bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and the Dilation of the Basilar Artery with the Potential Role of Vascular Compromise in the Pathophysiology of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Kang Dae-Woong , Kim Seul , Sunwoo Woongsang
Published: October 2022

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) currently lacks a clear etiology, as well as an effective treatment. One of the most probable explanations for SSNHL is impairment of the cochlear blood flow. However, dissimilar to a fundoscopic examination, direct observation of cochlear blood vessels is not possible. To indirectly support an ischemic etiology of SSNHL, we investigated whether the degree of initial hearing loss is associated with two atherosclerotic risk factors: dilatation of the basilar artery (BA) and a chronic subclinical inflammatory status measured by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). This retrospective study collected data from 105 consecutive patients diagnosed with idiopathic SSNHL. Then, the patients were divided into two groups according to their NLR as “abnormally high NLR (>3.53, n = 22)” and “NLR within the normal range (0.78–3.53, n = 83)”. The BA diameter and severity of initial hearing loss were significantly correlated with each other in the abnormally high NLR group (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between initial hearing loss and the BA diameter in the normal NLR group (p = 0.299). Therefore, the NLR may serve as a marker for SSNHL of vascular etiology and a rationale for magnetic resonance imaging examinations based on the pathophysiology.
Survival Analysis in Patients with Lung Cancer and Subsequent Primary Cancer: A Nationwide Cancer Registry Study
Authors: Chou Wen-Ru , Shia Ben-Chang , Huang Yen-Chun , Ho Chieh-Wen , Chen Mingchih
Published: October 2022

With improved survival in patients with cancer, the risk of developing multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) has increased. We aimed to characterize MPMs involving lung cancer and compare these characteristics between patients with single lung cancer and those with lung cancer and subsequent primary cancer (known as lung cancer first [LCF]). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted based on Taiwan Cancer Database from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Registry Database. Patients with lung cancer (n = 72,219) from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015, were included in this study, and their medical records were traced back to 1 January 2002, and followed until 31 December 2019. Results: MPMs occurred in 10,577 (14.65%) patients with lung cancer, and LCF and other cancer first (OCF) accounted for 35.55% and 64.45% of these patients, with a mean age at lung cancer diagnosis of 65.18 and 68.92 years, respectively. The median interval between primary malignancies in the OCF group was significantly longer than that in the LCF group (3.26 vs. 0.11 years, p < 0.001). Patients in the single lung cancer group were significantly older than those in the LCF group (67.12 vs. 65.18 years, p < 0.001). The mean survival time of patients with LCF was longer than that of patients with single lung cancer. Following initial lung cancer, the three most common second primary malignancies were lung, colon, and breast cancers. For patients with advanced lung cancer, survival in patients with mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was longer than that in patients with undetected EGFR. In stage 3 and 4 patients with EGFR mutations, the LCF group showed better survival than the single lung cancer group. Conversely, in stage 1 patients with mutant EGFR, the LCF group exhibited worse survival than the single lung cancer group. Conclusions: Survival in patients with MPMs depends on baseline characteristics and treatments. Our findings may contribute to the development of precision medicine for improving personalized treatment and survival as well as the reduction of medical costs.
Is the Relationship between Acute and Chronic Workload a Valid Predictive Injury Tool? A Bayesian Analysis
Authors: Carbone Leandro , Sampietro Matias , Cicognini Agustin , García-Sillero Manuel , Vargas-Molina Salvador
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between injury risk, acute load (AL), acute chronic workload ratio (ACWR) and a new proposed ACWR. Design: a retrospective cohort study of the year 2018 was conducted on Argentine first-division soccer players. Participants: Data from 35 players (age = 26.7 ± 4.71 years; height = 176.28 ± 6.09 cm; mass = 74.2 ± 5.27 kg) were recorded; 12 players’ data were analyzed for 1 year, and 23 players’ data were analyzed for 6 months. Interventions: The mean difference of ACWR (MD = 0.22), high-density interval (HDI 95% = (0.07, 0.36)) and AL (MD = 449.23, HDI 95% = (146.41, 751.2)) between groups turned out to be statistically significant. The effect size between groups comparing ACWR and AL was identical (ES = 0.64). Results: The probability of suffering an injury conditioned by ACWR or random ACWR was similar for all estimated quantiles, and the differences between them were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The ACWR ratio, using internal load monitoring, is no better than a synthetic ACWR created from a random denominator to predict the probability of injury. ACWR should not be used in isolation to analyze the causality between load and injury.
Technical Tips and Tricks after 10 Years of HyFoSy for Tubal Patency Testing
Authors: Bohîlțea Roxana-Elena , Mihai Bianca-Margareta , Stănică Cătălina-Diana , Gheorghe Consuela-Mădălina , Berceanu Costin , Dima Vlad , Bohîlțea Alexia-Teodora , Neagu Smaranda , Vlădăreanu Radu
Published: October 2022

Background: Hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy) has gained popularity in the last decades, as it represents a feasible, well-tolerated, and minimally invasive method of evaluation of tubal patency in cases of infertility. The purpose of this study was to communicate the technical tips and tricks based on our experience in performing HyFoSy, with the aim to improve the feasibility, to reduce the pain, and to evaluate pregnancy-obtaining rate after procedure. Methods: Our observational study includes 672 patients from infertile couples who underwent HyFoSy for tubal patency evaluation. During HyFoSy, tubal pathway and patency as well as the level of pain were evaluated. A telephonic questionnaire was conducted in order to assess the pregnancy obtaining rate in the first 3 months and more than 3 months after the procedure. Results: The median age in our group was 33.5 years. Most of our patients (61.16%) underwent HyFoSy in the 8–10 days of the menstrual cycle. Tubal patency was present bilaterally in 86% cases, unilaterally in 11% of patients, and was absent in 3% of cases; 75% of patients related absent or tolerable pain, 17% described HyFoSy as a painful procedure, and 8% experienced extreme pain. After HyFoSy, pregnancy was naturally obtained in 10.86% of cases within the first 3 months after HyFoSy. Conclusions: HyFoSy represents a useful, easy to use, and painless tool in female infertility evaluation and should be considered as a complementary method of the transvaginal ultrasonography, completing the genital tract imaging with information about the hidden part of the standard examination: tubal patency. HyFoSy provides information about patency, caliber regularity, pathway, and occlusion location of the fallopian tubes; therefore, it should be introduced along with transvaginal ultrasound as a first-line infertility exploration method.
Is the Precipitation of Anxiety Symptoms Associated with Bolus Doses of Flumazenil a Barrier to Its Use at Low Continuous Doses in Benzodiazepine Withdrawal?
Authors: Gallo Alexander , MacDonald Tim , Bennett Kellie , Basso-Hulse Gioiamia , Hulse Gary
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are used in the management of anxiety and sleep disorders; however, chronic use is associated with tolerance and dependence. During withdrawal, symptoms of anxiety are often severe and problematic for patients and may lead to relapse or maintenance on low doses of BZDs. Low, continuous doses of flumazenil reduce BZD withdrawal symptoms in several studies; however, bolus doses are known to induce anxiety and precipitate panic. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine whether continuous low-dose flumazenil is anxiogenic like bolus doses. Method: In a randomised control cross over design, participants received a continuous low-dose flumazenil infusion for eight days at an approximate rate of 4 mg/24 h or placebo before crossing over to the alternate study arm. Participants were able to request diazepam as needed. The primary outcome was the change in state anxiety levels. Trait anxiety was also recorded at baseline and one month after the flumazenil/placebo infusion period. Results: BZD use was significantly reduced in both groups. There were no significant differences between state anxiety and the 95% confidence interval showed no evidence of a clinically significant anxiogenic effect from low-dose flumazenil. Trait anxiety was significantly reduced one month after the infusion period. Conclusion: There is no evidence that continuous low-dose flumazenil infusion significantly increases state anxiety levels to a clinically significant level. Interestingly, flumazenil may decrease state anxiety during BZD withdrawal, unlike bolus doses of flumazenil. Flumazenil may have an anxiolytic effect on trait anxiety, which was evident one month after treatment.
Fabrication and Characterization of Hybrid Bio-Composites Using Braided Natural Fibers and Aligned Thermoplastic Filaments
Authors: Thakur Akhilesh Kumar , Schuster Jens , Shaik Yousuf Pasha
Published: October 2022

The composite group investigates endlessly the features of natural fiber/thermoplastic matrix composite materials to improve recyclability, use of renewable sources, and reduce material costs. In this context, the development and use of biodegradable polymers for composites is considered one of the important strategies for reducing environmental challenges. Here, axially oriented fibers incorporated in conforming matrices make up fiber-reinforced composites. Due to the high viscosity of molten Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), impregnating into reinforced fiber strands is challenging. So, continuous hybrid flax and hemp fibers were produced using a braiding technique by considering the fiber aspect ratio (AR). The resulting braided yarns were parallel aligned with PCL filaments before being compression molded into unidirectional composite laminates. The flax and PCL blend had better mechanical properties than the other produced composites. Temperatures for the glass transition, melting, and crystallization, were much greater than for neat PCL. However, mechanical properties were barely altered due to the ductile nature of PCL.
Influence of Hybrid Basalt Fibres’ Length on Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacted Ambient-Cured Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Heweidak Mohamed , Kafle Bidur , Al-Ameri Riyadh
Published: October 2022

Recently, short basalt fibres (BFs) have been gaining considerable attention in the building materials industry because of their excellent mechanical properties and lower production cost than their counterparts. Reinforcing geopolymer composites with small volumes of fibres has been proven an efficient technique to enhance concrete’s mechanical properties and durability. However, to date, no study has investigated the effect of basalt fibers’ various lengths and volume content on self-compacted geopolymer concrete’s fresh and mechanical properties (SCGC). SCGC is prepared by mixing fly ash, slag, and micro fly ash as the binder with a solid alkali-activator compound named anhydrous sodium metasilicate (Na₂SiO₃). In the present study, a hybrid length of long and short basalt fibres with different weight contents were investigated to reap the benefits of multi-scale characteristics of a single fibre type. A total of 10 mixtures were developed incorporating a single length and a hybrid mix of long (30) mm and short (12) mm basalt fibres, with a weight of 1%, 1.5% and 2% of the total binder content, respectively. The fresh and mechanical properties of SCGC incorporating a hybrid mix of long and short basalt fibres were compared to plain SCGC and SCGC containing a single fibres length. The results indicate that the hybridization of long and short fibres in SCGC mixture yields better mechanical properties than single-length BF-reinforced SCGC. A hybrid fibre coefficient equation will be validated against the mechanical properties results obtained from the current experimental investigation on SCGC to assess its applicability for different concrete mixes.
Interstitial Fluid Flows along Perivascular and Adventitial Clearances around Neurovascular Bundles
Authors: Kong Yiya , Yu Xiaobin , Peng Gang , Wang Fang , Yin Yajun
Published: October 2022

This study reports new phenomena of the interstitial fluid (ISF) microflow along perivascular and adventitial clearances (PAC) around neurovascular bundles. The fluorescent tracing was used to observe the ISF flow along the PAC of neurovascular bundles in 8–10 week old BALB/c mice. The new results include: (1) the topologic structure of the PAC around the neurovascular bundles is revealed; (2) the heart-orientated ISF flow along the PAC is observed; (3) the double-belt ISF flow along the venous adventitial clearance of the PAC is recorded; (4) the waterfall-like ISF flow induced by the small branching vessel or torn fascia along the PAC is discovered. Based on the above new phenomena, this paper approached the following objectives: (1) the kinematic laws of the ISF flow along the PAC around neurovascular bundles are set up; (2) the applicability of the hypothesis on the PAC and its subspaces by numerical simulations are examined. The findings of this paper not only enriched the image of the ISF flow through the body but also explained the kernel structure of the ISF flow (i.e., the PAC). It helps to lay the foundation for the kinematics and dynamics of the ISF flow along the PAC around neurovascular bundles.
Important Roles and Potential Uses of Natural and Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) in Oral Diseases: Cavity, Periodontal Disease, and Thrush
Authors: Luong Albert Donald , Buzid Alyah , Luong John H. T.
Published: October 2022

Numerous epithelial cells and sometimes leukocytes release AMPs as their first line of defense. AMPs encompass cationic histatins, defensins, and cathelicidin to encounter oral pathogens with minimal resistance. However, their concentrations are significantly below the effective levels and AMPs are unstable under physiological conditions due to proteolysis, acid hydrolysis, and salt effects. In parallel to a search for more effective AMPs from natural sources, considerable efforts have focused on synthetic stable and low-cytotoxicy AMPs with significant activities against microorganisms. Using natural AMP templates, various attempts have been used to synthesize sAMPs with different charges, hydrophobicity, chain length, amino acid sequence, and amphipathicity. Thus far, sAMPs have been designed to target Streptococcus mutans and other common oral pathogens. Apart from sAMPs with antifungal activities against Candida albicans, future endeavors should focus on sAMPs with capabilities to promote remineralization and antibacterial adhesion. Delivery systems using nanomaterials and biomolecules are promising to stabilize, reduce cytotoxicity, and improve the antimicrobial activities of AMPs against oral pathogens. Nanostructured AMPs will soon become a viable alternative to antibiotics due to their antimicrobial mechanisms, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, low drug residue, and ease of synthesis and modification.
Influence of a Calcium Phosphate Coating (BONIT®) on the Proliferation and Differentiation Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stroma Cells in the Early Phase of Bone Healing
Authors: Eggert Andy , Buhren Bettina , Schrumpf Holger , Haversath Marcel , Ruppert Martin , Jäger Marcus , Krauspe Rüdiger , Zilkens Christoph
Published: October 2022

When implanting osteosynthetic materials or orthopedic implants, the surface condition plays a decisive role for mid- to long-term osseointegration. BONIT®, an electrochemically produced calcium phosphate (CaP) coating, has been used in the surface refinement of implants since 1995. More than 3.5 million coated implants have been successfully placed so far. BONIT® has thus been able to demonstrate clinical success. However, due to its surface properties and solubility, and the resulting difficulty in culturing cells, there are no in vitro studies investigating its influence at the molecular level, particularly on bone metabolism. In a first step, the cells from a total of ten donors were seeded separately on four different surfaces: 1. a pure corundum-blasted titanium surface (CELLTex®, CT), 2. CT with additional BONIT® coating (CT + B), 3. a hydroxyapatite-blasted titanium surface (DUOTex®, DT), 4. DT with additional BONIT® coating (DT + B). In a second step, the cells were grown for 48 h. The proliferation behavior and differentiation potential of hMSCs were investigated at three consecutive time points (12 h, 24 h and 48 h) by quantifying the mRNA expression of ten important differentiation markers using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We were able to show that BONIT® has an influence on the early proliferation and differentiation behavior of hMSCs in patients of all age groups. The additional BONIT® coating on CELLTex® or DUOTex® led to a defined mRNA expression pattern for the investigated factors: a tendency towards a higher expression rate with coating present could be found for bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OC), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). A similar or lower expression rate was detected for runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), alpha-1 type I collagen (COL1A1), alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteonectin (ON) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF1). We have developed a new method that allows the cultivation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) on the soluble coating BONIT® for gene expression analysis. BONIT® has a significant influence on the proliferation and differentiation behavior of human mesenchymal stroma cells. This study describes a defined gene expression pattern of bone metabolism that may help to understand the influence of this CaP coating on the early phase of implant osseointegration.
Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Modern Universal-Chromatic and Bulk-Fill Resin-Based Composites Developed to Simplify Dental Restorative Procedures
Authors: Ilie Nicoleta , Moldovan Marioara , Ionescu Andrei C.
Published: October 2022

One of the recent trends in the development of resin-based composites (RBCs) focuses on universal coloring to avoid time-consuming color matching and RBC layering for a clinically appropriate esthetic impact. We evaluated an experimental material for posterior restorations combining universal coloring with the possibility of bulk-fill placement. Clinically established materials were analyzed as a reference, including a bulk-fill and a universal chromatic RBC. Microstructural features were described using scanning electron microscopy and related to macroscopic and microscopic mechanical behavior. Standards to be met before market launch were supplemented by fractography, Weibull analysis, and aging behavior assessment. Quasi-static and viscoelastic behavior were evaluated on a microscopic scale, incorporating a large number of parameters and increasingly aggressive immersion media. All materials complied with the standard requirements even after aging. The latter had little impact on the measured parameters, except for strength. Strength, modulus of elasticity, and hardness parameters on the one hand and damping behavior on the other were mutually exclusive. Despite considerable differences in the microstructure and type of filler, an increased filler amount remained critical for better mechanical properties. The lower proportion of inorganic fillers was directly transferred to the elastic modulus values, which, in turn, restricts the experimental material in its clinical applications to smaller occlusal fillings.
Characteristics and Surface Serviceability for Cryogenic Milling Mg-1.6Ca-2.0Zn Medical Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Guo Xuan , Liu Guodong , Sang Shunheng , Lin Qichao , Qiao Yang
Published: October 2022

Magnesium alloy has great potential as a new medical metal material because of its good biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, because of the active chemical properties of magnesium alloy, it is easy to react with oxygen and cutting fluid to release hydrogen. In this paper, by cutting magnesium alloys prepared under different cooling conditions, the phase composition of the machined surface was studied. Tensile strength and elongation were studied through tensile experiments at different temperatures. The effect of cryogenic milling on the service performance of a magnesium alloy machined surface was studied by the friction and wear test and electrochemical corrosion test. The results show that cryogenic milling contributes to the formation of the second phase of magnesium alloy, which has the effect of corrosion resistance, and has better tensile strength and elongation. Through the friction and wear test, it is found that the average friction coefficient decreases by about 7.4%, and the wear amount decreases by about 10% in the liquid nitrogen cooling environment. Through the electrochemical corrosion test, it was found that the oxide film formed in the liquid nitrogen cooling environment was more compact and uniform, and the crystal refinement of the surface layer was better.
Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles in the SiO2-P2O5-CaO-MO (M=Mg, Zn) System: Synthesis and Properties
Authors: Damian-Buda Andrada-Ioana , Ghițulică Cristina-Daniela , Cucuruz Andreia , Voicu Georgeta , Culita Daniela , Fruth-Oprișan Victor , Ciocan Lucian Toma
Published: October 2022

Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) are widely recognized for their ability to bond to hard tissue, while the ions released from the BG structure enhance specific cellular pathways. In this study, the SiO2-P2O5-CaO-MgO-ZnO system was used to successfully synthesize MBGNs by a microemulsion-assisted sol-gel method. The MBGNs calcinated at 600 °C/3 h had a typical phosphosilicate structure together with a poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp). The addition of ZnO not only led to a higher degree of crystallinity of HAp but also induced a higher porosity of the particles. All MBGNs had a mesoporous structure with an interconnected network of slit shape pores. For each type of composition, two families of highly dispersed spherical nanoparticles could be identified. In vitro tests in simulated body fluid (SBF) proved that after only 3 days of immersion all the materials were covered with a layer of brushite whose degree of crystallinity decreases in the presence of Zn2+. The antibacterial assay revealed a strong inhibitory effect for all samples after 40 h of contact. Simultaneously, MBGNs did not increase the intracellular oxidative stress while it stimulated the cell proliferation process.
Impact of Distance and Proficiency on Shooting Kinematics in Professional Male Basketball Players
Authors: Cabarkapa Dimitrije , Cabarkapa Damjana V. , Philipp Nicolas M. , Eserhaut Drake A. , Downey Gabriel G. , Fry Andrew C.
Published: October 2022

Shooting efficiency is one of the key performance parameters related to securing the desired game outcome at various levels of basketball competition, and it is largely influenced by the biomechanical adjustments incorporated during the preparatory and release phase of the shooting motion. Thus, the purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to examine the differences in the kinematic characteristics between free-throw, two-point, and three-point shots, and (b) to examine the differences between shooters with excellent (≥80%) and good (<80%) levels of shooting proficiency. A total of 10 professional male basketball players performed 5 free-throw (4.57 m), two-point (5.18 m), and three-point (6.75 m) shots, combining for a total of 150 shots. A high-definition camera recording at 120 fps was used to capture the shooting motion from a sagittal point of view, and video analysis software was used to analyze the kinematic variables of interest. The findings of the present study reveal that the kinematic characteristics during the preparatory phase of the shooting motion remain unchanged between free-throw and two-point shots. Three-point shots required lower elbow positioning, influenced by greater knee and hip flexion when compared to free-throw and two-point shots. The release angle was notably lower for shots attempted beyond the three-point line but remained unchanged between the free-throw and two-point shooting motions. Release height and vertical displacement were significantly greater for two- and three-point shots when compared to free-throw shots, while no difference was observed between the two- and three-point shots. In addition, no significant differences in shooting kinematics were observed between those participants with excellent and good levels of shooting proficiency.
Relationship between Dynamic and Isometric Strength, Power, Speed, and Average Propulsive Speed of Recreational Athletes
Authors: Ferná Ortega Jairo Alejandro , Mendoza Romero Dario , Sarmento Hugo , Prieto Mondragón Laura , Rodríguez Buitrago Jeansy Alonso
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the type of relationship between measures of maximal force (dynamic and isometric), maximal power, and mean propulsive velocity. In total, 355 recreational athletes, 96 women (age 20.5 ± 2.5 years; height 158.2 ± 17.3 cm; weight 61.8 ± 48.4 kg) and 259 men (age 21.0 ± 2.6 years; height 170.5 ± 12.6 cm; weight 65.9 ± 9.2 kg) were evaluated in three sessions separated by 72 h each in isometric midthigh pull exercise (ISOS) (kg), bench press maximum strength (1RM MSBP) (kg), jump height (CMJ) (m), and maximum pedaling power (WT) the maximum squat strength (1RM MSS) (kg), the mean propulsive velocity in the bench press (MPVBP) (m·s−1), and the peak power (PPBP) (w), mean propulsive squat velocity (MPVS) (m·s−1), peak power (PP) (w), maximum handgrip force (ISOHG) (kg), and 30 m movement speed (V30) (s). Significant correlations (p ≤ 0.01) were identified between 95% of the various manifestations of force, and only 5% presented a significance of p ≤ 0.05; however, when the magnitude of these correlations is observed, there is great heterogeneity. In this sense, the dynamic strength tests present the best correlations with the other strength and power tests used in the present study, followed by PPBP and PP. The results of this study complement what is reported in the literature regarding the correlation between different types of force manifestations being heterogeneous and contradictory.
Effects of Artificially Induced Breast Augmentation on the Electromyographic Activity of Neck and Trunk Muscles during Common Daily Movements
Authors: Kateina Christina , Mandalidis Dimitris
Published: October 2022

A female breast can be a potential source of musculoskeletal problems, especially if it is disproportionately large. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of artificially induced breast volume on the EMG activity of neck and trunk musculature during common everyday movements. The EMG activity of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), the upper trapezius (UT), and the thoracic and lumbar erector spinae (TES, LES) were recorded during 45° trunk inclination from the upright standing and sitting postures (TIST45°, TISI45°) as well as during stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand (STSI, SIST) in 24 healthy females with minimal and ideal breast volume (M-NBV, I-NBV). All movements were performed before and after increasing M-NBV and I-NBV by 1.5-, 3.0-, 4.5-, and 6-times using silicone-gel implants. Significantly higher EMG activity for TES and LES were found at 6.0- and ≥4.5-times increase the I-NBV, respectively, compared to smaller breast volumes during TIST45°. EMG activity of UT was higher, and TES was lower in M-NBV females compared to I-NBV females in all movements but were significantly different only during SIST. The female breast can affect the activity of neck and trunk muscles only when its volume increases above a certain limit, potentially contributing to muscle dysfunction.
Beyond Mechanical Tension: A Review of Resistance Exercise-Induced Lactate Responses & Muscle Hypertrophy
Authors: Lawson Daniel , Vann Christopher , Schoenfeld Brad J. , Haun Cody
Published: October 2022

The present review aims to explore and discuss recent research relating to the lactate response to resistance training and the potential mechanisms by which lactate may contribute to skeletal muscle hypertrophy or help to prevent muscle atrophy. First, we will discuss foundational information pertaining to lactate including metabolism, measurement, shuttling, and potential (although seemingly elusive) mechanisms for hypertrophy. We will then provide a brief analysis of resistance training protocols and the associated lactate response. Lastly, we will discuss potential shortcomings, resistance training considerations, and future research directions regarding lactate’s role as a potential anabolic agent for skeletal muscle hypertrophy.
Immediate Effects of the Reverse Plank Exercise on Muscle Thickness and Postural Angle in Individuals with the Forward Shoulder Posture
Authors: Koo Dong-Kyun , Nam Seung-Min , Kwon Jung-Won
Published: October 2022

The forward shoulder posture (FSP) results from shoulders being pulled forward by shortened anterior shoulder girdle muscles. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term effectiveness of the reverse plank exercise on parascapular muscle thickness and forward shoulder angle (FSA) in patients with FSP. Participants were divided into the FSP and non-FSP (NFSP) groups based on the observed angle between the horizontal line of the C7 spinous process and the acromion process. All participants performed a total of five sets of reverse plank exercises at 30 s per set. FSA and muscle thickness of the pectoralis major (PM), serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and lower trapezius (LT) were measured before and after the reverse plank exercise. The muscle thicknesses of the SA and LT, and the FSA, were significantly increased after exercise in the FSP group (p < 0.05). Muscle thickness of the PM and UT significantly decreased after the exercise. In the NFSP group, muscle thickness of the LT was significantly increased, and muscle thickness of the PM and UT were significantly reduced after exercise (p < 0.05). Upon using between-group analysis, there were significant differences between the FSA, SA, UT, and LT groups (p < 0.05). The reverse plank exercise has the short-term benefit of correcting and preventing FSP by increasing SA and LT thickness while decreasing PM and UT thickness. We believe that the reverse plank exercise significantly improved the ability to prevent FSP in FSP-related muscles and was beneficial in achieving optimal postural alignment.
The Effectiveness of a CrossFit Training Program for Improving Physical Fitness of Young Judokas: A Pilot Study
Authors: Avetisyan Arman V. , Chatinyan Ashot A. , Streetman Aspen E. , Heinrich Katie M.
Published: October 2022

The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a CrossFit-based training program to enhance the general and sport-specific physical fitness of 10–12-year-old judokas. The study was conducted between September 2021 and February 2022. The pedagogical research experiment was designed to be one complete, annual macrocycle (September–June). The current study presents mid-point data. Twenty male participants (3 years average sports experience; age = 11 ± 0.64 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: CrossFit-based training (experimental, n = 10) and traditional training (control, n = 10). Baseline testing was conducted by the researcher and included tests for motor skills and general physical fitness domains including Sweden wall pull-ups and leg raises, push-ups, long jump, squats, burpees, shuttle run, and forward rolls. Judo-specific tests included O Soto Gari and O Goshi throws. CrossFit-based training was implemented twice per week for 15–20 min in the experimental group after usual training. The control group completed traditional methods of physical fitness training for judokas with the same training load regarding time. Experimental group participants significantly improved on leg raises (p < 0.01), push-ups (p < 0.05), and shuttle run (p < 0.001); the control group improved their shuttle run (p < 0.001). Only the experimental group improved on the O Soto Gari (p < 0.01) and O Goshi throws (p < 0.05). Results showed that the use of CrossFit-based trainings had a positive effect on 10–12-year-old judokas’ speed-strength abilities, speed-strength endurance, and muscular strength.
Colorizing the Past: Deep Learning for the Automatic Colorization of Historical Aerial Images
Authors: Farella Elisa Mariarosaria , Malek Salim , Remondino Fabio
Published: October 2022

The colorization of grayscale images can, nowadays, take advantage of recent progress and the automation of deep-learning techniques. From the media industry to medical or geospatial applications, image colorization is an attractive and investigated image processing practice, and it is also helpful for revitalizing historical photographs. After exploring some of the existing fully automatic learning methods, the article presents a new neural network architecture, Hyper-U-NET, which combines a U-NET-like architecture and HyperConnections to handle the colorization of historical black and white aerial images. The training dataset (about 10,000 colored aerial image patches) and the realized neural network are available on our GitHub page to boost further research investigations in this field.
X23D—Intraoperative 3D Lumbar Spine Shape Reconstruction Based on Sparse Multi-View X-ray Data
Authors: Jecklin Sascha , Jancik Carla , Farshad Mazda , Fürnstahl Philipp , Esfandiari Hooman
Published: October 2022

Visual assessment based on intraoperative 2D X-rays remains the predominant aid for intraoperative decision-making, surgical guidance, and error prevention. However, correctly assessing the 3D shape of complex anatomies, such as the spine, based on planar fluoroscopic images remains a challenge even for experienced surgeons. This work proposes a novel deep learning-based method to intraoperatively estimate the 3D shape of patients’ lumbar vertebrae directly from sparse, multi-view X-ray data. High-quality and accurate 3D reconstructions were achieved with a learned multi-view stereo machine approach capable of incorporating the X-ray calibration parameters in the neural network. This strategy allowed a priori knowledge of the spinal shape to be acquired while preserving patient specificity and achieving a higher accuracy compared to the state of the art. Our method was trained and evaluated on 17,420 fluoroscopy images that were digitally reconstructed from the public CTSpine1K dataset. As evaluated by unseen data, we achieved an 88% average F1 score and a 71% surface score. Furthermore, by utilizing the calibration parameters of the input X-rays, our method outperformed a counterpart method in the state of the art by 22% in terms of surface score. This increase in accuracy opens new possibilities for surgical navigation and intraoperative decision-making solely based on intraoperative data, especially in surgical applications where the acquisition of 3D image data is not part of the standard clinical workflow.
An Augmented Reality-Based Interaction Scheme for Robotic Pedicle Screw Placement
Authors: Vörös Viktor , Li Ruixuan , Davoodi Ayoob , Wybaillie Gauthier , Vander Poorten Emmanuel , Niu Kenan
Published: October 2022

Robot-assisted surgery is becoming popular in the operation room (OR) for, e.g., orthopedic surgery (among other surgeries). However, robotic executions related to surgical steps cannot simply rely on preoperative plans. Using pedicle screw placement as an example, extra adjustments are needed to adapt to the intraoperative changes when the preoperative planning is outdated. During surgery, adjusting a surgical plan is non-trivial and typically rather complex since the available interfaces used in current robotic systems are not always intuitive to use. Recently, thanks to technical advancements in head-mounted displays (HMD), augmented reality (AR)-based medical applications are emerging in the OR. The rendered virtual objects can be overlapped with real-world physical objects to offer intuitive displays of the surgical sites and anatomy. Moreover, the potential of combining AR with robotics is even more promising; however, it has not been fully exploited. In this paper, an innovative AR-based robotic approach is proposed and its technical feasibility in simulated pedicle screw placement is demonstrated. An approach for spatial calibration between the robot and HoloLens 2 without using an external 3D tracking system is proposed. The developed system offers an intuitive AR–robot interaction approach between the surgeon and the surgical robot by projecting the current surgical plan to the surgeon for fine-tuning and transferring the updated surgical plan immediately back to the robot side for execution. A series of bench-top experiments were conducted to evaluate system accuracy and human-related errors. A mean calibration error of 3.61 mm was found. The overall target pose error was 3.05 mm in translation and 1.12∘ in orientation. The average execution time for defining a target entry point intraoperatively was 26.56 s. This work offers an intuitive AR-based robotic approach, which could facilitate robotic technology in the OR and boost synergy between AR and robots for other medical applications.
Attention Guided Feature Encoding for Scene Text Recognition
Authors: Hassan Ehtesham , V. L. Lekshmi
Published: October 2022

The real-life scene images exhibit a range of variations in text appearances, including complex shapes, variations in sizes, and fancy font properties. Consequently, text recognition from scene images remains a challenging problem in computer vision research. We present a scene text recognition methodology by designing a novel feature-enhanced convolutional recurrent neural network architecture. Our work addresses scene text recognition as well as sequence-to-sequence modeling, where a novel deep encoder–decoder network is proposed. The encoder in the proposed network is designed around a hierarchy of convolutional blocks enabled with spatial attention blocks, followed by bidirectional long short-term memory layers. In contrast to existing methods for scene text recognition, which incorporate temporal attention on the decoder side of the entire architecture, our convolutional architecture incorporates novel spatial attention design to guide feature extraction onto textual details in scene text images. The experiments and analysis demonstrate that our approach learns robust text-specific feature sequences for input images, as the convolution architecture designed for feature extraction is tuned to capture a broader spatial text context. With extensive experiments on ICDAR2013, ICDAR2015, IIIT5K and SVT datasets, the paper demonstrates an improvement over many important state-of-the-art methods.
A Hypothetical Modelling and Experimental Design for Measuring Foraging Strategies of Animals
Authors: Chen Ray-Ming
Published: October 2022

Based on animal long-term and short-term memory radial foraging techniques (or LMRFT and SMRFT), we devise a modelling approach that could capture the foraging behaviours of animals. In this modelling, LMRFT-based optimal foraging paths and SMRFT-based ones are constructed with respect to different levels of foraging strategies. Then, by a devised structural metric, we calculate the structural distance between these modelled optimal paths and the hypothetical real foraging paths taken by agents. We sample 20 foods positions via a chosen bivariate normal distribution for three agents. Then, we calculate their Euclidean distance matrix and their ranked matrix. Using LMRFT-based or SMRFT-based optimal foraging strategies, the optimal foraging paths are created. Then, foraging strategies are identified using optimal parameter learning techniques. Our results, based on the simulated foraging data, show that LMRFT-based foraging strategies for agent 1,2 and 3 are 3, 2 and 5, i.e., agent 3 is the most intelligent one among the three in terms of radial level. However, from the SMRFT-based perspective of strategies, their optimal foraging strategies are 5,5 and 2, respectively, i.e., agent 1 is as intelligent as agent 2 and both of them have better SMRFT-based foraging strategies than agent 3.
Mathematical and Negative Information Are Similarly Processed: Pupil Dilation as an Indicator
Authors: Layzer Yavin Lilach , Shechter Adi , Rubinsten Orly
Published: October 2022

Background: Emotional perception of math-related information can affect an individual’s attitude and professional choices, especially in the area of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions. Method: The study compared the processing of math-related words, words with negative emotional valence, and words with neutral valence, using the physiological measure of pupil dilation on a random sample of 30 adults. Pupil responses were examined during a lexical decision task (LDT). We sought to show that exposure to math-related stimuli would cause arousal of the sympathetic system leading to an increase in pupil dilation, similar to that caused by exposure to negative stimuli. Results: pupillary responses were sensitive to words with emotional valence; exposure to math-related words led to increased pupil dilation compared to neutral words; exposure to words with negative valence led to increased pupil dilation compared to neutral words; exposure to math-related words and words with negative valence led to similar pupil dilation. The study concludes math-related textual stimuli lead to increased pupil dilation, similar to negative affective valence textual stimuli. Conclusion: These findings create new possibilities for studying the cognitive and emotional effort required to process math-related information using pupillary response, with implications for researchers, educators, and leaders in the field.
Accepting the Challenge: Helping Schools Get Smarter about Supporting Students’ Creative Collaboration and Communication in a Changing World
Authors: Beghetto Ronald A. , Madison Ed
Published: October 2022

Although the purpose of schools can be (and has been) debated, one common goal that most people agree upon is that schools can and should play a role in preparing young people for the complexities of the future. This goal is somewhat paradoxical in that the future is unknown. So how might schools prepare young people for the unknowable? The prototypical response has been to design learning experiences based on what is already known in the hope that the knowledge, skills, and experiences in school will be durable enough to equip students for navigating the complexities of the problems they will encounter in the future. Consequently, most of what students learn in schools is predetermined. Although we recognize that some of these experiences can be beneficial for helping students in the future, we assert in this concept paper that schools can (and need to) get smarter about the kinds of educational experiences that students engage with if we are to prepare them for addressing the uncertainty of complex problems that they face now and into the future. More specifically, we open this concept paper by briefly discussing the prototypical curricular experience that schools provide young people and how these experiences sometimes fall short in providing students with the opportunities, experience, and confidence necessary to creatively engage with, resolve, and communicate about their experiences addressing complex problems. We then introduce a collaborative creative curricular experience called Journalistic Legacy Challenges (JLC). JLCs can support students in learning how to identify, address, document and communicate about complex problems that can make a difference in their communities and in their own and others’ lives. The experiences offered by JLCs differ from prototypical learning experiences because they require young people to identify problems that matter to them, collaborate with skilled others to address those problems, develop their creative confidence, and learn how to use journalistic learning to document and communicate about their work to broader audiences.
Multi-Objective Resource Scheduling for IoT Systems Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Shresthamali Shaswot , Kondo Masaaki , Nakamura Hiroshi
Published: October 2022

IoT embedded systems have multiple objectives that need to be maximized simultaneously. These objectives conflict with each other due to limited resources and tradeoffs that need to be made. This requires multi-objective optimization (MOO) and multiple Pareto-optimal solutions are possible. In such a case, tradeoffs are made w.r.t. a user-defined preference. This work presents a general Multi-objective Reinforcement Learning (MORL) framework for MOO of IoT embedded systems. This framework comprises a general Multi-objective Markov Decision Process (MOMDP) formulation and two novel low-compute MORL algorithms. The algorithms learn policies to tradeoff between multiple objectives using a single preference parameter. We take the energy scheduling problem in general Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensor Nodes (EHWSNs) as a case example in which a sensor node is required to maximize its sensing rate, and transmission performance as well as ensure long-term uninterrupted operation within a very tight energy budget. We simulate single-task and dual-task EHWSN systems to evaluate our framework. The results demonstrate that our MORL algorithms can learn better policies at lower learning costs and successfully tradeoff between multiple objectives at runtime.
Boosting Productivity of Laser Powder Bed Fusion for AlSi10Mg
Authors: Defanti Silvio , Cappelletti Camilla , Gatto Andrea , Tognoli Emanuele , Fabbri Fabrizio
Published: October 2022

The Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) process is recognized for high-end industrial applications due to its ability to produce parts with high geometric complexity. If lightweighting is one of the main strengths of L-PBF, a weakness is still the trade-off between high mechanical properties and competitive productivity. This objective can be targeted through a fine tuning of the process parameters within the manufacturing window. The paper pursues the combined optimization of part quality and process productivity for AlSi10Mg by going beyond the commonly used approach based solely on volumetric energy density. The effects of hatch distance and scan speed on the two targets were analyzed in detail. The best results were achieved by the adoption of a high scan speed and a low hatch distance, with notably different outcomes for nearly the same energy density.