bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Longer Tpeak-Tend Interval Is Associated with a Higher Risk of Death: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Braun Cathrin Caroline , Zink Matthias Daniel , Gozdowsky Sophie , Hoffmann Julie Martha , Hochhausen Nadine , Röhl Anna Bettina , Beckers Stefan Kurt , Kork Felix
Published: January 2023

A noninvasive tool for cardiovascular risk stratification has not yet been established in the clinical routine analysis. Previous studies suggest a prolonged Tpeak-Tend interval (the interval from the peak to the end of the T-wave) to be predictive of death. This meta-analysis was designed to systematically evaluate the association of the Tpeak-Tend interval with mortality outcomes. Medline (via PubMed), Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched from 1 January 2008 to 21 July 2020 for articles reporting the ascertainment of the Tpeak-Tend interval and observation of all-cause-mortality. The search yielded 1920 citations, of which 133 full-texts were retrieved and 29 observational studies involving 23,114 patients met the final criteria. All-cause deaths had longer Tpeak-Tend intervals compared to survivors by a standardized mean difference of 0.41 (95% CI 0.23–0.58) and patients with a long Tpeak-Tend interval had a higher risk of all-cause death compared to patients with a short Tpeak-Tend interval by an overall odds ratio of 2.33 (95% CI 1.57–3.45). Heart rate correction, electrocardiographic (ECG) measurement methods and the selection of ECG leads were major sources of heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses revealed that heart rate correction did not affect the association of the Tpeak-Tend interval with mortality outcomes, whereas this finding was not evident in all measurement methods. The Tpeak-Tend interval was found to be significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Further studies are warranted to confirm the prognostic value of the Tpeak-Tend interval.
Precision Medicine in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Authors: Taher Fadi , Hofmann Amun , Assadian Afshin
Published: January 2023

Personalized medicine and precision medicine are terms often used to refer to treatment strategies tailored specifically to individual characteristics of patients, as opposed to a one-size fits all approach [...]
Efficacy Evaluation of Tissue Plasminogen Activator with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Drugs for Submacular Hemorrhage Treatment: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: He Xuejun , Cao Wenye , Wang Zhiyi , Zhang Ningzhi , Xu Kexin , Yu Lu , Xing Yiqiao , Yang Ning
Published: January 2023

Submacular hemorrhage (SMH) is the accumulation of blood in the macular area that can severely damage the macular structure and visual function. Recently, the intraocular administration of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs was reported to have a positive effect on SMH. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the drug combination. We systematically searched the Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases and screened relevant full-length literature reports. The quality of the reports was assessed by two independent reviewers. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and foveal thickness (FT) were considered the main indicators of efficacy. RevMan 5.4 software was used for this meta-analysis. Twelve studies were analyzed, and the results showed that BCVA at 1 month (p < 0.001), 3 months (p < 0.001), 6 months (p < 0.001), and the last follow-up (p < 0.001) was improved relative to the preoperative value. The postoperative FT was lower than the preoperative FT (p < 0.001). No significant difference in efficacy was observed between subretinal and intravitreal TPA injections (p = 0.37). TPA with anti-VEGF drugs is safe for SMH treatment and can significantly improve BCVA and reduce FT.
The Adherence of Digital Templating of Cemented Bicondylar Total Knee Arthroplasty Reveals Gender Differences
Authors: Koettnitz Julian , Tigges Jara , Peterlein Christian Dominik , Trost Matthias , Götze Christian
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Preoperative digital templating is a standard procedure that should help the operating surgeon to perform an accurate intraoperative procedure. To date, a detailed view considering gender differences in templating total knee arthroplasty (TKA), stage of arthrosis, and the surgeons’ experience altogether has not been conducted. Methods: A series of 521 patients who underwent bicondylar total knee arthroplasty was analyzed retrospectively for the planning adherence of digital templating in relation to sex, surgeon experience, and stage of arthrosis. Pre- and postoperative X-rays were comparably investigated for planned and implanted total knee arthroplasties. Digital templating was carried out through mediCAD version 6.5.06 (Hectec GmbH, 84032 Altdorf, Germany). For statistical analyses, IBM SPSS version 28 (IBM, 10504 Armonk, NY, US) was used. Results: The general planning adherence was 46.3% for the femur and 41.8% for the tibia. The Mann–Whitney U test revealed a gender difference for templating the femur (z = −5.486; p ≤ 0.001) and tibia (z = −3.139; p = 0.002). The surgeon’s experience did not show a significant difference through the Kruskal–Wallis test in the femur (K–W H = 4.123; p = 0.127) and the tibia (K–W H = 2.455; p = 0.293). The stage of arthrosis only revealed a significant difference in the planning of the femur (K–L-score (K–W H = 6.516; p = 0.038) alone. Discussion/Conclusion: Digital templating for total knee arthroplasty brought up gender differences, with oversized implants for women and undersized implants for men. A high stage of femoral arthrosis can lead to the under and oversized planning of the surgeon. Since the surgeon’s experience in planning did not show an effect on the adherence to templating, the beneficial effect of digital templating before surgery should be discussed.
The Privacy Flag Observatory: A Crowdsourcing Tool for Real Time Privacy Threats Evaluation
Authors: Vlachos Vasileios , Stamatiou Yannis C. , Nikoletseas Sotiris
Published: January 2023

Instilling good privacy practices to developers and users appears to be a difficult and daunting task. The World Wide Web encompasses a panspermia of different technologies, commercial and open source apis, evolving security standards and protocols that can be deployed towards the implementation of complex, powerful, web applications. At the same time, the proliferation of applications and services on all types of devices has also increased the attack surface for privacy threats. In this paper, we present the Privacy Flag Observatory, a platform which is one of the main tools produced by the Privacy Flag eu funded research project. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness among European citizens of the potential privacy threats that beset the software and services they trust and use every day, including websites and smartphone applications. The Privacy Flag Observatory is one of the components that contributed to a large extent, to the success of the project’s goals. It is a real-time security and privacy threat monitoring platform whose aim is to collect, archive, analyze and present security and privacy-related information to the broader public as well as experts. Although the platform relies on crowdsourcing information gathering strategies and interacts with several other components installed on users’ devices or remote servers and databases, in this paper, we focus on the observatory platform referring only cursorily to other components such as the mobile phone add-on.
Stabilizing A Vascularized Autologous Matrix with Flexible Magnesium Scaffolds to Reconstruct Dysfunctional Left Ventricular Myocardium in a Large-Animal Feasibility Study
Authors: Schilling Tobias , Cebotari Serghei , Kaufeld Tim , Tudorache Igor , Brandes Gudrun , Hartung Dagmar , Wacker Frank , Bauer Michael , Haverich Axel , Hassel Thomas
Published: January 2023

The surgical reconstruction of dysfunctional myocardium is necessary for patients with severe heart failure. Autologous biomaterials, such as vascularized patch materials, have a regenerative potential due to in vivo remodeling. However, additional temporary mechanical stabilization of the biomaterials is required to prevent aneurysms or rupture. Degradable magnesium scaffolds could prevent these life-threatening risks. A left ventricular transmural defect was reconstructed in minipigs with a piece of the autologous stomach. Geometrically adaptable and degradable scaffolds made of magnesium alloy LA63 were affixed on the epicardium to stabilize the stomach tissue. The degradation of the magnesium structures, their biocompatibility, physiological remodeling of the stomach, and the heart’s function were examined six months after the procedure via MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), angiography, µ-CT, and light microscopy. All animals survived the surgery. Stable physiological integration of the stomach patch could be detected. No ruptures of the grafts occurred. The magnesium scaffolds showed good biocompatibility. Regenerative surgical approaches for treating severe heart failure are a promising therapeutic alternative to the currently available, far from optimal options. The temporary mechanical stabilization of viable, vascularized grafts facilitates their applicability in clinical scenarios.
Hydrogel Based on Nanoclay and Gelatin Methacrylate Polymeric Matrix as a Potential Osteogenic Application
Authors: Andrade Danielle B. , Soares Leticya L. S. , Cardoso Francisca L. A. , Lima Idglan S. , Silva Jhaemely G. V. , Carvalho Maria A. M. , Fonseca Maria G. , Brito Guilherme de C. , Santos Francisco Eroni P. , Osajima Josy A. , Lobo Anderson O. , Silva-Filho Edson C.
Published: January 2023

A nanocomposite hydrogel has potentially applicability in the induction of osteogenesis. The hydrogel was synthesized using 1% gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), a biodegradable and bioactive polymer containing the structure of gelatin, denatured collagen derived from the extracellular bone matrix, and 6% laponite (Lap), a synthetic phyllosilicate of nanosized particles. Initially, 0.6 g of Lap was added to deionized water, and then a solution of GelMA/Igarcure was added under stirring and UV light for crosslinking. The spectra in the Fourier-transform infrared region showed bands that indicate the interaction between gelatin and methacrylate anhydride. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of Lap and GelMA in the hydrogel. The thermogravimetric analysis suggested an increase in the thermal stability of the hydrogel with the presence of clay mineral. Rheological analysis showed that the hydrogel had a viscosity that allowed its injectability. The hydrogel did not show acute toxicity at any of the concentrations tested according to the Artemia salina lethality test. It showed cell viability more significant than 80% in the MTT test, which makes it suitable for in vivo osteogenic induction tests. The cell differentiation test showed the differentiation of stem cells into osteogenic cells. It indicates a material with the potential for osteogenic induction and possible application in bone tissue engineering.
Three-Dimensional Impression of Biomaterials for Alveolar Graft: Scoping Review
Authors: Francisco Inês , Basílio Ângela , Ribeiro Madalena Prata , Nunes Catarina , Travassos Raquel , Marques Filipa , Pereira Flávia , Paula Anabela Baptista , Carrilho Eunice , Marto Carlos Miguel , Vale Francisco
Published: January 2023

Craniofacial bone defects are one of the biggest clinical challenges in regenerative medicine, with secondary autologous bone grafting being the gold-standard technique. The development of new three-dimensional matrices intends to overcome the disadvantages of the gold-standard method. The aim of this paper is to put forth an in-depth review regarding the clinical efficiency of available 3D printed biomaterials for the correction of alveolar bone defects. A survey was carried out using the following databases: PubMed via Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and gray literature. The inclusion criteria applied were the following: in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and clinical studies; and studies that assessed bone regeneration resorting to 3D printed biomaterials. The risk of bias of the in vitro and in vivo studies was performed using the guidelines for the reporting of pre-clinical studies on dental materials by Faggion Jr and the SYRCLE risk of bias tool, respectively. In total, 92 publications were included in the final sample. The most reported three-dimensional biomaterials were the PCL matrix, β-TCP matrix, and hydroxyapatite matrix. These biomaterials can be combined with different polymers and bioactive molecules such as rBMP-2. Most of the included studies had a high risk of bias. Despite the advances in the research on new three-dimensionally printed biomaterials in bone regeneration, the existing results are not sufficient to justify the application of these biomaterials in routine clinical practice.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology in 2022
Authors:   Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Process-Structure-Property Interdependencies in Non-Isothermal Powder Bed Fusion of Polyamide 12
Authors: Schlicht Samuel , Cholewa Simon , Drummer Dietmar
Published: January 2023

Non-isothermal laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) of polymers suggests the potential for significantly extending the range of materials applicable for powder-based additive manufacturing of polymers, relying on the absence of a material-specific processing window. To allow for the support-free manufacturing of polymers at a build chamber temperature of 25 °C, applied processing strategies comprise the combination of fractal exposure strategies and locally quasi-simultaneous exposure of distinct segments of a particular cross section for minimizing crystallization-induced part deflection. Based on the parameter-dependent control of emerging cooling rates, formed part morphologies and resulting mechanical properties can be modified. Thermographic in situ measurements allow for correlating thermal processing conditions and crystallization kinetics with component-specific mechanical, morphological, and microstructural properties, assessed ex situ. Part morphologies formed at crystallization temperatures below 70 °C, induced by reduced laser exposure times, are characterized by a nano-spherulitic structure, exhibiting an enhanced elongation at break. An ambient temperature of 25 °C is associated with the predominant formation of a combined (α + γ)-phase, induced by the rapid cooling and subsequent laser-induced tempering of distinct layers, yielding a periodic microstructural evolution. The presented results demonstrate a novel approach for obtaining nano-spherulitic morphologies, enabling the exposure-based targeted adaption of morphological properties. Furthermore, the thermographic inline assessment of crystallization kinetics allows for the enhanced understanding of process-morphology interdependencies in laser-based manufacturing processes of semi-crystalline polymers.
Effect of a Terminated PVCap on Methane Gas Hydrate Formation
Authors: Song Zhiguang , Cui Shiyuan , Tang Cuiping , Chen Yong , Liang Deqing , Wang Sibo
Published: January 2023

Polyvinylcaprolactam (PVCap) is an economic kinetic inhibitor for hydrate formation in pipelines during oil and gas transportation. However, its application is limited because of the low inhibition performance under certain conditions. In this work, a modified PVCap on its chain end is proposed. 2-amino-3-propionic acid mercapto-terminated polyvinyl caprolactam (PVCap-NH2-COOH) was synthesized and its performance as a KHI for methane hydrate formation was evaluated under different conditions. Results showed that the performance of PVCap-NH2-COOH as a KHI was better than that of PVCap at the same concentrations. Gas hydrate samples with 1 wt.% PVCap-NH2-COOH were measured using Raman spectroscopy, XRD, and cryo-SEM. PVCap-NH2-COOH had a selective action on a specific crystal surface of the hydrates and could prevent methane molecules from entering large cages. Its inhibition ability increased with the decrease in the occupancy rate of large cages. The morphology of the gas hydrate crystal changed from porous in a pure water system to a chaotic but compact structure state in the system with PVCap-NH2-COOH.
The Anthropogenic Affect—Humans and Geology: An Example from Tel Dor, Israel
Authors: Nachum Omry , Bialik Or , Basson Uri , Yasur-Landau Assaf , Lazar Michael
Published: January 2023

Geology usually deals with rocks formed long ago, which are static and stable over the span of human lifetime. This study aims to analyze anthropogenic influence on the formation of geological features in the southeastern Mediterranean. Tel Dor, along Israel’s northern coast, was chosen due to the continuous presence of humans in the area for over 4000 years and the protective environment of its natural bays that preserve geomorphological changes. This allows for the examination of whether and how humans affect their (geological) environment. Three rocky platforms were chosen in the shallow waters of the South Bay adjacent to the Tel, and four cores were extracted. Results show the extent of the direct and indirect anthropological influences on the landscape. The presence of building stones consisting of dolomite, which is not found along the Carmel coast, is an example of direct influence (importation). The evolution of a biological and non-biological reef upon the sturdy base of the port constructions is an indirect influence. The formation of a non-biological reef upon an archaeological feature is a unique process. It would not have consolidated without the presence of anthropogenic activity. This study shows how human interference in the coastal area can trigger a chain reaction of geological processes lasting more than 2000 years.
A Numerical Study on the Influence of Caterpillars to the Resistance Performance of an Amphibious Vehicle
Authors: Dhana Febriani Rohma , Park Jong-Chun , Yoon Hyeon-Kyu
Published: January 2023

A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation is performed to evaluate the resistance performance of a self-propelled amphibious vessel with caterpillars to be operated as a marine debris collection vessel at hard-to-reach areas. This study focuses on the influence of the addition of caterpillars on the vessel to the resistance performance. To capture the free surface model, the volume of fluid (VOF) method was adopted, and to express the sinkage and trim acting on the ship the Dynamic Fluid-body Interaction (DFBI) model was applied. A series of numerical simulations for resistance performance were carried out in the range of Froude number (Fn) of 0.12–0.32 for the vessels with and without caterpillars. A model test was carried out independently to verify the numerical simulation of resistance, and it indicated that the present simulation is valid with relative errors of less than 2% over the entire speed range. In subsequence, the resistance performance of the ship due to the addition of the caterpillars was evaluated, and an increase of nearly 40% at the design speed of Fn = 0.27 could be observed. In addition, in the present amphibious vessel, it was found that the ratio of the pressure resistance occupied in the total resistance was dominant, reaching around 81~92% for both cases.
Prediction of Shipping Noise in Range-Dependent Environments
Authors: Skarsoulis Emmanuel K. , Piperakis George , Prospathopoulos Aristides , Makropoulos Dimitris
Published: January 2023

A prediction model for shipping noise in range-dependent environments based on coupled-mode theory is presented, as an enhancement to existing adiabatic normal-mode approaches without a significant increase in computational effort. Emphasis is placed on the categorization of environmental changes and precalculation and storage of eigenvalues, eigenfunctions and coupling matrices, such that they can be looked up and restored to efficiently compute the acoustic field of arbitrary noise source distributions over a given sea area. Taking into account that the water depth is the primary factor determining the number of propagating modes for a particular frequency, coupling is applied only in the case of changing bathymetry, whereas changes in the water sound-speed profile and/or the geoacoustic characteristics are treated adiabatically. Examples of noise calculations are given for benchmark setups in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and comparisons with fully adiabatic predictions are drawn. Moreover, the effect of applying range propagation limitations in a numerical propagation model for shipping noise predictions is demonstrated.
Electric Consumption Forecast for Ships Using Multivariate Bayesian Optimization-SE-CNN-LSTM
Authors: Kim Ji-Yoon , Oh Jin-Seok
Published: January 2023

Many studies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships have been conducted to reduce environmental pollution. Reducing the fuel oil consumption of traditional and green ships is a key focus of these studies. The fuel oil consumption of the ship depends on electric loads. Thus, ship power load estimation is necessary to develop methods for reducing the fuel oil consumption of ships. However, data accessibility for ship power load estimation is low, limiting the number of relevant studies. This study proposes a model for estimating the actual power load of ships using squeeze and excitation (SE), a convolutional neural network (CNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM). The electric load, power generated by the generator, power consumption of the reefer container, rudder angle, water speed, wind speed, and wind angle of a ship were measured in 10-minute increments for approximately 145 d. The existing parallel and direct CNN-LSTM power load estimation models were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed model. The proposed model had the lowest root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), demonstrating the best ship power load estimation performance compared to existing power load estimation models.
Fluorescent Gold Nanoparticles in Suspension as an Efficient Theranostic Agent for Highly Radio-Resistant Cancer Cells
Authors: Vogel Sarah , O’Keefe Alice , Seban Léa , Valceski Michael , Engels Elette , Khochaiche Abass , Hollis Carolyn , Lerch Michael , Corde Stéphanie , Massard Christophe , Awitor Komla Oscar , Tehei Moeava
Published: January 2023

Gold nanoparticles are a promising candidate for developing new strategies of therapy against cancer. Due to their high atomic number and relative biocompatibility, they are commonly investigated as radiosensitizers to locally increase the dose of radiotherapy. In order to optimize this radiosensitizing effect, it is necessary to control the positioning of the nanoparticles in the cells. The purpose of this study is to investigate, by means of fluorescent gold nanoparticles in suspension, the dose enhancement on highly radio-resistant cancer cells. These nanoparticles were successfully produced using modern click-chemistry methods, first by attaching a chelating agent Diethylenetriamine pentaacetate benzylamine to L-cysteine, bonding the resulting ligand to a gold core, grafting propargylamine and then utilizing copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) to fuse AlexaFluor 647 to the ligands. The results of this study prove the success of the reactions to produce a minimally cytotoxic and highly stable nanoparticle suspension that increases the radiosensitivity of gliosarcoma 9L tumor cells, with a 35% increase in cell death using 5 Gy kilovoltage radiation. Their fluorescent functionalization allowed for their simple localization within living cells and detection in vivo post-mortem.
An Updated Phylogenetic Assessment and Taxonomic Revision of Perenniporia sensu lato (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)
Authors: Ji Xing , Sun Yi-Fei , Wu Dong-Mei , Gao Neng , Cui Bao-Kai
Published: January 2023

Perenniporia is an important genus of Polyporaceae. In its common acceptation, however, the genus is polyphyletic. In this study, phylogenetic analyses on a set of Perenniporia species and related genera were carried out using DNA sequences of multiple loci, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) and the b-tubulin gene (TBB1). Based on morphology and phylogeny, 15 new genera, viz., Aurantioporia, Citrinoporia, Cystidioporia, Dendroporia, Luteoperenniporia, Macroporia, Macrosporia, Minoporus, Neoporia, Niveoporia, Rhizoperenniporia, Tropicoporia, Truncatoporia, Vanderbyliella, and Xanthoperenniporia, are proposed; 2 new species, Luteoperenniporia australiensis and Niveoporia subrusseimarginata, are described; and 37 new combinations are proposed. Illustrated descriptions of the new species are provided. Identification keys to Perenniporia and its related genera and keys to the species of these genera are provided.
Navigating the New Reality: A Review of the Epidemiological, Clinical, and Microbiological Characteristics of Candida auris, with a Focus on Children
Authors: Ashkenazi-Hoffnung Liat , Rosenberg Danziger Chen
Published: January 2023

During the past decade, Candida auris emerged across the world, causing nosocomial outbreaks in both pediatric and adult populations, particularly in intensive care settings. We reviewed the epidemiological trends and the clinical and microbiological characteristics of C. auris infection, focusing on the pediatric population. The review is based on 22 studies, which included about 250 pediatric patients with C. auris infection, across multiple countries; neonates and premature babies were the predominant pediatric patient group affected. The most common type of infection reported was bloodstream infection, which was associated with exceptionally high mortality rates. Antifungal treatment varied widely between the patients; this signifies a serious knowledge gap that should be addressed in future research. Advances in molecular diagnostic methods for rapid and accurate identification and for detection of resistance may prove especially valuable in future outbreak situations, as well as the development of investigational antifungals. However, the new reality of a highly resistant and difficult-to-treat pathogen calls for preparedness of all aspects of patient care. This spans from laboratory readiness, to raising awareness among epidemiologists and clinicians for global collaborative efforts to improve patient care and limit the spread of C. auris.
Fungal Aeroallergen Sensitization Patterns among Airway-Allergic Patients in Zagazig, Egypt
Authors: Mokhtar Ghada A. , Gebriel Manar G. , Hammad Noha M. , Roman Sylvia W. , Attia Osama , Behiry Ahmed , Ismail Nagwan A. , Sayed Mohamed Salah Abd El Azeem El , Hadhoud Ahmed Nagy , Osama Yosra A. , Ali Ahmed A. , Kadry Heba M.
Published: January 2023

Background: Airway allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as their comorbidities, are increasing worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic health burdens to societies. It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of the population is allergic to fungi. The type of fungal sensitization varies from one geographical region to another. The present study aimed to identify the common fungal aeroallergen sensitization patterns among airway-allergic patients residing in the Zagazig locality, Egypt, in order to obtain a better understanding of fungal allergy, in addition to improving the awareness and management strategies for those patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 200 allergic rhinitis and asthma patients. Sensitization to fungal aeroallergens was evaluated by skin prick testing and in vitro measurement of total and specific immunoglobulin E. Results. As determined by a skin prick test, 58% of the patients studied were allergic to mixed molds. Alternaria alternata was the predominant fungal aeroallergen among the studied patients (72.2%), which was followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (53.45%), Penicillium notatum (52.6%), Candida albicans (34.5%), and Aspergillus niger (25%). Conclusion: Mixed mold sensitization ranked fourth among the most frequent aeroallergens in airway-allergic patients, and Alternaria alternata was the most frequently encountered fungal aeroallergen in the Zagazig locality.
Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Associated with a Decreased Risk of Lung Cancer: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Zexu , Wei Lingyun , Yin Cheng , Li Wang , Wan Bing
Published: January 2023

Introduction: There have been disputes in the association between angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and the incidence of lung cancer. Our meta-analysis reevaluated this problem from the perspectives of race, age, drug type, comparison objects and smoking. Method: We used the following databases to carry out our literature search: Pubmed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Ovid (From 1 January 2020 to 28 November 2021). The correlation between ARBs and the incidence rate of lung cancer was calculated by risk ratios (RRs). Confidence intervals were selected with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 18 retrospective studies and 3 case-control studies were found to satisfy the inclusion criteria. The use of ARB drugs reduced the incidence of lung cancer. The pooled results of 10 retrospective studies revealed a decreased lung cancer incidence in patients treated with ARBs, especially in patients using Valsartan. A significantly lower lung cancer incidence was found in the ARB drugs than in calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs). Lung cancer occurrence was lower in Asian-based studies, especially in Mongolian-dominated and Caucasian-dominated patient populations. No significant decrease in lung cancer occurrence was found in RCTs or in patients receiving telmisartan, losartan, candesartan, irbesartan, or other placebo or in American and European-dominated patient populations. Conclusion: Compared with ACEIs and CCBs, ARBs significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer, especially in Asian and Mongolian populations. Valsartan has the best effect in reducing the risk of lung cancer in ARB drugs.
Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs, Practices, Emerging Ideologies about Multilingualism and Self-Efficacy Relative to Teaching Multilingual Learners
Authors: Christison MaryAnn
Published: January 2023

Teacher beliefs have a powerful impact on the development of classroom instructional practices. This article reports the results of research that investigated the beliefs, practices, self-efficacy, and emerging ideologies of 268 pre-service teachers (PSTs) who were preparing for primary and secondary school contexts (Grades Kindergarten through 12; K-12), had just taken a course on teacher language awareness (TLA), and were midway through their teacher education program. Three different sources of numerical and non-numerical data were analyzed: (a) open-ended questions, (b) a language identification task, and (c) teacher-generated instructional materials. Four research questions focused on PSTs’ beliefs, perceptions, self-efficacy, and emerging ideologies about the challenges of teaching in a K-12 context in which structured English immersion (SEI) was the dominant model, working with English and multilingual learners (MLs), and developing TLA.
Pleural Space Infections
Authors: Foley Sean P. F. , Parrish John Scott
Published: January 2023

Pleural space infections have been a well-recognized clinical syndrome for over 4000 years and continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, our collective understanding of the causative pathophysiology has greatly expanded over the last few decades, as have our treatment options. The aim of this paper is to review recent updates in our understanding of this troublesome disease and to provide updates on established and emerging treatment modalities for patients suffering from pleural space infections. With that, we present a review and discussion synthesizing the recent pertinent literature surrounding the history, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of these challenging infections.
Experimental Investigation on the Wear Performance of Nano-Additives on Degraded Gear Lubricant
Authors: Hirani Harish , Jangra Dharmender , Sidh Kishan Nath
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the degradation of a commercially available gear lubricant and the potential of nano-additives to mitigate such degradation. Initially, we performed an experimental study on the chemical degradation of commercially available API GL-4 EP90 gear lubricant by mixing the different concentrations of aqueous hydrochloric acid (aqueous HCl) varying from 0.0005% v/v up to 0.0025% v/v, while maintaining overall water content in the oil below the prescribed limits. The degradation was monitored using the pH value, total acid number (TAN) value, and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis. The experiments were performed on a developed gear test rig using conventional gear oil as well as chemically aged gear oil, and the corresponding results of pH value and wear debris were recorded. Based on the results, an empirical regression model between the concentration of aqueous HCl and lubricant aging time has been established. Under chemically aged lubricant, severe wear of gear was observed, which motivated us to explore suitable nano-additive to minimize the gear wear. Initially, three nano-additives—graphite, graphene, and “graphene oxide functionalized with silicon oxide (GO@SiO2)”—were chosen. A series of tests were conducted using the design of experiments method (L8 and L16 orthogonal array) to investigate the effect of nano-additives and to find the optimum additive for wear performance. Finally, experiments were conducted on gear setup using the degraded lubricant optimized with nano-additive. Overall results indicate a very significant contribution of nano-additives in decreasing gear wear.
Active Disturbance Rejection Control for Piezoelectric Smart Structures: A Review
Authors: Li Juan , Zhang Luyao , Li Shengquan , Mao Qibo , Mao Yao
Published: January 2023

The piezoelectric smart structures, which can be labeled as the cream of the crop of smart structures without overstatement, are strongly impacted by a large number of uncertainties and disturbances during operation. The present paper reviews active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) technologies developed for application in piezoelectric smart structures, focusing on measurement, analysis, estimation, and attenuation of uncertainties/disturbances in systems. It first explained vast categories of uncertainties/disturbances with their adverse influences. Then, after a brief introduction to the application of basic ADRC in smart structures, a thorough review of recently modified forms of ADRC is analyzed and classified in terms of their improvement objectives and structural characteristics. The universal advantages of ADRC in dealing with uncertainties and its improvement on the particularity of smart structures show its broad application prospects. These improved ADRC methods are reviewed by classifying them as modified ADRC for specific problems, modified ADRC by nonlinear functions, composite control based on ADRC, and ADRC based on other models. In addition, the application of other types of active anti-disturbances technologies in smart structures is reviewed to expand horizons. The main features of this review paper are summarized as follows: (1) it can provide profound understanding and flexible approaches for researchers and practitioners in designing ADRC in the field and (2) light up future directions and unsolved problems.
Torque Ripple Suppression of Switched Reluctance Motor with Reference Torque Online Correction
Authors: Jing Benqin , Dang Xuanju , Liu Zheng , Ji Jianbo
Published: January 2023

High torque ripple dramatically affects the switched reluctance motor (SRM) application. To reduce the torque ripple, a reference torque neural network (RTNN) is proposed to adjust the reference torque online. Firstly, the RTNN is built on the torque sharing function (TSF) method. Furthermore, the RTNN is designed as a single-input and -output network. As the periodic relationship between the torque ripple and the rotor angle, the rotor angle constitutes the central node parameter of the implicit function in RTNN. Therefore, one-step adjustment of the RTNN can perform well at restraining reference torque. Lastly, the torque error is used to adjust the parameters of RTNN to reduce the torque ripple. In the MATLAB environment, through the simulation comparison with fuzzy torque and PD current compensation method, the effectiveness of RTNN at torque ripple suppression is proven with different loads and speeds.
The Water-Powered Trip Hammer and Forge La Pianca as a Case Study of a Piedmont (Italy) Water Mill
Authors: Franco Walter , Olivero Roberto , Cavallo Gianpiero , Colletti Davide
Published: January 2023

For hundreds of years, water mills have supported the local economies of Piedmont by contributing to the production of flour, textile fibres, timber, and metal agricultural tools. Since the beginning of the last century, and in particular after the 1950s, many artefacts have been abandoned. Nonetheless, hundreds of mills are still present in southern Piedmont, both in the plains and in the mountains, sometimes in an excellent state of conservation. This work presents a hammer forge, the La Pianca mill in Busca, Cuneo, Italy, as a significant, detailed case study. The socio-economic context in which exists is analysed, its history is reconstructed, and the functioning of the machinery, including the water wheels, the motion transmission systems, and the various utilities consisting of tilt hammers, grinding wheels, and drills, is analysed in detail. Beyond the historical interest, concerning both the territory and the architecture, as well as the machines and mechanisms, this work aims to make a contribution to the prefiguration of effective scenarios for the reconversion of similar productive artefacts.
Investigation on Start-Up Characteristics of Large Axial Flow Pump Systems Considering the Influence of Auxiliary Safety Facilities
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Jiang Yuhang , Tang Fangping , Song Xijie , Liu Yuxi , Yang Fan , Shi Lijian
Published: January 2023

A large number of operation practices show that the reliability and stability of large axial flow pump systems will face significant challenges during the start-up process. If the start-up control mode or safety auxiliary facilities of large axial flow pump stations are unreasonable, start-up failure will easily follow. In order to find a scientific control strategy for the start-up of large axial flow pump stations, the start-up characteristics of large axial flow pump stations must be fully understood first. In this paper, based on the secondary development of Flowmaster software, a simulation study of the start-up process of a large axial flow pump system equipped with different safety aids is carried out. It is found that it is a very dangerous start-up control mode to delay the opening of the rapid-drop gate to reduce the maximum reflux value and reflux duration when the pump system is initially started. When the rapid-drop gate opens with a delay of 4 s, the power overload coefficient reaches 23.49, indicating that the possibility of start-up failure of the large axial flow pump system increases sharply the longer the gate delay is opened. The method of adding a flap valve to the rapid-drop gate can significantly weaken the instantaneous impact power of the unit and prevent the unit from overload. When safety auxiliary facilities with an additional disc valve on the fast descending gate are adopted, the backflow coefficient is within 0.2, the impact head coefficient is within 2, and the power overload coefficient is less than 0. The research results will provide an important reference value for comprehensively understanding the start-up characteristics of large axial flow pump stations and finding scientific and safe start-up control strategies.
Characteristics and Recent Development of Fluoride Magneto-Optical Crystals
Authors: Zhang Zhonghan , Wu Zhen , Zhang Zhen , Su Liangbi , Wu Anhua , Li Yang , Lan Jianghe
Published: January 2023

Magneto-optical materials are the fundamental component of Faraday isolators; therefore, they are significantly important for solid-state laser systems. Fluoride magneto-optical crystals such as CeF3, KTb3F10 and LiTbF4 exhibit advantages of wide transmittance range, high optical homogeneity, smaller thermal lensing and weaker thermal induced depolarization effect, and thus are promising candidates for Faraday isolators in high-power solid-state lasers. Recent progress in crystal growth and characterizations of these fluoride magneto-optical crystals are introduced. Possible applications of Faraday isolators based on various fluoride crystals are discussed, especially for solid-state lasers in the ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) spectral region.
Statistics of Weibull Record-Breaking Events
Authors: Shcherbakov Robert
Published: January 2023

The statistics of record-breaking events plays an important role in the analysis of natural physical systems. It can provide an additional insight into the mechanisms and the occurrence of extreme events. In this work, the statistical aspects of the record-breaking events drawn from the Weibull distribution are considered and analyzed in detail. It is assumed that the underlying sequences of events are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.). Several statistical measures of record-breaking events are analyzed. Exact analytical expressions are derived for the statistics of records. Particularly, the distributions of record magnitudes and the corresponding average magnitudes of records in case of Weibull distributed events are derived exactly for any specific record order and time step. In addition, a convolution operation is used to derive a recursive formula for the distribution of times of the occurrence of records. The analytical results are compared with the Monte Carlo simulations and their validity is confirmed. The numerical simulations also reveal that the finite-size effects strongly affect the statistics of records and need to be considered during the analysis of numerical experiments or empirical data.
Algorithms for Approximating Solutions of Split Variational Inclusion and Fixed-Point Problems
Authors: Zhu Li-Jun , Yao Yonghong
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the split fixed point and variational inclusion problem is considered. With the help of fixed point technique, Tseng-type splitting method and self-adaptive rule, an iterative algorithm is proposed for solving this split problem in which the involved operators S and T are demicontractive operators and g is plain monotone. Strong convergence theorem is proved under some mild conditions.
Non-Contact Breathing Rate Estimation Using Machine Learning with an Optimized Architecture
Authors: Brieva Jorge , Ponce Hiram , Moya-Albor Ernesto
Published: January 2023

The breathing rate monitoring is an important measure in medical applications and daily physical activities. The contact sensors have shown their effectiveness for breathing monitoring and have been mostly used as a standard reference, but with some disadvantages for example in burns patients with vulnerable skins. Contactless monitoring systems are then gaining attention for respiratory frequency detection. We propose a new non-contact technique to estimate the breathing rate based on the motion video magnification method by means of the Hermite transform and an Artificial Hydrocarbon Network (AHN). The chest movements are tracked by the system without the use of an ROI in the image video. The machine learning system classifies the frames as inhalation or exhalation using a Bayesian-optimized AHN. The method was compared using an optimized Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). This proposal has been tested on a Data-Set containing ten healthy subjects in four positions. The percentage error and the Bland–Altman analysis is used to compare the performance of the strategies estimating the breathing rate. Besides, the Bland–Altman analysis is used to search for the agreement of the estimation to the reference.The percentage error for the AHN method is 2.19±2.1 with and agreement with respect of the reference of ≈99%.
Generalized Quasi Trees with Respect to Degree Based Topological Indices and Their Applications to COVID-19 Drugs
Authors: Altassan Alaa , Imran Muhammad
Published: January 2023

The l-generalized quasi tree is a graph G for which we can find W⊂V(G) with |W|=l such that G−W is a tree but for an arbitrary Y⊂V(G) with |Y|<l, G−Y is not a tree. In this paper, inequalities with respect to zeroth-order Randić and hyper-Zagreb indices are studied in the class of l-generalized quasi trees. The corresponding extremal graphs corresponding to these indices in the class of l-generalized quasi trees are also obtained. In addition, we carry QSPR analysis of COVID-19 drugs with zeroth-order Randić and hyper-Zagreb indices (energy).
Collaborative Decision Model for Allocating Intensive Care Units Beds with Scarce Resources in Health Systems: A Portfolio Based Approach under Expected Utility Theory and Bayesian Decision Analysis
Authors: Frej Eduarda Asfora , Roselli Lucia Reis Peixoto , Alberti Alexandre Ramalho , Britto Murilo Amorim , de Barros Campelo Júnior Evônio , Ferreira Rodrigo José Pires , de Almeida Adiel Teixeira
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought health systems to the brink of collapse in several regions around the world, as the demand for health care has outstripped the capacity of their services, especially regarding intensive care. In this context, health system managers have faced a difficult question: who should be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), and who should not? This paper addresses this decision problem using Expected Utility Theory and Bayesian decision analysis. In order to estimate the chances of survival for patients, a structured protocol has been proposed conjointly with physicians, based on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. A portfolio selection approach is proposed to support tackling the ICU allocation problem. A simulation study shows that the proposed approach is more advantageous than other approaches already presented in the literature, with respect to the number of lives saved. The patients’ probabilities of survival inside and outside the ICU are important parameters of the model. However, assessing such probabilities can be a difficult task for health professionals. In order to give due treatment to the imprecise information regarding these probabilities, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to estimate the probabilities of recommending a patient be admitted to the ICU is the most appropriate decision, given the conditions presented. The methodology was implemented in an Information and Decision System called SIDTriagem, which is available online for free. With regards to managerial implications, SIDTriagem has a great potential to help in the response to public health emergencies systems as it facilitates rational decision-making regarding allocating ICU beds when resources are scarce.