bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient Power and Empowerment: Mitigating Elements of Valuable Patient Participation in Healthcare Collaboratives
Authors: Minheere Anja , Lambrechts Wim , Mampaey Jelle , Stough Talia , Caniëls Marjolein C. J. , Semeijn Janjaap
Published: April 2023

During the last decade, the public healthcare sector has had to deal with increased competition, a growing influence of patient associations, and a necessity to deliver health services more efficiently and effectively. Despite recognising the patient participant’s role as a critical stakeholder in value creation, there is a limited body of research on the influence and power of patient participants. This article focuses on regional health improvement collaboratives that aim to develop coordinated, multi-stakeholder solutions to their healthcare cost and quality problems. They meet regularly and include health professionals, health insurance providers, and patient participants. In this article, we explore the relationships between these stakeholders and patient participants’ interpersonal dimensions regarding empowerment and valuable collaboration. Data were collected through stakeholder observations during meetings of three regional health improvement collaboratives, as well as through semi-structured interviews with the patient participants involved in these cases. Results show that patient participants can be empowered on a personal level. However, this does not imply that patient participants are empowered within the group dynamics. Interpersonal relationships constitute a crucial hidden aspect of building trust. More dialogue and inquiry are needed to examine how patient engagement is enacted and positioned within healthcare collaboratives.
Digital Transformation in the Chinese Construction Industry: Status, Barriers, and Impact
Authors: Zhang Na , Ye Jinglei , Zhong Yi , Chen Zhiqian
Published: April 2023

Digital transformation is the direction that the Chinese construction industry is moving toward. This paper aims to investigate its current status, major barriers, and potential impact. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire survey was carried out. The results show that 80% of enterprises where the industry experts work have already formulated digital transformation plans or made plans. Additionally, BIM software was the most commonly used digital technology. Furthermore, “Data Fragmentation”, “Lack of Core Technology”, “Weak Digital Infrastructure Allocation”, “Lack of Technical Personnel”, and “Lack of Technical Standards” were prominent barriers. Moreover, digital transformation was perceived to affect the procurement management mostly at a project level, and to affect the governance performance mostly at an enterprise level. These findings can provide scholars and practitioners with an in-depth understanding of digital transformation in the Chinese construction industry. They might also help policymakers formulate appropriate policies to promote digital transformation.
Experimental Research on the Mechanical Properties of MURSP-Type Steel-Concrete Composite Beams in Negative-Moment Region
Authors: Bu Jianqing , Cao Wenlong , Wang Xueyan , Zhang Lianpeng
Published: April 2023

To verify the effectiveness of uplift-restricted and slip-permitted (URSP) connectors in alleviating crack formation in the negative-moment region of steel-concrete composite beams (SCCBs) and improve the engineering adaptability of URSP connectors, this paper proposes a modified uplift-restricted and slip-permitted (MURSP) connector. Static load tests and theoretical analysis were conducted on two overhanging beams with MURSP connectors and ordinary studs to analyze the influence of different stud forms on the deflection, crack, and slip of SCCBs in the negative-moment region. Finally, a nonlinear finite element modeling method for MURSP-type steel-concrete composite beams was developed, and a finite element model was established. The results showed that the use of MURSP connectors could effectively alleviate the concrete cracking problem in the negative-moment zone of SCCBs. Compared with the common stud SCCB, the crack load of the MURSP-type SCCB was higher, the maximum crack width was lower, and the crack distribution was more uniform; however, the overall flexural stiffness of the overhanging beam with MURSP connectors was reduced by 3.08%. The interface slip of the overhanging beam with the MURSP connectors increased suddenly in the initial stage of loading, whereas the increase was more gradual in the later stage. The SCCB model established in this study was in good agreement with the results of experimental beams. The finite element analysis results showed that the ordinary stud and MURSP connector exhibited different stress and deformation states in the negative-moment region of SCCBs, and the deformation states changed from bending type to shear type.
Optimising Design Parameters of a Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Double-Skin Facade in Different Climate Zones in Australia
Authors: Yang Siliang , Fiorito Francesco , Sproul Alistair , Prasad Deo
Published: April 2023

Energy used in buildings is mainly attributed to provide the desired thermal comfort, which could result in an increase in carbon emission and, in turn, lead to further environmental degradation. A Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Double-Skin Façade (BIPV-DSF) is a promising way to maintain indoor thermal comfort, obtained with low environmental impact and energy consumption. The appropriate design of BIPV-DSFs can maximise indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency for buildings. This paper presents optimal BIPV-DSF design solutions, which are dedicated to offering comfortable and energy-efficient buildings, through optimisation of the most important design parameters of a BIPV-DSF under three different climate conditions in Australia. The results illustrate how thermal transmittance (U-value) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of windows of the BIPV-DSF, as the most important design parameters, were optimised for application in the context of different climates, operation modes, and orientations. The paper contributes to the matters concerning the integrated effect of BIPV-DSFs on thermal comfort and energy performance in buildings.
Lung Adenocarcinoma Diagnosed at a Younger Age Is Associated with Advanced Stage, Female Sex, and Ever-Smoker Status, in Patients Treated with Lung Resection
Authors: Dragani Tommaso A. , Muley Thomas , Schneider Marc A. , Kobinger Sonja , Eichhorn Martin , Winter Hauke , Hoffmann Hans , Kriegsmann Mark , Noci Sara , Incarbone Matteo , Tosi Davide , Franzi Sara , Colombo Francesca
Published: April 2023

To date, the factors which affect the age at diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma are not fully understood. In our study, we examined the relationships of age at diagnosis with smoking, pathological stage, sex, and year of diagnosis in a discovery (n = 1694) and validation (n = 1384) series of lung adenocarcinoma patients who had undergone pulmonary resection at hospitals in the Milan area and at Thoraxklinik (Heidelberg), respectively. In the discovery series, younger age at diagnosis was associated with ever-smoker status (OR = 1.5, p = 0.0035) and advanced stage (taking stage I as reference: stage III OR = 1.4, p = 0.0067; stage IV OR = 1.7, p = 0.0080), whereas older age at diagnosis was associated with male sex (OR = 0.57, p < 0.001). Analysis in the validation series confirmed the ever versus never smokers’ association (OR = 2.9, p < 0.001), the association with highest stages (stage III versus stage I OR = 1.4, p = 0.0066; stage IV versus stage I OR = 2.0, p = 0.0022), and the male versus female sex association (OR = 0.78, p = 0.032). These data suggest the role of smoking in affecting the natural history of the disease. Moreover, aggressive tumours seem to have shorter latency from initiation to clinical detection. Finally, younger age at diagnosis is associated with the female sex, suggesting that hormonal status of young women confers risk to develop lung adenocarcinoma. Overall, this study provided novel findings on the mechanisms underlying age at diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
Cross-Dataset Single-Cell Analysis Identifies Temporal Alterations in Cell Populations of Primary Pancreatic Tumor and Liver Metastasis
Authors: Yang Daowei , Moniruzzaman Rohan , Wang Hua , Wang Huamin , Chen Yang
Published: April 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a unique tumor microenvironment composed of various cell populations such as cancer cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, and endothelial cells. Recently, single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq) has systemically revealed the genomic profiles of these cell populations in PDAC. However, the direct comparison of cell population composition and genomic profile between primary tumors (at both early- and late-stage) and metastatic tumors of PDAC is still lacking. In this study, we combined and analyzed recent scRNA-seq datasets of transgenic KPC mouse models with autochthonous PDAC and matched liver metastasis, revealing the unique tumor ecosystem and cell composition of liver metastasis in contrast to primary PDAC. Metastatic PDAC tumors harbor distinct cancer cell subpopulations from primary tumors. Several unique markers, including HMGA1, were identified for metastasis-enriched cancer cell subpopulations. Furthermore, metastatic tumors reveal significantly enriched granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs), mature neutrophils, and granulocyte-myeloid progenitors (GMPs). A common GMP population across primary tumors, liver metastases, and healthy bone marrow was identified as the putative cell origin of tumor-associated neutrophils/granulocytes.
Pterostilbene and Probiotic Complex in Chemoprevention of Putative Precursor Lesions for Colorectal Cancer in an Experimental Model of Intestinal Carcinogenesis with 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine
Authors: Barreira Márcio Alencar , Campelo Márcio Wilker Soares , da Silva Martins Rebouças Conceição , Duarte Antoniella Souza Gomes , Barbosa Maria Lucianny Lima , da Cruz Fonseca Said Gonçalves , Queiroz Raphaela Ribeiro , Holanda Érica Uchoa , de Vasconcelos Ana Beatriz Aragão , de Sousa Araújo Vitória Jannyne Guimarães , Diniz Gabriel Maia , Oriá Reinaldo Barreto , de Vasconcelos Paulo Roberto Leitão
Published: April 2023

Dietary supplementation with pterostilbene (PS) and/or a probiotic (PRO) may ameliorate the intestinal microbiota in disease conditions. This study aims to evaluate PS and PRO for the chemoprevention of putative precursor lesions for colorectal cancer (CRC) in an experimental model of intestinal carcinogenesis with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (1,2-DMH). Sixty male Wistar rats were equally divided into five groups: Sham, 1,2-DMH, 1,2-DMH + PS, 1,2-DMH + PRO, and 1,2-DMH + PS + PRO. PRO (5 × 107/mL) was offered in water, and PS (300 ppm) was provided in the diet ad libitum. 1,2-DMH (20 mg/kg/week) was administered for 15 consecutive weeks. In the 25th week, proctocolectomy was conducted. PRO alone and PRO combined with PS were the best intervention strategies to improve experimental 1,2-DMH-induced CRC regarding several parameters of carcinogenesis. Our findings may contribute to the development of novel preventive strategies for CRC and may help to identify novel modulators of colon carcinogenesis.
Optimization of the Geraniol Transformation Process in the Presence of Natural Mineral Diatomite as a Catalyst
Authors: Fajdek-Bieda Anna
Published: April 2023

Process optimization is increasingly finding applications in chemical engineering. The reason for this increase in applications is to create more efficient and sustainable technological processes. Thanks to innovative models, it is possible to plan an experiment in a given field of study without much complication and carry out the optimization of such a process, achieving goals in a much shorter time period. This paper describes the performance of optimization of the geraniol transformation process in the presence of a catalyst of natural origin—diatomite. Response surface methodology (RSM) was chosen as the method. For this purpose, the following parameters were used as variables: temperature (80, 110, and 150 °C), catalyst concentration (1 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt%), and reaction time (0.25 h, 12 h, and 24 h). At the same time, the functions describing the process and response functions were the conversion of geraniol (GA) as well as the selectivity of conversion to beta-pinene (BP), respectively. The obtained results made it possible to identify the optimal set of parameters at which the highest values of GA conversion and the selectivity of conversion to BP are obtained. It turned out that the GA transformation process is best carried out at 80 °C at a diatomite concentration of 1.0 wt% and a reaction time of 0.25 h.
FCC Catalyst Accessibility—A Review
Authors: Ferreira José Marcos Moreira , Sousa-Aguiar Eduardo Falabella , Aranda Donato Alexandre Gomes
Published: April 2023

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is a critical process in the petroleum-refining industry, designed to break down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable products. Fluid-cracking catalyst accessibility dramatically influences the efficiency of the FCC process. Accessibility is a catalyst feature related to the ease with which large feedstock molecules can penetrate the catalyst particle to reach the internal active sites where reactions occur—and the ease with which products desorb and leave the catalyst. Accessibility plays a vital role in the activity, selectivity, and life of the catalyst, and various techniques can be applied during the manufacturing process to accomplish its increase. This work reviews FCC catalyst accessibility, its characterization, and the ways to increase it, covering the past three decades of technical paper and patent literature. Bibliometric results of a literature search are presented, and a search strategy is described, encompassing database identification, keyword selection, refinement terms, search criteria, and result evaluation.
In Vitro Mineralisation of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Reduces Endothelial Cell Migration, Proliferation and Tube Formation
Authors: Ji Encheng , Leijsten Lieke , Witte-Bouma Janneke , Rouchon Adelin , Di Maggio Nunzia , Banfi Andrea , van Osch Gerjo J. V. M. , Farrell Eric , Lolli Andrea
Published: April 2023

Tissue engineering bone via endochondral ossification requires the generation of a cartilage template which undergoes vascularisation and remodelling. While this is a promising route for bone repair, achieving effective cartilage vascularisation remains a challenge. Here, we investigated how mineralisation of tissue-engineered cartilage affects its pro-angiogenic potential. To generate in vitro mineralised cartilage, human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC)-derived chondrogenic pellets were treated with β-glycerophosphate (BGP). After optimising this approach, we characterised the changes in matrix components and pro-angiogenic factors by gene expression analysis, histology and ELISA. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to pellet-derived conditioned media, and migration, proliferation and tube formation were assessed. We established a reliable strategy to induce in vitro cartilage mineralisation, whereby hMSC pellets are chondrogenically primed with TGF-β for 2 weeks and BGP is added from week 2 of culture. Cartilage mineralisation determines loss of glycosaminoglycans, reduced expression but not protein abundance of collagen II and X, and decreased VEGFA production. Finally, the conditioned medium from mineralised pellets showed a reduced ability to stimulate endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation. The pro-angiogenic potential of transient cartilage is thus stage-dependent, and this aspect must be carefully considered in the design of bone tissue engineering strategies.
Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Heart Disease in Children
Authors: Rao P. Syamasundar
Published: April 2023

The last five decades have witnessed an inordinate number of advances in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart defects (CHDs), as reviewed elsewhere [...]
Caries Experience in Primary and Permanent Dentition in Children Up to 15 Years of Age from Bosnia and Herzegovina—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Obradović Marija , Dolić Olivera , Milovanović Vladan , Karaman Nataša , Mišić Maja , Miljević Vesna , Matošević-Jajčanin Sanja , Sukara Slava , Kaurin Predrag , Knežević Nataša , Regoda-Šeranić Mirela , Mijatović Darija , Galić-Pejić Božana
Published: April 2023

The purpose of the study was to analyze caries experience in primary and permanent dentition in children up to 15 years of age located in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: The research was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study. Analyzes and comparisons of caries indices were performed using groups formed according to their gender (male—M and female—F) and age, i.e., the first group-children in early childhood, ≤5 years; the second group, middle childhood 6–8 years; the third group, preadolescents 9–11 years old; fourth group, adolescents 12–15 years old. Results: Overall prevalence of caries in primary dentition was 89.1%, while in permanent dentition, it was 60.7%. The overall mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth— dmft in male participants was 5.4, while in female participants, it was 5.1. By contrast, a higher overall mean DMFT was established in the female participants (2.7 vs. 3.0). Conclusions: We can see a high prevalence in all of the examined groups. In primary dentition, males examined during the course of the study had a higher overall mean dmft and the mean number of untreated decayed primary teeth, whereas females up to age 15 examined during the course of the study had more DMF teeth.
Computational Methods in the Drug Delivery of Carbon Nanocarriers onto Several Compounds in Sarraceniaceae Medicinal Plant as Monkeypox Therapy
Authors: Mollaamin Fatemeh
Published: April 2023

In this article, monkeypox is studied as a zoonotic poxvirus disease which can occur in humans and other animals due to substitution of the amino acid serine with methionine. We investigate the (+)-catechin, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and myricetin in Sarracenia purpurea drugs from Sarraceniaceae family for treating monkeypox disease. This is performed via adsorption onto the surface of (6,6) armchair single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) at the B3LYP/6-311+G (2d,p) level of theory in a water medium as the drug delivery method at 300 K. Sarracenia purpurea has attracted much attention for use in the clinical treatment of monkeypox disease due to the adsorption of its effective compounds of (+)-catechin, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and myricetin onto the surface of (6,6) armchair SWCNT, a process which introduces an efficient drug delivery system though NMR, IR and UV-VIS data analysis to the optimized structure. In addition to the lowering of the energy gap (∆E = E LUMO − EHOMO), HOMO–LUMO energy has illustrated the charge transfer interactions taking place within (+)-catechin, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and myricetin. The atomic charges have provided the proper perception of molecular theory and the energies of fundamental molecular orbitals.
Subdivision Shading for Catmull-Clark and Loop Subdivision Surfaces with Semi-Sharp Creases
Authors: Zhou Jun , Boonstra Jan , Kosinka Jiří
Published: April 2023

Coarse meshes can be recursively subdivided into denser and denser meshes by dividing their faces into several smaller faces and repositioning the vertices according to carefully designed subdivision rules. This process leads to smooth surfaces, such as in the case of Catmull-Clark or Loop subdivision, but often suffers from shading artifacts near extraordinary points due to the lower quality of the normal field there, typically corresponding to only tangent-plane (and not higher) continuity at these points. The idea of subdivision shading is to apply the same subdivision rules that are used to subdivide geometry to also subdivide the normals associated with mesh vertices. This leads to smoother normal fields, which can be used for shading purposes, and this in turn removes the shading artifacts. However, the original subdivision shading method does not support sharp and semi-sharp creases, which are desired ingredients in subdivision surface modelling. We present two approaches to extending subdivision shading to work also on models with (semi-)sharp creases, and demonstrate this in the cases of Catmull-Clark as well as Loop subdivision.
In Vitro Models for Anti-Aging Efficacy Assessment: A Critical Update in Dermocosmetic Research
Authors: Cruz Ana M. , Gonçalves Margarida C. , Marques Matilde S. , Veiga Francisco , Paiva-Santos Ana Cláudia , Pires Patrícia C.
Published: April 2023

The skin is the human body’s largest organ and serves as a crucial boundary between the body and the external environment. As a natural process, skin aging cannot be avoided, and it causes changes in the skin’s strength, structure, elasticity, and integrity. Many approaches have been developed over the years to study the skin, including in vivo and in vitro methods. Nevertheless, animal assays have ethical issues and a lack of reproducibility. Hence, in vitro skin models have been increasingly developed and used. For the assessment of the potential of the anti-aging activity of compounds of different origins, the most commonly used in vitro assays are the ones evaluating antioxidant, anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, anti-hyaluronidase, anti-tyrosinase, anti-inflammatory, antiglycation, or moisturizing activity, and the induction of skin cell proliferation/anti-senescence effects or the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase production. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most commonly used in vitro models for the evaluation of skin aging and cometic products’ anti-aging efficacy, providing a useful guide for researchers in the field. Overall, these assays provide important data on the safety and efficacy of anti-aging compounds, and a foundation for research on and the eventual introduction of formulations into the cosmetics market.
Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Annealed Ti50Ni47Fe3 Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Liu Shuwei , Li Yanfeng , Song Xiaoyun , Yu Yang , Ye Wenjun , Hui Songxiao
Published: April 2023

The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Ti50Ni47Fe3 (at. %) shape memory alloy was investigated by using a cold-rolled alloy sheet. For this purpose, a scanning electron microscope, electron backscatter diffraction, a transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, tensile tests and Vickers hardness tests were used. The evolution of the microstructures, mechanical properties and fracture morphology of Ti50Ni47Fe3 alloy was studied. The results show that the recovery occurs at an annealing temperature of 500 °C, and the recrystallization occurs at 600 °C. Because of the recrystallization at 600 °C, the <110>//RD texture disappears, and the intensity of the <111>//RD texture decreases; the alloy reaches its maximum elongation while maintaining a high strength, and at this annealing temperature, the alloy has excellent comprehensive mechanical properties. After the temperature exceeds 600 °C, the mechanical properties of the alloy decrease sharply. With the increase of the annealing temperature, the quantity and distribution of elliptical Ti2Ni-phase particles show almost no specific changes. Additionally, with the increase of annealing temperatures to 600 °C, the fracture surface of Ti50Ni47Fe3 alloys becomes flatter.
Enhancement of Intrinsic Temperature Reduction for Plasma Surface-Modified Nanoparticle-Doped Low-Density Polyethylene Films
Authors: Qiu Chenlei , Qiu Yiping , Zhang Yinjia , Cui Lina
Published: April 2023

The cooling performance of nanoparticle (NP)-doped radiative cooling materials depends on the dispersion of the NPs in the polymer matrix. However, it is a technical challenge to suppress agglomeration of NPs due to their high surface energy, resulting in poor dispersion of the NPs in the polymer matrix. In order to optimize the dispersion of zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), NPs were treated with atmospheric pressure plasmas for 30, 60 and 90 s. The ZnO NPs were dispersed in LDPE using a xylene solution method. The dispersion of the NPs was progressively improved as the plasma-treatment time increased, likely due to the roughened and perhaps also activated NP surfaces by the plasma treatment. This made the transmittances of the films decrease in the solar-radiation band and absorptivity increased monotonically in the high-energy band as the plasma-treatment time increased, while in the mid-infrared band, the films maintained a similar high transmittance to the untreated sample. The differential scanning colorimetry analysis revealed that the crystallinities of the plasma-treated NP-doped samples were similar to those of the untreated sample. The cooling-performance tests showed that the maximum temperature reductions of the films with NP plasma-treated for 0 s, 30 s, 60 s and 90 s were 6.82, 7.90, 9.34 and 10.34 °C, respectively, corresponded to the intrinsic temperature reductions of 7.27, 8.23, 10.54, and 11.40 °C, respectively, when calculated using Cui’s Model. The results of the current study show that a simple one-step atmospheric pressure plasma treatment to the ZnO NPs can indeed improve dispersion of the NPs in LDPE and lead to the greatly improved passive-cooling performance of the film.
Who Lives in the Hot Heart of the Cold Sea? A New Species of Provanna (Caenogastropoda: Provannidae) from the Hydrothermal Zone of Piip Volcano, Northwestern Pacific
Authors: Nekhaev Ivan O.
Published: April 2023

The benthic macrofauna of Arctic and subarctic seas is mainly represented by widespread species and is generally devoid of endemics. The exceptions are reduced habitats, such as cold seeps, hydrothermal areas, and wood falls, which include endemics of at least the species level. A detailed study and analysis of such endemics allows us to understand the mechanisms of colonization and to assess the age of the fauna of high-latitude marine regions. Here, the new species Provanna annae sp. nov. is described from the geothermal zone of the Piip volcano in the Bering Sea (subarctic Pacific) based on the morphological and molecular phylogenetic data. The new species appears to be the northernmost and one of the most shallow-water species among the known representatives of the family and is suggested to be endemic to the region. The new species is related to a group of Provanna species from reducing habitats off Japan. Composition of the gut content indicates that the new species bottom sediments. Bacteria are found on the gills of the mollusc and are probably symbionts that also provide nutrition. This type of mixotrophic feeding is rare in gastropods and may be a unique feature among Caenogastropoda.
What Percentage of Hairs Are Infected in Biopsies of Fungal Folliculitis?
Authors: Bourdages Sara , Berger Andrea , Hossler Eric
Published: April 2023

Fungal folliculitis (including tinea capitis and Majocchi granuloma) has a wide range of clinical presentations, and biopsy may be obtained to distinguish this from other conditions with similar presentations. The study aims to evaluate the proportion of hairs infected in biopsies of fungal folliculitis. Copath records were searched for diagnoses of fungal folliculitis, tinea capitis and Majocchi granuloma between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2020. Confirmed cases were pulled and reviewed by a dermatopathologist to count the total number of hairs on the sample and the total infected. Of 72 included cases, the median number of hair follicles per biopsy was 3 (IQR 1,4), and the median proportion of hairs infected was 54.2% (IQR 33.3%, 100.0%). Nineteen (26.4%) had only one hair included in the biopsy which was also an infected hair (100% of hairs were infected). The percentage of total hair follicles infected differed significantly depending upon location (p = 0.0443), with a smaller percentage of infected hairs in biopsies of tinea capitis. Clinicians should be cautious when using biopsy for diagnosis of fungal folliculitis, specifically, when there are few hairs in the specimen. Failure to capture infected hairs leads to false negative diagnoses.
Effectiveness of Using the FreeStyle Libre® System for Monitoring Blood Glucose during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Diabetic Individuals: Systematic Review
Authors: Jaques-Albuquerque Luelia Teles , dos Anjos-Martins Elzi , Torres-Nunes Luiza , Valério-Penha Ana Gabriellie , Coelho-Oliveira Ana Carolina , da Silva Sarandy Viviani Lopes , Reis-Silva Aline , Seixas Adérito , Bernardo-Filho Mario , Taiar Redha , de Sá-Caputo Danúbia Cunha
Published: April 2023

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an area of computer science/engineering that is aiming to spread technological systems. The COVID-19 pandemic caused economic and public health turbulence around the world. Among the many possibilities for using AI in the medical field is FreeStyle Libre® (FSL), which uses a disposable sensor inserted into the user’s arm, and a touchscreen device/reader is used to scan and retrieve other continuous monitoring of glucose (CMG) readings. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the effectiveness of FSL blood glucose monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42022340562). The inclusion criteria considered studies involving the use of the FSL device during the COVID-19 pandemic and published in English. No publication date restrictions were set. The exclusion criteria were abstracts, systematic reviews, studies with patients with other diseases, monitoring with other equipment, patients with COVID-19, and bariatrics patients. Seven databases were searched (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Scielo, PEDro and Cochrane Library). The ACROBAT-NRSI tool (A Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-Randomized Studies) was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the selected articles. Results: A total of 113 articles were found. Sixty-four were excluded because they were duplicates, 39 were excluded after reading the titles and abstracts, and twenty articles were considered for full reading. Of the 10 articles analyzed, four articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Thus, six articles were included in the current systematic review. It was observed that among the selected articles, only two were classified as having serious risk of bias. It was shown that FSL had a positive impact on glycemic control and on reducing the number of individuals with hypoglycemia. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the implementation of FSL during COVID-19 confinement in this population can be confidently stated to have been effective in diabetes mellitus patients.
Analysis of Corneal Deformation in Paediatric Patients Affected by Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young Type 2
Authors: Lanza Michele , Mozzillo Enza , Boccia Rosa , Fedi Ludovica , Di Candia Francesca , Tinto Nadia , Melillo Paolo , Simonelli Francesca , Franzese Adriana
Published: April 2023

Background: To evaluate corneal deformation in Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young type 2 (MODY2), paediatric subjects were analysed using a Scheimpflug-based device. The purpose of this analysis was to find new biomarkers for MODY2 disease and to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods: A total of 15 patients with genetic and metabolic diagnoses of MODY2 (mean age 12.8 ± 5.66 years) and 15 age-matched healthy subjects were included. The biochemical and anthropometric data of MODY2 patients were collected from clinical records, and a complete ophthalmic check with a Pentacam HR EM-3000 Specular Microscope and Corvis ST devices was performed in both groups. Results: Highest concavity (HC) deflection length, Applanation 1 (A1) deflection amplitude, and A1 deflection area showed significantly lower values in MODY2 patients compared to healthy subjects. A significant positive correlation was observed between Body Mass Index (BMI) and HC deflection area and between waist circumference (WC) and the following parameters: maximum deformation amplitude, HC deformation amplitude, and HC deflection area. The glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) showed a significant positive correlation with Applanation 2 time and HC time. Conclusions: The obtained results show, for the first time, differences regarding corneal distortion features in the MODY2 population compared with healthy eyes.
The Stability of the Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Serum and Plasma Samples under Various Preanalytical Conditions
Authors: Vrzáková Radana , Šimánek Václav , Topolčan Ondřej , Vurm Vladimír , Slouka David , Kučera Radek
Published: April 2023

The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein that plays an important role in prenatal sex differentiation. It is used as a biomarker in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnostics, as well as for estimating an individual’s ovarian reserve and the ovarian response to hormonal stimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of this study was to test the stability of AMH during various preanalytical conditions that are in accordance with the ISBER (International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories) protocol. Plasma and serum samples were taken from each of the 26 participants. The samples were then processed according to the ISBER protocol. AMH levels were measured in all the samples simultaneously using the chemiluminescent kit ACCESS AMH in a UniCel® DxI 800 Immunoassay System (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA). The study proved that AMH retains a relatively high degree of stability during repeated freezing and thawing in serum. AMH was shown to be less stable in plasma samples. Room temperature proved to be the least suitable condition for the storage of samples before performing the biomarker analysis. During the testing of storage stability at 5–7 °C, the values decreased over time for all the plasma samples but remained stable in the serum samples. We proved that AMH is highly stable under various stress conditions. The anti-Müllerian hormone retained the greatest stability in the serum samples.
Myocardial Recovery
Authors: Chrysakis Nikolaos , Xanthopoulos Andrew , Magouliotis Dimitrios , Starling Randall C. , Drakos Stavros G. , Triposkiadis Filippos , Skoularigis John
Published: April 2023

In this paper, the feasibility of myocardial recovery is analyzed through a literature review. First, the phenomena of remodeling and reverse remodeling are analyzed, approached through the physics of elastic bodies, and the terms myocardial depression and myocardial recovery are defined. Continuing, potential biochemical, molecular, and imaging markers of myocardial recovery are reviewed. Then, the work focuses on therapeutic techniques that can facilitate the reverse remodeling of the myocardium. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) systems are one of the main ways to promote cardiac recovery. The changes that take place in cardiac hypertrophy, extracellular matrix, cell populations and their structural elements, β-receptors, energetics, and several biological processes, are reviewed. The attempt to wean the patients who experienced cardiac recovery from cardiac assist device systems is also discussed. The characteristics of the patients who will benefit from LVAD are presented and the heterogeneity of the studies performed in terms of patient populations included, diagnostic tests performed, and their results are addressed. The experience with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) as another way to promote reverse remodeling is also reviewed. Myocardial recovery is a phenomenon that presents with a continuous spectrum of phenotypes. There is a need for algorithms to screen suitable patients who may benefit and identify specific ways to enhance this phenomenon in order to help combat the heart failure epidemic.
Video Capsule Endoscopy Plays an Important Role in the Management of Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Levartovsky Asaf , Eliakim Rami
Published: April 2023

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by a transmural inflammation that may involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract. An evaluation of small bowel involvement, allowing recognition of disease extent and severity, is important for disease management. Current guidelines recommend the use of capsule endoscopy (CE) as a first-line diagnosis method for suspected small bowel CD. CE has an essential role in monitoring disease activity in established CD patients, as it can assess response to treatment and identify high-risk patients for disease exacerbation and post-operative relapse. Moreover, several studies have shown that CE is the best tool to assess mucosal healing as part of the treat-to-target strategy in CD patients. The PillCam Crohn’s capsule is a novel pan-enteric capsule which enables visualization of the whole gastrointestinal tract. It is useful to monitor pan-enteric disease activity, mucosal healing and accordingly allows for the prediction of relapse and response using a single procedure. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence algorithms has showed improved accuracy rates for automatic ulcer detection and the ability to shorten reading times. In this review, we summarize the main indications and virtue for using CE for the evaluation of CD, as well as its implementation in clinical practice.
KHGCN: Knowledge-Enhanced Recommendation with Hierarchical Graph Capsule Network
Authors: Chen Fukun , Yin Guisheng , Dong Yuxin , Li Gesu , Zhang Weiqi
Published: April 2023

Knowledge graphs as external information has become one of the mainstream directions of current recommendation systems. Various knowledge-graph-representation methods have been proposed to promote the development of knowledge graphs in related fields. Knowledge-graph-embedding methods can learn entity information and complex relationships between the entities in knowledge graphs. Furthermore, recently proposed graph neural networks can learn higher-order representations of entities and relationships in knowledge graphs. Therefore, the complete presentation in the knowledge graph enriches the item information and alleviates the cold start of the recommendation process and too-sparse data. However, the knowledge graph’s entire entity and relation representation in personalized recommendation tasks will introduce unnecessary noise information for different users. To learn the entity-relationship presentation in the knowledge graph while effectively removing noise information, we innovatively propose a model named knowledge—enhanced hierarchical graph capsule network (KHGCN), which can extract node embeddings in graphs while learning the hierarchical structure of graphs. Our model eliminates noisy entities and relationship representations in the knowledge graph by the entity disentangling for the recommendation and introduces the attentive mechanism to strengthen the knowledge-graph aggregation. Our model learns the presentation of entity relationships by an original graph capsule network. The capsule neural networks represent the structured information between the entities more completely. We validate the proposed model on real-world datasets, and the validation results demonstrate the model’s effectiveness.
Ruin Analysis on a New Risk Model with Stochastic Premiums and Dependence Based on Time Series for Count Random Variables
Authors: Guan Lihong , Wang Xiaohong
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we propose a new discrete-time risk model of an insurance portfolio with stochastic premiums, in which the temporal dependence among the premium numbers of consecutive periods is fitted by the first-order integer-valued autoregressive (INAR(1)) process and the temporal dependence among the claim numbers of consecutive periods is described by the integer-valued moving average (INMA(1)) process. To measure the risk of the model quantitatively, we study the explicit expression for a function whose solution is defined as the Lundberg adjustment coefficient and give the Lundberg approximation formula for the infinite-time ruin probability. In the case of heavy-tailed claim sizes, we establish the asymptotic formula for the finite-time ruin probability via the large deviations of the aggregate claims. Two numerical examples are provided in order to illustrate our theoretical findings.
The Modes of the Poisson Distribution of Order 3 and 4
Authors: Kwon Yeil , Philippou Andreas N.
Published: April 2023

In this article, new properties of the Poisson distribution of order k with parameter λ are found. Based on them, the modes of the Poisson distributions of order k=3 and 4 are derived for λ in (0,1). They are 0, 3, 5, and 0, 4, 7, 8, respectively, for λ in specified subintervals of (0, 1). In addition, using Mathematica, computational results for the modes of the Poisson distributions of order k=2,3, and 4 are presented for λ in specified subintervals of (0,2).
Continuous Adaptive Finite-Time Sliding Mode Control for Fractional-Order Buck Converter Based on Riemann-Liouville Definition
Authors: Cai Zhongze , Zeng Qingshuang
Published: April 2023

This study proposes a continuous adaptive finite-time fractional-order sliding mode control method for fractional-order Buck converters. In order to establish a more accurate model, a fractional-order model based on the Riemann-Liouville (R-L) definition of the Buck converter is developed, which takes into account the non-integer order characteristics of electronic components. The R-L definition is found to be more effective in describing the Buck converter than the Caputo definition. To deal with parameter uncertainties and external disturbances, the proposed approach combines these factors as lumped matched disturbances and mismatched disturbances. Unlike previous literature that assumes a known upper bound of disturbances, adaptive algorithms are developed to estimate and compensate for unknown bounded disturbances in this paper. A continuous finite-time sliding mode controller is then developed using a backstepping method to achieve a chattering-free response and ensure a finite-time convergence. The convergence time for the sliding mode reaching phase and sliding mode phase is estimated, and the fractional-order Lyapunov theory is utilized to prove the finite-time stability of the system. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Information-Criterion-Based Lag Length Selection in Vector Autoregressive Approximations for I(2) Processes
Authors: Bauer Dietmar
Published: April 2023

When using vector autoregressive (VAR) models for approximating time series, a key step is the selection of the lag length. Often this is performed using information criteria, even if a theoretical justification is lacking in some cases. For stationary processes, the asymptotic properties of the corresponding estimators are well documented in great generality in the book Hannan and Deistler (1988). If the data-generating process is not a finite-order VAR, the selected lag length typically tends to infinity as a function of the sample size. For invertible vector autoregressive moving average (VARMA) processes, this typically happens roughly proportional to logT. The same approach for lag length selection is also followed in practice for more general processes, for example, unit root processes. In the I(1) case, the literature suggests that the behavior is analogous to the stationary case. For I(2) processes, no such results are currently known. This note closes this gap, concluding that information-criteria-based lag length selection for I(2) processes indeed shows similar properties to in the stationary case.
Feature Transformation Method for Wheel Hub Shape Based on Target Detection and Geometric Analysis
Authors: Li Wangxi , Lu Zhangping
Published: April 2023

Extracting and transforming shape features has been an important research domain in wheel hub design. The study of wheel hub design based on shape semantics, brand planning, and structural optimization requires regression analysis by using shape features and the corresponding variables to guide wheel hub design through the correlation model. The practical role of feature transformation in design is determined by its effectiveness, accuracy, and convenience. This process, however, has generally been handled manually in previous studies, limiting the universality and comprehensiveness of research outcomes. With the development of artificial intelligence, the automation of this process has become possible, ushering in the era of big data research for feature extraction and transformation. Hence, this study proposes a wheel hub feature transformation method based on target detection and geometric analysis. This method implements feature transformation in the following automation steps: (1) wheel hub feature point detection based on the YOLO model; (2) wheel hub feature grouping based on morphological parameters and position parameters; (3) feature point grooming based on geometric relations; and (4) parameter construction and transformation based on morphological features. Thus, an automatic, bidirectional, and morphological mechanism for transforming the parameters of a wheel hub shape can be developed. With the proposed transformation model, parameters related to the wheel hub shape and features can be transformed quickly, and the generative design of the wheel hub can be conducted based on big data.
Contact Zones in the Energy Transition: A Transdisciplinary Complex Problem
Authors: Jakimowicz Aleksander , Rzeczkowski Daniel
Published: April 2023

The success of energy transition relies on what happens in the contact zone, the area between citizens and municipality governments, which still awaits more thorough research. This article employs the concept of the contact zone both as a theory describing processes of developing energy prosumerism on a local level, and as a research method which enables one to uncover phenomena that are critical to attaining climate objectives. The research field was the Warmia and Mazury Province in Poland, which is the region with the lowest socio-economic potential both in Poland and in the European Union. The analyzed contact zone was divided into two parts: the human administrative legal contact zone and the more-than-human energy contact zone. To describe the relationships occurring in these subzones, the authors used empirical data originating from a survey addressed to citizens living in the above province. The aim was to explore the respondents’ knowledge about current prosumption processes and the opportunities to implement them in the local government sector. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to analyze the data. The main findings were the low knowledge of citizens about prosumption, which was represented by a large number of the prosumption principles not indicated by the respondents, and—on the other hand—the evidence that local communities expect the implementation of digital prosumption, which they know from the market sector, in public administration. It was also demonstrated that the absence of citizens’ involvement in the energy transition is a consequence of two historic colonialisms, German and Russian, which had a huge influence on the emergence of an autocratic management style in the analyzed region. Comparison of the analyzed contact zones with two reference zones showed that grassroots movements in the province are initiated mainly by external factors of a nationwide character. In the Warmia and Mazury contact zones, civic initiatives are in the early stage of development, although they display all features of developed zones, such as autoethnographic gestures, transculturation, struggle, violence, and anti-conquest.