bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-Life Utilization of Criteria Guidelines for Diagnosis of Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS)
Authors: Gazitt Tal , Kharouf Fadi , Feld Joy , Haddad Amir , Hijazi Nizar , Kibari Adi , Fuks Alexander , Sabo Edmond , Mor Maya , Peleg Hagit , Asleh Rabea , Zisman Devy
Published: August 2023

Despite the increasing recognition of cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis, the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) remains challenging. Our aim is to present a comprehensive, retrospective case series of CS patients, focusing on the current diagnostic guidelines and management of this life-threatening condition. In our case series, patient data were collected retrospectively, including hospital admission records and rheumatology and cardiology clinic visit notes, detailing demographic, clinical, laboratory, pathology, and imaging studies, as well as cardiac devices and prescribed medications. Cases were divided into definite and probable CS based on the 2014 Heart Rhythm Society guidelines as well as presumed CS based on imaging criteria and clinical findings. Overall, 19 CS patients were included, 17 of whom were diagnosed with probable or presumed CS based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and/or cardiac positron emission tomography using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (PET-FDG) without supporting endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). The majority of CS patients were male (53%), with a mean age of 52.9 ± 11.8, with CS being the initial manifestation of sarcoidosis in 63% of cases. Most patients presented with high-grade AVB (63%), followed by heart failure (42%) and ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) (26%). This case series highlights the significance of utilizing updated diagnostic criteria relying on CMR and PET-FDG given that cardiac involvement can be the initial manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent morbidity and mortality.
Risk of Ischemic Stroke Associated with Calcium Supplements and Interaction with Oral Bisphosphonates: A Nested Case-Control Study
Authors: Barreira-Hernández Diana , Rodríguez-Martín Sara , Gil Miguel , Mazzucchelli Ramón , Izquierdo-Esteban Laura , García-Lledó Alberto , Pérez-Gómez Ana , Rodríguez-Miguel Antonio , de Abajo Francisco J.
Published: August 2023

Conflicting results about the association of calcium supplements (CS) with ischemic stroke (IS) have been reported. We tested this hypothesis by differentiating between CS alone (CaM) and CS with vitamin D (CaD) and between cardioembolic and non-cardioembolic IS. We examined the potential interaction with oral bisphosphonates (oBs). A nested case-control study was carried out. We identified incident IS cases aged 40–90 and randomly sampled five controls per case matched by age, sex, and index date. Current users were compared to non-users. An adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% CI were computed through conditional logistic regression. Only new users were considered. We included 13,267 cases (4400 cardioembolic, 8867 non-cardioembolic) and 61,378 controls (20,147 and 41,231, respectively). CaM use was associated with an increased risk of cardioembolic IS (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.21–2.90) in a duration-dependent manner, while it showed no association with non-cardioembolic IS (AOR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.74–1.50); its combination with oBs increased the risk of cardioembolic IS considerably (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.28–5.04), showing no effect on non-cardioembolic. CaD use was not associated with either cardioembolic (AOR = 1.08; 95% CI: 0.88–1.31) or non-cardioembolic IS (AOR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.84–1.13) but showed a small association with cardioembolic IS when combined with oBs (AOR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.03–1.76). The results support the hypothesis that CS increases the risk of cardioembolic IS, primarily when used concomitantly with oBs.
CoP/EEBP/N-FLGS Nanocomposite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media
Authors: Kochergin Valerii K. , Kotkin Alexander S. , Manzhos Roman A. , Krivenko Alexander G. , Khodos Igor I. , Kabachkov Eugene N.
Published: August 2023

The search for new hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts with lower cost and higher activity and stability than noble metal catalysts is essential. In this regard cobalt phosphide is considered one of the most promising nanomaterials. The present work proposes a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of a nanocomposite of graphene–phosphorene structures decorated with CoP nanoparticles 2–5 nm in size via the electrochemical exfoliation of black phosphorus carried out in the presence of nitrogen-doped few-layer graphene structures and followed by solvothermal synthesis in a Co2+-containing solution. The obtained CoP/EEBP/N-FLGS nanocomposite demonstrates high electrocatalytic activity and stability towards HER in an alkaline medium. The nanocomposite is characterized by an overpotential of 190 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 as well as a small Tafel slope (78 mV dec−1). These characteristics make the CoP/EEBP/N-FLGS nanocomposite superior to most electrocatalysts based on cobalt phosphides. The results of this study could be in demand for the future design and improvement of HER electrocatalysts.
An Overview of Magnesium-Phosphate-Based Cements as Bone Repair Materials
Authors: Gelli Rita , Ridi Francesca
Published: August 2023

In the search for effective biomaterials for bone repair, magnesium phosphate cements (MPCs) are nowadays gaining importance as bone void fillers thanks to their many attractive features that overcome some of the limitations of the well-investigated calcium-phosphate-based cements. The goal of this review was to highlight the main properties and applications of MPCs in the orthopedic field, focusing on the different types of formulations that have been described in the literature, their main features, and the in vivo and in vitro response towards them. The presented results will be useful to showcase the potential of MPCs in the orthopedic field and will suggest novel strategies to further boost their clinical application.
A Mixed-Methods Study of Women’s Empowerment through Physical Activities: Relationships with Self-Efficacy and Physical Activity Levels
Authors: Streetman Aspen E. , Lister Madiera M. , Brown Averie , Brin Halle N. , Heinrich Katie M.
Published: August 2023

Participation in empowering physical activities may increase self-efficacy and facilitate long-term engagement. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the relationship between physical activity empowerment, exercise self-efficacy, and engagement. Midwestern women (N = 147) aged 18–65, 90% white, completed an online cross-sectional survey that captured exercise engagement and self-efficacy for exercise. Participants entered up to five types of physical activities and ranked them from most to least empowering. Physical activities were coded by training type for statistical comparisons using independent t-tests. After survey completion, seventeen women completed a 30 min, 8-question semi-structured interview. Women ranked resistance training as the most empowering physical activity type (38%), followed by running (14%). Total and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and self-efficacy for exercise scores did not vary between women empowered by cardiorespiratory or resistance training (i.e., total physical activity t(136) = 1.13, p = 0.11; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity t(136) = 2.42, p = 0.06; and self-efficacy for exercise t(136) = 0.66, p = 0.07). Themes identified from the interviews included: (1) women’s physical activity participation barriers are gender-centric, (2) physical activity participation benefits extend beyond physical health, (3) some exercise types are more empowering than others, and (4) empowerment and enjoyment are closely related. Exploring empowerment in exercise may reveal mechanisms to facilitate exercise self-efficacy and engagement in physical activity.
Estimating the Multidimensional Generalized Graded Unfolding Model with Covariates Using a Bayesian Approach
Authors: Tu Naidan , Zhang Bo , Angrave Lawrence , Sun Tianjun , Neuman Mathew
Published: August 2023

Noncognitive constructs are commonly assessed in educational and organizational research. They are often measured by summing scores across items, which implicitly assumes a dominance item response process. However, research has shown that the unfolding response process may better characterize how people respond to noncognitive items. The Generalized Graded Unfolding Model (GGUM) representing the unfolding response process has therefore become increasingly popular. However, the current implementation of the GGUM is limited to unidimensional cases, while most noncognitive constructs are multidimensional. Fitting a unidimensional GGUM separately for each dimension and ignoring the multidimensional nature of noncognitive data may result in suboptimal parameter estimation. Recently, an R package bmggum was developed that enables the estimation of the Multidimensional Generalized Graded Unfolding Model (MGGUM) with covariates using a Bayesian algorithm. However, no simulation evidence is available to support the accuracy of the Bayesian algorithm implemented in bmggum. In this research, two simulation studies were conducted to examine the performance of bmggum. Results showed that bmggum can estimate MGGUM parameters accurately, and that multidimensional estimation and incorporating relevant covariates into the estimation process improved estimation accuracy. The effectiveness of two Bayesian model selection indices, WAIC and LOO, were also investigated and found to be satisfactory for model selection. Empirical data were used to demonstrate the use of bmggum and its performance was compared with three other GGUM software programs: GGUM2004, GGUM, and mirt.
Quorum Sensing: Unravelling the Intricacies of Microbial Communication for Biofilm Formation, Biogeochemical Cycling, and Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Israel Edamkue , Ramganesh Selvarajan , Abia Akebe Luther King , Chikere Chioma Blaise
Published: August 2023

The marine environment possesses diverse and complex characteristics, representing a significant challenge for microbial survival. Therefore, bacteria must develop adaptive mechanisms to thrive in such environments. Quorum sensing (QS), a well-established phenomenon in microorganisms, involves the communication between cells through chemical signals, which is dependent on cell density. Extensive research has been conducted on this microbial ability, encompassing the early stages of understanding QS to the latest advancements in the identification and characterization of its mechanisms. This minireview comprehensively examines the role of QS in various aspects, including biofilm formation, virulence in pathogenic bacteria, such as Vibrio spp. And Pseudomonas spp., as well as its influence on biogeochemical cycling in deep-sea environments. Furthermore, future progress in the field will be achieved by combining state-of-the-art methods for observing QS in the deep sea with a deeper understanding of the underlying processes, which will facilitate the engineering of microorganisms for improved degradation of persistent environmental pollutants and other biotechnological applications.
Enhancement of Cruise Boat Resilience to Strong Convective Gusts with Global Model Cumulus Variable Prediction
Authors: Jian Jun , Chen Jinhai , Webster Peter J.
Published: August 2023

Ship pilots and maritime safety administration have an urgent need for more accurate and earlier warnings for strong wind gusts. This study firstly investigated the “Oriental Star” cruise ship capsizing event in 2015, one of the deadliest shipwreck events in recent years, and explored all related hydro-meteorological components in a global mesoscale model. It was found that rather than the missing signal in raw surface-wind prediction, the cumulus precipitation variable (CP) increased dramatically during the accident occurrence, which significantly corresponds to a sub-grid strong wind gust. The effective lead time could be extended from 24 h (deterministic model) to 48 h (ensemble model). This finding was then verified in another two recent deadly cruise boat accidents. The introduction of the new variable aims to improve the current maritime safeguard system in predicting sub-grid strong wind gusts for small-sized cruise boats offshore and in inland rivers. Finally, an automatic response system was developed to provide economical convection prediction via INMARSAT email communication, aiming to explore operational severe convective gust early warning and appropriate numerical mesoscale model applications.
FEM-SPH Numerical Simulation of Impact Loading on Floating Laminates
Authors: Pavlović Ana , Minak Giangiacomo
Published: August 2023

The study of dynamic events such as impact and hydroelastic slamming is of great importance in determining the structural integrity of naval or maritime structures, particularly those made of composite materials. This topic has been investigated by numerous researchers using analytical, experimental, and numerical approaches. In this study, we propose using a hybrid numerical model combining smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and the finite element method (FEM) to investigate the impact of external objects on floating laminates. The results show a good agreement with the available experimental data regarding the impact dynamic and some limitations in the damage determination.
The Development of the Optimal Harvesting Model of an Offshore Fishery Supply Chain Based on a Single Vessel
Authors: Yang Ming-Feng , Kao Sheng-Long , Sujanto Raditia Yudistira
Published: August 2023

This study delves into the offshore fishing industry in Taiwan, emphasizing the significance of the aquatic product market, supply chain development, and the maturity of cold chain technology. Taiwan’s geographical advantage of being surrounded by the sea provides a thriving environment for marine resources and migratory fish. This study is motivated by the increasing demand for diverse fish products, driven by the growing need for high-quality protein. Recognizing the importance of meeting this demand, this study aims to investigate the capacity of logistics systems and cold storage in the offshore fishery industry, particularly under conditions of uncertainty. To tackle the optimization challenges prevalent in the offshore fishery supply chain, this study employs the bat algorithm (BA), a metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the remarkable echolocation behavior of bats. Additionally, a systematic literature review methodology is utilized to gather relevant articles and establish a comprehensive understanding of the study domain. This study culminates in proposing an optimized fishing model for the offshore fishery supply chain, highlighting the significance of evaluating supply chain value from a management perspective and identifying existing deficiencies and bottlenecks in current research. By focusing on optimizing the offshore fishery supply chain, this study aims to enhance the industry’s efficiency and effectiveness, providing valuable insights and recommendations to improve the capacity of logistics systems and cold storage. Furthermore, this study presents the results of the BA, showcasing its effectiveness in approaching optimization challenges, thereby validating its utility for the offshore fishery industry. Sensitivity analysis reveals the potential for higher profits by raising the inventory limit of the manufacturer, enabling the supplier to provide materials to more profitable trading partners. While this study is based on a revenue and cost model, it acknowledges that the objectives and constraints would become more complex in varying logistic system circumstances. The future study aims to expand the scale of the model and incorporate practical cases to further enhance its applicability.
Pathogenicity, Mycotoxin Production, and Control of Potato Dry Rot Caused by Fusarium spp.: A Review
Authors: Xue Huali , Liu Qili , Yang Zhimin
Published: August 2023

Fusarium dry rot is one of the major potato diseases during storage after harvest, which not only results in quality degradation but also causes great economic losses. The disease can be elicited by some species of Fusarium, and the pathogenic fungi of Fusarium causing potato dry rot are considerably diverse in various countries and regions. The disease caused by Fusarium spp. is associated with mycotoxins accumulation, which has phytotoxic and mycotoxic effects on humans and animals. Chemical synthetic fungicide is considered the main control measure for the Fusarium dry rot of potato; nevertheless, it is unfortunate that persistent application inevitably results in the emergency of a resistant strain and environmental contamination. A comprehensive disease control strategy includes potato cultivar selection, appropriate cultural practices (crop rotation, cultivate pattern, fertilization, and irrigation), harvesting processes and postharvest treatments (harvesting, classification, packaging, wound healing), and storage conditions (environmental disinfection, temperature, humidity and gas composition) along with the application of fungicide pre-harvest or post-harvest. Recently, emerging studies have indicated that eco-friendly strategies include physical control, chemical methods (such as the application of generally-recognised-as-safe (GRAS) compounds or chemical (elicitors) and biological control have been introduced to combat the Fusarium dry rot of potato.
A New Technique for the Extraction of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungal Spores from Rhizosphere
Authors: Boyno Gökhan , Demir Semra , Rezaee Danesh Younes , Durak Emre Demirer , Çevik Rojbin , Farda Beatrice , Djebaili Rihab , Pellegrini Marika
Published: August 2023

Monitoring the dynamics of the spore bank of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is essential for the sustainable management and protection of agroecosystems. The most common method for extracting AMF spores from soil is the wet-sieving technique (WST). However, this method has many disadvantages. In this study, we modified the WST using new approaches: the ultrasound wet-sieving technique (UWST) and the ultrasound centrifuge technique (UCT). We enumerated and compared the numbers and quality of spores obtained from WST, UWST, and UCT to validate the new modified techniques. We extracted AMF spores from the rhizospheres of different plants, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), pepper (Piper nigrum L.), parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.), and turfgrass (Lolium perenne L.) collected from the Van Lake basin, Turkey. The highest and lowest AMF spore numbers were observed in wheat and turfgrass rhizospheres. The UCT allowed for the extraction of the highest number of spores from all rhizospheres, followed by the UWST and WST. The UWST and WST allowed for the extraction of similar spore numbers from wheat, pepper, parsley, and turfgrass rhizospheres. Beyond the high extracted spore number, UCT was shown to be a fast and low-material-consuming approach. These findings demonstrate that the UCT can be used to efficiently extract AMF spores in future research.
Trehalase Inhibitor Validamycin May Have Additional Mechanisms of Toxicology against Rhizoctonia cerealis
Authors: Yang Xiaoyue , Shu Yan , Cao Shulin , Sun Haiyan , Zhang Xin , Zhang Aixiang , Li Yan , Ma Dongfang , Chen Huaigu , Li Wei
Published: August 2023

Sharp eyespot is a crucial disease affecting cereal plants, such as bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), and is primarily caused by the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia cerealis. As disease severity has increased, it has become imperative to find an effective and reasonable control strategy. One such strategy is the use of the trehalose analog, validamycin, which has been shown to have a potent inhibitory effect on several trehalases found in both insects and fungi, and is widely used as a fungicide in agriculture. In this study, we demonstrated that 0.5 μg/mL validamycin on PDA plates had an inhibitory effect on R. cerealis strain R0301, but had no significant impact on Fusarium graminearum strain PH-1. Except for its inhibiting the trehalase activity of pathogenic fungi, little is known about its mechanism of action. Six trehalase genes were identified in the genome of R. cerealis, including one neutral trehalase and five acidic trehalase genes. Enzyme activity assays indicated that treatment with 5 μg/mL validamycin significantly reduces trehalase activity, providing evidence that validamycin treatment does indeed affect trehalase, even though the expression levels of most trehalase genes, except Rc17406, were not obviously affected. Transcriptome analysis revealed that treatment with validamycin downregulated genes involved in metabolic processes, ribosome biogenesis, and pathogenicity in the R. cerealis. KEGG pathway analysis further showed that validamycin affected genes related to the MAPK signaling pathway, with a significant decrease in ribosome synthesis and assembly. In conclusion, our results indicated that validamycin not only inhibits trehalose activity, but also affects the ribosome synthesis and MAPK pathways of R. cerealis, leading to the suppression of fungal growth and pesticidal effects. This study provides novel insights into the mechanism of action of validamycin.
Increased Conidia Production and Germination In Vitro Correlate with Virulence Enhancement in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum
Authors: Uddin Md. Jamal , Huang Xiaoqing , Lu Xiaohong , Li Shidong
Published: August 2023

Cucumber plants commonly suffer from Fusarium wilt disease, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (Foc). Although resistant cultivars assist with Fusarium wilt disease control, enhancement of the virulence of Foc has been identified after monoculture of wilt-resistant cultivars. To investigate the biological characteristics that contribute to the virulence evolution of Foc, a wildtype strain foc-3b (WT) and its virulence-enhanced variant Ra-4 (InVir) were compared in terms of their growth, reproduction, stress tolerance, and colonization in cucumber plants. The InVir strain showed similar culture characteristics on PDA media to the WT strain but produced significantly more conidia (>two fold), with a distinctly higher germination rate (>four fold) than the WT strain. The colony diameter of the InVir strain increased faster than the WT strain on PDA plates; however, the mycelia dry weight of the InVir was significantly lower (<70%) than that of the WT harvested from PDB. The InVir strain exhibited a significant increase in tolerance to osmolality (1 M NaCl, 1 M KCl, etc.). The GFP-labeled InVir strain propagated in the cucumber vascular faster than the WT strain. These results suggest that increased conidia production and germination in vitro may correlate with virulence enhancement in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. This study will provide an insight into its virulence evolution and help us understand the mechanisms underlying the evolutionary biology of F. oxysporum.
In Planta Study Localizes an Effector Candidate from Austropuccinia psidii Strain MF-1 to the Nucleus and Demonstrates In Vitro Cuticular Wax-Dependent Differential Expression
Authors: Hayashibara Carolina Alessandra de Almeida , Lopes Mariana da Silva , Tobias Peri A. , Santos Isaneli Batista dos , Figueredo Everthon Fernandes , Ferrarezi Jessica Aparecida , Marques João Paulo Rodrigues , Marcon Joelma , Park Robert F. , Teixeira Paulo José Pereira Lima , Quecine Maria Carolina
Published: August 2023

Austropuccinia psidii is a biotrophic fungus that causes myrtle rust. First described in Brazil, it has since spread to become a globally important pathogen that infects more than 480 myrtaceous species. One of the most important commercial crops affected by A. psidii is eucalypt, a widely grown forestry tree. The A. psidii–Eucalyptus spp. interaction is poorly understood, but pathogenesis is likely driven by pathogen-secreted effector molecules. Here, we identified and characterized a total of 255 virulence effector candidates using a genome assembly of A. psidii strain MF-1, which was recovered from Eucalyptus grandis in Brazil. We show that the expression of seven effector candidate genes is modulated by cell wax from leaves sourced from resistant and susceptible hosts. Two effector candidates with different subcellular localization predictions, and with specific gene expression profiles, were transiently expressed with GFP-fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Interestingly, we observed the accumulation of an effector candidate, Ap28303, which was upregulated under cell wax from rust susceptible E. grandis and described as a peptidase inhibitor I9 domain-containing protein in the nucleus. This was in accordance with in silico analyses. Few studies have characterized nuclear effectors. Our findings open new perspectives on the study of A. psidii–Eucalyptus interactions by providing a potential entry point to understand how the pathogen manipulates its hosts in modulating physiology, structure, or function with effector proteins.
Ferric Carboxymaltose in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Iron Deficiency: A Real-Life Study
Authors: Capone Federico , Cipriani Alberto , Molinari Leonardo , Noale Marianna , Gusella Beatrice , Lucente Fabrizio , Savino Sandro , Bertomoro Antonella , Saller Alois , Giannini Sandro , Vettor Roberto
Published: August 2023

Background: The correction of iron deficiency (ID) with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is a recommended intervention in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. Our aim is to evaluate, in a real-life setting, the clinical significance of ID screening and FCM treatment in acute decompensated HF (ADHF). Methods: In a cohort of ADHF patients, the prevalence of ID and FCM administration were investigated. Among the 104 patients admitted for ADHF, in n = 90 (median age 84, 53.5% with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction—LVEF), a complete iron status evaluation was obtained. ID was detected in n = 73 (81.1%), 55 of whom were treated with in-hospital FCM. The target dose was reached in n = 13. Results: No significant differences were detected in terms of age, sex, comorbidities, or LVEF between the FCM-supplemented and -unsupplemented patients. During a median follow-up of 427 days (IQR 405–466) among the FCM-supplemented patients, only 14.5% received FCM after discharge; the mortality and rehospitalizations among FCM-supplemented and -unsupplemented patients were similar (p = ns). In a follow-up evaluation, ID was still present in 75.0% of the FCM-supplemented patients and in 69.2% of the unsupplemented patients (p = ns). Conclusions: In this real-life ADHF cohort, FCM was administered at lower-than-prescribed doses, thus having no impact on ID correction. The significance of our findings is that only achieving the target dose of FCM and pursuing outpatient treatment can correct ID and produce long-term clinical benefits.
The CBCT Retrospective Study on Underwood Septa and Their Related Factors in Maxillary Sinuses—A Proposal of Classification
Authors: Nelke Kamil , Diakowska Dorota , Morawska-Kochman Monika , Janeczek Maciej , Pasicka Edyta , Łukaszewski Marceli , Żak Krzysztof , Nienartowicz Jan , Dobrzyński Maciej
Published: August 2023

Introduction. The presence of bone septum in the maxillary sinus is one of the most common anatomical findings. So-called Underwood septa (US) are an atypical bone formation in the maxillary sinuses. Mostly they are quite easily found in CBCT studies and have major importance in sinus lift procedures in dental surgery. Furthermore, the shape, location, and size of the bony septa are important in each maxillary sinus surgery. Material and methods. A retrospective study of 120CBCT scans from the authors’ own database was conducted. Results. Approximately 37.5% of each CBCT was associated with the occurrence of US, while just 25% had a full septum, and a total of only 14 patients had a half septa. More females have US, while healthy pneumatized maxillary sinus is most commonly found (82.22%). There is no correlation between the occurrence of silent sinus syndrome (p = 0.174), mucosal thickening (p = 0.325), or retention cyst formation (p = 0.272). Most sinuses are without any opacification in CBCT evaluation (91.11%), while other syndromes are not statistically relevant. Conclusions. It seems that the occurrence of Underwood septa is not statistically related to any clinical, radiological, or pathological condition within the sinus (p > 0.05). Furthermore, a more full or partial appearance of US was found in female patients.
Integration of Digital Technologies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activities: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Atanasov Atanas , Chipriyanova Galina , Krasteva-Hristova Radosveta
Published: August 2023

Modern technologies require the need to analyze the opportunities for improving the integration of digital technologies in CSR activities in the context of added values between business and science in perspective, including the future digital society. The main goal of this article is to identify the current state of research on the integration of digital technologies in CSR activities in business, as well as to prepare recommendations for further research and practice. Additionally, the study aims to recognize the relationship and dependencies between CSR and digital technologies. A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of 129 scientific articles published between 2014 to 2023 was performed. The bibliometric analysis was organized in two directions: descriptive and performance analysis, through which we can study the contribution of the analyzed objects to the given scientific area, and science mapping, which studies the relationships among them. The results indicate that companies more frequently use artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things and other technologies to increase the efficiency and impact of their CSR activities. In addition, this research reveals the basis of bringing forward the new trends for future publications, which shall upgrade and enrich the theory and practice.
Development of a Backtesting Web Application for the Definition of Investment Strategies
Authors: Sarasa-Cabezuelo Antonio
Published: August 2023

Backtesting represents a set of techniques that aim to evaluate trading strategies on historical data in order to verify their effectiveness before applying them to a market in real time. This requires processing large amounts of data from different periods and applying different simulation techniques to them. In general, these types of tools are not very popular for reasons such as the amount of data that must be evaluated and maintained, the computational resources that are required, and the need to have a deep conceptual understanding of these techniques in order to use them. This article presents a web application that implements a set of backtesting functionalities that allow evaluating different trading strategies, managing portfolios, representing the results of simulations, and optimizing a stock portfolio, all from an intuitive and visual interface that makes these techniques accessible to new investors in this field.
Integrating Cadastral Data with Seismic Risk Data in an Online Building Database for the Historical Centre of Bucharest City
Authors: Grădinaru Anca Patricia , Badea Ana-Cornelia , Dragomir Petre Iuliu , Badea Gheorghe
Published: August 2023

The Historical Centre of Bucharest City is a highly populated area and a popular tourist attraction, known for its old buildings, some of which were built before the year 1900 and were severely damaged by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in 1977. Seismic risk available data consist of lists published by the Municipal Administration for the Consolidation of Buildings with Seismic Risk, and include various information about the buildings for which technical expertise was conducted. Available cadastral data can provide additional information about the buildings, including the buildings’ location and area. In this article, we aim to integrate the available cadastral data with seismic risk data in an online building database for the Historical Centre of Bucharest City. Such a database can be used for further 3D city modelling, which can be helpful in disaster management and emergency situations response planning. Previous initiatives in this regard did not provide precise geospatial data or important attributes regarding the situation of these buildings. It is vital to take into account the official data related to the property, mentioned in the National Land Registry.
The Non-Linear Relationship between the Number of Permanent Residents and the Willingness of Rural Residential Land Transfer: The Threshold Effect of per Capita Net Income
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Xue Kai , Cao Huimin , Hu Yingen
Published: August 2023

Promoting the transfer of rural residential land is paramount in enhancing the efficiency of its utilization. The willingness of farmers to transfer rural residential land is influenced by the number of permanent residents. Existing research has drawn different conclusions about the relationship between these two factors, but the differences have not been analyzed. This study is based on survey data collected from our field research in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, and utilizes the Probit model and threshold effect model to investigate the role of per capita net income in the relationship between the number of permanent residents and the willingness to transfer rural residential land. The results indicate: (1) There is a non-linear impact of the number of permanent residents on the willingness of farmers who are willing to live in rural areas to transfer to their rural residential land with an income threshold. There is a non-linear impact of the number of permanent residents on the willingness of farmers who are willing to live in city areas to transfer out of their rural residential land, with two income thresholds. By comparing with the actual situation, the size and order of the thresholds are scientifically established. (2) The transfer of rural residential land can serve as a supplementary solution to individual household applications for rural residential land, addressing China’s historical legacy issues concerning rural residential land. Considering these findings, policymakers should first actively promote the reform of the rural residential land system while ensuring safeguards for farmers and then work to increase the value of rural residential land. Additionally, they should implement differentiated policies to promote rural residential land transfer. This study can provide a valuable reference for effectively revitalizing idle rural residential land.
Perceptual Discrimination of Phonemic Contrasts in Quebec French: Exposure to Quebec French Does Not Improve Perception in Hexagonal French Native Speakers Living in Quebec
Authors: Kunkel Scott , Passoni Elisa , de Leeuw Esther
Published: August 2023

In Quebec French, /a ~ ɑ/ and /ε ~ aε/ are phonemic, whereas in Hexagonal French, these vowels are merged to /a/ and /ε/, respectively. We tested the effects of extended exposure to Quebec French (QF) as a second dialect (D2) on Hexagonal French (HF) speakers’ abilities to perceive these contrasts. Three groups of listeners were recruited: (1) non-mobile HF speakers born and living in France (HF group); (2) non-mobile QF speakers born and living in Quebec (QF group); and mobile HF speakers having moved from France to Quebec (HF>QF group). To determine any fine-grained effects of second dialect (D2) exposure on the perception of vowel contrasts, participants completed a same–different discrimination task in which they listened to stimuli paired at different levels of acoustic similarity. As expected, QF listeners showed a significant advantage over the HF group in discriminating between /a ~ ɑ/ and /ε ~ aε/ pairs, thus suggesting an own-dialect advantage in perceptual discrimination. Interestingly, this own-dialect advantage appeared to be greater for the /ε ~ aε/ contrast. The QF listeners also showed an advantage over the HF>QF group, and, surprisingly, this advantage was greater than over the HF group. In other words, the results suggested that the acquisition of a second dialect did not enhance the abilities of listeners to perceive differences between phonemic contrasts in that D2. If anything, the acquisition of the D2 disadvantaged the perceptual abilities of the HF>QF group. This might be because these phonemes have, over time, become less acoustically marked for the HF>QF participants and have, potentially, become integrated into their D1 phonemic categories.
Book Review: Traugott (2022). Discourse Structuring Markers in English. A Historical Constructionalist Perspective on Pragmatics. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins. ISBN: 978-90-272-1091-3
Authors: Xu Mengmin , Li Fuyin
Published: August 2023

The cognitive-constructionist approach to language has significantly gained prominence, with recent developments expanding its exploration into language change [...]
Extracellular Vesicles as Surrogates for Drug Metabolism and Clearance: Promise vs. Reality
Authors: Gagliardi Anna , Bajraktari-Sylejmani Gzona , Barocelli Elisabetta , Weiss Johanna , Rigalli Juan Pablo
Published: August 2023

Drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and transporters play a major role in drug efficacy and safety. They are regulated at multiple levels and by multiple factors. Estimating their expression and activity could contribute to predicting drug pharmacokinetics and their regulation by drugs or pathophysiological situations. Determining the expression of these proteins in the liver, intestine, and kidney requires the collection of biopsy specimens. Instead, the isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are nanovesicles released by most cells and present in biological fluids, could deliver this information in a less invasive way. In this article, we review the use of EVs as surrogates for the expression and activity of DMEs, uptake, and efflux transporters. Preliminary evidence has been provided for a correlation between the expression of some enzymes and transporters in EVs and the tissue of origin. In some cases, data obtained in EVs reflect the induction of phase I-DMEs in the tissues. Further studies are required to elucidate to what extent the regulation of other DMEs and transporters in the tissues reflects in the EV cargo. If an association between tissues and their EVs is firmly established, EVs may represent a significant advancement toward precision therapy based on the biotransformation and excretion capacity of each individual.
Influence of an Oxygen-Free Atmosphere on Process Forces and Workpiece Quality during the Surface Grinding of Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Denkena Berend , Bergmann Benjamin , Hansen Nils , Lang Roman
Published: August 2023

Most manufacturing processes, such as grinding, are usually conducted in a standard air atmosphere. The oxygen within this atmosphere leads to oxidation effects on tools and workpieces when machining metal components. This is primarily a factor in the processing of titanium due to its high affinity for oxygen. The oxidation of the surface increases tool wear and reduces surface quality. Hence, this paper investigates the influence of the atmosphere on process forces and workpiece quality when grinding titanium (Ti6Al4V) with metal-bonded diamond grinding tools. To generate oxygen-free conditions in production processes, a novel approach allows an atmosphere with a very low oxygen partial pressure. Using a silane gas, which reacts with oxygen, the oxygen partial pressure, pO2, can be reduced below 10−12 mbar, equal to the oxygen partial pressure in an extremely high vacuum (XHV). The results show a significant influence of the atmosphere on the process forces. When grinding in XHV-adequate conditions, the grinding forces are reduced by 16% in the tangential direction and 50% in the normal direction on average, while the quality of the ground titanium surfaces is consistent (both atmospheres: Rz = 13–21 µm). Phase analysis via XRD revealed a distinct amount of titanium nitride (TiN) on the ground surfaces independently of the atmospheric conditions.
Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Structures with Magnetic Method and ACO (Amplitude-Correlation-Offset) Decomposition
Authors: Frankowski Paweł Karol , Chady Tomasz
Published: August 2023

The magnetic method is one of the very few nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques that provide the possibility to conduct area tests of reinforced concrete (RC) structures in a fast, cheap, and straightforward way. This paper aims to present a new approach to the simultaneous identification of rebars’ diameter, alloy class, and thickness of the concrete cover tested with this method. Since rebars from different manufacturers may have different electromagnetic properties (standardization only for mechanical properties), preparing an effective and universal database is impossible. In this work, ACO decomposition is proposed, a new attributes extraction method designed to identify object parameters, even if it is impossible to collect a suitable training database (by pattern recognition and analysis of the deviation). Conducted tests prove that the ACO method enables accurate reflection of the waveform shape and limitation of attributes number to three or fewer (avoiding the curse of dimensionality). These properties, combined with the ability to analyze spatial components of magnetic induction (which only magnetic sensors provide), make the complex task of identification of three parameters more straightforward and the separation between the results received for different classes larger. This article presents the measurement results and the whole identification process.
Synthesis, Properties and Adsorption Kinetic Study of New Cross-Linked Composite Materials Based on Polyethylene Glycol Polyrotaxane and Polyisoprene/Semi-Rotaxane
Authors: Resmerita Ana-Maria , Bargan Alexandra , Cojocaru Corneliu , Farcas Aurica
Published: August 2023

New composite materials were prepared via cross-linking of polyethylene glycol/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins polyrotaxane (PEG/HPβCD) and polyisoprene/HPβCD semi-polyrotaxane (PI/HPβCD SR) with 1,6-hexamethylene diizocyanate (HMDI). Advanced instrumental methods (such WAXS (wide angle X-ray scattering), AFM (atomic force microscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and thermal and dynamic vapor sorption) were employed for the structural, morphological and thermal characterization of the resulting composite materials. The roughness parameters calculated using AFM indicate a smoother surface for the composite material with 10 wt% of PI/HPβCD SR, denoting that a homogeneous film was obtained. SEM analysis reveals porous morphologies for both composite materials and the pore sizes increase with the increasing concentration of PI/HPβCD SR in the matrix. Dynamic vapor sorption/desorption measurements and type IV isotherms confirmed the hydrophilic and porous materials, which are in agreement with SEM analysis. The composite with a higher PI/HPβCD SR concentration in the matrix showed increased thermal stability than that of the pure cross-linked material. This material was further tested as a sorbent for methylene blue (MB) dye removal from an aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of the composite film was found to be 2.58 mg g−1 at 25 °C.
Analysis of Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Ball Burnishing Process on the Tribological Behavior of AISI 316L Cylindrical Specimens
Authors: Velázquez-Corral Eric , Wagner Vincent , Jerez-Mesa Ramón , Lluma Jordi , Travieso-Rodriguez J. Antonio , Dessein Gilles
Published: August 2023

In this study, we analyzed the effects of vibration assistance, combined with a ball burnishing process, in terms of topology, residual stresses, and tribological properties on 316L shafts. The burnishing variables consisted of the variation of the input force, the number of passes, and the activation of the vibration assistance, which is based on a 40 kHz frequency and 8 μm of vibration amplitude, derived in a screening design of three factors. The results show that the medium–high level of burnishing force, high level of the number of passes, and the activation of the vibration assistance are the best options in order to improve the average roughness, the microstructure, the increase in the compressive residual stresses, and the wear enhancement, besides all variables being significant in the p-value analysis through ANOVA. Statistically, the vibration-assisted ball burnishing improved the average roughness by 2.9%, enlarged the von Mises stress on the surface by 11.5% and enhanced the wear resistance of a 316L shaft and WC-Co ball contact up to 7.3%.
Literature Review on the Utilization of Rice Husks: Focus on Application of Materials for Digital Fabrication
Authors: Morimoto Kohei , Tsuda Kazutoshi , Mizuno Daijiro
Published: August 2023

To achieve a sustainable society, it is important to use biological resources effectively to the extent that they are renewable. Rice husk, which is abundantly produced in various regions, is a useful biomass resource. To promote their use further, it is important to expand the fields in which they are used. Therefore, this study reviews the research on rice-husk-based materials that can be used in digital fabrication, such as those used with 3D printers and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. After outlining the characteristics of each machining method, the authors surveyed and analyzed the original research on rice-husk-based materials for 3D printers and particleboard available in digital fabrication machines for 2D machining. This review identifies issues and proposes solutions for expanding the use of rice-husk-based materials. It also indicates the need for further research on various aspects, such as the workability and maintainability of the equipment.
Material Classification and Aging Time Prediction of Structural Metals Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Combined with Probabilistic Neural Network
Authors: Wang Qian , Li Guowen , Hang Yuhua , Chen Silei , Qiu Yan , Zhao Wanmeng
Published: August 2023

In this paper, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with a probabilistic neural network (PNN) was applied to classify engineering structural metal samples (valve stem, welding material, and base metal). Additionally, utilizing data from the plasma emission spectrum generated by laser ablation of samples with different aging times, an aging time prediction model based on a firefly optimized probabilistic neural network (FA-PNN) was established, which can effectively evaluate the service performance of structural materials. The problem of insufficient features obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) for predicting the aging time of materials is addressed by the proposal of a time-frequency feature extraction method based on short-time Fourier transform (STFT). The classification accuracy (ACC) of time-frequency features and principal component features was compared under PNN. The results indicate that, in comparison to the PCA feature extraction approach, the time-frequency feature extraction method based on STFT demonstrates higher accuracy in predicting the time of aging materials. Then, the relationship between classification accuracy (ACC) and settings of PNN was discussed. The ACC of the PNN model for both the material classification test set and the aging time test set achieved 100% with Firefly (FA) optimization algorithms. This result was also compared with the ACC of ANN, KNN, PLS-DA, and SIMCA for the aging time test set (95%, 87.5%, 85%, and 62.5%, respectively). The experimental results demonstrated that the classification model using LIBS combined with FA-PNN could realize better classification accuracy.