bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of bariatric and metabolic surgery on cancer development
Authors: Lunger Fabian , Aeschbacher Pauline , Nett Philipp C. , Peros Georgios
Published: July 2022

Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) with related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea syndrome, and fatty liver disease is one of the most common preventable risk factors for cancer development worldwide. They are responsible for at least 40% of all newly diagnosed cancers, including colon, ovarian, uterine, breast, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer. Although various efforts are being made to reduce the incidence of obesity, its prevalence continues to spread in the Western world. Weight loss therapies such as lifestyle change, diets, drug therapies (GLP-1-receptor agonists) as well as bariatric and metabolic surgery are associated with an overall risk reduction of cancer. Therefore, these strategies should always be essential in therapeutical concepts in obese patients. This review discusses pre- and post-interventional aspects of bariatric and metabolic surgery and its potential benefit on cancer development in obese patients.
Hepatectomy and pneumectomy combined with targeted therapy for primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Huang Keyu , Lan Zhujing , Chen Weitao , Zhang Jianyong , Wang Jilong , Zhu Hai , Xu Banghao , Zhang Ling , Lu Tingting , Guo Ya , Wen Zhang
Published: July 2022

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (PHNEC) manifests as a rare type of liver tumor. PHNEC is not specifically clinical or radiographical and is often misdiagnosed and mistreated. Here, we present a case report of PHNEC in a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to our department with concealed pain in the right upper abdomen. The initial diagnosis was a probable hepatic space-occupying lesion with tumor bleeding. The patient was subjected to a partial right hemihepatectomy, cholecystectomy, partial resection of the lower lobe of the right lung, partial resection of the diaphragm, and resection of the right perirenal fat sac to alleviate her symptoms. After surgery, gene sequencing was performed to determine the possible cause of the condition. However, five months after discharge, the patient was hospitalized again because of retroperitoneal and peritoneal multiple metastases. Nine months after surgery, the patient died. This case is likely to aid in furthering our understanding of PHNEC to improve the future diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Propidium Monoazide Combined With RT-qPCR Detects Infectivity of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Authors: Liang Gong , Long Yunzhi , Li Qianqian , Yang Liu , Huang Ying , Yu Daobing , Song Wenbo , Zhou Mingguang , Xu Gaoyuan , Huang Chao , Tang Xibiao
Published: July 2022

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) allows sensitive detection of viral particles and viruses in epidemic samples but it cannot discriminate noninfectious viruses from infectious ones. Propidium monoazide (PMA) coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was assessed to detect infectious viruses. Currently, there is no established test method to detect the infection of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). In this study, propidium monoazide coupled with qPCR detects infectivity of PEDV. We optimized the method from the selection of primers, the working concentration of PMA, and the inactivation method using heat or ultraviolet (UV). The viruses which were treated with PMA before qPCR were inactivated using heat or UV. However, the addition of PMA alone did not affect the detection of live viruses, which indicates that a viral capsid break may be essential for PMA to bind to the genome. A repetition of the method on naked PEDV RNA suggests that it can be used to detect potentially infectious PEDV. The results indicated that an optimal plan of PMA could be extremely useful for evaluating infectious and noninfectious viruses.
Conceptual Research on a Mono-Biplane Aerodynamics-Driven Morphing Aircraft
Authors: Guo Tingyu , Feng Liangtao , Zhu Chenhua , Zhou Xiaopeng , Chen Haixin
Published: July 2022

The operation of aircrafts with high aspect ratio wings is usually vulnerable to low-standard airports and bad weather. A new concept for a mono-biplane aerodynamics-driven morphing aircraft is proposed. The movable and fixed wings form a biplane mode during takeoff and landing, while they form a high aspect ratio monoplane mode when cruising. This novel form of morphing can obtain a high cruise L/D while reducing nearly 50% of the takeoff and landing wingspan. However, the wing area is kept unchanged while morphing. The aerodynamic force on the movable wing is controlled by the deflection of the flaps to drive the morphing. No additional driving actuator is needed. In this way, although the morphing scale is large, the penalty on the complexity, structural strength, weight, and internal space of the wing is low. Taking the RQ-4A “Global Hawk” as the design baseline, morphing of the mono-biplane could further extend the cruise wingspan and aspect ratio for a better range without increasing the takeoff and landing span. When the wingspan was restricted, it was shown that this morphing scheme could reach a range extension of more than 50% when compared with an aircraft with the same wing load and different layouts. The feasibility of this mono-biplane aerodynamics-driven morphing concept was initially verified through ground vehicle tests. The possible influence of the morphing process on aircraft stability and control is also discussed.
Design and Analysis of MataMorph-3: A Fully Morphing UAV with Camber-Morphing Wings and Tail Stabilizers
Authors: Bishay Peter L. , Kok James S. , Ferrusquilla Luis J. , Espinoza Brian M. , Heness Andrew , Buendia Antonio , Zadoorian Sevada , Lacson Paul , Ortiz Jonathan D. , Basilio Ruiki , Olvera Daniel
Published: July 2022

Conventional aircraft use discrete flight control surfaces to maneuver during flight. The gaps and discontinuities of these control surfaces generate drag, which degrades aerodynamic and power efficiencies. Morphing technology aims to replace conventional wings with advanced wings that can change their shape to control the aircraft with the minimum possible induced drag. This paper presents MataMorph-3, a fully morphing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with camber-morphing wings and tail stabilizers. Although previous research has presented successful designs for camber-morphing wing core mechanisms, skin designs suffered from wrinkling, warping, or sagging problems that result in reduced reliability and aerodynamic efficiency. The wing and tail stabilizers of MataMorph-3 feature hybrid ribs with solid leading-edge sections that house servomotors, and compliant trailing-edge sections with integrated flexible ribbons that are connected to the servomotors to camber-morph the ribs. Thin laminated carbon fiber composite skin slides smoothly over the compliant rib sections upon morphing, guided by innovative trailing-edge sliders and skin-supporting linkage mechanisms strategically located between the ribs. Sample prototypes were built and tested to show the effectiveness of the proposed design solutions in enabling smooth camber-morphing. The proposed design provides a better alternative to stretchable skins in morphing airplane designs through the concept of skin sliding.
Profiling the Site of Protein CoAlation and Coenzyme A Stabilization Interactions
Authors: Tossounian Maria-Armineh , Baczynska Maria , Dalton William , Newell Charlie , Ma Yilin , Das Sayoni , Semelak Jonathan Alexis , Estrin Dario Ariel , Filonenko Valeriy , Trujillo Madia , Peak-Chew Sew Yeu , Skehel Mark , Fraternali Franca , Orengo Christine , Gout Ivan
Published: July 2022

Coenzyme A (CoA) is a key cellular metabolite known for its diverse functions in metabolism and regulation of gene expression. CoA was recently shown to play an important antioxidant role under various cellular stress conditions by forming a disulfide bond with proteins, termed CoAlation. Using anti-CoA antibodies and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodologies, CoAlated proteins were identified from various organisms/tissues/cell-lines under stress conditions. In this study, we integrated currently known CoAlated proteins into mammalian and bacterial datasets (CoAlomes), resulting in a total of 2093 CoAlated proteins (2862 CoAlation sites). Functional classification of these proteins showed that CoAlation is widespread among proteins involved in cellular metabolism, stress response and protein synthesis. Using 35 published CoAlated protein structures, we studied the stabilization interactions of each CoA segment (adenosine diphosphate (ADP) moiety and pantetheine tail) within the microenvironment of the modified cysteines. Alternating polar-non-polar residues, positively charged residues and hydrophobic interactions mainly stabilize the pantetheine tail, phosphate groups and the ADP moiety, respectively. A flexible nature of CoA is observed in examined structures, allowing it to adapt its conformation through interactions with residues surrounding the CoAlation site. Based on these findings, we propose three modes of CoA binding to proteins. Overall, this study summarizes currently available knowledge on CoAlated proteins, their functional distribution and CoA–protein stabilization interactions.
A New Algorithm to Solve the Extended-Oxley Analytical Model of Orthogonal Metal Cutting in Python
Authors: Pantalé Olivier , Dawoua Kaoutoing Maxime , Houé Ngouna Raymond
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a new implementation method of the Extended-Oxley analytical model, previously proposed by Lalwani in 2009, for orthogonal cutting of metals with a Johnson–Cook thermo-elastoplastic flow law. The present work aims to improve the implementation of this analytical model in order to propose a unified solution that overcomes the main shortcomings of the original model: the non-uniqueness of the solution, the low accuracy of the obtained solution, and the relatively long computational time for a purely analytical approach. In the proposed implementation, the determination of the optimal set of model parameters is based on an optimization method using the Python LMFIT library with which we have developed a dual Levenberg–Marquardt optimization algorithm. In this paper, the performance and efficiency of the developed model are presented by comparing our results for a 1045 steel with the simulation results obtained in the original paper proposed by Lalwani. The comparison shows a considerable gain in terms of computational speed (more than 2000 times faster than the original model), uniqueness of the obtained solution, and accuracy of the obtained numerical solution (almost zero force imbalance).
Sealing Ability of Bioactive Root-End Filling Materials in Retro Cavities Prepared with Er,Cr:YSGG Laser and Ultrasonic Techniques
Authors: Bago Ivona , Lucić Ružica , Budimir Ana , Rajić Valentina , Balić Merima , Anić Ivica
Published: July 2022

The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the apical sealing ability of total fill bioceramic root repair material (BC-RRM) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), regarding the retrograde preparation technique used: ultrasonic or erbium, chromium: yttrium, scandium, gallium, or garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser. The study sample consisted of 48 human single-rooted teeth. After root-end resection, the samples were divided into two groups, according to the retrograde preparation technique used: Group 1: ultrasonic; Group 2: Er,Cr:YSGG laser. In each group, half of the retrograde cavities were filled with BC-RRM, and the other half were filled with MTA. The specimens were mounted in tubes and sterilized in plasma. The root canals were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis, and the tubes were filled with fetal bovine serum, leaving the apical part of the root in the serum. After 30 days, the canals were sampled and cultured, and the colony forming units (CFUs) were counted with the additional polymerase chain reaction (PCR analysis). There was no significant difference between ultrasonic groups and the Er,Cr:YSGG-MTA group, regarding the number of CFUs (p > 0.05). The Er,Cr:YSGG-BC-RRM group showed the highest number of remaining viable bacteria (p < 0.001). Both filling materials filled in ultrasonic preparations presented similar sealing abilities. The BC-RRM showed more leakage when used in retro cavities prepared with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser.
Midpalatal Suture CBCT Image Quantitive Characteristics Analysis Based on Machine Learning Algorithm Construction and Optimization
Authors: Gao Lu , Chen Zhiyu , Zang Lin , Sun Zhipeng , Wang Qing , Yu Guoxia
Published: July 2022

Background: Midpalatal suture maturation and ossification status is the basis for appraising maxillary transverse developmental status. Methods: We established a midpalatal suture cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) normalized database of the growth population, including 1006 CBCT files from 690 participants younger than 24 years old. The midpalatal suture region of interest (ROI) labeling was completed by two experienced clinical experts. The CBCT image fusion algorithm and image texture feature analysis algorithm were constructed and optimized. The age range prediction convolutional neural network (CNN) was conducted and tested. Results: The midpalatal suture fusion images contain complete semantic information for appraising midpalatal suture maturation and ossification status during the fast growth and development period. Correlation and homogeneity are the two texture features with the strongest relevance to chronological age. The overall performance of the age range prediction CNN model is satisfactory, especially in the 4 to 10 years range and the 17 to 23 years range, while for the 13 to 14 years range, the model performance is compromised. Conclusions: The image fusion algorithm can help show the overall perspective of the midpalatal suture in one fused image effectively. Furthermore, clinical decisions for maxillary transverse deficiency should be appraised by midpalatal suture image features directly rather than by age, especially in the 13 to 14 years range.
Development of an In Vivo Model for Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Authors: Oppel Niels , Ezzat Malena , Krüger Philipp , Schmitt Katharina , Napp Alexandra , Pohl Friederike , Bleich Andre , Lenarz Thomas , Stein Tobias , Paasche Gerrit , Schuon Robert
Published: July 2022

Otitis media is often connected to Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Until now, there was no large animal model available for the examination of new treatment methods such as stents for the Eustachian tube (ET). Thus, the aim of the study was to develop a method to reproducibly induce ETD by injection of fillers and without permanent closure of the ET. Tools for safe injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the surrounding of the ET were developed. In ex vivo experiments, HA mixed with Imeron® was injected close to the nasopharyngeal orifice of the ET of blackface sheep. The established depot was visualized using cone beam computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and stents could be placed into the ET. A reliable position of the HA depot was achieved. This method was transferred to in vivo, and middle ear ventilation was investigated by tympanometry. ETD was achieved with amounts of 2.5 mL HA or higher. None of the animals showed any sign of discomfort or complications. The induced ETD lasted for 3 to 13 (maximum observation period) weeks and was also combined with middle ear effusion. A model of ETD based on injection of HA next to the ET was successfully established and is now available to test novel treatment options for ET functionality.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Identification of Risk Factors Using AIP and Castelli Atherogenicity Indicators in Patients with PCOS
Authors: Nawrocka-Rutkowska Jolanta , Szydłowska Iwona , Jakubowska Katarzyna , Olszewska Maria , Chlubek Dariusz , Szczuko Małgorzata , Starczewski Andrzej
Published: July 2022

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in females of reproductive age and may affect 5–14% of women. In women with PCO syndrome, metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and other elements of metabolic syndrome may occur. Patients with PCOS often have overweight and obesity, especially abdominal obesity, which is one of the risk factors for developing atherosclerosis. The atherogenicity indicators of AIP (atherogenic index of plasma) and Castelli’s index are used to assess the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Studies have shown an increase in the concentration and activity of oxidative stress markers in patients with PCOS compared to women without the disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate oxidative stress parameters in patients with PCOS in relation to insulin resistance, BMI, and hyperandrogenemia and to correlate them with cardiovascular risk parameters. Conclusions: The severity of oxidative stress in women with PCOS correlates with exposure to cardiovascular diseases. The assessment of additional cardiovascular disease (CVD) parameters is useful in identifying the risk groups for cardiometabolic disease among PCOS patients. When additional risk factors such as hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance (IR) are present in patients with PCOS, it is reasonable to include preventive examinations early. It is also important to evaluate lipidograms, which will make it possible to determine indicators of atherogenicity. Patients with PCOS and IR are at particular risk for cardiovascular complications. PCOS should be considered an important risk factor for CVD, which occurs independently of the occurrence of obesity. This factor is related to the important role of insulin resistance, which occurs independently of obesity. Atherogenic factors (AIP and Castelli index) are useful additional parameters to assess the risk of cardiometabolic disease in PCOS patients, especially among groups with insulin resistance. The early detection of risk factors should be an integral part of the care of PCOS patients. In laboratory studies of women with PCOS, TG, TChol, HDL-c and LDL-c levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were most clearly correlated with exposure to cardiovascular disease.
Urine Oxidative Stress Biomarkers as Novel Biomarkers in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
Authors: Jiang Yuan-Hong , Jhang Jia-Fong , Ho Han-Chen , Chiou Dan-Yun , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: July 2022

Both hypoxia and chronic suburothelial inflammation are important pathophysiological findings in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). This study investigated the roles of urine oxidative stress biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in patients with IC/BPS. Urine samples were collected from 159 IC/BPS patients and 28 controls. The targeted analytes included oxidative stress biomarkers (8-OHdG, 8-isoprostane, and total antioxidant capacity) and inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, RANTES, CXCL10, Eotaxin, MIP-1β, and IL-8). IC/BPS patients were classified into four clinical subgroups, based on the glomerulation grade and the maximal bladder capacity under anesthesia. Patients with IC/BPS had urine oxidative stress biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines profiles that were distinct from those of the controls and among each subgroup. Both 8-OHdG and 8-isoprostane showed a high diagnostic ability to distinguish type 2 IC/BPS patients (as classified by the European Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis) from controls. Additionally, they both showed positive and negative correlations with the glomerulation grade and the maximal bladder capacity under anesthesia, respectively. Limitations included intra-individual variation and sex influence. Urine oxidative stress biomarkers might have a role in diagnosing IC/BPS and differentiating its clinical subtypes. In addition to inflammatory cytokines, urine oxidative stress biomarkers have the potential to be novel biomarkers in patients with IC/BPS.
Systematic Review on Saliva Biomarkers in Patients Diagnosed with Morbus Alzheimer and Morbus Parkinson
Authors: Wolgin Michael , Zobernig Magdalena , Dvornyk Valentyn , Braun Ralf J. , Kielbassa Andrej M.
Published: July 2022

Extracellular plaques composed of the hydrophobic peptide amyloid-β and intraneuronal accumulation of the hyperphosphorylated protein tau (p-tau) are pathological hallmarks found in the brains of most people affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In Parkinson’s disease (PD), Lewy bodies, i.e., intraneuronal protein deposits comprising the protein α-synuclein, are a typical disease feature. As these hallmarks located in the brain are hardly traceable, reliable biomarkers from easily accessible body fluids are key for accurate diagnosis. The aim of the present work was to review the available literature regarding potential biomarkers of AD and PD in the saliva. The databases PubMed, Google Scholar, LILACS, LIVIVO, VHL regional portal, Cochrane Library, eLIBRARY, and IOS Press were consulted for the literature search. Screening of titles and abstracts followed the PRISMA guidelines, while data extraction and the assessment of full texts were carried out in accordance with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale assessment. The review shows significant increases in levels of the amyloid-β Aβ1-42 and elevated p-tau to total tau (t-tau) ratios in salivary samples of AD patients, in comparison with healthy controls. In PD patients, levels of α-synuclein in salivary samples significantly decreased compared to healthy controls, whereas oligomeric α-synuclein and the ratio of oligomeric α-synuclein to total α-synuclein markedly increased. Salivary biomarkers represent a promising diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative diseases. Further high-quality case–control studies are needed to substantiate their accuracy.
Cardiac Cx43 Signaling Is Enhanced and TGF-β1/SMAD2/3 Suppressed in Response to Cold Acclimation and Modulated by Thyroid Status in Hairless SHRM
Authors: Andelova Katarina , Szeiffova Bacova Barbara , Sykora Matus , Pavelka Stanislav , Rauchova Hana , Tribulova Narcis
Published: July 2022

The hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are prone to malignant arrhythmias, mainly due to disorders of electrical coupling protein Cx43 and the extracellular matrix. Cold acclimation may induce cardio-protection, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We aimed to explore whether the adaptation of 9-month-old hairless SHRM to cold impacts the fundamental cardiac pro-arrhythmia factors, as well as the response to the thyroid status. There were no significant differences in the registered biometric, redox and blood lipids parameters between hairless (SHRM) and wild type SHR. Prominent findings revealed that myocardial Cx43 and its variant phosphorylated at serine 368 were increased, while an abnormal cardiomyocyte Cx43 distribution was attenuated in hairless SHRM vs. wild type SHR males and females. Moreover, the level of β-catenin, ensuring mechanoelectrical coupling, was increased as well, while extracellular matrix collagen-1 and hydroxyproline were lower and the TGF-β1 and SMAD2/3 pathway was suppressed in hairless SHRM males compared to the wild type strain. Of interest, the extracellular matrix remodeling was less pronounced in females of both hypertensive strains. There were no apparent differences in response to the hypothyroid or hyperthyroid status between SHR strains concerning the examined markers. Our findings imply that hairless SHRM benefit from cold acclimation due to the attenuation of the hypertension-induced adverse downregulation of Cx43 and upregulation of extracellular matrix proteins.
Bio-Design, Fabrication and Analysis of a Flexible Valve
Authors: Liu Zirui , Sun Bo , Xiong Jiawei , Hu Jianjun , Liang Yunhong
Published: July 2022

Fluid-driven soft robots offer many advantages over robots driven by other means in terms of universal preparation processes and high-power density ratios, but are largely limited by their inherit characteristics of rigid pressure sources, fluid control elements and complex fluid pipelines. In this paper, inspired by the principle of biofluid control and actuation, we combine simulation analysis and experimental validation to conduct a bionic design study of an efficient flexible fluid control valve with different actuation diaphragm structures. Under critical flexural load, the flexible valve undergoes a continuous flexural instability overturning process, generating a wide range of displacements. The sensitivity of the flexible valve can be improved by adjusting the diaphragm geometry parameters. The results show that the diaphragm wall thickness is positively correlated with the overturning critical pressure, and the radius of curvature is negatively correlated with the overturning critical pressure. When the wall thickness of the flexible valve maintains the same value, as the radius of curvature increases, the critical buckling load and recovery load of diaphragm overturning is a quadratic function of opposite opening, and the pressure difference converges to the minimum value at the radius of curvature R = 7.
Association of Oral Function and Dysphagia with Frailty and Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sakai Kotomi , Nakayama Enri , Yoneoka Daisuke , Sakata Nobuo , Iijima Katsuya , Tanaka Tomoki , Hayashi Kuniyoshi , Sakuma Kunihiro , Hoshino Eri
Published: July 2022

Studies investigating the associations of oral function and dysphagia with frailty and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults are increasing; however, they have not been systematically summarized. We conducted a systematic review to investigate these associations. We searched electronic databases and synthesized relevant data using conventional (frequentist-style) and Bayesian meta-analyses. Twenty-four studies were found to be eligible for our review, including 20 cross-sectional and four prospective cohort studies. Older adults with frailty or sarcopenia had lower tongue pressure, according to the results of conventional meta-analysis (mean difference [95% confidence interval or credible interval]: −6.80 kPa [−10.22 to −3.38] for frailty and −5.40 kPa [−6.62 to −4.17] for sarcopenia) and Bayesian meta-analysis (−6.90 kPa [−9.0 to −4.8] for frailty, −5.35 kPa [−6.78 to −3.89] for sarcopenia). People with frailty had a higher odds ratio (OR) for dysphagia according to the results of conventional meta-analysis (3.99 [2.17 to 7.32]) and Bayesian meta-analysis (1.38 [0.77 to 1.98]). However, the results were inconclusive for people with sarcopenia. A prospective association could not be determined because of the lack of information and the limited number of studies. Decreased oral function and dysphagia can be important characteristics of frailty and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults.
Artificial Intelligence for Radiation Dose Optimization in Pediatric Radiology: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ng Curtise K. C.
Published: July 2022

Radiation dose optimization is particularly important in pediatric radiology, as children are more susceptible to potential harmful effects of ionizing radiation. However, only one narrative review about artificial intelligence (AI) for dose optimization in pediatric computed tomography (CT) has been published yet. The purpose of this systematic review is to answer the question “What are the AI techniques and architectures introduced in pediatric radiology for dose optimization, their specific application areas, and performances?” Literature search with use of electronic databases was conducted on 3 June 2022. Sixteen articles that met selection criteria were included. The included studies showed deep convolutional neural network (CNN) was the most common AI technique and architecture used for dose optimization in pediatric radiology. All but three included studies evaluated AI performance in dose optimization of abdomen, chest, head, neck, and pelvis CT; CT angiography; and dual-energy CT through deep learning image reconstruction. Most studies demonstrated that AI could reduce radiation dose by 36–70% without losing diagnostic information. Despite the dominance of commercially available AI models based on deep CNN with promising outcomes, homegrown models could provide comparable performances. Future exploration of AI value for dose optimization in pediatric radiology is necessary due to small sample sizes and narrow scopes (only three modalities, CT, positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and mobile radiography, and not all examination types covered) of existing studies.
Impact of Differing Language Background Exposures on Bayley-III Language Assessment in a National Cohort of Children Born Less than 29 Weeks’ Gestation
Authors: Chan Natalie , Synnes Anne , Grunau Ruth , Colby Lindsay , Petrie Julie , Elfring Tracy , Richter Lindsay , Hendson Leonora , Banihani Rudaina , Luu Thuy ,   on behalf of the Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network Investigators
Published: July 2022

Preterm infants are at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially language delay. Preterm infants < 29 weeks’ gestational age, cared for in Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network affiliated hospitals, were assessed between 18 to 21 months corrected age using the Bayley-III. Bayley-III Language Composite Scores were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses for children in three primary language groups: English, French and other. 6146 children were included. The primary language at home was English, French or another language for 3708 children (60%), 1312 children (21%) and 1126 children (18%), respectively, and overall, 44% were exposed to two or more languages at home. Univariate analysis showed that primary language was associated with lower Bayley-III Language scores; however, multivariate analyses demonstrated that neither primary language nor language of administration were significantly associated with lower language scores when adjusted for gestational age, other developmental delays and sociodemographic factors, but multiple language exposure was. Sociodemographic and other factors are more important in determining language development than primary language at home. Further studies are needed to examine the association between exposure to multiple languages and lower Bayley-III language scores in preterm infants.
AGREEing on Clinical Practice Guidelines for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment
Authors: Amer Yasser S. , Alenezi Shuliweeh , Bashiri Fahad A. , Alawami Amel Hussain , Alhazmi Ayman Shawqi , Aladamawi Somayyah A. , Alnemary Faisal , Alqahtani Yasser , Buraik Maysaa W. , AlSuwailem Saleh S. , Akhalifah Shahad M. , Augusta de Souza Pinhel Marcela , Penner Melanie , Elmalky Ahmed M.
Published: July 2022

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder requiring multimodal intervention and an army of multidisciplinary teams for a proper rehabilitation plan. Accordingly, multiple practice guidelines have been published for different disciplines. However, systematic evidence to detect and intervene must be updated regularly. Our main objective is to compare and summarize the recommendations made in the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for ASD in children released from November 2015 to March 2022. Methods: CPGs were subjected to a systematic review. We developed the inclusion and exclusion criteria and health-related questions, then searched and screened for CPGs utilizing bibliographic and CPG databases. Each of the CPGs used in the study were critically evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. In a realistic comparison table, we summarized the recommendations. Results: Four eligible CPGs were appraised: Australian Autism CRC (ACRC); Ministry of Health New Zealand (NZ); National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (SIGN-HIS). The overall assessments of all four CPGs scored greater than 80%; these findings were consistent with the high scores in the six domains of AGREE II, including: (1) scope and purpose, (2) stakeholder involvement, (3) rigor of development, (4) clarity of presentation, (5) applicability, and (6) editorial independence domains. Domain (3) scored 84%, 93%, 86%, and 85%; domain (5) 92%, 89%, 54%, and 85%; and domain (6) 92%, 96%, 88%, and 92% for ACRC, NICE, NZ, and SIGN-HIS, respectively. Overall, there were no serious conflicts between the clinical recommendations of the four CPGs, but some were more comprehensive and elaborative than others. Conclusions: All four assessed evidence-based CPGs demonstrated high methodological quality and relevance for use in practice.
Italian Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire Revised (THPQ-R) in Typically Developing Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ruffini Martina , Berardi Anna , Benvenuti Anna , Beaudry-Bellefeuille Isabelle , Tofani Marco , Galeoto Giovanni , Valente Donatella
Published: July 2022

The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire Revised (THPQ-R) identifies sensory integration issues in children with defecation problems. Sensory integration issues are recognized as a factor linked to some defecation disorders and identifying such issues is needed to guide the development of an appropriate intervention. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the THPQ-R in a population of typically developing (TD) Italian children by measuring its internal consistency and cross-cultural validity. The translation and cultural adaptation were performed according to international guidelines. The questionnaire was administered to the caregivers of TD children, and the analysis was performed on data obtained from 118 TD children. The construct validity of the scale was calculated through the exploratory factor analysis that indicated two factors; Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for internal consistency and showed a value >0.7, demonstrating good internal consistency. Cross-cultural validity was also analyzed and showed higher levels of defecation problems at age 5 years. Italian occupational therapists now have a tool to assess possible sensory issues linked to defecation disorders in children aged 3 to 6 years, which may promote more effective clinical practice in this area. Moreover, it will be possible to compare the results obtained from studies conducted in Italy with those conducted in other countries.
The Perception and Experience of Parents of Children with Cleft Lip and Palate Concerning the Use Pre-Surgical Infant Orthopedics: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Albustani Shaymaa Hadi , Dziedzic Arkadiusz , Abid Mushriq
Published: July 2022

Background: A transitory period prior to the surgical correction of cleft lip and palate (CLP) is associated with adverse impacts, which may require a medical intervention. Pre-surgical infant orthopedics (PSIO) is deemed to reduce the functional and psychological burden, offering a transition until the definite surgical intervention. Aim: To assess the attitude of Iraqi mothers concerning the application and management of pre-surgical orthopedic appliances in children with cleft lip and palate, taking consideration of the mothers’ occupational status. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in the College of Dentistry at Baghdad University from 5 January 2020 to 4 December 2021. A questionnaire form was validated based on existing data related to the assessment of parents’ satisfaction concerning PSIO. Results: A concern related to the impression procedure was reported by a minority of the participants (6.8%) and it was associated mainly to the perceptions of housewives’ vs. working mothers (p < 0.05). The perceived infants’ discomfort during the impression procedure reported at 11.9% was significantly associated with housewives’ status (p < 0.05). In general, the vast majority of respondents considered the impression as being non-invasive (96.6%). Most mothers found no difficulties in following the instructions of the specialist regarding the insertion of the PSIO and/or taping the elastic bands (62.7%). Respondents believed that CLP infants routinely require PSIO treatment. Interestingly, only a minority of mothers performed an Internet search to look for information about PSIO (7%). The majority indicated the PSIO treatment as beneficial for their infant and a substantial proportion of respondents were satisfied with the outcomes of PSIO, encouraging other parents to consent the PSIO treatment. Conclusion: In general, mothers broadly acknowledged the primary concept of PSIO and accepted the proposed treatment, with a positive attitude towards pre-surgical CLP management, regardless their socio-economic status. They seemed to understand well the expected benefits of PSIO, including feeding improvement, normalization of speech, and optimization of future surgical outcomes.
Motor Influence in Developing Auditory Spatial Cognition in Hemiplegic Children with and without Visual Field Disorder
Authors: Aggius-Vella Elena , Gori Monica , Campus Claudio , Petri Stefania , Tinelli Francesca
Published: July 2022

Spatial representation is a crucial skill for everyday interaction with the environment. Different factors seem to influence spatial perception, such as body movements and vision. However, it is still unknown if motor impairment affects the building of simple spatial perception. To investigate this point, we tested hemiplegic children with (HV) and without visual field (H) disorders in an auditory and visual-spatial localization and pitch discrimination task. Fifteen hemiplegic children (nine H and six HV) and twenty with typical development took part in the experiment. The tasks consisted in listening to a sound coming from a series of speakers positioned at the front or back of the subject. In one condition, subjects were asked to discriminate the pitch, while in the other, subjects had to localize the position of the sound. We also replicated the spatial task in a visual modality. Both groups of hemiplegic children performed worse in the auditory spatial localization task compared with the control, while no difference was found in the pitch discrimination task. For the visual-spatial localization task, only HV children differed from the two other groups. These results suggest that movement is important for the development of auditory spatial representation.
Quadrotor Formation Control via Terminal Sliding Mode Approach: Theory and Experiment Results
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Phi , Park Daewon , Ngoc Dao N. , Xuan-Mung Nguyen , Huynh Tuan Tu , Nguyen Tan N. , Hong Sung Kyung
Published: July 2022

This article presents a formation tracking control method for the operation of multi-agent systems under disturbances. This study aims to ensure that the followers of a quadcopter converge into the desired formation while the center formation of the follower quadcopters tracks the leader’s trajectory within a finite time. The distributed finite-time formation control problem is first investigated using the fast terminal sliding mode control (FTSMC) theory. A disturbance observer is then integrated into the FTSMC to overcome the model uncertainties and bounded disturbances. Subsequently, the Lyapunov function is proposed to ensure the stability of the system. It is shown that formation tracking control can be achieved even in the presence of disturbances. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed formation tracking control method compared to existing ones.
Cross-Comparison of the Impact of Grass Silage Pulsed Electric Field and Microwave-Induced Disintegration on Biogas Production Efficiency
Authors: Szwarc Dawid , Nowicka Anna , Głowacka Katarzyna
Published: July 2022

Lignocellulosic biomass is included in the group of renewable energy sources. Its calorific value is high, owing to which it can be successfully used in the production of second-generation fuels, e.g., biogas. However, its complex structure makes it necessary to apply a pretreatment in order to increase the biogas output. This study presents the usability of a pulsed electric field in grass silage pretreatment in methane fermentation and compares it with microwave-induced disintegration. The experiment shows that substrate disintegration with a pulsed electric field (PEF) results in an increase in methane output. The productivity of methane from PEF pretreatment silage increased by 20.1% compared to the untreated control. The application of microwave disintegration, with the assumption that the same energy is used for the pretreatment, resulted in a methane output increase of 6% compared to the control. The highest biogas production output in PEF-pretreated samples was 535.57 NL/kg VS, while the highest biogas output from substrates pretreated with microwaves was 487.18 NL/kg VS.
Powers and Power Factor in Non-Sinusoidal and Non-Symmetrical Regimes in Three-Phase Systems
Authors: Nicolae Petre-Marian , Nicolae Ileana-Diana , Nicolae Marian-Ştefan
Published: July 2022

The paper presents several theories related to definitions of powers and power factors in non-sinusoidal and non-symmetrical regimes. The theories must meet some requirements: (a) to facilitate the measuring of power quantities by using acquired electrical waveforms; (b) to support the correct quantification of powers and power factors for a fair charge; (c) to support solutions for efficient compensation of non-sinusoidal and non-symmetrical regimes, simultaneous with the power factor compensation along the fundamental harmonic. Only theories meeting the above-mentioned requirements are approached. Aspects specific to power definitions are discussed and commented. Three theories rely on the Fourier decomposition of non-sinusoidal waveforms, valid only for steady signals, whilst the fourth relies on the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and can also be applied to unsteady signals. Dedicated original data acquisition systems were used to acquire experimental data for three case studies. Data were analysed with original software tools, based on the Fast Fourier Transform and Discrete Wavelet Transform, implementing the approached theories. Comparisons between results yielded for analogue quantities proved that the approached theories satisfy the requirements for which they were created, except for the fourth theory, which can be used only for compensation purposes.
Time-Scale Analysis of Prey Preferences and Ontogenetic Shift in the Diet of European Hake Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) in Southern and Central Tyrrhenian Sea
Authors: D’Iglio Claudio , Famulari Sergio , Albano Marco , Giordano Daniela , Rinelli Paola , Capillo Gioele , Spanò Nunziacarla , Savoca Serena
Published: July 2022

Merluccius merluccius is one of the most important Mediterranean benthopelagic predators. It represents a key species for the ecosystem’s functioning due to its fundamental role in the energy transferal between different domains and depth strata. The aim of this study was to explore the feeding habits of European hakes in the southern and central Mediterranean Sea, and also to analyze timescale variations and ontogenetic shift in five size length classes. A total of 411 stomachs collected from 2018 to 2020 were analyzed to assess diet and feeding habits. Results confirmed hakes’ role as a generalist benthopelagic predator, preying both in the suprabenthic layer and in the entire water column. Concerning the ontogenetic diet shift, juvenile hakes prefer zooplanktonic prey, while larger hakes have a diet mainly based on teleosts and decapods. The variations in diet composition between years, characterized by a fluctuation of cephalopods, bioluminescent teleost species and mesopelagic crustaceans, have highlighted the ability of European hake to model its diet to the geographical and prey availability. These features make analysis of the diet of M. merluccius essential to understanding the trophic dynamic existing in bentho-meso-pelagic environments, to improve ecosystem conservation in accordance with ecosystem-based fishery management.
Is SARS-CoV-2 a Concern for Food Safety? A Very Low Prevalence from a Food Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Italy
Authors: Arnaboldi Sara , Mangeri Lucia , Galuppini Elisa , Righi Francesco , Tilola Michela , Scarazzato Annalisa , Bertasi Barbara , Finazzi Guido , Varisco Giorgio , Filipello Virginia , Losio Marina-Nadia
Published: July 2022

In 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of an easily transmissible disease that was declared as a world pandemic. Foodborne transmission was never reported. However, early studies suggested that food could be involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry in the human gastrointestinal tract leading to possible infection, and highlighting the importance of further studies to inspect possible issues linked to food consumption. In this perspective, this work aimed at monitoring SARS-CoV-2 presence in some food and mains water samples in Northern Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022). A total of 1806 foods, 112 mains water samples, and 580 swabs on meat and dairy product surfaces were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by Real-time PCR. All the analyzed samples were negative to viral RNA detection with the exception of one vegetable sample. Even if data on foodborne coronavirus transmission suggested a limited importance of this pathway, the impact of the current pandemic in Northern Italy deserved a rigorous investigation to rule out such possibility. Indeed, gaining insight on all SARS-CoV-2 possible transmission pathways, including the foodborne route, seemed of interest to maintain consumers’ confidence and trust in food safety, and for the effective management of the current, and future, possible pandemics.
Future—A New Open Access Journal
Authors: Ma Jun
Published: July 2022

The recent consensus regarding children’s and adolescents’ health and development is that focus should not only be devoted to what sounds serious now but that our perspective should extend to considering the roots, where a healthy childhood and adolescence is essential to achieving full potential as an adult—i [...]
Molecular Simulation of Interactions between High-Molecular-Polymer Flocculation Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid and Clay Minerals
Authors: He Zhijun , Wang Jintang , Liao Bo , Bai Yujing , Shao Zihua , Huang Xianbin , Wang Qi , Li Yiyao
Published: July 2022

China has abundant shale gas resources with great potential, which may serve as a significant support for the development of a “low-carbon economy”. Domestic shale gas resources are buried deeply and difficult to exploit due to some prevalent issues, such as long horizontal sections, severe development of reservoir fractures, strong sensitivity to water, borehole instability, etc. Compared to water-based drilling fluids, oil-based drilling fluid exhibits better inhibition and good lubricity and is thus broadly used in shale gas drilling, but it is confronted with the challenge of removing the harmful solid phase. Selective chemical flocculation is one of the most effective methods of removing the harmful solid phase in oil-based drilling fluid. In this study, interactions between the flocculation gel for oil-based drilling fluid and clay minerals were investigated by molecular simulation, which revealed the molecular-scale selectivity of the flocculation gel for rock cuttings with negative charges. Calculations showed that the flocculation gel is highly effective for the flocculation of negatively charged cuttings, but it is ineffective for flocculating neutral cuttings. The flocculation gel is not very effective for cuttings with high hydrophilicity, and it is totally ineffective for flocculating cuttings with poor hydrophilicity. Within a limited concentration range, the flocculation effect can be enhanced by increasing the flocculation gel concentration. The performance of the flocculation gel declined at elevated temperatures.