bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Biomarkers Assessed with PET/CT Predict Sex-Specific Longitudinal Outcomes in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Jaswal Shama , Sanders Vanessa , Pullarkat Priyanka , Teja Stephanie , Salter Amber , Watkins Marcus P. , Atagu Norman , Ludwig Daniel R. , Mhlanga Joyce , Mellnick Vincent M. , Peterson Linda R. , Bartlett Nancy L. , Kahl Brad S. , Fehniger Todd A. , Ghobadi Armin , Cashen Amanda F. , Mehta-Shah Neha , Ippolito Joseph E.
Published: June 2022

In many cancers, including lymphoma, males have higher incidence and mortality than females. Emerging evidence demonstrates that one mechanism underlying this phenomenon is sex differences in metabolism, both with respect to tumor nutrient consumption and systemic alterations in metabolism, i.e., obesity. We wanted to determine if visceral fat and tumor glucose uptake with fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) could predict sex-dependent outcomes in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We conducted a retrospective analysis of 160 patients (84 males; 76 females) with DLBCL who had imaging at initial staging and after completion of therapy. CT-based relative visceral fat area (rVFA), PET-based SUVmax normalized to lean body mass (SULmax), and end-of-treatment FDG-PET 5PS score were calculated. Increased rVFA at initial staging was an independent predictor of poor OS only in females. At the end of therapy, increase in visceral fat was a significant predictor of poor survival only in females. Combining the change in rVFA and 5PS scores identified a subgroup of females with visceral fat gain and high 5PS with exceptionally poor outcomes. These data suggest that visceral fat and tumor FDG uptake can predict outcomes in DLBCL patients in a sex-specific fashion.
Providing Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Access to Brachytherapy: Experience from a Referral Network for Women Treated in Overseas France
Authors: Bentahila Rita , Rassy Elie , Achkar Samir , Sacino Florence , Bougas Stefanos , Vallard Alexis , Vinh-Hung Vincent , Encaoua Johan , Gustin Pierre , Mengue Sylvie , Pautier Patricia , Morice Philippe , Gouy Sébastien , Espenel Sophie , Deutsch Eric , Chargari Cyrus
Published: June 2022

Image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) is part of the standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Access to IGABT is limited in many regions, thus leading to treatment care disparities. We report the experience of a referral network for women with LACC between radiotherapy facilities in Overseas France and Gustave Roussy. This is a retrospective review of patients with LACC referred to Gustave Roussy, for pulsed-dose-rate (PDR) image-guided adaptive BT after initial radiation therapy in the French overseas between 2014 and 2021. Sixty-four patients were eligible to receive IGABT. Overall treatment time (OTT) was 60.5 days (IQR: 51–68.5). The median follow-up time was 17 months. At two years, estimated probabilities of LC, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were 94.6% (95% CI: 88.9–100.0%), 72.7% (95% CI: 61.1–86.5%), and 82.5% (95% CI: 72.0–94.5%). In multivariable analysis, a D90CTVHR < 85GyEQD2 and a CTVHR volume > 40 cm3 were significant for poorer PFS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively) and poorer OS (p = 0.004 and p = 0.004). The centralization of this advanced technique to expert centers requires a well-defined workflow and appropriate dimensioning of resources to minimize OTT.
Psychological Impact of TP53-Variant-Carrier Newborns and Counselling on Mothers: A Pediatric Surveillance Cohort
Authors: Gozdziejewski Amanda Scartezini , Zotti Clarice Wichinescki , de Carvalho Isabela Aparecida Moreira , dos Santos Thairine Camargo , de Santi Walter Luana Rayana , Ogradowski Karin Rosa Persegona , Dammski Karin Luiza , Komechen Heloisa , Mendes Monalisa Castilho , de Souza Emanuelle Nunes , Paraizo Mariana Martins , da Silva Parise Ivy Zortea da Silva , Parise Guilherme Augusto , Grion André Luiz , Custódio Gislaine , Mello Rosiane Guetter , Figueiredo Bonald C.
Published: June 2022

Counselling and genetic testing (CGT) after neonatal screening may increase depression and anxiety (DA) levels during cancer surveillance. This study assessed the DA scores in mothers of newborns from Paraná state, Southern Brazil, carrying the TP53 p.R337H variant. To understand and adjust DA conditions during term of pregnancy, we initially detected sociodemographic covariates [marital status (MS), number of children (NC), and/or education level (EL): MS-NC-EL] on an independent group of pregnant women (not subjected to genetic testing). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess risk factors in pregnant (cross-sectional analysis) and unrelated mothers (at 2-month intervals, longitudinal study) of TP53 p.R337H-tested newborns (three sessions of HADS analysis) using Wilcoxon (Mann–Whitney) and Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric tests. Lower anxiety levels were observed in mothers of noncarriers (without MS-NC-EL = 6.91 ± 1.19; with MS-NC-EL = 6.82 ± 0.93) than in mothers of p.R337H carriers in the first session (without MS-NC-EL = 6.82 = 8.49 ± 0.6025, with MS-NC-EL = 6.82 = 9.21 ± 0.66). The anxiety levels significantly decreased 4 months after CGT (third session) in mothers of p.R337H carriers. We did not find a significant change in depression scores. Mothers with mental health instability requiring medications need periodical psychological support during and after CGT.
Noise Spectrum as a Source of Information in Gas Sensors Based on Liquid-Phase Exfoliated Graphene
Authors: Andrić Stevan , Jokić Ivana , Stevanović Jelena , Spasenović Marko , Frantlović Miloš
Published: June 2022

Surfaces of adsorption-based gas sensors are often heterogeneous, with adsorption sites that differ in their affinities for gas particle binding. Knowing adsorption/desorption energies, surface densities and the relative abundance of sites of different types is important, because these parameters impact sensor sensitivity and selectivity, and are relevant for revealing the response-generating mechanisms. We show that the analysis of the noise of adsorption-based sensors can be used to study gas adsorption on heterogeneous sensing surfaces, which is applicable to industrially important liquid-phase exfoliated (LPE) graphene. Our results for CO2 adsorption on an LPE graphene surface, with different types of adsorption sites on graphene flake edges and basal planes, show that the noise spectrum data can be used to characterize such surfaces in terms of parameters that determine the sensing properties of the adsorbing material. Notably, the spectrum characteristic frequencies are an unambiguous indicator of the relative abundance of different types of adsorption sites on the sensing surface and their surface densities. We also demonstrate that spectrum features indicate the fraction of the binding sites that are already occupied by another gas species. The presented study can be applied to the design and production of graphene and other sensing surfaces with an optimal sensing performance.
Consequences of Evolving Limbless, Burrowing Forms for the Behavior and Population Density of Tropical Lizards
Authors: Camacho Agustín , Navas Carlos A. , Yamanouchi Adriana Tiemi , Rodrigues Miguel Trefaut
Published: June 2022

We quantified functional traits (escape strategy, sprint speed and predatory performance) and population density across 10 lizard species representing morphotype stages in the acquisition of burrowing snake-like morphotypes (BSLM), from Brazil. We used phylogenetic mixed models to test if: (a) morphotype and substrate affects flight strategy and speed, (b) BSLM species more effectively access different potential prey types than lacertoid species, when in syntopy, and (c) morphotype is correlated with population abundance and habitat use in a way expected from the output of the previous experiments. BSLM rigidly relied on burrowing as flight strategy, while syntopic lacertoid species changed their strategy according to the substrate. In addition, sand had opposing effects on sprint speed depending on morphotype, making lacertoids run more slowly and BSLM faster. Even though BSLM were overall slower than lacertoids, they were equally effective hunters of challengingly fast prey, and better hunters of underground prey. In their shared habitats, prey is most abundant in the superficial layer of leaf litter, although a large fraction is found beneath this layer, under bushes. Experimental results support the observed higher importance of sand for BSLM’s density and the higher importance of vegetation for lacertoids’ density. Finally, although BSLM species reached the highest population densities among the studied species, a systematic effect of morphological evolution on the abundance of limbless lizards remains elusive.
Analysis of Chaotic Dynamics by the Extended Entropic Chaos Degree
Authors: Inoue Kei
Published: June 2022

The Lyapunov exponent is the most-well-known measure for quantifying chaos in a dynamical system. However, its computation for any time series without information regarding a dynamical system is challenging because the Jacobian matrix of the map generating the dynamical system is required. The entropic chaos degree measures the chaos of a dynamical system as an information quantity in the framework of Information Dynamics and can be directly computed for any time series even if the dynamical system is unknown. A recent study introduced the extended entropic chaos degree, which attained the same value as the total sum of the Lyapunov exponents under typical chaotic conditions. Moreover, an improved calculation formula for the extended entropic chaos degree was recently proposed to obtain appropriate numerical computation results for multidimensional chaotic maps. This study shows that all Lyapunov exponents of a chaotic map can be estimated to calculate the extended entropic chaos degree and proposes a computational algorithm for the extended entropic chaos degree; furthermore, this computational algorithm was applied to one and two-dimensional chaotic maps. The results indicate that the extended entropic chaos degree may be a viable alternative to the Lyapunov exponent for both one and two-dimensional chaotic dynamics.
The Competitive Advantage of Furniture SMEs in East Java: The Role of Aggressiveness in Entrepreneurship Orientation
Authors: Paulus Ardianus Laurens , Hermanto Yustinus Budi
Published: June 2022

This paper analyzes the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation in Furniture SMEs in East Java, Indonesia, towards competitive advantage. This study uses a quantitative approach with the survey method. This study uses primary data that is self-reported using a self-administered survey by distributing questionnaires directly to 84 owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Furniture in Western East Java, Indonesia. A measurement used the structural equation model (SmartPLS 3.0) to analyze data. Five hypotheses were proposed, and only four had positive significant and positive effects on competitive advantage, that is, the influence of entrepreneurial orientation consisting of proactiveness, innovativeness, aggressiveness, and autonomy. In contrast, the hypothesis related to risk-taking towards the competitive advantage of SMEs Furniture has no positive and significant effect. The findings of this study show that the dominant influence of the entrepreneurial orientation dimension is aggressiveness. The theoretical implication of this research is that furniture business players need to continuously improve their aggressiveness in entrepreneurship according to the theoretical findings in this study, such as introducing innovative products made from local materials and following market trends. This research adds to the theory of aggressiveness in entrepreneurship to encourage innovations that will make industries that use local natural resources more competitively and help government policies. Aggressiveness is required by the furniture business to improve competitiveness for a labor-intensive industry with reliable local content to spur economic growth in Indonesia.
Rural Entrepreneurship: An Analysis of Current and Emerging Issues from the Sustainable Livelihood Framework
Authors: Tabares Alexander , Londoño-Pineda Abraham , Cano Jose Alejandro , Gómez-Montoya Rodrigo
Published: June 2022

Most entrepreneurship studies have an urban focus, and it is studied mainly from the perspective of opportunity exploitation. Rural entrepreneurship presents different characteristics, and it requires analysis from a resource-based view since this kind of entrepreneurial behavior takes place in rural communities under resource constraints. The sustainable livelihood perspective represents a relevant framework in rural entrepreneurship, considering resources and capacities to face poverty in rural areas. Therefore, this study presents a literature review to identify current and emerging issues in rural entrepreneurship from a sustainable livelihood framework. The literature review identifies that the main concepts involved in rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood are women, poverty alleviation, youth, social entrepreneurship, and institutions. Likewise, social capital and human capital prevail as the most relevant capitals in the analyzed documents. The study offers research opportunities in emerging issues related to social entrepreneurship, governance and institutions, livelihood growth, and eco-entrepreneurship for extending the boundaries of rural entrepreneurship from the sustainable livelihood framework.
Socioeconomic Relations of Food Waste in Selected European Countries
Authors: Tkáč Filip , Košičiarová Ingrida , Horská Elena , Mušinská Kristína
Published: June 2022

The present paper deals with the issue of food waste in selected European countries, in which we have tried to analyze the socioeconomic rations. The main aim of our research was to analyze food waste quantity and compare the amount of wasted food in European Union countries (except Cyprus due to the unavailability of food waste data). The analysis was based on a dataset provided through the Food Waste Index Report 2021 by the UN environment program and complemented by socioeconomic variables obtained from EUROSTAT. For a deeper analyses of the obtained results, we formulated three assumptions, which have been tested with the use of several statistical methods—Pearson’s correlation coefficient, linear regression, the distance from a fictitious object method, and hierarchical clustering. Our results show that the amount of food wasted in different sectors (retail, food, households) is not correlated, and any of the analyzed socioeconomic variables do not influence the ranking of countries by the crucial variable.
Design of Switched-Capacitor DC-DC Voltage-Down Converters Driven by Highly Resistive Energy Transducer
Authors: Demura Yosuke , Tanzawa Toru
Published: June 2022

Electrostatic vibration energy transducers have a relatively high output impedance (RET) and open-circuit voltage (VIN), so that voltage-down conversion is required for sensor/RF ICs. Switched-capacitor converters are the best candidate to create small-form-factor technology and are a low-cost solution because of their capability to fully integrate into sensor/RF ICs. To design switched-capacitor voltage-down converters (SC-VDCs) with a minimum circuit area for electrostatic vibration energy transducers, two steps are required. The first step requires an optimum design of DC-DC SC-VDCs driven by high RET with a minimum circuit area, and the second step requires an optimum design of AC-DC SC-VDCs based on the first step, to minimize the converter circuit area. This paper discusses circuit analysis and design optimization aimed at the first step. Switching frequency, the number of stages and the capacitance per stage were determined as a function of RET, VIN and the output voltage (Vo) and current (Io) to the load, to achieve a minimum circuit area. The relationship between Io and the power conversion efficiency was studied as well. The performance was validated by SPICE simulation in 250 nm BCD technology. An optimum design flow was proposed to design DC-DC SC-VDCs driven by high RET with a minimum circuit area under conditions where RET, VIN, Vo and Io were given. The second design step remains as future work.
Design and Analysis of Optimal Current Vector for HTS-Based Multi-Input Wireless Power Transfer Systems
Authors: Tian Xiaoyang , Chau Kwok Tong , Liu Wei
Published: June 2022

This paper presents a newly-designed optimal current algorithm for high-temperature superconductor (HTS)-based multi-input wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. In this way, both high controllability and lower AC losses can be achieved in the proposed systems, and they are especially superior for long-range and long-time operations. Simplified AC loss modeling for HTS windings is developed for the designed transmitter coils. The accordant optimal current vector is derived and analyzed in order to achieve the highest output power and the lowest primary AC losses. With the proper current control of multiple transmitters and the use of a designed HTS coupler, the system controllability can be greatly improved compared with conventional WPT systems. Based on the information on the impedance characteristics on the primary side, the magnetic field generated by different transmitters can be maximized at the target position. Thus, the maximum output power tracking can be realized with a relatively long transmission distance and a low coupling coefficient. Both active and passive solutions are designed and presented to deal with the cross-coupling issue in multi-input WPT systems. For numerical validation, a practical prototype of the HTS couplers is fabricated. An experimental platform is established with a liquid nitrogen cooling system. The test results further validate the feasibility and the high controllability of the proposed system.
Organic Salt Hydrate as a Novel Paradigm for Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Mastronardo Emanuela , La Mazza Emanuele , Palamara Davide , Piperopoulos Elpida , Iannazzo Daniela , Proverbio Edoardo , Milone Candida
Published: June 2022

The use of inorganic salt hydrates for thermochemical energy storage (TCS) applications is widely investigated. One of the drawbacks that researchers face when studying this class of materials is their tendency to undergo deliquescence phenomena. We here proposed and investigated, for the first time, the possibility of using organic salt hydrates as a paradigm for novel TCS materials with low water solubility, that is, more resistance to deliquescence, a tendency to coordinate a high number of water molecules and stability under operating conditions. The organic model compound chosen in this study was calcium; 7-[[2-(2-amino-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetyl]amino]-3-[(2-methyl-5,6-dioxo-1H-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)sulfanylmethyl]-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate, known as calcium ceftriaxone, hereafter named CaHS (calcium hydrated salt), a water-insoluble organic salt, which can combine up to seven water molecules. The CaHS was prepared by precipitation from the water-soluble disodium triaxone. The thermal behavior of CaHS, in terms of stability and dehydration–hydration cyclability, was assessed. The material can operate in the temperature range of 30–150 °C, suitable for TCS. No deliquescence phenomena occurred upon exposure to a relative humidity (RH) between 10 and 100%. Its heat storage capacity, so far unknown, was measured to be ~595.2 kJ/kg (or ~278.6 kWh/m3). The observed heat storage capacity, thermal stability, and good reversibility after dehydration–hydration cycles highlight the potential of this class of materials, thus opening new research paths for the development and investigation of innovative organic salt hydrates.
Review on Spatio-Temporal Solar Forecasting Methods Driven by In Situ Measurements or Their Combination with Satellite and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Estimates
Authors: Benavides Cesar Llinet , Amaro e Silva Rodrigo , Manso Callejo Miguel Ángel , Cira Calimanut-Ionut
Published: June 2022

To better forecast solar variability, spatio-temporal methods exploit spatially distributed solar time series, seeking to improve forecasting accuracy by including neighboring solar information. This review work is, to the authors’ understanding, the first to offer a compendium of references published since 2011 on such approaches for global horizontal irradiance and photovoltaic generation. The identified bibliography was categorized according to different parameters (method, data sources, baselines, performance metrics, forecasting horizon), and associated statistics were explored. Lastly, general findings are outlined, and suggestions for future research are provided based on the identification of less explored methods and data sources.
Transient Pressure and Rate Behavior of a Vertically Refractured Well in a Shale Gas Reservoir
Authors: Dou Xiangji , Hong Sujin , Tao Zhen , Lu Jiahao , Xing Guoqiang
Published: June 2022

Refracturing treatment is widely used to enhance the well productivity in shale gas reservoirs, particularly for initially fractured wells with low productivity. The principal of this work is based on the transient behavior of pressure and rate for a vertically refractured well in a shale gas reservoir, considering the fracture reorientation and adsorption and desorption property. Based on the point-source theory and Laplace transform, a semi-analytical solution for a refractured well is obtained by coupling the point-source solution of a shale gas reservoir and the solution of artificial fractures. The validation of this new solution is carried out smoothly by comparison with the results from the commercial software COMSOL. Five typical flow regimes are identified on the transient pressure curve, namely bi-linear flow regime, formation linear flow regime, mid-radial flow regime, inter-porosity flow regime, and pseudo-radial flow regime. A groove segment occurs on the transient-pressure derivative curve, and its width and depth largely depend on the adsorption and desorption constant and storativity ratio. Due to fracture reorientation, bi-linear flow regime, formation linear flow regime, and mid-radial flow regime may be significantly impacted. In addition, the transient rate of the refractured well in a shale gas reservoir is positively proportional to the storativity ratio, inter-porosity coefficient, and adsorption and desorption constant, while it is inversely proportional to fracture reorientation. These results provide important references for parameter design, property inversion, and productivity prediction of refracturing treatment in shale gas reservoirs.
Non-Matrix Quick Pass: A Rapid Evaluation Method for Natural Fractures and Karst Features in Core
Authors: Moore Paul J. , Fernández-Ibáñez Fermin
Published: June 2022

Mechanical and chemical processes experienced by carbonate rocks result in a complex network of natural fractures and dissolution features that have direct implications on porosity, permeability, and connectivity in reservoirs. Characterization of natural fractures is best done in core; however, it can be time-consuming due to the large amounts of individual features present and the long list of attributes typically collected for each feature. Additionally, karst features in core, such as vugs and small cavities, are seldom characterized in a quantitative way or are overlooked. We introduce a new methodology, called the non-matrix quick pass (NMQP), which allows for the collection of non-matrix features in a rapid yet quantitative fashion at a rate of 12 to 20 m of core per hour. The NMQP methodology offers enough vertical resolution so that observations can be integrated with other wellbore data types (e.g., wireline logs, well tests, and production logs). This method also yields estimates of density and porosity that are rigorous enough to provide the technical basis to build first-generation dual-porosity models describing the non-matrix component of a carbonate reservoir and its potential impact on field performance.
Low Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) Energy Crops to Bioenergy and Biofuels—A Review
Authors: Abreu Mariana , Silva Luís , Ribeiro Belina , Ferreira Alice , Alves Luís , Paixão Susana M. , Gouveia Luísa , Moura Patrícia , Carvalheiro Florbela , Duarte Luís C. , Fernando Ana Luisa , Reis Alberto , Gírio Francisco
Published: June 2022

Energy crops are dedicated cultures directed for biofuels, electricity, and heat production. Due to their tolerance to contaminated lands, they can alleviate and remediate land pollution by the disposal of toxic elements and polymetallic agents. Moreover, these crops are suitable to be exploited in marginal soils (e.g., saline), and, therefore, the risk of land-use conflicts due to competition for food, feed, and fuel is reduced, contributing positively to economic growth, and bringing additional revenue to landowners. Therefore, further study and investment in R&D is required to link energy crops to the implementation of biorefineries. The main objective of this study is to present a review of the potential of selected energy crops for bioenergy and biofuels production, when cultivated in marginal/degraded/contaminated (MDC) soils (not competing with agriculture), contributing to avoiding Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) burdens. The selected energy crops are Cynara cardunculus, Arundo donax, Cannabis sativa, Helianthus tuberosus, Linum usitatissimum, Miscanthus × giganteus, Sorghum bicolor, Panicum virgatum, Acacia dealbata, Pinus pinaster, Paulownia tomentosa, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Salix viminalis, and microalgae cultures. This article is useful for researchers or entrepreneurs who want to know what kind of crops can produce which biofuels in MDC soils.
Real-Time Energy Management Strategy Based on Driving Conditions Using a Feature Fusion Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Qiang Penghui , Wu Peng , Pan Tao , Zang Huaiquan
Published: June 2022

To address the problem that a single energy management strategy cannot adapt to complex driving conditions, in this paper, a real-time energy management strategy for different driving conditions is proposed to improve fuel economy. First, in order to improve the accuracy and stability of the driving condition identifier, a feature fusion extreme learning machine (FFELM) is used for identification. Secondly, equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) offline optimization is conducted for different types of driving cycles, and the effect of driving cycle type and driving distance on the energy management strategy under the optimization result is analyzed. A real-time energy management strategy combining driving cycle type, driving distance, and optimal power allocation factor is proposed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, combined driving cycles were used for testing. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy can improve the equivalent fuel consumption by 10.21% compared to the conventional strategy CD-CS. The equivalent fuel economy can be improved by 2.5% compared to the single ECMS strategy with the less computational burden. Thus, it is demonstrated that the proposed strategy can be effectively adapted to different driving conditions and shows better real-time and economic performance.
Implementation of a Multiterminal Line Commutated Converter HVDC Scheme with Auxiliary Controller on South Africa’s 765 kV Corridor
Authors: Oni Oluwafemi , Swanson Andrew , Carpanen Rudiren Pillay , Aluko Anuoluwapo
Published: June 2022

The deployment of a 765-kV transmission line on Eskom’s South African Grid marks the beginning of a new era in power industries. The integration of renewable energies by independent power producers (IPPs) leads to an infrastructural change in the stability performance of the entire grid. These developments are expected to bring about a multiterminal direct current (MTDC) system for practical implementation on this grid. Therefore, this study focuses on the dynamic response of the South African transmission grid during a system disturbance. In the carrying out of this study, the South African grid was modeled on PSCAD, and its performance was evaluated. The impact of the MTDC link on the grid’s interarea oscillation was also investigated. An additional current order controller for the MTDC link was developed, and its impact on the MTDC power transfer was analyzed. The results show a better system performance and reduced interarea power swings with the inclusion of the MTDC link.
Review of the Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tank and Insulation System for the High-Power Locomotive
Authors: Kang Daehoon , Yun Sungho , Kim Bo-kyong
Published: June 2022

Hydrogen has been attracting attention as a fuel in the transportation sector to achieve carbon neutrality. Hydrogen storage in liquid form is preferred in locomotives, ships, drones, and aircraft, because these require high power but have limited space. However, liquid hydrogen must be in a cryogenic state, wherein thermal insulation is a core problem. Inner materials, including glass bubbles, multi-layer insulation (MLI), high vacuum, and vapor-cooled shields, are used for thermal insulation. An analytic study is preferred and proceeds liquid hydrogen tanks due to safety regulations in each country. This study reviewed the relevant literature for thermodynamic modeling. The literature was divided into static, dynamic, and systematic studies. In summary, the authors summarized the following future research needs: The optimal design of the structure, including suspension, baffle, and insulation system, can be studied to minimize the boil-off gas (BOG). A dynamic study of the pressure, mass flow, and vaporizer can be completed. The change of the components arrangement from the conventional diesel–electric locomotive is necessary.
Probiotic and Antifungal Attributes of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolates from Naturally Fermented Brazilian Table Olives
Authors: Simões Luara , Fernandes Natália , de Souza Angélica , dos Santos Luiz , Magnani Marciane , Abrunhosa Luís , Teixeira José , Schwan Rosane Freitas , Dias Disney Ribeiro
Published: June 2022

Research with fermented olives as a source of wild Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains with probiotic and biotechnological characteristics constitutes a promising field of work. The present study evaluated in vitro probiotic, antifungal, and antimycotoxigenic potential of LAB isolates from naturally fermented Brazilian table olives. Among fourteen LAB isolates, the Levilactobacillus brevis CCMA 1762, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus CCMA 1768, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei CCMA 1770 showed potential probiotic and antifungal properties. The isolates showed resistance to pH 2.0 (survival ≥ 84.55), bile salts (survival ≥ 99.44), and gastrointestinal tract conditions (survival ≥ 57.84%); hydrophobic cell surface (≥27%); auto-aggregation (≥81.38%); coaggregation with Escherichia coli INCQS 00181 (≥33.97%) and Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 564 (≥53.84%); adhesion to the epithelial cell line Caco-2 (≥5.04%); antimicrobial activity against the bacteria S. Enteritidis ATCC 564 (≥6 mm), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19117 (≥6 mm), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 8702 (≥3 mm), and the fungi Penicillium nordicum MUM 08.16 (inhibition ≥ 64.8%). In addition, the strains showed the ability to adsorb the mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 (≥40%) and ochratoxin A (≥34%). These results indicate that LAB strains from naturally fermented Brazilian table olives are potentially probiotic and antifungal candidates that can be used for food biopreservation.
Decontamination of Pathogenic and Spoilage Bacteria on Pork and Chicken Meat by Liquid Plasma Immersion
Authors: Sammanee Peeramas , Ngamsanga Phakamas , Jainonthee Chalita , Chupia Vena , Sawangrat Choncharoen , Kerdjana Wichan , Lampang Kanninka Na , Meeyam Tongkorn , Pichpol Duangporn
Published: June 2022

In this research, we aimed to reduce the bacterial loads of Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in pork and chicken meat with skin by applying cold plasma in a liquid state or liquid plasma. The results showed reductions in S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, E. coli, and C. jejuni on the surface of pork and chicken meat after 15 min of liquid plasma treatment on days 0, 3, 7, and 10. However, the efficacy of the reduction in S. aureus was lower after day 3 of the experiment. Moreover, P. aeruginosa could not be inactivated under the same experimental conditions. The microbial decontamination with liquid plasma did not significantly reduce the microbial load, except for C. jejuni, compared with water immersion. When compared with a control group, the pH value and water activity of pork and chicken samples treated with liquid plasma were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05), with a downward trend that was similar to those of the control and water groups. Moreover, the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values (CIELAB) of the meat decreased. Although the liquid plasma group resulted in an increase in the lightness (L*) values of the pork samples, these values did not significantly change in the chicken samples. This study demonstrated the efficacy of liquid plasma at reducing S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, E. coli, C. jejuni, and S. aureus on the surface of pork and chicken meat during three days of storage at 4–6 °C with minimal undesirable meat characteristics.
The Role of Cholangioscopy and EUS in the Evaluation of Indeterminate Biliary Strictures
Authors: Siu Wilson , Tang Raymond S. Y.
Published: June 2022

Bile duct stenosis continues to present a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians. It is important to establish the benign or malignant nature of the stricture early in order to avoid any unnecessary delay in medical treatment or surgery. Tissue acquisition for histological diagnosis is particularly crucial when the initial diagnostic work up is inconclusive. The diagnostic yield from the conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with brushing and biopsy is suboptimal. Patients with indeterminate biliary strictures (IDBSs) often require a multi-disciplinary diagnostic approach and additional endoscopic evaluation, including cholangioscopy and endoscopic ultrasound, before a final diagnosis can be reached. In this article, we discuss the recent endoscopic advancements in the diagnosis of biliary stricture with a focus on the roles of cholangioscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
Automatic Pest Monitoring Systems in Apple Production under Changing Climatic Conditions
Authors: Čirjak Dana , Miklečić Ivana , Lemić Darija , Kos Tomislav , Pajač Živković Ivana
Published: June 2022

Apple is one of the most important economic fruit crops in the world. Despite all the strategies of integrated pest management (IPM), insecticides are still frequently used in its cultivation. In addition, pest phenology is extremely influenced by changing climatic conditions. The frequent spread of invasive species, unexpected pest outbreaks, and the development of additional generations are some of the problems posed by climate change. The adopted strategies of IPM therefore need to be changed as do the current monitoring techniques, which are increasingly unreliable and outdated. The need for more sophisticated, accurate, and efficient monitoring techniques is leading to increasing development of automated pest monitoring systems. In this paper, we summarize the automatic methods (image analysis systems, smart traps, sensors, decision support systems, etc.) used to monitor the major pest in apple production (Cydia pomonella L.) and other important apple pests (Leucoptera maifoliella Costa, Grapholita molesta Busck, Halyomorpha halys Stål, and fruit flies—Tephritidae and Drosophilidae) to improve sustainable pest management under frequently changing climatic conditions.
Open-Source Code for Radium-Derived Ocean-Groundwater Modeling: Project Open RaDOM
Authors: Lecher Alanna L.
Published: June 2022

Radium has been commonly used as a tracer of submarine groundwater discharge to the ocean and embankments, as radium activities are commonly input into box models to calculate a groundwater flux. Similarly, isotopes of radium (Ra224, Ra223, Ra226, Ra228) have been used to calculate water mass ages, which have been used as a proxy for residence times. Less commonly, radium and other tracers have been utilized in mixing models to determine the relative contribution of groundwater to a marine system. In the literature, all of these methods have almost exclusively been solved using analytical methods prone to large errors and other issues. Project Open RaDOM, introduced here, is a collection of open-source R scripts that numerically solve for groundwater flux, residence time, and relative contribution of groundwater to coastal systems. Solving these models numerically allows for over-constrained systems to increase their accuracy and force real solutions. The scripts are written in a way to make them user-friendly, even to scientists unfamiliar with R. This communication includes a description of the scripts in Project Open RaDOM, a discussion of examples in the literature, and case studies of the scripts using previously published data.
The Impact of Rural Hospital Closures and Health Service Restructuring on Provincial- and Community-Level Patterns of Hospital Admissions in New Brunswick
Authors: Crouse Dan L. , Rogers Kyle , Balram Adele , McDonald James T.
Published: June 2022

In the early 2000s, the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, undertook health system restructuring, including closing some rural hospitals. We examined whether changes in geographic access to hospitals and primary care were associated with changes in patterns of hospital use. We described three measures of hospital use for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among adults 75 years and younger annually during the period 2004–2013 overall, and at the community scale. We described spatial and temporal patterns in: age-standardized hospitalization rates, age-standardized incidence of hospital admissions, and rates of admissions via ambulance. Overall, rates and incidence of hospitalizations for ACSCs declined while admissions via ambulance remained largely unchanged. We observed considerable regional variation in rates between communities in 2004. This regional variation decreased over time, with rural areas demonstrating the sharpest declines. Changes in hospital service provision within individual communities had little impact on rates of ACSC admissions. Results were consistent across urban and rural communities and were robust to analyses that included older patients and those admitted for reasons other than ACSCs. Our results suggest that the restructuring and hospital closures did not result in substantial changes to regional patterns or rates of service use.
Sensitivity Enhanced Ecofriendly UV Spectrophotometric Methods for Quality Control of Telmisartan and Benidipine Formulations: Comparison of Whiteness and Greenness with HPLC Methods
Authors: Chohan Muhammad Shahzad , Attimarad Mahesh , Venugopala Katharigatta Narayanaswamy , Nair Anroop Balachandran , Sreeharsha Nagaraja , Molina Efren II Plaza , Kotnal Ramling Bhagavantrao , Shafi Sheeba , David Marysheela , Shinu Pottathil , Altaysan Abdulrahman Ibrahim , Balgoname Abdulmalek Ahmed
Published: June 2022

The development of an environmentally friendly analytical technique for simultaneous measurement of medicines with large concentration differences is difficult yet critical for environmental protection. Hence, in this work, new manipulated UV-spectroscopic methods with high scaling factors were established for concurrent quantification of telmisartan (TEL) and benidipine (BEN) in fixed-dose combinations. Two different methods were developed and established by calculation of peak height at zero crossing point of second derivative and the ratio of first derivative spectra with a scaling factor of 200 and 100, respectively. The absorption difference between the peaks and troughs of the ratio spectra, as well as continuous subtraction from ratio spectra, were established as additional methods. In addition, new procedures were validated using ICH recommendations. The proposed methods’ linearity curves were constructed in the range of 0.5–10 µg mL−1 and 1–30 µg mL−1 for BEN and TEL, respectively, under optimized conditions. Furthermore, both the detection (0.088–0.139 µg mL−1 for BEN and 0.256–0.288 µg mL−1 for TEL) and quantification limits (0.293–0.465 µg mL−1 for BEN and 0.801–0.962 µg mL−1 for TEL) were adequate for quantifying both analytes in the formulation ratios. The accuracy and precision were confirmed by the good recovery percent (98.37%–100.6%), with low percent relative error (0.67%–1.70%) and less than 2 percent relative standard deviation, respectively. The specificity of the methods was proven by accurate and precise outcomes from the standard addition method and analysis of laboratory mixed solutions with large differences in concentrations of both analytes. Finally, the BEN and TEL content of the formulations was determined simultaneously without prior separation using these first ever reported spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, developed UV derivative spectroscopic methods demonstrated high greenness and whiteness when compared to the reported HPLC methods. These findings show that the projected methods were effective, practical, and environmentally acceptable for quality control of BEN and TEL in multicomponent formulations.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance: A Latent Class Analysis of a Romanian Population
Authors: Pogurschi Elena Narcisa , Petcu Carmen Daniela , Mizeranschi Alexandru Eugeniu , Zugravu Corina Aurelia , Cirnatu Daniela , Pet Ioan , Ghimpețeanu Oana-Mărgărita
Published: June 2022

Considering the major limitations of the latest studies conducted in Romania on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, we conducted this study to assess this major public health threat. A cross-sectional survey based on a validated questionnaire was conducted among the general population of Romania for a period of 5 months, i.e., September 2021–January 2022. The questionnaire was distributed using Google Form and it covered demographic characteristics and KAP assessments consisting of 12 items on knowledge, 10 items on attitudes and 3 items on practices. Latent class analyses (LCAs) were conducted to group respondents based on their responses. The response rate was 77%, of which females responded in a greater number (n = 1251) compared to males (n = 674). For most of the respondents (67.32%, n = 1296), the education level was high school, while 23.58% (n = 454) of respondents were college graduates. One in three Romanians (33.3%) know the WHO predictions related to this topic. Overall, the Romanian population is less disciplined when it comes to completing antibiotic treatments, as 29.19% of the respondents stop the course of antibiotic administration if their symptoms improve. The key findings from the present study may help policy makers in designing targeted interventions to decrease confusion, ambiguity or misconceptions about antibiotic use.
Solid Anorganic Particles and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Histopathology Study
Authors: Čábalová Lenka , Čabanová Kristina , Bielniková Hana , Kukutschová Jana , Dvořáčková Jana , Zeleník Karol , Komínek Pavel
Published: June 2022

Although extensive research has shown the pathological effect of fine and ultrafine airborne particles, clear evidence of association of environmental exposure to them and inflammatory changes in human nasal mucosa is missing. Meanwhile, pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis, despite being a disease with high prevalence in the population, is still unclear. The increasing evidence of the pro-inflammatory properties of these particles raises the question of their possible role in chronic rhinosinusitis. The presented study focused on detection of microsized anorganic particles and clusters of nanosized anorganic particles in the nasal mucosa of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis by Raman microspectroscopy and comparison of their composition to histologic findings. The results were compared to the findings in mucosa obtained from cadavers with no history of chronic rhinosinusitis. Solid particles were found in 90% of tissue samples in the group with chronic rhinosinusitis, showing histologic signs of inflammation in 95%, while in the control group, the particles were found in 20% of samples, with normal histologic findings in all of them. The main detected compounds were graphite, TiO2, amorphous carbon, calcite, ankerite and iron compounds. The results are in accordance with the premise that exogenous airborne particles interact with the nasal mucosa and possibly deposit in it in cases where the epithelial barrier is compromised in chronic rhinosinusitis.
“Room to Reflect”: A Pilot Workplace Resiliency Intervention for Nurses
Authors: Muir K. Jane , Webb-Jones Jeanell , Farish Nancy , Barker Kimberley , Miller-Davis Claiborne , Galloway Susan
Published: June 2022

Rising workload demands for nurses necessitate the implementation of easily accessible and innovative clinician well-being resources on health care units. This pre/post pilot study sought to measure the impact of a mobile workplace intervention, “Room to Reflect” on staff nurse and nurse manager resilience. A mobile toolbox with a sound machine, Virtual Reality headset, and associated Quick Response code audio/video offerings, and a paper Pocket Guide of mindful restoration practices were provided to 7 health care units for a 3 month period. Pre/post questionnaires assessed perceived resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, and intervention feasibility (ease of use), accessibility (spaces used), and effectiveness (restoration). Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, paired and independent samples t-tests, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. From the pre (n = 97) to post (n = 57) intervention period, there was a significant difference in resilience for Clinician 3 staff nurses. A mean increase in resilience was noted among nurse managers following participation in the intervention, z = −2.03, p < 0.05. The Pocket Guide was the easiest offering to use, while VR offerings were accessed the most through Quick Response code. Space and time were the most common barriers to Room to Reflect use. Staff nurses felt supported by managers to use the program, and managers perceived that the program improved nurse job satisfaction.
Development of a Guideline to Enhance the Reporting of Concept Mapping Research: Study Protocol
Authors: Pantha Sandesh , Jones Martin , Gray Richard
Published: June 2022

Reporting guidelines are intended to enhance the clarity and transparency of research publications. Concept mapping, a mixed-methods design, has been widely used in health research. Current reporting guidelines for mixed-methods studies are not relevant for concept mapping research. The aim of this study is to develop a reporting guideline for concept mapping research following the EQUATOR network toolkit. Guideline development is in three stages: 1. A systematic review to identify key components of reporting concept mapping research, 2. A concept mapping study involving the key stakeholder groups—researchers, methodologists, peer reviewers, journal editors, statisticians, and people who have participated in concept mapping research—to identify candidate items to include in a reporting guideline, and 3. Development of a draft reporting guideline for concept mapping research. The outcome of the research will be a reporting guideline for concept mapping research.