bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Voluntary Attention on Social and Non-Social Emotion Perception
Authors: Shao Hongtao , Li Yang , Ren Guiqin
Published: May 2023

Existing studies have focused on the effect of emotion on attention, and the role of attention on emotion has largely been underestimated. To further determine the mechanisms underlying the role of attention on emotion, the present study explored the effects of voluntary attention on both social and non-social aspects of emotional perception. Participants were 25 college students who completed the Rapid Serial Visual Prime (RSVP) paradigm. In this study, the selection rates of participants’ emotional intensity, pleasure and distinctness perception of the pictures were measured. The results showed as following: (a) The cued condition selection rate was higher than the non-cued condition in the evaluation of non-social emotional intensity perception and pleasure perception, (b) In the evaluation of social emotional intensity and pleasure perception, there was no significant difference in the selection rate between the cued and non-cued condition, (c) The cued condition selection rate was higher than the non-cued condition in the perception of non-social positive emotional intensity and social negative emotional distinctness. The novel findings of this study revealed that the effect of voluntary attention on emotional perception is influenced not only by emotional valence but also by emotional sociality.
Deriving the Types and Characteristics of Lost Children in South Korea Using the Sequential Association Rule
Authors: Choi Soyoung
Published: May 2023

The studies that examine the characteristics of lost children and identify the types and processes of children being lost are insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the fundamental types and characteristics of lost children and develop a plan for their prevention. First, the common patterns of lost children were derived via the “sequential association rule” using the lost child case data from the previous studies. Next, the lost child types were derived by examining the patterns of lost children, focusing on the situation (conditions) before the child was lost and the causes. Additionally, a series of processes leading to children getting lost and being reunited with their guardians, according to the lost child type, were systematized. Finally, the causes and characteristics of lost children were derived for each type. The following types of lost children were derived: type I—when a child unexpectedly breaks away from the guardian and becomes lost; type II—when a child leaves after obtaining the guardian’s permission but fails to find their way back to their guardian; and type III—when a guardian and child are separated by the operation of transportation. This study’s findings can assist in the development of environmental design guidelines to prevent children from getting lost.
The Influence of Consumer Purchases on Purchase-Related Happiness: A Serial Mediation of Commitment and Selective Information Processing
Authors: Kim Dongyoup , Yoon Yeosun
Published: May 2023

In the literature on material and experiential purchases, it has consistently been demonstrated that the relationship between the consumer’s purchase type and purchase-related happiness favors experiential purchases. This research aims to extend the literature by examining how experiential purchases lead to greater purchase-related happiness due to the individual’s processing of external information, especially in the online review context. An experiment was conducted to show that experiential purchases lead to greater commitment to decisions and a higher relative reliance on positive reviews (as opposed to negative reviews) than material purchases. The results of a serial mediation test indicate that such differences lead to greater purchase-related happiness. Based on these findings, we can deepen our understanding of the relationship between purchase type and purchase-related happiness from the perspective of information processing.
Working Memory and Divergent Thinking: The Moderating Role of Field-Dependent-Independent Cognitive Style in Adolescence
Authors: Giancola Marco , D’Amico Simonetta , Palmiero Massimiliano
Published: May 2023

Divergent thinking (DT) is considered a key process of creativity. It is supported by different mental processes, ranging from executive functions to cognitive styles. The extent to which these processes jointly contribute to DT is still unclear, especially in adolescence, which represents a developmental stage that involves fundamental changes and restructuring in cognition, emotion, and personality. The present study hypothesises that the field-dependent-independent cognitive style (FDI) moderates the relationship between working memory capacity (WMC). A convenient sample of one hundred adolescents (mean age 18.88 years) was tested in terms of FDI by the Embedded Figure Test (EFT), which requires finding a simple shape as fast as possible within a complex figure. WMC was assessed by the Digit Span Forward Test (DSFT), which requires recalling sequences of numbers in the same order immediately after the presentation. DT was assessed by the Alternative Uses Test (AUT), which requires finding as many uses as possible for common objects. The main result was that the field-independent cognitive style (FI) positively moderated the effect of WMC on DT. This result extends previous findings on the critical role of FDI in real-world creativity, suggesting that FI adolescents better exploit the effect of WMC on DT by using more analytic and associative strategies, focusing on relevant elements when facing a problem, and retrieving conceptual knowledge more efficiently. Implications, limits, and future research directions are briefly discussed.
Uncovering Resilience Disparities among Religious Groups in Israel’s Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Drive: Lessons Learned to the Post-COVID Era
Authors: Sarid Miri , Kalman-Halevi Maya , Tutian Rony , Gilat-Yihyie Sharon , Sarid Adi
Published: May 2023

The aim of the current study was to examine the emotional resilience, satisfaction with life, social support, and anxiety during the vaccination process of the Israeli population after the end of the third lockdown, according to religiosity degree. We hypothesized that a higher degree of religiosity (ultra-Orthodox and religious participants) would be associated with higher levels of resilience and with lower levels of anxiety than in secular individuals. In addition, it was hypothesized that satisfaction with life, social support, anxiety, and religiosity will predict resilience and anxiety. Nine hundred and ninety-three native Jewish Hebrew-speaking respondents representing ultra-Orthodox, religious, observant, and secular Jews participated in this study. Ultra-Orthodox participants showed higher resilience and satisfaction with life than other groups, and lower levels of anxiety. Satisfaction with life and social support predicted higher resilience. It is suggested that religious faith as well as satisfaction with life may provide a source of strength and resilience in stressful life events.
Stakeholder Opinions of Implementing Environmental Management Systems in the Construction Sector of the U.S.
Authors: Beck Schildt Jesse C. , Booth Colin A. , Horry Rosemary E. , Wiejak-Roy Grazyna
Published: May 2023

Environmental concerns over the effects of construction sector activities necessitate meaningful measures to be taken. Despite worldwide increases in the uptake of environmental management systems (EMS), implementation of EMS across the construction sector of the U.S. remains slow. To date, stakeholder opinions about the uptake of EMS in the construction sector of the U.S. remain unexplored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the views of U.S. stakeholders towards the benefits and barriers of implementing EMS, and how these compare internationally. Underpinned by a positivism philosophy, an online questionnaire survey was used to collect the views of construction professionals (n = 50). Weighted average analysis scores reveal that the benefits of EMS are seen to improve the public perception and credibility of an organization/company and reduce waste levels and are a tool to improve the environmental standards of the U.S.’s construction sector; in contrast, the barriers of EMS are an absence of sub-contractor cooperation and resistance to change in existing company structure and policy, plus the requirement for additional employee training. The potential impact of this work demonstrates not only the role that the U.S. construction sector can play in advancing environmental and sustainability matters using EMS but also the obstacles that need to be addressed to enable their success. Understanding these benefits and barriers at an organizational level could enable them to devise more effective business strategies/policies, where evidence-based practices could be used to support EMS implementation.
Prediction of Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Pile Foundation Based on Two Optimization Algorithm Models
Authors: Ren Jiajun , Sun Xianbin
Published: May 2023

The determination of the bearing capacity of pile foundations is very important for their design. Due to the high uncertainty of various factors between the pile and the soil, many methods for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of pile foundations focus on correlation with field tests. In recent years, artificial neural networks (ANN) have been successfully applied to various types of complex issues in geotechnical engineering, among which the back-propagation (BP) method is a relatively mature and widely used algorithm. However, it has inevitable shortcomings, resulting in large prediction errors and other issues. Based on this situation, this study was designed to accomplish two tasks: firstly, using the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the BP network. On this basis, the two optimization algorithms were improved to enhance the performance of the two optimization algorithms. Then, an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) and adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO) were used to optimize a BP neural network to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of the pile foundation. Secondly, to test the performance of the two optimization models, the predicted results were compared and analyzed in relation to the traditional BP model and other network models of the same type in the literature based on the three most common statistical indicators. The models were evaluated using three common evaluation metrics, namely the coefficient of determination (R2), value account for (VAF), and the root mean square error (RMSE), and the evaluation metrics for the test set were obtained as AGA-BP (0.9772, 97.8348, 0.0436) and APSO-BP (0.9854, 98.4732, 0.0332). The results show that compared with the predicted results of the BP model and other models, the test set of the AGA-BP model and APSO-BP model achieved higher accuracy, and the APSO-BP model achieved higher accuracy and reliability, which provides a new method for the prediction of the ultimate bearing capacity of pile foundations.
Experimental Study on the Impact Resistance of Steel Fiber Reinforced All-Lightweight Concrete Beams under Single and Hybrid Mixing Conditions
Authors: Wang Xiuli , Wu Qinyuan , Chen Wenlong
Published: May 2023

An impact action can cause local, or even overall, damage to structural components. This paper investigates the effect of flat and wavy steel fibers on the mechanical impact resistance of all-lightweight concrete beams under single and mixed conditions. Four all-lightweight concrete beams were subjected to drop hammer impact tests. From the failure mode, local shear-type damage occurred at the midspan of the all-lightweight concrete beams, with mainly shear cracks. The steel fiber has an inhibitory effect on the generation and development of cracks and improves the phenomenon of concrete crushing and spalling after the impact of the beam. Different mixing methods will have different effects on the crack-inhibition effect of steel fiber. The mixed addition of steel fiber has a more prominent effect on crack-development inhibition, making the cracks finer. Under the conditions of adding the flat steel fibers alone, the wavy steel fibers alone, and the mixed addition of steel fibers, the peak displacement at the midspan was reduced by 14.29%, 22.86%, and 37.14%, respectively; in comparison, residual displacement was reduced by 18.18%, 50.91%, and 54.55%, and the peak impact force was increased by 6.98%, −2.62%, and 1.89%. In addition, the stiffness loss of the steel fiber-added specimens is slight, which can have a higher impact response when the drop hammer falls. The results show that the addition methods of the steel fibers have different effects on the improvement of the impact resistance of the all-lightweight concrete beams, and the mixed addition has a better effect than the single addition.
Development and External Validation of a PET Radiomic Model for Prognostication of Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Noortman Wyanne A. , Aide Nicolas , Vriens Dennis , Arkes Lisa S. , Slump Cornelis H. , Boellaard Ronald , Goeman Jelle J. , Deroose Christophe M. , Machiels Jean-Pascal , Licitra Lisa F. , Lhommel Renaud , Alessi Alessandra , Woff Erwin , Goffin Karolien , Le Tourneau Christophe , Gal Jocelyn , Temam Stéphane , Delord Jean-Pierre , van Velden Floris H. P. , de Geus-Oei Lioe-Fee
Published: May 2023

Aim: To build and externally validate an [18F]FDG PET radiomic model to predict overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: Two multicentre datasets of patients with operable HNSCC treated with preoperative afatinib who underwent a baseline and evaluation [18F]FDG PET/CT scan were included (EORTC: n = 20, Unicancer: n = 34). Tumours were delineated, and radiomic features were extracted. Each cohort served once as a training and once as an external validation set for the prediction of overall survival. Supervised feature selection was performed using variable hunting with variable importance, selecting the top two features. A Cox proportional hazards regression model using selected radiomic features and clinical characteristics was fitted on the training dataset and validated in the external validation set. Model performances are expressed by the concordance index (C-index). Results: In both models, the radiomic model surpassed the clinical model with validation C-indices of 0.69 and 0.79 vs. 0.60 and 0.67, respectively. The model that combined the radiomic features and clinical variables performed best, with validation C-indices of 0.71 and 0.82. Conclusion: Although assessed in two small but independent cohorts, an [18F]FDG-PET radiomic signature based on the evaluation scan seems promising for the prediction of overall survival for HNSSC treated with preoperative afatinib. The robustness and clinical applicability of this radiomic signature should be assessed in a larger cohort.
Growth and Migration Blocking Effect of Nanaomycin K, a Compound Produced by Streptomyces sp., on Prostate Cancer Cell Lines In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Hirata Yuto , Shigemura Katsumi , Moriwaki Michika , Iwatsuki Masato , Kan Yuki , Ooya Tooru , Maeda Koki , Yang Youngmin , Nakashima Takuji , Matsuo Hirotaka , Nakanishi Jun , Fujisawa Masato
Published: May 2023

Since castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) acquires resistance to molecularly targeted drugs, discovering a class of drugs with different mechanisms of action is needed for more efficient treatment. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effects of nanaomycin K, derived from “Streptomyces rosa subsp. notoensis” OS-3966. The cell lines used were LNCaP (non-CRPC), PC-3 (CRPC), and TRAMP-C2 (CRPC). Experiments included cell proliferation analysis, wound healing analysis, and Western blotting. In addition, nanaomycin K was administered intratumorally to TRAMP-C2 carcinoma-bearing mice to assess effects on tumor growth. Furthermore, immuno-histochemistry staining was performed on excised tissues. Nanaomycin K suppressed cell proliferation in all cell lines (p < 0.001) and suppressed wound healing in TRAMP-C2 (p = 0.008). Nanaomycin K suppressed or showed a tendency to suppress the expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, Slug, and Ras in all cell lines, and suppressed the phosphorylation of p38, SAPK/JNK, and Erk1/2 in LNCaP and TRAMP-C2. In vivo, nanaomycin K safely inhibited tumor growth (p = 0.001). In addition, suppression of phospho-Erk1/2 and increased expression of E-cadherin and cleaved-Caspase3 were observed in excised tumors. Nanaomycin K inhibits tumor growth and suppresses migration by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer. Its mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of phosphorylation of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Organokines in COVID-19: A Systematic Review
Authors: Barbalho Sandra , Minniti Giulia , Miola Vitor , Haber Jesselina , Bueno Patrícia , de Argollo Haber Luiza , Girio Raul , Detregiachi Cláudia , Dall’Antonia Camila , Rodrigues Victória , Nicolau Claudia , Catharin Virginia , Araújo Adriano , Laurindo Lucas
Published: May 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 that induces a generalized inflammatory state. Organokines (adipokines, osteokines, myokines, hepatokines, and cardiokines) can produce beneficial or harmful effects in this condition. This study aimed to systematically review the role of organokines on COVID-19. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases were searched, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and 37 studies were selected, comprising more than 2700 individuals infected with the virus. Among COVID-19 patients, organokines have been associated with endothelial dysfunction and multiple organ failure due to augmented cytokines and increased SARS-CoV-2 viremia. Changes in the pattern of organokines secretion can directly or indirectly contribute to aggravating the infection, promoting immune response alterations, and predicting the disease progression. These molecules have the potential to be used as adjuvant biomarkers to predict the severity of the illness and severe outcomes.
HIV–Host Cell Interactions
Authors: Masenga Sepiso K. , Mweene Bislom C. , Luwaya Emmanuel , Muchaili Lweendo , Chona Makondo , Kirabo Annet
Published: May 2023

The development of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) was a great milestone in the management of HIV infection. ARVs suppress viral activity in the host cell, thus minimizing injury to the cells and prolonging life. However, an effective treatment has remained elusive for four decades due to the successful immune evasion mechanisms of the virus. A thorough understanding of the molecular interaction of HIV with the host cell is essential in the development of both preventive and curative therapies for HIV infection. This review highlights several inherent mechanisms of HIV that promote its survival and propagation, such as the targeting of CD4+ lymphocytes, the downregulation of MHC class I and II, antigenic variation and an envelope complex that minimizes antibody access, and how they collaboratively render the immune system unable to mount an effective response.
Development of Comorbid Depression after Social Fear Conditioning in Mice and Its Effects on Brain Sphingolipid Metabolism
Authors: Zoicas Iulia , Mühle Christiane , Schumacher Fabian , Kleuser Burkhard , Kornhuber Johannes
Published: May 2023

Currently, there are no animal models for studying both specific social fear and social fear with comorbidities. Here, we investigated whether social fear conditioning (SFC), an animal model with face, predictive and construct validity for social anxiety disorder (SAD), leads to the development of comorbidities at a later stage over the course of the disease and how this affects the brain sphingolipid metabolism. SFC altered both the emotional behavior and the brain sphingolipid metabolism in a time-point-dependent manner. While social fear was not accompanied by changes in non-social anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior for at least two to three weeks, a comorbid depressive-like behavior developed five weeks after SFC. These different pathologies were accompanied by different alterations in the brain sphingolipid metabolism. Specific social fear was accompanied by increased activity of ceramidases in the ventral hippocampus and ventral mesencephalon and by small changes in sphingolipid levels in the dorsal hippocampus. Social fear with comorbid depression, however, altered the activity of sphingomyelinases and ceramidases as well as the sphingolipid levels and sphingolipid ratios in most of the investigated brain regions. This suggests that changes in the brain sphingolipid metabolism might be related to the short- and long-term pathophysiology of SAD.
Platform Chemicals from Ethylene Glycol and Isobutene: Thermodynamics “Pays” for Biomass Valorisation and Acquires “Cashback”
Authors: Verevkin Sergey P. , Zhabina Aleksandra A.
Published: May 2023

Ethylene glycol (EG) produced from biomass is a promising candidate for several new applications. In this paper, EG derivatives such as mono- and di-tert-butyl ethers are considered. However, accurate thermodynamic data are essential to optimise the technology of the direct tert-butyl ether EG synthesis reaction or reverse process isobutene release. The aim of this work is to measure the vapour pressures and combustion energies for these ethers and determine the vaporisation enthalpies and enthalpies of formation from these measurements. Methods based on the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics were combined to discover the reliable thermodynamics of ether synthesis reactions. The thermochemical data for ethylene glycol tert-butyl ethers were validated using structure–property correlations and quantum chemical calculations. The literature results of the equilibrium study of alkylation of EG with isobutene were evaluated and the thermodynamic functions of ethylene glycol tert-butyl ethers were derived. The energetics of alkylation determined according to the “First Law” and the “Second Law” methods agree very well. Some interesting aspects related to the entropy of ethylene glycol tert-butyl ethers were also revealed and discussed.
A Quantitative Review of Automated Neural Search and On-Device Learning for Tiny Devices
Authors: Pau Danilo Pietro , Ambrose Prem Kumar , Aymone Fabrizio Maria
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of different approaches for Neural Architecture Search targeting resource-constrained devices such as microcontrollers, as well as the implementations of on-device learning techniques for them. Approaches such as MCUNet have been able to drive the design of tiny neural architectures with low memory and computational requirements which can be deployed effectively on microcontrollers. Regarding on-device learning, there are various solutions that have addressed concept drift and have coped with the accuracy drop in real-time data depending on the task targeted, and these rely on a variety of learning methods. For computer vision, MCUNetV3 uses backpropagation and represents a state-of-the-art solution. The Restricted Coulomb Energy Neural Network is a promising method for learning with an extremely low memory footprint and computational complexity, which should be considered for future investigations.
Utilization of Fly Ash and Red Mud in Soil-Based Controlled Low Strength Materials
Authors: Kong Xianghui , Wang Gaoqiang , Rong Shu , Liang Yunpeng , Liu Mengmeng , Zhang Yanhao
Published: May 2023

To reduce the harm caused by industrial solid waste to the environment, and solve the problem of excavated soil disposal in buried pipeline management projects, this study proposes a method to produce soil-based controlled low strength materials (CLSM) by using industrial solid wastes (including fly ash and red mud) as partial replacements for cement. The properties of CLSM were characterized in terms of flowability, unconfined compressive strength, phase composition and microstructure. The test results showed that fly ash could significantly improve the flowability of CLSM, while red mud had more advantages for the strength development. When 20% fly ash and 30% red mud were combined to replace cement, the fluidity of CLSM was 248 mm, and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at 3, 7 and 28 days was 1.08, 1.49 and 3.77 MPa, respectively. The hydration products of CLSM were mainly calcium silicate hydrate gels, ettringite and calcite. Fly ash provided nucleation sites for cement hydration, while the alkali excitation of red mud promoted the dissolution of SiO2 and Al2O3 in fly ash. The filling and gelation of hydration products make the microstructure dense, which improves the mechanical properties of the mixture.
Morphological Diversity in Diblock Copolymer Solutions: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Liu Senyuan , Sureshkumar Radhakrishna
Published: May 2023

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations that incorporate explicit water-mediated hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions are employed to track spatiotemporal evolution of diblock copolymer aggregation in initially homogeneous solutions. A phase portrait of the observed morphologies and their quantitative geometric features such as aggregation numbers, packing parameters, and radial distribution functions of solvent/monomers are presented. Energetic and entropic measures relevant to self-assembly such as specific solvent accessible surface area (SASA) and probability distribution functions (pdfs) of segmental stretch of copolymer chains are analyzed. The simulations qualitatively capture experimentally observed morphological diversity in diblock copolymer solutions. Topologically simpler structures predicted include spherical micelles, vesicles (polymersomes), lamellae (bilayers), linear wormlike micelles, and tori. More complex morphologies observed for larger chain lengths and nearly symmetric copolymer compositions include branched wormlike micelles with Y-shaped junctions and cylindrical micelle networks. For larger concentrations, vesicle strands, held together by hydrogen bonds, and “giant” composite aggregates that consist of lamellar, mixed hydrophobic/hydrophilic regions and percolating water cores are predicted. All structures are dynamic and exhibit diffuse domain boundaries. Morphology transitions across topologically simpler structures can be rationalized based on specific SASA measurements. PDFs of segmental stretch within vesicular assemblies appear to follow a log-normal distribution conducive for maximizing configuration entropy.
A Two-Step Machine Learning Method for Predicting the Formation Energy of Ternary Compounds
Authors: Rengaraj Varadarajan , Jost Sebastian , Bethke Franz , Plessl Christian , Mirhosseini Hossein , Walther Andrea , Kühne Thomas D.
Published: May 2023

Predicting the chemical stability of yet-to-be-discovered materials is an important aspect of the discovery and development of virtual materials. The conventional approach for computing the enthalpy of formation based on ab initio methods is time consuming and computationally demanding. In this regard, alternative machine learning approaches are proposed to predict the formation energies of different classes of materials with decent accuracy. In this paper, one such machine learning approach, a novel two-step method that predicts the formation energy of ternary compounds, is presented. In the first step, with a classifier, we determine the accuracy of heuristically calculated formation energies in order to increase the size of the training dataset for the second step. The second step is a regression model that predicts the formation energy of the ternary compounds. The first step leads to at least a 100% increase in the size of the dataset with respect to the data available in the Materials Project database. The results from the regression model match those from the existing state-of-the-art prediction models. In addition, we propose a slightly modified version of the Adam optimizer, namely centered Adam, and report the results from testing the centered Adam optimizer.
Microwave Dielectric Properties of CaB2O4-CaSiO3 System for LTCC Applications
Authors: Yin Changzhi , Zou Zhengyu , Cheng Mingfei , Cai Yiyang , Yang Jiaqing , Lei Weicheng , Lu Wenzhong , Song Xiaoqiang , Lei Wen
Published: May 2023

A novel composite ceramic with low densification temperature was fabricated using the conventional solid-state method. The XRD and Rietveld refinement results indicated that the two phases of CaB2O4 and CaSiO3 can coexist in all compositions. Furthermore, a phase transition of CaSiO3 ceramic from α-phase to β-phase was observed. A dense ceramic with excellent microwave dielectric properties (εr~6.4, Q × f~75,600 GHz, and a negative τf~26.9 ppm/°C) was obtained at x = 0.5 when sintered at 925 °C at the frequency of 14.2 GHz. A good chemical compatibility between the composite ceramic and Ag electrode was improved by elemental mapping results. A patch antenna was fabricated based on the simulated result. All results indicated that the 0.5 CaB2O4 + 0.5 CaSiO3 ceramic has large application potential in the LTCC field.
Prediction of Superconductivity in Clathrate Er Hydrides under High Pressure
Authors: Yan Xiao Z. , Zhang Zhao L. , Chen Yang M. , Kuang Fang G.
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we perform unbiased structure searches combined with first-principles calculations to predict the stable structures and possible superconductivity of ErHn (n = 4~6) under pressures of 50~300 GPa. Two novel compounds, ErH4 and ErH6, are identified as thermodynamically and dynamically stable above 50 GPa; ErH4 and ErH6 can stabilize in clathrate structures with the I4/mmm and Im3¯m space groups, respectively. An analysis of the electronic density of states (DOS) suggests the metallic nature of the two phases. Then, the superconducting critical temperature (Tc) is estimated using the Allen–Dynes modified McMillan equation; the results are 130.9~181.2 K for Im3¯m-ErH6 at 100~300 GPa, and 74.4~79.8 K for I4/mmm-ErH4 at 150~300 GPa. The resultant high Tc superconductivity in this system can be traced back to the combination of high density of states at the Fermi level and strong electron–phonon interactions.
Simulation and Analysis of Thermal Insulators Applied to Post-Disaster Temporary Shelters in Tropical Countries
Authors: da Costa Bruno B. F. , Silva Caio F. P. , Maciel Ana Carolina F. , Cusi Herson D. P. , Maquera Gladys , Haddad Assed N.
Published: May 2023

Containers are fundamental elements for the development of international trade; however, it is estimated that there are more than 17 million retired containers stacked in ports around the world. Considering the high costs involved in the process of storing, transporting, or destroying these materials, in addition to their non-degradable nature, it is urgent to develop strategies for the sustainable use of these decommissioned containers. In this context, repurposing these containers into permanent structures is becoming a predominant trend. One solution is converting steel shipping structures into habitable spaces. However, due to the urgency with which Container Houses (CHs) are demanded in case of disasters, they are usually planned to be built as quickly as possible, serving as many people as possible, and do not consider the basic principles of energy efficiency. The performance of the CHs is, then, impaired, including risks of overheating, corrosion, and rust, among others, during service, making them an even more stressful experience for their users who are already in a vulnerable situation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the performance of two thermal insulators applied to a temporary shelter container designed to promptly serve vulnerable populations. The model was developed in Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and simulated in Building Energy Simulation (BES) software, aiming to obtain subsidies for its technical and economic viability analysis. The results indicated that thermal insulators are able to generate significant savings in energy consumption, with mineral wool presenting better long-term performance.
Deep-Learning-Based Segmentation of the Shoulder from MRI with Inference Accuracy Prediction
Authors: Hess Hanspeter , Ruckli Adrian C. , Bürki Finn , Gerber Nicolas , Menzemer Jennifer , Burger Jürgen , Schär Michael , Zumstein Matthias A. , Gerber Kate
Published: May 2023

Three-dimensional (3D)-image-based anatomical analysis of rotator cuff tear patients has been proposed as a way to improve repair prognosis analysis to reduce the incidence of postoperative retear. However, for application in clinics, an efficient and robust method for the segmentation of anatomy from MRI is required. We present the use of a deep learning network for automatic segmentation of the humerus, scapula, and rotator cuff muscles with integrated automatic result verification. Trained on N = 111 and tested on N = 60 diagnostic T1-weighted MRI of 76 rotator cuff tear patients acquired from 19 centers, a nnU-Net segmented the anatomy with an average Dice coefficient of 0.91 ± 0.06. For the automatic identification of inaccurate segmentations during the inference procedure, the nnU-Net framework was adapted to allow for the estimation of label-specific network uncertainty directly from its subnetworks. The average Dice coefficient of segmentation results from the subnetworks identified labels requiring segmentation correction with an average sensitivity of 1.0 and a specificity of 0.94. The presented automatic methods facilitate the use of 3D diagnosis in clinical routine by eliminating the need for time-consuming manual segmentation and slice-by-slice segmentation verification.
Breath Volatile Organic Compounds in Surveillance of Gastric Cancer Patients following Radical Surgical Management
Authors: Škapars Roberts , Gašenko Evita , Broza Yoav Y. , Sīviņš Armands , Poļaka Inese , Bogdanova Inga , Pčolkins Andrejs , Veliks Viktors , Folkmanis Valdis , Lesčinska Anna , Liepniece-Karele Inta , Haick Hossam , Rumba-Rozenfelde Ingrīda , Leja Mārcis
Published: May 2023

As of today, there is a lack of a perfect non-invasive test for the surveillance of patients for potential relapse following curative treatment. Breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been demonstrated to be an accurate diagnostic tool for gastric cancer (GC) detection; here, we aimed to prove the yield of the markers in surveillance, i.e., following curative surgical management. Patients were sampled in regular intervals before and within 3 years following curative surgery for GC; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nanosensor technologies were used for the VOC assessment. GC-MS measurements revealed a single VOC (14b-Pregnane) that significantly decreased at 12 months, and three VOCs (Isochiapin B, Dotriacontane, Threitol, 2-O-octyl-) that decreased at 18 months following surgery. The nanomaterial-based sensors S9 and S14 revealed changes in the breath VOC content 9 months after surgery. Our study results confirm the cancer origin of the particular VOCs, as well as suggest the value of breath VOC testing for cancer patient surveillance, either during the treatment phase or thereafter, for potential relapse.
A Case Report of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Using 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FBB PET
Authors: Yoo Jang , Cheon Miju , Kang Min-Ju
Published: May 2023

We describe a 40-year-old female patient who presented with sleep disturbance, intermittent headache, and gradual subjective cognitive decline. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) showed mild FDG hypometabolism in bilateral parietal and temporal lobes. However, 18F-florbetaben (FBB) amyloid PET revealed diffuse amyloid retention in the lateral temporal cortex, frontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, parietal cortex, and cerebellum. This finding supports the clinical significance of amyloid imaging in diagnostic work-up of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD).
The Impact of ACE Gene Variants on Acute-Phase Reactants in Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease
Authors: Almazroea Abdulhadi H. , Yousef Sondos , Ahmad Salma M. S. , AlHiraky Hanin N. , Al-Haidose Amal , Abdallah Atiyeh M.
Published: May 2023

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most important sequela of upper respiratory group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. The role of the common angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) variant in the disease and its subtypes remains uncertain. The acute-phase reactants (APRs) C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) form part of the Jones criteria for diagnosing RHD, and genetic factors are known to influence baseline CRP and ESR levels. Therefore, here, we investigated the relationship between the ACE I/D polymorphism and APR levels in RHD. A total of 268 individuals were recruited, including 123 RHD patients and 198 healthy controls. There was a trend toward a higher D allele frequency in RHD patients. The ACE I/D polymorphism genotype frequency and DD+ID allelic carriage were significantly associated with a high APR level (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). These results highlight the importance of ACE I/D polymorphisms in RHD for disease stratification, but not for disease predisposition. Further studies in larger cohorts and different populations are now required to confirm this association and to explore the mechanism of this effect.
Sebaceous Neoplasms
Authors: Papadimitriou Ilias , Vakirlis Efstratios , Sotiriou Elena , Bakirtzi Katerina , Lallas Aimilios , Ioannides Demetrios
Published: May 2023

Sebaceous neoplasms describe a group of tumors with sebaceous differentiation commonly seen in lesions located primarily in the face and neck. The majority of these lesions are benign, while malignant neoplasms with sebaceous differentiation are uncommon. Sebaceous tumors present a strong association with the Muir–Torre Syndrome. Patients suspected with this syndrome should undergo neoplasm excision, followed by histopathologic and additional immunohistochemistry and genetics examinations. Clinical and dermoscopic features of the sebaceous neoplasms, as well as management procedures collected from the literature analysis regarding sebaceous carcinoma, sebaceoma/sebaceous adenoma, and sebaceous hyperplasia are described in the current review. A special note is made for describing the Muir–Torre Syndrome in patients presenting multiple sebaceous tumors.
Identification and Experimental Validation of LINC00582 Associated with B Cell Immune and Development of Pulpitis: Bioinformatics and In Vitro Analysis
Authors: Gong Wenting , Hong Lilin , Qian Yi
Published: May 2023

Background: Pulpitis is a common oral disease. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the immune response in pulpitis. This study focused on finding the key immune-related lncRNAs that regulate the development of pulpitis. Methods: Differentially expressed lncRNAs were analyzed. Enrichment analysis was performed to explore the function of differentially expressed genes. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated with Immune Cell Abundance Identifier. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase release assays were conducted to measure the viability of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) and BALL-1 cells. Transwell assay was processed to prove migration and invasion of BALL-1 cells. Results: Our results revealed that 17 lncRNAs were significantly upregulated. Pulpitis-related genes were mainly enriched in inflammatory relative signal pathways. The abundance of various immune cells was significantly abnormal in pulpitis tissues, among which the expression of eight lncRNAs was significantly correlated with the expression of B cell marker protein CD79B. As the most relevant lncRNA for B cells, LINC00582 could regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and CD79B expression of BALL-1 cells. Conclusions: Our study identified eight B cell immune-related lncRNAs. Meanwhile, LINC00582 has a positive effect on B cell immunity in the development of pulpitis.
Effects of SARS-CoV-2 on Pulmonary Function and Muscle Strength Testing in Military Subjects According to the Period of Infection: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ora Josuel , Rogliani Paola , Ferron Federica , Vignuoli Marilisa , Valentino Letizia , Pontoni Giancarlo , Di Ciuccio Francesca , Ferrara Roberto , Sciarra Tommaso
Published: May 2023

Background: Pulmonary function can be impaired as a long-term consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, and muscle strength in healthy middle-aged military outpatients according during the period of infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2020 to November 2022 at the Military Hospital “Celio” (Rome, Italy). If someone had a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection certified by molecular nasal swab and if they performed pulmonary function tests, diffusion of carbon monoxide (DL’co), a six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), a Handgrip (HG) Test, and a One Minute Sit to Stand Test (1′STST). The included subjects were divided into two groups, A and B, according to the period of infection: A) from March 2020 to August 2021 and B) from September 2021 to October 2022. Results: One hundred fifty-three subjects were included in the study: 79 in Group A and 74 in Group B. Although the values were within the normal range, Group A had smaller FVC, FEV1, and DL’co compared to Group B. Group A also walked a shorter distance at the 6MWT and performed fewer repetitions in the 1′STS test compared to Group B. In both groups, the DL’co (%predicted) correlated with the 6MWT distance (R2 = 0.107, p < 0.001), the number of repetitions of the 1′STST (R2 = 0.086, p = 0.001), and the strength at the HG test (R2 = 0.08, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study shows that the SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthy middle-aged military outpatients was more severe in the first waves than in the later ones and that, in healthy and physically fit individuals, even a marginal reduction in resting respiratory test values can have a major impact on exercise tolerance and muscles strength. Moreover, it shows that those infected more recently had symptoms related to the upper respiratory tract infection compared to those of the first waves.
Liver-Specific Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography (Ce-MRCP) in Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Biliary Leakage
Authors: Argirò Renato , Sensi Bruno , Siragusa Leandro , Bellini Luigi , Conte Luigi Edoardo , Riccetti Camilla , Del Vecchio Blanco Giovanna , Troncone Edoardo , Floris Roberto , Salavracos Mike , Tisone Giuseppe , Anselmo Alessandro
Published: May 2023

Current non-invasive diagnostic modalities of iatrogenic bile leak (BL) are not particularly sensitive and often fail to localise the BL origin. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are considered the gold standard, yet are invasive studies with potential complications. Ce-MRCP has been not comprehensively studied in this setting but may prove particularly helpful given its non-invasive nature and the anatomical dynamic detail. This paper reports a monocentric retrospective study of BL patients referred between January 2018 and November 2022 submitted to Ce-MRCP followed by PTC. The primary outcome was the accuracy of Ce-MRCP in detecting and localising BL compared to PTC and ERCP. Blood tests, coexisting cholangitis features and time for leak resolution were also investigated. Thirty-nine patients were included. Liver-specific contrast-enhanced MRCP detected BL in 69% of cases. The BL localisation was 100% accurate. Total bilirubin above 4 mg/dL was significantly associated with false negative results of Ce-MRCP. Ce-MRCP is highly accurate in detecting and localising BL, but sensitivity is significantly reduced by a high bilirubin level. Ce-MRCP may be very useful in early BL diagnosis and in accurate pre-treatment planning, but can only be reliably used in selected patients with TB < 4 mg/dL. Non-surgical techniques, both radiological and endoscopic, are proven to be effective in terms of leak resolution.
Segmentation of Anatomical Structures of the Left Heart from Echocardiographic Images Using Deep Learning
Authors: Mortada MHD Jafar , Tomassini Selene , Anbar Haidar , Morettini Micaela , Burattini Laura , Sbrollini Agnese
Published: May 2023

Knowledge about the anatomical structures of the left heart, specifically the atrium (LA) and ventricle (i.e., endocardium—Vendo—and epicardium—LVepi) is essential for the evaluation of cardiac functionality. Manual segmentation of cardiac structures from echocardiography is the baseline reference, but results are user-dependent and time-consuming. With the aim of supporting clinical practice, this paper presents a new deep-learning (DL)-based tool for segmenting anatomical structures of the left heart from echocardiographic images. Specifically, it was designed as a combination of two convolutional neural networks, the YOLOv7 algorithm and a U-Net, and it aims to automatically segment an echocardiographic image into LVendo, LVepi and LA. The DL-based tool was trained and tested on the Cardiac Acquisitions for Multi-Structure Ultrasound Segmentation (CAMUS) dataset of the University Hospital of St. Etienne, which consists of echocardiographic images from 450 patients. For each patient, apical two- and four-chamber views at end-systole and end-diastole were acquired and annotated by clinicians. Globally, our DL-based tool was able to segment LVendo, LVepi and LA, providing Dice similarity coefficients equal to 92.63%, 85.59%, and 87.57%, respectively. In conclusion, the presented DL-based tool proved to be reliable in automatically segmenting the anatomical structures of the left heart and supporting the cardiological clinical practice.
CBCT for Diagnostics, Treatment Planning and Monitoring of Sinus Floor Elevation Procedures
Authors: Morgan Nermin , Meeus Jan , Shujaat Sohaib , Cortellini Simone , Bornstein Michael M. , Jacobs Reinhilde
Published: May 2023

Sinus floor elevation (SFE) is a standard surgical technique used to compensate for alveolar bone resorption in the posterior maxilla. Such a surgical procedure requires radiographic imaging pre- and postoperatively for diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome assessment. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has become a well-established imaging modality in the dentomaxillofacial region. The following narrative review is aimed to provide clinicians with an overview of the role of three-dimensional (3D) CBCT imaging for diagnostics, treatment planning, and postoperative monitoring of SFE procedures. CBCT imaging prior to SFE provides surgeons with a more detailed view of the surgical site, allows for the detection of potential pathologies three-dimensionally, and helps to virtually plan the procedure more precisely while reducing patient morbidity. In addition, it serves as a useful follow-up tool for assessing sinus and bone graft changes. Meanwhile, using CBCT imaging has to be standardized and justified based on the recognized diagnostic imaging guidelines, taking into account both the technical and clinical considerations. Future studies are recommended to incorporate artificial intelligence-based solutions for automating and standardizing the diagnostic and decision-making process in the context of SFE procedures to further improve the standards of patient care.