbar radiculopathy mainly originates in the spine (lumbar disc herniation or spine osteoarthritis) but can sometimes be explained by extra-spinal nerve compression or confused with referred pain mimicking radiculopathy. Our main objective was to demonstrate the clinical benefit of the large-field coronal STIR (coroSTIR) sequence in the etiological assessment of lumbar radiculopathy with a duration of more than six weeks. Materials and methods. Six hundred consecutive lumbar MRI scans performed using the same protocol were retrospectively reviewed. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently assessed the coroSTIR sequence for the presence of extra-spinal anomalies (ESA) that could explain or contribute to the lumbar radiculopathy. The presence of an ESA was then correlated with sex, age, topography and lateralization of radiculopathy, history of vertebral surgery, as well as the presence of a spinal cause explaining the symptoms. Extra-spinal incidentalomas (ESI) with potential clinical impact visible only on the coroSTIR sequence were also systematically reported. Results. An extra-spinal cause was detected on the coroSTIR sequence in 68 cases (11.3%), mainly gluteal tendinobursitis (30.9%), congestive hip osteoarthritis (25%), degenerative sacroiliac arthropathy (14.7%), or inflammatory sacroilitis (7.3%). Their prevalence was significantly correlated in multivariate regression with age (58 years vs. 53 years, p = 0.01), but not with the type of radiating pain (sciatica or cruralgia). The presence of ESI was also frequent (70 cases, 11.7%), including some potentially severe diagnoses (38% of tumor or pseudo-tumor mass requiring further assessment or monitoring). Conclusions. Considering its acceptable acquisition time, the detection of a significant number of potentially symptom-related extra-spinal anomalies, and the discovery of a non-negligible number of extra-spinal incidentalomas with potential clinical impact, the coronal STIR should be performed systematically in routine MRI for lumbar radiculopathy.
Bipolar Disorder and Gaming Disorder—Compatible or Incompatible Diagnoses?
Authors: Floros Georgios , Mylona Ioanna
Published: September 2023

Gaming Disorder (GD) is one of the latest additions in the psychiatric taxonomy, following its official inclusion in the latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This narrative review examines the rationale of an exclusion criterion for the diagnosis of GD, that of disordered gaming being limited exclusively during an episode of elevated mood in bipolar disorder. The history of the formulation of diagnostic criteria for the disorder and all relevant published studies are examined critically, and conclusions are drawn as to the potential validity and usability of the exclusion criterion. Suggestions are offered for future research to elucidate not only the relevance of the exclusion criterion but also the differential diagnosis of GD with pathological gambling (PG).
Outcome Analysis of Speed Gate Cannulation during Standard Infrarenal Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
Authors: Mirabella Domenico , Evola Salvatore , Dinoto Ettore , Setacci Carlo , Pakeliani David , Setacci Francesco , Annicchiarico Paolo , Pecoraro Felice
Published: September 2023

Background: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is generally performed with bi/trimodular stent-grafts requiring retrograde contralateral gate cannulation (CGC). In the case of tricky CGC, an increased EVAR procedural time and radiation exposure have been reported. Herein, we compare the outcomes of conventional CGC and CGC using the speed gate cannulation (SGC) technique in standard EVAR for a propensity-matched cohort. Methods: A total of 371 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Inclusion criteria were fulfilled in 172 patients who underwent propensity score matching. Primary outcomes included operative time, CGC time, mean contrast medium, fluoroscopy time, and CGC fluoroscopy time. Results: After matching, 78 patients were included in each group (SGC vs. standard). Primary outcomes registered a significant reduction in CGC time (4 [1–6] vs. 8 [6–14] min; p = 0.001) and fluoroscopy time (12 [9–16] vs. 17 [12–25] min). Conclusions: In this preliminary experiment, the use of SGC was feasible with no significant registered postoperative complications. A significant reduction in contrast medium usage, radiation exposure, and CGC time was observed with the use of SGC. SGC is a simple adjunctive technique, and its use should be considered in standard EVAR, especially in emergency scenarios, where time is of the essence.
Effect of a Pericardium Graft Inserted Adjacent to the Endplate in the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation
Authors: Oh Si Eun , Jung Kyoung In , Shin Hee Jong , Ryu Hee Kyung , Kim Seong Ah , Park Hae-Young Lopilly , Park Chan Kee
Published: September 2023

The surface area of encapsulation around the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) endplate is a critical factor in the surgical outcome as it is associated with the degree of IOP reduction. We investigated the surgical outcome of AGV implantation with an additional pericardium graft inserted adjacent to the endplate, with the intent of expanding the surface area of encapsulation. We enrolled 92 patients (92 eyes) who underwent AGV implantation. Of them, 50 patients underwent conventional surgery (termed the without-expansion group), and 42 received an additional an 8 × 6 mm pericardium graft inserted adjacent to the AGV endplate at the sub-Tenon’s space (with-expansion). The hypertensive phase was classified as mild (>21 mmHg), moderate (>25 mmHg), and severe (>30 mmHg). Six months post-surgery, the with-expansion group exhibited a lower IOP (14.90 ± 4.27 mmHg) and lower peak IOP (22.29 ± 4.95 mmHg) than the without-expansion group (17.56 ± 4.88 mmHg and 25.06 ± 6.18 mmHg, p = 0.008 and p = 0.021, respectively). The with-expansion group exhibited a relatively low rate of moderate (16.7%) and severe (4.8%) hypertensive phases compared to the without-expansion group (40.0% and 20.0%, with p = 0.014 and p = 0.031, respectively). The additional pericardium graft was associated with a reduced occurrence of moderate hypertensive phase in both univariate and multivariate analysis logistic regression analyses (p = 0.017 and p = 0.038, respectively). Endplate surface area expansion using an additional pericardium graft reduced the occurrence of moderate and severe hypertensive phases, and lower postoperative 6-month IOP could be achieved.
A Comparative Analysis of the Incidence, Severity and Duration of Smell and Taste Loss in COVID-19 Cases Versus Non-COVID-19 Cases: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Schepens Emma J. A. , Kamalski Digna M. A. , Stegeman Inge ,   Lifelines Corona Research Initiative
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the relevance of olfactory and gustatory disorders. However, these symptoms can also be caused by various other factors. In this study we aimed to compare the incidence, severity and duration between COVID-19 related and non-COVID-19 related smell and taste disorders. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study using data from the Dutch biobank Lifelines, which includes over 167,000 participants. The data were collected using 27 questionnaires distributed between March 2020 and May 2022. Descriptive data and the incidence of smell and taste loss in both groups were calculated. To visualize the proportion of severity rates of symptoms, a heatmap was created. A survival analysis was conducted and presented in a reversed Kaplan–Meier curve to show the probability of having persistent smell loss in both groups. The study included 235,722 participants. The incidence of smell loss was higher in the COVID-19 positive group, when compared to the COVID-19 negative group. We found varying degrees of symptom severity in COVID-19 positive cases, ranging from mild to severe, while non-COVID-19 related cases mostly reported mild symptoms. The survival outcome for smell and taste loss was 0.12 (SE 0.03, 95% CI 0.07–0.21) in COVID-19 related cases, and was 0.17 (SE 0.03, 95% CI 0.12–0.24) in cases related to other causes. This study reveals a higher incidence and severity of smell and taste loss in individuals with COVID-19 compared to non-COVID-19 related cases. However, non-COVID-19 related smell and taste loss tend to have a longer duration.
AI vs. AI: Can AI Detect AI-Generated Images?
Authors: Baraheem Samah S. , Nguyen Tam V.
Published: September 2023

The proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) has shown impressive success in image synthesis. Artificial GAN-based synthesized images have been widely spread over the Internet with the advancement in generating naturalistic and photo-realistic images. This might have the ability to improve content and media; however, it also constitutes a threat with regard to legitimacy, authenticity, and security. Moreover, implementing an automated system that is able to detect and recognize GAN-generated images is significant for image synthesis models as an evaluation tool, regardless of the input modality. To this end, we propose a framework for reliably detecting AI-generated images from real ones through Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). First, GAN-generated images were collected based on different tasks and different architectures to help with the generalization. Then, transfer learning was applied. Finally, several Class Activation Maps (CAM) were integrated to determine the discriminative regions that guided the classification model in its decision. Our approach achieved 100% on our dataset, i.e., Real or Synthetic Images (RSI), and a superior performance on other datasets and configurations in terms of its accuracy. Hence, it can be used as an evaluation tool in image generation. Our best detector was a pre-trained EfficientNetB4 fine-tuned on our dataset with a batch size of 64 and an initial learning rate of 0.001 for 20 epochs. Adam was used as an optimizer, and learning rate reduction along with data augmentation were incorporated.
When Not to Operate on Acute Cases—A Surgeon’s Perspective on Rapid Assessment of Emergency Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography
Authors: Alius Catalin , Serban Dragos , Tribus Laura Carina , Costea Daniel Ovidiu , Cristea Bogdan Mihai , Serboiu Crenguta , Motofei Ion , Dascalu Ana Maria , Velescu Bruno , Tudor Corneliu , Socea Bogdan , Bobirca Anca , Vancea Geta , Tanasescu Denisa , Bratu Dan Georgian
Published: September 2023

Clinical problem solving evolves in parallel with advances in technology and discoveries in the medical field. However, it always reverts to basic cognitive processes involved in critical thinking, such as hypothetical–deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, and compilation models. When dealing with cases of acute abdominal pain, clinicians should employ all available tools that allow them to rapidly refine their analysis for a definitive diagnosis. Therefore, we propose a standardized method for the quick assessment of abdominopelvic computed tomography as a supplement to the traditional clinical reasoning process. This narrative review explores the cognitive basis of errors in reading imaging. It explains the practical use of attenuation values, contrast phases, and windowing for non-radiologists and details a multistep protocol for finding radiological cues during CT reading and interpretation. This systematic approach describes the salient features and technical tools needed to ascertain the causality between clinical patterns and abdominopelvic changes visible on CT scans from a surgeon’s perspective. It comprises 16 sections that should be read successively and that cover the entire abdominopelvic region. Each section details specific radiological signs and provides clear explanations for targeted searches, as well as anatomical and technical hints. Reliance on imaging in clinical problem solving does not make a decision dichotomous nor does it guarantee success in diagnostic endeavors. However, it contributes exact information for supporting the clinical assessments even in the most subtle and intricate conditions.
Enhanced Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for Green Scheduling of Heterogeneous Quay Cranes Considering Cooperative Movement and Safety
Authors: Zhong Lingchong , He Lijun , Li Yongcui , Zhang Yu , Zhou Yong , Li Wenfeng
Published: September 2023

Heterogeneous quay cranes (HQCs) are the main energy-consuming equipment of automated container terminals, and they need to move from one bay to another along the rail and maintain a safe distance from one another. Improving the operational efficiency of HQCs and reducing the ineffective walking distance of HQCs are key to reducing the energy consumption of QCs. In this paper, an energy-efficient HQC cooperative scheduling problem is studied, and the HQCs are required to ensure safe and efficient operation. A multi-objective scheduling model is formulated to minimize the maximum completion time of containers, the average completion time of HQCs, and the total energy consumption of HQCs simultaneously. An Enhanced Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (EMOEA) is designed to solve this problem using a problem-feature-based encoding method to encode and initialize the population, a cooperative strategy to ensure the safe operating distance of HQCs, and a novel multi-objective evaluation mechanism with effective evolutionary operators. The results indicate that the different operational capacities of HQCs had a significant impact on the three studied objectives, especially for some large-scale problems, and that our algorithm outperforms three other well-known multi-objective algorithms in solving the EHQCCSP.
The Influence of Medium Composition on EUCAST and Etest Antifungal Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Vahedi-Shahandashti Roya , Stubenböck Melanie Maria , Lass-Flörl Cornelia
Published: September 2023

There is an ongoing effort to optimize and revise antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) methods due to the rising number of fungal infections and drug-resistant fungi. The rising antifungal resistance within Candida and Aspergillus species, which are common contributors to invasive fungal infections (IFIs), is a cause for concern, prompting an expanding integration of in vitro AFST to guide clinical decisions. To improve the relevance of in vitro AFST results to therapy outcomes, influential factors should be taken into account. The tested medium is one of several factors that could affect the results of AFST. The present study evaluated the effect of two complex media (Sabouraud dextrose and Columbia) versus the standard defined medium (RPMI 1640) on the AFST results of amphotericin B, posaconazole, and voriconazole against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. representatives, utilizing the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and the Etest methods. Overall, Candida species exhibited higher variability in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) across different media (more than three log2 dilutions) comparing to Aspergillus spp., while quality control isolates showed consistency regardless of tested media, antifungals, and methods. When comparing tested methods, MIC variation was mostly detected using EUCAST than it was using Etest.
Congenital Heart Disease: A Growing Population with Challenges to Patients and Providers
Authors: Majdalany David S.
Published: September 2023

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most frequent disorder encountered in the newborn period and the most frequent cause of infant mortality [...]
Does Capital Expenditure Matter for ESG Disclosure? A UK Perspective
Authors: Moussa Ahmed Saber , Elmarzouky Mahmoud
Published: September 2023

This study examines how capital expenditure (capex) affects Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and how corporate governance moderates this effect. We use data from non-financial firms in the FTSE All Share index from 2012 to 2021 and measure ESG disclosure with the Bloomberg ESG Disclosure Score, capex with logarithm of the ratio of capital expenditure to total assets, and corporate governance with a composite index based on Board Size, Independent Board, Board Diversity, and Audit Committee Non-Executives. We also examine the non-linear and threshold effects of capex on ESG disclosure with spline regression models. We find that capex is positively linked to ESG disclosure and that this association is robust for firms with better corporate governance. Our findings imply that capex improves ESG performance and impact and that corporate governance enables ESG communication to stakeholders. Our research advances the existing literature by revealing the link between capex, governance, and ESG reporting in a dynamic and uncertain environment. Our study holds practical significance for companies, investors, and regulators who want to incorporate ESG factors into capex decisions and reporting.
Measurements and Spatial–Temporal Evolution of Urban Comprehensive Carrying Capacity in the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Lin Yinghua , Jin Fengjun , Ma Li , Meng Jianwei
Published: September 2023

An evaluation index system was conducted to determine the urban comprehensive carrying capacity of the Yellow River Basin using four subsystems (resources, society, ecology, and economy). The urban comprehensive carrying capacity level of nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin from 2008 to 2019 was determined using the entropy weight TOPSIS model, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of the urban comprehensive carrying capacity of each province were investigated. There were four key results. (1) The urban comprehensive carrying capacity of the upstream and downstream provinces decreased from 2008 to 2011 and increased from 2011 to 2019; in the midstream provinces, it increased from 2008 to 2011 but decreased after 2011. (2) The urban comprehensive carrying capacity of the Yellow River Basin was “high in the east and west, low in the middle” from 2008 to 2017, while in 2019, the distribution was “high in the west and low in the east.” The gap between the urban comprehensive carrying capacities of the nine provinces and regions gradually narrowed over the study period. (3) The urban comprehensive carrying capacity of the Yellow River Basin increased annually during the study period. (4) The urban comprehensive carrying capacity was mainly influenced by the social and ecological subsystems.
Personal Cognition and Implicit Constructs Affecting Preferential Decisions on Farmland Ownership: Multiple Case Studies in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Hidayat Ar. R. T. , Sianipar Corinthias P. M. , Hashimoto Shizuka , Hoshino Satoshi , Dimyati Muhammad , Yustika Ahmad E.
Published: September 2023

Farmland ownership is a critical issue for sustainable agriculture since it affects short-term productivity and the long-term stability of the sector. However, existing literature largely focused on immediately simplifying individual opinions through statistical methods, neglecting how implicit values could drive preferential ownership decisions. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the driving factors underlying decisions on farmland ownership, especially when there are cognitive factors that induce hidden constructs in individual preferences. This research, to observe the cognition and implicit values leading to ownership decisions, applied the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) with subsequent Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Taking the multiple case studies of three villages in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, this study involved 40 farmland owners. The RGT revealed a staggering 85 constructs leading to six ownership decisions: keep farming, buying, joint farming, leasing, selling, and converting. In general, the driving forces were distinguished into landowners’ household profile, sustainability-related (community and social conditions), spatial (farmland conversion and accessibility), and economic aspects. Based on PCA, “buying” and “keep farming” shared several driving forces and led to sustainable farming. In contrast, “joint farming”, “leasing”, “selling”, and “converting” were found to threaten farming sustainability. In addition, this study offers in-depth insights into the driving factors of different preferential ownership decisions according to the cognition and implicit values of individual landowners, allowing policymakers and other stakeholders to tailor policies and strategies to context-specific farmland ownership issues in pursuing sustainable agriculture.
Impact of Ecological Restoration Project on Water Conservation Function of Qilian Mountains Based on InVEST Model—A Case Study of the Upper Reaches of Shiyang River Basin
Authors: Wang Jiarui , Zhou Junju , Ma Dongfeng , Zhao Xi , Wei Wei , Liu Chunfang , Zhang Dongxia , Wang Chunli
Published: September 2023

Scientifically evaluating the influence of ecological restoration projects on the water conservation function (WCF) of regional ecosystems is the foundation for formulating regional ecological restoration policies and optimizing and adjusting ecological restoration projects. In this paper, we considered fully the runoff generation and confluence process in the Qilian Mountains with the actual situation of the basin and re-rated the parameter Z to improve the simulation accuracy of InVEST model. On this basis, the impact of ecological restoration project on the WCF in the upper reaches of Shiyang River Basin (SRB) in the eastern part of Qilian Mountains was quantified. The results showed that, on the whole, the water conservation depth (WCD) of forest land was the largest (138.5 mm) and that of cultivated land was the smallest (24.78 mm), while the water conservation coefficient of forest land was also the largest (93.36%) and that of unused land was the smallest (16.67%). From 1986 to 2018, the WCD showed an increasing trend in the upper reaches of SRB, among them, the WCD in the western tributaries increased faster than that in the eastern tributaries from 1986 to 2000. The significantly increased areas were mainly distributed in the middle reaches of the western tributaries and the river source areas of the eastern tributaries, while the significantly decreased areas were mainly distributed in the river source areas of the western tributaries and the cultivated land expansion area in the middle reaches of the eastern tributaries. From 2000 to 2018, the WCD of the eastern tributaries increased more than that of the western tributaries. The significantly increased areas were mainly distributed in the four eastern tributaries, and the significantly decreased areas were scattered in the middle and lower reaches of each tributary. From 1986 to 2000, the overall influence of land use change on the increase in WCD was negative, while the influence of climate and land use change on the increase in water conservation were both positive from 2000 to 2018. The influence of land use change on WCD was different in different tributaries. Among them, that of the western tributaries (except the Dongda River) was positive in two different periods, while that of the eastern tributaries (except the Xiying River) was changed from negative to positive. The implementation of ecological restoration project was one of the main reasons for the improvement of WCF in Qilian Mountains from 2000 to 2018, with a contribution of 9.04%. In the future, the protection and restoration of decreased areas of WCF should be strengthened, and the Z value determined in this paper is expected to be applied in the arid inland river basins of northwest China.
How to Encourage Public Engagement in Smart City Development—Learning from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mutambik Ibrahim , Almuqrin Abdullah , Alharbi Fawaz , Abusharhah Majed
Published: September 2023

The concept of the smart city is well-established, and governments across the world are either planning, or already implementing, strategies to transform existing cities to smart status. However, governments cannot act alone. If the implementation of these smart city strategies are to be successful, public engagement is a key factor. This raises the question of how best to ensure public engagement. Currently, the various external factors that influence willingness to support, and actively participate in, the development of smart cities are not well-understood, as there are few studies which examine the issue. This is of significance across the globe, but is of particular significance in Saudi Arabia, which has announced an ambitious smart city development plan. The aim of this research is to explore this issue—that is, it seeks to identify the key variables that influence the intention to participate in smart city development, and explores how they ultimately affect engagement behaviours. To achieve this, the study used a quantitative methodology, based on data from residents of 10 Saudi cities, each of which is part of the Kingdom’s 2030 smart city plan. The data were analysed, using structural equation modelling (SEM), in order to test the reliability and predictive value of a model which hypothesised a positive relationship between five external variables: information availability, perceived benefits, social norms, behaviour management, and social responsibility and engagement behaviour. The results showed that information availability has a direct and positive effect on an individual’s engagement behaviour, while perceived benefits, responsibility and social norms have an indirect effect on engagement, by positively impacting the attitude of residents. Practical implications, based on these findings, are discussed. The study contributes important insights to the literature, as it is one of the few studies to explore such a model in the context of smart cities. It therefore acts as a useful foundation for further research. However, the focus on Saudi cities may be considered a limitation in terms of generalisability, and other external variables could usefully be explored in future research.
The Therapy of Vulvar Carcinoma—Evaluation of Surgical Options in a Retrospective Monocentric Study
Authors: Jankowski Peter , Findeklee Sebastian , Georgescu Mihai-Teodor , Sima Romina Marina , Nigdelis Meletios P. , Solomayer Erich-Franz , Klamminger Gilbert Georg , Hamoud Bashar Haj
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Surgical-oncological treatment methods are continuously put to the test in times of evidence-based medicine—notably, a constant reevaluation remains key, especially for tumor entities with increasing incidence such as vulvar carcinoma. (2) Methods: In order to determine the postoperative clinical course of different methods of vulvar excision (vulvectomy, hemivulvectomy) as well as inguinal lymph node removal (lymphadenectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy) with regard to postoperative wound-healingprocess, perioperative hemorrhage, and re-resection rates, we retrospectively analyzed surgical, morphological and laboratory data of 76 patients with a pathological diagnosed vulvar cancer. (3) Results: Analysis of our data from a single center revealed a comparable perioperative clinical course regardless of the chosen method of vulvar excision and inguinal lymph node removal. (4) Conclusions: Thus, our results emphasize the current multimodality in surgical therapy of vulvar carcinoma, in which consideration of known prognostic factors together with the individual patient’s clinical situation allow guideline-based therapy aimed at maximizing surgical safety.
Chronic Diarrhea Caused by Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Secreting Tumor
Authors: Belei Oana , Basaca Diana-Georgiana , Heredea Elena Rodica , Iacob Emil Radu , Olariu Laura , Folescu Roxana , Motoc Andrei Gheorghe Marius , Nanu Anda-Maria , Mărginean Otilia
Published: September 2023

VIPomas are a type of neuroendocrine tumor that independently produces vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). VIPomas causing watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria (WDHA) syndrome are not frequently observed in adult patients without pancreatic ailments. However, in children, the occurrence of a VIPoma originating in the pancreas is exceedingly uncommon. Instead, WDHA syndrome is more commonly associated with neurogenic tumors that secrete VIP, often located in the retroperitoneum or mediastinum. Among infants, chronic diarrhea is a prevalent issue that often necessitates the attention of pediatric gastroenterologists. The underlying causes are diverse, and delays in arriving at a definitive diagnosis can give rise to complications affecting the overall well-being of the child. The authors present the case of an infant with chronic watery diarrhea, subocclusion manifestations, mild hypokalemia, and metabolic hyperchloremic acidosis secondary to a VIPoma in the retroperitoneum that was diagnosed via abdominal ultrasound and tomography. The laboratory results revealed lowered potassium levels and an excessive secretion of VIP. Following the surgical removal of the tumor, the diarrhea resolved, and both electrolyte levels and the imbalanced hormone levels returned to normal. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed the diagnosis of ganglioneuroblastoma, with N-MYC negative on molecular biology tests. We present the clinical and histo-genetic aspects of this rare clinical entity, with a literature review.
Analysis of the Magneto-Thermal Bidirectional Coupling Strength of Macro and Micro Integration for Self-Starting Permanent Magnet Hysteresis Synchronous Motors
Authors: Xiao Ling , Zheng Shandong , Dou Jingwei , Cheng Wenjie
Published: September 2023

High-speed permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are usually started with the hybrid low-speed open-loop and high-speed closed-loop control mode. However, low-speed open-loop control produces large starting current, or even current overload, resulting in demagnetization and motor damage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a high-speed permanent magnet synchronous motor with self-starting ability at low speed, that is, a permanent magnet hysteresis motor (PMHM). This paper takes the permanent magnet ring hysteresis column rotor structure as the research object. Firstly, the performance of this type of rotor is improved using the micro level of effective layer material AlNiCo, and the mechanical properties of AlNiCo are calculated. Secondly, based on the thick-walled cylinder theory, the analytical model for calculating the strength of the composite rotor considering the temperature effect is deduced, and the tangential and radial stress distribution for each part of the rotor under no-load and load conditions are obtained. Then, the electromagnetic losses and temperature field distribution of the rotor are obtained using the magneto-thermal bidirectional coupling finite element method. Finally, strength of the thermal rotor is analyzed by substituting the temperature rise curve function and AlNiCo parameters at the operating temperature. The comparison of the stress calculation results of the semi-analytical solution and the finite element method showed that the error between both of them is less than 5%, which verified that the semi-analytical solution can accurately analyze the thermal stress distribution of the rotor during high-speed rotation.
α-Synchronization of a Class of Unbounded Delayed Inertial Cohen–Grossberg Neural Networks with Delayed Impulses
Authors: Zhang Fengjiao , Song Yinfang , Wang Chao
Published: September 2023

As an essential dynamic behavior, the synchronization of inertial Cohen–Grossberg neural networks (ICGNNs) has received considerable attention due to its successful applications in neural cryptography, public channel cryptography, security communications, and image encryption. In this article, the α-synchronization of a class of non-autonomous unbounded delayed inertial Cohen–Gossberg neural networks with delayed impulses is investigated. Firstly, several non-autonomous impulsive differential inequalities are established, where unbounded delays, delayed impulses, and time-variable coefficients are incorporated. Subsequently, based on the proposed impulsive differential inequalities and Lyapunov function approach, the feedback controllers are designed, and some criteria for α-synchronization are provided. Finally, the validity of the presented theoretical findings is demonstrated by two specific examples. It is shown that delayed impulses can be viewed as perturbations or stabilizing sources for non-autonomous ICGNNs.
Surface Family with Bertrand Curves as Joint Asymptotic Curves in 3D Galilean Space
Authors: Al-Jedani Awatif , Abdel-Baky Rashad A.
Published: September 2023

The primary objective of this work is to discuss a surface family with the similarity of Bertrand curves in 3D Galilean space. Subsequently, by applying the Serret–Frenet frame, we estimate the sufficient and necessary statuses of a surface family with Bertrand curves as joint asymptotic curves. The dilation to ruled surfaces is also summarized. Meanwhile, the epitomes are illustrated to provide an explanation of the theoretical results.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Folding Process—Prediction of Folding Force and Springback
Authors: Ben Said Lotfi , Hentati Hamdi , Kamoun Taoufik , Trabelsi Mounir
Published: September 2023

The folding process is characterized by the springback phenomenon. Several experimental folding tests are elaborated and illustrated in this paper. The precision and the quality of the folded sheet workpiece are related to the reduction in the springback phenomena. For that, two tools are designed and used for the folding process. An accurate design of the folding tool plays a significant role in contributing to the folding process and reducing potential defects related to springback. An experimental solution is presented to avoid the forming of defaults and compensate the workpiece springback after its removal from the die. Moreover, an accurate numerical modeling enables an efficient prediction of the springback. This allows us to obtain precise parts through the folding process. For that, a modified Johnson–Cook model is implemented on ABAQUS software in order to predict the folding force and the springback in a U-die folding process. In addition to the isotropic hardening law, a nonlinear kinematic hardening rule is used. To ensure the model’s accuracy and reliability, we conducted validation experiments. The model’s predictions are compared with experimental tests to show its capability to simulate the folding process effectively. The developed mechanical model can adequately predict and analyze springback effects and folding force evolution, helping designers compensate for them and achieve the desired final shape.