bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Does It Hurt So Much? Emotion Regulation Mediates the Association between Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Psychological Distress
Authors: Frumer Lee , Marom Harel Hadar , Horesh Danny
Published: May 2023

While it is known that fibromyalgia patients often suffer from depression and stress symptoms, there is inconclusive evidence as to why these symptoms occur. The aim of this study is to examine the role of emotion regulation in mental health symptoms among treatment-seeking individuals with fibromyalgia. Ninety-three (93) participants (mean age = 47.25, SD = 12.4) were recruited from one of Israel’s largest community healthcare providers. They were administered self-report questionnaires assessing fibromyalgia (FIQR), perceived stress (PSS), major depression (PHQ-9), and difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS). Associations were found between measures of fibromyalgia symptoms, psychological distress, and emotion regulation. Several sub-indices of emotion regulation showed significant correlations with psychological distress, with non-acceptance of emotional responses showing the strongest associations. Moreover, non-acceptance of emotion responses mediated the association between fibromyalgia symptoms and psychological distress. Our findings show that the connection between fibromyalgia symptoms and psychological distress is partially explained by difficulties in emotion regulation. Moreover, we show that specific emotion regulation strategies play a differential role in fibromyalgia patients’ distress, thereby highlighting the importance of identifying unique psychotherapeutic targets. Specifically, regulating emotions through acceptance of emotional responses seems to be particularly important for fibromyalgia patients, as they cope with stigma and a lack of validation.
Survey, Data Analysis and Modeling Raphael’s Stables in Villa Farnesina, Rome
Authors: Antuono Giuseppe , Cundari Maria Rosaria , Cundari Gian Carlo , Bagordo Giovanni Maria
Published: May 2023

This work contributes to the knowledge of historical contexts that have radically mutated over centuries and have lost their original characteristics. In these cases, information techniques and technologies can support the reconstruction of peculiarities in the digital domain and reveal their distinctive traits. This process applies to the architectural complex of Villa Farnesina in Rome, the realization of which involved the collaboration of influential artists from the 16th century; in particular, we focus on the Stables building, which no longer exists and can only be visualized by joining survey data, historiographic data, and metric measurements in digital and virtual assets. Starting from an integrated digital survey project, the paper highlights the potential of the graphic analysis of iconographic-archival and cartographic components for reconstructing a 3D model of the original appearance of the building. Furthermore, the correlation of geometric data and information parameters allows for the construction of a digital model to fulfill the demand for the transmission of interdisciplinary information to portray this jewel of Renaissance Rome to real and virtual tourism consumers.
Predictors of Psychological Strain and Allostatic Load in Teachers: Examining the Long-Term Effects of Biopsychosocial Risk and Protective Factors Using a LASSO Regression Approach
Authors: Wettstein Alexander , Jenni Gabriel , Schneider Ida , Kühne Fabienne , grosse Holtforth Martin , La Marca Roberto
Published: May 2023

Teacher stress significantly challenges teachers’ health, teaching quality, and students’ motivation and achievement. Thus, it is crucial to identify factors that effectively prevent it. Using a LASSO regression approach, we examined which factors predict teachers’ psychological strain and allostatic load over two years. The study included 42 teachers (28 female, Mage = 39.66, SD = 11.99) and three measurement time points: At baseline, we assessed teachers’ (a) self-reports (i.e., on personality, coping styles, and psychological strain), (b) behavioral data (i.e., videotaped lessons), and (c) allostatic load (i.e., body mass index, blood pressure, and hair cortisol concentration). At 1- and 2-year follow-ups, psychological strain and allostatic load biomarkers were reassessed. Neuroticism and perceived student disruptions at baseline emerged as the most significant risk factors regarding teachers’ psychological strain two years later, while a positive core self-evaluation was the most important protective factor. Perceived support from other teachers and the school administration as well as adaptive coping styles were protective factors against allostatic load after two years. The findings suggest that teachers’ psychological strain and allostatic load do not primarily originate from objective classroom conditions but are attributable to teachers’ idiosyncratic perception of this environment through the lens of personality and coping strategies.
Promotion of E-Cigarettes on TikTok and Regulatory Considerations
Authors: Jancey Jonine , Leaver Tama , Wolf Katharina , Freeman Becky , Chai Kevin , Bialous Stella , Bromberg Marilyn , Adams Phoebe , Mcleod Meghan , Carey Renee N. , McCausland Kahlia
Published: May 2023

E-cigarettes are promoted extensively on TikTok and other social media platforms. Platform policies to restrict e-cigarette promotion seem insufficient and are poorly enforced. This paper aims to understand how e-cigarettes are being promoted on TikTok and provide insights into the effectiveness of current TikTok policies. Seven popular hashtag-based keywords were used to identify TikTok accounts and associated videos related to e-cigarettes. Posts were independently coded by two trained coders. Collectively, the 264 videos received 2,470,373 views, 166,462 likes and 3426 comments. The overwhelming majority of videos (97.7%) portrayed e-cigarettes positively, and these posts received 98.7% of the total views and 98.2% of the total likes. A total of 69 posts (26.1%) clearly violated TikTok’s own content policy. The findings of the current study suggest that a variety of predominantly pro-vaping content is available on TikTok. Current policies and moderation processes appear to be insufficient in restricting the spread of pro-e-cigarette content on TikTok, putting predominantly young users at potential risk of e-cigarette use.
Environmental Exposure Science and Human Health
Authors: Lavezzi Anna M. , Ramos-Molina Bruno
Published: May 2023

Human health and environmental exposure form an inseparable binomial [...]
The Association of Resilience with Way of Coping, Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Cancer
Authors: Chung Joyce Oi Kwan , Li William Ho Cheung , Ho Laurie Long Kwan , Cheung Ankie Tan
Published: May 2023

Evidence shows that resilience is crucial to maintain psychological well-being and quality of life in the face of stress and adversity. However, the relationships between resilience and psychological well-being and factors associated with quality of life in Hong Kong Chinese parents of children with cancer are underexplored. This study aimed to examine the interrelationships among resilience, ways of coping, psychological well-being, and quality of life among Chinese parents of children with cancer, and identify factors associated with their quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 119 Chinese parents of children with cancer at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital between January 2020 and March 2022. Parents’ resilience level, ways of coping, depressive symptoms, state anxiety scores, perceived social support, and quality of life were assessed. Participating parents (n = 119) included 98 mothers (82.4%) and 11 parents were from single-parent families (9.2%). Almost half (47.9%) of the parents were potentially at risk for depression. The results showed that participants from single-parent families reported statistically significantly lower levels of resilience (p < 0.001), more depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), and poorer quality of life (p < 0.001) than those who lived with their partners (married). In addition, parents who adopted problem-focused coping strategies reported statistically significantly higher levels of resilience (p < 0.001), fewer depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), and better quality of life (p < 0.001) than those who adopted emotion-focused coping strategies. A multiple regression analysis revealed that resilience (p < 0.001) was associated with quality of life among parents of children with cancer. This study provides further support that resilience is an important factor associated with quality of life in parents of children with cancer. Assessing resilience in parents is an important prerequisite for designing appropriate interventions to increase their resilience and enhance their quality of life.
A Double-Stage 3D U-Net for On-Cloud Brain Extraction and Multi-Structure Segmentation from 7T MR Volumes
Authors: Tomassini Selene , Anbar Haidar , Sbrollini Agnese , Mortada MHD Jafar , Burattini Laura , Morettini Micaela
Published: May 2023

The brain is the organ most studied using Magnetic Resonance (MR). The emergence of 7T scanners has increased MR imaging resolution to a sub-millimeter level. However, there is a lack of automatic segmentation techniques for 7T MR volumes. This research aims to develop a novel deep learning-based algorithm for on-cloud brain extraction and multi-structure segmentation from unenhanced 7T MR volumes. To this aim, a double-stage 3D U-Net was implemented in a cloud service, directing its first stage to the automatic extraction of the brain and its second stage to the automatic segmentation of the grey matter, basal ganglia, white matter, ventricles, cerebellum, and brain stem. The training was performed on the 90% (the 10% of which served for validation) and the test on the 10% of the Glasgow database. A mean test Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 96.33% was achieved for the brain class. Mean test DSCs of 90.24%, 87.55%, 93.82%, 85.77%, 91.53%, and 89.95% were achieved for the brain structure classes, respectively. Therefore, the proposed double-stage 3D U-Net is effective in brain extraction and multi-structure segmentation from 7T MR volumes without any preprocessing and training data augmentation strategy while ensuring its machine-independent reproducibility.
Differences in Long-Term Heart Rate Variability between Subjects with and without Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ortiz-Guzmán Johan E. , Mollà-Casanova Sara , Arias-Mutis Óscar J. , Bizy Alexandra , Calvo Conrado , Alberola Antonio , Chorro Francisco J. , Zarzoso Manuel
Published: May 2023

Background: Our aim was to determine the impact that metabolic syndrome (MS) produces in long-term heart rate variability (HRV), quantitatively synthesizing the results of published studies to characterize the cardiac autonomic dysfunction in MS. Methods: We searched electronic databases for original research works with long-term HRV recordings (24 h) that compared people with MS (MS+) versus healthy people as a control group (MS−). This systematic review and meta-analysis (MA) was performed according to PRISMA guidelines and registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022358975). Results: A total of 13 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 7 of them met the required criteria to be included in the MA. SDNN (−0.33 [−0.57, 0.09], p = 0.008), LF (−0.32 [−0.41, −0.23], p < 0.00001), VLF (−0.21 [−0.31, −0.10], p = 0.0001) and TP (−0.20 [−0.33, −0.07], p = 0.002) decreased in patients with MS. The rMSSD (p = 0.41), HF (p = 0.06) and LF/HF ratio (p = 0.64) were not modified. Conclusions: In long-term recordings (24 h), SDNN, LF, VLF and TP were consistently decreased in patients with MS. Other parameters that could be included in the quantitative analysis were not modified in MS+ patients (rMSSD, HF, ratio LF/HF). Regarding non-linear analyses, the results are not conclusive due to the low number of datasets found, which prevented us from conducting an MA.
Feasibility of Short-Term Aggressive Lipid-Lowering Therapy with the PCSK9 Antibody in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Yamashita Satoshi , Sakamoto Atsushi , Shoji Satoshi , Kawaguchi Yoshitaka , Wakabayashi Yasushi , Matsunaga Masaki , Suguro Kiyohisa , Matsumoto Yuji , Takase Hiroyuki , Onodera Tomoya , Tawarahara Kei , Muto Masahiro , Shirasaki Yasutaka , Katoh Hideki , Sano Makoto , Suwa Kenichiro , Naruse Yoshihisa , Ohtani Hayato , Saotome Masao , Urushida Tsuyoshi , Kohsaka Shun , Okada Eisaku , Maekawa Yuichiro
Published: May 2023

Background: The guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target level of <70 mg/dL may not be achieved with statin administration in some patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, the proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) antibody can be added to high-risk patients with ACS. Nevertheless, the optimal duration of PCSK9 antibody administration remains unclear. Methods and Results: Patients were randomized to receive either 3 months of lipid lowering therapy (LLT) with the PCSK9 antibody followed by conventional LLT (with-PCSK9-antibody group) or 12 months of conventional LLT alone (without-PCSK9-antibody group). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, and ischemia-driven revascularization. A total of 124 patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomly assigned to the two groups (n = 62 in each). The primary composite outcome occurred in 9.7% and 14.5% of the patients in the with- and without-PCSK9-antibody groups, respectively (hazard ratio: 0.70; 95% confidence interval: 0.25 to 1.97; p = 0.498). The two groups showed no significant differences in hospitalization for worsening heart failure and adverse events. Conclusions: In ACS patients who underwent PCI, short-term PCSK9 antibody therapy with conventional LLT was feasible in this pilot clinical trial. Long-term follow-up in a larger scale clinical trial is warranted.
Prognostic Significance of Chromogranin A Expression in the Initial and Second Biopsies in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Huang Zhuo , Tang Ying , Wei Yuyan , Qian Jingyu , Kang Yifan , Wang Duohao , Xu Miao , Nie Ling , Chen Xueqin , Chen Ni , Zhou Qiao
Published: May 2023

Neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) characterized by the expression of neuroendocrine markers, such as chromogranin A (CgA), is frequently observed in advanced prostate cancer (PCa), the prognostic significance of which is still controversial. Here we specifically addressed the issue of the potential prognostic value of CgA expression in advanced-stage PCa patients with distant metastases and its change over time from metastatic hormone-sensitive (mHSPC) to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). CgA expression was assessed immunohistochemically in initial biopsies of mHSPC, as well as in second biopsies of mCRPC in sixty-eight patients, and its correlation with prognosis (together with conventional clinicopathologic parameters) was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model. We found that CgA expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor for both mHSPC (CgA positivity ≥ 1%, HR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.04–4.26, p = 0.031) and mCRPC (CgA ≥ 10%, HR = 20.19, 95% CI: 3.04–329.9, p = 0.008). CgA positivity generally increased from mHSPC to mCRPC and was a negative prognosticator. The assessment of CgA expression may help with the clinical evaluation of advanced-stage patients with distant metastases.
Clinical Manifestations, Current and Future Therapy, and Long-Term Outcomes in Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Authors: Sakai Kazuya , Matsumoto Masanori
Published: May 2023

Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP) is an extremely rare disease characterized by the severe deficiency of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS13), caused by ADAMTS13 mutations. While ADAMTS13 supplementation by fresh frozen plasma (FFP) infusion immediately corrects platelet consumption and resolves thrombotic symptoms in acute episodes, FFP treatment can lead to intolerant allergic reactions and frequent hospital visits. Up to 70% of patients depend on regular FFP infusions to normalize their platelet counts and avoid systemic symptoms, including headache, fatigue, and weakness. The remaining patients do not receive regular FFP infusions, mainly because their platelet counts are maintained within the normal range or because they are symptom-free without FFP infusions. However, the target peak and trough levels of ADAMTS13 to prevent long-term comorbidity with prophylactic FFP and the necessity of treating FFP-independent patients in terms of long-term clinical outcomes are yet to be determined. Our recent study suggests that the current volumes of FFP infusions are insufficient to prevent frequent thrombotic events and long-term ischemic organ damage. This review focuses on the current management of cTTP and its associated issues, followed by the importance of upcoming recombinant ADAMTS13 therapy.
The AGE-RAGE Axis and the Pathophysiology of Multimorbidity in COPD
Authors: Reynaert Niki L. , Vanfleteren Lowie E. G. W. , Perkins Timothy N.
Published: May 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the airways and lungs due to an enhanced inflammatory response, commonly caused by cigarette smoking. Patients with COPD are often multimorbid, as they commonly suffer from multiple chronic (inflammatory) conditions. This intensifies the burden of individual diseases, negatively affects quality of life, and complicates disease management. COPD and comorbidities share genetic and lifestyle-related risk factors and pathobiological mechanisms, including chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is an important driver of chronic inflammation. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are RAGE ligands that accumulate due to aging, inflammation, oxidative stress, and carbohydrate metabolism. AGEs cause further inflammation and oxidative stress through RAGE, but also through RAGE-independent mechanisms. This review describes the complexity of RAGE signaling and the causes of AGE accumulation, followed by a comprehensive overview of alterations reported on AGEs and RAGE in COPD and in important co-morbidities. Furthermore, it describes the mechanisms by which AGEs and RAGE contribute to the pathophysiology of individual disease conditions and how they execute crosstalk between organ systems. A section on therapeutic strategies that target AGEs and RAGE and could alleviate patients from multimorbid conditions using single therapeutics concludes this review.
Effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 on the Intestinal Environment and Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D)-like Symptoms in Patients with Quiescent Crohn’s Disease: A Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Tomita Toshihiko , Fukui Hirokazu , Okugawa Takuya , Nakanishi Takashi , Mieno Masatoshi , Nakai Keisuke , Eda Hirotsugu , Kitayama Yoshitaka , Oshima Tadayuki , Shinzaki Shinichiro , Miwa Hiroto
Published: May 2023

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D)-like symptoms are distressing for patients with quiescent Crohn’s disease (qCD) and worsen their quality of life. In the present study, we assessed the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1) on the intestinal environment and clinical features in patients with qCD. Eleven patients with qCD, who met the Rome III diagnostic criteria for IBS-D, received BBG9-1 (24 mg) orally three times daily for 4 weeks. Indices of the intestinal environment (fecal calprotectin level and gut microbiome) and clinical features (CD/IBS-related symptoms, quality of life and stool irregularities) were evaluated before and after treatment. Treatment with BBG9-1 tended to reduce the IBS severity index in the studied patients (p = 0.07). Among gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain and dyspepsia tended to be improved by the BBG9-1 treatment (p = 0.07 and p = 0.07, respectively), and IBD-related QOL showed a significant improvement (p = 0.007). With regard to mental status, the patient anxiety score was significantly lower at the endpoint of BBG9-1 treatment than at the baseline (p = 0.03). Although BBG9-1 treatment did not affect the fecal calprotectin level, it suppressed the serum MCP-1 level significantly and increased the abundance of intestinal Bacteroides in the study patients. The probiotic BBG9-1 is able to improve IBD-related QOL with a reduction of anxiety score in patients with quiescent CD and IBS-D-like symptoms.
Optical-Quality Assessment of a Miniaturized Intraocular Telescope
Authors: Nepita Irene , Raimondi Raffaele , Piazza Simonluca , Diaspro Alberto , Vidal-Aroca Faustino , Surdo Salvatore , Romano Mario R.
Published: May 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes severe vision impairments, including blindness. An option to improve vision in AMD patients is through intraocular lenses and optics. Among others, implantable miniaturized telescopes, which direct light to healthy lateral regions of the retina, can be highly effective in improving vision in AMD patients. Yet, the quality of the restored vision might be sensitive to the optical transmission and aberrations of the telescope. To shed light on these points, we studied the in vitro optical performance of an implantable miniaturized telescope, namely, the SING IMT™ (Samsara Vision Ltd., Far Hills, NJ, USA) designed to improve vision in patients affected by late-stage AMD. Specifically, we measured the optical transmission in the spectral range 350–750 nm of the implantable telescope with a fiber-optic spectrometer. Wavefront aberrations were studied by measuring the wavefront of a laser beam after passing through the telescope and expanding the measured wavefront into a Zernike polynomial basis. Wavefront concavity indicated that the SING IMT™ behaves as a diverging lens with a focal length of −111 mm. The device exhibited even optical transmission in the whole visible spectrum and effective curvature suitable for retinal images magnification with negligible geometrical aberrations. Optical spectrometry and in vitro wavefront analysis provide evidence supporting the feasibility of miniaturized telescopes as high-quality optical elements and a favorable option for AMD visual impairment treatments.
Preventing and Treating Torsades de Pointes in the Mother, Fetus and Newborn in the Highest Risk Pregnancies with Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes
Authors: Wacker-Gussmann Annette , Eckstein Gretchen K. , Strasburger Janette F.
Published: May 2023

The number of women of childbearing age who have been diagnosed in childhood with ion channelopathy and effectively treated using beta blockers, cardiac sympathectomy, and life-saving cardiac pacemakers/defibrillators is increasing. Since many of these diseases are inherited as autosomal dominant, offspring have about a 50% risk of having the disease, though many will be only mildly impacted during fetal life. However, highly complex delivery room preparation is increasingly needed in pregnancies with inherited arrhythmia syndromes (IASs). However, specific Doppler techniques show meanwhile a better understanding of fetal electrophysiology. The advent of fetal magnetocardiography (FMCG) now allows the detection of fetal Torsades de Pointes (TdP) ventricular tachycardia and other LQT-associated arrhythmias (QTc prolongation, functional second AV block, T-wave alternans, sinus bradycardia, late-coupled ventricular ectopy and monomorphic VT) in susceptible fetuses during the second and third trimester. These types of arrhythmias can be due to either de novo or familial Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT), or other IAS. It is imperative that the multiple specialists involved in the antenatal, peripartum, and neonatal care of these women and their fetuses/infants have the optimal knowledge, training and equipment in order to care for these highly specialized pregnancies and deliveries. In this review, we outline the steps to recognize symptomatic LQTS in either the mother, fetus or both, along with suggestions for evaluation and management of the pregnancy, delivery, or post-partum period impacted by LQTS.
Repurposing an ‘Old’ Drug for the Treatment of COVID-19-Related Cytokine Storm
Authors: Pontali Emanuele , Filauro Francesca
Published: May 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has hit more than 200 countries with more than 750 million confirmed cases and more than 6 million deaths worldwide [...]
Direct-Writing Electrospun Functionalized Scaffolds for Periodontal Regeneration: In Vitro Studies
Authors: Bourdon Laura , Attik Nina , Belkessam Liza , Chevalier Charlène , Bousige Colin , Brioude Arnaud , Salles Vincent
Published: May 2023

Multiphasic scaffolds that combine different architectural, physical, and biological properties are the best option for the regeneration of complex tissues such as the periodontium. Current developed scaffolds generally lack architectural accuracy and rely on multistep manufacturing, which is difficult to implement for clinical applications. In this context, direct-writing electrospinning (DWE) represents a promising and rapid technique for developing thin 3D scaffolds with controlled architecture. The current study aimed to elaborate a biphasic scaffold using DWE based on two polycaprolactone solutions with interesting properties for bone and cement regeneration. One of the two scaffold parts contained hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP) and the other contained the cementum protein 1 (CEMP1). After morphological characterizations, the elaborated scaffolds were assessed regarding periodontal ligament (PDL) cells in terms of cell proliferation, colonization, and mineralization ability. The results demonstrated that both HAP- and CEMP1-functionalized scaffolds were colonized by PDL cells and enhanced mineralization ability compared to unfunctionalized scaffolds, as revealed by alizarin red staining and OPN protein fluorescent expression. Taken together, the current data highlighted the potential of functional and organized scaffolds to stimulate bone and cementum regeneration. Moreover, DWE could be used to develop smart scaffolds with the ability to spatially control cellular orientation with suitable cellular activity at the micrometer scale, thereby enhancing periodontal and other complex tissue regeneration.
Spatial Reconstruction of Traditional Villages towards Synergistic Development in the Fuchun River Basin Based on the Gravity Model
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhang Yaping , Yang Guofu , Wang Yinyi , Cheng Xiaomeng , Xu Bin
Published: May 2023

With the continuous promotion of the rural revitalisation strategy, the planning and organisation of individual villages can hardly adapt to the current development needs of rural areas, causing synergistic development among villages to become a critical goal in promoting the sustainable development of rural areas. Reconstructing the development space of traditional village clusters can reduce their development gaps and promote coordinated development. Understanding the connections between traditional village units can support adaptive reconstructions of village spatial network structures and offer scientific and reasonable development planning strategies. Based on geographical and economic data publicly released in 2022, this study takes the traditional villages of the Fuchun River Basin in China as an example and uses village development quality and the shortest traffic time crawled in real time by Python to construct a spatial connection model of traditional villages in the Fuchun River Basin. The study also uses social network analysis to analyse the characteristics of the spatial network structure. The results show that (1) the intensity of spatial connections in these traditional villages is severely polarised and imbalanced. (2) The spatial network structure is in the development stage; few villages act as intermediaries, and the networks have poor connectivity and integrity. (3) The connection density within cohesive subgroups varies considerably. No complete transmission path exists among the subgroups, and the path of collaborative development is imperfect. These findings can optimise and reconstruct the selected spatial network of traditional villages to integrate and upgrade their development. The framework system also holds reference significance for other similar rural traditional villages.
The Habitat Network for Butterfly Communities of the Alta Murgia National Park (Apulia, Italy)
Authors: Gagnarli Elena , Simoni Sauro , Addante Rocco , Panzarino Onofrio , Loverre Pamela , Mastronardi Maria Grazia , Mattia Chiara , de Lillo Enrico
Published: May 2023

Habitat networks can help to make habitats more resilient and assist species survival in a fragmented landscape and changing climate. Butterflies are one of the main indicators of diversity due to their high sensitivity to environmental changes. In the context of sudden and unpredictable environmental changes, protection strategies for butterflies at risk of extinction should consider the exact distribution of these species, as well as the various threats to which each of them is subjected. About 290 species of butterflies are reported in Italian fauna, and 120 of them are recorded in Apulia (Southern Italy). In the Alta Murgia National Park (AMNP) (Apulia Region, Italy), screening was performed to study the relationships between area/landscape composition and diurnal butterfly community structure. Representative semi-natural habitats of Alta Murgia buffering productive crops were selected to set up transects/paths along dry grasslands, oak forests and pine forests. Monthly samplings were performed for one year. During the survey, 909 specimens from 53 species were collected. The highest values of butterfly’s abundance and richness were recorded in dry grasslands. A strong positive correlation between butterfly abundance and air temperature was registered (Pearson correlation: r = 0.8; p < 0.001). Melanargia arge, endemic in central-southern Italy and considered threatened in Europe (Annexes II and IV—Habitats Directive), was registered in each habitat. The biodiversity indices (Chao 1, Shannon and Simpson) for each habitat were high and similar to those in protected areas of Sicily. The connected landscape is important for generalist or open-habitat specialists, and large remnants are key for disturbance-sensitive and threatened taxa. The presented evidence can provide useful information on butterfly conservation in the AMNP and for the management and conservation of characteristic landscapes of Alta Murgia.
Efficient Secure Communication in Zigbee Network Using the DNA Sequence Encryption Technique
Authors: Padma Bhukya , Babu Erukala Suresh
Published: May 2023

Zigbee IoT devices have limited computational resources, including processing power and memory capacity. Therefore, because of their complicated computational requirements, traditional encryption techniques are inappropriate for Zigbee devices. Because of this, we proposed a novel, “lightweight encryption” method (algorithm) is based on “DNA sequences” for Zigbee devices. In the proposed way, we took advantage of the randomness of “DNA sequences” to produce a full secret key that attackers cannot crack. The DNA key encrypts the data using two operations, “substitution” and “transposition”, which are appropriate for Zigbee computation resources. Our suggested method uses the “signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR)”, “congestion level”, and “survival factor” for estimating the “cluster head selection factor” initially. The cluster head selection factor is used to group the network nodes using the “adaptive fuzzy c-means clustering technique”. Data packets are then encrypted using the DNA encryption method. Our proposed technique gave the best results by comparing the experimental results to other encryption algorithms and the metrics for energy consumption, such as “node remaining energy level”, key size, and encryption time.
Pulmonary Nodule Detection and Classification Using All-Optical Deep Diffractive Neural Network
Authors: Shao Junjie , Zhou Lingxiao , Yeung Sze Yan Fion , Lei Ting , Zhang Wanlong , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: May 2023

A deep diffractive neural network (D2NN) is a fast optical computing structure that has been widely used in image classification, logical operations, and other fields. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is a reliable method for detecting and analyzing pulmonary nodules. In this paper, we propose using an all-optical D2NN for pulmonary nodule detection and classification based on CT imaging for lung cancer. The network was trained based on the LIDC-IDRI dataset, and the performance was evaluated on a test set. For pulmonary nodule detection, the existence of nodules scanned from CT images were estimated with two-class classification based on the network, achieving a recall rate of 91.08% from the test set. For pulmonary nodule classification, benign and malignant nodules were also classified with two-class classification with an accuracy of 76.77% and an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.8292. Our numerical simulations show the possibility of using optical neural networks for fast medical image processing and aided diagnosis.
A Simple Biochemical Method for the Detection of Proteins as Biomarkers of Life on Martian Soil Simulants and the Impact of UV Radiation
Authors: Li Yongda , Collins David A. , Grintzalis Konstantinos
Published: May 2023

The search for life on other planets relies on the detection of biosignatures of life. Many macromolecules have been suggested as potential targets, among which are proteins that are considered vital components of life due to their essential roles in forming cellular structures, facilitating cellular communication and signaling, and catalyzing metabolic reactions. In this context, accurate quantification of protein signatures in soil would be advantageous, and while several proposed methods exist, which are limited by their sensitivity and specificity, their applicability needs further testing and validation. To this aim, we optimized a Bradford-based assay with high sensitivity and reproducibility and a simple protocol to quantify protein extracted from a Martian soil simulant. Methods for protein spiking, extraction, and recovery were optimized, using protein standards and bacterial proteins as representative models. The proposed method achieved high sensitivity and reproducibility. Taking into account that life remains could exist on the surface of Mars, which is subjected to UV radiation, a simulation of UV exposure was performed on a spiked soil simulant. UV radiation degraded the protein spike, thus highlighting the importance of searching for the remaining signal from degraded proteins. Finally, the applicability of the method was explored in relation to the storage of the reagent which was stable even up to 12 months, thus making its application possible for future planetary exploration missions.
Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Ti5Si3/Ti3Al Composite Coatings Prepared by Laser Cladding on TA2 Titanium Alloy
Authors: Huang Kaijin , Huang Wanxia
Published: May 2023

In order to improve the wear resistance of titanium alloy, a Ti5Si3/Ti3Al composite coating with improved wear resistance was successfully prepared by laser cladding TA2 titanium alloy using the double-layer presetting method of Ti-63 wt.% Al mixed powder layer/Si powder layer. The microstructure, phase composition and wear resistance of the coating were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pine-disk friction and wear method. The results show that the coating is mainly composed of the Ti5Si3 primary phase and Ti5Si3/Ti3Al eutectic structure. The microhardness of the coating is higher than that of the matrix. The average microhardness of the coating is about 668 HV0.1, which is 3.34 times that of the matrix. The coating significantly improves the wear resistance of the TA2 matrix, and the mass wear rate is 1/5.79 of that of the TA2 matrix. The main wear mechanisms of the coating are abrasive wear, adhesive wear and oxidative wear, whereas the main wear mechanisms of the TA2 matrix are adhesive wear and oxidative wear.
Impact of Manufacturing Tolerances on Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines with Ironless Rotor Core: A Statistical Approach
Authors: Escobar Andrés , Sánchez Gonzalo , Jara Werner , Madariaga Carlos , Tapia Juan A. , Riedemann Javier , Reyes Eduardo
Published: May 2023

Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) machines with ironless rotors are an attractive and recently studied solution in low-speed applications, due to their potentially high power/weight ratio, high aspect ratio, and high efficiency. Nevertheless, these machines are prone to be affected by manufacturing tolerance during its fabrication process and consequently, the magnets may move freely inside the rotor structure. This work presents a statistical analysis of manufacturing tolerances of an AFPM machine with an ironless rotor, considering several magnet fault types. A computationally efficient superposition method is developed and implemented to obtain both the cogging torque and rated torque considering several tolerance combinations with acceptable accuracy. The results obtained from a statistical analysis of 10,000 designs of a two-stator one rotor tooth coil winding AFPM (TCW-AFPM) machine allowed us to identify the parameters with the most impact on relevant performance indicators and disclosed a substantial increase in cogging and ripple torque when unavoidable combined tolerances are present.
Nanocomposites of Ferrites with TiO2, SiO2 and Carbon Quantum Dots as Photocatalysts for Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Microbes
Authors: Kaur Ajaypal , Kaur Manpreet , Singh Vasundhara , Vyas Pratibha
Published: May 2023

Ferrites are important magnetic materials used in electronic devices. Nanocomposites of ferrites with TiO2, SiO2 and carbon quantum dots have gained recent interest due to their unique advantages, such as high chemical stability, surface-active sites, high specific surface area, non-toxicity, excellent optical properties, and tunable porosity. In the present review, general and adaptable coprecipitation, sol–gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, and Stöber methods for the fabrication of nanocomposites are discussed. These materials offer the advantage of magnetic recovery and superior photocatalytic performance. The potential of nanocomposites to act as photocatalysts to eliminate organic pollutants and microbes from water is discussed. Mechanisms involved in these applications are also elaborated upon. The review provides a detailed study of recent applications and future perspectives of nanocomposites in sustainable water treatment.
A Multi-Input Machine Learning Approach to Classifying Sex Trafficking from Online Escort Advertisements
Authors: Summers Lucia , Shallenberger Alyssa N. , Cruz John , Fulton Lawrence V.
Published: May 2023

Sex trafficking victims are often advertised through online escort sites. These ads can be publicly accessed, but law enforcement lacks the resources to comb through hundreds of ads to identify those that may feature sex-trafficked individuals. The purpose of this study was to implement and test multi-input, deep learning (DL) binary classification models to predict the probability of an online escort ad being associated with sex trafficking (ST) activity and aid in the detection and investigation of ST. Data from 12,350 scraped and classified ads were split into training and test sets (80% and 20%, respectively). Multi-input models that included recurrent neural networks (RNN) for text classification, convolutional neural networks (CNN, specifically EfficientNetB6 or ENET) for image/emoji classification, and neural networks (NN) for feature classification were trained and used to classify the 20% test set. The best-performing DL model included text and imagery inputs, resulting in an accuracy of 0.82 and an F1 score of 0.70. More importantly, the best classifier (RNN + ENET) correctly identified 14 of 14 sites that had classification probability estimates of 0.845 or greater (1.0 precision); precision was 96% for the multi-input model (NN + RNN + ENET) when only the ads associated with the highest positive classification probabilities (>0.90) were considered (n = 202 ads). The models developed could be productionalized and piloted with criminal investigators, as they could potentially increase their efficiency in identifying potential ST victims.
Applying Quaternions to Recognize Hidden Details in Images: Rothko as a Case Study
Authors: Aharony Adam , Hindi Ron , Valdman Maor , Gul Shai
Published: May 2023

Images or paintings with homogeneous colors may appear dull to the naked eye; however, there may be numerous details in the image that are expressed through subtle changes in color. This manuscript introduces a novel approach that can uncover these concealed details via a transformation that increases the distance between adjacent pixels, ultimately leading to a newly modified version of the input image. We chose the artworks of Mark Rothko—famous for their simplicity and limited color palette—as a case study. Our approach offers a different perspective, leading to the discovery of either accidental or deliberate clusters of colors. Our method is based on the quaternion ring, wherein a suitable multiplication can be used to boost the color difference between neighboring pixels, thereby unveiling new details in the image. The quality of the transformation between the original image and the resultant versions can be measured by the ratio between the number of connected components in the original image (m) and the number of connected components in the output versions (n), which usually satisfies nm≫1. Although this procedure has been employed as a case study for artworks, it can be applied to any type of image with a similar simplicity and limited color palette.
Fosfomycin for Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Men Undergoing a Transrectal Prostate Biopsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gu Hui Mo , Gu Jin Seok , Chung Ho Seok , Jung Seung Il , Kwon Dongdeuk , Kim Myung Ha , Jung Jae Hung , Han Mi Ah , Kang Seung Ji , Hwang Eu Chang , Dahm Philipp
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: To assess the effects of fosfomycin compared with other antibiotics as a prophylaxis for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsies. Materials and Methods: We searched multiple databases and trial registries without publication language or status restrictions until 4 January 2022. Parallel-group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies (NRS) were included. The primary outcomes were febrile UTI, afebrile UTI, and overall UTI. We used GRADE guidance to rate the certainty of evidence of RCTs and NRSs. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022302743). Results: We found data on five comparisons; however, this abstract focuses on the primary outcomes of the two most clinically relevant comparisons. Regarding fosfomycin versus fluoroquinolone, five RCTs and four NRSs with a one-month follow-up were included. Based on the RCT evidence, fosfomycin likely resulted in little to no difference in febrile UTIs compared with fluoroquinolone. This difference corresponded to four fewer febrile UTIs per 1000 patients. Fosfomycin likely resulted in little to no difference in afebrile UTIs compared with fluoroquinolone. This difference corresponded to 29 fewer afebrile UTIs per 1000 patients. Fosfomycin likely resulted in little to no difference in overall UTIs compared with fluoroquinolone. This difference corresponded to 35 fewer overall UTIs per 1000 patients. Regarding fosfomycin and fluoroquinolone combined versus fluoroquinolone, two NRSs with a one- to three-month follow-up were included. Based on the NRS evidence, fosfomycin and fluoroquinolone combined may result in little to no difference in febrile UTIs compared with fluoroquinolone. This difference corresponded to 16 fewer febrile UTIs per 1000 patients. Conclusions: Compared with fluoroquinolone, fosfomycin or fosfomycin and fluoroquinolone combined may have a similar prophylactic effect on UTIs after a transrectal prostate biopsy. Given the increasing fluoroquinolone resistance and its ease to use, fosfomycin may be a good option for antibiotic prophylaxis.
Preparation and Lithium-Ion Separation Property of ZIF-8 Membrane with Excellent Flexibility
Authors: Zhao Jun , Fan Rongyu , Xiang Shengchang , Hu Jiapeng , Zheng Ximing
Published: May 2023

Metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes exhibit immense potential for separation applications due to their regular pore channels and scalable pore sizes. However, structuring a flexible and high-quality MOF membrane remains a challenge due to its brittleness, which severely restricts its practical application. This paper presents a simple and effective method in which continuous, uniform, defect-free ZIF-8 film layers of tunable thickness are constructed on the surface of inert microporous polypropylene membranes (MPPM). To provide heterogeneous nucleation sites for ZIF-8 growth, an extensive amount of hydroxyl and amine groups were introduced on the MPPM surface using the dopamine-assisted co-deposition technique. Subsequently, ZIF-8 crystals were grown in-situ on the MPPM surface using the solvothermal method. The resultant ZIF-8/MPPM exhibited a lithium-ion permeation flux of 0.151 mol m−2 h−1 and a high selectivity of Li+/Na+ = 1.93, Li+/Mg2+ = 11.50. Notably, ZIF-8/MPPM has good flexibility, and the lithium-ion permeation flux and selectivity remain unchanged at a bending curvature of 348 m−1. These excellent mechanical characteristics are crucial for the practical applications of MOF membranes.
Effect of Plasma Nitriding and Oxidation on the Corrosion Resistance of 304 Stainless Steel in LiBr/H2O and CaCl2-LiBr-LiNO3-H2O Mixtures
Authors: Larios-Galvez A. K. , Vazquez-Velez E. , Martinez-Valencia H. , Gonzalez-Rodriguez J. G.
Published: May 2023

The effect of plasma nitriding and oxidation on the corrosion resistance of AISI 304 type stainless steel in LiBr/H2O and CaCl2-LiBr-LiNO3-H2O mixtures at 80 °C has been evaluated by using potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques (EIS). Steel was plasma treated at 500 °C during 8 h under different atmospheres, nominally 20% N2 + 80% H2, 100% N2 and 100% O2. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) showed the presence of a CrN layer in nitrided specimens, whereas scanning electronic microscopy analysis revealed that specimen treated in the 20% N2 + 80% H2 atmosphere showed the thickest nitride layer. Specimens nitrided in the 20% N2 + 80% H2 atmosphere had the noblest open circuit potential value in both solutions, whereas potentiodynamic polarization curves indicated the formation of a passive layer. These specimens exhibited the lowest corrosion and passivation current density values. Corrosion process was under charge transfer control in both solutions regardless of the plasma treatment. The type of corrosion suffered by the steel under all treatments was the pitting type of corrosion. Pits density was the lowest for nitrides steels rather than that for untreated or pre-oxidized ones.