bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and detection capabilities of the ultrasonic examination procedure established by AWS D1.1 and D1.5 Codes
Authors: Arias Paula A. Cortés , Barrada Jorge E. Giraldo
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to quantitatively determine the detection and evaluation capabilities of the ultrasonic procedure established by the American Welding Society in AWS D1.1 and D1.5 for the examination of welded steel bridges and buildings. Several reference steel blocks were manufactured employing ASTM A709 Grade 50W steel and including artificial reflectors with various shapes and dimensions, as follows: (1) with two types of planar artificial reflectors (Notches and Flat Bottom Holes), and (2) with one type of volumetric reflector (Side-Drilled Holes). The reflectors were manufactured in four sizes (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mm), and were manually examined with a pulse-echo ultrasound equipment as follows: using the prescribed AWS procedure (Experiment 0), changing the crystal size (Experiment 1), and changing the frequency (Experiment 2). These modifications can induce changes in the detection and evaluation capabilities. Eight examination tests were performed for each type and size of artificial reflector, including variations in examination angle (45°, 60°, and 70°), as follows: two sound distances (first and second leg), two scanning levels, and two trials, for a total of 1224 measurements. Among the most important results, we found that the examination procedure prescribed by the AWS has good detection capability, which is not altered by changes in transducer frequency or crystal size. Nevertheless, this procedure has a poor ability to evaluate reflectors regardless of their size or type. In sum, with this methodology, it is almost impossible to determine, in a reliable way, the “severity” of natural discontinuities in welds or artificial reflectors.
Sheep fed sugarcane-based diets: Insights into productivity, carcass traits, longissimus muscle, and milk quality - A meta-analysis
Authors: Sadarman Sadarman , Nurfitriani Rizki Amalia , Azmi Amirul Faiz Mohd , Nurkholis Nurkholis , Nusantoro Suluh , Respati Adib Norma , Ibrahim Alek , Atmoko Bayu Andri , Sitaresmi Pradita Iustitia , Hudaya Mohammad Firdaus , Sasongko Wahidin Teguh , Baihaqi Zein Ahmad , Hakim Lukman , Jambang Nicolays , Mulianda Randi , Wahyono Teguh , Ujilestari Tri , Sholikin Mohammad Miftakhus
Published: April 2024

This meta-analysis summarizes the effects of incorporating sugarcane or its by-products into the diet of sheep from various aspects including productivity, carcass characteristics, meat quality of the longissimus muscle, and milk quality. Study differences were defined as random factors while fixed factors accounted for the levels of sugarcane supplementation in the sheep diet. The analysis also examined differences in categorical factors such as sugarcane form (whole, top leaves, bagasse, and residue) and pretreatment methods (untreated, hydrolyzed, and ensiled). Adding sugarcane to the sheep diet showed a significant increase in average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.05). However, there was a significant decrease in hot carcass weight (HCW), cold carcass weight (CCW), and dressing percentage (DP) (P < 0.05). Color variables, such as redness (a*) and brightness (L*), of sheep meat were higher when fed a sugarcane-based diet provided in the form of whole plant (P< 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in lactose and protein concentrations in sheep milk (P < 0.05) after feeding a sugarcane-based diet. Overall, sugarcane supplementation showed some benefits in sheep productivity variables, but it did not yield the expected results in maintaining carcass characteristics, longissimus muscle, and milk quality.
Rurality, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Early Cardiovascular Disease among Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Noyd David H. , Bailey Anna , Janitz Amanda , Razzaghi Talayeh , Bouvette Sharon , Beasley William , Baker Ashley , Chen Sixia , Bard David
Published: April 2024

Background and Aims:
Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) later in life potentiate risk for late cardiovascular disease (CVD) from cardiotoxic treatment among survivors. This study evaluated the association of baseline CVRFs and CVD in the early survivorship period.
Methods
This analysis included patients ages 0–29 at initial diagnosis and reported in the institutional cancer registry between 2010 and 2017 (n = 1228). Patients who died within five years (n = 168), those not seen in the oncology clinic (n = 312), and those with CVD within one year of diagnosis (n = 17) were excluded. CVRFs (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity) within one year of initial diagnosis, were constructed and extracted from the electronic health record based on discrete observations, ICD9/10 codes, and RxNorm codes for antihypertensives.
Results
Among survivors (n = 731), 10 incident cases (1.4%) of CVD were observed between one year and five years after the initial diagnosis. Public health insurance (p = 0.04) and late effects risk strata (p = 0.01) were positively associated with CVD. Among survivors with public insurance(n = 495), two additional cases of CVD were identified from claims data with an incidence of 2.4%. Survivors from rural areas had a 4.1 times greater risk of CVD compared with survivors from urban areas (95% CI: 1.1–15.3), despite adjustment for late effects risk strata.
Conclusions
Clinically computable phenotypes for CVRFs among survivors through informatics methods were feasible. Although CVRFs were not associated with CVD in the early survivorship period, survivors from rural areas were more likely to develop CVD.
Implications for Survivors:
Survivors from non-urban areas and those with public insurance may be particularly vulnerable to CVD.
The State of the Art Bacterial Nanocellulose: A Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Ferreira Amanda Souza , Rodrigues Heloisa Campeão , de Souza Samara Silva , Ghisi Nédia Castilhos
Published: April 2024

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a versatile biopolymer with wide-ranging applications in various areas and is responsible for a global market turnover of around US$95 million, with an expected increase to US$3.5 billion by 2026. In view of the relevance and emergence of the subject, there is a need for a systematic analysis of the current state of the art of BNC. The aim of this study is therefore to carry out the first scientometric analysis of bacterial nanocellulose between 2006 and 2024. The study was based on data obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) Main Collection in March 2024, using Topic Search (TS) = bacterial nanocellulose. A total of 1796 documents were obtained, which were refined to 959 documents and analyzed using CiteSpace (5.8.R3) and Excel (2016). As a result of this analysis, the following were obtained: English as the predominant language; the article being the most used type of document; the history of citations and publications steadily increasing from 2013 to 2024. It was possible to correlate the number of publications with investment in nanotechnology, with China and the United States being the countries responsible for the largest number of publications. It was also possible to identify the main trends in the area using keyword analysis. Therefore, with the scientometric analysis carried out, the main influences impacting on the state of the art of bacterial nanocellulose could be verified.
Identification and Description of Emotions by Current Large Language Models
Authors: Patel Suketu , Fan Jin
Published: April 2024

The assertion that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot grasp the complexities of human emotions has been a long-standing debate. However, recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) challenge this notion by demonstrating an increased capacity for understanding and generating human-like text. In this study, we evaluated the empathy levels and the identification and description of emotions by three current language models: Bard, GPT 3.5, and GPT 4. We used the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the 60-question Empathy Quotient (EQ-60) questions to prompt these models and score the responses. The models' performance was contrasted with human benchmarks of neurotypical controls and clinical populations. We found that the less sophisticated models (Bard and GPT 3.5) performed inferiorly on TAS-20, aligning close to alexithymia, a condition with significant difficulties in recognizing, expressing, and describing one's or others' experienced emotions. However, GPT 4 achieved performance close to the human level. These results demonstrated that LLMs are comparable in their ability to identify and describe emotions and may be able to surpass humans in their capacity for emotional intelligence. Our novel insights provide alignment research benchmarks and a methodology for aligning AI with human values, leading toward an empathetic AI that mitigates risk.
Phytocytogenotoxicity of Esters obtained from Phenols and Phenoxyacetic Acid using the Steglich reaction
Authors: Pinheiro Patrícia Fontes , Martins Geisiele Silva , Gonçalves Patrícia Martins , Vasconcelos Loren Cristina , Bergamin Aline dos Santos , Scotá Mayla Bessa , Santo Isabella Silva Resende , Pereira Ulisses Alves , Praça-Fontes Milene Miranda
Published: April 2024

There is a growing demand for herbicides that are more effective than conventional ones yet less harmful to ecosystems. Considering this, this study aimed to synthesize esters from phenols and phenoxyacetic acid, using compounds with known phytotoxic potential as starting materials. Phenoxyacetic acid was first synthesized and then utilized in the synthesis of seven esters through Steglich esterification, employing DCC (N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) and DMAP (N,N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine) in the presence of phenols (thymol, vanillin, eugenol, carvacrol, guaiacol, p-cresol, and β-naphthol), yielding esters 1–7. All synthesized compounds were characterized using mass spectrometry, as well as 1H and 13C NMR. These compounds were tested for phytotoxicity to evaluate their effects on the germination and root development of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds, commonly used as model plants in phytotoxicity studies and for the induction of alterations in the mitotic cycle of meristematic cells of L. sativa roots. Esters 1, 3, 4, and 5 exhibited the most significant phytotoxic activity in the initial development stages of both L. sativa and S. bicolor. These findings suggest that these compounds could serve as inspiration for the synthesis of new semi-synthetic herbicides.
Investigation of Anterior Segment and Pupillometry Changes with Sirius Corneal Topography in Chronic Smokers
Authors: Birgul Ramazan , Sakallioglu Ahmet Kursad
Published: April 2024

PurposeChronic smoking is still one of the world’s leading health problems. In addition to the systemic effects of cigarette smoking, ocular effects are also present, as ocular structures are a mucosal surface. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic cigarette smoking on the anterior segment and pupil using Sirius corneal topography.Materials and MethodsThe study included 70 chronic smokers in the experimental group and 72 non-smokers in the control group. Central corneal thickness (CCT); corneal volume (CV); anterior chamber depth (ACD); anterior chamber angle (ACA); anterior chamber volume (ACV); first non-contact tear breakup time (NCTBUT); mean NCTBUT; meibography; scotopic, mesopic and photopic pupil sizes; and dynamic pupil sizes at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 s were measured.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between the chronic smoker group and the control group in terms of age; gender; CCT; CV; ACD; ACA; ACV; first NCTBUT; mean NCTBUT; or dynamic pupillometry at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 s. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of meibography; scotopic, mesopic and photopic static pupillometry; and dynamic pupillometry at 0 and 1 s.ConclusionIn this study, only the meibomian gland was affected among the anterior segment structures. Changes in other anterior segment structures were not significant. On the pupil, chronic smoking increased the scotopic, mesopic and photopic pupil diameter and the early stages of dynamic pupillometry. This indicates that cigarette smoking results in nicotinic autonomic neuropathy on the pupil.
Green Synthesis of Co-based Nanoparticles from Bean Shell Extract and Determination of the Effect of Their Activity on Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis
Authors: Baytar Orhan , Şahin Ömer , Genli Nasrettin , Ekinci Arzu
Published: April 2024

The study investigated the effect of Co(0) and Co-B NPs catalysts synthesized using the method of green synthesis on the NaBH4 hydrolysis process. The investigation of the structure and surface morphology of the catalysts was evaluated using XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, FTIR, and XPS analyses. The effect of catalysts on NaBH4 was examined at different catalyst amounts, different NaBH4/NaOH concentrations, and different temperature values. At 30 °C solution temperature, the highest HGR and TOF values for Co(0) NPs catalyst were determined as 7326 mL.min-1.g-1cat and 8572 mL.min-1.g-1cat, respectively. Under the same conditions, HGR and TOF values for Co-B NPs catalyst were determined as 12524 mL.min-1.g-1cat and 15189 mL.min-1.g-1cat, respectively. The calculated activation energies for Co(0) and Co-B NPs catalysts are 37.68 kJmol-1 and 21.28 kJmol-1, respectively. Enthalpy and entropy values were calculated as 4.43 kJmol-1 and 44 Jmol-1K-1 for Co(0) and 23.16 kJmol-1 and 98 Jmol-1K-1 for Co-B NPs, using Eyring's equation, respectively. The catalysts showed a small decrease in activity over five cycles, indicating that they have potential for reusability.
Enhancing Clinical Spanish Proficiency through Standardized Patient Interactions: A Case Study of Medical Students' Performance
Authors: Vera Alexandra Lopez , Ahmad Joshua , Ramos Catania
Published: April 2024

Background
With the anticipated growth of the Hispanic population in the United States to 30% by 2050, there is an urgent demand for Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals. The California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine has addressed this need by introducing a medical Spanish curriculum that includes Spanish-speaking Standardized Patients. This innovative educational approach is designed to improve students' communication skills and enhance their ability to take medical histories, preparing them for effective clinical interactions as evaluated through the Objective Structured Clinical Examination.
Methods
This study assesses the impact of the medical Spanish curriculum, with a focus on the role of Standardized Patients in role-playing scenarios that simulate real clinical experiences. A regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between students’ attendance in medical Spanish classes and their performance in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, highlighting the value of experiential learning in developing clinical skills.
Results
The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between consistent participation in medical Spanish courses, which feature Standardized Patient interactions, and higher scores in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination. This relationship emphasizes the importance of regular engagement in these interactive educational settings to improve clinical assessment capabilities.
Conclusions
The inclusion of Standardized Patients in the medical Spanish curriculum plays a critical role in enhancing students’ clinical performance, validating the importance of experiential learning in medical education. This approach confirms the effectiveness of practical, interaction-based language instruction in producing competent, culturally adept healthcare providers ready to serve an increasingly diverse patient demographic.
The implications of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the biological activities of platelet-rich plasma.
Authors: Malange Kaue Franco , de Souza Douglas Menezes , Lemes Julia Borges Paes , Fagundes Cecilia Costa , Oliveira Anna Lethicia Lima , Pagliusi Marco Oreste Oreste , Carvalho Nathalia Santos , Nishijima Catarine Massucato , Silva Cintia Rizoli Ruiz da , Consonni Silvio Roberto , Sartori Cesar Renato , Tambeli Claudia Herrera , Parada Carlos Amilcar
Published: April 2024

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a biological blood-derived therapeutic that releases several proteins in injured tissue, regulating the inflammatory process and triggering tissue anabolism. Outside of the central nervous system (CNS), these platelets represent the major source of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The associated anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant properties of this neurotrophin could have a potential applicability applied in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA). In osteoarthritic joints, it is suggested that synovial cells release BDNF, being found higher concentrations of this protein in the patient’s synovial fluid. Thus, considering platelets as an important therapeutic source of BDNF and the potential role of this neurotrophin in regulate joint homeostasis and OA outcomes, this study aimed to evaluate the contribution of BDNF in PRP repair activities on an experimental model of osteoarthritis (EOA) induced by monoiodine acetate (MIA) insult. Initially, the characterization of the PRP was performed, obtaining a leukocyte-poor-platelet-rich plasma (LP-PRP). After, in vitro analysis indicated that platelets activated by Ca2+ release BDNF, and suppression of M1 macrophage polarization induced by LP-PRP is dependent on BDNF-TrkB receptor. The behavioral and ex-vivo analyses in EOA animals showed that functional recovery in gait parameters and mitigation on tissue damage induced by LP-PRP, such as downregulation of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α), reduction of joint pain and tissue damage (OARSI score and neuronal injury through ATF-3 [+] cells), depends on Trk-B receptor. Thus, the results indicate that BDNF and Trk-B receptor appear to be essential in the mechanisms of joint repair induced by LP-PRP with implications on joint functional recovery as well. These findings contribute to clarifying the role of BDNF in joint homeostasis, repurposing its restricted therapeutic properties in the CNS to repair functions in non-neuronal tissues that could be an option for chronic pain management in osteoarthritis (OA).
Damages and costs of forest wildfires in New Zealand using satellite data
Authors: Blanc Elodie , Noy Ilan
Published: March 2024

We estimate wildfire impacts on Aotearoa New Zealand forests, focusing specifically on impacts in terms of vegetation recovery and costs. To this end, we use satellite-derived imagery of fire intensity and a vegetation index to measure burn severity and vegetation recovery. We then calculate profitability costs and post-fire remediation and clearing costs, estimated under various wildfire intensity scenarios, to determine the total cost of wildfires. We conclude, maybe unsurprisingly, that forests subject to high-intensity fires take longer to recover than those suffering medium- and low-intensity fires. The economic cost is also higher for higher-intensity fires, averaging 18,000 $/Ha, but due to the small relative share of high-intensity fires, it is the medium-intensity fires that cause the most economic damages in New Zealand.
JEL Codes: Q23, Q54
The Development of Indoor Natural Elements Had Relaxing Psychophysiological Effects on Older Adults in Taiwan During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chung Ya-Hui , Chen Shiu-Jen , Lee Ching-Lung , Chang Yu-Sen
Published: March 2024

While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all types of people, older adults have been disproportionately affected. Therefore, during this period we developed an indoor program inspired by art and natural elements (plant essential oils [EOs]) intended to create a relaxing effect akin to a forest atmosphere to enhance their psychophysiological health. There are for 30 Taiwanese older adults (range, 59-79 years) participated in the study. We combined art activity (still-life painting of vegetables) with breathing Pseudotsuga menziesii and Lavandula angustifolia EOs during a 100-minute experiment involving still-life painting and the inhalation of 2.5% diffused EOs. The research shows physiological measures (heart rate, normalized low-frequency heart oscillations, ratio of low- to high-frequency heart oscillations, high-beta waves, and gamma waves) decreased;correspondingly, an increased standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, normalized high-frequency heart oscillations, and high-alpha waves were observed, indicating relaxation physiological state. Subjective psychological assessments using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory–Stateyielded lower post-test scores, further supporting relaxation effects. The psychophysiological data from this study provide important scientific evidence for the physical and mental health benefits of indoor nature-based activity programs for older adults, thereby improving their quality of life.
The natural history and longitudinal outcomes of patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative proctitis or ulcerative proctosigmoiditis: a single-center, retrospective study
Authors: Ye Kexin , Jin Zhenhe , Chen Qichen , Cen Li , Pan Jiaqi , Zhou Tianyu , Jiang Wenxi , Liu Zhaoxue , Luo Linwen , Shen Zhe
Published: March 2024

Background
Ulcerative proctitis (UP) and ulcerative proctosigmoiditis (UPS) are special forms of ulcerative colitis. The disease burdens of UP and UPS are increasing. However, the natural history and prognosis of patients with mild-to-moderate UP or UPS have been poorly studied.
Aims
The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics, short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with mild-to-moderate UP or UPS followed at a single center over a period of 3 years.
Methods
A retrospective study of patients with UP and UPS followed at a single center from 2021 to 2023 was performed. After scanning for inclusion and exclusion criteria, patient demographics and clinical data were collected. Disease severity was accessed by Myao endoscopy scores and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity. Endoscopic improvement was defined as decreased scores at the last follow-up. Disease extension was defined as endoscopic evidence of a greater extent of disease at the last follow-up.
Results
A total of 414 patients were included for evaluation, of which 292 patients (70.53%) were at mild disease stage, and 122 patients (29.47%) had moderate diseases. At the last follow-up, 315 patients (76.09%) showed endoscopic improvement, and 247 patients (59.66%) showed endoscopic remission. An overall extension rate of 11.11% was observed at the last follow-up. Subgroup analysis revealed a better prognosis in younger patients. The disease extension rate was higher in moderate group and symptomatic patients.
Conclusions
Promising outcomes were observed in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative proctitis or ulcerative proctosigmoiditis. Disease severity and symptoms are correlated with the risk of extension.
Implementation of national policies and interventions (WHO Best Buys) for non-communicable disease prevention and control in Ghana: a mixed methods analysis
Authors: Baatiema Leonard , Sanuade Olutobi Adekunle , Kretchy Irene Akwo , Okoibhole Lydia , Kushitor Sandra Boatemaa , Haghparast-Bidgoli Hassan , Awuah Raphael Baffour , Amon Samuel , Mensah Sedzro Kojo , Grijalva-Eternod Carlos S. , Adjaye-Gbewonyo Kafui , Antwi Publa , Jennings Hannah Maria , Arhinful Daniel Kojo , Aikins Moses , Koram Kwadwo , Blandford Ann , Fottrell Edward
Published: April 2024

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages all member states to adopt and implement a package of essential evidence-based interventions called the “Best Buys” to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To date, little is known about the implementation of national policies and interventions for NCD control in the WHO member states in sub-Saharan African. Our study aimed to evaluate the implementation of national policies and interventions (WHO “Best Buys”) for non-communicable disease prevention and control in Ghana.Methods This was explanatory mixed methods research which started with a document review of Ghana’s WHO “Best Buys” scores from the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022 WHO NCD Progress Monitor Reports. Thereafter, we conducted 25 key informant interviews and one focus group discussion (11 participants) with key policymakers and stakeholders in the NCD landscape in Ghana to understand the implementation of the NCD policies and interventions, and the policy implementation gaps and challenges faced. Data from the NCD Progress reports were presented using mean scores whilst the qualitative data was analysed thematically.Results Ghana has shown some advancements in the implementation of the WHO "Best Buys" measures. Ghana’s implementation scores for 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022 were 5.0, 9.0, 5.0 and 5.5 respectively, against the mean implementation scores of 7.6/19 for lower-middle-income countries and 9.5/19 for upper-middle-income countries. Efforts to decrease major risk factors such as excessive alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet have been progressing slowly. The most common challenges were related to a) the role of socio-cultural factors, b) stakeholder engagement, c) enforcement and implementation of public health policies, d) implementation guidelines, e) public awareness and education on NCDs, f) financing of NCD prevention and control, g) curative-centered health systems, and h) over-centralization of NCD care.Conclusion Ghana has made progress in adopting the WHO "Best Buys" targeting risk factors of NCDs. However, the country faces contextual barriers to effective implementation. With the retrogression of some measures over time despite making progress in some earlier years, further investigation is needed to identify facilitators for sustained implementation of the WHO “Best Buys” interventions.
Comparative analysis of changes in retinal layer thickness following femtosecond laser- assisted cataract surgery and conventional cataract surgery
Authors: Surl Dongheon , Kim Seung-min , Kim Sang-Yeop , Kim Tae-Im , Seo Kyoung Yul , Jun Ikhyun
Published: April 2024

Background: To investigate the influence of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) on macula by examining changes in retinal layers after FLACS and to compare these changes with those after conventional cataract surgery (CCS).
Methods: This study included 113 unrelated Korean patients with age-related cataract who underwent CCS or FLACS in Severance Hospital between September 2019 and July 2021. Optical coherence tomography was performed before and 1 month after surgery. The total retinal layer (TRL) was separated into the inner retinal layer (IRL) and outer retinal layer (ORL); moreover, the IRL was subdivided into the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer, and outer nuclear layer. We performed between-group comparisons of the postoperative thickness in each retinal layer and the postoperative differences in retinal thickness. The average retinal thickness of the four inner macular ring quadrants was used for comparative analysis.
Results: Compared with the CCS group, the FLACS group exhibited a thicker ORL (P=0.004) and a thinner INL (P=0.007) after surgery. All retinal layer thickness values showed significant postoperative changes regardless of the surgery type of surgery (P<0.05). The postoperative increase in TRL and IRL thickness was significantly smaller in the FLACS group than in the CCS group (P=0.027, P=0.012).
Conclusions: The 1-month postoperative retinal changes were less pronounced in the FLACS group than in the CCS group.
Real-Time Medical Lesion Screening: Accurate and Rapid Detector
Authors: Shao Dangguo , Jiang Jie , Ma Lei , Yi Sanli
Published: April 2024

Deep learning is a rapidly advancing field, and computer vision techniques such as image segmentation and object detection have found extensive applications across various domains. In medical images, computer vision technology proves effective in handling large volumes of medical imaging data, thereby improving screening efficiency. In the realm of practical medical image applications, object detection has not gained the same level of popularity as image segmentation. Even though some object detection algorithms have been employed for lesion detection, the majority are single-stage detection algorithms, primarily based on the YOLO series[1–4]. However, the emergence of Transformers[2] appears to be altering this landscape. Leveraging the outstanding performance of Transformers, we propose the RPC-DETR model based on DETR[6–8], further exploring the potential of Transformers in lesion screening detection. We conducted experiments with the RPC-DETR model on the publicly available brain tumor dataset Br35H, minimizing the model's parameter count and reducing its complexity. In our experiments, RPC-DETR achieved high accuracy with only 14 million parameters. In summary, we have achieved greater accuracy in brain tumor detection by employing a more lightweight model.
Water use of an irrigated peach orchard treated with different plastic mulching films under Mediterranean climate
Authors: ferrara rossana monica , Bruno Maria Roberta , Ruggieri Sergio , Carolis Gabriele , Campi Pasquale , Cappelluti Onofrio , Ciurlia Alessandro , Maggi Pietro , Modugno Anna Francesca , Montaghi Alessandro , Azzolini Alessandro , Minorenti Valerio , Gaeta Liliana , Piarulli Mariagrazia , Martinelli Nicola , Rana Gianfranco
Published: March 2024

Italy is the third producer in the world of peach orchards. The semi-arid climate in Mediterranean area is particularly suitable for late ripening peach cultivars, but they are more water demanding due to the longer period of the fruits on the plants. Considering the climate change scenarios with limitation in water resources, water saving techniques must be employed in order to optimize the use of irrigation water. Strategies for reducing agricultural water use include the use of different mulching materials spread onto the surface of soil for reducing soil evaporation and improving soil moisture preservation. The advantages of using plastic mulching film has been studied in an irrigated peach orchard for three season (2021–2023), evaluating the effects on yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and water productivity (WP) under clean tillage without mulch (P0) and two plastic photo-reflective plastic mulching films, white (P1) and silver (P2). The effective water loss by transpiration was measured by thermal dissipation method, obtaining the seasonal transpiration used for estimating the water use efficiency as the ratio between the transpiration and the water supply by irrigation and precipitation: in mean of the three seasons, WUE of P0 was 47% and 44% lower than P1 and P2, respectively. An average increasing of yield of 18% was observed under plastic mulching treatments, with an increasing in the WP of the mulched treatments from the first to the third year of the trial when the WP was almost identical for P1 and P2, and 39% greater than P0.
Compound dry-hot-fire events in South America: an unapparent, long-range and deadly ripple effect
Authors: Santos Djacinto Monteiro dos , Oliveira Aline M. , Duarte Ediclê S. F. , Rodrigues Julia A. , Menezes Lucas S. , Albuquerque Ronaldo , Roque Fabio O , Peres Leonardo F. , Hoelzemann Judith J. , Libonati Renata
Published: April 2024

Under current global warming, South America (SA) has been experiencing severe compound drought-heatwave (CDHW) conditions, which, in turn, exacerbate fire risk. A recent showcase is the unprecedented Pantanal 2020 fire season (P20F), when one-third of the biome was burned, with reported local impacts on the ecosystem, public health, and economy. Nevertheless, the extent to which this event led to long-range ripple effects remains unknown. Here, we explored a cascade chain of hazards along the continent associated with the CDHW-fires from P20F, integrating observational, satellite-based, and reanalysis data, models, and death records. We showed that CDHW-fire-related smoke transport episodes triggered high PM2.5 levels in the SA's most populated area, surpassing the World Health Organization’s guidelines by up to 600%. Such smoke-induced air pollution conditions coincided with widespread heatwaves in the affected remote areas, amplifying health risks. The mortality burden attributable to this multi-hazard short-term (14 days) exposure was estimated to be 2,150 premature deaths (21% increase above expected levels). Our findings highlight that the impacts of CDHW-fire events in SA are beyond the local level, implying growing challenges for risk management and public health and the need for governance based on telecoupled flows, linking different systems over multiple scales.
Exploring the causality and pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes in gastric cancer based on Mendelian randomization and transcriptome data analyses
Authors: Ma Junyang , Gao Yuan , Hou Shufu , Ma Ning , Cui Shichang , Zhang Ziwei , Li Wuyang , Zhu Jiankang
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer in the world, and the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer risk has been a focus of attention. However, the causal relationship between the two and its pathogenesis are still highly controversial.
Methods: Two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and meta-analysis were used to explore the potential causal relationship between T2DM and GC. The sensitivity of the MR analysis was assessed by Cochran's Q test and the leave-one-out test. Next, transcriptome analyses of T2DM and GC patients were performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases to identify genes common to T2DM and GC and to construct a risk score and a prediction model for GC risk in combination with clinical features. KM curves and Cox regression were used for survival analysis, and the AUC values of the ROC curves were used for model evaluation. Mechanisms were explored by gene enrichment analysis and tumor immune microenvironment analysis.
RESULTS: MR analysis revealed a causal relationship between T2DM and GC at the genetic level. In addition, the meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the current MR results. We constructed a prognostic risk score consisting of three T2DM-related genes (CST2, PSAPL1, and C4orf48). KM curves and Cox regression analyses suggested that OS was worse in patients with high risk scores (p < 0.05), and the constructed nomogram model had good predictive ability (training set: AUC = 0.786 and validation set: AUC = 0.757).
Conclusion: Bidirectional MR two-sample analysis revealed that T2DM was a high-level risk factor for GC. Transcriptome data analysis revealed that the risk score, which reflects the expression of T2DM-related genes, can be used as a new marker to predict the prognosis of patients with coexisting T2DM.
KEYWORDS: Gastric cancer, Type 2 diabetes, Mendelian randomization, Transcriptomic data, prevention
Continuous mild stimulation with advanced glycation end products reduce aggrecan and type II collagen production via the RAGE without inducing cell death in human OUMS-27 chondrosarcoma cells
Authors: Hatipoglu Omer Faruk , Nishinaka Takashi , Yaykasli Kursat Oguz , Mori Shuji , Watanabe Masahiro , Toyomura Takao , Nishibori Masahiro , Hirohata Satoshi , Takahashi Hideo , Wake Hidenori
Published: April 2024

Chondrocytes are responsible for the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) components of cartilage, such as collagen type II alpha-1 (COL2A1) and aggrecan, which are loosely distributed in articular cartilage. Chondrocyte dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in all tissues and body fluids, including cartilage and synovial fluid, with aging. Their accumulation in vivo is one of the major factors that cause and accelerate pathological changes in some chronic diseases, such as OA. Glycolaldehyde-derived AGEs (AGE3), known as toxic AGEs, have the strongest effect on cartilage compared to other AGEs. Studies conducted to date to demonstrate the effects of AGEs on chondrocytes have used very high doses (100 µg/mL) and collagen and aggrecan were reduced in the short term (24 h) due to decreased chondrocyte cell viability. However, it is assumed that AGEs stimulate cells for a longer period of time in vivo without causing cell death. Therefore, we stimulated a human chondrosarcoma cell line (OUMS-27) with 10 µg/mL AGE3 for four weeks. As a result, the expression of COL2A1 and aggrecan was significantly downregulated in OUMS-27 cells without inducing cell death, but the expression of proteases that play an important role in cartilage destruction was not affected. In addition, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) inhibitors suppressed the AGE3-induced reduction in cartilage component production, suggesting the involvement of RAGE in the action of AGE3.
Thoracoscopic primary repair is useful for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula in neonates with low body weight
Authors: Gohda Yousuke , Uchida Hiroo , Shirota Chiyoe , Tainaka Takahisa , Sumida Wataru , Makita Satoshi , Yasui Akihiro , Kanou Yoko , Nakagawa Yoichi , Kato Daiki , Maeda Takuya , Guo Yaohui , Liu Jiahui , ishii Hiroki , Ota Kazuki , Hinoki Akinari , Satomi Miwa
Published: April 2024

Purpose
The surgical indication of thoracoscopic primary repair for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula is under debate. The current study aimed to investigate the outcome of thoracoscopic primary repair for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula in patients weighing < 2000 g and those who underwent emergency surgery at the age of 0 day.
Methods
The surgical outcomes were compared between patients weighing < 2000 g and those weighing > 2000 g at surgery, and between patients who underwent surgery at the age of 0 day and those who underwent surgery at age ≥ 1 day.
Results
In total, 43 patients underwent thoracoscopic primary repair for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. The surgical outcomes according to body weight were similar. Patients who underwent surgery at the age of 0 day were more likely to develop anastomotic leakage than those who underwent surgery at the age of ≥ 1 day (2 vs. 0 case, p = 0.02). Anastomotic leakage was treated with conservative therapy.
Conclusion
Thoracoscopic primary repair is safe and useful for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula even in newborns weighing < 2000 g. However, emergency surgery at the age of 0 day should be cautiously performed due to the risk of anastomotic leakage.
Subcritical water extraction for recovering cellulose fibres from Posidonia oceanica waste
Authors: Camarena-Bononad Paula , Freitas Pedro A.V. , Chiralt Amparo , Vargas Maria
Published: April 2024

Posidonia oceanica (PO) is an abundant aquatic plant in the Mediterranean Sea that produces a great accumulation of leaves on the coast when detaching off the plant. PO waste collected at landfills could be used as a source of cellulose due to the considerable content of this component (30–40%). In this study, cellulose extraction from PO waste was studied in order to reduce chemicals in the process, in line with the green chemistry principles. Thus, subcritical water extraction (SWE) was applied to promote the separation of non-cellulosic compounds, such as hemicellulose and lignin, followed by bleaching treatments using hydrogen peroxide, alternatively to the usual sodium chlorite. Two SWE temperatures (150 and 170 oC) were tested, while hydrogen peroxide was used at 4 and 8% (v/v) at pH 12 in four one-hour bleaching cycles. This treatment was also carried out with sodium chlorite for comparison purposes. SWE efficiently reduced hemicellulose and lignin content in the solid extraction fraction, mainly at 170 oC, which yielded 63 wt. % of solid fraction, with 51% of cellulose content. This highest temperature also promoted the efficiency of the subsequent bleaching step. Using H2O2 as the bleaching agent, alternatively to chlorine agents, was effective at purifying cellulose but partially altered the cellulose structure through oxidative mechanisms. A combination of SWE at 170 oC and bleaching with H2O2 at 4 or 8% (v/v) yielded 24 wt. % bleached material from PO waste, with a high cellulose richness (near 90%).
Factors Related to Accurate Clinicians’ Prediction of Survival: An International Multicenter Study in East Asia
Authors: Hiratsuka Yusuke , Suh Sang-Yeon , Yoon Seok Joon , Choi Sung-Eun , Kim Sun Hyun , Hui David , Cheng Shao-Yi , Chen Ping-Jen , Huang Hsien-Liang , Peng Jen-Kuei , Mori Masanori , Yamaguchi Takashi , Maeda Isseki , Tsuneto Satoru , Morita Tatsuya
Published: April 2024

Purpose:
Recent guidelines for prognostic evaluation recommend clinicians’ prediction of survival (CPS) for survival prediction in patients with advanced cancer. However, CPS is often inaccurate and optimistic. Studies on factors associated with overestimation or underestimation of CPS are limited. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with overestimation and underestimation of CPS in patients with far advanced cancer.
Methods:
The current study was a secondary analysis of an international multicenter prospective cohort study, which enrolled newly admitted patients with advanced cancer in palliative care units (PCUs) in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. We obtained the temporal CPS at enrollment and performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with underestimation and overestimation.
Results:
A total of 2571 patients were assessed and admitted in 37 PCUs between January 2017 and September 2018. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.02; P < 0.01) and reduced oral intake (aOR 0.68; 95% CI 0.51–0.89; P < 0.01) were identified as significant factors associated with underestimation. Dyspnea (aOR 1.28; 95% CI 1.06–1.54; P = 0.01) and hyperactive delirium (aOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.05–1.72; P = 0.02) were identified as significant factors associated with overestimation.
Conclusion:
Older age was related to underestimation while dyspnea and hyperactive delirium were related to overestimation of CPS. However, reduced oral intake was less likely to lead to underestimation.
Short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and mortality and hospital admission in the Netherlands
Authors: Jacobs José H. , Strak Maciej , Velders Guus J.M. , Zorn Jelle , Hogerwerf Lenny , Simões Mariana , Gerlofs-Nijland Miriam E. , Smit Lidwien A.M. , Vermeulen Roel , Zee Saskia van der , Mughini-Gras Lapo , Stafoggia Massimo
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to examine acute effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on COVID-19 hospital admissions and mortality in the Netherlands. We hypothesized that exposure to increased air pollution in the preceding week might trigger an exacerbation of health of infected individuals.
Associations between daily concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) and ≤10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and risk of hospital admissions and mortality due to COVID-19 from February to December 2020 was analyzed across all 352 Dutch municipalities grouped into 12 provinces. Time-series models were used to fit province-specific estimates, followed by meta-analyses to produce national estimates. Analyses were based on daily averages of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and maximum 8-hour running average of O3 on a 1x1 km grid and averaged on municipality level by population weight. Models were adjusted for spatiotemporal confounders, including government policies in response to the number of COVID-19 infections. Since there were only few COVID-19 cases during the summertime when O3 levels were highest, associations between O3 and COVID-19 health outcomes were not further explored.
We found associations between exposure to air pollution in the preceding week (average of lag 0-7 days) and COVID-19 hospital admissions and mortality. On a national level, an interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 exposure was associated with 11-12% increased mortality risk; the risk for hospital admissions was higher: 19-25%. Observed associations were more robust for PM than NO2 in two-pollutant models.
Our results suggest that short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 may increase the risk of COVID-19 mortality and hospital admission. This indicates that, consistent with previous studies on air pollution and respiratory infections, the population at risk of being hospitalized or dying of COVID-19 is extra vulnerable to the adverse effects of short-term air pollution exposure.
Cosmological Dynamics of Accelerating model in f(Q) gravity: A Parametric Approach
Authors: Bhardwaj Vinod Kumar , Grag Priyanka , Prakash Suraj
Published: April 2024

In the current study, we have considered three different parameterizations of deceleration parameter to describe the cosmological dynamics of the accelerating universe in f(Q) gravity. The power law symmetric teleparallel gravity with a specific form f(Q)= Q + nQm is assumed for the modelling purpose. Here, m and n are constants and Q is the non-metricity term that describes the gravitational interaction in space time. We constructed the field equations depending on power law f(Q) gravity and parameters are extracted using experimental observations. Latest observational datasets of BAO, H(z) and Pantheon are utilized to predict the best fit values of parameters and current value of Hubble constant. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm has been used to decide the best plausible values of parameters. We numerically represent the physical and geometrical features of the models and thoroughly explore their development. We analyzed our models using the jerk and Om diagnosis that depict the derived cosmic models are different from the ΛCDM model expressing late time accelerated expansion of cosmos with phantom type of universe. We also discussed the viability of models by the analysis of energy conditions.
Development and Implementation of Synchronized Phasor Measurements for Dynamic State Power System Monitoring and Fault Identification
Authors: Ponnala Ravi , Chakravarthy Muktevi , Babu P. Vijay , Ch.Leelakrishna  , M.Kishore  , Reddy P.Rajasekhara
Published: April 2024

In real time the magnitude and phase angle of the voltage and current signals vary continuously. The measurement of magnitude and phase angles of these signals are very important for the visualization of real-time power systems pictorially and knowing dynamic power flow studies. This work presents the measurement of the voltage and current signal's magnitude and phase angles with time synchronization. The magnitude and phase angle are represented with a single quantity phasor. For the measurement of phasor values two different techniques are used, they are Recursive Discrete Fourier Transform (RDFT), and Non-Recursive Discrete Fourier Transform (NRDFT). With the RDFT the phasor (magnitude and phase angle) values are constant with time variation, with fixed load and constant supply. By varying the load or source the magnitude of the phasor is changed and the phase angle is constant. The values obtained from these results are used for the dynamic power flow calculation of the power system. With the NRDFT the phasor magnitude is constant the phase angle values are varying (rotating) with a speed of (ωt) and with a step of (1/N). The values obtained with this method are used for real-time power system visualization. The values obtained from the RDFT and NRDFT are time-stamped with GPS time. With GPS time stamping, the measurements are time synchronized, and real-time visualization of the power system is obtained.