bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enchondroma Detection from Hand Radiographs with an Interactive Deep Learning Segmentation Tool—A Feasibility Study
Authors: Anttila Turkka Tapio , Aspinen Samuli , Pierides Georgios , Haapamäki Ville , Laitinen Minna Katariina , Ryhänen Jorma
Published: November 2023

Enchondromas are common benign bone tumors, usually presenting in the hand. They can cause symptoms such as swelling and pain but often go un-noticed. If the tumor expands, it can diminish the bone cortices and predispose the bone to fracture. Diagnosis is based on clinical investigation and radiographic imaging. Despite their typical appearance on radiographs, they can primarily be misdiagnosed or go totally unrecognized in the acute trauma setting. Earlier applications of deep learning models to image classification and pattern recognition suggest that this technique may also be utilized in detecting enchondroma in hand radiographs. We trained a deep learning model with 414 enchondroma radiographs to detect enchondroma from hand radiographs. A separate test set of 131 radiographs (47% with an enchondroma) was used to assess the performance of the trained deep learning model. Enchondroma annotation by three clinical experts served as our ground truth in assessing the deep learning model’s performance. Our deep learning model detected 56 enchondromas from the 62 enchondroma radiographs. The area under receiver operator curve was 0.95. The F1 score for area statistical overlapping was 69.5%. Our deep learning model may be a useful tool for radiograph screening and raising suspicion of enchondroma.
Uterine Tumours Resembling Ovarian Sex-Cord Tumors: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ferrara Martina , Pecorino Basilio , D’Agate Maria Gabriella , Angelico Giuseppe , Capoluongo Ettore Domenico , Malapelle Umberto , Pepe Francesco , Scollo Paolo , Mereu Liliana
Published: November 2023

Uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex-cord tumors (UTROSCT) are thought to develop from pluripotent uterine mesenchymal cells or endometrial stromal cells with secondary sex-cord differentiation. The patient was a 73-year-old postmenopausal woman who had abnormal vaginal bleeding, and she underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The diagnosis was a case of UTROSCT. A scoping review of the UTROSCT case report present in the literature has been conducted, and 63 articles were found, of which 45 were considered for the 66 clinical cases examined. At the time of diagnosis, six metastatic localizations were found in 59 patients undergoing demolitive surgery (10.2%). Recurrences were diagnosed in 13/59 (22%) patients with multiple locations. A molecular study was performed in 18/66 cases (27.3%) and genetic alterations were found in 10/18 (55.6%) patients. UTROSCTs are considered rare uterine tumors, typically with a favorable prognosis, and are generally considered to have a good prognosis. But, from the review done, they may already manifest themselves at advanced stages, with the possibility of recurrences even at a distance. It would, therefore, be important to be able to define the most aggressive forms and, perhaps, molecular investigation with sequencing could help identify patients most at risk.
A Multicomponent Primary-Care Intervention for Preventing Falls in Older Adults Living in the Community: The PREMIO Study
Authors: Marrocco Walter , Galli Antonella , Scotti Silvestro , Calabrese Nicola , Misericordia Paolo , Dalle Vedove Alessandro , Marrocco Gianmarco , D’Ingianna Antonio Pio , Pizzini Andrea , Fini Massimo , Tomino Carlo , Bonassi Stefano ,   on behalf of the F.I.M.M.G Research PREMIO Group
Published: November 2023

Background: Falls are a common cause of morbidity and functional impairment in the elderly and represent a significant health problem. General practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for health issues and may provide preventive services. The randomized clinical trial PREMIO was conducted by GPs to evaluate the effects of a multicomponent intervention for the prevention of falls in older adults aged ≥ 65 years at high risk of falling. Methods: 117 GPs enrolled 1757 patients (1116 F, 641 M) and randomized them into 2 groups (intervention and control). The intervention group received medical and behavioral counseling, home risk-factor assessment, a physical-activity program and nutritional counseling. The control group received only the nutritional counseling. Both groups were followed for one year. The primary outcome was the rate of falls at home over 12 months. Results: 1225 patients completed the study. Subjects receiving the intervention had, on average, fewer falls at home (percentage change −31.2%, p < 0.02) and fewer total falls (−26.0%, p < 0.02), although the reduction in the number of fallers was small (−3.9%, p = 0.05). Among the secondary endpoints, rates of general hospital or emergency-department admission and GP visits showed slight improvements (not statistically significant), while the risk of fractures was unexpectedly increased in the intervention group compared to the controls (odds ratio 2.39, p = 0.023). Conclusions: Future studies and public-health interventions to prevent domestic falls among community-dwelling older people at high risk of falling could benefit from a multicomponent approach including medication review, physical exercise and home risk assessment and should include assessment of risk factors for fractures.
Current Status of Protein Biomarkers in Urolithiasis—A Review of the Recent Literature
Authors: Lasota Aleksandra , Wasilewska Anna , Rybi-Szumińska Agnieszka
Published: November 2023

Urolithiasis is an increasingly common clinical problem worldwide. The formation of stones is a combination of metabolic status, environmental factors, family history and many other aspects. It is important to find new ways to quickly detect and assess urolithiasis because it causes sudden, severe pain and often comes back. One way to do this is by exploring new biomarkers. Current advances in proteomic studies provide a great opportunity for breakthroughs in this field. This study focuses on protein biomarkers and their connection to kidney damage and inflammation during urolithiasis.
Convalescent Adaptive Immunity Is Highly Heterogenous after SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Pathakumari Balaji , Marty Paige K. , Shah Maleeha , Van Keulen Virginia P. , Erskine Courtney L. , Block Matthew S. , Arias-Sanchez Pedro , Escalante Patricio , Peikert Tobias
Published: November 2023

The optimal detection strategies for effective convalescent immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize convalescent immunity targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a multiparametric approach. At the beginning of the pandemic, we recruited 30 unvaccinated convalescent donors who had previously been infected with COVID-19 and 7 unexposed asymptomatic controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from leukapheresis cones. The humoral immune response was assessed by measuring serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit IgG via semiquantitative ELISA, and T-cell immunity against S1 and S2 subunits were studied via IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) and flow cytometric (FC) activation-induced marker (AIM) assays and the assessment of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell function (in the subset of HLA-A2-positive patients). No single immunoassay was sufficient in identifying anti-spike convalescent immunity among all patients. There was no consistent correlation between adaptive humoral and cellular anti-spike responses. Our data indicate that the magnitude of anti-spike convalescent humoral and cellular immunity is highly heterogeneous and highlights the need for using multiple assays to comprehensively measure SARS-CoV-2 convalescent immunity. These observations might have implications for COVID-19 surveillance, and the determination of optimal vaccination strategies for emerging variants. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal assessment of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in the context of emerging variants and unclear vaccination schedules.
D2WFP: A Novel Protocol for Forensically Identifying, Extracting, and Analysing Deep and Dark Web Browsing Activities
Authors: Ghanem Mohamed Chahine , Mulvihill Patrick , Ouazzane Karim , Djemai Ramzi , Dunsin Dipo
Published: November 2023

The use of the unindexed web, commonly known as the deep web and dark web, to commit or facilitate criminal activity has drastically increased over the past decade. The dark web is a dangerous place where all kinds of criminal activities take place, Despite advances in web forensic techniques, tools, and methodologies, few studies have formally tackled dark and deep web forensics and the technical differences in terms of investigative techniques and artefact identification and extraction. This study proposes a novel and comprehensive protocol to guide and assist digital forensic professionals in investigating crimes committed on or via the deep and dark web. The protocol, named D2WFP, establishes a new sequential approach for performing investigative activities by observing the order of volatility and implementing a systemic approach covering all browsing-related hives and artefacts which ultimately resulted in improving the accuracy and effectiveness. Rigorous quantitative and qualitative research has been conducted by assessing the D2WFP following a scientifically sound and comprehensive process in different scenarios and the obtained results show an apparent increase in the number of artefacts recovered when adopting the D2WFP which outperforms any current industry or opensource browsing forensic tools. The second contribution of the D2WFP is the robust formulation of artefact correlation and cross-validation within the D2WFP which enables digital forensic professionals to better document and structure their analysis of host-based deep and dark web browsing artefacts.
A Hybrid Dimensionality Reduction for Network Intrusion Detection
Authors: Ghani Humera , Salekzamankhani Shahram , Virdee Bal
Published: November 2023

Due to the wide variety of network services, many different types of protocols exist, producing various packet features. Some features contain irrelevant and redundant information. The presence of such features increases computational complexity and decreases accuracy. Therefore, this research is designed to reduce the data dimensionality and improve the classification accuracy in the UNSW-NB15 dataset. It proposes a hybrid dimensionality reduction system that does feature selection (FS) and feature extraction (FE). FS was performed using the Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) technique, while FE was accomplished by transforming the features into principal components. This combined scheme reduced a total of 41 input features into 15 components. The proposed systems’ classification performance was determined using an ensemble of Support Vector Classifier (SVC), K-nearest Neighbor classifier (KNC), and Deep Neural Network classifier (DNN). The system was evaluated using accuracy, detection rate, false positive rate, f1-score, and area under the curve metrics. Comparing the voting ensemble results of the full feature set against the 15 principal components confirms that reduced and transformed features did not significantly decrease the classifier’s performance. We achieved 94.34% accuracy, a 93.92% detection rate, a 5.23% false positive rate, a 94.32% f1-score, and a 94.34% area under the curve when 15 components were input to the voting ensemble classifier.
Digital Grading the Color Fastness to Rubbing of Fabrics Based on Spectral Reconstruction and BP Neural Network
Authors: Liang Jinxing , Zhou Jing , Hu Xinrong , Luo Hang , Cao Genyang , Liu Liu , Xiao Kaida
Published: November 2023

To digital grade the staining color fastness of fabrics after rubbing, an automatic grading method based on spectral reconstruction technology and BP neural network was proposed. Firstly, the modeling samples are prepared by rubbing the fabrics according to the ISO standard of 105-X12. Then, to comply with visual rating standards for color fastness, the modeling samples are professionally graded to obtain the visual rating result. After that, a digital camera is used to capture digital images of the modeling samples inside a closed and uniform lighting box, and the color data values of the modeling samples are obtained through spectral reconstruction technology. Finally, the color fastness prediction model for rubbing was constructed using the modeling samples data and BP neural network. The color fastness level of the testing samples was predicted using the prediction model, and the prediction results were compared with the existing color difference conversion method and gray scale difference method based on the five-fold cross-validation strategy. Experiments show that the prediction model of fabric color fastness can be better constructed using the BP neural network. The overall performance of the method is better than the color difference conversion method and the gray scale difference method. It can be seen that the digital rating method of fabric staining color fastness to rubbing based on spectral reconstruction and BP neural network has high consistency with the visual evaluation, which will help for the automatic color fastness grading.
Ectopleura crocea (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) Identified as a Predator of Pelagic Fish Eggs through Cytochrome c Oxidase I Metabarcoding
Authors: Choi Hae-Young , Kim Sung
Published: November 2023

Fish eggs have a wide range of predators. However, observing these predators is challenging, as is identifying fish eggs based on morphological traits. In this study, we observed hydroids, which are sessile organisms, consuming pelagic fish eggs. We conducted cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) metabarcoding to identify both the predator and the prey species. Massive COI reads were de novo assembled and nine representative sequences were constructed. The predator, identified from the representative sequences and its morphological features, was determined as Ectopleura crocea. The fish eggs that had been preyed upon belonged to two species: Sillago japonica and Parajulis poecilepterus. Additionally, four arthropod species (Labidocera rotunda, Oithona similis, Paracalanus parvus, and Pseudevadne tergestina) were consumed, and their morphological traits could not be observed, due to digestion. COI metabarcoding was an effective tool for studying the feeding activity of these small predators.
Efficiency Enhancement of Marine Propellers via Reformation of Blade Tip-Rake Distribution
Authors: Anevlavi Dimitra , Zafeiris Spiros , Papadakis George , Belibassakis Kostas
Published: November 2023

This work addresses the effects of blade tip-rake reformation on the performance of marine propellers using a low-cost potential-based vortex-lattice method (VLM) and the high fidelity artificial compressibility CFD-RANS solver MaPFlow. The primary focus lies on determining whether the low-cost VLM, in conjunction with a multidimensional parametric model for the tip-rake and pitch/camber distributions, can produce a propeller geometry with improved efficiency. Due to the availability of experimental and numerical data, the NSRDC 4381-82 propellers were selected as reference geometries. Torque minimization serves as the objective function in the gradient-based optimization procedure under a thrust constraint, which translates into efficiency enhancement at the selected design advance ratio. The optimized 4381 propeller yields a +1.1% improvement in efficiency based on CFD-RANS, whereas for the modified skewed 4382 propeller, the efficiency gain is +0.5%. The performance enhancement is also evident at a region near the design advance ratio. The results suggest that the exploitation of low-cost VLM solvers can significantly reduce the CFD simulations required in the optimization process and thus can be effectively used for the design of propellers with tip-rake reformation.
Tugboat Scheduling with Multiple Berthing Bases under Uncertainty
Authors: Li Botang , Chen Qiong , Lau Yui-yip , Dulebenets Maxim A.
Published: November 2023

This study proposes a novel fuzzy programming optimization model for tugboat scheduling, directly considering multiple berthing bases, time windows, and operational uncertainties. The uncertainties in the required number of tugboats, the earliest start time, the latest start time, the processing time, and the start and end locations of each task are directly captured in the proposed fuzzy optimization model. The objective of the presented formulation is to minimize the total cost of fuel and delays. According to the characteristics of the problem, a Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm based on random probability encoding and custom genetic operators is proposed. The proposed algorithm, LINGO, the canonical Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm, and particle swarm optimization were used to compare and analyze the results of several examples. The results validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm against the alternative exact and metaheuristics methods. Moreover, the findings from the conducted sensitivity analysis show the applicability of the developed fuzzy programming model for different confidence interval levels.
Design Longitudinal Control System Using Suitable T-Foil Modeling for the Offshore Wind Power Operation and Maintenance Vessel with Severe Sea States
Authors: Yuan Jia , Liu Zhen , Geng Hua , Zhang Songtao , Liang Lihua , Zhao Peng
Published: November 2023

In order to reduce the offshore wind power operation and maintenance vessel motion induced by severe sea states, a suitable stabilizer with the ship based on linear quadratic regulator strategy is proposed in this paper. First of all, the dynamics of the ship motion model are established to study the longitudinal control system. The six degrees of freedom nonlinear motion model and nonlinear coupled longitudinal motion (heave and pitch) model are described in detail in this paper. Secondly, this work presents matching suitability between the T-foil and the operation and maintenance vessel. Therefore, the most suitable installation position and the optimum strut’s height of T-foil are determined by meshing the ship hull model, setting the water channel, and a series of corresponding computer fluid dynamic simulation. Following that, the linear quadratic regulator controller is studied with active longitudinal control system based on the suitable T-foil. Furthermore, a longitudinal control system is built, including free vessel module and the suitable T-foil stabilizer-based proposed controller module. Finally, the simulation results indicate that the designed T-foil and the longitudinal control system are feasible and effective to ensure the heave and pitch motion reduction based on the proposed controller.
Clinical Characteristics of Spinal versus General Anaesthesia in Older Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Repair Surgery in Jordan: A Multicentre Study
Authors: Al-Husinat Lou’i , Al Sharie Sarah , Araydah Mohammad , Al Modanat Zaid , Ismail Mohammed I. A. , Heilat Hadeel B. , Dawod Mohd Said , Sawaftah Khaled Ahmad , De Rosa Silvia , Battaglini Denise
Published: November 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of older patients who underwent hip fracture repair surgery. The secondary aims were to assess the predictors of the choice of spinal or general anaesthesia and to explore the risk factors for all-cause mortality. Methods: This three-tertiary centres study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in Jordan. Clinical data include previous fracture history; medication details; comorbidities; surgical approach; and postoperative pain management. Results: Overall, 1084 patients who underwent hip fracture repair were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 78 years, and 55.2% were women. Twenty-four were treated with bisphosphonates before the fracture, whereas 30 were in steroid therapy. Overall, 61.8% of patients underwent spinal anaesthesia, whereas 38.2% underwent general anaesthesia. Spinal anaesthesia group had a lower prevalence of cardiovascular accidents (16.3% vs. 22.3%, p = 0.014) and Alzheimer’s (3.4% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.049) than the general anaesthesia group. In the spinal anaesthesia group, postoperative opioid administration (p = 0.025) and postoperative blood transfusion (p = 0.011) occurred more frequently than general anaesthesia group. In hospital, 30-day and all-cause mortality were comparable between both groups. Diabetes mellitus (HR = 2.6; 95%CI = 1.5–4.4; p = 0.001); cemented hip hemiarthroplasty (HR = 2.4; 95%CI = 1.1–5.1; p = 0.025); deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (HR = 5.0; 95%CI = 1.2–12.9; p = 0.001); and readmission within 1 month from surgery (HR = 3.6; 95%CI = 2.0–6.3; p < 0.001) were all significant predictors of mortality. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the outcomes and factors associated with different anaesthesia types in hip fracture repair surgery. The anaesthesia type does not affect all-cause mortality in patients undergoing hip fracture repair.
Primary Care Patient Interest in Multi-Cancer Early Detection for Cancer Screening
Authors: Myers Ronald E. , Hallman Mie H. , Shimada Ayako , DiCarlo Melissa , Davis Kaitlyn , Leach William T. , Jackson Hattie , Indictor Amanda , Chambers Christopher V.
Published: November 2023

Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are being developed, but little is known about patient receptivity to their use for cancer screening. The current study assessed patient interest in such testing. Our team conducted a prospective, observational study among primary care patients in a large, urban health system. They were asked to complete a telephone survey that briefly described a new blood test in development to identify multiple types of cancer, but was not currently recommended or covered by insurance. The survey included items to assess respondent background characteristics, perceptions about MCED testing, and interest in having such an MCED test. We also used multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with patient interest in test use. In 2023, we surveyed 159 (32%) of 500 identified patients. Among respondents, 125 (79%) reported a high level of interest in having an MCED test. Interest was not associated with personal background characteristics, but was positively associated with the following expectations: testing would be recommended for cancer screening, be convenient, and be effective in finding early-stage disease (OR = 11.70, 95% CI: 4.02, 34.04, p < 0.001). Research is needed to assess patient interest and actual uptake when detailed information on testing is presented in routine care.
Dative Doubling in Non-Mandatory Contexts in European Spanish
Authors: Gómez Seibane Sara
Published: November 2023

Clitic doubling (CD) is the co-appearance in the same sentence of the clitic and a correlative syntagma in the canonical position of the object. Apart from obligatory contexts, CD of the indirect object (IO) is found with variable frequency in Romance languages and even in different varieties of the same language, most likely because it is a phenomenon of internal/external language interface. The objective of this work is to determine the frequency of CD in non-obligatory contexts of recipient and location IO in peninsular Spanish, and to analyse its features according to the referential hierarchy used for the diachronic evolution of the phenomenon. For this purpose, we extracted data from two open access corpora of interviews (COREC and PRESEEA) from different regions that are (or are not) areas of historical contact with other languages. The results show a significant extension of doubling in contexts where this is optional and the neutralisation of features that previously predicted CD of IOs. Nevertheless, there are geographical differences in peninsular Spanish in terms of frequency, definiteness, specificity, the influence of the cliticization of the direct object, and the accessibility of the IO referents in the minds of the speakers.
Honey-like Odor Meets Single-Ion Magnet: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetism of Cobalt(II) Complex with Aromatic Trans-Cinnamic Acid
Authors: Halaš Petr , Nemec Ivan , Herchel Radovan
Published: November 2023

The hexacoordinate Co(II) complex [Co(neo)2(cin)][BPh4]·½Me2CO (1·½Me2CO) containing trans-cinnamic acid (Hcin) and neocuproine (neo) was prepared. The compound 1·½Me2CO was characterized via single-crystal X-ray analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The coordination polyhedron of the complex cation adopts a deformed octahedron shape, and cinnamate exhibits a bidentate mode of coordination, which is unusual for mononuclear Co(II) cinnamate complexes. The analysis of DC magnetic measurements with zero-field splitting (ZFS) spin Hamiltonian revealed large magnetic anisotropy defined by the axial ZFS parameter D = +53.2 cm−1. AC susceptibility measurements revealed the slow relaxation of magnetization under the applied field; thus, 1·½Me2CO behaves as a field-induced single-molecule magnet. The analysis of magnetic properties was also supported by CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations.
Fixed-Point Approximation of Operators Satisfying (RCSC)—Condition in CAT(0) Spaces
Authors: Saleem Naeem , Ullah Kifayat , Nabwey Hossam A. , Bilal Hazrat , Ullah Sharif , George Reny
Published: November 2023

In this research article, we have proved strong and Δ-convergence results for mapping satisfying (RCSC) condition via M-iteration process in CAT(0) spaces. Numerical examples are provided to show the superiority of our results over other existing results and to illustrate the faster convergence of the M iterative scheme as compared to many well-known iterative schemes. In this process, many results are improved in the current literature of CAT(0) spaces.
Transformer-Based Composite Language Models for Text Evaluation and Classification
Authors: Škorić Mihailo , Utvić Miloš , Stanković Ranka
Published: November 2023

Parallel natural language processing systems were previously successfully tested on the tasks of part-of-speech tagging and authorship attribution through mini-language modeling, for which they achieved significantly better results than independent methods in the cases of seven European languages. The aim of this paper is to present the advantages of using composite language models in the processing and evaluation of texts written in arbitrary highly inflective and morphology-rich natural language, particularly Serbian. A perplexity-based dataset, the main asset for the methodology assessment, was created using a series of generative pre-trained transformers trained on different representations of the Serbian language corpus and a set of sentences classified into three groups (expert translations, corrupted translations, and machine translations). The paper describes a comparative analysis of calculated perplexities in order to measure the classification capability of different models on two binary classification tasks. In the course of the experiment, we tested three standalone language models (baseline) and two composite language models (which are based on perplexities outputted by all three standalone models). The presented results single out a complex stacked classifier using a multitude of features extracted from perplexity vectors as the optimal architecture of composite language models for both tasks.
Construction of Supplemental Functions for Direct Serendipity and Mixed Finite Elements on Polygons
Authors: Arbogast Todd , Wang Chuning
Published: November 2023

New families of direct serendipity and direct mixed finite elements on general planar, strictly convex polygons were recently defined by the authors. The finite elements of index r are H1 and H(div) conforming, respectively, and approximate optimally to order r+1 while using the minimal number of degrees of freedom. The shape function space consists of the full set of polynomials defined directly on the element and augmented with a space of supplemental functions. The supplemental functions were constructed as rational functions, which can be difficult to integrate accurately using numerical quadrature rules when the index is high. This can result in a loss of accuracy in certain cases. In this work, we propose alternative ways to construct the supplemental functions on the element as continuous piecewise polynomials. One approach results in supplemental functions that are in Hp for any p≥1. We prove the optimal approximation property for these new finite elements. We also perform numerical tests on them, comparing results for the original supplemental functions and the various alternatives. The new piecewise polynomial supplements can be integrated accurately, and therefore show better robustness with respect to the underlying meshes used.
Novel Composite Speed Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Using Integral Sliding Mode Approach
Authors: Miao Xiaodong , Yao Wenzheng , Ouyang Huimin , Zhu Zichong
Published: November 2023

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are widely applied in industry, and proportional integral (PI) controllers are often used to control PMSMs. Aiming at the characteristics of the poor anti-disturbance ability and speed ripple of traditional PI controllers, a novel composite speed controller for PMSMs is proposed in this paper that uses a novel sliding mode control (SMC). To improve the chattering problem of traditional SMC, a high-order approaching law super-twisting algorithm (STA) is applied. Considering the internal and external disturbance of motor driver systems, such as motor parameter drifts and load torque changes, a disturbance estimator based on an extended state observer (ESO) is proposed, and it is used for the feed-forward compensation of the current. The composite super-twisting integral sliding mode controller (ST-ISMC) with a nonlinear ESO is tested by simulations and experiments, and the comparative results verify that the proposed controller has the higher control accuracy, smaller speed ripple and stronger robustness.
Methodology for Power Systems’ Emergency Control Based on Deep Learning and Synchronized Measurements
Authors: Senyuk Mihail , Safaraliev Murodbek , Pazderin Andrey , Pichugova Olga , Zicmane Inga , Beryozkina Svetlana
Published: November 2023

Modern electrical power systems place special demands on the speed and accuracy of transient and steady-state process control. The introduction of renewable energy sources has significantly influenced the amount of inertia and uncertainty of transient processes occurring in energy systems. These changes have led to the need to clarify the existing principles for the implementation of devices for protecting power systems from the loss of small-signal and transient stability. Traditional methods of developing these devices do not provide the required adaptability due to the need to specify a list of accidents to be considered. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop fundamentally new devices for the emergency control of power system modes based on adaptive algorithms. This work proposes to develop emergency control methods based on the use of deep machine learning algorithms and obtained data from synchronized vector measurement devices. This approach makes it possible to ensure adaptability and high performance when choosing control actions. Recurrent neural networks, long short-term memory networks, restricted Boltzmann machines, and self-organizing maps were selected as deep learning algorithms. Testing was performed by using IEEE14, IEEE24, and IEEE39 power system models. Two data samples were considered: with and without data from synchronized vector measurement devices. The highest accuracy of classification of the control actions’ value corresponds to the long short-term memory networks algorithm: the value of the accuracy factor was 94.31% without taking into account the data from the synchronized vector measurement devices and 94.45% when considering this data. The obtained results confirm the possibility of using deep learning algorithms to build an adaptive emergency control system for power systems.
“It Bothered Me”: The Mental Burden of COVID-19 Media Reports on Community-Dwelling Elderly People
Authors: Maksimovic Natasa , Gazibara Tatjana , Dotlic Jelena , Milic Marija , Jeremic Stojkovic Vida , Cvjetkovic Smiljana , Markovic Gordana
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Elderly people may have difficulties understanding the quality and quantity of information about the COVID-19 epidemic, which can put an additional mental strain on their health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the processing of COVID-19 information among older people. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in summer 2021. The sampling was based on the snowball method. This approach allowed us to communicate with the next potential participants relatively freely and without reservations. Two female researchers (both MD, PhD) conducted the interviews. All interviews were held in Serbian. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The interviews were conducted with 13 participants (average age 71 years). The analysis of qualitative content suggested that four topics could be identified: (1) sources of information, (2) information interest and need, (3) reporting of information and (4) suggestions for better reporting. The participants were troubled by the excess of information, repetitive information about death tolls, unqualified people in media discussing the pandemic and inconsistent reporting. These features caused the participants to feel the psychological burden in processing all the pieces of information. Conclusions: The elderly people in Serbia followed mainstream media to get information about COVID-19; however, they perceived a variety of problems with reporting, which made the understanding of the information difficult and psychologically burdensome. These findings should be taken into consideration when delivering health-related information to elderly people.
An Innovative Dual-Wavelength Laser Technique for Atrophic Acne Scar Management: A Pilot Study
Authors: Belletti Stefania , Madeddu Francesca , Amoruso Giuseppe Fabrizio , Provenzano Eugenio , Nisticò Steven Paul , Fusco Irene , Bennardo Luigi
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Acne scars are one of the most disturbing and long-term symptoms of acne vulgaris, having a negative impact on a person’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. Aim: the purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and post-treatment outcomes of a dual-wavelength system combining the irradiation of two wavelengths at 10,600 nm and 1540 nm in the management of facial atrophic acne scars. Materials and Methods: Four healthy adult volunteers aged 24–53 years were enrolled. The areas treated were the full face (two patients), cheeks (one patient), and forehead (one patient). A dual-wavelength system (1540 nm and 10,600 nm) was used for this study. Patients underwent 2–4 treatment sessions, and the treatments were performed once every 45–90 days. All possible side effects such as burning sensation, dyschromia, mild to moderate post-treatment erythema, bleeding, itching, edema, and crusting were checked. The index to assess edema and erythema was based on a four-point scale (none, mild, moderate, and severe) and was applied before and at 3-month follow-up (3 MFU) after the last treatment session. In addition, a patient assessment was conducted before treatment and at 3 MFU after the last treatment session. Results: For all patients examined, the edema index was mild, while for the erythema index, 3/4 patients experienced moderate and 1/4 patients experienced mild symptoms. The mean patient downtime was 5.8 ± 0.5 days. Concerning the patient assessment, 2/4 subjects showed excellent improvement, 1/4 patients showed good improvement, and 1/4 patients showed slight improvement. As shown by the photographic assessment, a noticeable improvement in skin texture and a substantial reduction in acne scars were observed at the end of treatment. Conclusions: This dual-wavelength laser technology has the potential to be an interesting and safe approach for acne scar treatment, with a low risk of scarring/hypopigmentation and a shorter healing time.
Lung Involvement in Adult T-Cell Lymphoma Diagnosed Using Bronchoscopic Cryobiopsy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Tanaka Yasuhiro , Kido Takashi , Sakamoto Noriho , Hara Atsuko , Kato Takeharu , Miyashita Ritsuko , Ozasa Mutsumi , Tokito Takatomo , Okuno Daisuke , Takeda Kazuaki , Yura Hirokazu , Takemoto Shinnosuke , Takazono Takahiro , Ishimoto Hiroshi , Obase Yasushi , Ishimatsu Yuji , Miyazaki Yasushi , Mukae Hiroshi
Published: November 2023

The diagnosis of pulmonary lymphoma using small tissue samples is difficult and often requires surgical procedures; thus, a less invasive sampling method is desirable. Moreover, pulmonary involvement in adult T-cell lymphoma (ATL) is often difficult to diagnose, especially in cases without characteristic flower cells. Here, we present the case of a 78-year-old man, in whom pathological examination of the transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimen did not reveal malignant findings; therefore, transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in combination with endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) was used to diagnose ATL based on the pathological findings. A literature review identified 18 cases of pulmonary lymphomas diagnosed using TBLC. Among the 19 cases, including our own, 16 cases were of B-cell lymphoma (84.2%), and the present case is the first case of ATL diagnosed using TBLC. Eighty percent of the cases underwent a biopsy (more than two samples) of the middle or lower lobe and were diagnosed without major complications. EBUS was used with TBLC in three cases to identify the location of the pulmonary lesions. In the present case, EBUS was also useful for avoiding vascular biopsy. Although large-scale prospective studies are required to establish precise guidelines for diagnosing pulmonary lymphomas using TBLC, our case report and review contributes to a deeper understanding of the diagnosis of rare diseases.
Age-Based Comparative Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Colonoscopy Screening Findings
Authors: Vilkoite Ilona , Tolmanis Ivars , Abu Meri Hosams , Polaka Inese , Mezmale Linda , Lejnieks Aivars
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is rapidly emerging among individuals <50 years, termed as early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). This study aimed to probe variations in tumorigenic pathology and relevant manifestations (polyp and adenoma incidence) between suspected cases of EOCRC and late-onset CRC (LOCRC; ≥50 years of age). Materials and Methods: Between September 2022 and February 2023, colonoscopy-based screening data from 1653 patients were included in this study. All eligible participants were divided into two groups, depending upon patient age, where Group 1 consisted of 1021 patients aged <50 years while Group 2 consisted of 632 patients aged ≥ 50 years. Polyp samples were collected when identified peri-procedurally and characterized according to World Health Organization criteria. Results: Polyp detection rate was 42% for the <50-year age group, while this was 76% for the ≥50-year age group. Additionally, the <50-year age group predominated in hyperplastic polyp manifestation, particularly within the rectum and sigmoid colon. In addition, the ≥50-year age group had increased prevalence of serrated polyps and differing adenoma manifestations. Conclusions: This investigation served to highlight the importance of age stratification for CRC colonoscopy-based screening effectiveness, with particular reference to evaluations that are based on polyp localization within differing colon regions.
Minimal Detectable Changes in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test in Older Japanese Adults with Sarcopenia Requiring Long-Term Care
Authors: Yin Lu , Sawaya Yohei , Sato Ryo , Shiba Takahiro , Hirose Tamaki , Onoda Ko , Urano Tomohiko
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Although the importance of sarcopenia control has been suggested, there are no minimal detectable change (MDC) studies of older adults with sarcopenia, to our knowledge, and the criteria for determining the effectiveness of interventions are unknown. The purpose of this study was to calculate the MDC in the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST) in older Japanese adults with sarcopenia and use it as an index to determine the effectiveness of future interventions. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in January and February 2023. The participants of this study were older Japanese adults using daycare rehabilitation. Thirty-eight participants performed the FTSST twice a week. Grip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass were measured to determine the presence of sarcopenia. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was defined as low skeletal muscle mass and low muscle strength and/or low physical function, based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 diagnostic criteria. Participants were further classified as sarcopenic or non-sarcopenic. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and MDCs were calculated for the overall, sarcopenia, and non-sarcopenia groups using the two FTSST measures. The average and difference of the two variables were used to calculate the MDC. Results: Overall, the ICC (1,1) was 0.94, MDC was 2.87 s, and MDC% was 23.3%. The sarcopenia group had an ICC (1,1) of 0.93, MDC of 3.12 s, and MDC% of 24.0%. The non-sarcopenia group had an ICC (1,1) of 0.95, MDC of 2.25 s, and MDC% of 19.2%. Conclusions: Despite the limitation of the data being only from this study population, we found that a change of ≥3.12 s or ≥24.0% in the FTSST of older adults with sarcopenia was clinically meaningful and may help to determine the effectiveness of sarcopenia treatment. The improvement or decline in older Japanese adults with sarcopenia should be determined by changes in the FTSST over a longer period of time than that for other conditions.
A Comparative Investigation of Duplex and Super Duplex Stainless Steels Processed through Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Gargalis Leonidas , Karavias Leonidas , Graff Joachim S. , Diplas Spyros , Koumoulos Elias P. , Karaxi Evangelia K.
Published: November 2023

The aim of this paper was to compare duplex (DSS) and super duplex stainless steel processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) based on the process parameters and microstructure–nanomechanical property relationships. Each alloy was investigated with respect to its feedstock powder characteristics. Optimum process parameters including scanning speed, laser power, beam diameter, laser energy density, and layer thickness were defined for each alloy, and near-fully dense parts (>99.9%) were produced. Microstructural analysis was performed via optical (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The samples were subjected to stress relief and high-temperature annealing. EBSD revealed the crystallographic orientation and quantified the phases in the as-built and annealed sample conditions. The as-built samples revealed a fully ferritic microstructure with a small amount of grain boundary austenite in the SDSS microstructure. High-temperature solution annealing resulted in the desired duplex microstructure for both alloys. There were no secondary phases present in the microstructure after both heat treatments. Nanoindentation generated nanomechanical (modulus) mapping grids and quantified the nanomechanical (both hardness and modulus) response; plasticity and stress relief were also assessed in all three conditions (as-built, stress-relieved, and annealed) in both DSS and SDSS. Austenite formation in the annealed condition contributed to lower hardness levels (~4.3–4.8 Gpa) and higher plastic deformation compared to the as-built (~5.7–6.3 Gpa) and stress-relieved conditions (~4.8–5.8 Gpa) for both alloys. SDSS featured a ~60% austenite volume fraction in its annealed and quenched microstructure, attributed to its higher nickel and nitrogen contents compared to DSS, which exhibited a ~30% austenite volume fraction.
Responses of Soil Microbial Survival Strategies and Functional Changes to Wet–Dry Cycle Events
Authors: Zhang Yaqi , Mo Chunyi , Pan Yaqing , Yang Pengbin , Ding Xiaodong , Lei Qian , Kang Peng
Published: November 2023

Soil microbial taxa have different functional ecological characteristics that influence the direction and intensity of plant–soil feedback responses to changes in the soil environment. However, the responses of soil microbial survival strategies to wet and dry events are poorly understood. In this study, soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and high–throughput sequencing results were comprehensively anal0079zed in the irrigated cropland ecological zone of the northern plains of the Yellow River floodplain of China, where Oryza sativa was grown for a long period of time, converted to Zea mays after a year, and then Glycine max was planted. The results showed that different plant cultivations in a paddy–dryland rotation system affected soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activity, and G. max field cultivation resulted in higher total carbon, total nitrogen, soil total organic carbon, and available nitrogen content while significantly increasing α–glucosidase, β–glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in the soil. In addition, crop rotation altered the r/K–strategist bacteria, and the soil environment was the main factor affecting the community structure of r/K–strategist bacteria. The co–occurrence network revealed the inter–relationship between r/K–strategist bacteria and fungi, and with the succession of land rotation, the G. max sample plot exhibited more stable network relationships. Random forest analysis further indicated the importance of soil electrical conductivity, total carbon, total nitrogen, soil total organic carbon, available nitrogen, and α–glucosidase in the composition of soil microbial communities under wet–dry events and revealed significant correlations with r/K–strategist bacteria. Based on the functional predictions of microorganisms, wet–dry conversion altered the functions of bacteria and fungi and led to a more significant correlation between soil nutrient cycling taxa and environmental changes. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of microbial functional groups while helping to further our understanding of the potential functions of soil microbial functional groups in soil ecosystems.