bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Risk Siblings without Autism: Insights from a Clinical and Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Costanzo Valeria , Narzisi Antonio , Cerullo Sonia , Crifaci Giulia , Boncoddo Maria , Turi Marco , Apicella Fabio , Tancredi Raffaella , Muratori Filippo , Calderoni Sara , Billeci Lucia
Published: October 2022

Joint attention (JA)—the human ability to coordinate our attention with that of other people—is impaired in the early stage of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, little is known about the JA skills in the younger siblings of children with ASD who do not develop ASD at 36 months of age [high-risk (HR)-noASD]. In order to advance our understanding of this topic, a prospective multicenter observational study was conducted with three groups of toddlers (age range: 18–33 months): 17 with ASD, 19 with HR-noASD and 16 with typical development (TD). All subjects underwent a comprehensive clinical assessment and an eye-tracking experiment with pre-recorded stimuli in which the visual patterns during two tasks eliciting initiating joint attention (IJA) were measured. Specifically, fixations, transitions and alternating gaze were analyzed. Clinical evaluation revealed that HR-noASD subjects had lower non-verbal cognitive skills than TD children, while similar levels of restricted and repetitive behaviors and better social communication skills were detected in comparison with ASD children. Eye-tracking paradigms indicated that HR-noASD toddlers had visual patterns resembling TD in terms of target-object-to-face gaze alternations, while their looking behaviors were similar to ASD toddlers regarding not-target-object-to-face gaze alternations. This study indicated that high-risk, unaffected siblings displayed a shared profile of IJA-eye-tracking measures with both ASD patients and TD controls, providing new insights into the characterization of social attention in this group of toddlers.
Is There a Role for Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Due to Uterine Cancer?
Authors: Düzgün Özgül , Kalin Murat
Published: October 2022

Background: Uterine canceris one of the most common pelvic tumors in females. Advanced stage uterine cancer only represents 15% of newly diagnosed cases; however, they are related with poor prognosis. Our aim was to analyze the benefits of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in peritoneal carcinomatosis due to uterine cancer. Methods: At the Istanbul Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Surgical Oncology Clinic, morbidity, overall survival and survival without progression were analyzed over the 5-year follow up. Twenty-two cases who had undergone cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy due to uterine-peritoneal carcinomatosis were included in this study. Cases were followed up in terms of postoperative morbidity-mortality, disease-free survival and overall survival. The cut off value for the peritoneal carcinomatosis index score was set at 15. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and doxorubicin was applied to all patients for 60 min after the suturation of the abdomen. Results: Median age of the patients was 64.6 (43–72). Average PCI score was 12.8 (3–15). CC score was 0 in 16 (72.7%) cases, 1 in 3 cases and 2 in 3 cases. Of these patients, 12 of them were previously operated upon. Median stay at the hospital was 13.1 days. No major complications due to chemotherapy were reported. A Clavien–Dindo Grade 3 complication was observed in seven (31.8%) patients. Mortality was not observed in patients during their stay at the hospital. The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 36.8 (36%) months and 45.3 (57%) months, respectively. Conclusions: We think that due to longer disease-free survival and overall survival, cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be preferred in peritoneal carcinomatosis due to uterine cancer patients having low peritoneal carcinomatosis index scores and manageable complication rates. However, prospective randomizedtrials with a high number of cases are needed for this subject.
Local Infiltrations in Patients with Radiculopathy or Chronic Low Back Pain Due to Segment Degeneration—Only A Diagnostic Value?
Authors: Lindemann Chris , Zippelius Timo , Hochberger Felix , Hölzl Alexander , Böhle Sabrina , Strube Patrick
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the therapeutic effectiveness of CT-assisted infiltration of a local anesthetic + corticosteroid between nerve root and facet joint capsule in patients with chronic complaints. In this prospective trial with a 12-month follow-up, a total of 250 patients with chronic low back pain and radiculopathy were assigned to two groups. In the first group, patients with specific lumbar pain due to spondyloarthritis received periarticular facet joint capsule infiltration (FJI). In the second group, patients with monoradicular pain received periradicular infiltration (PRI) via an extraforaminal selective nerve block. Clinical improvement after FJI and PRI regarding pain (NRS), function (ODI), satisfaction (McNab), and health related quality of life (SF-36) were compared. Minimally clinically important difference (MCID) served as the threshold for therapeutic effectiveness evaluation. A total of 196 patients were available for final analysis. With respect to the pain reduction and functional improvement (ODI, NRSoverall, and NRSback), the PRI group performed significantly better (ptreatment < 0.001) and longer over time (ptreatment × time 0.001) than the FJI group. Regarding pain and function, only PRI demonstrated a durable improvement larger than MCID. A significant and durable therapeutic value was found only after receiving PRI but not after FJI in patients with chronic pain.
Sustainability Initiatives and Failure Risk of a Firm: How Are They Linked?
Authors: Lääts Kertu , Lukason Oliver
Published: October 2022

This paper studies the link between corporate sustainability and failure risk. The two competing hypotheses rely on the controversies in the theoretical and empirical literature linking sustainability and financial performance. Analysis of a sample of Estonian non-listed companies of all sizes indicates that firms engaged in more sustainability initiatives exhibit a higher risk of failure in the short run. The results remain robust for different sustainability initiatives and periods, while being exclusively determined by firms active locally, not on foreign markets.
Geological Heritage in the “Arribes del Duero” Natural Park (Western, Spain): A Case Study of Introducing Educational Information via Augmented Reality and 3D Virtual Itineraries
Authors: Martínez-Graña Antonio Miguel , Díez Teresa , González-Delgado José Ángel , Gonzalo-Corral Juan Carlos , Merchán Leticia
Published: October 2022

The concept of geological heritage has been introduced into the protected area of the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, which is west of the Salamanca and Zamora Provinces, Spain for the purpose of developing a guide to places of geological and geomorphological interest, through which geoenvironmental itineraries were developed in order to demonstrate to both the students and tourists, the geological context of the events in the geological history of this natural park. Twelve of the most geologically representative geosites were assessed using 18 quantitative parameters dealing with the scientific, didactic and cultural-tourist interest of each site. The objective of this paper is to describe and analyze the points of interest that are of geoheritage significance and to develop of an inventory that will ultimately facilitate geoconservation and the dissemination of information through educational virtual itineraries that reveal the known geological history of an area. A 3D virtual geological route was created in Google Earth for educational use with superimposed georeferenced cartographies, together with a field guide and an app. The virtual route allows the participants to follow the geological events and the natural history of the park using digital devices in real time with the possibility of observing the relief, the geology and having access to the informative files describing each geosite. Using a field guide, each geosite is complemented with activities, and the participants have the option to evaluate what has been learned. An app makes the itinerary more interactive. These georesources allow a teaching–learning process where the student is an active part of the development and creation of the contents using technologies that provide an entertaining and didactic learning experience, and this involves working as a team and interacting with social networks, thus, potentially influencing the attitudes and skills development that are involved in geoconservation as an element for its sustainable development. The identification of geological heritage currently constitutes a great resource to promote the sustainable development of it and employment in very depopulated rural areas.
Evaluating Whether Farmland Consolidation Is a Feasible Way to Achieve a Balance of Potential Crop Production in Southeastern Coastal China
Authors: Li Chen , Jin Xiangmu , Zhi Junjun , Luo Yao , Li Mengni , Liu Wangbing
Published: October 2022

The requisition–compensation balance of farmland (RCBF) policy proposes that all farmland requisitioned for development must be compensated with new farmland, of which the continued implementation in economically developed counties in China faces great challenges. The extent to which a balance of potential crop production can be achieved merely through farmland consolidation has important theoretical and practical significance. This study proposes measurement procedures to investigate this degree and takes seven counties in southeastern coastal China as examples on which to conduct an empirical study. The results show the following: (1) there is a significant negative correlation between GDP and the index of the balance of potential crop production of each county, that is, the more developed the county, the lower the potential to achieve the balance; (2) with an increase in elevation, the possibility of increasing potential crop production shows an inverted U-shaped curve, with the maximum values occurring at elevations between 50 and 500 m and more attention should be paid to farmland with an elevation of between 50 m and 500 m when implementing farmland consolidation projects; (3) although it is difficult for economically developed counties to strike a balance of potential crop production merely through farmland consolidation, the potential of which to compensate for the loss of potential crop production from requisition is great, reaching more than 40%, which plays an important role in realizing the requisition–compensation balance of potential crop production; and (4) the potential of farmland consolidation to compensate for the loss of potential crop production and the difference of which between counties should be paid adequate attention when implementing RCBF policy adjustment. Therefore, the proposed approach illustrated in this study clearly reveals the relationship between the loss of potential crop production from requisition and the compensation of potential crop production by farmland consolidation, which has important implications for the adjustment of the RCBF policy in China.
Land Consumption Mapping with Convolutional Neural Network: Case Study in Italy
Authors: Cecili Giulia , De Fioravante Paolo , Congedo Luca , Marchetti Marco , Munafò Michele
Published: October 2022

In recent years, deep learning (DL) algorithms have been widely integrated for remote sensing image classification, but fewer studies have applied it for land consumption (LC). LC is the main factor in land transformation dynamics and it is the first cause of natural habitat loss; therefore, monitoring this phenomenon is extremely important for establishing effective policies and sustainable planning. This paper aims to test a DL algorithm on high-resolution aerial images to verify its applicability to land consumption monitoring. For this purpose, we applied a convolutional neural networks (CNNs) architecture called ResNet50 on a reference dataset of six high-spatial-resolution aerial images for the automatic production of thematic maps with the aim of improving accuracy and reducing costs and time compared with traditional techniques. The comparison with the National Land Consumption Map (LCM) of ISPRA suggests that although deep learning techniques are not widely exploited to map consumed land and to monitor land consumption, it might be a valuable support for monitoring and reporting data on highly dynamic peri-urban areas, especially in view of the rapid evolution of these techniques.
From Flood Control System to Agroforestry Heritage System: Past, Present and Future of the Mulberry-Dykes and Fishponds System of Huzhou City, China
Authors: Santoro Antonio , Yu Qingyi , Piras Francesco , Fiore Beatrice , Bazzurro Alessandra , Agnoletti Mauro
Published: October 2022

Peri-urban traditional agroforestry systems are considered a priority at an international level, as they serve as a link connecting cities and rural areas, providing local food and ecosystem services for people living in the cities. The mulberry-dykes and fishponds system (MFS), located near Huzhou city (Zhejiang province, China), also has a key role in protecting the city from floods, as it developed as a consequence of the ancient flood control system created to protect local cities and villages from recurring floods. This system is recognized for its sustainability and for the strong functional interlinkages between the different components (mulberry trees, fishes, silkworms) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which included it into the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme in 2017. The research intends to measure landscape transformation in the last 12 years and to evaluate the effectiveness of the inclusion into the GIAHS Programme for land use changes mitigation. In addition, an accurate discussion focusing on the analysis of local planning has been done to evaluate its capacity in protecting and valorizing the site. Results demonstrated that MFS has undergone major land use changes in the last years due to urban sprawl, the spread of solar panels (+7% in 2018–2021), and abandonment of the traditional mulberry-based system (−75% in 2009–2021). Other changes are related to the overall number of traditional fishponds (−81% in 2009–2018 and −33% in 2018–2021) and to their shape and size. Local planning tools are too sectorial, not enough integrated one another, and they do not consider the MFS as a single system. The study demonstrated that the inclusion in the GIAHS Programme is not sufficient itself to stop negative trends in the absence of adequate planning tools, even if it can contribute to slowing them down, but it would be crucial to integrate the GIAHS action plan and vision into local planning tools.
“The 20 July 2021 Major Flood Event” in Greater Zhengzhou, China: A Case Study of Flooding Severity and Landscape Characteristics
Authors: Duan Yanbo , Gao Yu Gary , Zhang Yusen , Li Huawei , Li Zhonghui , Zhou Ziying , Tian Guohang , Lei Yakai
Published: October 2022

Climate change and rapid urbanization are two global processes that have significantly aggravated natural disasters, such as drought and flooding. Urbanization without resilient and sustainable planning and execution could lead to undesirable changes in landscapes and stormwater regulation capacity. These changes have exacerbated the effects of extreme climatic events with disastrous consequences in many cities worldwide. Unfortunately, the major storm in Zhengzhou, China on 20 July 2021 was one of these examples. This event provided a rare opportunity to study the key roles of green infrastructures (GI) in mitigating flooding risks in a major urban center after a devasting flood event. Using the data from high-resolution images collected via two satellites, a comprehensive study of the Jialu System in Greater Zhengzhou was conducted to systematically compare how far the river water had reached before and after the 20 July 2021 major storm in order to identify the main weak links in the city’s GI and stormwater management system. A flood inundation intensity index (FI) in the Upper (UJLR), Middle (MJLR), and Lower (LJLR) Regions of the Jialu River System was generated. Bivariate Moran’s I, a correlation coefficient between FI and landscape characteristics, was calculated and used to identify problem areas for future improvements. Our results showed that the MJLR had the severest flooding impacts. LJLR had the biggest change in how far the river water reached after flooding, ranging from 4.59 m to 706.28 m. In UJLR, the percentages of mine, crop land, and green space had the highest global bivariate Moran’s I correlation coefficients. In MJLR, the percentages of vacant land, impervious surfaces, and water body had the highest global bivariate Moran’s I correlation coefficients. In LJLR, the percentages of vacant land, water body, and crop land had the highest global bivariate Moran’s I correlation coefficients. The total percentages of both high landscape characteristics indices-high flood inundation intensity indices and low landscape characteristics indices-high flood inundation intensity indices areas are 12.96%, 13.47%, and 13.80% in UJLR, MJLR, and LJLR, respectively. These land cover composition types identified for each region can be treated as areas of primary focus. However, GeoDector Model (GDM) analyses showed that our eight variables of landscape characteristics were not independent. Hence, a more comprehensive approach integrating all eight variables is still necessary in future flood mitigation efforts.
A Conceptual Model for Planning and Management of Areas of Public Space and Meeting in Colombia
Authors: Jiménez-Caldera Juan , Serrano-Montes José Luis , Pérez-Arévalo Raúl , Rodrigo-Comino Jesús , Salvati Luca , Caballero-Calvo Andrés
Published: October 2022

A refined investigation of new trends in urban analysis assuming a sustainable design of Areas of Public Space and Meeting (APSM) is a fundamental response to the challenges of inclusive and efficient cities. Even though the APSM are districts regarded as urban structuring systems, there is a lack of territorial planning instruments and conceptual models aimed at explaining their long-term dynamics. Based on these premises, we developed a conceptual model that articulates relevant variables of interest for the planning and management of APSM. The construction of the model includes the review and analysis of the literature and the validation process based on a consultation with a panel of experts on the subject. Our findings demonstrate that the existing research does not address the APSM issue adequately, and the methodologies proposed so far do not lead to accurate and comprehensive analyses of urban complexity in light of sustainability targets. There are only isolated, disjointed, and partial approaches to variables of interest, making it difficult to carry out holistic studies. Our technical and scientific proposal offers a framework for an exhaustive evaluation of these areas. The model has been structured according to the assumptions of urban sustainability and can be applied to diverse urban environments in South America.
Environmental Regulation and Green Technology Diffusion: A Case Study of Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Duan Dezhong , Jin Hong
Published: October 2022

As an important driver of green technology innovation, the impact of environmental regulation on the diffusion of green technology remains controversial. Taking China’s Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration, as an example, and using green patents transfer to measure green technology diffusion, this paper analyzes the effect of environmental regulation on green technology diffusion by revealing the temporal and spatial characteristics of green technology diffusion in the YRD. The results show that: (1) Green technology transfer activities in the YRD mainly take place in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, and other cities. (2) Green building technology is the most demanded technology in the green technology transfer market in the YRD. (3) The direction of green technology diffusion in the YRD has changed significantly over time. In the early stage, green technologies mainly flowed to developed cities such as Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing. However, in the later stage, green technologies mainly flowed from developed cities such as Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing to cities with lower economic development levels (mostly located in Anhui Province). (4) The consistency of environmental regulation among cities plays an important role in promoting green technology transfer within the YRD, which is precisely what the YRD ecological green integrated development strategy emphasizes, breaking the administrative barriers between cities in the YRD and accelerating the flow of green technology between cities.
Leveraging Big Data to Preserve the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer: A Blueprint for the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research
Authors: Nelson Amanda M. , Quintana Ashwell Nicolas E. , Delhom Christopher D. , Gholson Drew M.
Published: October 2022

The challenge of a depleting Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) requires reducing groundwater withdrawal for irrigation, increasing aquifer recharge, and protecting water quality for sustainable water use. To meet the challenge, the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research (NCAAR) is oriented towards producing scientific work aimed at improving irrigation methods and scheduling, employing alternative water sources, and improving crop management and field practices to increase water use efficiency across the region. Big data is key for NCAAR success. Its scientists use big data for research in the form of various soil, weather, geospatial, and water monitoring and management devices to collect agronomic or hydrogeologic data. They also produce, process, and analyze big data which are converted to scientific publications and farm management recommendations via technology transfer. Similarly, decision tools that would help producers leverage the wealth of data they generate from their operations will also be developed and made available to them. This article outlines some of the many ways big data is intertwined with NCAAR’s mission.
Common Property in Italy. Unresolved Issues and an Appraisal Approach: Towards a Definition of Environmental-Economic Civic Value
Authors: Battisti Fabrizio , Pisano Carlo
Published: October 2022

Common property represents a particularly topical and complex issue in Italy due to the widespread (10% of) Italian territory, with millions of buildings built on it and the lack of a clear legal status regarding their alienability and eliminability. Usually known as civic uses, these rights include various forms of collective enjoyment that are recognized by the Italian legal system, such as grazing; hunting; and the right to fell timber, gather firewood, and sow crops. A recent legislative initiative overcame the concept of “eliminating” civic use by introducing the concept of “exchange”, but the unique indication given by the law on how to operate the exchange established the equivalence of the environmental value of the land subject to exchange itself. In the present article, the characteristics of the environmental value or Environmental–Economic Civic Value of land subject to exchange are defined. Consequently, appropriate evaluation procedures/models that could be adopted for ascertaining the environmental value of areas encumbered by civic use that are to be exchanged are identified, considering the different territorial conditions of the presence of civic uses and land areas (land currently encumbered/the land to be encumbered) where an exchange can take place.
Ecological Well-Being Performance Evaluation of Chinese Major Node Cities along the Belt and Road
Authors: Bian Jing , Lan Feng , Hui Zhao , Bai Jiamin , Wang Yuanping
Published: October 2022

Under the constraints of resources and the environment, improving the urban ecological well-being performance (EWP) is a fundamental requirement and inevitable choice for urban ecological civilization construction and sustainable development. In this paper, 36 Chinese major node cities along the Belt and Road were selected as the research area, and an EWP evaluation index system was constructed. The two-stage Super Network Slack-based measure (Super-NSBM) model was used to evaluate the static EWP from 2011 to 2018, and the Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index was used to evaluate the dynamic EWP. It was found that: (1) The EWP value of 36 Chinese major node cities along the Belt and Road from 2011 to 2018 did not reach effectiveness, with Sanya, Shenzhen, and Haikou being the top three performers. (2) In terms of two-stage efficiency, the ecological economic efficiency in the first stage was significantly lower than the economic well-being efficiency in the second stage, which indicated that the low ecological economic efficiency was the main reason for the low average value of the EWP. (3) From the dynamic analysis results, the Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index experienced a fluctuating upward trend, and the technical change was the main factor for the improvement in the EWP. Finally, policy recommendations were proposed based on the above findings. This study will contribute to the sustainable development of Chinese major node cities along the Belt and Road, and can provide a reference for other Belt and Road regions.
Urban Equity as a Challenge for the Southern Europe Historic Cities: Sustainability-Urban Morphology Interrelation through GIS Tools
Authors: Jiménez-Espada Montaña , García Francisco Manuel Martínez , González-Escobar Rafael
Published: October 2022

At a local level, public authorities’ decision making has a significant influence on the development, structure and spatial configuration of the city. For this reason, it is considered essential to combine political positions with urban sustainability criteria, particularly in cities that have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The objective of this research is based on establishing an analysis of the formal relationship between sustainability and spatial morphology in the city of Cáceres, taking into account the urban planning conditions in two areas of study: The Historic Centre (PCH) and the city as a whole. The methodology applies a series of urban indicators from four different fields, namely land use, public space, mobility, and urban complexity, with later GIS analysis using a 1 ha grid pattern. Results show correlation exists between historical zones and the degree of some indicators like density, compactness, acoustic comfort or street proportion, and streetscape, while others seem to depend on further conditions. The case of Caceres provides new findings in the Human Heritage Cities research field for Spain and Southern Europe. Grid pattern analysis has shown to be useful to most of the indicators, although some would require different approaches in the future. The authors consider the use of geoinformation tools as an opportunity for mid-sized and similar historical cities’ policymakers, with our ultimate goal being achieving further equity in urban quality conditions. In conclusion, it is considered that there is a knowledge gap regarding the existence of multiple open data sources belonging to different public administrations and the transformation of these data into useful parameters for their practical application at the citizen level.
Tourism and Land Planning in Natural Spaces: Bibliometric Approach to the Structure of Scientific Concepts
Authors: Lopes Eunice , Araújo-Vila Noelia , Perinotto André Riani Costa , Cardoso Lucília
Published: October 2022

Tourism management involves using a systematic approach to spatial planning that involves multiple variables in land planning. However, it is common to find multiple approaches for the more negative aspects of tourism, such as its impact on natural spaces. On the other hand, the idea of including tourism in land planning finds unanimous support in academia. Although scientific research on tourism and land planning in natural areas is significant, many topics do not receive sufficient attention and the domain has not yet been subject to a systematic analysis, which is the purpose of the present study. To this end, bibliometric data is gathered from the Scopus database and analyzed through a bibliometric approach involving keyword analysis with Pearson correlation coefficient. The results indicate that development, landscaping, and management are the most researched topics, followed by community and system, natural/nature, and the local community. The results of the detailed analysis of the word “tourism” connected with planning in natural spaces reveal that research in the area defends sustainable management, economic growth, energy management and monitoring, and the adoption of a green economy model by the hospitality industry. By featuring the overall structure of research on tourism and land planning in natural spaces published in Scopus, this study provides helpful and timely information to researchers, scholars, destination managers, industry managers, and tourism and hospitality consultants.
A Multi-Scenario Land Expansion Simulation Method from Ecosystem Services Perspective of Coastal Urban Agglomeration: A Case Study of GHM-GBA, China
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Chen Tian
Published: October 2022

Balancing urban development and ecosystem conservation in the context of natural resource scarcity can provide scientific guidance for land use planning. We integrated research methods, such as ecosystem services (ES) assessment, coastal vulnerability assessment, multi-objective linear planning, and land use change simulation, to develop a new model framework for multi-scenario urban land expansion simulation based on ecosystem services. In relation to the land use scale and constraints, we simulated three types of scenarios in 2035, including a status quo continuity scenario (SCS), economic development scenario (EDS), and ecological protection scenario (EPS), to explore the ideal land use optimization strategies to enhance ES and land use efficiency. The results indicated that the scale of construction land under the three scenarios grew, and arable land and grassland had the largest losses. The continued urban expansion in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area has already had a significant negative impact on ecosystem services and could result in a total ESV loss of USD 28.1 billion by 2035 if an economic-first development model is adopted. Based on the hotspots of urban construction land expansion in the ecological–economic priority game, we proposed a classification and optimization strategy for land use, including proactive restoration of damaged ecological spaces with high ESVs (Zhaoqing City and Huizhou City), optimization of green space quality and formation of ecological corridors (Guangzhou City, Shenzhen City, Hong Kong, and Macao), and implementation of natural resource conservation planning and spatial regulation in the urban–rural integration area (Foshan City and Dongguan City). This research framework scientifically allocates the “quality” of ecosystem values and “quantity” of natural resources and provides a reference for regional “bottom-up” territorial spatial planning.
Locality and Intervention in the Acquisition of Greek Relative Clauses
Authors: Angelopoulos Nikos , Geronikou Eleftheria , Terzi Arhonto
Published: October 2022

According to the most recent formulation of Relativized Minimality, grammatical features are distinguished between those that are syntactically active and those that are not. Under this view, only the first play a role in the computation of locality. Furthermore, whether a certain feature is +/− syntactically active is determined by language-specific factors. Gender is one of the grammatical features that has been argued to have different values in Hebrew vs. Italian, and as a result, to play a role only in Hebrew-speaking children’s comprehension of relative clauses, in terms of intervention effects. Amidst this backdrop, this paper focuses on gender and case, and examines whether or not they have similar effects in the comprehension of relative clauses by Greek-speaking children. Greek differs from Hebrew in that gender does not qualify as a syntactically active feature, hence, the prediction is that it should behave like case, which does not qualify as syntactically active either. The paper presents results from a novel study showing that, indeed, neither gender nor case are responsible for intervention effects in the comprehension of relative clauses by Greek-speaking children, although both features are robustly expressed in Greek nominal morphology.
Safety and Efficacy of Rivaroxaban as Extended-Phase Anticoagulation in Patients with Cancer and Venous Thromboembolism: A Preliminary Data Analysis from the Mac Project
Authors: Bernardi Enrico , Camporese Giuseppe , Bortoluzzi Cristiano , Noventa Franco , Ceccato Davide , Tonello Chiara , Vohong Stefania , Campello Elena , Simion Chiara , Imbalzano Egidio , Di Micco Pierpaolo , Callegari Elena , Simioni Paolo
Published: October 2022

Extended-phase anticoagulation with direct oral Xa inhibitors (OAXI) is suggested in patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT). We report on patients enrolled in the MAC (Monitoring AntiCoagulants) Project, given rivaroxaban as extended-phase anticoagulation after CAT. The primary efficacy outcome was the incidence of symptomatic recurrent VTE; the primary safety outcomes were incidence of major and non-major clinically relevant bleeding, adverse events, and all-cause mortality. The mean patients’ follow-up was 19 months (SD 16); 64/604 (11%) had CAT. Recurrent VTE occurred in 9.3% and in 8.1% of patients with and without CAT (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.5 to 2.9; p = 0.6). Major bleeding occurred in 4.7% and in 2.6%, respectively (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 0.5 to 6.6, p = 0.4), and non-major clinically-relevant bleeding in 4.7% and in 4.1% (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.3 to 3.9, p = 0.7). The relative figures for fatal haemorrhage and all-cause death were 1.6% versus 0%, and 1.6% versus 0.4%. Rivaroxaban appears to be effective and safe as extended-phase anticoagulation in patients with CAT. The mean treatment period was 3-times the standard 6-month course.
Influence of Effective Microorganisms on Some Biological and Biochemical Aspects of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Zayed Mohamed S. , Taha El-Kazafy A. , Hegazy Fatma H. , Albogami Bander , Noureldeen Ahmed , Elnabawy El-Said M.
Published: October 2022

The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Bosid.), is a major pest in African and Asian nations that attacks a wide variety of host plants. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EMs) on the biological and physiological features of S. littoralis larvae. Five concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) of EMs were tested. Antifeedant activity, food consumption index, the efficiency of converting digested food, the efficiency of converting ingested food, relative growth rate, and approximate body tissue of the fourth larval instar of S. littoralis were determined. Moreover, carbohydrate enzyme activities (amylase, trehalose, and invertase), total protein, and total lipids of S. littoralis larvae were measured to elucidate the mode of action of the tested agent in the S. littoralis’s larval stage. The EMs at 500 ppm had a substantial impact on antifeedant activity, nutritional indices, egg deposit reduction, and hatchability in S. littoralis during the five days. All concentrations interrupted S. littoralis’s life cycle and developmental phases. Furthermore, all concentrations were quite useful in lengthening the developmental stages of S. littoralis. In addition, Ems affected the biochemical activities of larvae, leading to disturbances in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein levels. From this study, EMs can be used as a bioinsecticide alternative to traditional insecticides against S. littoralis and may be compatible with integrated pest management approaches.
Dispersal Kernel Type Highly Influences Projected Relationships for Plant Disease Epidemic Severity When Outbreak and At-Risk Populations Differ in Susceptibility
Authors: Severns Paul M.
Published: October 2022

In silico study of biologically invading organisms provide a means to evaluate the complex and potentially cryptic factors that can influence invasion success in scenarios where empirical studies would be difficult, if not impossible, to conduct. I used a disease event simulation program to evaluate whether the two most frequently used types of plant pathogen dispersal kernels for epidemiological projections would provide complementary or divergent projections of epidemic severity when the hosts in a disease outbreak differed from the hosts in the at-risk population in the degree of susceptibility. Exponential dispersal kernel simulations of wheat stripe rust (Pucciniastriiformis var trittici) predicted a relatively strong and dominant influence of the at-risk population on the end epidemic severity regardless of outbreak disease levels. Simulations using a modified power law dispersal kernel gave projections that varied depending on the amount of disease in the outbreak and some interactions were counter-intuitive and opposite of the exponential dispersal kernel projections. Although relatively straightforward, the disease spread simulations in the present study strongly suggest that a more biologically accurate dispersal kernel generates complexity that would not be revealed by an exponential dispersal gradient and that selecting a less accurate dispersal kernel may obscure important interactions during biological invasions.
The Added Value of [18F]Choline PET/CT in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Staging: A Case Report
Authors: Piras Antonio , Laudicella Riccardo , Boldrini Luca , D’Aviero Andrea , Sanfratello Antonella , La Rocca Antonino , Scurria Salvatore , Salamone Giuseppe , Alongi Pierpaolo , Angileri Tommaso , Daidone Antonino
Published: October 2022

In the management of prostate cancer (PCa), correct staging is crucial in order to assess the right therapeutic approach. [18F]Choline PET/CT has been shown to provide more accurate staging information than conventional imaging approaches. The aim of this paper is to provide a real practice demonstration of the impact of [18F]Choline PET/CT on low-risk prostate cancer staging and clinical management. We report a 64-year-old man with biochemical PCa recurrence diagnosis after transurethral resection of the prostate. The patient, after the detection of an increased level of PSA, underwent multi-parametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) that did not show evidence of disease. The patient was admitted to perform [18F]Choline PET/CT that showed a macroscopic prostate recurrence. Patient underwent photon external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) treatment, and [18F]Choline PET/CT was also used to define treatment volumes. At 3- and 6-month clinical follow-up evaluations, no late toxicity was detected and a significant reduction in PSA value was shown. Therefore, our case highlights the potential usefulness of [18F]Choline PET/CT for the staging of low-risk prostate cancer and its impact on the management and quality of life of such patients. The presented case should urge the scientific community to enhance larger and multicentric studies, assessing more extensively the potential impact of [18F]Choline PET/CT in this clinical scenario.
Screening, Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Study of Natural Compounds as an Anti-HER2 for the Management of Breast Cancer
Authors: Sohrab Sayed Sartaj , Kamal Mohammad Amjad
Published: October 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer that affect women. Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is responsible for 20% of all BC cases. The use of anti-HER2 natural compounds in the cure of BC that is HER2-positive patients has resulted in significant increases in survival in both early and advanced stages. The findings of in-silico research support the use of ligands as possible HER2 inhibitors, and molecules with high free energy of binding may have considerable anti-BC action, making them candidates for future drug development. The inhibitory activity of selected ligands like ZINC43069427 and ZINC95918662 against HER2 was found to be −11.0 and −8.50 kcal/mol, respectively. The amino acid residues Leu726, Val734, Ala751, Lys753, Thr798, Gly804, Arg849, Leu852, Thr862, and Asp863 were found in common interaction as compared to the control compound Lapatinib. Molecular dynamics study calculations of these selected potent inhibitors were conducted and found to be stable over the 50 ns simulation time in terms of root mean square deviation (RMSD), root-mean square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), and solvent accessible surface area (SASA). In addition, there are several parameters such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion toxicity (ADMET), physicochemical, and drug-likeness that were checked and found in good range to be potential lead-like molecules. Several drug-likeness rules like Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge were checked and found to be positive for these rules. Based on these calculations and different parameters, these top two selected natural compounds can be used as potential candidates for anti-HER2 for the management of BC.
Essential Roles of Exocyst Complex Component 3-like 2 on Cardiovascular Development in Mice
Authors: Watanabe Chisato , Shibuya Hirotoshi , Ichiyama Yusuke , Okamura Eiichi , Tsukiyama-Fujii Setsuko , Tsukiyama Tomoyuki , Matsumoto Shoma , Matsushita Jun , Azami Takuya , Kubota Yoshiaki , Ohji Masahito , Sugiyama Fumihiro , Takahashi Satoru , Mizuno Seiya , Tamura Masaru , Mizutani Ken-ichi , Ema Masatsugu
Published: October 2022

Angiogenesis is a process to generate new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels and to maintain vessels, and plays critical roles in normal development and disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis are not fully understood. This study examined the roles of exocyst complex component (Exoc) 3-like 2 (Exoc3l2) during development in mice. We found that Exoc3l1, Exoc3l2, Exoc3l3 and Exoc3l4 are expressed abundantly in endothelial cells at embryonic day 8.5. The generation of Exoc3l2 knock-out (KO) mice showed that disruption of Exoc3l2 resulted in lethal in utero. Substantial numbers of Exoc3l2 KO embryos exhibited hemorrhaging. Deletion of Exoc3l2 using Tie2-Cre transgenic mice demonstrated that Exoc3l2 in hematopoietic and endothelial lineages was responsible for the phenotype. Taken together, these findings reveal that Exoc3l2 is essential for cardiovascular and brain development in mice.
Cichoriin, a Biocoumarin, Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Associated Adverse Dysfunctions on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats
Authors: Khalil Hany Ezzat , Abdelwahab Miada F. , Ibrahim Hairul-Islam Mohamed , AlYahya Khalid A. , Altaweel Abdullah Abdulhamid , Alasoom Abdullah Jalal , Burshed Hussein Ali , Alshawush Marwan Mohamed , Waz Shaimaa
Published: October 2022

Metabolic dysfunctions linked to obesity carry the risk of co-morbidities such as diabetes, hepatorenal, and cardiovascular diseases. Coumarins are believed to display several biological effects on diverse adverse health conditions. This study was conducted to uncover the impact of cichoriin on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Methods: Obesity was induced in twenty rats by exposure to an HFD for six weeks. The rats were randomly divided into five groups; group I comprised five healthy rats and was considered the control one. On the other hand, the HFD-induced rats were divided into the following (five per each group): group II (the HFD group), groups III (cichoriin 50 mg/kg) and IV (cichoriin 100 mg/kg) as the treatment groups, and group V received atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) (as a standard). Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), urea, creatinine, the hepatic and renal malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were assessed. Histopathological analysis of the heart, kidney, and liver tissues was investigated. mRNA and protein expressions of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) were estimated. Results: The administration of cichoriin alleviated HFD-induced metabolic dysfunctions and improved the histopathological characteristics of the heart, kidney, and liver. Additionally, the treatment improved the lipid profile and hepatic and renal functions, as well as the oxidative balance state. Cichoriin demonstrated an upregulation of the mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR-γ. Taken together, these findings are the first report on the beneficial role of cichoriin in alleviating adverse metabolic effects in HFD-induced obesity and adapting it into an innovative obesity management strategy.
Structure and Catalytic Mechanism of Radical SAM Methylases
Authors: Nguyen Tu-Quynh , Nicolet Yvain
Published: October 2022

Methyl transfer is essential in myriad biological pathways found across all domains of life. Unlike conventional methyltransferases that catalyze this reaction through nucleophilic substitution, many members of the radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzyme superfamily use radical-based chemistry to methylate unreactive carbon centers. These radical SAM methylases reductively cleave SAM to generate a highly reactive 5′-deoxyadenosyl radical, which initiates a broad range of transformations. Recently, crystal structures of several radical SAM methylases have been determined, shedding light on the unprecedented catalytic mechanisms used by these enzymes to overcome the substantial activation energy barrier of weakly nucleophilic substrates. Here, we review some of the discoveries on this topic over the last decade, focusing on enzymes for which three-dimensional structures are available to identify the key players in the mechanisms, highlighting the dual function of SAM as a methyl donor and a 5’-deoxyadenosyl radical or deprotonating base source. We also describe the role of the protein matrix in orchestrating the reaction through different strategies to catalyze such challenging methylations.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Wound Healing
Authors: Nallakumarasamy Arulkumar , Jeyaraman Madhan , Maffulli Nicola , Jeyaraman Naveen , Suresh Veerasivabalan , Ravichandran Srinath , Gupta Manu , Potty Anish G. , El-Amin Saadiq F. , Khanna Manish , Gupta Ashim
Published: October 2022

The well-orchestrated process of wound healing may be negatively impacted from interrupted or incomplete tissue regenerative processes. The healing potential is further compromised in patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic venous insufficiency, critical limb ischemia, and immunocompromised conditions, with a high health care burden and expenditure. Stem cell-based therapy has shown promising results in clinical studies. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC Exos) may favorably impact intercellular signaling and immunomodulation, promoting neoangiogenesis, collagen synthesis, and neoepithelization. This article gives an outline of the biogenesis and mechanism of extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes, in the process of tissue regeneration and discusses the use of preconditioned exosomes, platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes, and engineered exosomes in three-dimensional bioscaffolds such as hydrogels (collagen and chitosan) to prolong the contact time of exosomes at the recipient site within the target tissue. An appropriate antibiotic therapy based on culture-specific guidance coupled with the knowledge of biopolymers helps to fabricate nanotherapeutic materials loaded with MSC Exos to effectively deliver drugs locally and promote novel approaches for the management of chronic wounds.