bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Levels, Facture Risk Assessment Tool Scores and Bone Disorders in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Authors: Saeki Chisato , Oikawa Tsunekazu , Ueda Kaoru , Nakano Masanori , Torisu Yuichi , Saruta Masayuki , Tsubota Akihito
Published: August 2022

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in bone growth and maintenance, and its decreased levels are associated with bone disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association of serum IGF-1 levels with osteoporosis, prevalent fractures and fracture risk based on the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This study included 127 consecutive patients with PBC. Based on the baseline serum IGF-1 levels, the participants were classified into the low (L)-, intermediate (I)- and high (H)-IGF-1 groups. According to the FRAX score, high fracture risk was defined as a 10-year major osteoporotic fracture probability (FRAX-MOF) ≥ 20% or a 10-year hip fracture probability (FRAX-HF) ≥ 3%. The serum IGF-1 levels were positively correlated with bone mineral density, and were negatively correlated with the FRAX-MOF/FRAX-HF. The L-IGF-1 group had the highest prevalence of osteoporosis (58.1%), prevalent fracture (48.4%) and high fracture risk (71.0%). Meanwhile, the H-IGF-1 group had the lowest prevalence of osteoporosis (9.7%), prevalent fracture (12.9%) and high fracture risk (9.7%). The prevalence of these events increased stepwise with decreasing serum IGF-1 levels. The cutoff values of IGF-1 for predicting osteoporosis, prevalent fracture and high fracture risk were 61.5 ng/mL (sensitivity/specificity, 0.545/0.894), 69.5 ng/mL (0.633/0.784) and 61.5 ng/mL (0.512/0.929), respectively. Serum IGF-1 levels were associated with bone disorders and the FRAX-derived fracture risk, and may be a useful indicator for initiating therapeutic intervention to prevent the incidence of fracture in patients with PBC.
National Health Insurance Membership among Urban Poor Societies in Indonesia in 2019: Are They Protected?
Authors: Laksono Agung Dwi , Rukmini Rukmini , Tumaji Tumaji , Ipa Mara , Wulandari Ratna Dwi
Published: August 2022

Urban poor societies were a vulnerable group. Once they are sick, they fall deeper into poverty. National Health Insurance (NHI) is a way the government initiated to overcome this situation. We analyzed the factor related to NHI membership among urban poor societies. The study population included everyone living in urban poor societies. The study examined a sample of 3455 participants, and examined five characteristics: NHI, age, gender, education, employment, and marital status. In the final step, the research used binary logistic regression. The results show that all age groups are more likely than those over 64 to be a member of NHI among urban poor societies in Indonesia. Males have a 1.039 times higher chance than females to be a member of NHI. All education levels have less possibility than no education to be a member of NHI among urban poor societies in Indonesia. Employees have an opportunity of 1.097 times higher than the unemployed to be a member of NHI. All marital statuses have more possibility than those who are divorced or widowed to be a member of NHI among urban poor societies in Indonesia. The study results strengthen previous studies with a similar topic. We concluded that the NHI adequately protects urban poor societies. However, the government still has homework to pay attention to the remaining 28.3% of urban poor societies that the NHI has not covered.
Evaluating Differences in Mathematical Competencies in Middle School Students during Pandemic Conditions through Preparatec Platform
Authors: Maldonado-García Blanca Estela , Ocampo-Díaz Alejandra , Portuguez-Castro May
Published: August 2022

This research proposes to evaluate the difference in essential mathematical competencies of middle school students transitioning to high school level under pandemic conditions (COVID-19) using the PreparaTec platform and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released items as an evaluation instrument. The study was conducted with 84 students from first semester high school at Prepa Tec (Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Cuernavaca) aged 14 and 15. The students were divided into three experimental groups and a control group. Three levels of mathematical competencies: reproduction, definitions, and calculations (level 1), connections and integration to solve problems (level 2), and reflection (level 3) were evaluated. We applied a pre-test at the beginning of the semester and a post-test at the end after using the PreparaTec platform. Both tests were written and applied in a face-to-face format. The study presents the findings regarding the impact of using the PreparaTec platform during the first semester in the three levels of mathematical competencies mentioned. The results obtained are presented in two analyses. The first analysis involves the results obtained per experimental group and according to the number of correct answers per group. The second analysis represents a comparison between the percentage of correct answers and the level of difficulty per question per student regarding the percentage, determined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Spain in the format presented by PISA. The pre-test and post-test consisted of 23 questions from items released from PISA, which contemplated measuring the three levels of mathematical competence. The results showed an improvement of 57% in level 1 proficiency questions, 63.6% in level 2 proficiency, and 100% in level 3 proficiency. The findings indicate that new teaching strategies based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and more meaningful assessment forms further develop students’ mathematical competencies.
Enhancing Learning in Tourism Education by Combining Learning by Doing and Team Coaching
Authors: Azanza Garazi , Fernández-Villarán Asunción , Goytia Ana
Published: August 2022

Learning by doing (LBD) and team coaching are experiential learning methods that can be used to enhance the depth of learning, motivation, and engagement in tourism education. This study explores the combined use of the two methodologies and reports on the experience of 42 students who participated in a practical case dealing with the strategic planning for sustainable tourism in a small town in Spain as a part of their undergraduate tourism education. The results obtained after the project evaluation confirm that LBD combined with team coaching is considered a valuable strategy for enhancing learning. Regarding the LBD method, students especially valued the opportunity to work within professional realities and exchange ideas with their classmates. Participants perceived team coaching as a valuable tool for enhancing team performance, communication, self-awareness (and that of others), conflict management, and problem-solving during project development. Professors and agents from public institutions involved in the project reported that students’ proposals were highly applicable and close to reality, and they agreed that the combination of LBD and team coaching improved the quality of the course assignments.
Understanding Teacher Educators’ Perceptions and Practices about ICT Integration in Teacher Education Program
Authors: Ngao Ayubu Ismail , Sang Guoyuan , Kihwele Jimmy Ezekiel
Published: August 2022

This study explored the perceptions and practices of teacher educators in integrating information and communication Technology (ICT) in teacher education programs. The study adopted a phenomenological design under the qualitative research approach that included eighteen selected participants from a teacher education university college. Data collection employed semi-structured interviews, observations, and documentary reviews. The authors adopted the Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis model for data analysis. The findings showed that while young and inexperienced teachers showed readiness to use ICT, some teacher educators do not understand the logic behind using technology and hence question the rationale for applying it to their teaching. At the same time, equipment challenges, large teaching burdens, and time limits were the critical barriers to integration. Again, the findings revealed that teacher educators use different software and learning platforms, use social media, gather online information, and access learning materials through journal subscriptions to enhance preservice teachers’ learning. Thus, integrating ICT during teacher training is paramount, and teacher educators should be assisted and encouraged to develop positive attitudes in learning and to apply ICT in their teaching practices. Concomitantly, equipping preservice teachers with ICT-based pedagogical skills, not only through specialized ICT courses, but also through observing how teacher educators use it, has a significant impact on transforming teaching practices in their future classrooms.
Double C-NOT Attack on a Single-State Semi-Quantum Key Distribution Protocol and Its Improvement
Authors: Gu Jun , Hwang Tzonelih
Published: August 2022

Recently, Zhang et al. proposed a single-state semi-quantum key distribution protocol to help a quantum participant share a secret key with a classical participant. However, this study shows that an eavesdropper can use a double C-NOT attack to obtain parts of the final shared key without being detected by the participants. To avoid this problem, a modification is proposed here.
Design and Implementation of Enhanced Programmable Data Plane Supporting ICN Mobility
Authors: Kang Liyi , Chen Xiao , Chen Jun
Published: August 2022

Information-centric networking (ICN) separates the identifier and locator of network entities, providing a natural advantage in supporting mobility. To gain the advantage of ICN to support mobility, an urgent challenge is the problem of practical implementation with performance optimization. Software-defined networking (SDN) can be regarded as infrastructure to implement ICN mobility. However, it is difficult for the centralized SDN controller to quickly process mobile signaling. Therefore, this paper proposes enhanced programmable data plane supporting ICN mobility. By offloading mobility-related control plane functions from the controller to the data plane, the data plane can locally process mobile signaling without interacting with the controller. We propose an offloading mechanism for control plane functions, based on a rule table, where the controller authorizes the data plane to process the mobile signaling by loading the programmable rule table to data plane’s control element, and the control element intercepts the mobile signaling, matches the predefined rule table, and executes a series of application logic actions. In addition, we propose an improved SmartSplit algorithm to manage the rule table and speed up packets matching the rule table. Based on Intel’s Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK), we implement the enhanced programmable data plane. Our experimental results prove that the proposed enhanced programmable data plane has a stronger ability to process mobile signaling and reduce latency.
Prediction of Offshore Wave at East Coast of Malaysia—A Comparative Study
Authors: Azad Mohammad , Uddin Md. Alhaz
Published: August 2022

Exploration of oil and gas in the offshore regions is increasing due to global energy demand. The weather in offshore areas is truly unpredictable due to the sparsity and unreliability of metocean data. Offshore structures may be affected by critical marine environments (severe storms, cyclones, etc.) during oil and gas exploration. In the interest of public safety, fast decisions must be made about whether to proceed or cancel oil and gas exploration, based on offshore wave estimates and anticipated wind speed provided by the Meteorological Department. In this paper, using the metocean data, the offshore wave height and period are predicted from the wind speed by three state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms (Artificial Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest). Such data has been acquired from satellite altimetry and calibrated and corrected by Fugro OCEANOR. The performance of the considered algorithms is compared by various metrics such as mean squared error, root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and coefficient of determination. The experimental results show that the Random Forest algorithm performs best for the prediction of wave period and the Artificial Neural Network algorithm performs best for the prediction of wave height.
Electromagnetic-Thermal Analysis of FTU under the High-Power Electromagnetic Environment
Authors: Zhao Dongyan , Chen Yanning , Wang Yubo , Zhao Yang , Fu Zhen , Du Jian , Wang Licheng , Cheng Ruiqi , Zhen Yan , Zhang Haifeng , Zhou Yuanguo , Ren Qiang
Published: August 2022

The feeder terminal unit (FTU) is a critical component of any electric power system that works in a complex electromagnetic environment. However, innovative research of theoretical analysis of electromagnetic–thermal practices inside the FTU system is missing in the literature. This work presents the theoretical methodologies for calculating and analyzing the electromagnetic–thermal influence of FTUs in a high-power electromagnetic (HPEM) environment. The numerical outcomes reveal that the surface of the FTU and connecting cables under powerful electromagnetic pulses (EMP) induce significant electromagnetic fields and high temperatures. Significantly, the electromagnetic pulse and injection of heat through the wires into the FTU may cause interference and possibly damage to the FTU’s circuits and electronics. This work serves as a reference for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) design of FTUs and provides numerical analysis for ensuring the normal operation of FTU devices under harsh electromagnetic environments.
Intelligent Replica Selection in Edge and IoT Environments Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Mostafa Nour , Aly Wael Hosny Fouad , Alabed Samer , Al-Arnaout Zakwan
Published: August 2022

Cloud, edge and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have emerged to overcome the challenges involved in sharing computational resources and information services. Within generic cloud systems, two models have been identified as having widespread applicability: computation clouds and data clouds. A data cloud is cloud computing that aims to manage, unify and operate multiple data workloads. Many current applications generate datasets consisting of petabytes (PB) of information. Managing large datasets is a complex issuel; in particular, datasets associated with many applications can be distributed widely in geographical terms, particularly in IoT systems. Edge and IoT systems are facing new challenges with increased complexity, making scalability an important issue that will affect the performance of the system. Data replication services are widely accepted techniques to improve availability and fault tolerance, and to improve the data access time. Current replication services, however, often exhibit an increase in response time, reflecting the problems associated with the ever-increasing size of databases. This paper proposes a prediction model to predict replica locations using the files’ access profile, which feeds the neural networks with the access and location behavior (file profile) to minimize the overhead of transferring large volumes of data, which slows down the system and requires careful management. This new model has shown high accuracy and low overheads. The result shows a significant improvement in total task execution time using the proposed model for locating files by 16.34% and 30.45%; in addition, the results show bandwidth improvement by 24.7% and 49.4% compared to the user profile prediction model and replica service model without prediction, respectively. Consequently, the proposed algorithm can improve data access speed, reduce data access latency and decrease bandwidth consumption.
Ambrosia Beetle Attacks in Mediterranean Cork Oak Forests Following Fire: Which Factors Drive Host Selection?
Authors: Catry Filipe X. , Branco Manuela , Moreira Francisco , Sousa Edmundo , Rego Francisco
Published: August 2022

Mediterranean Basin forest ecosystems are recurrently affected by wildfires. The occurrence of insect pests following fire may be a critical factor affecting tree survival and forest recovery. Although ambrosia beetles are viewed with increasing concern, information about the host selection and colonization behavior of these beetles in Mediterranean broadleaf forests is very scarce and inexistent in areas affected by wildfires. After a forest fire in Portugal, we selected 841 burned and unburned cork oak trees and assessed the presence and intensity of ambrosia beetle attacks, as well as other tree characteristics, and used generalized linear models to investigate the factors driving host selection. In contrast with burned oaks, where beetle attacks were frequent, the unburned trees were little affected. Attacks in the burned forest were more frequent in larger trees that suffered higher fire severity, in trees being exploited for cork (but with thicker bark), and in trees that were closer to the unburned area. A contagious effect to neighboring unburned trees was not observed, and cork harvesting in subsequent years following fire also did not increase the probability of beetle attacks. These results help us to understand the risk of ambrosia beetle attacks and improve forest management in cork oak forests.
Sediment Transport Patterns of Channels on Tidal Lowland
Authors: Syarifudin Achmad , Satyanaga Alfrendo , Wijaya Martin , Moon Sung-Woo , Kim Jong
Published: August 2022

Many reclaimed areas in Indonesia have abandoned swampland or idle land which is attributed to various factors. One of the main factors is the unsuitability of the exiting flow system in this area since the condition of the canals and water structures in this area has not been rehabilitated for a long time. No study has been carried out to investigate the suitable model for simulating the appropriate criteria for assessment of erosion within the channel on Tidal lowland in Indonesia. This study focuses on the investigation of erosion occurring within the Rural Channel and Main Drainage Channel on Tidal lowland in Palembang, Indonesia which becomes the originality of this manuscript. The erosion was attributed to the accumulation of sediment transport within the channel of the reclaimed tidal delta region Telang I. The results of the research on the P8-13S scheme show that equilibrium on the accumulation of sediment transport in the channel was observed in the Rural Channel and Main Drainage Channel on average ranging from 3,301,859 m3 to 3,349,103 m3 while the average sedimentation ranged from 809,232–898,467 m3. This study is very important in minimizing the possible erosion near riverbank.
Betaine Reduces Lipid Anabolism and Promotes Lipid Transport in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet by Influencing Intestinal Protein Expression
Authors: Hu Haitao , Tan Lun , Li Xiaojiao , Li Jingjing , Fan Caiyun , Huang Feng , Zhuo Zhao , Hou Kun , Xu Yinying , Wang Qingfeng , Yang Yongxin , Cheng Jianbo
Published: August 2022

Betaine is more efficient than choline and methionine methyl donors, as it can increase nitrogen storage, promote fat mobilisation and fatty acid oxidation and change body fat content and distribution. Lipid is absorbed primarily in the small intestine after consumption, which is also the basis of lipid metabolism. This study was conducted to establish a mouse model of obesity in Kunming mice of the same age and similar body weight, and to assess the effect of betaine on the intestinal protein expression profile of mice using a proteomic approach. Analysis showed that betaine supplementation reversed the reduction in expression of proteins related to lipid metabolism and transport in the intestine of mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). For example, the addition of betaine resulted in a significant upregulation of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (Mttp), apolipoprotein A-IV (Apoa4), fatty-acid-binding protein 1 (Fabp1) and fatty-acid-binding protein 2 (Fabp2) expression compared to the HFD group (p < 0.05), which exhibited accelerated lipid absorption and then translocation from the intestine into the body’s circulation, in addition to a significant increase in Acetyl-CoA acyltransferase (Acaa1a) protein expression, hastening lipid metabolism in the intestine (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, a significant reduction in protein expression of alpha-enolase 1 (Eno1) as the key enzyme for gluconeogenesis in mice in the betaine-supplemented group resulted in a reduction in lipid synthesis in the intestine (p < 0.05). These findings provide useful information for understanding the changes in the protein profile of the small intestine in response to betaine supplementation and the potential physiological regulation of diets’ nutrient absorption.
Effect of the Addition of Hulless Barley Flour on the Quality of Short-Dough Cookies
Authors: Nakov Gjore , Jukić Marko , Šimić Gordana , Šumanovac Franjo , Komlenić Daliborka Koceva , Lukinac Jasmina
Published: August 2022

Short-dough cookies are one of the most popular cereal-based products in the world, but usually they are considered as foods with a low nutritional value. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of replacing part of the wheat flour (WF) with hulless barley flour (HLBF), in order to improve the functional properties and nutritional value of the cookies. Cookies were prepared from composite flours in the ratios HLBF:WF 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0. The results show that as the HLBF content in the composite flour increases, the viscosity of the corresponding HLBF:WF slurries also increases, due to the high dietary fiber content (especially the high β-glucan content), which is significantly higher when HLBF is included in the formulation. The addition of HLBF decreases the spread factor of the cookies, and increases their softness compared to the control cookies (100% WF), but these changes are not statistically significant up to 50% HLBF addition. The color of the HLBF:WF cookies is not significantly affected. A significant increase in total phenolic content (TPC) and increased antioxidant capacity (AOC) are observed in the HLBF:WF cookies. In addition, sensory evaluation confirms that WF can be replaced by up to 50% with HLBF without significant deterioration of the organoleptic properties of the cookies. It can be concluded that hulless barley serves as a promising raw material if the nutritional and functional properties of cereal-based products are to be improved.
Formation of Intermediate Amylose Rice Starch–Lipid Complex Assisted by Ultrasonication
Authors: Chumsri Paramee , Panpipat Worawan , Cheong Ling-Zhi , Chaijan Manat
Published: August 2022

Due to the potential reduction in starch availability, as well as the production of the distinct physico-chemical characteristics of starch in order to improve health benefits, the formation of starch–lipid complexes has attracted significant attention for improving the quantity of resistant starch (RS) content in starchy-based foods. The purpose of this research was to apply ultrasonication to produce intermediate amylose rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Noui Khuea (NK) starch–fatty acid (FA) complexes. The effects of ultrasonically synthesized conditions (ultrasonic time, ultrasonic amplitude, FA chain length) on the complexing index (CI) and in vitro digestibility of the starch–FA complex were highlighted. The optimum conditions were 7.5% butyric acid with 20% amplitude for 30 min, as indicated by a high CI and RS contents. The ultrasonically treated starch–butyric complex had the highest RS content of 80.78% with a V-type XRD pattern and an additional FTIR peak at 1709 cm−1. The increase in the water/oil absorption capacity and swelling index were observed in the starch–lipid complex. The pasting viscosity and pasting/melting temperatures were lower than those of native starch, despite the fact that it had a distinct morphological structure with a high proportion of flaky and grooved forms. The complexes were capable of binding bile acid, scavenging the DPPH radical, and stimulating the bifidobacterial proliferation better than native starch, which differed depending on the FA inclusion. Therefore, developing a rice starch–lipid complex can be achieved via ultrasonication.
A Review of Advanced Methods for the Quantitative Analysis of Single Component Oil in Edible Oil Blends
Authors: Bian Xihui , Wang Yao , Wang Shuaishuai , Johnson Joel B. , Sun Hao , Guo Yugao , Tan Xiaoyao
Published: August 2022

Edible oil blends are composed of two or more edible oils in varying proportions, which can ensure nutritional balance compared to oils comprising a single component oil. In view of their economical and nutritional benefits, quantitative analysis of the component oils in edible oil blends is necessary to ensure the rights and interests of consumers and maintain fairness in the edible oil market. Chemometrics combined with modern analytical instruments has become a main analytical technology for the quantitative analysis of edible oil blends. This review summarizes the different oil blend design methods, instrumental techniques and chemometric methods for conducting single component oil quantification in edible oil blends. The aim is to classify and compare the existing analytical techniques to highlight suitable and promising determination methods in this field.
Rapid On-Site Identification for Three Arcidae Species (Anadara kagoshimensis, Tegillarca granosa, and Anadara broughtonii) Using Ultrafast PCR Combined with Direct DNA Extraction
Authors: Lee Ga-Young , Kim Eiseul , Yang Seung-Min , Kim Hae-Yeong
Published: August 2022

Granular ark (Tegillarca granosa), broughton’s ribbed ark (Anadara broughtonii), and half-crenate ark (Anadara kagoshimensis) are important fishery resources throughout Asia; granular ark exhibiting a higher economic value due to its rarity. However, due to the similar morphological characteristics of the three species, the less valuable species could be exploited for food fraud. In this study, we developed a rapid on-site identification method based on a microfluidic chip for the detection of the three ark shell species. We designed new species-specific primers, targeting the genes encoding mitochondrial cytochrome b or cytochrome c oxidase I, for the identification of the three ark shells and estimated their specificity against 17 species, which amplified only the target species. The sensitivity of each primer was 0.001 ng. In addition, this method was further improved to develop a direct ultrafast polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for on-site food monitoring, which would allow for completing the entire procedure (from sampling to obtaining the results) within 25 min without DNA extraction. Our direct, ultrafast PCR was successfully applied to differentiate the three species from 29 commercial products. Therefore, this assay could be used as a rapid and cost-effective approach for the on-site identification of ark shells in commercial food products.
Editorial for Special Issue “Fractional Calculus Operators and the Mittag–Leffler Function”
Authors: Andrić Maja
Published: August 2022

Among the numerous applications of the theory of fractional calculus in almost all applied sciences, applications in numerical analysis and various fields of physics and engineering stand out [...]
An Assessment of Liquid Biofuel Value Chains from Heavy-Metal Contaminated Feedstock
Authors: Giannopoulos Dimitrios , Katsifis Ilias , Katsourinis Dimitrios , Rentizelas Athanasios , Founti Maria
Published: August 2022

The present work aims to identify alternative liquid biofuel value chain scenarios utilizing heavy metal (HM)-contaminated biomass feedstocks. The analysis is based on breaking down existing liquid biofuel value chains, focusing on the required adaptations needed for clean biofuel production. State-of-the-art and emerging liquid biofuel production options are reviewed. The potential implications caused by the HM load in the biomass feedstock are analyzed along the whole biofuel production chain, which includes pre-processing, conversion and post-processing stages. The fate of the most common HM species present in contaminated biomass is identified and graphically represented for advanced (second generation) biofuel conversion processes. This information synthesis leads to the description of alternative value chains, capable of producing HM-free biofuel. This work goes a step further than existing reviews of experiments and simulations regarding heavy metal-contaminated biomass (HMCB) valorization to biofuels since feasible value chains are described by synthesizing the findings of the several studies examined. By defining the adapted value chains, the “road is paved” toward establishing realistic process chains and determining system boundaries, which actually are essential methodological steps of various critical evaluation and optimization methodologies, such as Life Cycle Assessment, supply chain optimization and techno-economic assessment of the total value chain.
Impact of Vegetable Oil Type on the Rheological and Tribological Behavior of Montmorillonite-Based Oleogels
Authors: Martín-Alfonso M. A. , Rubio-Valle José F. , Hinestroza Juan P. , Martín-Alfonso José E.
Published: August 2022

We formulated and characterized oleogels based on montmorillonite clay and vegetable oils that could serve as eco-friendly semi-solid lubricants. In particular, we studied the influence of the physical-chemical properties of olive, castor, soybean, linseed, and sunflower oils on the rheological, chemical, thermal, and tribological properties of the semi-solid lubricants. We prepared the oleogels via the highly intensive mixing of vegetable oils with clay at a concentration of 30 wt.%. The oleogels exhibited shear-thinning, thixotropy, structural recovery, and gel-like behavior commonly related to that of a three-dimensional network. The results were corroborated via XRD measurements showing the presence of intercalated nanoclay structures well-dispersed in the vegetable oil. Empirical correlations between the content of saturated (SFAs), unsaturated (UFAs), mono-unsaturated (MUFAs) and poly-unsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids and the plateau modulus of the aerogels were found. From these experimental results, we can conclude that the fatty acid profile of the vegetable oils exerts an important influence on the rheological and tribological properties of resulting clay and vegetable oil oleogels.
Nutritional Intervention Effectiveness on Slowing Time to Dialysis in Elderly Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease—A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Perna Simone , Faisal Fatima , Spadaccini Daniele , Alalwan Tariq A. , Ilyas Zahra , Gasparri Clara , Rondanelli Mariangela
Published: August 2022

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health issue. Evidence of the effectiveness of nutritional intervention on slowing time to dialysis is limited in Arab countries. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to current research by providing new insights on the efficacy of personalized nutritional intervention in pre-dialysis patients in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 265 CKD patients (163 males and 108 females) who were admitted to the nephrology outpatient clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex in Bahrain. The nutritional intervention group (NIG) receiving dietary advice by an expert renal dietitian consisted of 121 patients, while the non-nutritional intervention control group (non-NIG) that did not receive any nutritional support consisted of 150 patients. Patients were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. Results: The NIG had a significant increase in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared to the non-NIG that had a significant decrease (5.16 vs. −2.85 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.000), respectively). When adjusted for age and gender, the mean difference was greater (8.0 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.000). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine (−2.19 mmol/L and −25.31 µmol/L; p = 0.000, respectively). Moreover, the intervention had a positive impact on weight loss and body mass index (−1.84 kg and−0.69 kg/m2, respectively; p = 0.000) and lipid profile, with a significant reduction in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels (−0.17 mmol/L, p = 0.006 and −0.15 mmol/L, p = 0.026, respectively). Additional significant results from the NIG included reduced uric acid (−28.35 µmol/L, p = 0.006), serum phosphorus (−0.05 mol/L, p = 0.025), fasting blood glucose (−0.70 mmol/L, p = 0.016) and glycated hemoglobin (1.10 mmol/mol, p = 0.419). Conclusions: This study suggests that, in patients of CKD, nutritional intervention counselling plays a significant role in reducing the time needed for dialysis and improves nutritional-related biomarkers compared to patients not receiving this intervention.
Comparative Outcomes and Surgical Timing for Operative Fragility Hip Fracture Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Rowe Katherine A. , Kim Kiryung , Varady Nathan H. , Heng Marilyn , von Keudell Arvind G. , Weaver Michael J. , Abdeen Ayesha , Rodriguez Edward K. , Chen Antonia F.
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic had wide-reaching effects on healthcare delivery, including care for hip fractures, a common injury among older adults. This study characterized factors related to surgical timing and outcomes, length-of-stay, and discharge disposition among patients treated for operative hip fractures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to historical controls. A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted from 16 March–20 May 2020 with a consecutive series of 64 operative fragility hip fracture patients at three tertiary academic medical centers. Historical controls were matched based on sex, surgical procedure, age, and comorbidities. Primary outcomes included 30-day mortality and time-to-surgery. Secondary outcomes included 30-day postoperative complications, length-of-stay, discharge disposition, and time to obtain a COVID-19 test result. There was no difference in 30-day mortality, complication rates, length-of-stay, anesthesia type, or time-to-surgery, despite a mean time to obtain a final preoperative COVID-19 test result of 17.6 h in the study group. Notably, 23.8% of patients were discharged to home during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 4.8% among controls (p = 0.003). On average, patients received surgical care within 48 h of arrival during the COVID-19 pandemic. More patients were discharged to home rather than a facility with no change in complications, suggesting an opportunity for increased discharge to home.
Shank Circumference Reduction by Sleep Compression Stockings in University Students and Convenience Store Cashiers
Authors: Chen Yi-Lang , Huang Pai-Sheng , Hsu Che-Wei , Chang Yuan-Teng , Nguyen Hong-Tam
Published: August 2022

Compression stockings (CSs) are a relatively simple and effective tool for alleviating varicose veins and are often used as a preventive measure among workers whose jobs require prolonged standing. Nevertheless, the efficacy of CSs that are advertised as sleepwear remains unverified. This study recruited 10 female university students and 10 cashiers as participants to test the effects of sleep CSs. During the experiment, the changes in shank circumference (SC) and the subjective discomfort rating upon getting up and going to bed were collected. Data were recorded immediately after getting up and SC measurement was repeated 10 min later. The results demonstrated that both CS condition and measurement time significantly affected SC reduction, whereas cashier or student status did not. The reported discomfort and tightness of the legs attributed to CSs were relatively high, and the benefit toward SC reduction was minimal. Cashiers exhibited slightly larger SC values and higher perceived discomfort levels, which may be attributed to their occupational characteristic of prolonged standing, and the cumulative effect of prolonged standing on muscle properties warrants further study. The study findings suggest that wearing CSs for sleep may not be effective for reducing OE
Smile InTM Totems in Radiotherapy: Patients’ Satisfaction with Limited Equipment and COVID-19
Authors: Borgia Marzia , Di Guglielmo Fiorella Cristina , Lucarelli Marco , Bonelli Rosario , Gasparini Lucrezia , Di Pilla Angelo , Ursini Lucia Anna , Taraborrelli Maria , Vinciguerra Annamaria , Augurio Antonietta , Di Tommaso Monica , Trignani Marianna , Nuzzo Marianna , Rosa Consuelo , Chiloiro Giuditta , Sartori Stephanie , Ferrari Lucia , Marchione Roberta , D’Orazio Fabio Adalgiso , Di Renzo Paola , Orlando Giustino , Genovesi Domenico , Caravatta Luciana
Published: August 2022

Background: We report a mono-institutional experience regarding patient-perceived quality regarding the Chieti Radiotherapy Department, through RAMSI (Radiotherapy Amica Mia—SmileINTM(SI)—My Friend RadiotherapySI) project, in critical scenarios of limited equipment and COVID-19. Material and methods: Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) were assessed as follows: Patient-centric welcome perception (PCWP), Comfort, Professional skills and Punctuality. Patients could give anonymous feedback using HappyOrNot technology through four totems located in strategic areas within the center. An internal benchmark was obtained using the feedback received after a preliminary observation period. The SI Experience Index was collected, analyzed and compared. Weekly and monthly reports were generated. Results: From February 2019 to February 2022, 8924 patients accessed the department; 17,464 daily treatments were recorded and 5830 points of feedback were collected: 896, 1267, 1125 and 2542 for PCWP, Comfort, Professional skills and Punctuality, respectively. A LINAC decommissioning period was analyzed, with decreases in the SI-Index score and Smile-IN approved percentage and an improvement after this period. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic was analyzed with a mild evaluations decrease for PREM’s Welcome, Comfort and Punctuality (Δ-value: −9%, −3% and −4%, respectively), while Professional skills were always optimal. Conclusion: The RAMSI project was effective for assessing treatment quality perception, allowing for improving clinical procedures with corrective actions. The RAMSI project is ongoing.
Changes in Emergency Department Case Severity and Length of Stay before and after COVID-19 Outbreak in Korea
Authors: Kim Yong-Seok , Kim In-Byung , Kim Seon-Rye , Cho Byung-Jun
Published: August 2022

Severe patients visited regional emergency centers more frequently during the COVID-19 period, and disposition status warranting admission to the intensive care unit or resulting in death was more common during the COVID-19 period. This study was conducted to compare the characteristics and severity of patients, and emergency department length of stay before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Subjects were 75,409 patients who visited the regional emergency medical center from 1 February 2019 to 19 January 2020 and from 1 February 2020 to 19 January 2021. Data was analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. The significance level was p < 0.05. The chi-square test and t-test were used for variables, and Cramer V was used for correlation. We found that the total number of patients visiting the emergency room decreased by 37.6% after COVID-19, but emergency department length of stay among severely ill patients increased by 203.7%. Additionally, the utilization rate of 119 ambulances and relatively more severe patients increased by 9.0% and by 2.1%. More studies about emergency department designs and operational programs should be conducted for better action not only during regular periods but also during periods of pandemic.
The Legacy of Prince Khaemwaset at Saqqara
Authors: Price Campbell
Published: August 2022

Saqqara in particular, and the Memphite necropolis in general, constituted the arena for the prolific and significant monumental self-presentations of Prince Khaemwaset, fourth son of King Ramesses II (c. 1279–1213 BCE). The present paper explores the role of the prince in fashioning a persona that addressed past, present and future audiences. This discussion is used to contextualise results of the 2009 Saqqara Geophysical Survey Project, showing the greater-than-expected extent of the New Kingdom necropolis south of the Unas Causeway. It considers responses to the deep palimpsest of the sacred landscape of the Memphite necropolis by—and later commemorations within it of—this notable Ramesside individual.
Flood Exposure of Residential Areas and Infrastructure in Greece
Authors: Stefanidis Stefanos , Alexandridis Vasileios , Theodoridou Theodora
Published: August 2022

Worldwide, floods are the most common and widespread type of disaster during the 21st century. These phenomena have caused human fatalities, destruction of infrastructures and properties, and other significant impacts associated with human socioeconomic activities. In this study, the exposure of infrastructure (social, industrial and commercial, transportation) and residential areas to floods in Greek territory was considered. To accomplish the goal of the current study, freely available data from OpenStreetMap and Corine 2018 databases were collected and analyzed, as well as the flood extent zones derived under the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Floods Directive. The results will be useful for policy-making and prioritization of prone areas based not only on the extent of flood cover but also on the possible affected infrastructure types. Moreover, the aforementioned analysis could be the first step toward an integrated national-wide flood risk assessment.
Efficacy of Ultraviolet Radiations against Coronavirus, Bacteria, Fungi, Fungal Spores and Biofilm
Authors: Khan Mahjabeen , McDonald Murray , Mundada Kaustubh , Willcox Mark
Published: August 2022

Ultra-violet (UV) C (200–280 wavelength) light has long been known for its antimicrobial and disinfecting efficacy. It damages DNA by causing the dimerization of pyrimidines. A newly designed technology (MUVi-UVC; Mobile UV Innovations Pty Ltd., Melbourne, VIC, Australia) that emits UVC at 240 nm is composed of an enclosed booth with three UVC light stands each with four bulbs, and has been developed for disinfecting mobile medical equipment. The aim of this project was to examine the spectrum of antimicrobial activity of this device. The experiments were designed following ASTM E1052-20, EN14561, BSEN14476-2005, BSEN14562-2006 and AOAC-Official-Method-966.04 standards for surface disinfection after drying microbes on surfaces. The disinfection was analyzed using Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6294), Candida auris (CBS 12373), spores of Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404), coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 surrogate ATCC VR-261) as well as a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (SA31), a carbapenem- and polymyxin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA219), Escherichia coli K12 (ATCC 10798) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 700730). The parameters of time, the number of lights and direction of the sample facing the lights were examined. The MUVi-UVC was able to kill 99.999% of all of the tested bacteria, fungi, coronavirus and bacteria in the biofilms if used for 5 min using all three lights in the setup with the glass slides in a vertical position. However, for fungal spores, 30 min were required to achieve 99.999% killing. There was a small but insignificant effect of having the surface horizontally or vertically aligned to the UV lights. Therefore, this UVC device is an effective technology to disinfect medical devices.
Damage Sensitive Signals for the Assessment of the Conditions of Wind Turbine Rotor Blades Using Electromagnetic Waves
Authors: Al-Yasiri Zainab Riyadh Shaker , Mutashar Hayder Majid , Gürlebeck Klaus , Lahmer Tom
Published: August 2022

One of the most important renewable energy technologies used nowadays are wind power turbines. In this paper, we are interested in identifying the operating status of wind turbines, especially rotor blades, by means of multiphysical models. It is a state-of-the-art technology to test mechanical structures with ultrasonic-based methods. However, due to the density and the required high resolution, the testing is performed with high-frequency waves, which cannot penetrate the structure in depth. Therefore, there is a need to adopt techniques in the fields of multiphysical model-based inversion schemes or data-driven structural health monitoring. Before investing effort in the development of such approaches, further insights and approaches are necessary to make the techniques applicable to structures such as wind power plants (blades). Among the expected developments, further accelerations of the so-called “forward codes” for a more efficient implementation of the wave equation could be envisaged. Here, we employ electromagnetic waves for the early detection of cracks. Because in many practical situations, it is not possible to apply techniques from tomography (characterized by multiple sources and sensor pairs), we focus here on the question of whether the existence of cracks can be determined by using only one source for the sent waves.
Population Genetic Structure and Population History of the Biting Midge Culicoides mahasarakhamense (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: Pramual Pairot , Jomkumsing Panya , Wongpakam Komgrit , Vaisusuk Kotchaphon , Chatan Wasupon , Gomontean Bhuvadol
Published: August 2022

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille are significant pests and vectors of disease agents transmitted to humans and other animals. Understanding the genetic structure and diversity of these insects is crucial for effective control programs. This study examined the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and demographic history of Culicoides mahasarakhamense, a possible vector of avian haemosporidian parasites and Leishmania martiniquensis, in Thailand. The star-like shape of the median joining haplotype network, a unimodal mismatch distribution, and significant negative values for Tajima’s D and Fu’s FS tests indicated that populations had undergone recent expansion. Population expansion time was estimated to be 2000–22,000 years ago. Population expansion may have been triggered by climatic amelioration from cold/dry to warm/humid conditions at the end of the last glaciations, resulting in the increased availability of host blood sources. Population pairwise FST revealed that most (87%) comparisons were not genetically different, most likely due to a shared recent history. The exception to the generally low level of genetic structuring is a population from the northern region that is genetically highly different from others. Population isolation in the past and the limitation of ongoing gene flows due to large geographic distance separation are possible explanations for genetic differentiation.
Bleeding into the Abdominal and Ilio-Lumbar Muscles—A Rare Complication in the Course of COVID-19: Analysis of Four Cases and a Literature Review
Authors: Mackiewicz-Milewska Magdalena , Sakwińska Katarzyna , Cisowska-Adamiak Małgorzata , Szymkuć-Bukowska Iwona , Ratuszek-Sadowska Dorota , Mackiewicz-Nartowicz Hanna
Published: August 2022

The risk of venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications, mainly in the form of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in COVID-19 is well known, necessitating the administration of thrombotic prophylaxis in most patients. With a high risk of VTE complications or their presence, full anticoagulation may be associated with hemorrhagic complications. COVID-19 bleeding is rarely reported. Here, we present four cases of patients with muscle bleeding: two in the iliopsoas muscle, which resulted in death despite the embolization of the bleeding vessel, and two in the oblique and straight abdominal muscles, which were treated conservatively. In the reported cases, the severity of the bleeding coincided with the severity of the course of COVID-19. When observing a sudden drop in hemoglobin (Hb) in a patient with COVID-19, one must always remember the possible complications in the form of muscle bleeding, which can be fatal.