bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immigration Status, Socioeconomic Status, and Self-Rated Health in Europe
Authors: Siddiq Hafifa , Najand Babak
Published: November 2022

The literature has established a protective effect of socioeconomic status (SES) indicators on health. However, at least in the US, these SES indicators tend to generate fewer health gains for marginalized groups including immigrants. As this literature mainly originated in the US, it is necessary to study whether these indicators similarly correlate with the health of foreign-born and native-born individuals in Europe. The current study was based on the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory and compared the effects of three SES indicators, namely parental education, own education and income, on self-rated health (SRH) of immigrant and native-born individuals. We used data from the European Social Survey 2020 (ESS 2020). Participants included 14,213 individuals who identified as either native-born (n = 9052) or foreign-born (n = 508). Education, income, and parental education were the independent variables. Self-rated health (SRH) was the outcome. Age and sex were covariates. Linear regression and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Overall, high education, income, and parental education were associated with lower odds of poor SRH. We documented a statistical interaction between immigration status and parental education, indicating a weaker inverse association between parental education and poor SRH for foreign-born than native-born individuals. The links between some but not all SES indicators vary across foreign-born and native-born individuals in Europe. Host countries seem to undervalue the parental educational attainment of foreign-born families. Future research should explore the role of time, period, cohort and country of origin as well as host country and associated policies in equalizing returns of SES indicators on the health of population subgroups. The results are important given that most studies on MDRs are developed in the US, and less is known about Europe. The results are also very important given the growing anti-immigrant sentiment and nationalist movements in Europe and the rest of the world.
Research on the Structural Characteristics and Evolutionary Process of China’s Tourism Investment Spatial Correlation Network
Authors: Li Haijian , Xie Wujie
Published: November 2022

The paper uses the revised gravity model to measure the intensity of tourism investment spatial correlation, constructs the spatial correlation matrix of tourism investment, and uses the social network method to analyze the structural characteristics and evolutionary process of tourism investment spatial correlation network based on 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2016. The findings revealed: (1) The spatial correlation quantity of interprovincial tourism investment continues to grow, with Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong, and Guangdong at the top of the list. (2) Overall network density and correlation are rising, and the spatial correlation of interprovincial tourism investment is increasingly close. Network hierarchy and network efficiency are decreasing, and network stability has been enhanced. (3) Degree centrality and closeness centrality of each province have shown a significant increase; Beijing, Shandong, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai are the top six and in the center of the network. Most provinces have improved betweenness centrality, Beijing, Guangdong, Shandong, Liaoning, Shaanxi, and Hunan have a strong betweenness centrality with strong intermediary capacity. (4) The core area mainly includes eastern and central provinces, and the periphery areas mainly include western and northeastern provinces. The network connection density of the core and periphery areas shows an increasing trend, while the network linkage density between the core and periphery areas shows a downward trend.
Active Soil Filter System for Indoor Air Purification in School Classrooms
Authors: Son Sungwan , Elkamhawy Aya , Jang Choon-Man
Published: November 2022

An active soil filter system was newly designed and evaluated to obtain a higher removal efficiency of fine particulate matter (PM) for indoor air purification in schools. Unlike passive air purification systems that remove PM using only plant leaves, air purification can be maximized by filtering polluted indoor air directly between the soil particles supporting the plant. The novel system is composed of a composite soil layer and a suction blower that forces outside air into the soil layer. It was found that the air purification performance was improved as the inflow air velocity upstream of the soil is decreased and the soil stacking height increased. The lower the soil moisture, the better the air purification performance. Considering both the classroom environment and the system’s energy consumption, it is recommended that the soil stacking height is 150 mm, the soil inflow air velocity is 2 cm/s, and the relative humidity is 35%. Under these conditions, the air purification efficiency for PM2.5 is 41.5%. The indoor air purification system using the soil filter system, along with the currently used plant leaves medium, is expected to improve the indoor air quality in public facilities, such as school classrooms.
Will the “Environmental Fees to Taxes” Affect Firm Charitable Giving?
Authors: Niu Feng , Wang Jiayi , Su Wunhong
Published: November 2022

This study examines the impact of the 2018 “environmental protection fee to tax” policy on the charitable giving of polluting firms between 2015 and 2019 using a differences-in-differences method. This study found that implementing the “environmental protection fee to tax” policy reduced the level of charitable giving by polluters. The decline in charitable-giving levels was more pronounced among firms classified as heavy polluters, firms from the East of China, and non-state firms. The results suggest that the “environmental protection fee to tax” policy cannot only encourage firms to become more environmentally conscious but can also be used to determine the motivations behind firm charitable donations. The policy of changing environmental protection fees to taxes needs to be effectively implemented in China and strengthen the implementation effect.This study enriches the literature on environmental policies and firm charitable giving and provides empirical evidence on the economic consequences of the “environmental protection fee to tax” policy. It can also help polluters and regulators to understand the “environmental protection fee better to tax” policy and help the government to improve the external systems that regulate and guide corporate social responsibility.
Construction and Validation of the 17-Item Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL-17): A Comprehensive Short Scale to Assess the Functional, Psychosocial, and Therapeutic Factors of QOL among Stroke Survivors
Authors: Sakr Fouad , Dabbous Mariam , Akel Marwan , Salameh Pascale , Hosseini Hassan
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: The exiting stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL) measure scales are limited by their excessive length, inconsistent validity, and restricted breadths of assessment. The objectives of this study were to construct and validate a comprehensive short SS-QOL scale to assess stroke-related outcomes and QOL and determine the socioeconomic, sociodemographic, and pharmacotherapeutic predictors of QOL among stroke survivors. (2) Methods: The novel 17-item SS-QOL scale (SS-QOL-17) was constructed with the aim of providing a well-balanced measuring tool to depict QOL widely while ensuring the simplicity of administration. (3) Results: The SS-QOL-17 structure was validated over a solution of three factors with a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy = 0.894 and a significant Bartlett’s test of sphericity (p < 0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha of the SS-QOL-17 was 0.903. Better QOL was correlated to financial wellbeing (beta 0.093, p < 0.001), and medication adherence (beta 0.305, p = 0.004), whereas reduced QOL was correlated to older age (beta −0.117, p = 0.014), illiteracy (beta −6.428, p < 0.001), unemployment (beta −6.170, p < 0.001), and higher amount of prescribed medication (beta −1.148, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The SS-QOL-17 is a valid and reliable tool with promising psychometric properties. It is useful in clinical practice and research settings to evaluate the post-stroke therapeutic and rehabilitation outcomes.
Interday Stability of Taxi Travel Flow in Urban Areas
Authors: Tu Ping , Yao Wei , Zhao Zhiyuan , Wang Pengzhou , Wu Sheng , Fang Zhixiang
Published: November 2022

Taxi travel flow patterns and their interday stability play an important role in the planning of urban transportation and public service facilities. Existing studies pay little attention to the stability of the travel flow patterns between days, and it is difficult to consider the impact of dynamic changes in daily travel demand analysis when supporting related decision making. Taxi trajectory data have been widely used in urban taxi travel-pattern analysis. This paper uses the taxi datasets of Shenzhen and New York to analyze and compare the interday stability of the taxi travel spatial structure and the flow volume based on the improved Levenshtein algorithm and geographic flow theory. The results show that (1) interday differences in taxi travel flow are obvious in both spatial structure and flow volume, high-frequency origin–destination (OD) trips are relatively stable; (2) the ODs between the central urban area and surrounding areas exhibit high traffic volume and high interday stability, and the ODs starting or ending at an airport exhibit high traffic stability; (3) one week’s data can describe 86% of the overall travel structure and 84% of travel flow in Shenzhen, and one week’s New York data can describe 73% of travel structure and 76% of travel flow. There are differences in the travel patterns of people in different cities, and the representativeness of datasets in different cities will be different. These findings can help to better understand the outcomes of taxi travel patterns derived from a relatively short period of data to avoid potential misuse in related decision making.
First Insights into the Venom Composition of Two Ecuadorian Coral Snakes
Authors: Hernández-Altamirano Josselin A. , Salazar-Valenzuela David , Medina-Villamizar Evencio J. , Quirola Diego R. , Patel Ketan , Vaiyapuri Sakthivel , Lomonte Bruno , Almeida José R.
Published: November 2022

Micrurus is a medically relevant genus of venomous snakes composed of 85 species. Bites caused by coral snakes are rare, but they are usually associated with very severe and life-threatening clinical manifestations. Ecuador is a highly biodiverse country with a complex natural environment, which is home to approximately 20% of identified Micrurus species. Additionally, it is on the list of Latin American countries with the highest number of snakebites. However, there is no local antivenom available against the Ecuadorian snake venoms, and the biochemistry of these venoms has been poorly explored. Only a limited number of samples collected in the country from the Viperidae family were recently characterised. Therefore, this study addressed the compositional patterns of two coral snake venoms from Ecuador, M. helleri and M. mipartitus, using venomics strategies, integrating sample fractionation, gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. Chromatographic and electrophoretic profiles of these snake venoms revealed interspecific variability, which was ascertained by mass spectrometry. The two venoms followed the recently recognised dichotomic toxin expression trends displayed by Micrurus species: M. helleri venom contains a high proportion (72%) of phospholipase A2, whereas M. mipartitus venom is dominated by three-finger toxins (63%). A few additional protein families were also detected in these venoms. Overall, these results provide the first comprehensive views on the composition of two Ecuadorian coral snake venoms and expand the knowledge of Micrurus venom phenotypes. These findings open novel perspectives to further research the functional aspects of these biological cocktails of PLA2s and 3FTxs and stress the need for the preclinical evaluation of the currently used antivenoms for therapeutic purposes in Ecuador.
Piperine Attenuates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Oxidative Stress, Lung Inflammation, and Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition by Modulating the SIRT1/Nrf2 Axis
Authors: Saha Pritam , Durugkar Sneha , Jain Siddhi , Shantanu P. A. , Panda Samir R. , Jala Aishwarya , Gokhale Sharad , Sharma Pawan , Naidu V. G. M.
Published: November 2022

Piperine (PIP) is a major phytoconstituent in black pepper which is responsible for various pharmacological actions such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activity. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of PIP on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung pathology using both in-vitro and in-vivo models. BEAS-2B and A549 cells were exposed to CS extract (CSE) for 48 h; BALB/c mice were exposed to CS (9 cigarettes/day, 4 days) to induce features of airway disease. PIP at doses of (0.25, 1.25, and 6.25 µM, in vitro; 1 and 10 mg/kg, in vivo, i.n) and DEX (1 µM, in vitro; 1 mg/kg, in vivo, i.n) were used to assess cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), inflammation-related cellular signaling, and lung function. PIP treatment protects cells from CSE-induced lung epithelial cell death. PIP treatment restores the epithelial marker (p < 0.05) and decreases the mesenchymal, inflammatory markers (p < 0.05) in both in vitro and in vivo models. The PIP treatment improves the altered lung function (p < 0.05) in mice induced by CS exposure. Mechanistically, PIP treatment modulates SIRT1 thereby reducing the inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α (p < 0.05) and enhancing the epigenetic marker HDAC2 (p < 0.05) and antioxidant marker Nrf2 (p < 0.05) expressions. Thus, PIP alleviates pulmonary inflammation by modulating the SIRT1-mediated inflammatory cascade, inhibits EMT, and activates Nrf2 signaling.
The role of Mitochondrial Fission Proteins in Mitochondrial Dynamics in Kidney Disease
Authors: Qin Lingyu , Xi Shuhua
Published: November 2022

Mitochondria have many forms and can change their shape through fusion and fission of the outer and inner membranes, called “mitochondrial dynamics”. Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, such as mitochondrial fission protein 1 (FIS1), mitochondrial fission factor (MFF), mitochondrial 98 dynamics proteins of 49 kDa (MiD49), and mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 51 kDa (MiD51), can aggregate at the outer mitochondrial membrane and thus attract Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) from the cytoplasm to the outer mitochondrial membrane, where DRP1 can perform a scissor-like function to cut a complete mitochondrion into two separate mitochondria. Other organelles can promote mitochondrial fission alongside mitochondria. FIS1 plays an important role in mitochondrial–lysosomal contacts, differentiating itself from other mitochondrial-fission-associated proteins. The contact between the two can also induce asymmetric mitochondrial fission. The kidney is a mitochondria-rich organ, requiring large amounts of mitochondria to produce energy for blood circulation and waste elimination. Pathological increases in mitochondrial fission can lead to kidney damage that can be ameliorated by suppressing their excessive fission. This article reviews the current knowledge on the key role of mitochondrial-fission-associated proteins in the pathogenesis of kidney injury and the role of their various post-translational modifications in activation or degradation of fission-associated proteins and targeted drug therapy.
Clinical and Safety Outcomes Associated with Extended Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Tan Jiangshan , Deng Yuanrui , Hua Lu , Guo Tingting
Published: November 2022

Background: Many anticoagulant strategies are available for the extended treatment of venous thromboembolism, yet little guidance exists regarding which drug is most effective and safe. Aim: A network meta-analysis was performed to resolve this uncertainty. Methods: We searched the medical literature through June 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of anticoagulants for adults with VTE compared with other anticoagulants or a placebo. Results: We identified 13 eligible RCTs in 12 articles. All pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% credible intervals (CrI) mentioned below, except that for aspirin, were calculated by comparison with standard-intensity warfarin. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were not inferior to standard-intensity warfarin in preventing recurrence, and edoxaban was ranked first among the NOACs (HR, 0.99; 95% CrI, 0.70–1.39). All the NOACs, except rivaroxaban, were superior to standard-intensity warfarin in preventing bleeding events. Apixaban was ranked first and was considered to be safer than other NOACs for control of both major bleeding (HR = 0.07, 95% CrI: 0.01–0.37) and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB, HR = 0.30, 95% CrI: 0.13–0.67). Edoxaban was ranked second among the NOACs for control of major bleeding (HR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21–0.88), and dabigatran was ranked second among the NOACs for control of CRNMB (HR = 0.54, 95% CrI: 0.4–0.73). Conclusions: There existed no statistically significant differences in recurrence between NOACs and standard-intensity warfarin, and NOACs were associated with a lower risk of bleeding events. Edoxaban effectively prevented VTE recurrence and major bleeding, and apixaban was the best anticoagulant for controlling bleeding events.
Factors That Affect Survival Outcomes in Patients with Endometrial Clear Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Pergialiotis Vasilios , Haidopoulos Dimitrios , Christodoulou Theano , Rodolakis Ioannis , Prokopakis Ioannis , Liontos Michalis , Rodolakis Alexandros , Thomakos Nikolaos
Published: November 2022

Background: Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) is a rare aggressive histologic subtype of endometrial cancer with a high relapse rate. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the prognostic factors of disease relapse and overall survival. Methods: We conducted retrospective cohort studies that included endometrial CCC patients treated at our institution. Predictive variables of survival outcomes were evaluated considering factors that determine the survival of patients with endometrioid carcinoma. Results: Fifty-five patients with a median age of 68 years and a median follow-up period of 31 months were included in the present study. Recurrence-free and overall survival rates did not differ among patients with early-stage and advanced-stage disease (RFS HR 1.51 (95% CI 0.63, 3.61), OS HR 1.36 (0.56, 3.31)). Patients with upper abdominal metastases had significantly shorter progression-free and overall survival intervals (log-rank < 0.001). The Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon analysis indicated worse survival rates for patients with advanced disease (p = 0.040); however, the log-rank test that gave equal weight to all time points did not reveal significant differences (log-rank = 0.576). Conclusion: Clear cell carcinoma is an aggressive histologic subtype of endometrial cancer that seems to be moderately affected by known predictors of survival rates in endometrioid carcinoma patients, except for the disease stage. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the molecular profiling of these patients may help predict survival outcomes.
Exercise Training as a Non-Pharmacological Therapy for Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Home-Based Rehabilitation Program and Training Recommendations
Authors: Wojciuk Mariusz , Dzięcioł-Anikiej Zofia , Kaniewska Katarzyna , Ciołkiewicz Mariusz , Moskal-Jasińska Diana , Kuryliszyn-Moskal Anna
Published: November 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and progressive disorder with a poor prognosis associated with non-specific symptoms, including general weakness, shortness of breath on exertion, and decreased muscle strength and endurance. Despite recent significant progress in the field of PAH therapy, many patients are still characterized by a dynamic course of the disease, a significant reduction in physical performance, a constantly deteriorating quality of life, and limited activity in everyday life. Thus, the main goal of PAH therapy is to ensure an acceptable level of quality of life as early as possible in the course of the disease, reduce the progression of symptoms and, if possible, improve the prognosis, which is still poor. The perception of the importance of activity and exercise has changed significantly in recent years, and rehabilitation dedicated to PAH patients is now considered to be one of the new adjuvant treatment options. Currently, there is insufficient data on what form, frequency, and intensity of exercise are required for the best results. Nevertheless, exercise training (ET) is necessary in order to reverse the accompanying PAH impairment of exercise capacity and, without additional clinical risk, to maximize the benefits of pharmacotherapy. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the rehabilitation of PAH patients and presents the available rehabilitation models. In addition, it includes a ready-to-use, illustrated, safe home rehabilitation program with recommendations for its use. Utilizing ET as an adjuvant treatment option to improve the functional capacity and quality of life of patients may enhance the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic management and contribute to the improvement of the quality of care for patients suffering from PAH. The beneficial effect of exercise training on the development of symptoms improves the clinical course of the disease, and a lower incidence of adverse events can lead to a reduction in health care expenditure.
Intra- and Inter-Rater Reliability and Agreement of Ultrasound Imaging of Muscle Architecture and Patellar Tendon in Post-COVID-19 Patients Who Had Experienced Moderate or Severe COVID-19 Infection
Authors: de Jesus Ferreira Leandro Gomes , de Almeida Ventura Álvaro , da Silva Almeida Isabella , Mansur Henrique , Babault Nicolas , Durigan João Luiz Quagliotti , de Cássia Marqueti Rita
Published: November 2022

COVID-19 is associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Ultrasound is a tool to assess muscle architecture and tendon measurements, offering an idea of the proportion of the consequences of the disease, since significant changes directly reflect the reduction in the ability to produce force and, consequently, in the functionality of the patient; however, its application in post-COVID-19 infection needs to be determined. We aimed to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of ultrasound measures of the architecture of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), soleus (SO), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles, as well as the patellar tendon (PT) cross-sectional area (CSA) in post-COVID-19 patients. An observational, prospective study with repeated measures was designed to evaluate 20 post-COVID-19 patients, who were measured for the pennation angle (θp), fascicular length (Lf), thickness, echogenicity of muscles, CSA and echogenicity of the PT. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement were used. The intra-rater reliability presented high or very high correlations (ICC = 0.71–1.0) for most measures, except the θp of the TA, which was classified as moderate (ICC = 0.69). Observing the inter-rater reliability, all the evaluations of the PT, thickness and echogenicity of the muscles presented high or very high correlations. For the Lf, only the RF showed as low (ICC = 0.43), for the θp, RF (ICC = 0.68), GL (ICC = 0.70) and TA (ICC = 0.71) moderate and the SO (ICC = 0.40) low. The ultrasound reliability was acceptable for the muscle architecture, muscle and tendon echogenicity, and PT CSA, despite the low reliability for the Lf and θp of the RF and SO, respectively.
Global Transcriptional Profiling of Granulosa Cells from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients: Comparative Analyses of Patients with or without History of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome Reveals Distinct Biomarkers and Pathways
Authors: Daghestani Maha H. , Alqahtani Huda A. , AlBakheet AlBandary , Al Deery Mashael , Awartani Khalid A. , Daghestani Mazin H. , Kaya Namik , Warsy Arjumand , Coskun Serdar , Colak Dilek
Published: November 2022

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is often a complication of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the most frequent disorder of the endocrine system, which affects women in their reproductive years. The etiology of OHSS is multifactorial, though the factors involved are not apparent. In an attempt to unveil the molecular basis of OHSS, we conducted transcriptome analysis of total RNA extracted from granulosa cells from PCOS patients with a history of OHSS (n = 6) and compared them to those with no history of OHSS (n = 18). We identified 59 significantly dysregulated genes (48 down-regulated, 11 up-regulated) in the PCOS with OHSS group compared to the PCOS without OHSS group (p-value < 0.01, fold change >1.5). Functional, pathway and network analyses revealed genes involved in cellular development, inflammatory and immune response, cellular growth and proliferation (including DCN, VIM, LIFR, GRN, IL33, INSR, KLF2, FOXO1, VEGF, RDX, PLCL1, PAPPA, and ZFP36), and significant alterations in the PPAR, IL6, IL10, JAK/STAT and NF-κB signaling pathways. Array findings were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest cohort of Saudi PCOS cases (with or without OHSS) to date that was analyzed using a transcriptomic approach. Our data demonstrate alterations in various gene networks and pathways that may be involved in the pathophysiology of OHSS. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings.
Evaluation of Drug Interactions in Patients Treated with DAAs for Hepatitis C Therapy with Comorbidities and Cardiovascular Issues—A Delphi Consensus Project
Authors: Borghi Claudio , Ciancio Alessia , Gentile Ivan , Perrone Filardi Pasquale , Pasqualetti Patrizio , Brillanti Stefano
Published: November 2022

Orally administered direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have dramatically changed the possibility of curing HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection, with the two principal HCV regimens based on the combination of glecaprevir + pibrentasvir (GLE-PIB) and sofosbuvir + velpatasvir (SOF-VEL). A combination of drugs containing NS3/4A protease inhibitors, as well as the fact that almost all HCV patients can be treated at present, may expose patients to a higher rate of drug–drug interactions (DDIs). The hepatitis C treatment recommendations from the EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver) state that, prior to starting treatment with a DAA, a detailed drug history should be taken; yet, the decision on managing the potential DDIs is not always clear. For this reason, a group of Italian cardiologists and hepatologists promoted a survey among colleagues to assess the controversial issues when treating patients with chronic hepatitis C taking concomitant cardiovascular drugs, aiming to reach a consensus on the best practice to apply when treating a patient with chronic hepatitis C who is taking concomitant drugs for cardiovascular diseases. Two consecutive questionnaires were proposed between June and July 2022 to a qualitative Expert Panel (EP) of 14 gastroenterologists, infectologists, hepatologists, and internists, with statistical analyses performed on 100% of the responses for both questionnaires. Agreement among experts was assessed following the Delphi method as developed by the RAND Corporation. The interviewed experts consider DDIs a critical clinical problem to be evaluated in HCV patients. Therefore, dose changes, drug substitution, and discontinuation of concomitant cardiovascular drugs should be discouraged, even if planned for a relatively short period. Since oral DAAs have different DDIs profiles, hepatologists should prefer the antiviral DAA combination presenting the lowest instance of potential interactions.
The Use of an Errorless Learning Application to Support Re-Learning of (Instrumental) Activities for People Living with Korsakoff Syndrome
Authors: Biemond Roeline , Oudman Erik , Postma Albert
Published: November 2022

Korsakoff syndrome (KS) is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome derived from acute thiamine deficiency and concomitant alcohol use disorders. KS patients need lifelong assistance because of the severity of their cognitive problems. In clinical practice and research, errorless learning has proven to be an effective cognitive rehabilitation method for patients with KS. Our study focused on optimizing errorless learning by introducing new software technology to support the training process of errorless learning. Although the benefits of errorless learning for patients with Korsakoff’s syndrome have been thoroughly investigated, it is currently unclear whether new technology could contribute to better learning and maintenance of everyday tasks. Therefore, an errorless learning application was built. This device is a web application and can be used on a tablet, laptop, or smartphone. The application allows clinicians and researchers to insert pictures, videoclips, timers, and audio fragments in the different steps of an errorless learning training plan. This way, the different steps are visible and easy to follow for patients. Moreover, it ensures as a learning method that the training is executed exactly the same way for each and every training. The aim of this study was twofold: to examine whether the use of the errorless learning application is effective, and whether it leads to better results than a regular errorless learning of everyday activities. In total, 13 patients with KS were trained in instrumental activities of daily living by means of the application, and 10 patients were trained with traditional instructions. Results showed an equal improvement for both training methods. Importantly, the technology group could better remember the training when probed at a later moment than the traditional errorless learning group. These results are promising for further development of novel technology to support errorless learning applications in clinical practice.
Satellite Image Processing by Python and R Using Landsat 9 OLI/TIRS and SRTM DEM Data on Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa
Authors: Lemenkova Polina , Debeir Olivier
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we propose an advanced scripting approach using Python and R for satellite image processing and modelling terrain in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Data include Landsat 9 OLI/TIRS C2 L1 and the SRTM digital elevation model (DEM). The EarthPy library of Python and ‘raster’ and ‘terra’ packages of R are used as tools for data processing. The methodology includes computing vegetation indices to derive information on vegetation coverage and terrain modelling. Four vegetation indices were computed and visualised using R: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index 2 (EVI2), Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index 2 (ARVI2). The SAVI index is demonstrated to be more suitable and better adjusted to the vegetation analysis, which is beneficial for agricultural monitoring in Côte d’Ivoire. The terrain analysis is performed using Python and includes slope, aspect, hillshade and relief modelling with changed parameters for the sun azimuth and angle. The vegetation pattern in Côte d’Ivoire is heterogeneous, which reflects the complexity of the terrain structure. Therefore, the terrain and vegetation data modelling is aimed at the analysis of the relationship between the regional topography and environmental setting in the study area. The upscaled mapping is performed as regional environmental analysis of the Yamoussoukro surroundings and local topographic modelling of the Kossou Lake. The algorithms of the data processing include image resampling, band composition, statistical analysis and map algebra used for calculation of the vegetation indices in Côte d’Ivoire. This study demonstrates the effective application of the advanced programming algorithms in Python and R for satellite image processing.
Effects of Emerging Contaminants to Marine Organisms: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Matozzo Valerio , Marin Maria Gabriella
Published: November 2022

The aim of this Special Issue (SI) was to publish original research papers and reviews dealing with the effects of emerging contaminants on marine organisms (vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and microalgae) [...]
Development of a Time-Domain Simulation Code for Cross-Flow Vortex-Induced Vibrations of a Slender Structure with Current Using the Synchronization Model
Authors: Oh Seunghoon , Kim Eunsoo , Jung Dongho
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the numerical analysis method for the cross-flow vortex-induced vibration (CF VIV) analysis based on the proposed procedure for CF VIV analysis of slender structures is developed. In order to consider the changes in the incoming flow according to the static configuration of the slender structures due to the current, the proposed procedure has three stages. A slender structure is modeled as the lumped-mass line, and the dynamic relaxation method known as the numerical technique for a slender structure with large geometric nonlinearity is applied in the static analysis. The comparison studies with a commercial program are carried out to validate the developed code. The vortex-induced force on slender structures is considered with the synchronization model. To verify the developed CF VIV analysis procedure and numerical method for a slender structure, VIV analysis of the tensioned flexible risers under a uniform and shear current is performed. The simulated results of CF RMS displacement show good agreement with the results of the model test It is found that a tensioned riser vibrates with one dominant frequency in resonance with the nth mode, even though multi-frequencies components of the vortex shedding along the riser due to the shear current occurs.
Decreased Pulse Wave Velocity in a Systemic Sclerosis Population: Preliminary Results from a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Iaquinta Francesco Salvatore , Grosso Roberta , Di Napoli Stefania , Cassano Velia , Naty Saverio , Armentaro Giuseppe , Massimino Mattia , Condoleo Valentino , Barbara Keti , Crescibene Daniele , Caroleo Benedetto , Miceli Sofia , Sciacqua Angela , Grembiale Rosa Daniela
Published: November 2022

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by organ and tissue fibrosis in which the incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events is increased, although the exact underlying mechanism remains unclear. Arterial stiffness is a marker of vascular damage that can predict cardiovascular events; therefore, this study aimed to assess the augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), markers of stiffness, in a Systemic Sclerosis population and to detect potentially associated variables. Fourteen female Systemic Sclerosis patients and 14 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Demographic, anthropometric, sero-hematological parameters and disease characteristics were collected for each participant. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using an applanation tonometry system. No differences were found between groups, except for BMI, fasting blood glucose, red blood cells count, hemoglobin, and treatment. Patients had increased augmentation index than the controls (p = 0.008). PWV was significantly decreased in SSc patients compared with the controls (p = 0.007). PWV was correlated with age (r = 0.462; p = 0.048) and BMI (r = 0.458; p = 0.050). Finally, patients with no specific auto-antibody pattern had greater AIx than those expressing anticentromere antibodies. Our study demonstrated that SSc patients had greater AIx, but lower PWV than the controls. In addition, few variables were correlated to arterial stiffness. Further studies are necessary to validate these findings and to establish medication’s role in modifying cardiovascular risk.
Effectiveness of Mindfulness and Positive Strengthening mHealth Interventions for the Promotion of Subjective Emotional Wellbeing and Management of Self-Efficacy for Chronic Cardiac Diseases
Authors: Tabernero Carmen , Gutiérrez-Domingo Tamara , Steca Patrizia , Castillo-Mayén Rosario , Cuadrado Esther , Rubio Sebastián J. , Farhane-Medina Naima Z. , Luque Bárbara
Published: November 2022

Intervention in health prevention and treatment via mobile phones is becoming a key element on health promotion. Testing the efficacy of these mobile health (mHealth) psychological interventions for cardiovascular health is necessary as it is a chronic pathology, and it can influence the affective and cognitive states of patients. This research aimed to analyze the effectiveness of two brief psychological interventions—mindfulness and positive strengthening—to promote subjective emotional wellbeing and disease management self-efficacy using mHealth. This was a three-arm intervention and feasibility study, with a pre-post design and three follow-up measures with 105 patients (93 completed all phases) with cardiovascular diseases. Group 1 and 2 received the mindfulness or strengthening intervention, and Group 3 was the control group. The positive–negative affect and management self-efficacy for chronic and cardiovascular diseases were analyzed over time, while anxiety and depression levels were assessed at the beginning of the study. The results showed that mindfulness and positive strengthening interventions both had a positive effect on participants’ affective state and management self-efficacy for the disease in comparison with the control group over time, even after controlling for baseline anxiety and depression levels. Positive strengthening seems to be more effective for improving cardiac self-efficacy, while mindfulness practice was significantly more effective at reducing negative affect at the first face-to-face evaluation.
IPChain: Blockchain-Based Security Protocol for IoT Address Management Servers in Smart Homes
Authors: Yakubu Bello Musa , Khan Majid Iqbal , Bhattarakosol Pattarasinee
Published: November 2022

The dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers are forms of an Internet of Things (IoT) address management server (IoTAMS) that gives network configuration settings to newly connected hosts. Administrators of a network may save time by setting DHCP servers instead of every network node. However, the absence of a more robust authentication method for DHCP servers makes hosts susceptible to attacks since neither the server nor the users are able to check the other’s authenticity during DHCP connections. These concerns result in both internal and external threats to the system that have the potential to impair network services. Among these threats are malicious DHCP servers and DHCP starvation. This paper aims to provide a novel approach for tackling these issues and protect the DHCP protocol. The proposed model uses the Diffie–Hellman key exchange mechanism, the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem (ECDLP), a one-way hash function, blockchain technology, and a smart contract. In addition, registration and validation processes provide support for the proposed model in combating DHCP risks for both internal and external system threats. Results from this study show that the proposed model has an average of 21.1% more resistance to a growing number of adversaries than the benchmark models, thus revealing that the model is better suited for the security of IoT address management servers in smart homes, thereby enhancing resilience against related threats and the success of IP address management.
Anthropogenic Transformation of the River Basins of the Northwestern Slope of the Crimean Mountains (The Crimean Peninsula)
Authors: Tabunshchik Vladimir , Gorbunov Roman , Gorbunova Tatiana
Published: November 2022

The territory of the Crimean Peninsula is extensively subject to economic activities. In this connection, there is an ever-increasing impact on the environment. The present paper presents an analysis of the transformation of the area of the largest river basins of the northwestern slope of the Crimean Mountains (basins of the Zapadnyy Bulganak, Alma, Kacha, Belbek, and Chernaya rivers). For this purpose, various indicators characterizing the transformation of the area were calculated: coefficient of anthropogenic transformation; land degradation index; urbanity index; level of anthropogenic transformation; coefficient of absolute and relative intensities of ecological and economic land use distribution. The results show that the anthropogenic transformation of the area defined by the basins of the Zapadnyy Bulganak, Alma, Kacha, Belbek, and Chernaya rivers increases from the southeast to the northwest as the absolute height decreases, and when moving from river source to mouth. Among the basins under consideration, anthropogenic transformation is greatest In the Zapadnyy Bulganak River basin and lowest in the Chernaya River basin. Among the basins under consideration, anthropogenic transformation decreases from north to south in the following order: Zapadnyy Bulganak River basin, Alma River basin, Kacha River basin, Belbek River basin, Chernaya River basin. This is due to reduced impacts of economic activity within each respective basin.
The Hornsby Quarry Geosite, NSW, Australia—A Geoheritage Treasure
Authors: Semeniuk Trudi A.
Published: November 2022

Quarrying for aggregate material at Hornsby in New South Wales (Australia) exposed a >100 m-deep cross-section of the volcanic neck of a Jurassic diatreme, which extruded through the Sydney Basin deposits. The cross-section reveals volcanic features at many scales. Globally, there are very few instances of such excellent 3D exposure. It is arguable that this exposure alone makes it a geosite of international value. However, evaluation of the Hornsby Diatreme using a geoheritage toolkit shows that it meets various geoheritage conservation criteria, being a reference site, and an historically and culturally important site, as well as hosting important archival material. It has significant features at various scales: at the macroscale, where dish beds are visible on all quarry walls, preserving the structure formed during volcanic accretion and later caldera collapse; at the mesoscale, where breccia and surge layers are visible, providing insight into how magma interacted with various host rock types; and at the microscale, where lapilli, chilled margins on host rock blocks, and carbon-rich xenoliths are visible in hand specimens. As such, the Hornsby Quarry hosts a world-class array of volcanic features and preserves an important period of volcanic and post-volcanic history within the Sydney Basin, fostering geoeducation and geotourism.
Synthesis and Characterization of Benzoxazine Resin Based on Furfurylamine
Authors: Wang Jing , Liu Qinghua , Yu Jiangnan , Xu Riwei , Wang Chengzhong , Xiong Jinping
Published: November 2022

This paper presents an investigation of the modification of natural oxazines to traditional bisphenol A benzoxazines. Eugenol was reacted with furfurylamine to synthesize a new type of benzoxazine (eugenol–furfurylamine benzoxazine), with a yield of 77.65%; and another new type of benzoxazine (bisphenol A–furfurylamine benzoxazine) was generated from bisphenol A and furfurylamine, with the highest yield of 93.78%. In order to analyze and study the target molecules, IR (infrared radiation) spectroscopy, GPC (gel-permeation chromatograph), mass spectrometry, 1H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), and DMA (dynamic mechanical analysis) tests were conducted. Eugenol-furfurylamine benzoxazine and conventional bisphenol A-aniline benzoxazine (BZ) composite was also analyzed and cured at different mass ratios of 2:98, 5:95, 10:90, 20:80, and 40:60. When the content of eugenol furfurylamine in the blend reached 5%, the strength of the composite was greatly enhanced, while the strength decreased with the increase in eugenol furfurylamine oxazine content. Moreover, octamaleimide phenyl POSS (OMPS, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) and bisphenol A furamine benzoxazine were mixed at different molar ratios of 1:16, 1:8, 1:4, 1:2, and 1:1. The curing temperature sharply decreased with the increase in OMPS content. When the molar ratio reached 1:1, the curing temperature decreased from 248 to 175℃. A further advantage of using eugenol and furfurylamine is that they are renewable resources, which is important in terms of utilizing resources effectively and developing environmentally friendly products.
Influence of Adhesive Layer Thickness on the Effectiveness of Reinforcing Thin-Walled Steel Beams with CFRP Tapes—A Pilot Study
Authors: Szewczak Ilona , Snela Malgorzata , Rozylo Patryk
Published: November 2022

When reinforcing thin-walled steel members with composite tapes, two issues often overlooked in published scientific papers should be considered, namely the correct thickness of the adhesive layer and the optimum bond length of the CFRP tape. In this article, the authors focused on the first of these issues. For this purpose, eight beams with a thin-walled box cross-section and a length of 3 m were subjected to bending in a four-point scheme. Six beams were reinforced with Sika CarboDur S512 composite tape, and two beams without reinforcement were tested as reference members. Three thicknesses of the adhesive layer (SikaDur-30) were analyzed: 0.6 mm, 1.3 mm and 1.75 mm. In addition to examining the effect of the thickness of the adhesive layer on displacements and deformations of thin-walled steel members, the load value at which the composite tape peeled off was also analyzed. Numerical analyses were then carried out in Abaqus, the outcomes of which showed good agreement with the laboratory results. Both numerical and laboratory results have shown that the thickness of the adhesive layer had a minor effect on the reduction in deformation and displacement of the tested beams. At the same time, with the increase in the thickness of the adhesive layer, the value of the load at which the CFRP tapes detached from the beam surface significantly decreased.
Molecular Dynamics Study on Structure, Vibrational Properties, and Transport Coefficients of Liquid Alumina
Authors: Zhou Xiaolin , Zhou Yufeng , Deng Ya , Zhang Yumin
Published: November 2022

The structure, vibrational density of states, and transport coefficients of liquid alumina were studied using molecular dynamics simulations. At the temperature of 2500 K, 3000 K, 3500 K, and 4000 K, systems with three different densities were constructed, respectively, including the configurations with densities of 2.81 g/cm3 and 3.17 g/cm3, and the relaxed ones with nearly zero pressure at each temperature. With the changes in temperature or density, the transformations on the structural, vibrational and transport properties were discussed. The Born–Mayer–Huggins type of atomic interactions was used, with newly optimized parameters. The analysis of the interatomic correlations indicated that the short-range order of liquid alumina was mainly constructed by AlO4 tetrahedra, also a certain number of AlO3 and AlO5 was present. Meanwhile, the structural transitions on the elemental units occurred as either the temperature or density increased. Two primary frequency bands were observed in each vibrational density of states spectrum, with the higher frequency bands produced by the O atom vibrations, and the lower frequency ones generated by the Al atom vibrations. Self-diffusion coefficients were estimated using the linear behavior of the mean-squared displacement at long time, while by using the Green–Kubo relation during equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, thermal conductivities and viscosities were calculated. Significantly, the viscosity at 2500 K with a density of 2.81 g/cm3 was equal to 25.23 mPa s, which was very close to the experimental finding.