bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethnic Issues and Disparities in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: What Can We Learn from the Arab Population in Israel?
Authors: Abu-Freha Naim , Ealiwa Nour , AbuTailakh Muhammad , Abu-Abed Muhammad , Bader Sarah , Tabu Rachel , Schwartz Doron
Published: June 2023

Inflammatory bowel diseases are increasing among different ethnic groups. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, complications, and outcomes among Arab and Jewish people sharing the same healthcare system. All patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) between the years 2000 and 2021 were included. Data regarding demographics, disease characteristics, extraintestinal manifestation, treatment, comorbidities, and mortality were retrieved. A total of 1263 (9.8%) Arab CD patients were compared with 11,625 Jewish CD patients, and 1461 (11.8%) Arab UC patients were compared to 10,920 Jewish patients. Arab CD patients were younger at diagnosis, 36.11 ± 16.7 compared to 39.98 ± 19.4 years, p < 0.001, 59.5% males compared to 48.7%, p < 0.001; in addition, Arab CD patients had a higher rate of anal fissure, perianal abscess, erythema nodosum, diabetes mellitus, obesity, liver cirrhosis, and male infertility. Arab CD patients were less frequently treated with azathioprine or mercaptopurine compared with Jewish patients. No significant difference was found in the rate of anti-TNF treatment, but a higher rate of steroids treatment was found. The all-cause mortality of CD patients was lower among Arab patients (8.4% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.039). Significant differences were found regarding disease characteristics, course, comorbidities, and treatment among Arab and Jewish patients with IBD.
Comparative Survival Benefits of Surgery and Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: A Population-Based Study with Insight into Future Personalized Therapeutic Approach
Authors: Khan Jaffar , Ullah Asad , Yasinzai Abdul Qahar Khan , Waheed Abdul , Ballur Kalyani , Dickerson Thomas E. , Ullah Kaleem , Mejias Christopher D. , Saeed Omer
Published: June 2023

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the gallbladder (NECs-GB) are rare tumors, accounting for <0.2% of all neuroendocrine carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract. They originate from the neuroendocrine cells of the gallbladder epithelium with associated intestinal or gastric metaplasia. The current study is the largest study from the SEER database on NECs-GB that aims to elucidate the demographic, clinical, and pathologic factors influencing the prognosis and comparative survival analysis of different treatment modalities. Methods: The data from 176 patients with NECs-GB was abstracted from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database (2000–2018). Multivariate analysis, non-parametric survival analysis, and a chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results: NECs-GB had a higher incidence amongst females (72.7%) and Caucasians (72.7%). Most patients had surgery only (N = 52, 29.5%), (N = 40) 22.7% had chemotherapy only, and (N = 23) 13.1% had chemotherapy with surgery. Only (N = 17) 9.7% had trimodaltiy (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy), and for (N = 41) 23.3% the status of chemotherapy was unknown, and these cases had neither radiation nor surgery. Conclusion: NECs-GB more frequently affects Caucasian females after the 6th decade of life. The combination of surgery, radiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with better long-term (5 years) outcomes, while surgery alone was associated with better short-term (<2 years) outcome survival.
Exploring the Association of Burning Mouth Syndrome with Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dibello Vittorio , Ballini Andrea , Lozupone Madia , Custodero Carlo , Cantore Stefania , Sardone Rodolfo , Dibello Antonio , Santarcangelo Filippo , Barulli Kofler Bianca , Petruzzi Massimo , Daniele Antonio , Solfrizzi Vincenzo , Panza Francesco
Published: June 2023

Background: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is an idiopathic condition mainly affecting middle-aged and older individuals with hormonal disturbances or psychiatric disorders and is characterized by chronic pain. The etiopathogenesis of this multifactorial syndrome is largely unknown. The objective of the present systematic review was therefore to evaluate the relationship of BMS with depressive and anxiety disorders in middle-aged and older individuals. Methods: We selected studies evaluating BMS and depressive and anxiety disorders assessed with validated tools, published from their inception up to April 2023, using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Ovid, and Google Scholar databases and adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines/PRISMA 2020 27-item checklist. This study is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023409595). The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Toolkits for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies were used to examine the risk of bias. Results: Two independent investigators rated 4322 records against the primary endpoint and found 7 records meeting the eligibility requirements. Anxiety disorders were found to be the most common psychiatric disorders related to BMS (63.7%), followed by depressive disorders (36.3%). We found a moderate association of BMS with anxiety disorders, with multiple studies included (n = 7). Moreover, we found a low association of BMS with depressive disorders (included studies, n = 4). The role of pain appeared to be controversial in explaining these associations. Conclusions: In middle-aged and older subjects, anxiety and depressive disorders may be potentially related to the development of BMS. Furthermore, also in these age groups, females showed higher risk of developing BMS than males, even when taking into account multimorbidity such as sleep disorders, personality traits, and biopsychosocial changes as suggested by study-specific findings.
Introduction of Infection Prevention Tracheal Intubation Protocol during the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Not Associated with First-Pass Success Rates of Endotracheal Intubation in the Emergency Department: A Before-and-After Comparative Study
Authors: Jang Wooseok , Kang Hyunggoo , Shin Hyungoo , Kim Changsun , Lee Heekyung , Choi Hyukjoong
Published: June 2023

Aerosols and droplets have put healthcare workers performing airway management at high risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Experts have developed endotracheal intubation (ETI) guidelines and protocols to protect intubators from infection. We aimed to determine whether changes in the emergency department (ED) intubation protocol to prevent COVID-19 infection were associated with first-pass success (FPS) rates in ETI. We used data from the airway management registries in two academic EDs. The study was divided into pre-pandemic (January 2018 to January 2020) and pandemic (February 2020 to February 2022) periods. We selected 2476 intubation cases, including 1151 and 1325 cases recorded before and during the pandemic, respectively. During the pandemic, the FPS rate was 92.2%, which did not change significantly, and major complications increased slightly but not significantly compared with the pre-pandemic period. The OR for the FPS of applying infection prevention intubation protocols was 0.72 (p = 0.069) in a subgroup analysis, junior emergency physicians (PGY1 residents) had an FPS of less than 80% regardless of pandemic protocol implementation. The FPS rate of senior emergency physicians in physiologically difficult airways decreased significantly during the pandemic (98.0% to 88.5%). In conclusion, the FPS rate and complications for adult ETI performed by emergency physicians using COVID-19 infection prevention intubation protocols were similar to pre-pandemic conditions.
Energy Colonialism: A Category to Analyse the Corporate Energy Transition in the Global South and North
Authors: Sánchez Contreras Josefa , Matarán Ruiz Alberto , Campos-Celador Alvaro , Fjellheim Eva Maria
Published: June 2023

This article aims to define the category of energy colonialism in order to analyse the conflicts that are arising due to the deployment of renewable energy megaprojects in the Global South and in the peripheries of the Global North. First, the limits of the corporate energy transition are questioned, and based on an exhaustive bibliographic review, the category of energy colonialism is formulated along with six dimensions that characterise it: geopolitical; economic and financial inequalities; power, violence, and decision making; land grabbing and dispossession; impacts on territories and commons; resistance and socio-territorial conflicts. Based on this framework, we analyse and juxtapose different expressions of energy colonialism in four case studies; the isthmus of Tehuantepec (Oaxaca, Mexico), the territories of Western Sahara occupied by Morocco, the Saami territory in Norway, and the rural territories of Spain. The results from this study allow us to conclude that energy colonialism is a useful concept for understanding and critiquing the effects of the corporate energy transition and establishing a base for grassroots and decolonial alternatives in both the Global North and South.
A Comparative Study on Land Use/Land Cover Change and Topographic Gradient Effect between Mountains and Flatlands of Southwest China
Authors: Wu Li , Yang Yanjun , Yang Hailan , Xie Binggeng , Luo Weiqun
Published: June 2023

Topography plays an important role in restricting the formation of and change in land use/land cover (LULC) patterns. To compare the LULC change and topographic gradient effects between mountains and flatlands, the geo-informatic atlas, terrain position index, distribution index and diversity index were used to analyze the LULC patterns in Yuxi from 2000 to 2020. The results were as follows: (1) the temporal–spatial variation in LULC was obviously different. From 2000 to 2020, land use change in the flatlands was more severe than that in the mountains. The transfer amount of forestland in the mountains was the largest, with the transfer-out and transfer-in accounting for 48.53% and 31.05%. However, in the flatlands, the biggest changes were found in the transfer-out of cultivated land and the transfer-in of build-up land, which were 46.91% and 38.20%, respectively. The LULC types in the mountains changed dramatically from 2000 to 2010, while those in the flatlands changed dramatically from 2010 to 2020. (2) There were obvious differences in the topographic gradient effects. The dominant distributions of land use types in the low-terrain area were the same, but the dominance of build-up land in the flatlands and that of wetland in the mountains were the largest. In the mountains, the dominant distribution of grassland was in the medium-terrain position, while that of forestland was in the high position, and the opposite was found in the flatlands. In addition, the variation trend of the diversity index in the mountains was relatively simple, but the variation range was large, ranging from 0 to 1.677, and high diversity was mainly found in the medium- and high-terrain positions. However, the variation trend in the flatlands was complex, but only ranged from 0.918 to 1.994, and high diversity was found in the low-terrain positions. The differences in the LULC change and terrain gradient effects between the mountains and flatlands were mainly caused by natural, socio-economic and policy factors, which can provide a certain reference for differentiated land use policies for regional coordinated and sustainable development.
A Geospatial Modelling Approach to Assess the Capability of High-Country Stations in Delivering Ecosystem Services
Authors: Pereira Fabiellen C. , Charters Stuart , Smith Carol M. S. , Maxwell Thomas M. R. , Gregorini Pablo
Published: June 2023

The creation of more sustainable land use strategies is paramount to designing multifunctional agricultural landscapes that allow grasslands to continually deliver multiple ecosystem services. A mapping modelling approach would provide us with a tool for system diagnosis to better assess the value of a landscape and define place-based practices for designing more context-adjusted systems that are in synergy with the complexity of grasslands. To assess the potential capability of a high-country pastoral livestock production system in New Zealand in delivering ecosystem services, this work uses a geospatial model as a decision support tool to identify management practices that enhance grassland health. The model uses national, climatic, soil, and landcover data to assess the agricultural productivity, flood mitigation, C sequestration, erosion, and sediment delivery capacity of a case study high-country station in New Zealand. Model outcomes suggest that the station has the potential for increased agricultural productivity although varying spatially, a high flood mitigation capacity, a high capacity for C sequestration, a moderate risk of erosion, a capacity to reduce sediment delivery to streams, and overall, a low to moderate nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation. Output maps display a spatial visualisation of ecosystem services associated with the landscape topography, soil, and vegetation patterns that allow the identification of neglected areas and planning of best place-based management practices strategies to enhance the health of grasslands.
Simulation of Grassland SOC under Future-Climate Scenarios in Gansu, China
Authors: Zhang Meiling , Li Xiaojuan , Liu Xiaoni
Published: June 2023

The impacts of global warming on the grassland carbon cycle are increasingly severe. To explore the spatiotemporal variation in grassland soil organic carbon (SOC) and its response to climate change in Gansu Province, in this study, we designed five future-climate-scenario simulations (2019–2048), based on the baseline (1989–2018), according to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report. The CENTURY biogeochemistry model was used to estimate the SOC of Gansu Province. One-way ANOVA and an error analysis were used to verify the model. Meanwhile, a Pearson coefficient diagram was used to analyze the main influencing factors of SOC. The results revealed that there was a good agreement between the observed and predicted SOC. The quarterly and inter-annual SOC trends of the five future-climate-scenario simulations were similar to those of the baseline simulation. The most extensive SOC storage occurred in the central Gannan region, in the simulation B scenario (temperature increase of 2 °C, no change in precipitation, and double the CO2 concentration). Temperature had a significant negative effect on SOC. Precipitation had a weak impact on SOC. The results indicate that SOC was more sensitive to temperature than to precipitation.
Identification and Classification of Urban Shrinkage in Northeast China
Authors: Ma Xiaosong , Yan Qingwu , Pan Qinke , Chen Xingshan , Li Guie
Published: June 2023

The phenomenon of shrinking cities is a significant challenge faced by many cities today. To more accurately identify the leading factors driving urban shrinkage and develop rational recommendations, precise identification and classification of urban shrinkage has become an indispensable part of the process. This paper focuses on the typical population loss region of China’s three northeastern provinces, using 497 identified physical cities as the basic research unit. Based on multi-source geographical big data and utilizing the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model, spatial modeling of population in the three provinces of northeast China was conducted, resulting in spatialized population data, followed by identification and classification of shrinking cities among the physical cities. Cities with a total population change rate of less than 0 are defined as shrinking cities. In cities where the total population change rate is greater than 0, cities with both a city shrinking area ratio and a decreased population ratio greater than 5% are defined as locally shrinking cities. Based on this, 90 (18.1%) shrinking cities and 118 (23.7%) locally shrinking cities were identified within the three provinces of northeast China. The phenomenon of urban shrinkage is distributed throughout various regions, mainly in smaller cities located near larger cities. According to the standards of the urban shrinkage classification model, the spatial pattern of population loss regions was divided into four types, identifying 13 (6.3%) global type, 111 (53.4%) concentrated type, 64 (30.7%) perforated type, and 20 (9.6%) edge type. Analysis of shrinking cities based on their classification revealed that the main reasons for urban shrinkage are the decline and dissolution of large industrial enterprises, abandonment and neglect of buildings, and unreasonable design planning in cities. Economic development and inward population flow can be promoted in shrinking cities by creating job opportunities, improving living standards, developing transportation, adjusting urban planning or concentrating urban population, as well as vigorously developing urban center areas. These measures can provide support for the revival and development of shrinking cities.
An Enhanced Algorithm for Active Fire Detection in Croplands Using Landsat-8 OLI Data
Authors: Jiang Yizhu , Kong Jinling , Zhong Yanling , Zhang Qiutong , Zhang Jingya
Published: June 2023

Burning biomass exacerbates or directly causes severe air pollution. The traditional active fire detection (AFD) methods are limited by the thresholds of the algorithms and the spatial resolution of remote sensing images, which misclassify some small-scale fires. AFD for burning straw is interfered with by highly reflective buildings around urban and rural areas, resulting in high commission error (CE). To solve these problems, we developed a multicriteria threshold AFD for burning straw (SAFD) based on Landsat-8 imagery in the context of croplands. In solving the problem of the high CE of highly reflective buildings around urban and rural areas, the SAFD algorithm, which was based on the LightGBM machine learning method (SAFD-LightGBM), was proposed to differentiate active fires from highly reflective buildings with a sample dataset of buildings and active fires and an optimal feature combining spectral features and texture features using the ReliefF feature selection method. The results revealed that the SAFD-LightGBM method performed better than the traditional threshold method, with CE and omission error (OE) of 13.2% and 11.5%, respectively. The proposed method could effectively reduce the interference of highly reflective buildings for active fire detection, and it has general applicability and stability for detecting discrete, small-scale fires in urban and rural areas.
Land Use Change and Its Impact on Ecological Risk in the Huaihe River Eco-Economic Belt
Authors: Wang Huaijun , Feng Ru , Li Xinchuan , Yang Yaxue , Pan Yingping
Published: June 2023

Exploring the landscape ecological security pattern and its driving mechanisms in key economic zones is of great significance for preventing and resolving landscape ecological risks and promoting regional sustainable development. This study quantitatively analyzed the land use change characteristics in the Huaihe River Eco-economic Belt from 1980 to 2020 using the land use transfer matrix and land use intensity index. Further, the evolution of ecological risks and their driving mechanisms were investigated using the landscape pattern index and hierarchical partitioning analysis. The results show that (1) in terms of absolute area, dryland, grassland, and paddy land decreased by 7075 km2, 2708 km2, and 1874 km2, respectively, while urban–rural land and water area increased by 10,538 km2 and 1336 km2, respectively. In terms of change intensity, grassland, water area, urban–rural land, and unused land exhibited the most dramatic change, whereas forest land, paddy land, and dryland exhibited weaker change. (2) The conversions in the study area were primarily between dryland, paddy land, and urban–rural land. Paddy land and dryland tended to convert to urban–rural land, which is further likely to be transformed into dryland and unused land when converted. (3) The study area mainly presented medium to low ecological risk. Overall, the ecological risk remained stable throughout the study period. Nevertheless, Jining, Zaozhuang, and Bengbu show high ecological risks in the construction of the economic zone. (4) Forest land explained 40% of the variance in landscape risk, whereas urban–rural land and dryland each explained 20% of the variance. An increase in the proportion of urban–rural land and dryland will increase landscape ecological risk. However, after urban–rural land exceeds 15%, the ecological security risk does not increase significantly with increasing proportion of urban–rural land.
Coupling Biodiversity and Human Pressures to Indicate Conservation Priorities for Threatened Waterfowl Species: A Case in the Henan Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve
Authors: Cao Yang , Wang Siyu , Tian Guohang , Dong Nalin , Lei Yakai
Published: June 2023

Following severe anthropogenic pressure from rapid economic development, wetland biodiversity is now decreasing alarmingly, thus leading to adverse effects. Protected areas (PAs) can be crucial conservation tools to secure wetland biodiversity. However, whether these PAs exhibit high conservation efficiency in buffering wildlife and habitats from human pressures needs to be understood. Given their sensitivity to habitat quality and regional resource changes, threatened waterfowl could be suitable wetland ecosystem indicators. This study examined the conservation effectiveness of Henan Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve (HYRWNNR), which is a crucial region on the East Asia–Australia route for global bird migration. We performed Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling based on field survey data of the 19 threatened waterfowl species, and Human Impact Index (HII) was further mapped with waterfowls distribution to identify the conservation gap and priorities of the HYRWNNR. The results indicated that threatened waterfowl distribution were affected by both environmental factors and human pressure, and a conservation gap existed in the HYRWNNR. Two conservation scenarios were generated based on the spatial pattern of conservation priorities, and their corresponding management strategies were suggested. This study identifies conservation priorities from a novel perspective by synthesizing habitat suitability and human pressure, which can present basic information regarding the HYRWNNR management while supporting waterfowl conservation planning, ultimately promoting wetland habitats sustainability.
Landscape Strategies for Terraced Landscapes in the European Alpine Region Using a Mixed-Method Analysis Tool
Authors: Pomatto Enrico , Gullino Paola , Novelli Silvia , Devecchi Marco , Larcher Federica
Published: June 2023

Terraced landscapes are anthropic landscapes that need continuous management. Future planning policies need to develop bottom-up approaches in order to be able to take into consideration the perspectives of decision makers (DMs) and civil society stakeholders (CSs). Using a participatory mixed-method approach, this research work identified and prioritized the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) perceived as key factors for setting future landscape strategies. The aims were (i) to develop a methodological framework for the enhancement of the terraced landscapes using a bottom-up approach, (ii) to identify and rank the favorable and unfavorable factors affecting their management in the European Alpine Region, and (iii) to develop alternative and future landscape strategies. The methodology was applied in nine Italian and Swiss cross-border terraced landscapes. An online focus group was organized together with a decision maker from each study area in order to identify the SWOT items for their enhancement. Subsequently, a focus group for each study area was organized with civil society stakeholders. They prioritized the SWOT items based on the local context and territorial issues using a cumulative voting method. The results were normalized, and these allowed for the development of local and supralocal landscape strategies that were both common to the cross-border terraced landscapes and specific to the main land uses characterizing them.
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Translators’ Narratives Affecting Two Translations of the Same Text: A Case Study of Orientalism
Authors: Abu Zaghlan Amal , Mustafa-Awad Zahra , Allawzi Areej
Published: June 2023

The present study set out to examine the translations of Edward Said’s Orientalism in light of narrative theory. The paper uses critical discourse analysis to examine the different narratives produced by two different Arabic translations of Orientalism, written originally in English. The first translation was produced by Kamal Abu Deeb in 1980, and a later one was carried out by Mohammad Enani in 2006. Our findings demonstrate two competing narratives of two cultures standing in opposition to one another, with each translation implying that one of these civilizations is unique and inherently competitive with “the other” culture.
Screening and Selection of Drought-Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Genotypes Based on Physio-Biochemical Selection Indices and Yield Trials
Authors: Tiwari Prakash N. , Tiwari Sharad , Sapre Swapnil , Babbar Anita , Tripathi Niraj , Tiwari Sushma , Tripathi Manoj Kumar
Published: June 2023

Chickpea production is seriously hampered by drought stress, which could be a great threat in the future for food security in developing countries. The present investigation aimed to screen the drought-tolerant response of forty desi chickpea genotypes against drought stress through various physio-biochemical selection indices and yield-attributing traits. Principle component-based biplot analysis recognized PG205, JG2016-44, JG63, and JG24 as tolerant genotypes based on physiological selection indices. These genotypes retained higher relative water content, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, and photosynthetic rate. ICC4958, JG11, JAKI9218, JG16, JG63, and PG205 were selected as tolerant genotypes based on biochemical selection indices. These genotypes sustained higher chlorophyll, sugar and proline content with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. With respect to yield trials, JAKI9218, JG11, JG16, and ICC4958 had higher seed yield per plant, numbers of pods, and biological yield per plant. Finally, JG11, JAKI9218, ICC4958, JG16, JG63, and PG205 were selected as tolerant genotypes based on cumulative physio-biochemical selection indices and yield response. These identified drought-tolerant genotypes may be further employed in climate-smart chickpea breeding programs for sustainable production under a changing climate scenario.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Perineural Invasion and Suggestive Signs of Perineural Invasion—Findings and Perspectives
Authors: Niculet Elena , Bobeica Carmen , Onisor Cristian , Gurau Gabriela , Nechita Aurel , Radaschin Diana Sabina , Tutunaru Dana , Bujoreanu-Bezman Laura , Tatu Alin Laurentiu
Published: June 2023

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a malignant tumor with a rising incidence and is the beneficiary of several innovative evaluation techniques. Histopathology remains the gold standard for assessment, having the possibility of addressing multiple high-risk factors such as perineural invasion (PNI). The current study included a number of 244 BCC patients and targeted the identification of positive PNI and its suggestive signs, and whether they correlated or not with other high-risk tumor signs. PNI was found in 20.1% of patients, with 30.7% of patients having perineural chronic inflammation (PCI), which is a suggestive sign of PNI. PNI was also found in larger tumors, with deeper Clark levels, in high-risk BCCs and high-grade tumors. PNI and PCI are both important for pathology reporting, aiding in treatment choice and further patient management, with possibly positive outcomes concerning morbidity and mortality.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy by Autofluorescence, Enface and SLO–Retromode Imaging
Authors: Savastano Maria Cristina , Fossataro Claudia , Sadun Riccardo , Scupola Andrea , Sammarco Maria Grazia , Rizzo Clara , Pafundi Pia Clara , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: June 2023

The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical features of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with autofluorescence (AF), retromode (RM), and enface imaging. This retrospective study was conducted at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome (Italy), between September and December 2022. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, which included optical coherence tomography (OCT), enface image analysis, AF, and RM imaging. We further evaluated the presence and area of extension of serous retinal detachment and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy through AF, RM, and enface imaging. We included 32 eyes from 27 patients (mean age: 52.7 ± 13.3 years). The median AF area was 19.5 mm2 (IQR 6.1–29.3), while the median RM area was 12.3 mm2 (IQR 8.1–30.8), and the median enface area was 9.3 mm2 (IQR 4.8–18.6). RPE atrophy was diagnosed in 26 cases (81.3%) with RM imaging and in 75% of cases with AF. No difference emerged between AF and RM analysis in the detection of central serous detachment in CSC. However, RM imaging showed a high specificity (91.7%) and negative predictive value (84.6%) to detect RPE changes when compared to the AF standard-of-care technique. Thus, RM imaging could be considered an adjunctive imaging method in CSC.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Fibroblast Migration Activities of Fractions Eluded from Dichloromethane Leaf Extract of Marantodes pumilum
Authors: Balachandran Abbirami , Siyumbwa Stepfanie N. , Froemming Gabriele R. A. , Beata Morak-Młodawska , Małgorzata Jeleń , Lavilla Charlie A. , Billacura Merell P. , Okechukwu Patrick N.
Published: June 2023

(1) The complexity of diabetes and diabetic wound healing remains a therapeutic challenge because proper and systematic wound care and management are essential to prevent chronic microbial infection and mechanical damage to the skin. Marantodes pumilum, locally known as ‘Kacip Fatimah’, is an herb that has been previously reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antinociceptive and antipyretic properties. The current study aims to assess the antioxidant and fibroblast cell migration activities of the fractions eluded from the dichloromethane extract of M. pumilum leaves. (2) The total antioxidant capacity of M. pumilum was assessed using the total proanthocyanidins and phosphomolybdenum assays, while DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide free radical scavenging assays were tested to determine the antioxidant potential of M. pumilum. An in vitro scratch wound assay was performed to measure the fibroblast cell migration rate using normal and insulin-resistant human dermal fibroblast cells. (3) All M. pumilum fractions exhibited good antioxidant and fibroblast cell migration activity, among which fractions A and E displayed the greatest effect. (4) M. pumilum’s fibroblast migration activity could be attributed to its strong antioxidant properties along with its previously reported properties.
The Relation between Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis and Different Cannulation Techniques: The Experience of a High-Volume Center from North-Eastern Romania
Authors: Chiriac Stefan , Sfarti Catalin Victor , Stanciu Carol , Cojocariu Camelia , Zenovia Sebastian , Nastasa Robert , Trifan Anca
Published: June 2023

Background: Despite numerous advances that have aimed to increase the safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) still remains a major issue. We aimed to assess the rate of PEP as well as the relation to the cannulation techniques in our unit, a high-volume center in north-eastern Romania. Methods: ERCPs performed in our unit from March to August 2022 were retrospectively included. Data concerning demographic information, presence of difficult cannulation, the technique used for cannulation, as well as immediate complications, were gathered from the electronic database. Results: 233 ERCPs were included. PEP was diagnosed in 23 (9.9%) of cases. Precut sphincterotomy (PS), transpancreatic sphincterotomy (TPBS), and a combination of TPBS and PS were performed in 6.4%, 10.3%, and 1.7% of cases, respectively, while an Erlangen precut papillotomy was performed in one case. Both in patients with PS and TPBS the rate of PEP was 20%. When the two techniques were associated, the rate of PEP was 25%. TPBS and PS represented risk factors for PEP (OR 1.211 for a CI of 0.946–1.551, p = 0.041, and OR 1.124 for a CI of 0.928–1.361, p = 0.088, respectively). No PEP-associated deaths were found. Conclusions: Both PS and TPBS presented a similar risk of PEP.
Wear and Subsurface Stress Evolution in a Half-Space under Cyclic Flat-Punch Indentation
Authors: Juliá Javier M. , Rodríguez-Tembleque Luis
Published: June 2023

Wear is a tremendously important phenomenon, which takes place on the surfaces of two solids in contact under cyclic loads and constitutes one of the most-significant ways of failure for mechanical elements. However, it is not the only source of failure in contacting solids. The subsurface stresses should also be considered, due to the fatigue and crack initiation problems. Nevertheless, these stresses (i.e., their maximum values and distributions) evolve with the solids’ surface wear (i.e., with the load cycles) and also depend on the friction intensity. Therefore, their evolution should be properly computed to predict failures in mechanical elements under wear conditions. This work focused on the study of the evolution of the surface wear and the subsurface stress distributions generated—in an elastic half-space—by a cylindrical flat-ended punch, under cyclic indentation loading (i.e., radial fretting wear conditions). Based on a numerical scheme recently presented by the authors, this is the first time that, for this contact problem, the surface wear and subsurface stress distribution (i.e., maximum value and its location)—and its evolution—were simultaneously analyzed when orthotropic friction and fretting wear conditions were considered. The studies presented in this work were developed for purely elastic contact assumptions.
Overview of Multi-Robot Collaborative SLAM from the Perspective of Data Fusion
Authors: Chen Weifeng , Wang Xiyang , Gao Shanping , Shang Guangtao , Zhou Chengjun , Li Zhenxiong , Xu Chonghui , Hu Kai
Published: June 2023

In the face of large-scale environmental mapping requirements, through the use of lightweight and inexpensive robot groups to perceive the environment, the multi-robot cooperative (V)SLAM scheme can resolve the individual cost, global error accumulation, computational load, and risk concentration problems faced by single-robot SLAM schemes. Such schemes are robust and stable, form a current research hotspot, and relevant algorithms are being updated rapidly. In order to enable the reader to understand the development of this field rapidly and fully, this paper provides a comprehensive review. First, the development history of multi-robot collaborative SLAM is reviewed. Second, the fusion algorithms and architectures are detailed. Third, from the perspective of machine learning classification, the existing algorithms in this field are discussed, including the latest updates. All of this will make it easier for readers to discover problems that need to be studied further. Finally, future research prospects are listed.
Tires and Vehicle Lateral Dynamic Performance: A Corrective Algorithm for the Influence of Temperature
Authors: Savant Simone , De Carvalho Pinheiro Henrique , Sacchi Matteo Eugenio , Conti Cinzia , Carello Massimiliana
Published: June 2023

The automotive industry is experiencing increasing competition, and vehicle development is becoming increasingly complex. Manufacturers must therefore be able to rapidly compare the outcomes of experimental tests carried out under different conditions. Robust simulation tools that can adjust for external factors have the potential to save a significant amount of time. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is to propose a method for evaluating the effect of asphalt temperature on tire and vehicle lateral dynamic performance, based on empirical data. Because rubber is a viscoelastic material, its properties are heavily influenced by the operating conditions. Therefore, a corrective algorithm must be created to enable the transfer of results obtained from tests carried out under different asphalt temperature conditions to a reference temperature of 25 °C. This article presents an analytical model that accurately describes this phenomenon, as well as the methods employed to generalize and optimize the model. Generalizability represents a crucial aspect of this research, as the model must be widely applicable across several vehicle categories while requiring minimal data to perform the corrections effectively. Finally, the analytical compensatory tool was incorporated into a MATLAB bicycle model to update the numerical transfer function measurements that describe the vehicle’s dynamic behavior during experimental maneuvers. These results indicate that modest data is needed to achieve good levels of accuracy, making the model and vehicle dynamics implementation promising.
Numerical Simulations of the Driving Process of a Wheeled Machine Tire on a Snow-Covered Road
Authors: Wang Di , Wang Hui , Xu Yan , Zhou Jianpin , Sui Xinyu
Published: June 2023

Wheeled machines, such as agricultural tractors, snowplows, and wheeled mobile robots, usually work on icy or snow-covered roads. Therefore, it is very important to study the driving and slip resistance of the tires of these machines. In this paper, we investigate the driving behavior of tires on snow-covered terrain by means of numerical simulations. A high-fidelity snow-covered road model is established, and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and the finite element method (FEM) are employed to account for the behaviors of the snow layers and the pavement, respectively. We use the node-to-surface algorithm for the contact interactions between the snow and the pavement. The SPH parameters for the snow are calibrated by means of a triaxial compression experiment. A simplified tire model is established as well, using the FEM, and the effectiveness of the model is demonstrated via comparisons with the experimental data in terms of stiffness. Finally, the tire driving performance on the snow-covered road is simulated, and the influence of the tire surface configuration, external load, inflation pressure, and snowpack compression on the tire traction behaviors is systematically investigated.
Comparison of Modeling Methods for Off-Road Tires
Authors: Körmöczi Dávid , Kiss Péter
Published: June 2023

Efficient navigation of off-road vehicles heavily relies on the ability to accurately model the interaction between the vehicle and the terrain. One of the most important parts of this interaction is the deformation of the terrain and the tire. Although high-precision methods like finite element method (FEM) simulation can be used for this purpose, they require significant computational power, which is impractical to install in a vehicle for real-time navigation purposes. Therefore, simplified and less-detailed models are essential for on-board installation in real-time applications. In this study, three two-dimensional static terrain–vehicle models are compared to a detailed FEM reference model, and the results are evaluated both from the perspective of accuracy and computational capacity requirements. The analysis sheds light on the effectiveness of each model in the real-time navigation of off-road vehicles.
The Study of Bicomplex-Valued Controlled Metric Spaces with Applications to Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Mani Gunaseelan , Haque Salma , Gnanaprakasam Arul Joseph , Ege Ozgur , Mlaiki Nabil
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we introduce the concept of bicomplex-valued controlled metric spaces and prove fixed point theorems. Our results mainly focus on generalizing and expanding some recently established results. Finally, we explain an application of our main result to a certain type of fractional differential equation.
Heavy-Ball-Based Hard Thresholding Pursuit for Sparse Phase Retrieval Problems
Authors: Li Yingying , Zhou Jinchuan , Sun Zhongfeng , Tang Jingyong
Published: June 2023

We introduce a novel iterative algorithm, termed the Heavy-Ball-Based Hard Thresholding Pursuit for sparse phase retrieval problem (SPR-HBHTP), to reconstruct a sparse signal from a small number of magnitude-only measurements. Our algorithm is obtained via a natural combination of the Hard Thresholding Pursuit for sparse phase retrieval (SPR-HTP) and the classical Heavy-Ball (HB) acceleration method. The robustness and convergence for the proposed algorithm were established with the help of the restricted isometry property. Furthermore, we prove that our algorithm can exactly recover a sparse signal with overwhelming probability in finite steps whenever the initialization is in the neighborhood of the underlying sparse signal, provided that the measurement is accurate. Extensive numerical tests show that SPR-HBHTP has a markedly improved recovery performance and runtime compared to existing alternatives, such as the Hard Thresholding Pursuit for sparse phase retrieval problem (SPR-HTP), the SPARse Truncated Amplitude Flow (SPARTA), and Compressive Phase Retrieval with Alternating Minimization (CoPRAM).
New Results on the Unimodular Equivalence of Multivariate Polynomial Matrices
Authors: Li Dongmei , Chen Zuo
Published: June 2023

The equivalence of systems is a crucial concept in multidimensional systems. The Smith normal forms of multivariate polynomial matrices play important roles in the theory of polynomial matrices. In this paper, we mainly study the unimodular equivalence of some special kinds of multivariate polynomial matrices and obtain some tractable criteria under which such matrices are unimodular equivalent to their Smith normal forms. We propose an algorithm for reducing such nD polynomial matrices to their Smith normal forms and present an example to illustrate the availability of the algorithm. Furthermore, we extend the results to the non-square case.
Multi-Step-Ahead Wind Speed Forecast Method Based on Outlier Correction, Optimized Decomposition, and DLinear Model
Authors: Liu Jialin , Gong Chen , Chen Suhua , Zhou Nanrun
Published: June 2023

Precise and dependable wind speed forecasting (WSF) enables operators of wind turbines to make informed decisions and maximize the use of available wind energy. This study proposes a hybrid WSF model based on outlier correction, heuristic algorithms, signal decomposition methods, and DLinear. Specifically, the hybrid model (HI-IVMD-DLinear) comprises the Hampel identifier (HI), the improved variational mode decomposition (IVMD) optimized by grey wolf optimization (GWO), and DLinear. Firstly, outliers in the wind speed sequence are detected and replaced with the HI to mitigate their impact on prediction accuracy. Next, the HI-processed sequence is decomposed into multiple sub-sequences with the IVMD to mitigate the non-stationarity and fluctuations. Finally, each sub-sequence is predicted by the novel DLinear algorithm individually. The predictions are reconstructed to obtain the final wind speed forecast. The HI-IVMD-DLinear is utilized to predict the real historical wind speed sequences from three regions so as to assess its performance. The experimental results reveal the following findings: (a) HI could enhance prediction accuracy and mitigate the adverse effects of outliers; (b) IVMD demonstrates superior decomposition performance; (c) DLinear has great prediction performance and is suited to WSF; and (d) overall, the HI-IVMD-DLinear exhibits superior precision and stability in one-to-four-step-ahead forecasting, highlighting its vast potential for application.
A Deletion Algorithm for the Marginal Problem in Propositional Logic Based on Boolean Arrays
Authors: Díaz-Macías Efraín , Moral Serafín
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes a deletion algorithm for the marginal problem in propositional logic. The algorithm is based on the general Davis and Putnam deletion algorithm DP, expressed as a bucket elimination algorithm, representing sets of clauses with the same set of variables employing a Boolean array. The main contribution is the development of alternative procedures when deleting a variable which allow more efficient computations. In particular, it takes advantage of the case in which the variable to delete is determined by a subset of the rest of the variables. It also provides a set of useful results and tools for reasoning with Boolean tables. The algorithms are implemented using Python and the NumPy library. Experiments show that this procedure is feasible for intermediate problems and for difficult problems from hard Bayesian networks cases
A Proposed Analytical and Numerical Treatment for the Nonlinear SIR Model via a Hybrid Approach
Authors: Albidah Abdulrahman B.
Published: June 2023

This paper re-analyzes the nonlinear Susceptible–Infected–Recovered (SIR) model using a hybrid approach based on the Laplace–Padé technique. The proposed approach is successfully applied to extract several analytic approximations for the infected and recovered individuals. The domains of applicability of such analytic approximations are addressed. In addition, the present results are validated through various comparisons with the Runge–Kutta numerical method. The obtained analytical results agree with the numerical ones for a wide range of numbers of contacts featured in the studied model. The efficiency of the present analysis reveals that it can be implemented to deal with other systems describing real-life phenomena.
Mixed Isogeometric Analysis of the Brinkman Equation
Authors: Ouadefli Lahcen El , Moutea Omar El , Akkad Abdeslam El , Elkhalfi Ahmed , Vlase Sorin , Scutaru Maria Luminița
Published: June 2023

This study focuses on numerical solution to the Brinkman equation with mixed Dirichlet–Neumann boundary conditions utilizing isogeometric analysis (IGA) based on non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) within the Galerkin method framework. The authors suggest using different choices of compatible NURBS spaces, which may be considered a generalization of traditional finite element spaces for velocity and pressure approximation. In order to investigate the numerical properties of the suggested elements, two numerical experiments based on a square and a quarter of an annulus are discussed. The preliminary results for the Stokes problem are presented in References.
Bayesian Latent Class Analysis: Sample Size, Model Size, and Classification Precision
Authors: Mindrila Diana
Published: June 2023

The current literature includes limited information on the classification precision of Bayes estimation for latent class analysis (BLCA). (1) Objectives: The present study compared BLCA with the robust maximum likelihood (MLR) procedure, which is the default procedure with the Mplus 8.0 software. (2) Method: Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate two-, three-, and four-class models measured by four binary observed indicators with samples of 1000, 750, 500, 250, 100, and 75 observations, respectively. With each sample, the number of replications was 500, and entropy and average latent class probabilities for most likely latent class membership were recorded. (3) Results: Bayes entropy values were more stable and ranged between 0.644 and 1. Bayes’ average latent class probabilities ranged between 0.528 and 1. MLR entropy values ranged between 0.552 and 0.958. and MLR average latent class probabilities ranged between 0.539 and 0.993. With the two-class model, BLCA outperformed MLR with all sample sizes. With the three-class model, BLCA had higher classification precision with the 75-sample size, whereas MLR performed slightly better with the 750- and 1000-sample sizes. With the 4-class model, BLCA underperformed MLR and had an increased number of unsuccessful computations, particularly with smaller samples.