bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Results of a Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Femoral Head Osteonecrosis
Authors: Blanco Juan F. , Garcia-Garcia Francisco J. , Villarón Eva M. , da Casa Carmen , Fidalgo Helena , López-Parra Miriam , Santos José A. , Sánchez-Guijo Fermín
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is characterized by impaired vascularization with ischemia resulting in bone cell death, leading to the deterioration of the hip joint. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are an attractive potential therapeutic approach in this setting. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical improvement in terms of pain and quality of life, as well as the safety of the procedure during the follow-up of patients. (2) Methods: A Phase I–II Open-Label Non-Randomized Prospective clinical trial was conducted. Eight patients with idiopathic ONFH and stage < IIC in the ARCO classification were included. Four weeks before therapy, 40 mL of autologous bone marrow was obtained, and MSCs were expanded under Good-Manufacturing-Practice (GMP) standards. Study medication consisted of a suspension of autologous BM-derived MSCs (suspended in a solution of 5–10 mL of saline and 5% human albumin) in a single dose of 0.5–1 × 106 cells/kg of the patient, administered intraosseously with a trocar and under radioscopic control. Per-protocol monitoring of patients included a postoperative period of 12 months, with a clinical and radiological assessment that included the visual analog scale (VAS), the Harris scale, the SF-36, and the radiological evolution of both hips. In addition, all patients were further followed up for eight years to assess the need for long-term total hip replacement (THR) surgery. (3) Results: Median age of patients included was 48.38 ± 7.38 years, and all patients were men. Autologous MSCs were expanded in all cases. There were no adverse effects related to cell administration. Regarding efficacy, both VAS and ODI scores improved after surgery. Radiologically, 12.5% of patients improved at the end of follow-up, whereas 50% improved clinically. No adverse effects related to the procedure were recorded, and none of the patients needed THR surgery within the first year after MSC therapy. (4) Conclusions: The use of autologous MSCs for patients with ONFH disease is feasible, safe in the long term, and potentially effective.
Alteration of the Respiratory Microbiome in Hospitalized Patients with Asthma–COPD Overlap during and after an Exacerbation
Authors: Alsayed Ahmad R. , Abed Anas , Jarrar Yazun Bashir , Alshammari Farhan , Alshammari Bushra , Basheti Iman A. , Zihlif Malek
Published: March 2023

The immediate aim of this study was to comparatively examine the bacterial respiratory microbiome of patients in a stable state and during an exacerbation of asthma–COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) overlap (ACO). This prospective observational study took place in Jordan between 1 September 2021 and 30 April 2022. Sputum samples from patients with recognized ACO were acquired within 48 h of the exacerbation onset and again at 3 weeks following the exacerbation. The next-generation sequencing Illumina MiSeq was employed and uncovered significantly high bacterial diversity in the sputa. The results showed a significant decrease in the taxonomic richness in the sputum samples collected during the exacerbation episodes compared with those collected from patients in a stable state (p = 0.008), with an increase in the taxonomic evenness (p < 0.005). This change in the composition of the airway bacterial community suggests that the replacement of a significant portion of the airway microbiome with certain microorganisms may play a role in the decrease in microbial diversity observed during an ACO exacerbation. Greater knowledge of this link could allow for a more focused administration of antibiotics, especially during exacerbations, improving clinical efficacy and patient outcomes.
Preoperative Decreased Hounsfield Unit Values of Cervical Vertebrae and the Relative Cross-Sectional Area of Flexion/Extension Paraspinal Muscles Are Novel Risk Factors for the Loss of Cervical Lordosis after Open-Door Laminoplasty
Authors: Hu Wenjun , Li Shaoguang , Shi Huihong , Li Yong , Qiu Jincheng , Zhou Jinlang , Huang Dongsheng , Peng Yan , Gao Wenjie , Liang Anjing
Published: March 2023

Open-door laminoplasty is widely used for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). However, the loss of cervical lordosis (LCL) seems to be unavoidable in the long-term follow-up after surgery, which may affect the clinical outcomes. The risk factors for this complication are still unclear. In this study, patients who underwent open-door laminoplasty between April 2016 and June 2021 were enrolled. Cervical X-rays were obtained to measure the C2–7 Cobb angle, C2–7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 slope (T1S) and ranges of motion (ROM). Cervical computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were collected to evaluate the cervical Hounsfield unit values (HU) and the relative cross-sectional area (RCSA) of paraspinal muscles, respectively. A total of 42 patients were included and the average follow-up period was 24.9 months. Among the patients, 24 cases (57.1%) had a LCL of more than 5° at a 1-year follow-up and were labeled as members of the LCL group. The follow-up JOA scores were significantly lower in the LCL group (13.9 ± 0.6 vs. 14.4 ± 0.8, p = 0.021) and the mean JOA recovery rate was negatively correlated with LCL (r = −0.409, p = 0.007). In addition, LCL was positively correlated to the preoperative T1S, flexion ROM, flexion/extension ROM and the RCSA of flexion/extension muscles, while it was negatively correlated to extension ROM and the HU value of cervical vertebrae. Furthermore, multiple linear regression showed that preoperative T1S, mean HU value of cervical vertebrae, flexion/extension ROM and the flexion/extension RCSA were independent risk factors for LCL. Spine surgeons should consider these parameters before performing open-door laminoplasty.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Psychosocial Quality of Life in Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review
Authors: Silver Jennifer A. , Schwartz Russell , Roy Catherine F. , Sadeghi Nader , Henry Melissa
Published: March 2023

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients are burdened by the effect of the disease process and treatment toxicities on organs important in everyday activities, such as breathing, speaking, eating, and drinking. There is a rise in OPSCC due to human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated OPSCC, affecting younger and healthier patients and with a better overall prognosis. Emphasis must be shared between oncologic outcomes and the effects on quality of life. While there have been efforts to study global and physical quality of life, the impact on psychosocial quality of life has not yet been specifically reviewed. Methods: A scoping review methodology was employed to explore the emotional, social, and mental quality of life in OPSCC patients and determine the impact of HPV status or treatment modalities. Results: Eighty-seven full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility. Fifteen articles met final inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were conducted in the United States (n = 10) and study methodology was divided between cross-sectional (n = 6), prospective (n = 5), and retrospective studies (n = 4). Four psychosocial quality of life themes were explored: the impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing, social wellbeing and function, stress, and relationship and sexual behavior. Eighteen different patient-reported outcome measures were used, including both general head and neck oncology questionnaires and symptom-specific surveys. Conclusion: There is a paucity of research regarding the effect of OPSCC on patients’ psychosocial quality of life. Learning more about this component of quality of life can guide outreach programs and multidisciplinary involvement in improving patient care.
Role of Intracoronary Imaging in Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Disease (MINOCA): A Review
Authors: Borzillo Irene , De Filippo Ovidio , Manai Rossella , Bruno Francesco , Ravetti Emanuele , Galanti Alma Andrea , Vergallo Rocco , Porto Italo , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio
Published: March 2023

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease occurs in 6% to 15% of all presentation of myocardial infarctions. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of MINOCA include epicardial vasospasm, coronary microvascular disorder, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, and coronary thrombus/embolism. The diagnosis is challenging, supported by intracoronary imaging with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherent tomography (OCT), coronary physiology testing, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). OCT is able to identify atherosclerotic causes of MINOCA (plaque erosion, plaque rupture, and calcified nodule) and nonatherosclerotic causes (spontaneous artery dissection, and spasm). In this review, we summarize the performance of the two intracoronary imaging modalities (IVUS and OCT) in MINOCA and discuss the importance of supplementing these modalities with CMR in order to drive target therapy.
Impact of a Digital Atopic Dermatitis Educational Intervention on Hispanic Patients and Family Members
Authors: Andrade Luis Fernando , Bekhash MaryJo , Choragudi Siri , Gonzalez Juan M. , Valdes Rodrigo , Yosipovitch Gil
Published: March 2023

With the increasing incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in the U.S., the highest prevalence of AD being found in Hispanic countries, and the rising Hispanic-American population, educational resources on eczema focused on Spanish-speaking populations are needed more than ever. As such, the primary goal of this project was to assess the beneficial impact of an educational intervention conducted through a virtual platform for Hispanic individuals living with atopic dermatitis. Utilizing WhatsApp, the study enrolled 55 participants diagnosed with AD and/or parents of children diagnosed with AD. Participants were enrolled in a seven-day educational module with daily topics on AD health knowledge. A health knowledge survey was administered before the educational program, upon completion of the program, and one month after completion. The program found a 14% increase in AD health knowledge upon completion of the program (p < 0.001). Most importantly, there was no significant difference found between the health knowledge survey submitted at program completion and one month after completion, signaling that health knowledge taught through the course was successfully retained by participants (p = 0.29). Qualitative themes involving atopic disease were additionally explored through group discussions, including mental health and peer stigma. This study is the first of its kind in dermatology utilizing the WhatsApp format. The success of retained health knowledge regarding AD demonstrates that future virtual endeavors can be effective and accessible methods of patient education overall for populations that might not have ease of access to major medical centers.
Trends in Male and Female Urethral Endoscopic Management and Urethroplasty Using the TriNetX Database
Authors: Ostrovsky Adam M. , Prebay Zachary J. , Chung Paul H.
Published: March 2023

Background: How quickly providers adapt to new practice guidelines is not well known. The objective of this study was to evaluate temporal trends in the performance of urethral endoscopic management and urethroplasty surrounding the release of the American Urological Association (AUA) Male Urethral Stricture Guidelines in 2017. We also evaluate in parallel trends in female urethral stricture disease, where AUA guidelines are not present. We hypothesized that the ratio of urethroplasty versus urethral endoscopic management in both males and females is increasing and that guidelines do not result in immediate changes in management trends. Methods: Endoscopic management and urethroplasty data were collected from the TriNetX database on adult males and females five years before (starting 1 January 2012) and after (ending 31 December 2022) the 2017 AUA guidelines. Cohorts were built using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and grouped into urethral endoscopic management (Males: CPT 52275, 52281, 52282, 53600, 53601, 53620, 53621; Females: CPT 52270, 53660, 53661, 53665) or urethroplasty (Males: CPT 53000, 53010, 53400, 53410, 53415, 53420, 53450, 53460; Females: CPT 53430). Data on patient age, race, and geographic distribution were also collected. Results: In total, 27,623 (Males: 25,039; Females: 2584) endoscopic managements and 11,771 (Males: 11,105; Females: 666) urethroplasties were reviewed across 51 Health Care Organizations. The mean age of endoscopic management and urethroplasty patients was 67.1 and 55.7, respectively (p < 0.01). The urethroplasty-to-endoscopic management ratio decreased for males between 2012 and 2013 and then steadily increased until 2017. The ratio steadily increased for females from 2012 to 2017. The urethroplasty-to-endoscopic management ratio showed a slight decline from 2017 to 2020 across both males and females before rising again through 2022 to a study high (Males: 0.62; Females: 0.63). Regional differences were identified, with the West having the highest urethroplasty-to-endoscopic management ratios for both males and females, the Northeast having the lowest urethroplasty-to-endoscopic management ratio for males, and the Midwest having the lowest ratio for females. Conclusions: The utilization of urethroplasty for males and females is increasing. An immediate benefit on post-guideline urethroplasty rates was not observed, and the utilization of female urethroplasty increased despite the absence of AUA guidelines. These illustrate that the impact of guideline dissemination takes time and supports the need for continued provider outreach and education on urethral stricture disease and management.
Design of Proposed Software System for Prediction of Iliosacral Screw Placement for Iliosacral Joint Injuries Based on X-ray and CT Images
Authors: Benda Vojtech , Kubicek Jan , Madeja Roman , Oczka David , Cerny Martin , Dostalova Kamila
Published: March 2023

One of the crucial tasks for the planning of surgery of the iliosacral joint is placing an iliosacral screw with the goal of fixing broken parts of the pelvis. Tracking of proper screw trajectory is usually done in the preoperative phase by the acquisition of X-ray images under different angles, which guide the surgeons to perform surgery. This approach is standardly complicated due to the investigation of 2D X-ray images not showing spatial perspective. Therefore, in this pilot study, we propose complex software tools which are aimed at making a simulation model of reconstructed CT (DDR) images with a virtual iliosacral screw to guide the surgery process. This pilot study presents the testing for two clinical cases to reveal the initial performance and usability of this software in clinical conditions. This model is consequently used for a multiregional registration with reference intraoperative X-ray images to select the slide from the 3D dataset which best fits with reference X-ray. The proposed software solution utilizes input CT slices of the pelvis area to create a segmentation model of individual bone components. Consequently, a model of an iliosacral screw is inserted into this model. In the next step, we propose the software CT2DDR which makes DDR projections with the iliosacral screw. In the last step, we propose a multimodal registration procedure, which performs registration of a selected number of slices with reference X-ray, and based on the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) and index of correlation, the procedure finds the best match of DDR with X-ray images. In this pilot study, we also provide a comparative analysis of the computational costs of the multimodal registration upon various numbers of DDR slices to show the complex software performance. The proposed complex model has versatile usage for modeling and surgery planning of the pelvis area in fractures of iliosacral joints.
Diagnosis and Management of Barrett’s Esophagus
Authors: Mejza Maja , Małecka-Wojciesko Ewa
Published: March 2023

Barrett’s esophagus is a metaplastic change of esophageal mucosa, which can be characterized by its salmon-colored lining and the presence of columnar epithelium with goblet cells. It is a well-established precancerous state of esophageal adenocarcinoma, a tumor with very poor survival rates, which incidence is rapidly growing. Despite numerous research, the debate about its diagnosis and management is still ongoing. This article aims to provide an overview of the current recommendations and new discoveries regarding the subject.
Exploring the Optimization of Synchromodal Transportation Path under Uncertainties
Authors: Xu Xinyang , Wang Haiyan , Deng Pengzhu
Published: March 2023

Along with the rapid development of the economy and the increasing demand for transport quality, renewed attention to multimodal transportation has emerged. However, due to the unpredictable transport environment in the process of multimodal transportation and the uncertainties caused by the change of transport market demand, transport decision-makers face many difficulties in transport planning and routing, which has become an obstacle to the development of multimodal transportation. As an advanced form of multimodal transportation, synchromodal transportation has received extensive attention in recent years. Due to its flexibility and sustainability, synchromodal transportation can effectively deal with the uncertainty in multimodal transportation. Based on the problem of multimodal transportation networks with uncertainties, this paper proposed a mixed time-window-constrained path optimization model with the goal of minimizing the total transportation costs, and proposed corresponding assumptions considering three types of uncertainty. The model could be solved by a genetic algorithm using MATLAB software. Using this model, the best transportation path and the optimal scheme considering synchronization were obtained. The results of the case study showed that synchromodal transportation can adjust the transportation plan in time to respond to uncertainties, thus, effectively reducing transportation costs. This paper favorably supported the introduction of synchromodal transportation, which is of significance to the development of multimodal transportation in the future.
Tectonic Transformation, Magmatic Activity and Subsidence Centre Migration of Eocene Half-Grabens: A Case Study of the Northern Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB) in the Northern South China Sea
Authors: Peng Guangrong , Liu Pei , Chen Weitao , Li Zhensheng , Wang Xiaomeng , Zhang Zhiwei , Shan Xuanlong , Hao Guoli
Published: March 2023

The Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB) is located in the northern part of the South China Sea. The Palaeogene Wenchang Formation (Fm) was formed at the rift stage and contains the main source rocks. The migration of Wenchang subsidence centres in the western Zhu I Depression and northern Yangjiang-Yitong Fault Zone are controlled by tectonic transformation and partially influenced by magmatic activity. From the Eocene Wenchang (E2WC) to the Eocene and Oligocene Enping (E2+3EP) stages, the regional extension direction rotated clockwise from NW–SE to S–N, and the strike of the regional strike-slip fault was NW–SE. The subsidence centres of the Wenchang Fm in the western subsags of the Zhu I Depression migrated to the Beiweitan Fault in a convergent way. Magmatic activity at the E2WC stage developed mostly along the central edge of the subsags. Local subsidence migrated to the side of the basin-controlling faults. The migration characteristics of the subsidence centre of the Wenchang Fm in each subsag are complex in the northern Yangjiang-Yitong Fault Zone. There was no magmatic activity at the E2WC to E2+3EP stage of the Enping 27 subsag, and the subsidence centre migrated eastwards, which is basically consistent with the migration pattern of the Enping sag. In the eastern Yangjiang sag, the strike of the subsags was ENE. The angle between the extensional direction and subsag strike at the E2WC to E2+3EP stage first increased and then decreased. Magmatic activity at the E2WC stage mostly developed in the subsags. Tectonic transformation and magmatic activity at the E2WC stage led to subsidence centre migration from the Enping 21 subsag to the Enping 20 subsag northwest. From the end of the E2WC stage to the E2+3EP stage, magmatic activity developed at the subsag margins, which resulted in severe denudation. Research on the entire area indicates that tectonic transformation controls subsidence centre migration. Magmatic activity influences the migration of subsidence centres locally or controls this process through tectonic transformation.
Fatigue Reliability Analysis of Submarine Pipelines Using the Bayesian Approach
Authors: Kakaie Arman , Guedes Soares C. , Ariffin Ahmad Kamal , Punurai Wonsiri
Published: March 2023

A fracture mechanics-based fatigue reliability analysis of a submarine pipeline is investigated using the Bayesian approach. The proposed framework enables the estimation of the reliability level of submarine pipelines based on limited experimental data. Bayesian updating method and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation are used to estimate the posterior distribution of the parameters of a fracture mechanics-based fatigue model regarding different sources of uncertainties. Failure load cycle distribution and the reliability-based performance assessment of API 5L X56 submarine pipelines as a case study are estimated for three different cases. In addition, the impact of different parameters, including the stress ratio, maximum load, uncertainties of stress range and initial crack size, corrosion-enhanced factor, and also the correlation between material parameters on the reliability of the investigated submarine pipeline has been indicated through a sensitivity study. The applied approach in this study may be used for uncertainty modelling and fatigue reliability-based performance assessment of different types of submarine pipelines for maintenance and periodic inspection planning.
Using Apatite to Track Volatile Evolution in the Shallow Magma Chamber below the Yonaguni Knoll IV Hydrothermal Field in the Southwestern Okinawa Trough
Authors: Chen Zuxing , Soh Tamehe Landry , Qi Haiyan , Zhang Yuxiang , Zeng Zhigang , Cai Mingjiang
Published: March 2023

The Yonaguni Knoll IV is an active seafloor hydrothermal system associated with submarine silicic volcanism located in the “cross back-arc volcanic trail” (CBVT) in the southwestern Okinawa Trough. However, the behavior of volatiles during magmatic differentiation in the shallow silicic magma chamber is unclear. Here, the volatile contents of apatite inclusions trapped in different phenocrysts (orthopyroxene and amphibole) and microphenocrysts in the rhyolite from the Yonaguni Knoll IV hydrothermal field were analyzed by using electron microprobe analysis, which aims to track the behavior of volatiles in the shallow magma chamber. Notably, the ‘texturally constrained’ apatites showed a decreasing trend of XCl/XOH and XF/XCl ratios. Based on the geochemical analyses in combination with thermodynamic modeling, we found that the studied apatites were consistent with the mode of volatile-undersaturated crystallization. Therefore, volatiles were not saturated in the early stage of magmatic differentiation in the shallow rhyolitic magma chamber, and consequently, the metal elements were retained in the rhyolitic melt and partitioned into crystalline magmatic sulfides. Additionally, previous studies suggested that the shallow rhyolitic magma chamber was long-lived and periodically replenished by mafic magma. The injection of volatile-rich and oxidized subduction-related mafic magmas can supply abundant volatiles and dissolve magmatic sulfide in the shallow magma chamber. These processes are important for the later-stage of volatile exsolution, while the forming metal-rich magmatic fluids contribute to the overlying Yonaguni Knoll IV hydrothermal system.
The Blue Bond Market: A Catalyst for Ocean and Water Financing
Authors: Bosmans Pieter , de Mariz Frederic
Published: March 2023

The blue bond market has emerged as one of the latest additions in the sustainable debt market. Its goal is to channel funding toward sustainable blue economy projects related to the ocean and freshwater. While the protection of hydric resources has gained importance within the problem of climate change, Sustainable Development Goals linked to water remain the most underfunded. Since the issuance of the first blue bond in the Seychelles in 2018, multiple public and private organizations have turned to the blue bond market to raise funds. However, unlike the green bond market, no comprehensive market overview exists, preventing stakeholders from judging whether this label has been effective in protecting water resources and drawing conclusions on its future potential. This paper draws on an extensive review of academic research and complements it with a unique and comprehensive analysis of blue bonds issued to date, providing a contribution to the literature on sustainable finance. Between 2018 and 2022, 26 blue bond transactions took place, amounting to a total value of USD 5.0 billion, with a 92% CAGR between those years. Currently, blue bonds represent less than 0.5% of the sustainable debt market. The use of proceeds has mostly focused on waste management, biodiversity, and sustainable fisheries, but also ranges across other areas of the sustainable blue economy. Only two-thirds of blue bond issuers report on impact metrics, providing further opportunity to add detail and rigor. We draw comparisons to the more mature green bond market and conclude that a lack of standardized definitions, metrics, and expertise by issuers and investors are significant barriers to the blue bond market. Resolving these barriers is crucial to attract corporations and ensure continued growth of the blue bond market.
Functional Restoration of Desertified, Water-Limited Ecosystems: The Israel Desert Experience
Authors: Dor-Haim Shayli , Brand David , Moshe Itshack , Shachak Moshe
Published: March 2023

Ecological restoration has recognized explicitly the recovery of ecosystem functions. The emphasis on ecosystem functions in restoration efforts can be defined as functional restoration. Functional restoration, i.e., rehabilitation of ecosystem functions, is particularly applicable to highly degraded landscapes such as desertified areas, where restoration to the original state is impossible. This review paper produced a general conceptual model of the fundamental processes that regulate ecosystem functions in water-limited ecosystems. The Israeli Negev Desert was used as a case study to test the model results in the field. We developed general guiding principles for functional restoration of degraded landscapes that integrate functional restoration methods and include four successive steps: (1) identifying the fundamental processes that regulate ecosystem functions in alternative states; (2) detecting drivers leading to degraded states; (3) functional restoration: changing the state of the degraded landscape; and (4) monitoring the impact of the restoration effort and assessing its success in terms of ecosystem services. Our case study, the Negev, provided us with insights on how to reverse desertification in water-limited systems by restoring source–sink networks as a subset of functional restoration. The four suggested steps of functional restoration are essential for ecosystem recovery in the Anthropocene.
Differences of Social Space of Rural Migrant Labor Force: The Influence of Local Quality
Authors: Wu Shanshan , Ma Libang , Wang Lucang , Chen Xianfei , Shi Zhihao
Published: March 2023

Exploring the spatial differentiation and driving mechanism of labor flow can effectively promote the flow of urban and rural factors and provide a basis for rural revitalization. This paper used the theory of push and pull for reference to explain the role of push and pull in the process of labor migration. On this basis, the paper analyzed the social space characteristics of labor in Longxi County and explored the impact mechanism of local quality on labor migration. It was found that the characteristics of labor migration in Longxi County had a distance attenuation effect and gravitational effect, and the spatial agglomeration of labor attributes was obvious. This was closely related to local quality differences. The labor migration was conducted under the comprehensive effect of the local quality of the source and destination. The local quality of the source was the basic power of the labor migration. The difference in the local quality between destinations was the main reason for the spatial difference in the number and attributes of the labor force. Specifically, the degree of interconnection and cooperation affected the labor migration distance, and the relatively poor employment income-generating capacity and regional livability in the western underdeveloped regions affected the labor quantity. The young and middle-aged labor force was greatly affected by the regional environment.
Task Stratification and Differentiation Strategies for Partially Sighted and Dyslexic Learners in Textbooks of Russian as a Foreign Language: An Italian Case Study of Non-Inclusive Learning/Teaching
Authors: Torresin Linda
Published: March 2023

This paper aims to analyze six of the most popular textbooks for Russian as a foreign language (RFL) for adolescent and adult learners used in Italy, namely Reportazh, Russkiy klass, Molodets, Davayte, Poyekhali, and Ura, to see whether and how task stratification and differentiation strategies are put in place for partially sighted (PS) and dyslexic (D) learners. Through a comparative content analysis, it is shown that there is a total lack of educational design aimed at the inclusion of PS and D learners in the Italian context. This may be due to the greater presence in such textbooks of traditional RFL views, which generally do not prioritize inclusion, as well as to carelessness toward the contributions of Italian-based glottodidactics, which, in contrast, is very attentive to inclusion issues, even for languages other than Russian. Finally, some suggestions are given, accompanied by practical examples, for enhancing the inclusivity of these textbooks.
Theoretical Framework for the Study of Genetic Diseases Caused by Dominant Alleles
Authors: Roberts Michael F. , Bricher Stephen E.
Published: March 2023

We propose a theoretical basis for analyzing several features of genetic diseases caused by dominant alleles, including: disease prevalence, genotype penetrance, and the relationship between causal genotype frequency and disease frequency. In addition, we provide a theoretical framework for accurate diagnosis and clinical approaches for disease study, including two examples in which inaccurate and incomplete diagnoses affect the estimates of disease prevalence: First, the disease iceberg effect shows that disease prevalence is often underestimated due to errors introduced by inaccurate diagnosis; second, because lifetime risk of disease is cumulative, and therefore an increasing function of age, measurements of prevalence are inaccurate if people of all ages are not included. Finally, we discuss the aggregation of genetic diseases. We identify theoretical and computational deficiencies associated with using the sibling recurrence-risk ratio as a measure of familial aggregation. We develop an alternative concept of aggregation and propose an associated measure that does not experience the deficiencies. Throughout, we provide clinicians and researchers practical implications of our theoretical framework.
Perplexing Polyphenolics: The Isolations, Syntheses, Reappraisals, and Bioactivities of Flavonoids, Isoflavonoids, and Neoflavonoids from 2016 to 2022
Authors: Umer Syed Muhammad , Shamim Shahbaz , Khan Khalid Mohammed , Saleem Rahman Shah Zaib
Published: March 2023

Flavonoids, isoflavonoids, neoflavonoids, and their various subcategories are polyphenolics–an extensive class of natural products. These compounds are bioactive and display multiple activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities. Thus, these compounds can serve as leads for therapeutic agents or targets for complex synthesis; they are coveted and routinely isolated, characterized, biologically evaluated, and synthesized. However, data regarding the compounds’ sources, isolation procedures, structural novelties, bioactivities, and synthetic schemes are often dispersed and complex, a dilemma this review aims to address. To serve as an easily accessible guide for researchers wanting to apprise themselves of the latest advancements in this subfield, this review summarizes seventy-six (76) articles published between 2016 and 2022 that detail the isolation and characterization of two hundred and forty-nine (249) novel compounds, the total and semisyntheses of thirteen (13) compounds, and reappraisals of the structures of twenty (20) previously reported compounds and their bioactivities. This article also discusses new synthetic methods and enzymes capable of producing or modifying flavonoids, isoflavonoids, or neoflavonoids.
Conventional Biological versus Sutureless Aortic Valve Prostheses in Combined Aortic and Mitral Valve Replacement
Authors: Zubarevich Alina , Szczechowicz Marcin , Arjomandi Rad Arian , Amanov Lukman , Ruhparwar Arjang , Weymann Alexander
Published: March 2023

Background: Sutureless aortic valve prostheses have proven to provide a significant decrease in procedural, cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp time, leading to a significant reduction in mortality risk in elderly high-risk cohorts. In this study, we sought to review our institutional experience on the sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) and the concomitant mitral valve replacement (SMVR), comparing the combined conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with SMVR. Methods and Material: Between March 2018 and July 2022, 114 consecutive patients underwent a combined aortic and mitral valve replacement at our institution. We stratified the patients according to the operative procedures into two groups and matched them 1:2: Group 1 underwent a combined conventional SAVR and SMVR (n = 46), and Group 2 included combined SU-AVR with Perceval prosthesis and SMVR (n = 23). Results: No significant differences in the preoperative characteristics were present. SU-AVR combined with SMVR demonstrated excellent haemodynamic performance, comparable to that of SAVR plus SMVR, with median postoperative gradients over the aortic valve of 4 mmHg (IQR 3.0–4.0) in Group 1 and 4 mmHg (IQR 3.0–4.0) in Group 2 (p = 0.67). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of postoperative major adverse events such as death, stroke, myocardial infarction and kidney failure between the groups. There was also no significant difference in the permanent pacemaker implantation rate, paravalvular leakage or valve dislocation. We also could not detect any significant difference in postoperative mortality between the groups. Conclusions: SU-AVR has proven to be a reliable alternative to conventional valve prostheses in patients with multivalve disease undergoing combined aortic and mitral valve replacement, offering shorter procedural time and outstanding hemodynamic performance compared to the conventional surgical method.
Prediction of RUL of Lubricating Oil Based on Information Entropy and SVM
Authors: Liu Zhongxin , Wang Huaiguang , Hao Mingxing , Wu Dinghai
Published: March 2023

This paper studies the remaining useful life (RUL) of lubricating oil based on condition monitoring (CM). Firstly, the element composition and content of the lubricating oil in use were quantitatively analyzed by atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Considering the large variety of oil data obtained through AES, the accuracy and efficiency of the RUL prediction model may be reduced. To solve this problem, a comprehensive parameter selection method based on information entropy, correlation analysis, and lubricant deterioration analysis is proposed to screen oil data. Then, based on a support vector machine (SVM), the RUL prediction model of lubricant was established. By comparing the experimental results with the output data of the prediction model, it is shown that the accuracy and efficiency of the SVM prediction model established after parameter screening have been significantly improved.
Photocatalytic Activities of g-C3N4 (CN) Treated with Nitric Acid Vapor for the Degradation of Pollutants in Wastewater
Authors: Li Ruishuo , Wang Bingquan , Wang Rui
Published: March 2023

In this article, we reported a novel setup treatment using nitric acid vapor to treat g-C3N4 (CN). By treatment with nitric acid vapour, the basic structure of the CN has not been destroyed. These adoptive treatments enhanced the photocatalytic performance of CN and were reflected in the elimination of rhodamine B (RhB) as well as tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). In comparison to CN, CN-6 demonstrated the highest photocatalytic yield for the breakdown of RhB (99%, in 20 min). Moreover, the excellent reuse of CN-6 for breaking down RhB was also demonstrated. This clearly demonstrated that treatment with nitric acid vapor promoted a blue shift, positively extended its valence band position, and increased the oxidizability of the holes. This also caused CN to disperse better into the aqueous phase, introducing more oxygen-containing functional groups. Thus, treatment with nitric acid vapor has the potential to be applied to delaminate the CN in order to enhance photocatalytic activity.
Boosting the Dehydrogenation Properties of LiAlH4 by Addition of TiSiO4
Authors: Yusnizam Nurul Yasmeen , Ali Nurul Amirah , Sazelee Noratiqah , Ismail Mohammad
Published: March 2023

Given its significant gravimetric hydrogen capacity advantage, lithium alanate (LiAlH4) is regarded as a suitable material for solid-state hydrogen storage. Nevertheless, its outrageous decomposition temperature and slow sorption kinetics hinder its application as a solid-state hydrogen storage material. This research’s objective is to investigate how the addition of titanium silicate (TiSiO4) altered the dehydrogenation behavior of LiAlH4. The LiAlH4–10 wt% TiSiO4 composite dehydrogenation temperatures were lowered to 92 °C (first-step reaction) and 128 °C (second-step reaction). According to dehydrogenation kinetic analysis, the TiSiO4-added LiAlH4 composite was able to liberate more hydrogen (about 6.0 wt%) than the undoped LiAlH4 composite (less than 1.0 wt%) at 90 °C for 2 h. After the addition of TiSiO4, the activation energies for hydrogen to liberate from LiAlH4 were lowered. Based on the Kissinger equation, the activation energies for hydrogen liberation for the two-step dehydrogenation of post-milled LiAlH4 were 103 and 115 kJ/mol, respectively. After milling LiAlH4 with 10 wt% TiSiO4, the activation energies were reduced to 68 and 77 kJ/mol, respectively. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that the LiAlH4 particles shrank and barely aggregated when 10 wt% of TiSiO4 was added. According to the X-ray diffraction results, TiSiO4 had a significant effect by lowering the decomposition temperature and increasing the rate of dehydrogenation of LiAlH4 via the new active species of AlTi and Si-containing that formed during the heating process.
Construction and Performance of Superhydrophobic Surfaces for Rusted Iron Artifacts
Authors: Hu Pei , Jia Minghao , Xu Hao , Zhang Xiaogu , Hu Dongbo , Hu Gang
Published: March 2023

Ancient iron artifacts need to be protected with a rust layer, often stabilized by tannic acid corrosion inhibition. In humid environments, water vapor could slowly penetrate and trigger galvanic corrosion of metal artefacts. Sealing treatments are generally applied to the artefact surface to isolate water and enhance its corrosion resistance. Superhydrophobic modifications could effectively block the penetration of moisture into the interior of the artefact and provide a nice water barrier. Stearic acid with tannic acid inhibition treatment creates a superhydrophobic protective layer on the surface of rusted iron artifacts and enhances corrosion resistance effectively. Various scientific analyses and testing methods are used in this paper to evaluate the corrosion resistance of rusted surfaces after superhydrophobic modification and investigate the reaction mechanisms. The results indicate that the contact angle of the rusted surface after corrosion inhibition by tannic acid and modified by stearic acid is increased to 152.2°, which means the superhydrophobic protective layer has been successfully constructed. The C/Fe ratio of the rusted surface is increased from 0.21 to 2.10, and the characteristic diffraction peaks of O1s and Fe 2p3/2 shift toward higher binding energy. Stearic acid is combined with the corrosion product layer by chemical bonding. Chelation between rust products, tannic acid, and steric acid is effective, and the chelate is chemically stable. The superhydrophobic surface forms a lamellar wax-like layer as an air barrier to isolate liquid water, resulting in a significant decrease in corrosion current and an increase in Warburg impedance to 217.9 times the original state, with a protection efficiency of 88.3%. Tannic acid corrosion inhibition and stearic acid superhydrophobic modification have an excellent synergistic protective effect on improving the corrosion resistance of iron artifacts, resulting in better corrosion resistance of iron artifact materials. The research provides new ideas and references for the protection of ancient iron artifacts sealing.
Mechanical Properties of GFRP Bolts and Its Application in Tunnel Face Reinforcement
Authors: Li Huayun , Fu Junfu , Chen Bingguang , Zhang Xin , Zhang Zhiqiang , Lang Lin
Published: March 2023

As a new type of pre-reinforcement material for tunnel faces, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bolts can effectively and safely improve the stability of tunnel faces in soft surrounding rocks and speed up excavation. Therefore, in this paper, systematic research is carried out on the bond strength of GFRP bolts in tunnel faces and their relative pre-reinforcement parameters. Firstly, the effects of rebar diameter, anchorage length, and mortar strength on the bonding properties of GFRP bars were studied by indoor pull-out tests. The bond strength–slip curves under different working conditions were obtained, and the curves showed that the ultimate bond strength between GFRP bars and mortar was negatively correlated with the diameter of GFRP bars but positively correlated with the strength of the mortar. In addition, the increase in anchorage length led to a reduction in bonding strength. Secondly, inverse analysis was used to analyse the mechanical parameters of the bond performance of the anchor bars by the finite difference software FLAC3D, and the results indicated that 1/5 of the compressive strength of the GFRP bar grouting body can be taken as the ultimate bond strength to calculate the cohesive strength of the grout. Additionally, the formula of GFRP bar grouting body stiffness was revised. Finally, based on the results of laboratory tests and the inverse analysis, the numerical simulation analysis results showed that the optimal reinforcement configuration for a shallow buried tunnel face surrounded by weak rock is to use GFRP bars with a length of 17 m arranged in the center circle of the tunnel face with a reasonable reinforcement density of 1.0 bolt/m2. The calculation formula of the stiffness and cohesion strength of the GFRP bar grouting body and the reinforcement scheme proposed in this paper can provide a reference for the construction of shallowly buried rock tunnels in soft surrounding rock.
Time Cluster Personalized Ranking Recommender System in Multi-Cloud
Authors: Abinaya S. , Indira K. , Karthiga S. , Rajasenbagam T.
Published: March 2023

Recommender systems have become a vital tool to identify items for users based on personalized preferences. The personalized ranking or item recommendation generates a ranked list of items for the users. Clustering methods offer better scalability than collaborative filtering (CF) methods since they make predictions within small clusters. The major challenges of recommender systems are accuracy and scalability. Traditionally, recommendation systems are based on a centralized framework that restrains quick scalability for enormous data volumes. The emergence of cloud technology resolves this issue as it handles vast data and supports massive processing. This paper proposes a time cluster personalized ranking recommender system (TCPRRS) in a multi-cloud environment. TCPRRS is a five-stage system that generates recommendations based on temporal information of user consumption and clustering with personalized ranking. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is utilized for optimizing the solution. The efficiency of TCPRRS is estimated using similarity metrics.
Semi-Supervised Learning for Medical Image Classification Based on Anti-Curriculum Learning
Authors: Wu Hao , Sun Jun , You Qi
Published: March 2023

Although deep learning has achieved great success in image classification, large amounts of labelled data are needed to make full use of the advantages of deep learning. However, annotating a large number of images is expensive and time-consuming, especially annotating medical images, which requires professional knowledge. Therefore, semi-supervised learning has shown its potential for medical image classification. In this paper, we propose a novel pseudo-labelling semi-supervised learning method for medical image classification. Firstly, we utilize the anti-curriculum strategy for model training to prevent the model from producing predictions with a high value from the samples which are similar with existed labeled data. Secondly, to produce more stable and accurate pseudo labels for unlabeled data, we generate the pseudo labels with ensemble predictions provided by the model with samples augmented by different augmentations. In addition, we refine the generated pseudo labels using the prediction of the model at the current epoch in order to make the model learn from itself and improve the model performance. Comparative experiments on the Chest X-ray14 dataset for a multi-label classification task and the ISIC 2018 dataset for a multi-class classification task are performed, and the experimental results show the effectiveness of our method.