bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methane Reforming Processes: Advances on Mono- and Bimetallic Ni-Based Catalysts Supported on Mg-Al Mixed Oxides
Authors: Saeedi Soroosh , Nguyen Xuan Trung , Bossola Filippo , Evangelisti Claudio , Dal Santo Vladimiro
Published: February 2023

Ni-based catalysts supported on Mg-Al mixed oxides (Mg(Al)O) have been intensively investigated as catalysts for CH4 reforming processes (i.e., steam reforming (SMR) and dry reforming (DRM)), which are pivotal actors in the expanding H2 economy. In this review, we provide for the first time an in-depth analysis of homo- and bimetallic Ni-based catalysts supported on Mg(Al)O supports reported to date in the literature and used for SMR and DRM processes. Particular attention is devoted to the role of the synthesis protocols on the structural and morphological properties of the final catalytic materials, which are directly related to their catalytic performance. It turns out that the addition of a small amount of a second metal to Ni (bimetallic catalysts), in some cases, is the most practicable way to improve the catalyst durability. In addition, besides more conventional approaches (i.e., impregnation and co-precipitation), other innovative synthesis methods (e.g., sol-gel, atomic layer deposition, redox reactions) and pretreatments (e.g., plasma-based treatments) have shown relevant improvements in identifying and controlling the interaction among the constituents most useful to improve the overall H2 productivity.
Scalability of U-Shape Magnetic Nanoparticles-Based Microreactor–Lipase-Catalyzed Preparative Scale Kinetic Resolutions of Drug-like Fragments
Authors: Silva Fausto M. W. G. , Imarah Ali O. , Takács Orsolya , Tuba László , Poppe László
Published: February 2023

The production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and fine chemicals is accelerating due to the advent of novel microreactors and new materials for immobilizing customized biocatalysts that permit long-term use in continuous-flow reactors. This work studied the scalability of a tunable U-shape magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs)-based microreactor. The reactor consisted of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube (PTFE) of various inner diameters (ID = 0.75 mm, 1.50 mm, or 2.15 mm) and six movable permanent magnets positioned under the tube to create reaction chambers allowing the fluid reaction mixture to flow through and above the enzyme-loaded MNPs anchored by permanent magnets. The microreactors with various tube sizes and MNP capacities were tested with the preparative scale kinetic resolution of the drug-like alcohols 4-(3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)butan-2-ol (±)-1a and 4-(3,4-dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)butan-2-ol (±)-1b, utilizing Lipase B from Candida antarctica immobilized covalently onto MNPs, leading to highly enantioenriched products [(R)-2a,b and (S)-1a,b]. The results in the U-shape MNP flow reactor were compared with reactions in the batch mode with CaLB-MNPs using similar conditions. Of the three different systems, the one with ID = 1.50 mm showed the best balance between the maximum loading capacity of biocatalysts in the reactor and the most effective cross-section area. The results showed that this U-shaped tubular microreactor might be a simple and flexible instrument for many processes in biocatalysis, providing an easy-to-set-up alternative to existing techniques.
Heteroleptic Copper Complexes as Catalysts for the CuAAC Reaction: Counter-Ion Influence in Catalyst Efficiency
Authors: Viana Maria S. , Gomes Clara S. B. , Rosa Vitor
Published: February 2023

A series of nine cationic heteroleptic aryl-BIAN-copper(I) (BIAN = bis-iminoacenaphthene) complexes with the general formula [Cu((E-C6H4)2BIAN)(PPh3)2][X] (E = p-Me, p-iPr, o-iPr; X = BF4, OTf, NO3) 1X–3X were synthesized and fully characterized using several analytical techniques, including NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Except for complexes 2BF4 and 3BF4, which were already reported in our previous works, all remaining complexes are herein described for the first time. Two different strategies were used for the preparation of the complexes: complexes bearing BF4− or OTf− counter-ions (1BF4, 1OTf, 2OTf, and 3OTf) were obtained using the appropriate copper(I) precursors [Cu(NCMe)4][BF4] or [Cu(NCMe)4][OTf], whereas for derivatives 1NO3–3NO3, [Cu(PPh3)2NO3] was used. Their activity as catalysts for the copper azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) was assessed alongside other high activity, previously reported Cu(I) complexes. Comparative studies to determine the influence of the counter-ion and of the aryl substituents were performed. All complexes behaved as active catalysts under neat reaction conditions, at 25 °C and in short reaction times without requiring the use of any additive, with complex 2NO3 being the most efficient derivative, along with other NO3−-bearing complexes.
Chikungunya Virus and Its Envelope Protein E2 Induce Hyperalgesia in Mice: Inhibition by Anti-E2 Monoclonal Antibodies and by Targeting TRPV1
Authors: Segato-Vendrameto Carina Z. , Zanluca Camila , Zucoloto Amanda Z. , Zaninelli Tiago H. , Bertozzi Mariana M. , Saraiva-Santos Telma , Ferraz Camila R. , Staurengo-Ferrari Larissa , Badaro-Garcia Stephanie , Manchope Marília F. , Dionisio Amanda M. , Pinho-Ribeiro Felipe A. , Borghi Sergio M. , Mosimann Ana Luiza Pamplona , Casagrande Rubia , Bordignon Juliano , Fattori Victor , Santos Claudia N. Duarte dos , Verri Waldiceu A.
Published: February 2023

Chikungunya virus is an arthropod-borne infectious agent that causes Chikungunya fever disease. About 90% of the infected patients experience intense polyarthralgia, affecting mainly the extremities but also the large joints such as the knees. Chronic disease symptoms persist for months, even after clearance of the virus from the blood. Envelope proteins stimulate the immune response against the Chikungunya virus, becoming an important therapeutic target. We inactivated the Chikungunya virus (iCHIKV) and produced recombinant E2 (rE2) protein and three different types of anti-rE2 monoclonal antibodies. Using these tools, we observed that iCHIKV and rE2 protein induced mechanical hyperalgesia (electronic aesthesiometer test) and thermal hyperalgesia (Hargreaves test) in mice. These behavioral results were accompanied by the activation of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons in mice, as observed by calcium influx. Treatment with three different types of anti-rE2 monoclonal antibodies and absence or blockade (AMG-9810 treatment) of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel diminished mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in mice. iCHIKV and rE2 activated TRPV1+ mouse DRG neurons in vitro, demonstrating their ability to activate nociceptor sensory neurons directly. Therefore, our mouse data demonstrate that targeting E2 CHIKV protein with monoclonal antibodies and inhibiting TRPV1 channels are reasonable strategies to control CHIKV pain.
Planetary Health Requires Tapestry Thinking—Overcoming Silo Mentality
Authors: Prescott Susan L.
Published: February 2023

Most people know the fabled story of the elephant and the “six blind men”, with each of them separately examining a different portion of the mysterious object before them and drawing a different conclusion without awareness of the whole picture—which could have been gleaned by sharing information with their neighbours (Figure 1) [...]
Association between School Achievement and Tobacco Susceptibility among US Adolescents: Ethnic Differences
Authors: Adinkrah Edward , Najand Babak , Young-Brinn Angela , Salimi Samrand
Published: February 2023

Background: Although risky behaviors such as educational problems and tobacco use tend to co-occur, these associations may vary across diverse ethnic groups, in part because ethnic minorities tend to reside in worse neighborhoods and tend to attend worse schools than Non-Latino White adolescents. Aim: To compare the association between baseline school achievement (student grades) and subsequent tobacco use susceptibility (openness to smoke in future) by ethnicity, we compared African American, Latino, and Non-Latino White adolescents in the US over a four-year period. Methods: This longitudinal study followed 3636 adolescents who were never smokers at baseline for a period of four years. Baseline and four-year data of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used for this analysis. All participants were 12 to 17 years old at baseline and were either Non-Latino White (Majority), African American (Minority), or Latino (Minority). The outcome was a tobacco use susceptibility score at wave 4 which was defined as openness to use tobacco in the future, measured at year four. The predictor was school achievement at wave 1, measured as grades from F to A+. The moderator was ethnicity (African American, Latino, Non-Latino White), and covariates were age, gender, parental education, and family structure. Results: Our linear regressions in the pooled sample showed an inverse association between baseline school achievement and subsequent tobacco use susceptibility four years later. However, this inverse association was weaker for ethnic minorities than for Non-Latino White adolescents, as documented by interaction effects between ethnic minority status and baseline school grades. Conclusion: Higher educational success better correlates with lower tobacco use susceptibility of non-Latino White than African American and Latino adolescents, which may reflect some tobacco use susceptibility of Latino and African American adolescents with highly educated parents. Future research should investigate how social context such as high-risk school environment, neighborhood risk, peer risk, and other mechanisms increase behavioral risk of educationally successful African American and Latino adolescents.
Glycemic Stress Index: Does It Correlate with the Intensive Care Length of Stay?
Authors: Georges Mathieu , Engelhardt Thomas , Ingelmo Pablo , Mentegazzi Federico , Bertolizio Gianluca
Published: February 2023

Postoperative hyperglycemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. In adults, perioperative hyperglycemia is influenced by prolonged fasting, but data in children are lacking. The Glycemic Stress Index (GSI) has been shown to predict prolonged Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) stays in neurosurgical patients. This study aimed to confirm the correlation between GSI and duration of intubation, PICU stay, and postoperative complications in infants undergoing elective open heart surgery. The correlation between preoperative fasting and GSI was also investigated. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 85 infants ≤ 6 months undergoing elective open heart surgery was performed. GSI values ≥ 3.9 and 4.5 were tested to determine whether they carried a higher incidence of postoperative complications (metabolic uncoupling, kidney injury, ECMO, and death). The correlation between GSI and the length of intubation, PICU stay, and duration of fasting were also investigated. Perioperative factors such as age, weight, blood gas analysis, use of inotropes, and risk adjustment for congenital heart surgery were also analyzed as possible predictors. Results: GSI correlated with the duration of intubation and PICU stay. A GSI ≥ 4.5, but not 3.9, was associated with a higher incidence of metabolic uncoupling. GSI was not influenced by preoperative fasting. None of the preoperative patient factors analyzed was associated with prolonged intubation, PICU stay, or PICU complications. An abnormal creatinine before surgery increased the risk of developing acute kidney injury postoperatively. Conclusions: GSI may be valuable to predict prolonged intubation, PICU stay, and metabolic derangement in infants undergoing cardiac surgery. Fasting does not appear to affect GSI.
Acceptability and Tolerability of Extended Reality Relaxation Training with and without Wearable Neurofeedback in Pediatric Migraine
Authors: Connelly Mark , Boorigie Madeline , McCabe Klanci
Published: February 2023

Objective. To determine the acceptability of using extended reality (XR) relaxation training as a preventive treatment for pediatric migraine. Methods. Youths aged 10–17 years old with migraine were recruited from a specialty headache clinic and completed baseline measures evaluating their vestibular symptoms and attitudes about technology. The patients were then instructed in three XR-based relaxation training conditions (fully immersive virtual reality with and without neurofeedback, and augmented reality with neurofeedback), in counterbalanced order, and completed acceptability and side effect questionnaires after each. The patients also took XR equipment home for one week to use for relaxation practice and again completed the measures about their experience. The acceptability and side effect data were compared against predetermined acceptable thresholds and were evaluated for their association with the participant characteristics. Results. The aggregate acceptability questionnaire scores exceeded our minimum threshold of 3.5/5, with the two fully immersive virtual reality conditions preferred over augmented reality for relaxation training (z = −3.02, p = 0.003, and z = −2.31, p = 0.02). The endorsed side effects were rated by all but one participant as mild, with vertigo being the most common. The acceptability ratings were not reliably associated with age, sex, typical hours per day of technology use, or technology attitudes, but were inversely related to the side effect scores. Conclusions. The preliminary data on acceptability and tolerability of immersive XR technology for relaxation training among youths with migraine supports further intervention development work.
Neuropsychiatric Manifestations, Reduced Self-Esteem and Poor Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1): The Impact of Symptom Visibility and Bullying Behavior
Authors: Cavallo Nicola Davide , Maggi Gianpaolo , Ferraiuolo Francesco , Sorrentino Anna , Perrotta Silverio , Carotenuto Marco , Santangelo Gabriella , Santoro Claudia
Published: February 2023

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition, associated with neurocutaneous manifestations and neuropsychiatric manifestations. The present study explored the prevalence of bullying/cyberbullying behaviors and victimization behaviors in a cohort of children and adolescents with NF1. Possible gender differences and predictors of psychological symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and self-esteem were also examined. Thirty-eight school-aged participants with NF1 completed a psychological evaluation designed to assess anxiety and depression symptomatology, QoL, self-esteem, and the prevalence and extent of bullying/cyberbullying and victimization behaviors. We found that our participants frequently reported victimization behaviors rather than bullying/cyberbullying ones. Moreover, participants complained of depressive and anxiety symptomatology together with reduced self-esteem, and low psychosocial quality of life, with females reporting more severe performances than males. Furthermore, we found that reduced self-esteem was associated with more visibility of the NF1 symptoms, and victimization behaviors were found to mediate the relationship between anxiety and psychosocial QoL. Our findings indicated the presence of a maladaptive loop in children and adolescents with NF1 patients characterized by psychological symptoms, unfavorable self-perception, low self-esteem, and psychosocial difficulties that might be worsened by experiencing victimization behaviors. These results suggest the need to use a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and treatment of NF1.
Comparison of Flood Frequency at Different Climatic Scenarios in Forested Coastal Watersheds
Authors: Bhattarai Shreeya , Parajuli Prem B. , To Filip
Published: February 2023

Climate change-induced extreme precipitation causes coastal flooding. A streamflow simulation in coastal watersheds, Wolf River Watershed (WRW) and Jourdan River Watershed (JRW), was conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to compare variation in flow at different climates and to analyze the flood frequency. Baseline models were auto-calibrated with SWAT calibration and uncertainty programs (SWAT-CUP). Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), defined as the objective function in SWAT-CUP, ranged from 0.8 to 0.7 in WRW and from 0.55 to 0.68 in JRW during the calibration–validation process. Results indicated reliability of the model performances. Monthly averaged baseline flow was 1% greater than historical and 8.9% lower than future climate in WRW. In JRW, monthly averaged baseline flow was 11% greater than historical and 5.7% lower than future climate. Flood frequency analysis showed the highest 1% exceedance probability in annual maximum series (AMS) of baseline model in WRW, whereas AMS of projected model was estimated the highest in JRW. This study aids in preparing for future flood management.
Electrical Method for the On-Line Monitoring of Zeolite-Based Thermochemical Storage
Authors: Carotenuto Gianfranco
Published: February 2023

Zeolites are used to store sunlight energy in the form of latent heat of adsorption. The energy is stored by dehydration of the substance and released by its rehydration. The availability of an online monitoring technique for this hydration/dehydration process is an extremely useful potentiality for an optimal exploitation of such technology, since it allows establishment of the degree of activation and saturation of the material. Here, an electrical method has been developed and used for monitoring the hydration/dehydration process of a sample of natural clinoptilolite. Clinoptilolite has been selected as a model zeolitic material for testing this monitoring technique since it is a widely spread, very inexpensive, and highly mechanically stable zeolite type, that could be used for such a purpose. The study has been performed in the presence of pure water vapor and wet air (75RH) after having dehydrated the sample by exposition to sunlight for 12 h. The developed monitoring method has also allowed us to have information on the kinetics of the process (Lagergren pseudo-first order), to establish the specific rate of hydration (3.3 × 10−3 min−1), and to have an idea of the involved adsorption mechanism. The sample of natural clinoptilolite was also chemically and structurally characterized by EDS, XRD, DSC, and TGA.
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Care: A Values-Based Guide for Shared Decision Making
Authors: Macri Rosanna , Roberts Shannon L.
Published: February 2023

Clinical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, including in the field of oncology, have the potential to advance diagnosis and treatment. The literature suggests that patient values should be considered in decision making when using AI in clinical care; however, there is a lack of practical guidance for clinicians on how to approach these conversations and incorporate patient values into clinical decision making. We provide a practical, values-based guide for clinicians to assist in critical reflection and the incorporation of patient values into shared decision making when deciding to use AI in clinical care. Values that are relevant to patients, identified in the literature, include trust, privacy and confidentiality, non-maleficence, safety, accountability, beneficence, autonomy, transparency, compassion, equity, justice, and fairness. The guide offers questions for clinicians to consider when adopting the potential use of AI in their practice; explores illness understanding between the patient and clinician; encourages open dialogue of patient values; reviews all clinically appropriate options; and makes a shared decision of what option best meets the patient’s values. The guide can be used for diverse clinical applications of AI.
Wearable Health Technology for Preoperative Risk Assessment in Elderly Patients: The WELCOME Study
Authors: Greco Massimiliano , Angelucci Alessandra , Avidano Gaia , Marelli Giovanni , Canali Stefano , Aceto Romina , Lubian Marta , Oliva Paolo , Piccioni Federico , Aliverti Andrea , Cecconi Maurizio
Published: February 2023

Preoperative identification of high-risk groups has been extensively studied to improve patients’ outcomes. Wearable devices, which can track heart rate and physical activity data, are starting to be evaluated for patients’ management. We hypothesized that commercial wearable devices (WD) may provide data associated with preoperative evaluation scales and tests, to identify patients with poor functional capacity at increased risk for complications. We conducted a prospective observational study including seventy-year-old patients undergoing two-hour surgeries under general anesthesia. Patients were asked to wear a WD for 7 days before surgery. WD data were compared to preoperatory clinical evaluation scales and with a 6-min walking test (6MWT). We enrolled 31 patients, with a mean age of 76.1 (SD ± 4.9) years. There were 11 (35%) ASA 3–4 patients. 6MWT results averaged 328.9 (SD ± 99.5) m. Daily steps and 𝑉𝑂2𝑚𝑎𝑥 as recorded using WD and were associated with 6MWT performance (R = 0.56, p = 0.001 and r = 0.58, p = 0.006, respectively) and clinical evaluation scales. This is the first study to evaluate WD as preoperative evaluation tools; we found a strong association between 6MWT, preoperative scales, and WD data. Low-cost wearable devices are a promising tool for the evaluation of cardiopulmonary fitness. Further research is needed to validate WD in this setting.
Comparability of Pulmonary Nodule Size Measurements among Different Scanners and Protocols: Should Diameter Be Favorized over Volume?
Authors: Gross Colin , Jungblut Lisa , Schindera Sebastian , Messerli Michael , Fretz Valentin , Frauenfelder Thomas , Martini Katharina
Published: February 2023

Background: To assess the impact of the lung cancer screening protocol recommended by the European Society of Thoracic Imaging (ESTI) on nodule diameter, volume, and density throughout different computed tomography (CT) scanners. Methods: An anthropomorphic chest phantom containing fourteen different-sized (range 3–12 mm) and CT-attenuated (100 HU, −630 HU and −800 HU, termed as solid, GG1 and GG2) pulmonary nodules was imaged on five CT scanners with institute-specific standard protocols (PS) and the lung cancer screening protocol recommended by ESTI (ESTI protocol, PE). Images were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (REC). Image noise, nodule density and size (diameter/volume) were measured. Absolute percentage errors (APEs) of measurements were calculated. Results: Using PE, dosage variance between different scanners tended to decrease compared to PS, and the mean differences were statistically insignificant (p = 0.48). PS and PE(REC) showed significantly less image noise than PE(FBP) (p < 0.001). The smallest size measurement errors were noted with volumetric measurements in PE(REC) and highest with diametric measurements in PE(FBP). Volume performed better than diameter measurements in solid and GG1 nodules (p < 0.001). However, in GG2 nodules, this could not be observed (p = 0.20). Regarding nodule density, REC values were more consistent throughout different scanners and protocols. Conclusion: Considering radiation dose, image noise, nodule size, and density measurements, we fully endorse the ESTI screening protocol including the use of REC. For size measurements, volume should be preferred over diameter.
Platelet Abnormalities in Children with Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza
Authors: Wrotek August , Wrotek Oliwia , Jackowska Teresa
Published: February 2023

Background: The role of platelets in the immune response against influenza has been raised, and a diagnostic or prognostic value of platelet parameter abnormalities, including platelet count (PLT), or mean platelet volume (MPV), has been suggested. The study aimed to analyze the prognostic value of platelet parameters in children hospitalized due to laboratory-confirmed influenza. Methods: We retrospectively verified the platelet parameters (PLT, MPV, MPV/PLT, and PLT/lymphocyte ratio regarding the influenza complications (acute otitis media, pneumonia, and lower respiratory tract infection—LRTI), and the clinical course (antibiotic treatment, tertiary care transfer, and death). Results: An abnormal PLT was observed in 84 out of 489 laboratory-confirmed cases (17.2%, 44 thrombocytopaenia cases, and 40 thrombocytoses). Patients’ age correlated negatively with PLT (rho = −0.46) and positively with MPV/PLT (rho = 0.44), while MPV was not age-dependent. The abnormal PLT correlated with increased odds of complications (OR = 1.67), including LRTI (OR = 1.89). Thrombocytosis was related to increased odds of LRTI (OR = 3.64), and radiologically/ultrasound-confirmed pneumonia (OR = 2.15), mostly in children aged under 1 year (OR = 4.22 and OR = 3.79, respectively). Thrombocytopaenia was related to antibiotic use (OR = 2.41) and longer hospital stays (OR = 3.03). A lowered MPV predicted a tertiary care transfer (AUC = 0.77), while MPV/PLT was the most versatile parameter in predicting LRTI (AUC = 0.7 in <1 yo), pneumonia (AUC = 0.68 in <1 yo), and antibiotic treatment (AUC = 0.66 in 1–2 yo and AUC = 0.6 in 2–5 yo). Conclusions: Platelet parameters, including PLT count abnormalities and MPV/PLT ratio, are related to the increased odds of complications and a more severe disease course, and may add important data in assessing pediatric influenza patients, but should be interpreted cautiously due to age-related specificities.
Is Routine Screening Using Duplex Ultrasonography for Deep Vein Thrombosis Necessary after Shoulder Arthroplasty?
Authors: Kim Du-Han , Na Sang-Soo , Park Ui-Jun , Cho Chul-Hyun
Published: February 2023

The aims of this study were to examine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after shoulder arthroplasty in Korean patients. A total of 265 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty were included. The mean age of the patients was 74.6 years, and there were 195 females and 70 males. Clinical data including patient demographics, blood tests, and previous and current medical history were investigated. For screening of DVT, duplex ultrasonography of the operative arm was performed 2 to 5 days after surgery. Of the 265 patients, 10 patients (3.8%) were diagnosed with DVT using postoperative duplex ultrasonography. There were no cases of pulmonary embolism. There were no significant differences between the DVT and no DVT groups regarding all clinical data, except for the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), which was significantly higher in the DVT group than in the no DVT group (5.0 vs. 4.1; p = 0.029). All patients had asymptomatic DVT that showed complete resolution after administration of antithrombotic agents or close observation without medications. The overall incidence of DVT was 3.8% during a period of 3 months after shoulder arthroplasty in Korean patients, and most cases were asymptomatic. Routine screening for DVT using duplex ultrasonography after shoulder arthroplasty may not be necessary except in patients with high CCI.
Machine Learning System for Lung Neoplasms Distinguished Based on Scleral Data
Authors: Huang Qin , Lv Wenqi , Zhou Zhanping , Tan Shuting , Lin Xue , Bo Zihao , Fu Rongxin , Jin Xiangyu , Guo Yuchen , Wang Hongwu , Xu Feng , Huang Guoliang
Published: February 2023

Lung cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer. Recent research shows that the human eye can provide useful information about one’s health status, but few studies have revealed that the eye’s features are associated with the risk of cancer. The aims of this paper are to explore the association between scleral features and lung neoplasms and develop a non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI) method for detecting lung neoplasms based on scleral images. A novel instrument was specially developed to take the reflection-free scleral images. Then, various algorithms and different strategies were applied to find the most effective deep learning algorithm. Ultimately, the detection method based on scleral images and the multi-instance learning (MIL) model was developed to predict benign or malignant lung neoplasms. From March 2017 to January 2019, 3923 subjects were recruited for the experiment. Using the pathological diagnosis of bronchoscopy as the gold standard, 95 participants were enrolled to take scleral image screens, and 950 scleral images were fed to AI analysis. Our non-invasive AI method had an AUC of 0.897 ± 0.041(95% CI), a sensitivity of 0.836 ± 0.048 (95% CI), and a specificity of 0.828 ± 0.095 (95% CI) for distinguishing between benign and malignant lung nodules. This study suggested that scleral features such as blood vessels may be associated with lung cancer, and the non-invasive AI method based on scleral images can assist in lung neoplasm detection. This technique may hold promise for evaluating the risk of lung cancer in an asymptomatic population in areas with a shortage of medical resources and as a cost-effective adjunctive tool for LDCT screening at hospitals.
Investigating the Impact of Two Major Programming Environments on the Accuracy of Deep Learning-Based Glioma Detection from MRI Images
Authors: Yilmaz Vadi Su , Akdag Metehan , Dalveren Yaser , Doruk Resat Ozgur , Kara Ali , Soylu Ahmet
Published: February 2023

Brain tumors have been the subject of research for many years. Brain tumors are typically classified into two main groups: benign and malignant tumors. The most common tumor type among malignant brain tumors is known as glioma. In the diagnosis of glioma, different imaging technologies could be used. Among these techniques, MRI is the most preferred imaging technology due to its high-resolution image data. However, the detection of gliomas from a huge set of MRI data could be challenging for the practitioners. In order to solve this concern, many Deep Learning (DL) models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have been proposed to be used in detecting glioma. However, understanding which CNN architecture would work efficiently under various conditions including development environment or programming aspects as well as performance analysis has not been studied so far. In this research work, therefore, the purpose is to investigate the impact of two major programming environments (namely, MATLAB and Python) on the accuracy of CNN-based glioma detection from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images. To this end, experiments on the Brain Tumor Segmentation (BraTS) dataset (2016 and 2017) consisting of multiparametric magnetic MRI images are performed by implementing two popular CNN architectures, the three-dimensional (3D) U-Net and the V-Net in the programming environments. From the results, it is concluded that the use of Python with Google Colaboratory (Colab) might be highly useful in the implementation of CNN-based models for glioma detection. Moreover, the 3D U-Net model is found to perform better, attaining a high accuracy on the dataset. The authors believe that the results achieved from this study would provide useful information to the research community in their appropriate implementation of DL approaches for brain tumor detection.
Psychological Outcomes on Anxiety and Depression after Interventions for Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Luo Lai Ying , Lee Johyun , Li Kar Yan , Leung Yiu Yan , Li Dion Tik Shun
Published: February 2023

Many studies have shown mutual interaction between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and psychological distress. However, evidence on the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for TMD on psychological outcomes is scarce. This review aimed to summarise the best evidence on the association between interventions for TMD and psychological outcomes regarding symptoms of anxiety and depression. Electronic search was carried out in databases, including Pubmed, Web of Science, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. All eligible studies were included for narrative synthesis. Eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included for the meta-analysis. The overall effect size of interventions for TMD was analysed in standardised mean difference (SMD) in levels of anxiety and depression. Ten studies were included in the systematic review. Of these, nine were included in the narrative analysis and four were included in the meta-analysis. All included studies and the result of the narrative analysis showed a statistically significant beneficial effect of interventions for TMD on improving symptoms of anxiety and depression (p < 0.0001); however, a statistically significant overall effect was not found in the meta-analyses. Current evidence is in favour of the interventions for TMD in improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the effect is statistically uncertain and warrants future studies to enable the best synthesis of the evidence.
Boosting the Performance of Artificial Intelligence-Driven Models in Predicting COVID-19 Mortality in Ethiopia
Authors: Abegaz Kedir , Etikan İlker
Published: February 2023

Like other nations around the world, Ethiopia has suffered negative effects from COVID-19. The objective of this study was to predict COVID-19 mortality using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven models. Two-year daily recorded data related to COVID-19 were trained and tested to predict mortality using machine learning algorithms. Normalization of features, sensitivity analysis for feature selection, modelling of AI-driven models, and comparing the boosting model with single AI-driven models were the main activities performed in this study. Prediction of COVID-19 mortality was conducted using a combination of four dominant feature variables, and hence, the best determination of coefficient (DC) of AdaBoost, KNN, ANN-6, and SVM in the prediction process were 0.9422, 0.8618, 0.8629, and 0.7171, respectively. The Boosting model improved the performance of the individual AI-driven models KNN, SVM, and ANN-6 by 7.94, 22.51, and 8.02 percent, respectively, at the verification stage using the testing dataset. This suggests that the boosting model has the best performance for prediction of COVID-19 mortality in Ethiopia. As a result, it suggests a promising potential performance of boosting ensemble model to be applied in predicting mortality and cases from similarly recorded daily data to predict mortality due to COVID-19 in other parts of the world.
Automated Contouring and Planning in Radiation Therapy: What Is ‘Clinically Acceptable’?
Authors: Baroudi Hana , Brock Kristy K. , Cao Wenhua , Chen Xinru , Chung Caroline , Court Laurence E. , El Basha Mohammad D. , Farhat Maguy , Gay Skylar , Gronberg Mary P. , Gupta Aashish Chandra , Hernandez Soleil , Huang Kai , Jaffray David A. , Lim Rebecca , Marquez Barbara , Nealon Kelly , Netherton Tucker J. , Nguyen Callistus M. , Reber Brandon , Rhee Dong Joo , Salazar Ramon M. , Shanker Mihir D. , Sjogreen Carlos , Woodland McKell , Yang Jinzhong , Yu Cenji , Zhao Yao
Published: February 2023

Developers and users of artificial-intelligence-based tools for automatic contouring and treatment planning in radiotherapy are expected to assess clinical acceptability of these tools. However, what is ‘clinical acceptability’? Quantitative and qualitative approaches have been used to assess this ill-defined concept, all of which have advantages and disadvantages or limitations. The approach chosen may depend on the goal of the study as well as on available resources. In this paper, we discuss various aspects of ‘clinical acceptability’ and how they can move us toward a standard for defining clinical acceptability of new autocontouring and planning tools.
Vitamin D and Calcium in Osteoporosis, and the Role of Bone Turnover Markers: A Narrative Review of Recent Data from RCTs
Authors: Voulgaridou Gavriela , Papadopoulou Sousana K. , Detopoulou Paraskevi , Tsoumana Despoina , Giaginis Constantinos , Kondyli Foivi S. , Lymperaki Evgenia , Pritsa Agathi
Published: February 2023

Osteoporosis is a common disease, defined primarily by a low measured bone density, which is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures. Low calcium intake and vitamin D deficiency seem to be positively correlated with the prevalence of osteoporosis. Although they are not suitable for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, the biochemical markers of bone turnover can be measured in serum and/or urine, enabling the assessment of the dynamic bone activity and the short-term effectiveness of the osteoporosis treatment. Calcium and vitamin D are essential for maintaining bone health. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation separately and in combination, on bone density and circulating serum and blood plasma vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone levels, markers of bone metabolism concentrations, and clinical outcomes, such as falls and osteoporotic fractures. We searched the PubMed online database to find clinical trials from the last five years (2016–April 2022). A total of 26 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included in this review. The present reviewed evidence suggests that vitamin D alone or in combination with calcium increases circulating 25(OH)D. Calcium with concomitant vitamin D supplementation, but not vitamin D alone, leads to an increase in BMD. In addition, most studies did not detect significant changes in circulating levels of plasma bone metabolism markers, nor in the incidence of falls. Instead, there was a decrease in blood serum PTH levels in the groups receiving vitamin D and/or Ca supplementation. The plasma vitamin D levels at the beginning of the intervention, and the dosing regimen followed, may play a role in the observed parameters. However, further study is needed to determine an appropriate dosing regimen for the treatment of osteoporosis and the role of bone metabolism markers.
The Role of Social Media in Communication and Learning at the Time of COVID-19 Lockdown—An Online Survey
Authors: Nahidh Mohammed , Al-Khawaja Noor F. K. , Jasim Hala Mohammed , Cervino Gabriele , Cicciù Marco , Minervini Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to assess orthodontic postgraduate students’ use of social media during the COVID-19 lockdown. Ninety-four postgraduate students (67 master’s students and 27 doctoral students) were enrolled in the study and asked to fill in an online questionnaire by answering questions regarding their use of social media during the COVID-19 lockdown. The frequency distributions and percentages were calculated using SPSS software. The results showed that 99% of the students used social media. The most frequently used type of social media was Facebook, 94%, followed by YouTube, 78%, and Instagram, 65%, while Twitter and Linkedin were used less, and no one used Blogger. About 63% of the students used elements of social media to learn more about orthodontics staging, biomechanics, and various approaches in managing orthodontic cases. About 56% of students tried uploading and downloading scientific papers, lectures, movies, presentations, and e-books from social media, while communication with professionals and searches about orthodontic products were reported in 47% of students’ responses. On the other hand, 43% of the responses favored sharing orthodontic information and posts for teaching and discussion purposes. Generally, social media plays leading roles in the communication with, learning of, sharing of information with, and supervision of patients from a far during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Testing Taylor’s Law in Urban Population Dynamics Worldwide with Simultaneous Equation Models
Authors: Benassi Federico , Naccarato Alessia , Salvati Luca
Published: February 2023

Knowledge of long-term population trends is still incomplete at the global scale. In this perspective, human and animal ecology has intensively studied the relationship between the Mean (M) size and the Variance (V) of specific attributes of subpopulations within a given regional system. One of the best-known relationships between these two attributes suitable to describe long-term population trends is governed by Taylor’s law (TL). The present article contributes to the recent literature on population trends worldwide by testing the long-term relationship (1950–2015) between the overall variance and mean in the total population of 1857 metropolitan agglomerations in 155 countries classified into 9 world macro-regions. To estimate the unknown parameter(s) of the V–M relation we made use of a simultaneous equation system using both linear (classical TL) and quadratic specifications, with the aim of ascertaining a wide range of simplified (or more complex) association rules between the two dimensions of demographic change. The empirical results show that TL is verified in all nine cases, although a quadratic relationship provides slightly better results than the classical, linear relationship. More specifically, similar estimates for both linear and quadratic relationships were characteristic of ‘new’ demographic continents with more recent and intense urbanization processes (the Americas, and African and Asian countries). The predominance of quadratic relationships characterized regions with long-established urbanization processes, such as Europe, Russia, and, partly, China and the Middle East. The relevance of the TL for a refined understanding of urbanization mechanisms worldwide, and the importance of a quadratic term for distinguishing metropolitan systems that have experienced different development paths, were finally discussed.
Determinants of Product Innovation Performance in Aviation Industry in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhamad Abdullah , Mabkhot Hashed
Published: February 2023

Innovative technology significantly transforms numerous activities and operations in the logistics sector across various industries, including the aviation sphere. This primary quantitative research aimed to explore the evolution of logistics and supply chain management in the digital age for aviation companies in Saudi Arabia. The research involved conducting a survey among 104 supply chain and technology personnel from Saudi Cargo and its affiliate firms in Saudi Arabia. Partial least squares (PLS–SEM) was used for data analysis to determine the relationships between three independent variables: market intelligence quality (MIQ), manufacturing–marketing coordination (MMC), and supply chain intelligence quality (SCIQ), with product innovation performance (PIP) as the dependent variable. The results indicated that SCIQ and MIQ have a positive and significant statistical relationship with PIP. Nonetheless, the findings disproved that the MMC gives insights into consumer needs directly affecting PIP. From this study, it can be concluded that aviation companies should improve their supply chain systems, marketing domain, and manufacturing marketing coordination to realize the improved performance of their product innovations in the contemporary digital era.
The Twin Impacts of Income Inequality and Unemployment on Murder Crime in African Emerging Economies: A Mixed Models Approach
Authors: Zungu Lindokuhle Talent , Mtshengu Thamsanqa Reginald
Published: February 2023

This study analyses the dynamic impact of income inequality and unemployment on crime in a panel of 15 African countries during the period 1994–2019 using four models: the panel vector autoregression model, the generalized method of moments model, the fixed-effect model, and machine learning. These models were chosen due to their ability to address the dynamics of several entities. The variables employed for empirical investigation include income inequality, unemployment, and crime. Machine learning was adopted to find which socioeconomic issues contribute to crime between the two issues at hand. The results show that income inequality accounts for 64% of crime, making it the biggest contributor to crime. The findings further show that an unexpected shock in inequality and unemployment has a significant positive impact on crime in these countries. Even when pre-tax income held by the top 10% and male unemployment is adopted, the study yields similar results. Educational entertainment through secondary enrolment was found to increase crime, while it was found to decrease crime through tertiary enrolment at the tertiary level. Finally, economic development was found to decrease crime. From a policy perspective, the current study suggests to the government that some policies are more appropriate for addressing concerns about income inequality and unemployment (income policy or fiscal policy). Therefore, more policies targeting the distribution of income are crucial, as that might decrease income inequality while at the same time decreasing crime. In addition, policymakers should focus on addressing structural challenges through the implementation of sound structural reform policies that aim to attract investment consistent with job creation, human development, and growth in African economies.
Determinants of Youth Unemployment in Ecuador in 2019
Authors: Tulcanaza-Prieto Ana Belen , Báez Salazar Paúl Alejandro , Aguilar-Rodríguez Iliana E.
Published: February 2023

This work studies the social and demographic factors that influenced youth unemployment in the age group from 18 to 29 years old in Ecuador in 2019. The study includes logistic regression models with marginal effects to evaluate the probability of being unemployed. The results reveal that being a woman and afro, living in an urban area, and increasing the years of education raise the probability of being unemployed in the age group from 18 to 29 years old, while the probability is reduced by being a head of household or son-in-law/sister-in-law and not being single. The study shows that the Ecuadorian population faces vulnerability in the labor market, where differences in gender, ethnicity, and social factors determine the unemployment level. In particular, being “Afro-Ecuadorian, mulatto, or Black” highly increases the probability of being unemployed in Ecuador.
Tax Audits, Tax Rewards and Labour Market Outcomes
Authors: Lisi Gaetano
Published: February 2023

This theoretical paper studies the relation between tax audits and labour market outcomes (job creation and unemployment) in an economy that contemplates penalties for firms that evade taxes and rewards for firms that comply with tax rules. Intuitively, the simultaneous presence of penalty and reward amplifies the role of auditing, since tax audits allow both punishing tax-evading firms and rewarding fiscally honest firms. Indeed, the presence of tax rewards can make the effect of tax audits on firms’ net profits positive. However, the effect of tax audits on labour market outcomes is ambiguous. By setting the choice of optimal fiscal policy in a different and original way, this paper is able to derive a formula for the audit rate—consistent with the budget constraint—that makes the relation between tax audits and labour market outcomes positive.
3D Imaging with Fringe Projection for Food and Agricultural Applications—A Tutorial
Authors: Balasubramaniam Badrinath , Li Jiaqiong , Liu Lingling , Li Beiwen
Published: February 2023

The rising global population, in conjunction with the increasing demand, decreasing labor supply, and increasing costs in the agricultural sector, has induced a need for automation in this industry. Many of these tasks are simplified using depth images and are accomplished using the help of 3D sensing technology such as stereo vision and time of flight methods. While there are various merits to these approaches, there is a need for high-speed, high-accuracy 3D profiling approaches in this rapidly advancing industry. Fringe Projection Profilometry is a variation of structured light technology, which has the advantage of having high speed in the kilohertz range, and sub-millimeter accuracy, which could be extremely beneficial for this sector to adopt. In this article, we seek to provide a tutorial on this technology, explain its various principles along with the basic methodology, and expound on its advantages. We demonstrate some example results using soybean roots and spinach leaves to show its utility, discuss potential reasons as to why this has not yet been widely adopted by this industry, review its potential limitations, and examine possible ways those limitations can be addressed so that they do not present a roadblock in its adoption.