bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction of 2DE Patterns of Plasma Proteins: Aspect of Potential Tumor Markers
Authors: Naryzhny Stanislav , Ronzhina Natalia , Zorina Elena , Kabachenko Fedor , Klopov Nikolay , Zgoda Victor
Published: September 2022

The use of tumor markers aids in the early detection of cancer recurrence and prognosis. There is a hope that they might also be useful in screening tests for the early detection of cancer. Here, the question of finding ideal tumor markers, which should be sensitive, specific, and reliable, is an acute issue. Human plasma is one of the most popular samples as it is commonly collected in the clinic and provides noninvasive, rapid analysis for any type of disease including cancer. Many efforts have been applied in searching for “ideal” tumor markers, digging very deep into plasma proteomes. The situation in this area can be improved in two ways—by attempting to find an ideal single tumor marker or by generating panels of different markers. In both cases, proteomics certainly plays a major role. There is a line of evidence that the most abundant, so-called “classical plasma proteins”, may be used to generate a tumor biomarker profile. To be comprehensive these profiles should have information not only about protein levels but also proteoform distribution for each protein. Initially, the profile of these proteins in norm should be generated. In our work, we collected bibliographic information about the connection of cancers with levels of “classical plasma proteins”. Additionally, we presented the proteoform profiles (2DE patterns) of these proteins in norm generated by two-dimensional electrophoresis with mass spectrometry and immunodetection. As a next step, similar profiles representing protein perturbations in plasma produced in the case of different cancers will be generated. Additionally, based on this information, different test systems can be developed.
Low Dose and Non-Targeted Radiation Effects in Environmental Protection and Medicine—A New Model Focusing on Electromagnetic Signaling
Authors: Mothersill Carmel , Cocchetto Alan , Seymour Colin
Published: September 2022

The role of signalling in initiating and perpetuating effects triggered by deposition of ionising radiation energy in parts of a system is very clear. Less clear are the very early steps involved in converting energy to chemical and biological effects in non-targeted parts of the system. The paper aims to present a new model, which could aid our understanding of the role of low dose effects in determining ultimate disease outcomes. We propose a key role for electromagnetic signals resulting from physico-chemical processes such as excitation decay, and acoustic waves. These lead to the initiation of damage response pathways such as elevation of reactive oxygen species and membrane associated changes in key ion channels. Critically, these signalling pathways allow coordination of responses across system levels. For example, depending on how these perturbations are transduced, adverse or beneficial outcomes may predominate. We suggest that by appreciating the importance of signalling and communication between multiple levels of organisation, a unified theory could emerge. This would allow the development of models incorporating time, space and system level to position data in appropriate areas of a multidimensional domain. We propose the use of the term “infosome” to capture the nature of radiation-induced communication systems which include physical as well as chemical signals. We have named our model “the variable response model” or “VRM” which allows for multiple outcomes following exposure to low doses or to signals from low dose irradiated cells, tissues or organisms. We suggest that the use of both dose and infosome in radiation protection might open up new conceptual avenues that could allow intrinsic uncertainty to be embraced within a holistic protection framework.
Biological Treatments for Pediatric Psoriasis: State of the Art and Future Perspectives
Authors: Diotallevi Federico , Simonetti Oriana , Rizzetto Giulio , Molinelli Elisa , Radi Giulia , Offidani Annamaria
Published: September 2022

Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the skin and is associated with multiple comorbidities with a considerable reduction in quality of life of affected patients. One-third of psoriasis cases begin in childhood and are associated with significant medical comorbidities such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and psychiatric disorders. In addition, because of its chronic nature and frequent relapses, psoriasis tends to require long-term treatment. Treatment of pediatric psoriasis usually involves the same methods used for adults. However, most treatments for pediatric psoriasis are used off-label, and research in this regard is still lacking. Targeted therapies involving the use of newly developed biologic drugs are also increasingly being applied to childhood psoriasis. This review summarizes the clinical features of pediatric psoriasis and focuses mainly on the updated concepts of pathogenesis and biological treatments of pediatric psoriasis.
Magneto-Mechanical Approach in Biomedicine: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Nikitin Aleksey A. , Ivanova Anna V. , Semkina Alevtina S. , Lazareva Polina A. , Abakumov Maxim A.
Published: September 2022

The magneto-mechanical approach is a powerful technique used in many different applications in biomedicine, including remote control enzyme activity, cell receptors, cancer-selective treatments, mechanically-activated drug releases, etc. This approach is based on the use of a combination of magnetic nanoparticles and external magnetic fields that have led to the movement of such nanoparticles with torques and forces (enough to change the conformation of biomolecules or even break weak chemical bonds). However, despite many theoretical and experimental works on this topic, it is difficult to predict the magneto-mechanical effects in each particular case, while the important results are scattered and often cannot be translated to other experiments. The main reason is that the magneto-mechanical effect is extremely sensitive to changes in any parameter of magnetic nanoparticles and the environment and changes in the parameters of the applied magnetic field. Thus, in this review, we (1) summarize and propose a simplified theoretical explanation of the main factors affecting the efficiency of the magneto-mechanical approach; (2) discuss the nature of the MNP-mediated mechanical forces and their order of magnitude; (3) show some of the main applications of the magneto-mechanical approach in the control over the properties of biological systems.
An Iterative Approach for the Solution of the Constrained OWA Aggregation Problem with Two Comonotone Constraints
Authors: Coroianu Lucian , Fullér Robert
Published: September 2022

In this paper, first, we extend the analytical expression of the optimal solution of the constrained OWA aggregation problem with two comonotone constraints by also including the case when the OWA weights are arbitrary non-negative numbers. Then, we indicate an iterative algorithm that precisely indicates whether a constraint in an auxiliary problem is either biding or strictly redundant. Actually, the biding constraint (or two biding constraints, as this case also may occur) are essential in expressing the solution of the initial constrained OWA aggregation problem.
Bi-Linear Bond-Slip Modelling for 1-D Tension Stiffening Behavior of a RC Element
Authors: Karinski Yuri S. , Yankelevsky David Z. , Feldgun Vladimir R.
Published: September 2022

Cracking is an inherent characteristic of a reinforced-concrete (RC) element subjected to tension or bending. The crack width growth with loading depends on the rebar-concrete bond behavior. RC bridges are designed under strict requirements to ensure their proper long lifetime performance. Limiting the crack widths improves the performance and safety of bridges that are exposed to harsh climatic and environmental effects and enhances bridge service life-cycle expectancy. This paper presents an extended one-dimensional formulation for analyzing RC elements subjected to tensile loads and solves the one-dimensional tension stiffening problem. The extended bond-slip model analyses the entire range of loading, following cracks growth up to their maximum allowed width, employing a bi-linear bond-slip relationship. The analytical solution refers to the early loading stage where the first bond-slip segment governs the entire element and a closed form solution is obtained, followed by the higher loading stage where two different bond-slip relationships govern two complementary segments of the element. Analytical expressions for the stresses, strains, and displacements in concrete, steel, and interface are developed. Cracking is followed until rebar yielding. Validation of the model with available test results shows good agreement that is superior to the commonly used linear bond-slip model.
Machine Learning Techniques for Calorimetry
Authors: Simkina Polina
Published: September 2022

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is one of the general purpose detectors at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where the products of proton–proton collisions at the center of mass energy up to 13.6 TeV are reconstructed. The electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) is one of the crucial components of the CMS since it reconstructs the energies and positions of electrons and photons. Even though several Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have been already used for calorimetry, with the constant advancement of the field, more and more sophisticated techniques have become available, which can be beneficial for object reconstruction with calorimeters. In this paper, we present two novel ML algorithms for object reconstruction with the ECAL that are based on graph neural networks (GNNs). The new approaches show significant improvements compared to the current algorithms used in CMS.
COVID-19 Related Myocarditis in Adults: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
Authors: Urban Szymon , Fułek Michał , Błaziak Mikołaj , Iwanek Gracjan , Jura Maksym , Fułek Katarzyna , Guzik Mateusz , Garus Mateusz , Gajewski Piotr , Lewandowski Łukasz , Biegus Jan , Ponikowski Piotr , Trzeciak Przemysław , Tycińska Agnieszka , Zymliński Robert
Published: September 2022

Despite the progress of its management, COVID-19 maintains an ominous condition which constitutes a threat, especially for the susceptible population. The cardiac injury occurs in approximately 30% of COVID-19 infections and is associated with a worse prognosis. The clinical presentation of cardiac involvement can be COVID-19-related myocarditis. Our review aims to summarise current evidence about that complication. The research was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022338397). We performed a systematic analysis using five different databases, including i.a. MEDLINE. Further, the backward snowballing technique was applied to identify additional papers. Inclusion criteria were: full-text articles in English presenting cases of COVID-19-related myocarditis diagnosed by the ESC criteria and patients over 18 years old. The myocarditis had to occur after the COVID-19 infection, not vaccination. Initially, 1588 papers were screened from the database search, and 1037 papers were revealed in the backward snowballing process. Eventually, 59 articles were included. Data about patients’ sex, age, ethnicity, COVID-19 confirmation technique and vaccination status, reported symptoms, physical condition, laboratory and radiological findings, applied treatment and patient outcome were investigated and summarised. COVID-19-related myocarditis is associated with the risk of sudden worsening of patients’ clinical status, thus, knowledge about its clinical presentation is essential for healthcare workers.
Effects of Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain on the Development of Preeclampsia and Its Phenotypes: A Prospective Cohort Study in China
Authors: Zhang Senmao , Qiu Xing , Qin Jiabi , Song Xingli , Liu Yiping , Wei Jianhui , Sun Mengting , Shu Jing , Wang Tingting , Chen Lizhang , Jiang Yurong
Published: September 2022

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common and serious pregnancy-specific disorder, which is closely linked with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate whether maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) was associated with preeclampsia and its phenotypes. In this prospective study, 32,531 women with singleton pregnancies were finally included. Compared with women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI, women with overweight and obesity were at increased risk of PE (RR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.57–1.66; RR = 2.04, 95%CI: 1.97–2.11, respectively), while those who were underweight had a lower risk of PE (RR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.81–0.88). When compared with women who gained adequate GWG, pregnant women with inadequate GWG and excessive GWG had an increased risk of PE (RR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.12–1.19; RR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.52–1.60, respectively). The observed increased risk was generally similar for mild-, severe-, early- and late-onset PE, and the reduced risk was similar for severe- and late-onset PE. No significant interactions between GWG and pre-pregnancy BMI on the risk of PE were identified (p-interaction > 0.05). In conclusion, pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity and excessive GWG have established risk factors for PE, and that the potential risk may vary according to PE phenotypes. Moreover, the synergistic effect that may exist between pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG.
Fat Infiltration of Multifidus Muscle Is Correlated with Neck Disability in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain
Authors: Grondin Francis , Freppel Sébastien , Jull Gwendolen , Gérard Thomas , Caderby Teddy , Peyrot Nicolas
Published: September 2022

Background: Chronic non-specific neck pain (CINP) is common, but the etiology remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between cervical muscle composition (cervical multifidus and longus capitis/longus colli), morphometry, range of movement, muscle function, and disability severity (Neck Disability Index) in patients with CINP. Methods: From September 2020 to July 2021, subjects underwent cervical MRI and clinical tests (cervical range of motion, cranio-cervical flexion test, neck flexor, and extensor muscle endurance). MRI analysis comprised muscle cross-sectional area, volume, and fat infiltration of multifidus and longus colli between C4 and C7 levels. Results: Twenty-five participants were included. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that NDI was positively correlated with the volume percentage of fat infiltration of the multifidus (B = 0.496), negatively correlated with fat-free muscle volume of the multifidus normalized by subject height (B = −0.230), and accounted for 32% of the variance. There was no relationship between neck disability and longus capitis/longus colli morphology. We also found no relationship between neck disability scores, neck flexor or extensor muscle endurance, or the outcome motor control test of craniocervical flexion (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Neck disability was moderately correlated with the percentage of fat volume in the multifidus muscle and fat-free volume of the multifidus. There was no relationship between NDI scores and muscle function test outcomes or any fat or volume measures pertaining to the longus colli muscle.
High Uric Acid Levels in Acute Myocardial Infarction Provide Better Long-Term Prognosis Predictive Power When Combined with Traditional Risk Factors
Authors: Kim Soohyun , Hwang Byung-Hee , Lee Kwan Yong , Kim Chan Jun , Choo Eun-Ho , Lim Sungmin , Kim Jin-Jin , Choi Ik Jun , Park Mahn-Won , Oh Gyu Chul , Yoo Ki Dong , Chung Wook Sung , Ahn Youngkeun , Jeong Myung Ho , Chang Kiyuk
Published: September 2022

The current study aimed to investigate the association between serum UA levels and the mortality rate of AMI patients. We analyzed 5888 patients with successfully revascularized AMI (mean age: 64.0 ± 12.7 years). The subjects were divided into the high UA group (uric acid >6.5 mg/dL for males, >5.8 mg/dL for females) or the normal UA group based on initial serum UA level measured at admission. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A total of 4141 (70.3%) and 1747 (29.7%) patients were classified into the normal UA group and high UA groups, respectively. Over a median follow-up of 5.02 (3.07, 7.55) years, 929 (21.5%) and 532 (34.1%) patients died in each group. Cox regression analysis identified high UA levels as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.69 [95% CI 1.52–1.88]; p < 0.001, adjusted HR 1.18 [95% CI: 1.05–1.32]; p = 0.005). The results were consistent after propensity-score matching and inverse probability weighting to adjust for baseline differences. The predictive accuracies of conventional clinical factor discrimination and reclassification were significantly improved upon the addition of hyperuricemia (C-index 0.788 [95% CI 0.775–0.801]; p = 0.005, IDI 0.004 [95% CI 0.002–0.006]; p < 0.001, NRI 0.263 [95% CI 0.208–0.318]; p < 0.001).
Correlation between a Force-Sensing Oral Appliance and Electromyography in the Detection of Tooth Contact Bruxism Events
Authors: Maoddi Pietro , Bianco Edoardo , Letizia Marco , Pollis Matteo , Manfredini Daniele , Maddalone Marcello
Published: September 2022

Background: Oral appliances embedding sensors can be interesting tools for monitoring tooth contact bruxism in a home environment, as they address some of the usability limitations of portable electromyography (EMG) systems. In this study, an oral appliance for sleep bruxism monitoring was compared to an electromyograph. Methods: Simulated bruxism events with tooth contact, specifically clenching and grinding, and other occlusal activities unrelated to bruxism, were measured in 23 subjects with the two instruments simultaneously. The recordings were analyzed automatically by a computer program in order to compare the two techniques. Results: The two instruments were found to be strongly correlated in terms of detecting events (r = 0.89), and estimating their duration (r = 0.88) and their intensity (r = 0.83). Conclusions: The two techniques were in agreement in measuring event frequency, duration and intensity in the studied group, suggesting that force-sensing oral appliances have the potential to be easy-to-use tools for home monitoring of bruxism, alone or as complements to portable EMGs.
Circulating Neuroendocrine Tumor Biomarkers: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Komarnicki Paweł , Musiałkiewicz Jan , Stańska Alicja , Maciejewski Adam , Gut Paweł , Mastorakos George , Ruchała Marek
Published: September 2022

Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms originating from the diffuse endocrine system. Depending on primary location and hormonal status, they range in terms of clinical presentation, prognosis and treatment. Functional tumors often develop symptoms indicating an excess of hormones produced by the neoplasm (exempli gratia insulinoma, glucagonoma and VIPoma) and can be diagnosed using monoanalytes. For non-functional tumors (inactive or producing insignificant amounts of hormones), universal biomarkers have not been established. The matter remains an important unmet need in the field of neuroendocrine tumors. Substances researched over the years, such as chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase, lack the desired sensitivity and specificity. In recent years, the potential use of Circulating Tumor Cells or multianalytes such as a circulating microRNA and NETest have been widely discussed. They offer superior diagnostic parameters in comparison to traditional biomarkers and depict disease status in a more comprehensive way. Despite a lot of promise, no international standards have yet been developed regarding their routine use and clinical application. In this literature review, we describe the analytes used over the years and cover novel biomarkers that could find a use in the future. We discuss their pros and cons while showcasing recent advances in the field of neuroendocrine tumor biomarkers.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pleurectomy/Decortication versus Extrapleural Pneumonectomy in the Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Danuzzo Federica , Maiorca Sebastiano , Bonitta Gianluca , Nosotti Mario
Published: September 2022

Objective: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive malignant cancer for which there are poor treatment options. Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy decortication (P/D) are the two most used surgical procedures in patients with resectable disease. We reviewed the available literature in order to compare the overall survival and postoperative complications of EPP and P/D and to provide evidence for the best procedure in the treatment of MPM. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature, including studies from August 2018 to May 2022. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival (OS) and the secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality and peri-operative complications. Results: Thirteen studies were considered, including a total of 1624 patients treated with EPP and 2147 treated with P/D. The estimated pooled HR showed a significant lower hazard for P/D compared to EPP in terms of OS (HR = 0.76; 95% CI from 0.62 to 0.94; p < 0.001). In 12 studies, the risk for 30-day mortality was lower for patients treated with P/D (RR = 0.49; 95% CI from 0.31 to 0.76; p = <0.01), whereas only five studies reported 90-day mortality, and no statistically significant difference between EPP and P/D was found (RR = 0.71; 95% CI from 0.47 to 1.07; p = 0.10). The OS restricted mean survival time difference meta-analysis (RMSDT) confirms the superior survival of P/D on the EPP, a superiority that increases from 0.54 months at one year to 4.23 at five years. The incidence of postoperative empyema, atrial fibrillation, bleeding and bronchopleural fistula was significantly increased in the EPP group except for prolonged air leakage, which is only characteristic of P/D. Conclusions: Using two different statistical methods, this meta-analysis suggests that long-term survival after surgical treatment for resectable MPM is greater for patients undergoing P/D. Long-term survival had never been previously analyzed with appropriate tests; on the contrary, our result is consistent with the previous meta-analyses and reinforces the evidence of lower 30-day mortality and the prevalence of postoperative complications in P/D versus EPP patients. The recent introduction of innovative therapeutic schemes, both adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, keeps the discussion on surgical strategy open and will require new studies.
Global Trends in Research on Cell-Free Nucleic Acids in Obstetrics and Gynecology during 2017–2021
Authors: Gao Wenyan , Yang Hongyue , Cheng Wanting , Wang Xiao , Li Da , Shi Bei
Published: September 2022

Objectives. The objectives of this study were to identify global trends in research on cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) from a bibliometric perspective and provide researchers with new research hotspots. Methods. In all, we extracted 5038 pieces of literature from PubMed and 527 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database related to cfDNA published from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. For PubMed literature, we employed co-word, biclustering, and strategic diagram analysis to describe the trends in research on cfDNA in the said five years. Then, we used VOSviewer analysis for the WoSCC database to display the trends in research on cfDNA in obstetrics and gynecology during 2017–2021. Results. Strategy diagram analysis of 95 major Medical Subject Headings terms extracted from 5038 pieces of literature indicated that cfDNA sequence analysis for non-invasive prenatal and genetic testing and its application in the fields of neoplasm genetics and diagnosis is a newly emerging immature theme of cfDNA. VOSviewer analysis of 527 articles showed the global trends in research on cfDNA in obstetrics and gynecology, for example, in terms of most influential authors, institutions, countries, journals, and five research hotspots: (1) cfDNA application in prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis, (2) cfDNA application in assisted reproductive technology, (3) cfDNA application in pre-eclampsia, DNA methylation, etc., (4) cfDNA application in placental dysfunction and fetal growth restriction, and (5) cfDNA application in fetal chromosomal abnormalities (fetal aneuploidy). Conclusions. Comprehensive visual analysis provides information regarding authors, organizations, countries/regions, journals, research hotspots, and emerging topics in the field of cfDNA for obstetrics and gynecology research. This comprehensive study could make it easier to find a partner for project development and build a network of knowledge on this emerging topic.
Initial Experience of Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Baltic Country Center
Authors: Račkauskas Rokas , Baušys Augustinas , Jurgaitis Jonas , Paškonis Marius , Strupas Kęstutis
Published: September 2022

Background: Peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs) are a heterogenous group of primary and metastatic cancers affecting the peritoneum. They are associated with poor long-term outcomes. Many centers around the world adopt cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in routine clinical practice for these otherwise condemned patients despite a lack of high-level evidence from randomized control trials. This study aimed to investigate and present our 10-year experience with this controversial method, CRS and HIPEC, for PSM in a single tertiary center in a Baltic country. Methods: Patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos between 2011 and 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Overall survival was the primary study outcome. Secondary outcomes included postoperative morbidity and mortality, and local or systemic recurrence rates. Results: Sixty-nine patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC were included in the study. Most patients underwent treatment for peritoneal metastases from colorectal, ovarian, and appendiceal cancers. Six (8.7%) patients received CRS and HIPEC for primary peritoneal neoplasm—pseudomyxoma peritonei. The mean peritoneal carcinomatosis index score was 12 ± 7. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 62 (89.9%) patients. The mean OS was 39 ± 29 months. The mean survival of patients with PSMs of different origin was as follows: 39 ± 25 (95% CI: 28–50) months for colorectal cancer, 44 ± 31 (95% CI: 30–58) months for ovarian cancer, 32 ± 21 (95% CI: 21–43) months for appendiceal cancer, 422 ± 1 (95% CI: 12–97) months for pseudomyxoma peritonei, and 7 months for gastric cancer. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated the results of the CRS and HIPEC program in a single Baltic country tertiary center. Patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC for PSMs achieved moderate survival rates with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality risk.
Sport-Specific Rehabilitation, but Not PRP Injections, Might Reduce the Re-Injury Rate of Muscle Injuries in Professional Soccer Players: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bezuglov Eduard , Khaitin Vladimir , Shoshorina Maria , Butovskiy Mikhail , Karlitskiy Nikita , Mashkovskiy Evgeny , Goncharov Evgenii , Pirmakhanov Bekzhan , Morgans Ryland , Lazarev Artemii
Published: September 2022

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are extremely popular in the management of sports injuries in elite athletes. However, data on the use of various administration protocols of PRP are contradictory. The efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of muscle injuries in professional soccer players has to be contextualized within the sport-specific rehabilitation program. Despite the questionable role of PRP, a well-structured rehabilitation program is still regarded as the gold standard. We examined the efficacy of various PRP protocols in the management of muscle injuries in professional soccer players in respect to treatment duration and injury recurrence. A retrospective cohort study. Muscle injuries in professional soccer players (n = 79, height 182.1 ± 5.9 cm, weight 76.8 ± 5.8 kg, BMI 23.1 ± 1.4 kg/m2) from three elite soccer clubs from the Russian Premier League were recorded during the 2018–2019 season. The injuries were graded based on MRI, using the British Athletic Muscle Injury Classification. Treatment protocols included the POLICE regimen, short courses of NSAID administration, and the specific rehabilitation program. The sample group of players were administered PRP injections. The average treatment duration with PRP injection was significantly longer than conventional treatment without PRP, 21.5 ± 15.7 days and 15.3 ± 11.1 days, respectively (p = 0.003). Soccer-specific rehabilitation and obtaining MRI/US before the treatment was associated with significantly reduced injury recurrence rate (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the PRP injection protocol applied to any muscle and the treatment duration in respect of grade 2A–2B muscle injuries. The total duration of treatment of type 2A–2B injuries was 15 days among all players. In the group receiving local injections of PRP, the total duration of treatment was 18 days; in the group without PRP injections, the treatment duration was 14 days. In our study, PRP treatment was associated with longer treatment duration, regardless of which muscle was injured. This may reflect the tendency to use PRP in higher-degree injuries. Soccer-specific rehabilitation significantly reduced the injury recurrence rate when compared to the administration of PRP injections. MRI/US imaging before returning to play was also associated with a lower injury recurrence rate. There was no significant difference between the PRP injection protocol applied to any muscle and the treatment duration in treatment of type 2A–2B muscle injuries.
SIFT-CNN: When Convolutional Neural Networks Meet Dense SIFT Descriptors for Image and Sequence Classification
Authors: Tsourounis Dimitrios , Kastaniotis Dimitris , Theoharatos Christos , Kazantzidis Andreas , Economou George
Published: September 2022

Despite the success of hand-crafted features in computer visioning for many years, nowadays, this has been replaced by end-to-end learnable features that are extracted from deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Whilst CNNs can learn robust features directly from image pixels, they require large amounts of samples and extreme augmentations. On the contrary, hand-crafted features, like SIFT, exhibit several interesting properties as they can provide local rotation invariance. In this work, a novel scheme combining the strengths of SIFT descriptors with CNNs, namely SIFT-CNN, is presented. Given a single-channel image, one SIFT descriptor is computed for every pixel, and thus, every pixel is represented as an M-dimensional histogram, which ultimately results in an M-channel image. Thus, the SIFT image is generated from the SIFT descriptors for all the pixels in a single-channel image, while at the same time, the original spatial size is preserved. Next, a CNN is trained to utilize these M-channel images as inputs by operating directly on the multiscale SIFT images with the regular convolution processes. Since these images incorporate spatial relations between the histograms of the SIFT descriptors, the CNN is guided to learn features from local gradient information of images that otherwise can be neglected. In this manner, the SIFT-CNN implicitly acquires a local rotation invariance property, which is desired for problems where local areas within the image can be rotated without affecting the overall classification result of the respective image. Some of these problems refer to indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) cell image classification, ground-based all-sky image-cloud classification and human lip-reading classification. The results for the popular datasets related to the three different aforementioned problems indicate that the proposed SIFT-CNN can improve the performance and surpasses the corresponding CNNs trained directly on pixel values in various challenging tasks due to its robustness in local rotations. Our findings highlight the importance of the input image representation in the overall efficiency of a data-driven system.
The Effect of Cutting Parameters on Surface Roughness and Morphology of Ti-6Al-4V ELI Titanium Alloy during Turning with Actively Driven Rotary Tools
Authors: Harun Suryadiwansa , Burhanuddin Yanuar , Ibrahim Gusri Akhyar
Published: September 2022

The titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V ELI is most commonly used for medical implant products because it is corrosion resistant, high strength, and lightweight. In actuality, the temperature will be very high during the machining of this material. This will accelerate the tool wear and affect the surface roughness. Turning with the actively driven rotary tool (ADRT) has been proven to decrease the cutting temperature so that it is suitable for machining the Ti-6Al-4V ELI. This study focuses on investigating the surface roughness and morphology of Ti-6Al-4V ELI when turning with the ADRT. The surface roughness was measured using the surface profile tester, while the surface morphology was observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The turning with ADRT parameters consisting of the tool diameter, cutting speed, tool revolution speed, feed, and tool inclination angle were analyzed for their effects on the surface roughness. Results show that the cutting speed and tool inclination angle have a significant effect, with a contribution effect of about 67% on the average surface roughness (Ra). The increasing cutting speed resulted in the increased average surface roughness (Ra). The average surface roughness (Ra) also increased with an increasing tool inclination angle. Moreover, no physical damage was observed, such as cracks, micro-pits, and a white layer on the material’s surface morphology.
Numerical Analysis for Performance and the Combustion Reactants of the Crankcase Explosion Relief Valve
Authors: Kong Kyeong-Ju , Kang Sung-Wook , Kim Jong-Hwan , Jang Hong-Lae
Published: September 2022

A crankcase explosion relief valve (CERV) is installed to minimize the effects of explosions occurring in the crankcase of marine engines. According to the regulations of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), installation of CERV is mandatory and it must be designed and manufactured based on the engine size. As there are various types of engines, the CERV must be developed accordingly. A high cost is required for the explosion test in the development process, so the test is performed for verification purposes in the final development stage. However, if the developed CERV causes an inappropriate result that is different from the expected performance in the explosion test, it needs to return to the development process so conducting the explosion test in the final stage may be unreasonable. In this study, to predict CERV performance, the chamber and CERV were modeled in 2D, and numerical analysis was performed assuming that the DISC of the CERV was opened by causing an explosion inside the chamber. The results of the numerical analysis were verified by comparing the results with the pressure rising during the explosion. In addition, the reasonable results were obtained for temperature, pressure, and combustion products through comparison to the theoretical calculation results. If the numerical analysis method used in this study is applied, it is expected to be able to predict the performance and reactants at the stage before the explosion test when developing the crankcase explosion relief valve.
Features of the Field of Internal Waves on the Abkhazian Shelf of the Black Sea according to Remote Sensing Data and In Situ Measurements
Authors: Serebryany Andrey , Khimchenko Elizaveta , Zamshin Viktor , Popov Oleg
Published: September 2022

The field of internal waves in the Black Sea is quite significant. The Black Sea shelf is of particular interest, but it has not been studied enough in some specific regions. For example, a narrow and steep shelf of Abkhazia has been poorly explored. Particularly unexplored are the actual parameters and causes of the generation of internal waves in this area. In this article, we have attempted to fill this gap by analyzing remote sensing data and in situ data. An analysis of a set of optical multispectral satellite images (Sentinel-2, Landsat-8) and a collection of sea-truth data of the shelf zone of Abkhazia was carried out to identify features of internal wave fields of this region. In situ data were acquired over 9 years using ADCP, CTD, and SVP probes and moored stations with point and line temperature sensors. It is shown that internal waves are widespread on the Abkhazian shelf. They appear as trains of short-period waves (as a rule, soliton-like). The quantitative parameters and features of internal waves are shown and analyzed. The form of manifestation and direction of internal wave trains’ travel depend on the mechanisms of their origin, among which are the transformations of inertial internal waves, generation by river plumes, and submesoscale structures. In general, the article is the most complete and relevant study of the field of internal waves on the shelf of Abkhazia.
Lessons Learned during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Need to Promote Ship Energy Efficiency
Authors: Ghaforian Masodzadeh Peyman , Ölçer Aykut I. , Dalaklis Dimitrios , Ballini Fabio , Christodoulou Anastasia
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the way we do business and trade. As a result of the pandemic, a variety of stakeholders in the maritime sector have been adversely affected; nevertheless, they adapted successfully to the new circumstances and learned how to make the necessary compromises. The purpose of this study is to examine the status of ships’ energy efficiency during the pandemic. It is hypothesized that the pandemic has strengthened barriers to ship energy efficiency, and shipping decarbonization has not been a priority for stakeholders throughout the pandemic. To examine this hypothesis, by conducting a literature review and utilizing the barrier models, the energy efficiency barriers were revisited through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic. The established focus group assessed the impact of the pandemic on these barriers. The pandemic revealed the vulnerability of shipping’s energy efficiency, and a majority of barriers were strengthened as a result. A number of factors have contributed to the marginal decarbonization of shipping during the pandemic period, including inadequate and lenient energy regulations (policy gap), economic crisis within shipping companies (low freight rates and a decline in charter markets), and extremely low fuel prices.
GNSS Real–Time Precise Point Positioning in Arctic Northeast Passage
Authors: Di Mingwei , Guo Bofeng , Ren Jie , Wu Xiang , Zhang Zhaoyi , Liu Yicheng , Liu Qingju , Zhang Anmin
Published: September 2022

Human activities in the Arctic regions have been increasing in recent years due to the impacts of climate change, such as Arctic Sea ice decline. For example, there has been an increase in Arctic shipping routes. A robust navigation system with a high positioning accuracy is required when traversing the extremely challenging Arctic environment to ensure the safety of human activities. However, the high–precision GNSS navigation and the positioning method, e.g., real–time kinematic (RTK), is not available in the polar regions due to the accessibility issues of the required infrastructures. On the other hand, the International GNSS Service (IGS) enables real–time applications; additionally, quick and convenient satellite communication systems are also available. This offers the possibility of real–time precise point positioning (RT–PPP) with multi–GNSS for high-precision navigation in the Arctic. In our paper, we analyzed the performance of multi–GNSS RT–PPP in the Arctic Northeast Passage (NEP), highlighting the following contributions: First, a GNSS device is installed on the M/V TIANHUI, which passed through the NEP from 10 September to 20 September 2019; Second, we quantitatively evaluated the collected GNSS signals in terms of the maximum satellite elevations, number of visible satellites (NSAT), position dilution of precision (PDOP) values, signal–to–noise ratio (SNR), and multipath errors. Third, we evaluated the accuracy of the CLK93 real–time products compared with the Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ) final products GBM. Finally, we carried out experiments for both single– (SF) and dual–frequency (DF) RT–PPP in the NEP during the 11–day testing period. Our experimental results show that meter–level positioning accuracy can be achieved with SF RT–PPP, while the DF RT–PPP model reaches sub–decimeter values and even centimeter–level accuracy. In addition, using the multi–GNSS method, we showed that the average RMS values of DF RT–PPP in the horizontal and vertical directions are 0.080 m and 0.057 m, respectively, demonstrating an improvement of approximately 70% over single–GPS solutions.
Advances in Marine Self-Powered Vibration Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator
Authors: Zou Yongjiu , Sun Minzheng , Xu Weipeng , Zhao Xin , Du Taili , Sun Peiting , Xu Minyi
Published: September 2022

With the rapid development of advanced electronics/materials and manufacturing, marine vibration sensors have made great progress in the field of ship and ocean engineering, which could cater to the development trend of marine Internet of Things (IoT) and smart shipping. However, the use of conventional power supply models requires periodic recharging or replacement of batteries due to limited battery life, which greatly causes too much inconvenience and maintenance consumption, and may also pose a potential risk to the marine environment. By using the coupling effect of contact electrification and electrostatic induction, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) were demonstrated to efficiently convert mechanical vibration movements into electrical signals for sensing the vibration amplitude, direction, frequency, velocity, and acceleration. In this article, according to the two working modes of harmonic vibration and non-harmonic vibration, the latest representative achievements of TENG-based vibration sensors for sensing mechanical vibration signals are comprehensively reviewed. This review not only covers the fundamental working mechanism, rational structural design, and analysis of practical application scenarios, but also investigates the characteristics of harmonic vibration and non-harmonic vibration. Finally, perspectives and challenges regarding TENG-based marine self-powered vibration sensors at present are discussed.
Narrative Review: Glucocorticoids in Alcoholic Hepatitis—Benefits, Side Effects, and Mechanisms
Authors: Lu Hong
Published: September 2022

Alcoholic hepatitis is a major health and economic burden worldwide. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the only first-line drugs recommended to treat severe alcoholic hepatitis (sAH), with limited short-term efficacy and significant side effects. In this review, I summarize the major benefits and side effects of GC therapy in sAH and the potential underlying mechanisms. The review of the literature and data mining clearly indicate that the hepatic signaling of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is markedly impaired in sAH patients. The impaired GR signaling causes hepatic down-regulation of genes essential for gluconeogenesis, lipid catabolism, cytoprotection, and anti-inflammation in sAH patients. The efficacy of GCs in sAH may be compromised by GC resistance and/or GC’s extrahepatic side effects, particularly the side effects of intestinal epithelial GR on gut permeability and inflammation in AH. Prednisolone, a major GC used for sAH, activates both the GR and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). When GC non-responsiveness occurs in sAH patients, the activation of MR by prednisolone might increase the risk of alcohol abuse, liver fibrosis, and acute kidney injury. To improve the GC therapy of sAH, the effort should be focused on developing the biomarker(s) for GC responsiveness, liver-targeting GR agonists, and strategies to overcome GC non-responsiveness and prevent alcohol relapse in sAH patients.
The Analysis of Risk and Return Using Sharia Compliance Assets Pricing Model with Profit-Sharing Approach (Mudharabah) in Energy Sector Company in Indonesia
Authors: Faisol Ahmad , Nidar Sulaeman Rahman , Herwany Aldrin
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to examine the relationship between risk and return using the Sharia Compliant Assets Pricing Model (SCAPM) with the profit-sharing approach (mudharabah) variable as a substitute for the risk-free rate (Rf) in energy sector companies in Indonesia as an empirical test object. The analytical tool used is univariate time series analysis using the ARX-GARCH model to determine validity of the model and forecast for the next 7 days. The findings showed a significant relationship between risk and return in a mining company in Indonesia. In addition, in terms of stock volatility, which is higher than market volatility, the shares of mining companies are shown to be in demand by investors compared to other average stocks in the Indonesian market. So, it can be concluded that the mudharabah variable can be used as a risk-free alternative rate (Rf).
Mobile Edge Computing in Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks: Architectures, Key Technologies and Challenges
Authors: Qiu Yuan , Niu Jianwei , Zhu Xinzhong , Zhu Kuntuo , Yao Yiming , Ren Beibei , Ren Tao
Published: September 2022

Space-air-ground integrated networks (SAGIN) provide seamless global coverage and cross-domain interconnection for the ubiquitous users in heterogeneous networks, which greatly promote the rapid development of intelligent mobile devices and applications. However, for mobile devices with limited computation capability and energy budgets, it is still a serious challenge to meet the stringent delay and energy requirements of computation-intensive ubiquitous mobile applications. Therefore, in view of the significant success in ground mobile networks, the introduction of mobile edge computing (MEC) in SAGIN has become a promising technology to solve the challenge. By deploying computing, cache, and communication resources in the edge of mobile networks, SAGIN MEC provides both low latency, high bandwidth, and wide coverage, substantially improving the quality of services for mobile applications. There are still many unprecedented challenges, due to its high dynamic, heterogeneous and complex time-varying topology. Therefore, efficient MEC deployment, resource management, and scheduling optimization in SAGIN are of great significance. However, most existing surveys only focus on either the network architecture and system model, or the analysis of specific technologies of computation offloading, without a complete description of the key MEC technologies for SAGIN. Motivated by this, this paper first presents a SAGIN network system architecture and service framework, followed by the descriptions of its characteristics and advantages. Then, the MEC deployment, network resources, edge intelligence, optimization objectives and key algorithms in SAGIN are discussed in detail. Finally, potential problems and challenges of MEC in SAGIN are discussed for future work.