bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate quality is affected by age and harvest site
Authors: Cavallo Carola , Boffa Angelo , de Girolamo Laura , Merli Giulia , Kon Elizaveta , Cattini Luca , Santo Emma , Grigolo Brunella , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To compare the number and properties of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) collected from bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) obtained from different harvest sites and from patients of different ages.

Methods

BMAC was obtained from two groups of patients based on age (n = 10 per group): 19.0 ± 2.7 years for the younger and 56.8 ± 12.5 for the older group. In the latter, BMAC was obtained from both iliac crest and proximal tibia for a donor-matched analysis. Mononucleated cell count and CFU-F assay were performed, together with phenotype characterization of BMSCs from iliac crest and proximal tibia, the study of chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacity, histological staining and spectrophotometric quantification, and the analysis of mRNAs expression.

Results

Cells derived from iliac crest and proximal tibia showed the same phenotypic pattern at flow cytometry, as well as similar chondrogenic and osteogenic potential. However, a significantly higher number of mononuclear cells per ml was observed in younger patients (3.8 ± 1.8 × 107) compared to older patients (1.2 ± 0.8 × 107) (p < 0.0005). The latter yield, obtained from the iliac crest, was significantly higher than resulting from the BMAC harvested from the proximal tibia in the same group of patients (0.3 ± 0.2 × 107, p < 0.0005). This result was confirmed by the CFU-F analysis at day 10 (15.9 ± 19.4 vs 0.6 ± 1.0, p = 0.001) and day-20 (21.7 ± 23.0 vs 2.9 ± 4.2, p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Harvest site and age can affect the quality of BMAC. BMSCs obtained from iliac crest and proximal tibia present comparable mesenchymal markers expression as well as osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential, but iliac crest BMAC presents a four times higher number of mononucleated cells with significantly higher clonogenic capacity compared to the tibia. BMAC of younger patients also had a three-time higher number of mononucleated cells. The identification of BMAC characteristics could help to optimize its preparation and to identify the most suitable indications for this orthobiologic treatment in the clinical practice.
Reduced two-bound core games
Authors: Gong Doudou , Dietzenbacher Bas , Peters Hans
Published: September 2022

This paper studies Davis–Maschler reduced games of two-bound core games and shows that all these reduced games with respect to core elements are two-bound core games with the same pair of bounds. Based on associated reduced game properties, we axiomatically characterize the core, the nucleolus, and the egalitarian core for two-bound core games. Moreover, we show that the egalitarian core for two-bound core games is single-valued and we provide an explicit expression.
Microbiological findings in prepubertal and pubertal girls with vulvovaginitis
Authors: Baka Stavroula , Demeridou Stiliani , Kaparos George , Tsoutsouras Konstantinos , Touloumakos Sotirios , Dagre Maria , Meretaki Sofia , Chasiakou Anthia , Koumaki Vasiliki , Tsakris Athanasios
Published: September 2022

Vulvovaginitis is a common and challenging gynaecological problem in prepubertal and pubertal girls. Such an infection, owing to a wide range of aetiologies, if not responding to hygienic measures, needs further investigation through vaginal cultures, since treatment should be tailored accordingly. This study aimed to investigate the pathogens isolated in prepubertal and pubertal girls with signs and symptoms of vulvovaginitis. A total of 2314 symptomatic girls, 1094 prepubertal and 1220 pubertal, aged 2 to 16 years, were included. Vaginal samples were inoculated on specific culture plates followed by incubation in aerobic, anaerobic or CO2 atmosphere at 37 °C for 24 or 48 h, as appropriate. The identification of the isolated pathogens was carried out using Gram stain, conventional methods and the automated system VITEK 2 (BioMerieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France). Positive cultures were obtained from 587 (53.7%) of prepubertal girls and 926 (75.9%) of pubertal girls. A total of 613 and 984 pathogens were detected in prepubertal and pubertal subjects, respectively. Isolated bacteria included 40.1% and 22.8% Gram-positive cocci, 35.6% and 24.8% Gram-negative rods in the prepubertal and pubertal groups, respectively, with faecal pathogens being the most prevalent. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 22.8% of prepubertal and 37.9% of pubertal girls. Candida species were isolated mostly in the pubertal girls (14.5%).

Conclusion: Culture results should be evaluated with caution in children with vulvovaginitis. In the prepubertal girls, the most common isolated pathogens were opportunistic bacteria of faecal origin while girls in late puberty were more susceptible to bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis.

What is Known:• Vulvovaginitis is the most frequent and challenging reason for referral to paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services.• Microbiological examination can prove to be a significant tool to help diagnosis although results should be evaluated with caution in children.

What is New:• Significantly more positive vaginal cultures and pathogens were recorded in symptomatic pubertal girls compared to prepubertal children.• The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was increased in both prepubertal and pubertal girls with vulvovaginitis although significantly more in girls at puberty.
Behavioral Interventions Targeting Base of Tongue to Posterior Pharyngeal Wall Approximation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Doeltgen Sebastian H. , Francis Rebecca , Daniels Stephanie K. , Kaur Harsharan , Mohammadi Leila , Murray Joanne
Published: September 2022

Pharyngeal pressure generated by approximation of the base of tongue to the posterior pharyngeal wall (BOT-PPW approximation) is critical for efficient pharyngeal bolus passage and is a frequent goal of dysphagia management. This scoping review evaluated behavioral interventions available to improve BOT-PPW approximation. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Ovid Emcare, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and ProQuest for studies that met the following criteria: (i) behavioral interventions targeting BOT-PPW approximation, which (ii) were assessed using BOT-PPW-specific outcome measures, and (iiia) performed over a period of time (Review Part 1) or (iiib) studied immediate effects (Review Part 2). Study quality was rated using the GRADE framework. Data were extracted and synthesized into dominant themes. Of the 150 studies originally identified, three examined long-term effects (two single cases studies of individuals with dysphagia, and a third study evaluating effortful swallowing in healthy individuals). BOT-PPW approximation only increased in the two single case studies. Twenty-one studies evaluating immediate effects were categorized as follows: (1) effortful swallowing, (2) Mendelsohn maneuver, (3) tongue-hold maneuver, (4) super supraglottic swallowing maneuver, and (5) non-swallowing exercises. Across all studies, varying levels of success in increasing BOT-PPW approximation were reported. Four of 21 immediate effects studies evaluated patients with demonstrated swallowing impairment, whereas 17 studies evaluated healthy adults. Quality assessment revealed low strength of the existing evidence base. The evidence base for rehabilitative interventions targeting BOT-PPW approximation is severely limited and translation is hindered by small sample sizes and methodological limitations. Further clinical research is warranted.
Education and Study Concepts at the European University Alliance EURECA-PRO
Authors: Drebenstedt Carsten , Sishchuk Julia , Palmer Luke , Bongaerts Jan , Kleeberg Kirstin
Published: September 2022

Education is an essential core task of EURECA-PRO and consists of designing and implementing new study programmes at all levels (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral), developing new, supplementary modules and promoting innovative teaching methods. While spreading and encouraging excellence in learning and teaching is a fundamental part of all higher education institutions, it is especially important for EURECA-PRO in the development of new programmes, courses, and educational concepts across all partner universities. This development presents an opportunity to cement and enhance excellence in teaching and learning across the alliance and to prioritise students’ educational experience.
Computable centering methods for spiraling algorithms and their duals, with motivations from the theory of Lyapunov functions
Authors: Lindstrom Scott B.
Published: September 2022

For many problems, some of which are reviewed in the paper, popular algorithms like Douglas–Rachford (DR), ADMM, and FISTA produce approximating sequences that show signs of spiraling toward the solution. We present a meta-algorithm that exploits such dynamics to potentially enhance performance. The strategy of this meta-algorithm is to iteratively build and minimize surrogates for the Lyapunov function that captures those dynamics. As a first motivating application, we show that for prototypical feasibility problems the circumcentered-reflection method, subgradient projections, and Newton–Raphson are all describable as gradient-based methods for minimizing Lyapunov functions constructed for DR operators, with the former returning the minimizers of spherical surrogates for the Lyapunov function. As a second motivating application, we introduce a new method that shares these properties but with the added advantages that it: (1) does not rely on subproblems (e.g. reflections) and so may be applied for any operator whose iterates have the spiraling property; (2) provably has the aforementioned Lyapunov properties with few structural assumptions and so is generically suitable for primal/dual implementation; and (3) maps spaces of reduced dimension into themselves whenever the original operator does. This makes possible the first primal/dual implementation of a method that seeks the center of spiraling iterates. We describe this method, and provide a computed example (basis pursuit).
Does legal freedom satisfy?
Authors: Berggren Niclas , Bjørnskov Christian
Published: September 2022

Much political conflict in the world revolves around the issue of how much freedom to accord people. Liberal democracies are characterized by, e.g., the rule of law and a strong protection of civil rights, giving individuals a great deal of legally guaranteed freedom to lead their lives as they see fit. However, it is not known whether legal freedom suffices to make people satisfied with freedom. Our study explores that issue by relating seven indicators of legal freedom to the satisfaction people express with their freedom of choice. Using a sample of 133 countries over the period 2008–2018, and taking a panel-data approach, we find no robust baseline relationship. However, when exploring conditional associations by interacting the indicators with social trust, the rule of law is positively and increasingly related to satisfaction with freedom above and below a threshold level. Freedom of assembly is more positive for satisfaction with freedom the higher the GDP per capita and in democracies. Thus, for some types of legal freedom, formal legal institutions are complementary with culture, income and the political system in generating satisfaction with freedom.
Compositionality in Different Modalities: A View from Usage-Based Linguistics
Authors: Pleyer Michael , Lepic Ryan , Hartmann Stefan
Published: September 2022

The field of linguistics concerns itself with understanding the human capacity for language. Compositionality is a key notion in this research tradition. Compositionality refers to the notion that the meaning of a complex linguistic unit is a function of the meanings of its constituent parts. However, the question as to whether compositionality is a defining feature of human language is a matter of debate: usage-based and constructionist approaches emphasize the pervasive role of idiomaticity in language, and argue that strict compositionality is the exception rather than the rule. We review the major discussion points on compositionality from a usage-based point of view, taking both spoken and signed languages into account. In addition, we discuss theories that aim at accounting for the emergence of compositional language through processes of cultural transmission as well as the debate of whether animal communication systems exhibit compositionality. We argue for a view that emphasizes the analyzability of complex linguistic units, providing a template for accounting for the multimodal nature of human language.
Community detection in weighted networks using probabilistic generative model
Authors: Hajibabaei Hossein , Seydi Vahid , Koochari Abbas
Published: September 2022

Community detection in networks is a useful tool for detecting the behavioral and inclinations of users to a specific topic or title. Weighted, unweighted, directed, and undirected networks can all be used for detecting communities depending on the network structure and content. The proposed model framework for community detection is based on weighted networks. We use two important and effective concepts in graph analysis. The structural density between nodes is the first concept, and the second is the weight of edges between nodes. The proposed model advantage is using a probabilistic generative model that estimates the latent parameters of the probabilistic model and detecting the community based on the probability of the presence or absence of weighted edge. The output of the proposed model is the intensity of belonging each weighted node to the communities. A relationship between the observation of a pair of nodes in multiple communities and the probability of an edge with a high weight between them, is one of the important outputs that interpret the detected communities by finding relevancy between membership of nodes to communities and edge weight. Experiments are performed on real-world weighted networks and synthetic weighted networks to evaluate the performance and accuracy of the proposed algorithm. The results will show that the proposed algorithm is more density and accurate than other algorithms in weighted community detection.
Psychological and Physical Intimate Partner Violence, Measured by the New York City Community Health Survey — New York City, 2018
Authors: Alroy Karen A. , Wang Amy , Sanderson Michael , Gould L. Hannah , Stayton Catherine
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can damage long-term physical and mental health, yet IPV prevalence in New York City (NYC) is unknown. We described prevalence and health correlates of psychological and physical IPV in NYC.

Method

The 2018 NYC Community Health Survey, a representative telephone survey among adult residents, asked about lifetime psychological or physical IPV experiences. We estimated age-adjusted physical and psychological prevalence, stratified by demographic variables, and created log-linear multivariable models with 95% CIs to measure the association of each IPV type with health conditions and behaviors.

Results

Overall, 10,076 surveys were completed. We excluded responses with missing IPV values. Of 9,945 adults, 16.7% reported ever having experienced psychological IPV; higher prevalence among females (18.6%; CI:17.0–20.2) than males (14.5%; CI:13.1–16.2). Prevalence of not getting needed mental health treatment (PR: 4.5; CI:3.3–6.1) and current depression (PR:2.6 CI:2.1–3.1) was higher among adults who had ever experienced psychological IPV, compared with those who had not. Of 9,964 adults, 9.8% reported ever having experienced physical IPV; higher prevalence among females (12.4%; CI:11.1–13.8) than males (6.8%; CI:5.8–8.0). Prevalence of not getting needed mental health treatment (PR:3.9, CI:2.8–5.4) and current depression (PR:2.6, CI:2.1–3.2) was higher among adults who had ever experienced physical IPV, compared with those who had not.

Conclusions

One in six (16.7%) and one in 10 (9.8%) NYC adults reported ever experiencing psychological IPV and ever experiencing physical IPV, respectively. Key implications suggest that IPV potentially underlies public health priority health conditions and behaviors.
Measuring CMB Spectral Distortions from Antarctica with COSMO: Blackbody Calibrator Design and Performance Forecast
Authors: Mele L. , Battistelli E. S. , de Bernardis P. , Bersanelli M. , Columbro F. , Coppi G. , Coppolecchia A. , D’Alessandro G. , De Petris M. , Franceschet C. , Gervasi M. , Lamagna L. , Limonta A. , Manzan E. , Marchitelli E. , Masi S. , Mennella A. , Nati F. , Paiella A. , Pettinari G. , Piacentini F. , Piccirillo L. , Pisano G. , Realini S. , Tucker C. , Zannoni M.
Published: September 2022

COSMO is a ground-based instrument to measure the spectral distortions (SD) of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). In this paper, we present preliminary results of electromagnetic simulations of its reference blackbody calibrator. HFSS simulations provide a calibrator reflection coefficient of $$R\sim 10^{-6}$$

R
∼

10

-
6

, corresponding to an emissivity $$\epsilon =1-R=0.999999$$

ϵ
=
1
-
R
=
0.999999

. We also provide a forecast for the instrument performance by using an ILC-based simulation. We show that COSMO can extract the isotropic Comptonization parameter (modeled as $$|y|=1.77 \cdot 10^{-6}$$

|
y
|

=
1.77
·

10

-
6

) as $$|y|=(1.79\pm 0.19)\cdot 10^{-6}$$

|
y
|

=

(
1.79
±
0.19
)

·

10

-
6

, in the presence of the main Galactic foreground (thermal dust) and of CMB anisotropies, and assuming perfect atmospheric emission removal.
A Lab-Scale Experiment for keV Sterile Neutrino Search
Authors: Lee Y. C. , Kim H. B. , Kim H. L. , Kim S. K. , Kim Y. H. , Kwon D. H. , Lim H. S. , Park H. S. , Woo K. R. , Yoon Y. S.
Published: September 2022

We developed a simple small-scale experiment to measure the beta decay spectrum of$$^{3}$$3H. The aim of this research is to investigate the presence of sterile neutrinos in the keV region. Tritium nuclei were embedded in a 1$$\times$$×1$$\times$$×1 cm$$^3$$3LiF crystal from the$$^6$$6Li(n,$$\alpha$$α)$$^3$$3H reaction. The energy of the beta electrons absorbed in the LiF crystal was measured with a magnetic microcalorimeter at 40 mK. We report a new method of sample preparation, experiments, and analysis of$$^3$$3H beta measurements. The spectrum of a 10-hour measurement agrees well with the expected spectrum of$$^3$$3H beta decay. The analysis results indicate that this method can be used to search for keV-scale sterile neutrinos.
Proteomic features of skeletal muscle adaptation to resistance exercise training as a function of age
Authors: Deane Colleen S. , Phillips Bethan E. , Willis Craig R. G. , Wilkinson Daniel J. , Smith Ken , Higashitani Nahoko , Williams John P. , Szewczyk Nathaniel J. , Atherton Philip J. , Higashitani Atsushi , Etheridge Timothy
Published: September 2022

Resistance exercise training (RET) can counteract negative features of muscle ageing but older age associates with reduced adaptive capacity to RET. Altered muscle protein networks likely contribute to ageing RET adaptation; therefore, associated proteome-wide responses warrant exploration. We employed quantitative sarcoplasmic proteomics to compare age-related proteome and phosphoproteome responses to RET. Thigh muscle biopsies were collected from eight young (25 ± 1.1 years) and eight older (67.5 ± 2.6 years) adults before and after 20 weeks supervised RET. Muscle sarcoplasmic fractions were pooled for each condition and analysed using Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification (iTRAQ) labelling, tandem mass spectrometry and network-based hub protein identification. Older adults displayed impaired RET-induced adaptations in whole-body lean mass, body fat percentage and thigh lean mass (P > 0.05). iTRAQ identified 73 differentially expressed proteins with age and/or RET. Despite possible proteomic stochasticity, RET improved ageing profiles for mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism (top hub; PYK (pyruvate kinase)) but failed to correct altered ageing expression of cytoskeletal proteins (top hub; YWHAZ (14–3-3 protein zeta/delta)). These ageing RET proteomic profiles were generally unchanged or oppositely regulated post-RET in younger muscle. Similarly, RET corrected expression of 10 phosphoproteins altered in ageing, but these responses were again different vs. younger adults. Older muscle is characterised by RET-induced metabolic protein profiles that, whilst not present in younger muscle, improve untrained age-related proteomic deficits. Combined with impaired cytoskeletal adhesion responses, these results provide a proteomic framework for understanding and optimising ageing muscle RET adaptation.
Missing Care: the Initial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on CKD Care Delivery
Authors: Diamantidis Clarissa J. , Cook David J. , Dunning Stephan , Redelosa Cyd Kristoff , Bartolome Martin Francis D. , Romero Roland Albert A. , Vassalotti Joseph A.
Published: September 2022

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition with adverse health outcomes addressable by early disease management. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care utilization for the CKD population is unknown.

Objective

To examine pandemic CKD care and identify factors associated with a high care deficit.

Design

Retrospective observational study

Participants

248,898 insured individuals (95% Medicare Advantage, 5% commercial) with stage G3–G4 CKD in 2018

Main Measures

Predicted (based on the pre-pandemic period of January 1, 2019–February 28, 2020) to observed per-member monthly face-to-face and telehealth encounters, laboratory testing, and proportion of days covered (PDC) for medications, evaluated during the early (March 1, 2020–June 30, 2020), pre-vaccine (July 1, 2020–December 31, 2020), and late (January 2021–August 2021) periods and overall.

Key Results

In-person encounters fell by 24.1% during the pandemic overall; this was mitigated by a 14.2% increase in telehealth encounters, resulting in a cumulative observed utilization deficit of 10% relative to predicted. These reductions were greatest in the early pandemic period, with a 19.8% cumulative deficit. PDC progressively decreased during the pandemic (range 9–20% overall reduction), with the greatest reductions in hypertension and diabetes medicines. CKD laboratory monitoring was also reduced (range 11.8–43.3%). Individuals of younger age (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.16, 2.28), with commercial insurance (1.43, 95% CI 1.25, 1.63), residing in the Southern US (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.14, 1.21), and with stage G4 CKD (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.17, 1.26) had greater odds of a higher care deficit overall.

Conclusions

The early COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a marked decline of healthcare services for individuals with CKD, with an incomplete recovery during the later pandemic. Increased telehealth use partially compensated for this deficit. The downstream impact of CKD care reduction on health outcomes requires further study, as does evaluation of effective care delivery models for this population.
Forensisch-sexualwissenschaftliche Risikoeinschätzungen im Familienrecht: ein Diskussionsbeitrag zur Prävention innerfamiliären sexuellen Missbrauchs
Authors: Iffland Judith A. , Oesterlein Natalie , Gossmann Diana
Published: September 2022

In der psychologisch-psychiatrischen Begutachtungspraxis mehren sich Anfragen von Familiengerichten, die um eine kriminalprognostisch-sexualwissenschaftliche Begutachtung eines Elternteils oder neuen Partners bitten. Hintergrund dieser Aufträge sind entweder Vorstrafen oder laufende Ermittlungen wegen Sexualdelikten oder Hinweise auf paraphile Interessen der Probanden. Wenngleich in vielen Fällen bereits familienpsychologische Sachverständige im Verfahren zu Fragen der Erziehungsfähigkeit und/oder einer etwaigen Kindeswohlgefährdung beauftragt wurden, lehnen diese die Beantwortung derartiger sexualforensischer Risikoeinschätzungen mit dem Verweis auf eine fehlende Kompetenz oft ab. Es besteht große Verunsicherung aufseiten beauftragender Gerichte, des Jugendhilfesystems, aber auch Sachverständiger bezüglich der Möglichkeiten und Grenzen eines diagnostischen Vorgehens und des Zusammenwirkens unterschiedlicher Gutachtenbereiche. Der vorliegende Beitrag liefert einen theoretischen Hintergrund, einen Sachstandsbericht aus der Praxis und diskutiert unterschiedliche Zuständigkeiten bei derartigen Fragestellungen sowie ein praktikables Vorgehen.
Relationship between Trace Elements and Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and their Tissue Inhibitors in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Vázquez-Lorente Héctor , Dundjerović Duško M. , Tatić Svetislav B. , Rodríguez-Menéndez Sara , González-Iglesias Héctor , Gomes Cláudio M. , Paunović Ivan R. , Dragutinović Vesna V.
Published: September 2022

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) constitutes around 5% of all thyroid cancers. Trace elements assessment has emerged as a useful strategy in the diagnostics of MTC combined with Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases (TIMPs) analysis. The aim of this study was to compare the presence and content of trace elements (i.e., Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), and Manganese (Mn)) in MTC with respect to control samples and their potential relationship with markers of MTC in tissues. The study included 26 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy, due to the diagnosis of MTC and 17 patients as control. We combined tumour pathology and staging, immunohistochemical analysis of calcitonin, MMPs, and TIMPs, with analytical biochemistry using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the levels of trace elements. No differences by MTC type for MMPs and their TIPMs, although strong TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 immunohistochemical expression of MTC were unveiled. Additionally, Zn, Fe, and Mn tended to be decreased, and Cu to be increased in samples presenting MTC with respect to controls. Moreover, Zn was the unique trace element which seemed to be correlated with MMPs and TIMPs. Trace elements such as Zn, Fe, and Mn are decreased in tissues affected by MTC. In addition, Zn may be the trace element which saves more relationship with the proportion and intensity of MMPs, being considered altogether useful biomarkers of MTC. We therefore suggest the analysis of novel and traditional markers of MTC as a novel approach in this pathology.
Novel Physically Cross-Linked Curcumin-Loaded PVA/Aloe vera Hydrogel Membranes for Acceleration of Topical Wound Healing: In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments
Authors: Kenawy El-Refaie S. , Kamoun Elbadawy A. , Ghaly Zeinab S. , Shokr Abdel-baset M. , El-Meligy Mahmoud A. , Mahmoud Yehia A.-G.
Published: September 2022

This study aims to prepare novel cross-linked antimicrobial membranes composed of PVA-Aloe vera hydrogels using novel physically cross-linked method via transforming PVA to high crystalline structure using propanol. Curcumin was incorporated to improve the membrane biological properties; while gentamycin improved sharply antimicrobial properties. PVA-Aloe vera hydrogel membranes were analyzed by FTIR, SEM, XRD and TGA measurements for characterizing resultant cross-linked membranes. Physicochemical measurements, e.g., swelling and mechanical stability were assessed for further studying the dressings. Antibacterial activity of cross-linked PVA-Aloe vera-curcumin membranes was tested using five bacterial strains. Results showed that high Aloe vera content in cross-linked membranes has insignificant impact on the release of gentamicin. Adult Wister Albino rats were used to test membrane’s ability for improving the wound healing rate in vivo. In vivo findings showed that PVA/Aloe vera/curcumin membranes dramatically reduced the size of mouse full-thickness wounds, as indicated by a decrease in the wound size. Furthermore, histological tests of wounds dressed with membranes revealed a significant re-epithelialization; compared to wounds treated with cotton gauze and PVA/Aloe vera dressings without curcumin, showing curcumin’s efficacy. These results refer to PVA-Aloe vera-curcumin membrane has exceptional wound healing and skin regeneration capacity.
DARTS—Drone and Artificial Intelligence Reconsolidated Technological Solution for Increasing the Oil and Gas Pipeline Resilience
Authors: Ravishankar Premkumar , Hwang Seokyon , Zhang Jing , Khalilullah Ibrahim X. , Eren-Tokgoz Berna
Published: September 2022

The need for safe operation and effective maintenance of pipelines grows as oil and gas demand rises. Thereby, it is increasingly imperative to monitor and inspect the pipeline system, detect causes contributing to developing pipeline damage, and perform preventive maintenance in a timely manner. Currently, pipeline inspection is performed at pre-determined intervals of several months, which is not sufficiently robust in terms of timeliness. This research proposes a drone and artificial intelligence reconsolidated technological solution (DARTS) by integrating drone technology and deep learning technique. This solution is aimed to detect the targeted potential root problems—pipes out of alignment and deterioration of pipe support system—that can cause critical pipeline failures and predict the progress of the detected problems by collecting and analyzing image data periodically. The test results show that DARTS can be effectively used to support decision making for preventive pipeline maintenance to increase pipeline system safety and resilience.
Individual variable speed limit trajectory planning considering stochastic arriving patterns
Authors: Li Qianwen , Yao Handong
Published: September 2022

Connected vehicles enabled by communication technologies have the potential to improve traffic mobility and enhance roadway safety such that traffic information can be shared among vehicles and infrastructure. Fruitful speed advisory strategies have been proposed to smooth connected vehicle trajectories for better system performance with the help of different car-following models. Yet, there has been no such comparison about the impacts of various car-following models on the advisory strategies. Further, most of the existing studies consider a deterministic vehicle arriving pattern. The resulting model is easy to approach yet not realistic in representing realistic traffic patterns. This study proposes an Individual Variable Speed Limit (IVSL) trajectory planning problem at a signalized intersection and investigates the impacts of three popular car-following models on the IVSL. Both deterministic and stochastic IVSL models are formulated, and their performance is tested with numerical experiments. The results show that, compared to the benchmark (i.e., without speed control), the proposed IVSL strategy with a deterministic arriving pattern achieves significant improvements in both mobility and fuel efficiency across different traffic levels with all three car-following models. The improvement of the IVSL with the Gipps’ model is the most remarkable. When the vehicle arriving patterns are stochastic, the IVSL improves travel time, fuel consumption, and system cost by 8.95%, 19.11%, and 11.37%, respectively, compared to the benchmark without speed control.
Mapping the flat glass value-chain: a material flow analysis and energy balance of UK production
Authors: Hartwell Rebecca , Coult Graham , Overend Mauro
Published: September 2022

Glass is one of the UK’s eight energy-intensive industries. As such, it is under scrutiny to decouple growth in production from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recycled glass, also known as cullet, requires less energy to melt than primary raw materials in new glass production. The use of cullet thus reduces the energy intensity per unit of output whilst also reducing demand for primary material resources. However, efficient systems for flat glass collection are yet to be established in the UK, resulting in a limited supply of cullet available for the flat glass market and missed environmental opportunities. This study identifies the existing supply-chain inefficiencies in the UK glass industry in three stages. Firstly, the mass flows of materials within the three main glass sectors: container glass, flat glass and glass wool, are mapped from natural resource through to primary application and subsequent end-of-life management based on a reference year of annual production figures. The map is presented in the form of a “Sankey” diagram which draws attention to several opportunities for increasing resource efficiency; namely in the stark contrast in glass collection rates between the flat and container glass industry. Using the data collected on the annual mass flows of materials in the UK flat glass sub-sector, the energy (MJ) and GHG emission (CO2-eq) saving potential of enhanced end-of-life collection methods are assessed, based on three alternative recovery scenarios. These scenarios consider the use of alternative distributions of recovered flat glass cullet in the three primary glass sub-sectors. The emission savings resulting from each recovery scenario are evaluated, based on the estimated tonnage yield of finished flat glass products. It is shown that together with improved manufacturing yield, the reutilization of end-of-life flat glass as cullet in new production could reduce the annual emissions of the UK flat glass value-chain by up to 18.6%. Finally we review the existing barriers to recycling different glass types based on acceptability criteria and available take-back infrastructure, and thus find that the advancement of improved recycling rates will rely on establishing the business opportunity and/or supporting policy for developing efficient systems for flat glass collection.
Self-Calibration and Crosshair Tracking with Modular Digital Imaging Total Station
Authors: Zschiesche Kira , Fitzke Marvin , Schlüter Martin
Published: September 2022

The combination of a geodetic total station with a digital camera opens up the possibilities of digital image analysis of the captured images together with angle measurement. In general, such a combination is called image-assisted total station (IATS). The prototype of an IATS called MoDiTa (Modular Digital Imaging Total Station) developed at i3mainz is designed in such a way that an existing total station or a tachymeter can be extended by an industrial camera in a few simple steps. The ad hoc conversion of the measuring system opens up further areas of application for existing commercial measuring systems, such as high-frequency aiming, autocollimation tasks or tracking of moving targets. MoDiTa is calibrated directly on site using image-processing and adjustment methods. The crosshair plane is captured for each image and provides identical points in the camera image as well as in the reference image. However, since the camera is not precisely coaxially mounted and movement of the camera cannot be ruled out, the camera is continuously observed during the entire measurement. Various image-processing algorithms determine the crosshairs in the image and compare the results to detect movement. In the following, we explain the self-calibration and the methods of crosshair detection as well as the necessary matching. We use exemplary results to show to what extent the parameters of self-calibration remain valid even if the distance and thus the focus between instrument and target object changes. Through this, one calibration is applicable for different distances and eliminates the need for repeated, time-consuming calibrations during typical applications.
“It Was Such a Different Experience”: a Qualitative Study of Parental Perinatal Experiences When Having a Subsequent Child After Having a Child Diagnosed with Autism
Authors: Cleary Dominique B. , Maybery Murray T. , Whitehouse Andrew J. O. , Evans Kiah
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Children who have an older sibling diagnosed with autism have an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with autism or developing broader developmental difficulties. This study explored perinatal experiences of parents of a child diagnosed with autism, spanning pre-conception until the subsequent child’s early developmental period.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten parents of a child diagnosed with autism, and ten parents of a child with no neurodevelopmental diagnosis, each of whom had gone on to have a subsequent child. Thematic analysis occurred concurrently with data collection and involved comparisons between the two samples.

Results

Four themes were identified in relation to the perinatal period of a subsequent child following the autism diagnosis of an older child. These were parental experiences of “apprehension”, “adjustment”, and “adaptation”, underpinned by the “importance of support”. Many experiences of parenting were similar between the two groups, with comparison between the groups identifying the role of autism in an increased focus, concern, and hypervigilance to their child’s development.

Conclusions

Having a child diagnosed with autism intensifies some of the common experiences of parenting and infancy. The challenges identified by parents throughout the experience of parenting an infant after having a child diagnosed with autism indicate that the development of supports could help empower families in this situation going forwards.
Design considerations for robotically assembled through-tenon timber joints
Authors: Rogeau Nicolas , Gamerro Julien , Latteur Pierre , Weinand Yves
Published: September 2022

This research investigates the robotic assembly of timber structures connected by wood–wood connections. As the digitization of the timber construction sector progresses, digital tools, such as industrial robotic arms and Computer Numerical Control machines, are becoming increasingly accessible. The new-found ease with which wood can be processed stimulates a renewed interest in traditional joinery, where pieces are simply interlocked instead of being connected by additional metallic parts. Previous research established a computational workflow for the robotic assembly of timber plate structures connected by wood–wood connections. This paper focuses on determining the physical conditions that allow inserting through-tenon joints with a robot. The main challenge lies in minimizing the clearance between the tenon and the mortise in order to keep the connections as tight as possible. An experimental protocol has, therefore, been developed to quantitatively assess the performance of the insertion according to different geometric parameters. Robotic insertion tests have been carried out on over 50 samples of 39 mm Laminated Veneer Lumber. Results showed the interest of tapering the joint with a 5 degrees angle, in addition to introducing an offset of 0.05 mm, to minimize friction forces during the insertion. This configuration was confirmed by successfully assembling a 2,50 m long box girder with the same parameters.
A quantum generative adversarial network for distributions
Authors: Assouel Amine , Jacquier Antoine , Kondratyev Alexei
Published: September 2022

Recent advances in Quantum Computing have shown that, despite the absence of a fault-tolerant quantum computer so far, quantum techniques are providing exponential advantage over their classical counterparts. We develop a fully connected Quantum Generative Adversarial network and show how it can be applied in Mathematical Finance, with a particular focus on volatility modelling.
Autonomous Wheel Off-Loading Strategies for Deep-Space CubeSats
Authors: Pizzetti Andrea , Rizza Antonio , Topputo Francesco
Published: September 2022

Deep-space CubeSats missions require careful trade-offs on design drivers such as mass, volume, and cost, while ensuring autonomous operations. This work elaborates the possibility of off-loading the reaction wheels without the need of carrying a bulky and expensive reaction control system or the field-dependent magnetotorquers. The momentum accumulated along two body axes can be removed by either offsetting the main thruster with a gimbal mechanism or by tilting differentially the solar wings. The dumping on the third axis can be still accomplished by imposing a specific attitude trajectory with the motion of either the gimbal or the arrays drive mechanism. The M-Argo CubeSat is selected as case study to test the techniques along its deep-space trajectory. The strategies decision-making is autonomously carried out by a state machine. The off-loading during the cruising arcs employs the gimballed thruster and takes typically 3 h, granting a mass savings of more than 99% with respect to the usage of a reaction control system. The trajectory is shown to have negligible differences with respect to the nominal one, since the thrust is corrected accordingly. During the coasting arcs, the solar arrays are tilted and several hours are required, depending on the Sun direction and intensity, but the propellant is completely saved. Sensitivity analyses are also carried out on the initial angular momentum components and the center of mass displacement to check the robustness of the algorithms.
Biologia Futura: endometrial microbiome affects endometrial receptivity from the perspective of the endometrial immune microenvironment
Authors: Wang Wenhui , Feng Dingqing , Ling Bin
Published: September 2022

The existence of Lactobacillus-led colonized bacteria in the endometrium of a healthy human has been reported in recent studies. Unlike the composition of the microbiome in the lower genital tract, that in the endometrium is different and closely associated with the physiological and pathological processes of gynecological diseases. For example, changing the immune microenvironment affects the receptivity of the endometrium, thereby leading to abnormal reproductive outcomes, such as embryo implantation failure and recurrent spontaneous abortion. However, the concrete functions and mechanisms of the endometrial microbiome have not been studied thoroughly. This review elaborates the research progress on the mechanisms by which the endometrial microbiome affects endometrial receptivity from the perspective of endometrial immune microenvironment regulation. Considering the lack of a unified evaluation method for the endometrial microbiome, as well as the lack of an optimal treatment protocol against recurrent spontaneous abortion, we also discussed the application of combining antibiotics with probiotics/prebiotics as precautionary measures.
Trust and trustworthiness in AI ethics
Authors: Reinhardt Karoline
Published: September 2022

Due to the extensive progress of research in artificial intelligence (AI) as well as its deployment and application, the public debate on AI systems has also gained momentum in recent years. With the publication of the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI (2019), notions of trust and trustworthiness gained particular attention within AI ethics-debates; despite an apparent consensus that AI should be trustworthy, it is less clear what trust and trustworthiness entail in the field of AI. In this paper, I give a detailed overview on the notion of trust employed in AI Ethics Guidelines thus far. Based on that, I assess their overlaps and their omissions from the perspective of practical philosophy. I argue that, currently, AI ethics tends to overload the notion of trustworthiness. It thus runs the risk of becoming a buzzword that cannot be operationalized into a working concept for AI research. What is needed, however, is an approach that is also informed with findings of the research on trust in other fields, for instance, in social sciences and humanities, especially in the field of practical philosophy. This paper is intended as a step in this direction.
Foliar application of thiourea, salicylic acid, and kinetin alleviate salinity stress in maize grown under etiolated and de-etiolated conditions
Authors: Granaz  , Shaukat Kanval , Baksh Ghous , Zahra Noreen , Hafeez Muhammad Bilal , Raza Ali , Samad Abdul , Nizar Mereen , Wahid Abdul
Published: September 2022

Salinity stress and the absence of light negatively impact growth and development of the plants. Morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of maize (Zea mays L.) get severely affected by salt stress and subdue light. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted under the prevailing environmental conditions of Turbat, Balochistan, to explore etiolation and the de-etiolation response of maize hybrid (SP-17S23) to salinity stress under exogenous application of plant growth regulators (PGRs). Maize seedlings in three sets, i.e., non-etiolated, etiolated, de-etiolated, subjected to salinity stress (120 mM NaCl) after 15 days of seed germination. After a week, the seedlings were sprayed with optimized levels of different PGRs, including thiourea (TU; 10 mM), salicylic acid (SA; 250 µM), and kinetin (KIN; 3 µM). Salinity stress hampered plant growth and affected morpho-physiological attributes. However, PGRs foliar treatment proved effective, thus ameliorating the impact of salinity and etiolation on maize seedlings. Growth attributes (root/shoot length, leaf area, root/shoot fresh and dry weight), photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, b and carotenoids) were significantly enhanced under the foliar treatment of PGRs, especially under TU and KIN treatments. However, the oxidative damage parameters, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), decreased under the treatment of PGRs, thereby protecting seedlings under salinity and etiolated conditions. Overall, PGRs enhanced tolerance potential of plants under salinity stress with the consideration of light variations remain the key concern for developing healthy and vigor seedling strands.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ion Extraction from Nanodroplets for Ionic Liquid Electrospray Thrusters
Authors: Enomoto Takaaki , Parmar Shehan M. , Yamada Ryohei , Wirz Richard E. , Takao Yoshinori
Published: September 2022

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for ion extraction from electrospray thrusters to investigate relevant extraction processes numerically. To approximate the electrospray jet tip, a simulation domain consisting of 4-5 nm-sized ionic liquid droplets was used. The extracted ion angles and kinetic energies from EMI–BF4 (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and EMI–Im (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)imide) droplets were quantified by applying uniform electric fields of 1.3–1.7 V nm−1. The MD simulations are in great agreement with simulations presented in the literature and consistently show a greater preference for monomer emission than reported experimentally. At field strengths above 1.5 V nm−1, apparent droplet fracturing and breakup lead to an increase in ion angular velocity distributions. Greater mobility of EMI–BF4 ions than EMI–Im was also observed, indicative of the crucial role of cation-anion hydrogen bond strengths in ion extraction and beam composition between different propellants.