bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Extended Technology Acceptance Model to Assess the Adopt Intention of a Proposed IoT-Based Health Management Tool
Authors: Liu Dewen , Li Qi , Han Shenghao
Published: August 2022

Advancements in IoT technology contribute to the digital progress of health science. This paper proposes a cloud-centric IoT-based health management framework and develops a system prototype that integrates sensors and digital technology. The IoT-based health management tool can collect real-time health data and transmit it to the cloud, thus transforming the signals of various sensors into shared content that users can understand. This study explores whether individuals in need tend to use the proposed IoT-based technology for health management, which may lead to the new development of digital healthcare in the direction of sensors. The novelty of this research lies in extending the research perspective of sensors from the technical level to the user level and explores how individuals understand and adopt sensors based on innovatively applying the IoT to health management systems. By organically combining TAM with MOA theory, we propose a comprehensive model to explain why individuals develop perceptions of usefulness, ease of use, and risk regarding systems based on factors related to motivation, opportunity, and ability. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the online survey data collected from respondents. The results showed that perceived usefulness and ease of use positively impacted adoption intention, Perceived ease of use positively affected perceived usefulness. Perceived risk had a negative impact on adoption intention. Readiness was only positively related to perceived usefulness, while external benefits were positively related to perceived ease of use and negatively related to perceived risk. Facilitative conditions were positively correlated with perceived ease of use and negatively correlated with perceived risk. Technical efficacy was positively related to perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Overall, the research model revealed the cognitive mechanism that affects the intention of individuals to use the system combining sensors and the IoT and guides the digital transformation of health science.
Real-Time Depth of Anaesthesia Assessment Based on Hybrid Statistical Features of EEG
Authors: Huang Yi , Wen Peng , Song Bo , Li Yan
Published: August 2022

This paper proposed a new depth of anaesthesia (DoA) index for the real-time assessment of DoA using electroencephalography (EEG). In the proposed new DoA index, a wavelet transform threshold was applied to denoise raw EEG signals, and five features were extracted to construct classification models. Then, the Gaussian process regression model was employed for real-time assessment of anaesthesia states. The proposed real-time DoA index was implemented using a sliding window technique and validated using clinical EEG data recorded with the most popular commercial DoA product Bispectral Index monitor (BIS). The results are evaluated using the correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman methods. The outcomes show that the highest and the average correlation coefficients are 0.840 and 0.814, respectively, in the testing dataset. Meanwhile, the scatter plot of Bland–Altman shows that the agreement between BIS and the proposed index is 94.91%. In contrast, the proposed index is free from the electromyography (EMG) effect and surpasses the BIS performance when the signal quality indicator (SQI) is lower than 15, as the proposed index can display high correlation and reliable assessment results compared with clinic observations.
Relation between Mass Sensitivity and Complex Power Flow in Love Wave Sensors
Authors: Kiełczyński Piotr
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we investigate the connection between average power flows in Love wave waveguides with the mass sensitivity of Love wave sensors. In fact, loading with a Newtonian liquid gives rise to two extra power flows, in the transverse direction towards the loading Newtonian liquid. The first is an active power flow feeding viscous losses in the Newtonian liquid and the second is a reactive power flow that is responsible for the phase delay of the Love wave and consequently for the changes in phase velocity of the Love wave. Since loading with a lossless mass also leads to changes in the phase velocity, we assert that mass sensitivity Sσvp of Love wave sensors is connected to the average reactive power flow, in the transverse direction x2, bouncing back and forth, between the interior of the waveguide and the loading Newtonian liquid. Subsequently, we found the thickness of the effective surface layer of mass that is equivalent to loading with a semi-infinite Newtonian liquid. The analytical formulas developed in this paper are illustrated by the results of numerical calculations performed for an exemplary Love wave waveguide composed of a PMMA surface layer deposited on an ST-Quartz substrate.
Developing Indicators to Improve Safety and Security of Citizens in Case of Disruption of Critical Infrastructures Due to Natural Hazards—Case of a Snowstorm in Finland
Authors: Molarius Riitta , Keränen Jaana , Kekki Tuula , Jukarainen Pirjo
Published: August 2022

The changing climate inflicts ecological, economic, social, and cultural consequences that are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Very often, this happens via interlinked critical infrastructures. Preparing these for natural hazards and carrying out risk assessments that consider their cascading effects on human livelihoods and well-being is a challenging task. Crisis management institutions can benefit from forecasts based on the idea of systemic risk. This study is based on stakeholder workshops, in which a systemic dynamic modelling method called the Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) was used to support contingency planning to identify the critical infrastructure-related factors, the vital functions in society, and to understand their interrelated nature. Together with the workshop participants (authorities and other service providers of critical infrastructures) we tested whether the CLD tool could help identify three types of indicators (threat factors, vulnerability, and resilience) that can help in assessing the risk level when a natural disaster hits. Our case study was a snowstorm, still a frequent phenomenon in the Nordic countries. This article describes and explains the possibilities and limitations of systemic dynamic modelling in contingency planning. Indicators describing the safety and security risks posed by natural hazards, as well as potential sources of data for these indicators, were identified. Identifying indicators that are relevant for anticipating interrelated and cascading effects offers valuable tools for risk assessment and security planning at operational and strategical levels.
2D-QSAR and CoMFA Models for Antitubercular Activity of Scalarane-Type Sesterterpenes
Authors: Thengyai Suriyan , Guo Yuewei , Suwanborirux Khanit , Berner Heinz , Spreitzer Helmut , Wolschann Peter , Hannongbua Supa , Plubrukarn Anuchit
Published: August 2022

A series of scalarane sesterterpenes were prepared using heteronemin (1) as a primary precursor. Combined with the scalarane derivatives obtained from natural sources, a total of 22 antitubercular scalaranes were used to build QSAR models based in the 2D-QSAR and CoMFA approaches. Both models indicated the influences of substitutions in the vicinity of C-12 and C-16 of the scalaranes. A 2D-QSAR model suggested the necessity of hydrophilic functionalities on the peripherals with hydrophobic cores, and the lowering steric repulsion to improve the potential energy. This was complemented by the pictorial CoMFA model, which indicated the importance of the positive electrostatic with shortened steric extension crowning over C-12 and the lengthy negative functionalities extended from C-16.
The Nonlinear Dynamic Behavior of a Particle on a Vibrating Screen Based on the Elastoplastic Contact Model
Authors: He Deyi , Liu Chusheng , Li Sai
Published: August 2022

The dynamic response of particles is closely related to screening efficiency. To study the dynamic response of particles, the dynamic equations of a particle on a screening surface are established based on the elastoplastic contact model of spherical particles and are solved for the coal particle. Then, the trajectories of the particles are given with different falling heights and particle radii. The completely different trajectories with slight changes in the falling height and particle radius indicate strong nonlinearity. Second, the nonlinear dynamic behavior under different amplitudes and frequencies is discussed, and the route of transition from quasiperiodic motion to chaotic motion is revealed. Finally, we discuss the average speed along the screening surface considering the frequency, amplitude, friction coefficient, inclination angle, and vibration direction angle. In addition, the convergence conditions of particle motion are proposed, and they are only affected by the inclination angle and friction angle. The results show that in the normal direction of the vibrating screen, the particle motion is quasiperiodic at low frequencies. With increasing frequency, the motion of the particle becomes chaotic, and its Poincaré map becomes petal-shaped. In addition, the number of petals increases at the mutation of the bifurcation diagram. The increase in frequency, amplitude and inclination angle and the decrease in friction coefficient lead to an increase in particle speed along the screen surface. In addition, the particle speed reaches a maximum when the vibration direction angle is 65°. This work provides a theoretical basis for controlling the thickness of granular material flow on a vibrating screen and selecting screening process parameters.
Selective Accumulation of Rare-Earth and Heavy Metal Ions by a Fucoidan-Inorganic Composite Material
Authors: Yamada Masanori , Shimanouchi Yuta
Published: August 2022

The accumulation of rare-earth and heavy metal ions from wastewater is important for industrial technology. However, practical accumulators of metal ions are expensive with respect procurement of raw materials, synthesis, and preparation. Therefore, it is preferable to accumulate metal ions using sustainable resources, such as natural polymers. Fucoidan, a water-soluble natural polymer, is a sulfated polysaccharide from the cell-wall of brown algae. Therefore, fucoidan behaves as an acidic polysaccharide in an aqueous solution. We prepared a fucoidan-inorganic composite material by mixing fucoidan and a silane coupling reagent, bis(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)amine (SiNSi). This fucoidan-SiNSi (F-SiNSi) composite material showed a water-insoluble property. This is due to the encapsulation of fucoidan into a three-dimensional network of SiNSi with siloxane bonding. When the F-SiNSi composite material is immersed in a metal ion-containing aqueous solution, the composite material accumulated the metal ions. The binding affinity of each metal ion was Ca(II), Mg(II) << Nd(III) < Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), La(III) < In(III) < Y(III). Additionally, the maximum-accumulated amounts of the Nd(III), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), La(III), In(III), and Y(III) ions were 140, 200, 190, 200, 200, 230, and 270 nmol per mg of fucoidan, respectively. Furthermore, the molar ratios of the acidic groups (the sulfate and carboxyl groups) in the fucoidan and accumulated metal ions, were 0.081–0.156. Therefore, the F-SiNSi composite material showed a selectivity for rare-earth and heavy metal ions. The accumulation mechanism of the rare-earth and heavy metal ions was related to the carboxyl groups in the fucoidan.
Compressive Sensing Based Space Flight Instrument Constellation for Measuring Gravitational Microlensing Parallax
Authors: Korde-Patel Asmita , Barry Richard K. , Mohsenin Tinoosh
Published: August 2022

In this work, we provide a compressive sensing architecture for implementing on a space based observatory for detecting transient photometric parallax caused by gravitational microlensing events. Compressive sensing (CS) is a simultaneous data acquisition and compression technique, which can greatly reduce on-board resources required for space flight data storage and ground transmission. We simulate microlensing parallax observations using a space observatory constellation, based on CS detectors. Our results show that average CS error is less than 0.5% using 25% Nyquist rate samples. The error at peak magnification time is significantly lower than the error for distinguishing any two microlensing parallax curves at their peak magnification. Thus, CS is an enabling technology for detecting microlensing parallax, without causing any loss in detection accuracy.
Possibilities of Strengthening the Independence of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic: A System of Appointment of the Prosecutor General to the Office as a Key Element?
Authors: Šramel Bystrík
Published: August 2022

This paper deals with the issue of the independence of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic as an attribute that allows the Prosecutor’s Office to actually carry out its mission, regardless of the individual interests of the parties concerned and regardless of the government’s political goals and basic beliefs. In the first chapter, the paper deals with the current constitutional regulation of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic in the context of the legal regulation of its independence. The author points out the problems that arise from the absence of granting the attribute of independence to the Slovak Prosecutor’s Office and emphasizes the need for its legislative anchoring. Subsequently, the paper deals with the issue of external independence, which allows the public prosecution office to carry out its tasks without being influenced by various entities from the external (political) environment. In the last chapter, the paper presents the possibilities for strengthening the current degree of external independence of the Slovak Prosecutor’s Office. The author considers it crucial to reconsider and redefine the current system of appointing the Prosecutor General and to remove political ties in the creation of this function. The author of the paper considers two variants of the system of selecting a suitable candidate for the Prosecutor General. First, it is possible to strengthen the existing system of self-government of prosecutors and to increase the scope of the powers of authorities of prosecutorial self-government, the current task of which is to ensure the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of prosecutors. The second possibility for strengthening the external independence of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic could be the creation of another type of Council of Prosecutors, the composition of which would be balanced and would not represent a closed system accessible only to prosecutors.
Micromorphological Characteristics of Fallow, Pyrogenic, Arable Soils of Central Part of Yakutia
Authors: Polyakov Vyacheslav , Petrov Alexey , Abakumov Evgeny
Published: August 2022

The assessment of the micromorphological characteristics of soils is a powerful tool for studying the transformation of soils under the influence of various weathering mechanisms (physical, biogenic). The central part of Yakutia is characterized by a large area of agricultural lands, some of which has become fallow land and is subject to cryogenic processes, fires and anthropogenic impact. Under the conditions of climate change, the fallow soils of Yakutia can be re-involved in the agricultural complex. To study their state, a method of micromorphological investigation of thin soil sections is proposed. Thin sections of soils were analyzed using a polarizing microscope Leica DM750P. As a result of the work, zonal, fallow, pyrogenic and agricultural soils of the central part of Yakutia were analyzed. The soils were found to be in a degraded state. Zonal soils were characterized by the presence of quartz grains, feldspar, and undecomposed plant tissue, as well as biogenically transformed humus. Fallow soils were characterized by a thick organo-mineral (A) horizon, quartz grains, feldspar, and silty-clay plasma. Pyrogenic soils have differences from natural and fallow soils; as a result of fires and active illuviation of organo-mineral substances. The Anthrosol soils were characterized by a large number of aggregates of various sizes. In their composition there were various minerals, such as quartz, feldspar and mica. The signs of soil cryogenesis were noted only in the underlying horizons (B), while the upper horizon (A) had no signs of cryogenic transformation.
The Diminishing Role of the Nucleation Rate as Crystallization Develops in Avrami-Type Models
Authors: Pérez-Cárdenas Fernando C.
Published: August 2022

By making use of an isothermal crystallization kinetics formulation in which growth and nucleation rates are functions of the degree of crystallization, we describe a process consisting of birth and growth of spherical crystalline domains. It is found that beyond the early stages of crystallization, the role played by the nucleation rate becomes quite insignificant as compared to the role of the crystalline domain growth rate. This is in contrast to what we would expect from the simplified Avrami exponential equation, where both rates play a symmetrical role. We argue that the asymmetric roles of the growth and nucleation rates greatly contribute to the wide applicability of Avrami-type expressions. A geometric explanation of the diminishing role of nucleation in the later stages of transformation is given. Future theoretical developments might benefit from the arguments and results presented.
Modeling the Major Influencing Factor on Match Running Performance during the In-Season Phase in a Portuguese Professional Football Team
Authors: Teixeira José E. , Branquinho Luís , Leal Miguel , Marinho Daniel A. , Ferraz Ricardo , Barbosa Tiago M. , Monteiro António M. , Forte Pedro
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to analyze the influence of season phase (i.e., the start of the in-season and mid-in-season) on match running performance in a Portuguese professional football team; (2) to determine and model the main factor influencing match running performance during the in-season in this specific football team. Eighteen matches were collected by an 18 Hz global positioning system (GPS) from a professional Portuguese football team during the start of the in-season and mid-in-season. The match running performance was analyzed according to season phases, presenting significant differences in total distance (TD) (tlowerbound = 4.71, p < 0.001; tupperbound = −2.22, p = 0.002), average speed (AvS) (tlowerbound = 359.45, p < 0.001; tupperbound = −359.87, p < 0.001), and relative high speed running (rHSR) (tlowerbound = 13.10, p < 0.001; tupperbound = −10.21, p < 0.001). The logistic regression showed TD (β = −1.59, z = −2.84, p = 0.005) and AvS (β = 2.68, z = −2.84, p = 0.007) as the major factors influencing match running performance during seasonal variation. Sprints and accelerations showed no significance for predicting match running performance during the season phases (β = −0.05 to 1.07, z = −0.95 to 1.07, p = 0.29 to 0.72). Current research confirms that lower and upper bounds should be used to quantify seasonal differences on match running performance. TD and AvS were described as the main factors influencing match running performance during the in-season phase. Thus, it is important to highlight the pace and volume of the game to maximize match running performance.
Nutrient Starvation Exposure Induced the Down-Regulation of Stress Responsive Genes and Selected Bioactive Metabolic Pathways in Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Riccio Gennaro , Lauritano Chiara
Published: August 2022

The microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum is considered a model diatom. It is the second diatom whose genome was sequenced and the first one genetically engineered. This permits its use as a cell factory for the production of high-value compounds for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical, biodiesel, and bioplastic applications. This study is focused on analyzing expression levels of enzymes involved in the synthesis of sulfoglycolipids and monogalactosyldiacylglycerols, compounds known to have anticancer and immunomodulatory activities, and genes coding antioxidant, heat shock and stress-responsive proteins, in various culturing conditions. Our data showed that both nutrient starvation and senescence induced the down-regulation of both sulfoglycolipid and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol synthesis-related genes and stress-responsive genes (compared to the replete condition), suggesting that the control condition, consisting of cells in the exponential phase in replete medium, is the condition with the highest expression of the genes of interest and worth of further bioactivity screening and chemical analyses for drug discovery and biotechnological applications.
An Emerging Solution for Medical Waste: Reuse of COVID-19 Protective Suit in Concrete
Authors: Ran Tao , Pang Jianyong , Zou Jiuqun
Published: August 2022

With the continuous spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), a large number of medical protective suits (PS) have been used and discarded, causing great damage to the ecological environment. The main component of PS is polypropylene plastic, which will enter the oceans, rivers, and animals with groundwater and will not decompose for hundreds of years. Therefore, this global health crisis not only affects the health and economy of the world’s population now but will also continue to disrupt our daily lives after the pandemic ends. The main objective of this study is to explore an effective method to reduce the biological and environmental hazards of medical waste by combining PS with concrete. Due to the excessive size of the PS, protective suit fibers (PSF) were obtained from PS by cutting. To investigate the possibility of using PS in concrete, a series of experiments were conducted, including a physical parameter test, compression test, split tensile test, ultrasonic pulse velocity test, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and finite element simulation. The results indicated that the introduction of PSF significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of concrete, and the maximum compressive strength and splitting tensile strength increased by 7.3% and 43.6%, respectively. The ultrasonic pulse velocity and density of concrete containing PSF decreased compared with the control group. The images of SEM show that PSF binds tightly to the cement matrix and hinders the propagation of micro-cracks. The introduction of PS into the concrete material leads to the improvement of the mechanical properties of concrete and the improvement of the overall quality of the concrete, which is of great significance for reducing the damage of medical waste to the environment. The originality of this work is that polypropylene fibers acquired from PS were put into concrete for the first time for performance testing.
Spatio-Temporal Variation of Habitat Quality for Bird Species in China Caused by Land Use Change during 1995–2015
Authors: Qiu Bingkui , Yao Jinjiang , Han Siyu , Zhu Zhe
Published: August 2022

The analysis of land use change (LUC) has become an important criterion for evaluating the impact of human activities on the natural environment. Habitat loss and degradation caused by LUC are the main threats to biodiversity worldwide. Research on the impact of long-term, wide-scope, and fine-scale LUC on bird habitats is currently limited due to a lack of adequate data. In this study, conducted in China, 9 km grid units were sampled randomly between 1995 and 2015. Logistic regression was used to calculate the probability that each unit grid contained suitable habitat (hereinafter, abbreviated as PGSH) for 981 bird species and analyze the spatial-temporal characteristics of PGSH accordingly. The results showed that: (1) The habitat quality of 84 bird species deteriorated, but for 582 bird species, habitat quality improved. (2) There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the intensity of LUC and the PGSH. The LUC intensity threshold is approximately 67.21%. (3) Based on the counterfactual scenario analysis, the construction of the Three North Shelterbelt has increased the PGSH for all bird species from 20.76% before restoration to 21.38% after restoration. Within the LUC grid representing the transformation of farmland back to forests, the average PGSH for all birds increased from 73.97% to 75.04%. These results may provide a reference for measuring the impacts of LUC on bird species, enabling the protection of bird species and habitats that need it most.
The Logistics Aspect in Research on the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Agricultural Biogas
Authors: Siudek Aleksandra , Klepacka Anna M.
Published: August 2022

The article addresses the progressive changes in the climate caused by increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In light of the applicable regulations, Poland should reduce the emissions with significant potential of creating the greenhouse effect. One way to achieve this is to increase the use of renewable energy sources, where biogas energy production is one of the most effective methods. Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, the greenhouse gas emissions, expressed as CO2 equivalent generated during the entire logistic process of its production, were calculated.
Spectrometry of the Urban Lightscape
Authors: Small Christopher
Published: August 2022

NASA’s Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth contains over 30,000 photos of ~2500 cataloged urban lightscapes (anthropogenic night light) taken from the International Space Station. A subset of over 100 of these multispectral DSLR photos are of sufficient spatial resolution, sharpness and exposure to be potentially useful for broadband spectral characterization of urban lightscapes. Spectral characterization of multiple urban lightscapes can provide a basis for quantifying intra and interurban variability in night light brightness, color and extent, as well as the potential for change analyses. A comparative analysis of simulated atmospheric transmissivity from the MODTRAN radiative transfer model indicates that the spectral slopes of transmissivity spectra are relatively insensitive model atmospheres, with variations in atmospheric path length and aerosol optical depth primarily affecting the bias of the spectrum rather than the slope. A mosaic of 18 intercalibrated, transmissivity-compensated RGB photos renders a spectral feature space bounded by four clearly defined spectral endmembers corresponding to white, yellow and red light sources, with brightness modulated by a dark background endmember. These four spectral endmembers form the basis of a linear spectral mixture model which can be inverted to provide estimates of the areal fraction of each endmember present within every pixel field of view. The resulting spectral feature spaces consistently show two distinct mixing trends extending from the dark endmember to flat spectrum (white–yellow) and warm spectrum (orange) sources. The distribution of illuminated pixels is strongly skewed toward a lower luminance background of warm spectrum street lighting with brighter lights, generally corresponding to point sources and major thoroughfares.
Supine versus Prone 3D Abus Accuracy in Breast Tumor Size Evaluation
Authors: D’Angelo Anna , Gatta Gianluca , Di Grezia Graziella , Mercogliano Sara , Ferrara Francesca , Trombadori Charlotte Marguerite Lucille , Franco Antonio , Cina Alessandro , Belli Paolo , Manfredi Riccardo
Published: August 2022

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with negative resection margins decreases the locoregional recurrence rate. Breast cancer size is one of the main determinants of Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging. Our study aimed to investigate the accuracy of supine 3D automated breast ultrasound (3D ABUS) compared to prone 3D ABUS in the evaluation of tumor size in breast cancer patient candidates for BCS. In this prospective two-center study (Groups 1 and 2), we enrolled patients with percutaneous biopsy-proven early-stage breast cancer, in the period between June 2019 and May 2020. Patients underwent hand-held ultrasound (HHUS), contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) and 3D ABUS—supine 3D ABUS in Group 1 and prone 3D ABUS in Group 2. Histopathological examination (HE) was considered the reference standard. Bland–Altman analysis and plots were used. Eighty-eight patients were enrolled. Compared to prone, supine 3D ABUS showed better agreement with HE, with a slight tendency toward underestimation (mean difference of −2 mm). Supine 3D ABUS appears to be a useful tool and more accurate than HHUS in the staging of breast cancer.
Quantib Prostate Compared to an Expert Radiologist for the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer on mpMRI: A Single-Center Preliminary Study
Authors: Faiella Eliodoro , Vertulli Daniele , Esperto Francesco , Cordelli Ermanno , Soda Paolo , Muraca Rosa Maria , Moramarco Lorenzo Paolo , Grasso Rosario Francesco , Beomonte Zobel Bruno , Santucci Domiziana
Published: August 2022

Background: To evaluate the clinical utility of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) radiology solution, Quantib Prostate, for prostate cancer (PCa) lesions detection on multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Images (mpMRI). Methods: Prostate mpMRI exams of 108 patients were retrospectively studied. The diagnostic performance of an expert radiologist (>8 years of experience) and of an inexperienced radiologist aided by Quantib software were compared. Three groups of patients were assessed: patients with positive mpMRI, positive target biopsy, and/or at least one positive random biopsy (group A, 73 patients); patients with positive mpMRI and a negative biopsy (group B, 14 patients), and patients with negative mpMRI who did not undergo biopsy (group-C, 21 patients). Results: In group A, the AI-assisted radiologist found new lesions with positive biopsy correlation, increasing the diagnostic PCa performance when compared with the expert radiologist, reaching an SE of 92.3% and a PPV of 90.1% (vs. 71.7% and 84.4%). In group A, the expert radiologist found 96 lesions on 73 mpMRI exams (17.7% PIRADS3, 56.3% PIRADS4, and 26% PIRADS5). The AI-assisted radiologist found 121 lesions (0.8% PIRADS3, 53.7% PIRADS4, and 45.5% PIRADS5). At biopsy, 33.9% of the lesions were ISUP1, 31.4% were ISUP2, 22% were ISUP3, 10.2% were ISUP4, and 2.5% were ISUP5. In group B, where biopsies were negative, the AI-assisted radiologist excluded three lesions but confirmed all the others. In group-C, the AI-assisted radiologist found 37 new lesions, most of them PIRADS 3, with 32.4% localized in the peripherical zone and 67.6% in the transition zone. Conclusions: Quantib software is a very sensitive tool to use specifically in high-risk patients (high PIRADS and high Gleason score).
Mineralogical Properties of a Refractory Tantalum-Niobium Slag and the Effect of Roasting on the Leaching of Uranium-Thorium
Authors: Huang Min , Hu Ke , Li Xiang , Wang Yun , Ouyang Jinbo , Zhou Limin , Liu Zhirong
Published: August 2022

In order to realize sustainable development, it is beneficial to explore an appropriate process to recover the radionuclides contained in tantalum-niobium slag. By micro-mineralogical analysis and roasting experiments, the effect of uranium-thorium leaching from a refractory tantalum-niobium slag is investigated. The uranium and thorium content in the slag is 2.26 × 103 mg/kg and 7.84 × 103 mg/kg, which have large recovery value. As the surface area and pore size of the slag are very small, the leaching agent cannot fully penetrate the particles. Various methods of characterization are used to analyze the mineralogical properties of roasted slag at different temperatures. The leaching ratio of U-Th is 90.84% and 96.62% at the optimum roasting temperature of 500 °C, which are about 39% and 27% higher than original samples. The oxidants Fe3+, O2 and Mn can also promote the conversion of insoluble U(IV) to soluble U(VI). Roasting reduces the content of organic C and S, thereby preventing reduction of U(VI), and increasing pore size as well as specific surface area also promote radionuclide leaching. Thus, the roasting method at 500 °C can destroy the surface wrapping structure of radionuclides, reduce the internal density of minerals, and improve uranium-thorium leaching ratio significantly. It is of great practical significance to reduce the radioactive hazard of waste tantalum-niobium slag and to strengthen the sustainable utilization of resources by suitable process improvement techniques.
Glyphosate and AMPA in Human Urine of HBM4EU Aligned Studies: Part A Children
Authors: Buekers Jurgen , Remy Sylvie , Bessems Jos , Govarts Eva , Rambaud Loïc , Riou Margaux , Tratnik Janja Snoj , Stajnko Anja , Katsonouri Andromachi , Makris Konstantinos C. , De Decker Annelies , Morrens Bert , Vogel Nina , Kolossa-Gehring Marike , Esteban-López Marta , Castaño Argelia , Andersen Helle Raun , Schoeters Greet
Published: August 2022

Few data are available on the exposure of children to glyphosate (Gly) in Europe. Within HBM4EU, new HBM exposure data were collected from aligned studies at five sampling sites distributed over Europe (studies: SLO CRP (SI); ORGANIKO (CY); GerES V-sub (DE); 3XG (BE); ESTEBAN (FR)). Median Gly concentrations in urine were below or around the detection limit (0.1 µg/L). The 95th percentiles ranged between 0.18 and 1.03 µg Gly/L. The ratio of AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid; main metabolite of Gly) to Gly at molar basis was on average 2.2 and the ratio decreased with higher Gly concentrations, suggesting that other sources of AMPA, independent of metabolism of Gly to AMPA in the monitored participants, may concurrently operate. Using reverse dosimetry and HBM exposure data from five European countries (east, west and south Europe) combined with the proposed ADI (acceptable daily intake) of EFSA for Gly of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day (based on histopathological findings in the salivary gland of rats) indicated no human health risks for Gly in the studied populations at the moment. However, the absence of a group ADI for Gly+AMPA and ongoing discussions on e.g., endocrine disrupting effects cast some uncertainty in relation to the current single substance ADI for Gly. The carcinogenic effects of Gly are still debated in the scientific community. These outcomes would influence the risk conclusions presented here. Finally, regression analyses did not find clear associations between urinary exposure biomarkers and analyzed potential exposure determinants. More information from questionnaires targeting exposure-related behavior just before the sampling is needed.
Nose-Only Exposure to Cherry- and Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarettes Induced Lung Inflammation in Mice in a Sex-Dependent Manner
Authors: Lamb Thomas , Muthumalage Thivanka , Meehan-Atrash Jiries , Rahman Irfan
Published: August 2022

Flavoring chemicals in electronic nicotine delivery systems have been shown to cause cellular inflammation; meanwhile, the effects of fruit and tobacco flavors on lung inflammation by nose-only exposures to mice are relatively unknown. We hypothesized that exposure to flavored e-cigarettes would cause lung inflammation in C57BL/6 J mice. The mice were exposed to air, propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin, and flavored e-liquids: Apple, Cherry, Strawberry, Wintergreen, and Smooth & Mild Tobacco, one hour per day for three days. Quantification of flavoring chemicals by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), differential cell counts by flow cytometry, pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines by ELISA, and matrix metalloproteinase levels by western blot were performed. Exposure to PG/VG increased neutrophil cell count in lung bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). KC and IL6 levels were increased by PG/VG exposure and female mice exposed to Cherry flavored e-cigarettes, in lung homogenate. Mice exposed to PG/VG, Apple, Cherry, and Wintergreen increased MMP2 levels. Our results revealed flavor- and sex-based e-cigarette effects in female mice exposed to cherry-flavored e-liquids and male mice exposed to tobacco-flavored e-liquids, namely, increased lung inflammation.
Low Prevalence of Syndromic Respiratory Tract Infections among Returning Hajj Pilgrims Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Post-Hajj Survey
Authors: Mahdi Hashim A. , Qashqari Fadi S. , Hariri Sumyya H. , Bamerdah Shahad , Altayyar Shahad A. , Almalki Hazim M. , Alwadani Fayez A. , Alabbasi Renan A. , Alqahtani Mohammed H. , Alfelali Mohammad , Shaban Ramon Z. , Booy Robert , Rashid Harunor
Published: August 2022

This study estimates the point prevalence of symptomatic respiratory tract infections (RTIs) among returned Hajj pilgrims and their contacts in 2021. Using the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) technique, domestic pilgrims were invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey two weeks after their home return from Hajj. Of 600 pilgrims approached, 79.3% agreed to participate and completed the survey. Syndromic definitions were used to clinically diagnose possible influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and COVID-19. Median with range was applied to summarise the continuous data, and frequencies and proportions were used to present the categorical variables. Simple logistic regression was carried out to assess the correlations of potential factors with the prevalence of RTIs. The majority of pilgrims (88.7%) reported receiving at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine before Hajj. Eleven (2.3%) pilgrims reported respiratory symptoms with the estimated prevalence of possible ILI being 0.2%, and of possible COVID-19 being 0.4%. Among those who were symptomatic, five (45.5%) reported that one or more of their close contacts had developed similar RTI symptoms after the pilgrims’ home return. The prevalence of RTIs among pilgrims who returned home after attending the Hajj 2021 was lower compared with those reported in the pre-pandemic studies; however, the risk of spread of infection among contacts following Hajj is still a concern.
Coordination and Management of COVID-19 in Africa through Health Operations and Technical Expertise Pillar: A Case Study from WHO AFRO One Year into Response
Authors: Ngoy Nsenga , Conteh Ishata Nannie , Oyugi Boniface , Abok Patrick , Kobie Aminata , Phori Peter , Hamba Cephas , Ejiofor Nonso Ephraim , Fitzwanga Kaizer , Appiah John , Edwin Ama , Fawole Temidayo , Kamara Rashidatu , Cihambanya Landry Kabego , Mzozo Tasiana , Ryan Caroline , Braka Fiona , Yoti Zabulon , Kasolo Francis , Okeibunor Joseph C. , Gueye Abdou Salam
Published: August 2022

Background: following the importation of the first Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case into Africa on 14 February 2020 in Egypt, the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office for Africa (AFRO) activated a three-level incident management support team (IMST), with technical pillars, to coordinate planning, implementing, supervision, and monitoring of the situation and progress of implementation as well as response to the pandemic in the region. At WHO AFRO, one of the pillars was the health operations and technical expertise (HOTE) pillar with five sub-pillars: case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, laboratory, and emergency medical team (EMT). This paper documents the learnings (both positive and negative for consideration of change) from the activities of the HOTE pillar and recommends future actions for improving its coordination for future emergencies, especially for multi-country outbreaks or pandemic emergency responses. Method: we conducted a document review of the HOTE pillar coordination meetings’ minutes, reports, policy and strategy documents of the activities, and outcomes and feedback on updates on the HOTE pillar given at regular intervals to the Regional IMST. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted with 14 members of the HOTE sub pillar. Key Learnings: the pandemic response revealed that shared decision making, collaborative coordination, and planning have been significant in the COVID-19 response in Africa. The HOTE pillar’s response structure contributed to attaining the IMST objectives in the African region and translated to timely support for the WHO AFRO and the member states. However, while the coordination mechanism appeared robust, some challenges included duplication of coordination efforts, communication, documentation, and information management. Recommendations: we recommend streamlining the flow of information to better understand the challenges that countries face. There is a need to define the role and responsibilities of sub-pillar team members and provide new team members with information briefs to guide them on where and how to access internal information and work under the pillar. A unified documentation system is important and could help to strengthen intra-pillar collaboration and communication. Various indicators should be developed to constantly monitor the HOTE team’s deliverables, performance and its members.
Centrality-Dependent Chemical Potentials of Light Hadrons and Quarks Based on pT Spectrum and Particle Yield Ratio in Au-Au Collisions at RHIC Energies
Authors: He Xing-Wei , Wei Hua-Rong , Hong Bi-Hai , Wu Hong-Yu , Zhu Wei-Ting , Wu Feng-Min
Published: August 2022

We analyze the pT spectra of π±, K±, p, and p¯ produced in different centralities’ Au-Au collisions at different collision energies from 7.7 to 62.4 GeV using a two-component Erlang distribution in the framework of a multi-source thermal model. The fitting results are consistent with the experimental data, and the yield ratios of negative to positive particles are obtained from the normalization constants. Based on the yield ratios, the chemical potentials of light hadrons (π, K, and p) and quarks (u, d, and s) are extracted. This study shows that only the yield ratios of p decrease with the increase in centrality. The logarithms of these yield ratios in the same centrality show obvious linear dependence on 1/sNN. The extracted chemical potentials (the absolute magnitude for π) of light hadrons and quarks decrease with the increase in energy. The curves of chemical potential vs. energy for all centralities derived from the linear fits of the logarithms of the yield ratio as a function of energy have their maximum (the absolute magnitude for π) at the same energy of 3.526 GeV, which is possibly the critical energy of phase transition from a liquid-like hadron state to a gas-like quark state in the collision system.
Off-Road Electric Vehicles and Autonomous Robots in Agricultural Sector: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Authors: Ghobadpour Amin , Monsalve German , Cardenas Alben , Mousazadeh Hossein
Published: August 2022

This paper describes the development trends and prospects of green-energy-based off-road electric vehicles and robots in the agricultural sector. Today, the agriculture sector faces several challenges, such as population growth, increasing energy demands, labor shortages, and global warming. Increases in energy demand cause many challenges worldwide; therefore, many methods are suggested to achieve energy independence from fossil fuels and reduce emissions. From a long-term point of view, the electrification of agricultural vehicles and renewable energy sources appear to be an essential step for robotic and smart farming in Agriculture 5.0. The trend of technological growth using fully autonomous robots in the agricultural sector seems to be one of the emerging technologies to tackle the increased demand for food and address environmental issues. The development of electric vehicles, alternative green fuels, and more energy-efficient technologies such as hybrid electric, robotic, and autonomous vehicles is increasing and improving work quality and operator comfort. Furthermore, related digital technologies such as advanced network communication, artificial intelligence techniques, and blockchain are discussed to understand the challenges and opportunities in industry and research.
Survival Time after Surgical Debulking and Temozolomide Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Canine Intracranial Gliomas
Authors: Hidalgo Crespo Emma , Farré Mariné Alba , Pumarola i Battle Martí , Borrego Massó Juan Francisco , Luján Feliu-Pascual Alejandro
Published: August 2022

Intracranial gliomas are associated with a poor prognosis, and the most appropriate treatment is yet to be defined. The objectives of this retrospective study are to report the time to progression and survival times of a group of dogs with histologically confirmed intracranial gliomas treated with surgical debulking and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy. All cases treated in a single referral veterinary hospital from 2014 to 2021 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria comprised a histopathological diagnosis of intracranial glioma, adjunctive chemotherapy, and follow-up until death. Cases were excluded if the owner declined chemotherapy or there was insufficient follow-up information in the clinical records. Fourteen client-owned dogs were included with a median time to progression (MTP) of 156 days (95% CI 133–320 days) and median survival time (MST) of 240 days (95% CI 149–465 days). Temozolomide was the first-line adjuvant chemotherapy but changed to another chemotherapy agent (lomustine, toceranib phosphate, or melphalan) when tumour relapse was either suspected by clinical signs or confirmed by advanced imaging. Of the fourteen dogs, three underwent two surgical resections and one, three surgeries. Survival times (ST) were 241, 428, and 468 days for three dogs treated twice surgically and 780 days for the dog treated surgically three times. Survival times for dogs operated once was 181 days. One case was euthanized after developing aspiration pneumonia, and all other cases after progression of clinical signs due to suspected or confirmed tumour relapse. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that debulking surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy are well-tolerated options in dogs with intracranial gliomas in which surgery is a possibility and should be considered a potential treatment option. Repeated surgery may be considered for selected cases.
Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Spirulina platensis on the Reproductive Performance of Female Mink
Authors: Iatrou Anna Maria , Papadopoulos Georgios A. , Giannenas Ilias , Lymberopoulos Aristotelis , Fortomaris Paschalis
Published: August 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of providing Spirulina platensis (Spirulina) on reproductive performance of female mink. A total of 100 adult brown female mink (Mustela vison) were randomly and equally allocated to control group (C group), in which mink were fed basal diet and Spirulina group (Sp group), where mink received basal diet supplemented with 100 mg of Spirulina/kg of body weight. The experiment lasted 5 months, starting from 1 month prior to mating till kit weaning. Weight gain during pre-mating period was higher in Sp group compared to C group (p < 0.001). Sp group remained heavier until the onset of lactation. Subsequently, mink of Sp group lost more weight than C group (p < 0.001) but without an adverse effect on kit survival. A tendency for a higher whelping rate was detected in Sp group (93.61%) compared to C group (81.25%) (p = 0.07). Litter size, as well as weight of kits at weaning, did not differ between groups (p > 0.10). Finally, Sp group weaned numerically more kits compared to C group. Results obtained here showed that Spirulina treated animals tended to an increased whelping rate.