bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harvest aids did not advance maturity of non‐shatter pennycress
Authors: Cubins Julija A. , Wells Samantha , Gesch Russ W. , Johnson Gregg A. , Walia Maninder K. , Chopra Ratan , Marks M. David , Swenson Rebecca D. , Frels Katherine
Published: April 2023

Reliance on summer annual crops in the Upper Midwest results in fallow land from late fall through early spring, providing opportunities to integrate winter crops, such as pennycress (Thlapsi arvense L.), onto the landscape. Pennycress agronomics have primarily been studied using unimproved wild‐type lines prone to seed shatter, resulting in significant yield loss if not harvested early. However, high plant and seed moisture complicates harvest and seed storage. A new breeding line with a reduced‐shatter mutation made it possible to use harvest aids to reduce plant moisture without the risk of seed loss. The objectives of this study were to quantify the reduction in pennycress seed and biomass moisture after applying a harvest aid and to assess the seed yield, oil content, and crude protein of the reduced‐shatter line. This study was conducted over the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 growing seasons with ‘“IO217” pennycress in Rosemount, MN. Seed moisture decreased to a similar level by harvest maturity regardless of treatment while swathing was the most effective method of reducing biomass moisture. Natural senescence decreased pennycress moisture content to a harvestable level at the same rate as treated plants, indicating that a harvest aid is not required at this time. Seed yield was two to six times higher than in studies using unimproved pennycress lines. Challenges associated with wild‐type pennycress lines, such as uneven germination and late maturation, were prevalent in this study and further genetic improvement will be necessary to ensure successful pennycress production in the Upper Midwest.
MIF is essential to the establishment of house dust mite‐induced airway inflammation and tissue remodeling in mice
Authors: Lintomen Leticia , Kluppel Luciana M. , Kitoko Jamil Z. , Montes‐Cobos Elena , Vidal Vinícius M. , Tan Luis B. , de Farias José Nazioberto , de Souza Heitor S. , Olsen Priscilla C. , Bozza Marcelo T.
Published: April 2023

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is present in high amounts in the BALF and serum of asthmatic patients, contributing to the pathogenesis of experimental asthma induced by OVA in mice. Whether MIF contributes to the physiopathology on a more complex and relevant asthma model has not been characterized. Mif‐deficient (Mif−/−) or WT mice treated with anti‐MIF antibody were challenged multiple times using house dust mite (HDM) extract by the intranasal route. HDM‐challenged Mif−/− mice presented decreased airway hyperresponsiveness, lung infiltration of eosinophils, mucus hypersecretion, and subepithelial fibrosis compared to HDM‐challenged WT mice. Amounts of IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 were decreased in the lungs of Mif−/− mice upon HDM challenges, but the increase of CCL11 was preserved, compared to HDM‐challenged WT mice. We also observed increased numbers of group 2 innate lymphoid cells and Th2 cells in the BALF and mediastinal LNs (mLN)‐induced challenged by HDM of WT mice, but not in HDM‐challenged Mif−/− mice. Anti‐MIF treatment abrogated the airway infiltration of eosinophils, mucus hypersecretion, and subepithelial fibrosis in the lungs of HDM‐challenged mice. In conclusion, MIF ablation prevents the pathologic hallmarks of asthma in HDM‐challenged mice, reinforcing the promising target of MIF for asthma therapy.
Evaluation of compositional models and PVT correlations for Iraqi light crude oils properties
Authors: Farkha Sarhad A. , Zangana Mohammed H. S. , Shoham Ovadia
Published: April 2023

Evaluation of common compositional models and pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) correlations are carried out against field data for light crude oil from north Iraqi reservoirs. The reported data and the evaluation are significant to the petroleum industry, as various international and local oil companies operate in this region. The comprehensive PVT program Multiflash™ 7.2 is utilized, employing the Peng–Robinson (PR) and Redlich–Kwong–Soave (RKS). The oil formation volume factor, bubble point pressure, solution gas–oil ratio (Rso), and saturated oil viscosity are chosen for this evaluation. The results demonstrate that the PR and RKS compositional models, with some adjustments, exhibit much higher accuracy as compared to PVT correlations. For example, the errors between the model's predictions and the field data for the Rso are 9% for PR ad 17% for the RKS model. In contrast, for the PVT correlations, much higher errors are obtained. The lowest errors (32%) are obtained with the Ikiensikimama and Ajienka, while above 90% errors (the highest) are reported by Petrosky and Farshad. This study will enable the petroleum industry to improve and optimize the production operations in north Iraq–Kurdistan region.
Short‐term load forecasting based on a generalized regression neural network optimized by an improved sparrow search algorithm using the empirical wavelet decomposition method
Authors: Fan Guo‐Feng , Li Yun , Zhang Xin‐Yan , Yeh Yi‐Hsuan , Hong Wei‐Chiang
Published: April 2023

With the development of the electric market, electric load forecasting has been increasingly pursued by many scholars. Because the electric load is affected by many factors, it is characterized by volatility and uncertainty, and it cannot be forecasted accurately only by a single model. In the research, a short‐term load forecasting integrated model is proposed to solve the problem of inaccurate forecasting of a single model. The key point of using the integrated model to forecast is to optimize the decomposed sequence to improve the accuracy of the forecast. empirical wavelet decomposition (EWT) is used to decompose the sequence into stationary sequences and avoid modal aliasing; the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) simulates the forecasting and anti‐forecasting behavior of the sparrow population, which is very similar to the electricity consumption behavior of various industries and has good optimization effect; generalized regression neural network (GRNN) is used for forecast and reconstruction; This is the EWT‐SSA‐GRNN model. This paper studies and analyzes the power load of a city in southern Australia. The results show that the integrated model reduces volatility through decomposition and optimization, and can improve forecast accuracy.
Prediction of the stability of gob‐side entry formation by roof cutting by machine learning‐based models
Authors: Gao Yubing , Gai Qiukai , Xi Xun , Zhang Xingxing , He Manchao
Published: April 2023

Gob‐side entry formation by roof cutting is a new technology for no pillar coal mining, which can maximize coal resources and reduce roadway drivage ratio. However, the mechanical behavior of the formed entry is complex while it is crucial to ensure the stability of the entry for mining safety. This paper proposed a machine learning‐based method for predicting the stability of the formed entry, which combined artificial neural network (ANN) with particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm or genetic optimization (GO) algorithm. The data set from 75 coal mining faces from 2009 to 2022 was employed to train and test the models. A descriptive variable of dynamic unstable distance was introduced to evaluate the stability state of the formed entry and six other parameters were chosen as influence parameters. The two intelligent models were compared with each other to have a comprehensive assessment. Model assessment indices such as R2, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and root mean square error were used to evaluate the accuracy of the models. The results of both developed models are promising, and the predictive accuracy of the PSO‐ANN model is higher than that of the GO‐ANN model. Through sensitivity analyses, it has been found that the coal seam thickness and roof rock hardness are the most important parameters for influencing entry stability. The developed method provides a practical tool for the prediction of entry stability and the optimization of entry design.
Total‐factor generation performance analysis of China's thermal power industry using meta‐frontier nonradial distance function approach
Authors: Meng Ming , Pang Tingting
Published: April 2023

Thermal power is the main source of China's electricity supply. Improving total‐factor generation performance (TFGP) is essential for the development of this industry in the current deteriorating operating environment. This study adopts the meta‐frontier nonradial direction distance function approach to measure the static and dynamic TFGPs of the thermal power industry in China's 30 provinces in 2011–2019, and then discusses the regional distribution characteristics and the impact factors using spatial econometric model and Tobit regression method, respectively. Empirical results show that: (I) The TFGPs in central and west China are relatively close, but both are remarkably lower than that in east China. (II) The TFGPs in central and west China have generally remained stable since 2011, whereas that in west China has declined mainly because this region is more susceptible to the situation of electricity supply‐demand. (III) A significant spatial positive correlation exists among provincial TFGPs. High TFGP provinces are mostly in the eastern seaboard region and low TFGP provinces are in southwest China. (IV) Economic development, power structure, fuel prices, and environmental regulation have positive impacts on China's TFGP, while the impacts of technological innovation and energy endowment are not significant.
A tale of two contracts: Examining the behavior of bid–ask spreads of corn futures in China
Authors: Li Miao , Xiong Tao , Li Ziran
Published: April 2023

Contracts that expire in January, May, and September attract the most trading activity for corn futures in China. Contracts that mature in other months are thinly traded, even when they are the closest to maturity. In this paper, we examine and compare the behavior and determinants of the bid–ask spreads (BASs) of active and inactive contracts using the best bid offer data set. We show that both the magnitude and volatility of BAS for inactive contracts exhibit U‐shaped patterns, whereas active contracts' BAS increase only near their expiration. Inactive contracts are also of low liquidity risk after introducing market makers. On the basis of the simultaneous equation model, we find that BAS responds negatively to volume and positively to volatility and order imbalance. The impacts are larger in inactive contracts. Moreover, introducing market makers to inactive contracts is conducive to attracting trading and lowering trading costs.
Risk factors of sepsis and prevalence of multidrug‐resistant organisms in pediatric cardiac surgery in tertiary care teaching rural hospital in India: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Bhende Vishal V. , Pathan Sohilkhan R. , Sharma Tanishq S. , Kumar Amit , Majmudar Hardil P. , Patel Vishal A.
Published: April 2023

Background and aims

Cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass result in an immunoparalyzed state in children making them susceptible to sepsis and other hospital‐acquired infections. Therefore, identification of the risk factors of sepsis would lead to appropriate management. The current study seeks to evaluate the prevalence of sepsis and risk factors linked to sepsis in pediatric cardiac surgical patients and the subsequent prevalence of multidrug‐resistant organisms.

Methods

A retrospective, single‐center observational study was conducted including 100 pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery between January 2017 and February 2018. All patient data were obtained from the medical record department of the hospital. Patient case report form comprised demography, surgery details, preoperative and postoperative hematological reports, and clinical details. After collecting the data, chi‐square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factors linked to sepsis.

Results

The prevalence of sepsis in our population was 27% and the mortality rate due to sepsis was 1%. The only statistically significant risk factor for sepsis we discovered in this analysis was prolonged ICU stay for more than 5 days. A total of eight patients had blood cultures positive for bacterial infection. The alarming finding was that all eight were infected with multidrug‐resistant organisms, demanding the last line of antibacterials.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that special clinical care is required when ICU stay is prolonged to lower the risk of sepsis. These new and upcoming infections not only promote high mortality and morbidity rates but also contribute to increased cost of care due to the use of newer broad‐spectrum antibiotics and longer hospital stay. The high prevalence of multidrug‐resistant organisms is unacceptable in the current scenario and hospital infection and prevention control play a crucial role in minimizing such infections.
Effective training program for antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorder
Authors: Watcharasin Pattharapa , Pranpanus Savitree , Suwannanon Ruedeekorn , Rajaborirug Songyos
Published: April 2023

Objective

To develop and evaluate a training program for diagnosing placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder in obstetrics/gynecology and radiology residents.

Methods

This single‐center prospective study was based on 177 ultrasound images of pathologically confirmed PAS extracted from 534 cases of placenta previa suspicious for PAS. First‐ to third‐year residents were evaluated before training to assess experience and ability to diagnose PAS. They attended a principal lecture followed by weekly self‐study exercises over 5 weeks. Post‐course tests evaluated the efficacy of the training program for improving diagnosis of PAS after the program.

Results

Twenty‐three (38.3%) obstetrics/gynecology and 37 (61.7%) radiology residents were trained. Before the training program, 98.3% reported minimal experience and 100% low confidence to correctly diagnose PAS. During the program, the overall accuracy of all participants in diagnosing PAS increased from 71.3% before to 95.2% after training (P < 0.001). Regression analyses showed that ability to diagnose PAS increased 2.52‐fold (P < 0.001) following the program. The retention of knowledge at 1, 3, and 6 months posttest was 84.7%, 87.5%, and 87.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

An antenatal diagnosis of PAS training program can be effective as a residency training program, considering the globally rising cesarean delivery rates.
Reflections on the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® process in Virginia
Authors: Dye Kasey , Spence Christine , Brock Jackie Robinson
Published: April 2023

This study was conducted to gather information to inform key stakeholders in Virginia's Early Childhood Mental Health workforce who are involved in the Infant Mental Health Endorsement®. An “Endorsement® indicates an individual's efforts to specialize in the promotion and practice of infant or early childhood mental health within his/her own chosen discipline” (Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health, 2021). The following research questions guided this study: (1) who is part of the infant mental health endorsed workforce in Virginia; (2) what are the benefits and barriers to the Endorsement® process. A total of 115 individuals who were or are involved in the Endorsement® as endorsees or advisors were participants in the study. Participants cited many benefits of obtaining their Infant Mental Health Endorsement®, including general professional development and connecting to other professionals in the field. Barriers to obtaining the Endorsement® included time and financial restraints related to obtaining reflective supervision from a qualified Reflective Supervisor. Results from the study will be used to inform the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® process, and applied to the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® in 2023.
Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib in combination with nilotinib and prednisone in patients with myelofibrosis (RuNiC study): A phase Ib, multicenter study
Authors: Ayala Rosa , Fernández Rafael Alonso , García‐Gutiérrez Valentín , Alvarez‐Larrán Alberto , Osorio Santiago , Sánchez‐Pina Jose M. , Carreño‐Tarragona Gonzalo , Álvarez Noemi , Gómez‐Casares María Teresa , Duran Antonia , Gorrochategi Julian , Hernández‐Boluda Juan Carlos , Martínez‐López Joaquín
Published: April 2023

This phase Ib, non‐randomized, open‐label study evaluates the safety and tolerability of ruxolitinib in combination with nilotinib and prednisone in patients with naïve or ruxolitinib‐resistant myelofibrosis (MF). A total of 15 patients with primary or secondary MF received the study treatment; 13 patients had received prior ruxolitinib treatment (86.7%). Eight patients completed seven cycles (53.3%) and six patients completed twelve cycles of treatment (40%). All the patients experienced at least one adverse event (AE) during the study (the most common AEs were hyperglycemia, asthenia, and thrombocytopenia), and 14 patients registered at least one treatment‐related AE (the most common treatment‐related AEs were hyperglycemia (22.2%; three grade 3 cases). Five treatment‐related serious AEs (SAEs) were reported in two patients (13.3%). No deaths were registered throughout the study. No dose‐limiting toxicity was observed. Four out of fifteen (27%) patients experienced a 100% spleen size reduction at Cycle 7, and two additional patients achieved a >50% spleen size reduction, representing an overall response rate of 40% at Cycle 7. In conclusion, the tolerability of this combination was acceptable, and hyperglycemia was the most frequent treatment‐related AE. Ruxolitinib in combination with nilotinib and prednisone showed relevant clinical activity in patients with MF. This trial was registered with EudraCT Number 2016‐005214‐21.
Mechanics of leukemic T‐cell
Authors: Bui Van‐Chien , Nguyen Thi‐Huong
Published: April 2023

Cell mechanics is a factor that determines cell growth, migration, proliferation, or differentiation, as well as trafficking inside the cytoplasm and organization of organelles. Knowledge about cell mechanics is critical to gaining insight into these biological processes. Here, we used atomic force microscopy to examine the elasticity, an important parameter of cell mechanics, of non‐adherent Jurkat leukemic T‐cells in both interphase and mitotic phases. We found that the elasticity of an individual cell does not significantly change at interphase. When a cell starts to divide, its elasticity increases in the transition from metaphase to telophase during normal division while the cell is stiffened right after it enters mitosis during abnormal division. At the end of the division, the cell elasticity gradually returned to the value of the mother cell. These changes may originate from the changes in cell surface tension during modulating actomyosin at the cleavage furrow, redistributing cell organelles, and constricting the contractile ring to sever mother cell to form daughters. The difference in elasticity patterns suggests that there is a discrepancy in the redistribution of the cell organelles during normal and abnormal division.
Characteristics, level of evidence, and impact of clinical studies on peri‐implantitis: 2017 to 2021
Authors: Zhao Yaoyu , Yan Qi , Wu Xinyu , Hua Fang , Shi Bin
Published: April 2023

Background

The level of evidence (LOE) is an important tool in current evidence‐based practice and clinical research. However, in clinical studies on peri‐implantitis, the present status of the LOE and its association with research impact remains to be determined. The present study aimed to gather the characteristics and LOE of clinical studies on peri‐implantitis conducted from 2017 to 2021 and assess the association of the LOE with social and scientific impact.

Methods

The PubMed database was searched to retrieve clinical studies that evaluated peri‐implantitis‐related healthcare interventions and were published between 2017 and 2021. A 4‐level modified Oxford 2011 LOE tool was used to determine the LOE of these studies. Citation count and Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS) were derived from the Web of Science and Altmetric Explorer, respectively. Multivariate generalized estimation equation (GEE) analysis was conducted to explore relationships between the LOE and citation count, and between the LOE and AAS; the publication year was considered the grouping factor for adjusting for potential clustering effects.

Results

Two hundred and thirty‐five studies were considered eligible. The percentages by level from Level‐1 to Level‐4 were 9.8%, 35.7%, 28.9%, and 25.5%. Multivariable GEE analyses revealed that studies with higher LOE ratings had significantly greater citation counts (p = 0.008). However, no significant association (p = 0.872) was observed between the LOE and AAS.

Conclusions

From 2017 to 2021, more than 40% of studies published on peri‐implantitis each year had high‐LOE ratings. High‐LOE studies showed a tendency to have greater scientific impact.
Chemical, biochemical and volatile profiles of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) from different growing areas of Morocco
Authors: Naim Nadia , Guirrou Ibtissame , Fauconnier Marie‐Laure , Hafida Hanine , Tahiri Abdessalem , Madani Ilham , Lahlali Rachid , Ennahli Said
Published: April 2023

Background

The saffron (Crocus sativus L.) planted area and production increased in the past decade in Morocco. This crop has been extended to new regions beyond its original main area due to the shift in climate conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the chemical characterization and the quality of saffron stigma samples collected from 11 different localities.

Results

According to the ISO3632 standard method, all samples were within the ISO36‐32.2010 categorization range (category I and II) Contents of crocin responsible for color, picrocrocin responsible for taste, and safranal responsible for the aroma, showed significant differences between samples from different areas. The biochemical analysis revealed that samples from Boulmane (Serghina and El Mers) are rich in polyphenols (5.70 ± 0.34; 5.31 ± 0.004 mg GAE/g DW, respectively) and have an important antioxidant power (IC50 for the DPPH: 231.12 ± 1.065; 236.77 ± 2109 respectively) compared to those from Taznakht and Taliouine known for their higher organoleptic quality. Interestingly, volatile profiling by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identified the safranal, isophorone, ketoisophorone, ß‐isophorone, and 1‐4‐cyclohexanedione, 2,2,6‐trimethyl as the main volatile compounds in saffron samples from different regions.

Conclusion

This study is the first to be conducted in Morocco on saffron newly cultivated in new regions (Boulmane, Azilal, and Ain Leuh) and showed the higher potential for growing saffron, thus promoting the adoption of saffron as a substitute crop for the socio‐economic development in these new areas.
Role of bran particles in the formation of dark spots on fresh wet noodle sheets: what are the dark spots?
Authors: Zhao Yang , Huang Ze‐Hua , Zhou Hui‐Ming , Ma Liang , An Yan‐Xia , Abddollahi Mehdi , Zhang Jian , Yin Gui‐Hong
Published: April 2023

Background

Dark spots may affect the appearance of fresh noodles during storage, even when made from flour with low ash content. The effect of flour bran content on the degree of dark spot formation in fresh wet noodle sheets (FWNS) is investigated to explain this phenomenon.

Results

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) observation revealed that the wheat bran particles were responsible for the formation of dark spots on FWNS, with each bran particle core generating a single dark spot. In wheat flours with low ash content, the number of wheat bran particles causing dark spot formation on FWNS was limited, and these particles were not visible to the naked eye until their size exceeded approximately 50 μm. Tropolone, a polyphenol oxidase inhibitor (PubChem CID: 24900578) and dry heating treatment, which inactivates polyphenol oxidase, was found to inhibit or reduce the formation of dark spots.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that bran particles, rich in polyphenol oxidase, play a key role in dark spot formation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ion chromatography for the analysis of glyphosate and its selected metabolites. A review
Authors: Michalski Rajmund , Pecyna‐Utylska Paulina
Published: April 2023

Among all known compounds with herbicide activity glyphosate, has been the most commercially successful one. Currently, it is under evaluation because of its possible cancerogenic properties. However, the question is—if it is possible to completely withdraw it from use. Before it can happen, it is important to be sure of all its benefits and limitations, and this requires further detailed research. Due to the extent and prevalence of its use, glyphosate ends up in the environment and then in food and our bodies. There are several methods used for their determination. One of them is ion chromatography. Taking into account its advantages and disadvantages, as well as its rapid development, their importance in this field can be expected to increase in the near future. This paper summarizes the literature data from the past 22 years. The applications of ion chromatography in the determination of glyphosate in various types of environmental, food, and other samples are described. Moreover, the methods used so far are compared with the possibilities offered by ion chromatography, which main advantages and benefits are easy availability, low operating costs, green chemistry aspects, and suitable validation parameters.
In‐office KTP laser treatment for laryngeal pathologies: 5‐years outcomes
Authors: Lahav Yonatan , Pinhas Sapir , Shapira‐Galitz Yael , Warman Meir , Cohen Oded , Shoffel‐Havakuk Hagit , Tessler Idit
Published: April 2023

Introduction

In the past two decades, laser systems were introduced into the office setting for laryngeal pathologies, offering the advantages of a shorter procedure and recovery. To date, long‐term data on outcomes is limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the office‐based potassium‐titanyl‐phosphate (KTP) laser procedure for laryngeal pathologies.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of in‐office KTP laser procedures for two main vocal folds lesions groups: (i) benign and pre‐malignant; and (ii) intraepithelial lesions in a prior invasive cancer field between 2010 and 2020. Data were collected from electronic medical records, telephone interviews, and video documentation of the procedure, including treatment completion, disease control, and whether additional interventions were required.

Results

A total of 81 patients underwent 153 in‐office KTP laser procedures for benign (36, 44.4%), pre‐malignant (15, 18.5%), and lesions in a prior malignancy field (30, 37.1%) with a mean of 1.89 ± 1.81 procedures per patient. One hundred and thirty‐eight (90.2%) procedures were well tolerated and completed successfully. During the 5‐years of follow‐up, 63% of the patients with previous malignancy were managed exclusively in the office. In the pre‐malignant group, 76% required no additional type of intervention. Patients with papilloma required significantly more procedures per patient compared with other pathologies (3.6 ± 4 vs. 1.61 ± 1, p‐value = 0.02). Surgery was required only in 18.2% of the papilloma patients. Three (1.9%) patients had short‐term complications, all resolved within 6 months. Failure to complete the procedure was significantly associated with active smoking (p‐value < 0.001) and, in most cases (90%), was related to patient intolerance.

Conclusion

Office‐based KTP laser laryngeal procedures have shown promising results for both benign and selected cases of lesions in a prior malignancy field with a high compliance and a very low complication rate, suggesting its use as an effective and safe treatment modality for selected patients.
A prospective pilot study to assess for histologic changes on vulvar biopsies in postmenopausal women with lichen sclerosus treated with fractionated CO2 laser therapy
Authors: Dieter Alexis A. , Iglesia Cheryl B. , Lee Jennifer H. , Etcheverry Maria J. , Gonzales Melissa K. , Sokol Andrew I. , Tefera Eshetu , Cardis Michael A.
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To investigate the histologic characteristics of vulvar tissues before and after completion of fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy (FxCO2) for vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS). The secondary objective was to assess subjective improvement in symptoms via the Skindex‐16 questionnaire.

Methods

This prospective single‐arm study was conducted from April 2021 to August 2022 at one academic medical center. Ten postmenopausal women with biopsy‐proven LS planning FxCO2 laser treatment were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included prior transvaginal mesh for prolapse, topical corticosteroid use within 8 weeks, prior pelvic radiation, malignancy, active genital infection, or pregnancy. The vulvovaginal SmartXide2‐V2‐LR laser system fractionated CO2 laser (DEKA) was utilized to treat visually affected areas of vulvar and perianal LS with a single pass. Subjects underwent three treatments 4–6 weeks apart. Subjects completed the Skindex‐16 questionnaire and had vulvar biopsy at baseline and at 4 weeks after completion of fractionated CO2 laser therapy. Blinded histologic slides were scored by one dermatopathologist (Michael A. Cardis) rating from 1 to 5 the degree of dermal sclerosis, inflammation, and epidermal atrophy. Change scores were calculated as the difference between pre‐ and post‐treatment scores for each subject.

Results

The 10 subjects enrolled had a mean age of 61 and most were white, privately insured, and had a college/graduate‐level education. Post‐fractionated CO2 laser treatment vulvar biopsies showed significant improvement in sclerosis and epidermal atrophy compared with pretreatment baseline biopsy specimens (p < 0.05) with no statistically significant change found in inflammation score. Skindex‐16 and FSFI scores showed a trend towards improvement (p > 0.05 for both). A statistically significant correlation was found between change in sclerosis and Skindex‐16 symptoms scores with an average change of 21.4 units in Skindex‐16 symptoms score for every one‐point change in histologic sclerosis score (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

In postmenopausal women with vulvar LS undergoing fractionated CO2 laser, symptomatic improvements correlated with histologic change in degree of sclerosis on vulvar biopsy. These results demonstrate FxCO2 laser therapy as a promising option for the treatment of LS and suggest that further studies should assess degree of sclerosis on histopathology.
A method for solving Caputo–Hadamard fractional initial and boundary value problems
Authors: Saeed Umer
Published: April 2023

In this article, we proposed a method by generalizing the classical CAS wavelets for the approximate solutions of nonlinear fractional Caputo–Hadamard initial and boundary value problems. We have generated the new operational matrices for the generalized CAS (gCAS) wavelets, and these matrices are successfully utilized for the solution of nonlinear Caputo–Hadamard fractional initial and boundary value problems. The method that we have proposed in the present study is the combination of gCAS wavelets (based on new operational matrices) and the quasilinearization technique. We have derived and constructed the gCAS wavelets, the gCAS wavelets operational matrix of Hadamard fractional integral of order
, and the gCAS wavelets operational matrix of Hadamard fractional integral for boundary value problems. We have also derived the orthonormality condition for the gCAS wavelets. The purpose of these operational matrices is to make the calculations faster. Furthermore, we worked out the error analysis of the proposed method. We presented the procedure of implementation for both nonlinear Caputo–Hadamard fractional initial and boundary value problems. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the reliability and accuracy of the method. Since the Hadamard differential equation is a new and emerging field, many engineers can utilize the proposed method for the numerical simulations of their linear/nonlinear Caputo–Hadamard fractional differential models.
Inside‐Out Surgical Anatomy of Superior Laryngeal Artery Endoscopic Dissection and Proposal for Nomenclature of Branches
Authors: Saleh Hazem M.A. , Jöns Thomas , Mürbe Dirk , Nawka Tadeus
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To describe the inside out surgical anatomy of the superior laryngeal artery and to resolve the ambiguities in the nomenclature of its main branches.

Study Design

Endoscopic dissection of the superior laryngeal artery in the paraglottic space of larynges of fresh frozen cadavers and a review of the literature.

Setting

A center for anatomy encompassing facilities for latex injection into the cervical arteries of human donor bodies and a laryngeal dissection station equipped with a video‐guided endoscope and a 3‐dimensional camera.

Methods

Video‐guided endoscopic dissection of 12 hemilarynges in fresh frozen cadavers whose cervical arteries were injected with red latex. Description of the inside‐out surgical anatomy of the superior laryngeal artery and its main branches. Review of the previous reports describing the anatomy of the superior laryngeal artery.

Results

From inside the larynx, the artery was exposed upon its entry through the thyrohyoid membrane or through the foramen thyroideum. It was traced ventrocaudally in the paraglottic space exposing its branches to the epiglottis, the arytenoid, and the laryngeal muscles and mucosa. Its terminal branch was followed until it left the larynx through the cricothyroid membrane. Branches of the artery, previously described under different names, appeared to supply the same anatomical domains.

Conclusion

Mastering the inside out anatomy of the superior laryngeal artery is mandatory to control any intraoperative or postoperative hemorrhage during transoral laryngeal microsurgery or during transoral robotic surgery. Naming the artery's main branches according to their domain of supply would resolve the ambiguities resulting from various nomenclatures.
Thermal protection materials based on epoxy‐containing and phenyl‐containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane modified phenolic resin and phenolic resin/carbon fiber composites
Authors: Yang Fan , Li Jian , Zhang Wenchao , He Jiyu , Yang Rongjie , Huang Jianfeng , Zhang Xin , Zhang Wenyuan
Published: April 2023

Epoxy‐containing and phenyl‐containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (EP‐POSS) and EP‐POSS modified phenolic resin (PR) was prepared, and its mechanical, thermodynamic and ablative properties were characterized. The results show that EP‐POSS can effectively improve the mechanical properties, thermal stability and ablative performance of PR. In the process of ablative, EP‐POSS decomposition forms a protective layer of silica, which covers the surface of the material, slows down the erosion of the internal material by high temperature heat flow, and effectively reduces the ablative rate of the material. EP‐POSS modified PR/CF (carbon fiber) composite was prepared and its ablative performance was studied. The results show that the modified material has excellent ablative resistance, and its linear ablative rate is close to 0.
Gamma generalized linear model‐based control charts for high‐purity processes
Authors: Rizzo Caterina , Bucchianico Alessandro Di
Published: April 2023

Statistical process monitoring of high‐purity manufacturing processes becomes challenging if the defect rate depends on the fluctuations of a set of covariates (e.g., inspected weight, volume, temperature). This paper applies the generalized linear model framework to statistical process control for detecting contextual anomalies in high‐purity processes. Different types of predictive residuals (i.e., Pearson, deviance, and quantile) and recursive residuals are considered, and the performance of these schemes is compared via a simulation study.
Reliability study of generalized exponential distribution based on inverse power law using artificial neural network with Bayesian regularization
Authors: Sindhu Tabassum Naz , Çolak Andaç Batur , Lone Showkat Ahmad , Shafiq Anum
Published: April 2023

The investigation of lifetime reliability analysis is vital for confirming the quality of devices, equipment, electronic tube flops, and so forth. Statistical investigators have become more interested in lifetime model exploration in recent years, particularly in the last decade, without considering the issue of modeling the metrics of model reliability using artificial neural networks (ANNs). This study addresses this vacuum by discussing the multilayer ANN with Bayesian regularization modeling for reliability metrics of generalized exponential model based on inverse power law (IPL). The numerical findings of the reliability investigations and the values obtained from the ANN have been examined and analyzed carefully. The findings show that ANNs are a powerful and useful mathematical tool for analyzing the reliability of lifetime model based on IPL. Finally, a real life framework is implemented that support the theory of a research study.
A comparison of bias‐adjusted generalized estimating equations for sparse binary data in small‐sample longitudinal studies
Authors: Gosho Masahiko , Ishii Ryota , Noma Hisashi , Maruo Kazushi
Published: April 2023

Using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) can lead to a bias in regression coefficients for a small sample or sparse data. The bias‐corrected GEE (BCGEE) and penalized GEE (PGEE) were proposed to resolve the small‐sample bias. Moreover, the standard sandwich covariance estimator leads to a bias of standard error for small samples; several modified covariance estimators have been proposed to address this issue. We review the modified GEEs and modified covariance estimators, and evaluate their performance in sparse binary data from small‐sample longitudinal studies. The simulation results showed that GEE and BCGEE often failed to achieve convergence, whereas the convergence proportion for PGEE was quite high. The bias for the regression coefficients was generally in the ascending order of PGEE BCGEE GEE. However, PGEE and BCGEE did not sufficiently remove the bias involving 20–30 subjects with unequal exposure levels with a 5% response rate. The coverage probability (CP) of the confidence interval for BCGEE was relatively poor compared with GEE and PGEE. The CP with the sandwich covariance estimator deteriorated regardless of the GEE methods under the small sample size and low response rate, whereas the CP with the modified covariance estimators—such as Morel's method—was relatively acceptable. PGEE will be the reasonable way for analyzing sparse binary data in small‐sample studies. Instead of using the standard sandwich covariance estimator, one should always apply the modified covariance estimators for analyzing these data.
Green‐Solvent‐Processable Composite Micro/Nanofiber Membrane with Gradient Asymmetric Structure for Efficient Microfiltration
Authors: Ji Keyu , Liu Chengkun , He Haijun , Mao Xue , Wei Liang , Zhou Fenglei , Sun Runjun
Published: April 2023

Electrospinning technology has attracted extensive attention in recent decades and is widely used to prepare nanofiber membranes from hundreds of polymers. Polyvinyl formal acetal (PVFA), as a polymer with excellent properties such as high strength and heat resistance, is not reported on the electrospun water treatment membrane. In this paper, the preparation process of electrospun PVFA nanofiber membrane is optimized, and the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) addition on the physical and mechanical properties and microfiltration performance of nanofiber membrane is also explored. And the hydrophobic PVFA nanofiber filter layer is then combined with a hydrophilic nonwoven support layer to construct a composite micro/nanofiber membrane with a pore‐size gradient structure and a hydrophilic/hydrophobic asymmetric structure. Finally, unidirectional water transport and water treatment performance are further investigated. The results show that the tensile breaking strength of the composite membrane can reach up to 37.8 MPa, the retention rate for particles with the size of 0.1–0.3 µm is 99.7%, and the water flux is 513.4 L m−2h−1under the hydrostatic pressure. Moreover, it still has a retention of more than 98% after three repeated uses. Therefore, the electrospun PVFA composite membrane has a great potential in microfiltration.
Introduction: African American Environmental Knowledge at Niagara
Authors: Klestil Matthias
Published: April 2023

To define the concept of environmental knowledge and illustrate its potential for ecocritical readings of nineteenth-century African American literature, this chapter turns to two texts about Niagara Falls, a handwritten note by Frederick Douglass (1843) and Charles W. Chesnutt’s short story “The Passing of Grandison” (1899). While Douglass’s note exemplifies how black writers could transform dominant aesthetic modes such as the sublime to utter social critique through expressing epistemological and ethical relations to non-human nature, Chesnutt’s story demonstrates a strategic subversiveness characteristic of African American environmental knowledge. My readings highlight howEnvironmental Knowledge, Race, and African American Literatureemploys a Foucauldian ecocritical concept of environmental knowledge to trace places and patterns of an African American ecoliterary tradition.
Euroscapes: Space, Place, and Multi-Level Governance in European Television Crime Series
Authors: Dobrescu Caius , Waade Anne Marit
Published: April 2023

In this chapter, we present a theoretical framework for analysing the interaction between European governance models and the representational policies of places in crime narratives. We adopt a pan-European perspective that implies not only the broad diversity of the considered national examples, but first and foremost covers the points of intersection between different layers of territorial jurisdiction. In our mapping of European crime series we follow, while slightly adapting, the interfaces of four distinct scales and contexts considered by Hooghe and Marks (2001a, b). The chapter does not argue for the aggregation of all European crime series into a homogeneous storyworld, but rather attempts to monitor their location on a conceptual map of European governance.
Confronting Memories: The Case of Babylon Berlin
Authors: Coviello Massimiliano
Published: April 2023

Babylon Berlin (2017–present), based on the novels by Volker Kutscher, was distributed by Sky and Netflix across Europe and globally. Set during the Weimar Republic (1918–1933), the German European TV series follows the life and investigations of Commissioner Gereon Rath, a man traumatized by his experience during World War I. This chapter addresses creative, production-related, stylistic, and narrative elements of Babylon Berlin. The series’ recreation of Weimar-era Berlin allows it to examine the lasting effects of the collective historical traumas experienced by Germany and Europe during the interwar period. More specifically, Babylon Berlin becomes a cultural and symbolic space that facilitates a reflection not only on the legacy of past traumas, but also on the connections between early twentieth-century Europe and the present.
Logics for Extensional, Locally Complete Analysis via Domain Refinements
Authors: Ascari Flavio , Bruni Roberto , Gori Roberta
Published: April 2023

Abstract interpretation is a framework to design sound static analyses by over-approximating the set of program behaviours. While over-approximations can prove correctness, they cannot witness incorrectness because false alarms may arise. An ideal, but uncommon, situation is completeness of the abstraction that can ensure no false alarm is introduced by the abstract interpreter. Local Completeness Logic is a proof system that can decide both correctness and incorrectness of a program: any provable triple $$\vdash _{A}[P]~\textsf{c}~[Q]$$

⊢
A

[
P
]

c

[
Q
]

in the logic implies completeness of an intensional abstraction of program $$\textsf{c}$$
c
on input P and is such that Q can be used to decide (in)correctness. However, completeness itself is an extensional property of the function computed by the program, while the above intensional analysis depends on the way the program is written and therefore not all valid triples can be derived in the proof system. Our main contribution is the study of new inference rules which allow one to perform part of the intensional analysis in a more precise abstract domain, and then to transfer the result back to the coarser domain. With these new rules, all (extensionally) valid triples can be derived in the proof system, thus untying the set of provable properties from the way the program is written.
Interpreting Knowledge-based Programs
Authors: Knapp Alexander , Mühlberger Heribert , Reus Bernhard
Published: April 2023

Knowledge-based programs specify multi-agent protocols with epistemic guards that abstract from how agents learn and record facts or information about other agents and the environment. Their interpretation involves a non-monotone mutual dependency between the evaluation of epistemic guards over the reachable states and the derivation of the reachable states depending on the evaluation of epistemic guards. We apply the technique of a must/cannot analysis invented for synchronous programming languages to the interpretation problem of knowledge-based programs and demonstrate that the resulting constructive interpretation is monotone and has a least fixed point. We relate our approach with existing interpretation schemes for both synchronous and asynchronous programs. Finally, we describe an implementation of the constructive interpretation and illustrate the procedure by several examples and an application to the Java memory model.
Contextual Modal Type Theory with Polymorphic Contexts
Authors: Murase Yuito , Nishiwaki Yuichi , Igarashi Atsushi
Published: April 2023

Modal types—types that are derived from proof systems of modal logic—have been studied as theoretical foundations of metaprogramming, where program code is manipulated as first-class values. In modal type systems, modality corresponds to a type constructor for code types and controls free variables and their types in code values. Nanevski et al. have proposed contextual modal type theory, which has modal types with fine-grained information on free variables: modal types are explicitly indexed by contexts—the types of all free variables in code values.

This paper presents $$\lambda _{\forall []}$$

λ

∀
[
]

, a novel extension of contextual modal type theory with parametric polymorphism over contexts. Such an extension has been studied in the literature but, unlike earlier proposals, $$\lambda _{\forall []}$$

λ

∀
[
]

is more general in that it allows multiple occurrence of context variables in a single context. We formalize $$\lambda _{\forall []}$$

λ

∀
[
]

with its type system and operational semantics given by $$\beta $$
β
-reduction and prove its basic properties including subject reduction, strong normalization, and confluence. Moreover, to demonstrate the expressive power of polymorphic contexts, we show a type-preserving embedding from a two-level fragment of Davies’ $$\lambda _{\bigcirc }$$

λ
◯

, which is based on linear-time temporal logic, to $$\lambda _{\forall []}$$

λ

∀
[
]

.
A Complete Inference System for Skip-free Guarded Kleene Algebra with Tests
Authors: Kappé Tobias , Schmid Todd , Silva Alexandra
Published: April 2023

Guarded Kleene Algebra with Tests (GKAT) is a fragment of Kleene Algebra with Tests (KAT) that was recently introduced to reason efficiently about imperative programs. In contrast to KAT, GKAT does not have an algebraic axiomatization, but relies on an analogue of Salomaa’s axiomatization of Kleene Algebra. In this paper, we present an algebraic axiomatization and prove two completeness results for a large fragment of GKAT consisting of skip-free programs.