bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Isolated Biceps Tenodesis/Tenotomy or Partial Rotator Cuff Repair Associated with Biceps Tenodesis/Tenotomy for Massive Irreparable Tears: A Systematic Review
Authors: Descamps Jules , Kierszbaum Elliott , Protais Marie , Marion Blandine , Bouché Pierre-Alban , Aïm Florence
Published: March 2023

Irreparable large to massive rotator cuff tears (MIRCTs) are a prevalent cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction, and nonoperative treatment may not always be effective. Various surgical options exist, with isolated biceps tenotomy/tenodesis (BT) or arthroscopic partial repair with associated biceps tenotomy/tenodesis (PCR-BT) being the most common. The aim of this study was to systematically review the available data on the clinical and functional outcomes of BT and PCR-BT in patients with MIRCTs. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched for studies on the treatment of MIRCT. We included studies with BT or PCR-BT with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. The MINORS (Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies) score was used to assess study quality. Outcomes included were the visual analog scale for pain, functional scores such as Constant-Murley and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, range of motion, radiological measurements, and complications. Results: A total of 1101 patients (506 had a BT and 595 had a PCR-BT) from 22 studies were included (cases series = 13, case–control = 7, randomized control trial = 1, prospective cohort study = 1). The mean MINORS score was 13.2 ± 3.2. The mean age and follow-up were 67 ± 6.8 years and 4.58 ± 1.1 years (range, 2, 12), respectively. The VAS improvement showed at the last follow-up for PCR-BT (range, 1.97, 5.8) and BT (range, 4, 6.1). CMS was improved at the final follow-up for PCR-BT (range, 13, 47.6) and BT (range, 10.8, 28). Regarding the ASES, it has demonstrated significant improvements for PCR-BT (range, 31.81, 44.8) and BT (range, 30,45.8). For forward flexion, PCR-BT showed improvement (range, −14°, 59.4°), as well as the BT group (range, 2°, 27.9°). Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrated that both BT and PCR-BT improve functional outcomes and reduce pain at midterm follow-up for MIRCT. Since we know that a failed cuff repair would worsen the shoulder, it might be beneficial in terms of the risk–benefit ratio to not repair in certain patients with MIRCT.
The Maximal Urethral Pressure at Rest and during Normal Bladder Filling Is Only Determined by the Activity of the Urethral Smooth Musculature in the Female
Authors: Venema Pieter L. , Kramer Guus , van Koeveringe Gommert A. , Heesakkers John P. F. A.
Published: March 2023

The aim of this opinion paper is to determine the entities that define the maximal urethral pressure (MUP) during rest and during bladder filling that is needed to guarantee continence in females. For the development of this opinion, the literature was searched for via the Pubmed database and historic sources. Animal studies indicate that the maximal urethral pressure is determined by the smooth muscle activity in the mid-urethra. Additionally, during increased smooth muscle tone development, the largest sympathetic responses are found in the middle part of the urethra. This could be confirmed in human studies that are unable to find striated EMG activity in this area. Moreover, the external urethral striated sphincter is situated at the distal urethra, which is not the area with the highest pressure. The external urethral sphincter only provides additional urethral pressure in situations of exertion and physical activity. From a physics point of view, the phasic pressure of the external striated sphincter at the distal urethra cannot be added to the tonic pressure generated by the smooth muscle in the mid-urethra. The assertion that mid-urethral pressure is the result of different pressure forces around the urethra, including that of the external striated sphincter, is not supported by basic research evidence combined with physical calculation and should therefore be considered a misconception in the field of functional urology.
Preceding Balance Disorders Affect Vestibular Function in Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness
Authors: Oka Mineko , Ichijo Kentaro , Koda Kento , Kamogashira Teru , Kinoshita Makoto , Igarashi Kazunori , Kawahara Takuya , Takashima Ikumi , Yamasoba Tatsuya , Fujimoto Chisato
Published: March 2023

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is induced by preceding conditions that cause balance disorders. To investigate the association between vestibular function and preceding balance disorders in PPPD patients, a retrospective chart review was performed. Vestibular function in 55 PPPD patients was measured using the caloric test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing to air-conducted sound (ACS cVEMP), ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing to bone-conducted vibration (BCV oVEMP), and video head impulse testing (vHIT). Patients were classified according to the type of preceding balance disorder. The age-stratified Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel (CMH) test and the exact test for the common odds ratio were conducted to evaluate the association between preceding n ≥ 4 balance disorders and present peripheral vestibular dysfunction. PPPD patients with preceding vestibular neuritis presented a significant positive association with abnormal caloric responses (p = 0.013), while those with preceding benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) had significantly lower rates of abnormal BCV oVEMP (p = 0.003). Furthermore, patients with preceding vestibular neuritis showed lateral semicircular canal dysfunction, while those with preceding BPPV presented normal utricular functions. These results present the influence of preceding balance disorders on the vestibular function in PPPD.
Virtual Art Therapy: Application of Michelangelo Effect to Neurorehabilitation of Patients with Stroke
Authors: De Giorgi Roberto , Fortini Antonio , Aghilarre Federica , Gentili Federico , Morone Giovanni , Antonucci Gabriella , Vetrano Mario , Tieri Gaetano , Iosa Marco
Published: March 2023

In neurorehabilitation, some studies reported the effective use of art therapy for reducing psychological disorders and for enhancing physical functions and cognitive abilities. Neuroaesthetical studies showed that seeing an art masterpiece can spontaneously elicit a widespread brain arousal, also involving motor networks. To combine contemplative and performative benefits of art therapy protocols, we have developed an immersive virtual reality system, giving subjects the illusion that they are able to paint a copy of famous artistic paintings. We previously observed that during this virtual task, subjects perceived less fatigue and performed more accurate movements than when they were asked to color the virtual canvas. We named this upshot the Michelangelo effect. The aim of this study was to test the rehabilitative efficacy of our system. Ten patients with stroke in the subacute phase were enrolled and trained for one month with virtual art therapy (VAT) and physiotherapy. Their data were compared with those of ten patients matched for pathology, age and clinical parameters, trained only with conventional therapy for the same amount of time. The VAT group showed a significantly higher improvements in the Barthel Index score, a measure of independency in activities of daily living (66 ± 33% vs. 31 ± 28%, p = 0.021), and in pinching strength (66 ± 39% vs. 18 ± 33%, p = 0.008), with respect to the group treated with conventional rehabilitation.
Clinical and Forensic Signs Resulting from Exposure to Heavy Metals and Other Chemical Elements of the Periodic Table
Authors: de Carvalho Machado Carolina , Dinis-Oliveira Ricardo Jorge
Published: March 2023

Several heavy metals and other chemical elements are natural components of the Earth’s crust and their properties and toxicity have been recognized for thousands of years. Moreover, their use in industries presents a major source of environmental and occupational pollution. Therefore, this ubiquity in daily life may result in several potential exposures coming from natural sources (e.g., through food and water contamination), industrial processes, and commercial products, among others. The toxicity of most chemical elements of the periodic table accrues from their highly reactive nature, resulting in the formation of complexes with intracellular compounds that impair cellular pathways, leading to dysfunction, necrosis, and apoptosis. Nervous, gastrointestinal, hematopoietic, renal, and dermatological systems are the main targets. This manuscript aims to collect the clinical and forensic signs related to poisoning from heavy metals, such as thallium, lead, copper, mercury, iron, cadmium, and bismuth, as well as other chemical elements such as arsenic, selenium, and fluorine. Furthermore, their main sources of occupational and environmental exposure are highlighted in this review. The importance of rapid recognition is related to the fact that, through a high degree of suspicion, the clinician could rapidly initiate treatment even before the toxicological results are available, which can make a huge difference in these patients’ outcomes.
Association of Hepatitis B and C Virus with the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Cerebrovascular Disease in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Meng-Chuan , Wu Ying-Hsuen , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Lin Hsuan-Hwai , Hsieh Tsai-Yuan , Chen Peng-Jen , Chien Wu-Chien , Chen Hsuan-Wei
Published: March 2023

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for approximately 90% of primary liver cancers and hepatitis virus was believed to have the potential for altering the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. However, the influence of the hepatitis virus on coronary artery disease or cerebral vascular disease remains unclear. This study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to clarify the virus-associated risk of coronary artery disease and cerebral vascular disease in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 188,039 HCC individuals, age 20 years or older, were enrolled from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database between 2000 and 2017 for cohort analysis. A total of 109,348 with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, 37,506 with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 34,110 without HBV or HCV, and 7075 with both HBV and HCV were recorded. Statistically, propensity score matched by sex, age, and index year at a ratio of 15:5:5:1 and a sensitivity test using multivariable Cox regression were used. Results: The risk of coronary artery disease in the HCV-related HCC group was 1.516-fold (95% CI: 1.328–2.034, p < 0.001) higher than in the HBV-related HCC group, followed by the HBV/HCV-related HCC group and the non-B/C HCC group; the cerebral vascular disease risk in the HCV-related HCC group was 1.467-fold higher than in the HBV-related HCC group (95% CI: 1.335 to 1.786, p < 0.001), followed by the HBV/HCV-related HCC group and the non-B/C HCC group. Conclusion: Hepatitis C virus infection was found to have a higher risk of developing coronary artery disease or cerebral vascular disease in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, our findings warrant the importance in preventing artherosclerotic disease in the setting of hepatitis C virus infection.
Study Method of Pile near Cohesionless Slope under Reversed Lateral Load Considering Sand Strength State and Lateral Deflection of Pile
Authors: Jiang Chong , Liu Jing , Lin Mingke
Published: March 2023

A p-y curve method of pile near cohesionless soil slope under reversed lateral load is proposed. This method takes into account the failure mode of soil around the pile under reversed lateral load and the interaction mode between pile and soil, and derives the ultimate soil resistance of the pile. Considering the change of the original stress state of soil due to the lateral deflection of the pile foundation, the influence of the relative density, the initial mean effective stress and the lateral deflection of pile foundation on the internal friction angle of the sand is evaluated to further accurately calculate the soil resistance value at each depth. The prediction results of this method are well verified by comparing with the FE results and centrifuge test results. Finally, the influence of the process of lateral deflection of pile on the strength state of soil around the pile and the bearing capacity of pile is studied.
Evaluation of a Cyber Risk Assessment Approach for Cyber–Physical Systems: Maritime- and Energy-Use Cases
Authors: Amro Ahmed , Gkioulos Vasileios
Published: March 2023

In various domains such as energy, manufacturing, and maritime, cyber–physical systems (CPSs) have seen increased interest. Both academia and industry have focused on the cybersecurity aspects of such systems. The assessment of cyber risks in a CPS is a popular research area with many existing approaches that aim to suggest relevant methods and practices. However, few works have addressed the extensive and objective evaluation of the proposed approaches. In this paper, a standard-aligned evaluation methodology is presented and empirically conducted to evaluate a newly proposed cyber risk assessment approach for CPSs. The approach, which is called FMECA-ATT&CK is based on failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) risk assessment process and enriched with the semantics and encoded knowledge in the Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge framework (ATT&CK). Several experts were involved in conducting two risk assessment processes, FMECA-ATT&CK and Bow-Tie, against two use cases in different application domains, particularly an autonomous passenger ship (APS) as a maritime-use case and a digital substation as an energy-use case. This allows for the evaluation of the approach based on a group of characteristics, namely, applicability, feasibility, accuracy, comprehensiveness, adaptability, scalability, and usability. The results highlight the positive utility of FMECA-ATT&CK in model-based, design-level, and component-level cyber risk assessment of CPSs with several identified directions for improvements. Moreover, the standard-aligned evaluation method and the evaluation characteristics have been demonstrated as enablers for the thorough evaluation of cyber risk assessment methods.
Penicillium citrinum Provides Transkingdom Growth Benefits in Choy Sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis)
Authors: Gu Keyu , Chen Cheng-Yen , Selvaraj Poonguzhali , Pavagadhi Shruti , Yeap Yoon Ting , Swarup Sanjay , Zheng Wenhui , Naqvi Naweed I.
Published: March 2023

Soil-borne beneficial microbes establish symbioses with plant hosts and play key roles during growth and development therein. In this study, two fungal strains, FLP7 and B9, were isolated from the rhizosphere microbiome associated with Choy Sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), respectively. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer and 18S ribosomal RNA genes combined with colony and conidial morphology identified FLP7 and B9 to be Penicillium citrinum strains/isolates. Plant–fungus interaction assays revealed that isolate B9 showed significant growth promotion effects in Choy Sum plants cultivated in normal soil, as well as under phosphate-limiting conditions. In comparison to the mock control, B9-inoculated plants showed a 34% increase in growth in aerial parts and an 85% upsurge in the fresh weight of roots when cultivated in sterilized soil. The dry biomass of such fungus-inoculated Choy Sum increased by 39% and 74% for the shoots and roots, respectively. Root colonization assays showed that P. citrinum associates directly with the root surface but does not enter or invade the root cortex of the inoculated Choy Sum plants. Preliminary results also indicated that P. citrinum can promote growth in Choy Sum via volatile metabolites too. Interestingly, we detected relatively higher amounts of gibberellins and cytokinins in axenic P. citrinum culture filtrates through liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses. This could plausibly explain the overall growth induction in P. citrinum-inoculated Choy Sum plants. Furthermore, the phenotypic growth defects associated with the Arabidopsis ga1 mutant could be chemically complemented by the exogenous application of P. citrinum culture filtrate, which also showed accumulation of fungus-derived active gibberellins. Our study underscores the importance of transkingdom beneficial effects of such mycobiome-assisted nutrient assimilation and beneficial fungus-derived phytohormone-like metabolites in the induction of robust growth in urban farmed crops.
Improving Methanol Utilization by Reducing Alcohol Oxidase Activity and Adding Co-Substrate of Sodium Citrate in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Liu Shufan , Dong Haofan , Hong Kai , Meng Jiao , Lin Liangcai , Wu Xin
Published: March 2023

Methanol, which produced in large quantities from low-quality coal and the hydrogenation of CO2, is a potentially renewable one-carbon (C1) feedstock for biomanufacturing. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris is an ideal host for methanol biotransformation given its natural capacity as a methanol assimilation system. However, the utilization efficiency of methanol for biochemical production is limited by the toxicity of formaldehyde. Therefore, reducing the toxicity of formaldehyde to cells remains a challenge to the engineering design of a methanol metabolism. Based on genome-scale metabolic models (GSMM) calculations, we speculated that reducing alcohol oxidase (AOX) activity would re-construct the carbon metabolic flow and promote balance between the assimilation and dissimilation of formaldehyde metabolism processes, thereby increasing the biomass formation of P. pastoris. According to experimental verification, we proved that the accumulation of intracellular formaldehyde can be decreased by reducing AOX activity. The reduced formaldehyde formation upregulated methanol dissimilation and assimilation and the central carbon metabolism, which provided more energy for the cells to grow, ultimately leading to an increased conversion of methanol to biomass, as evidenced by phenotypic and transcriptome analysis. Significantly, the methanol conversion rate of AOX-attenuated strain PC110-AOX1-464 reached 0.364 g DCW/g, representing a 14% increase compared to the control strain PC110. In addition, we also proved that adding a co-substrate of sodium citrate could further improve the conversion of methanol to biomass in the AOX-attenuated strain. It was found that the methanol conversion rate of the PC110-AOX1-464 strain with the addition of 6 g/L sodium citrate reached 0.442 g DCW/g, representing 20% and 39% increases compared to AOX-attenuated strain PC110-AOX1-464 and control strain PC110 without sodium citrate addition, respectively. The study described here provides insight into the molecular mechanism of efficient methanol utilization by regulating AOX. Reducing AOX activity and adding sodium citrate as a co-substrate are potential engineering strategies to regulate the production of chemicals from methanol in P. pastoris.
Studies on the Genus Pyrenopolyporus (Hypoxylaceae) in Thailand Using a Polyphasic Taxonomic Approach
Authors: Wongkanoun Sarunyou , Chainuwong Boonchuai , Kobmoo Noppol , Roytrakul Sittiruk , Somrithipol Sayanh , Luangsa-ard Jennifer , Charria-Girón Esteban , Srikitikulchai Prasert , Stadler Marc
Published: March 2023

Over the past two decades, hypoxylaceous specimens were collected from several sites in Thailand. In this study, we examined their affinity to the genus Pyrenopolyporus using macroscopic and microscopic morphological characters, dereplication of their stromatal secondary metabolites using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-IM-MS/MS), and molecular phylogenetic analyses. We describe and illustrate five novel species and a new record for the country, present multi-locus phylogenetic analyses that show the distinction between the proposed species, and provide proteomic profiles of the fungi using matrix associated laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) for the first time. Based on our findings, this strategy is useful as a complementary tool to distinguish species between Daldinia and Pyrenopolyporus in a consistent way with the phylogenetic analysis.
High Dosage of Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia (PCEA) with Low Background Infusion during Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wei Yu , Wang Yilong , Zhao Yanhong , Wu Chaomin , Liu Henry , Yang Zeyong
Published: March 2023

Background: Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is well documented; however, it is unclear whether a high dosage of PCEA with a low dosage of background infusion during labor can be a safe and effective application. Methods: Group LH was administered a continuous infusion (CI) of 0.084 mL/kg/h with PCEA of 5 mL every 40 min. Group HL was given a CI of 0.028 mL/kg/h and PCEA of 10 mL every 40 min; Group HH was given a CI of 0.084 mL/kg/h and PCEA of 10 mL every 40 min. The primary outcomes were VAS pain score, the number of supplemental boluses, incidence of pain outbreaks, drug dose for pain outbreaks, PCA times, effective PCA times, anesthetic consumption, duration of analgesia, duration of labor and delivery outcome. Secondary outcomes included adverse reactions such as itching, nausea and vomiting during analgesia and neonatal Apgar scores 1 min and 5 min after birth. Results: A total of 180 patients, 60 in each group were randomly assigned to one of three groups included group LH, group HL or group HH. The VAS scores were obviously decreased in HL group and HH group in comparison with LL group at 2 h after analgesia and the time point of full cervical dilation and delivery of baby. The time for third stage of labor in HH group was increased compared with LH group and HL group. Incidence of pain outbreaks in LH group was obviously increased compared with HL and HH group. The effective PCA times in HL group and HH group were remarkably reduced compared with those in LH group. Conclusions: High dose of PCEA with a low background infusion can reduce effective PCA times, incidence of outbreak pain and the total amount of anesthetics without diminishing analgesia effects. However, high dose of PCEA with a high background infusion can enhance analgesia effect but increase the third stage of labor, instrumental delivery ratio and the total amount of anesthetics.
Clinical Application of Personalized Digital Surgical Planning and Precise Execution for Severe and Complex Adult Spinal Deformity Correction Utilizing 3D Printing Techniques
Authors: Ding Hongtao , Hai Yong , Zhou Lijin , Liu Yuzeng , Zhang Yiqi , Han Chaofan , Zhang Yangpu
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: The three-dimensional printing (3DP) technique has been reported to be of great utility in spine surgery. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical application of personalized preoperative digital planning and a 3DP guidance template in the treatment of severe and complex adult spinal deformity. (2) Methods: eight adult patients with severe rigid kyphoscoliosis were given personalized surgical simulation based on the preoperative radiological data. Guidance templates for screw insertion and osteotomy were designed and manufactured according to the planning protocol and used during the correction surgery. The perioperative, and radiological parameters and complications, including surgery duration, estimated blood loss, pre- and post-operative cobb angle, trunk balance, and precision of osteotomy operation with screw implantation were collected retrospectively and analyzed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of this technique. (3) Results: Of the eight patients, the primary pathology of scoliosis included two adult idiopathic scoliosis (ADIS), four congenital scoliosis (CS), one ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and one tuberculosis (TB). Two patients had a previous history of spinal surgery. Three pedicle subtraction osteotomies (PSOs) and five vertebral column resection (VCR) osteotomies were successfully performed with the application of the guide templates. The main cobb angle was corrected from 99.33° to 34.17°, and the kyphosis was corrected from 110.00° to 42.00°. The ratio of osteotomy execution and simulation was 97.02%. In the cohort, the average screw accuracy was 93.04%. (4) Conclusions: The clinical application of personalized digital surgical planning and precise execution via 3D printing guidance templates in the treatment of severe adult rigid deformity is feasible, effective, and easily generalizable. The preoperative osteotomy simulation was executed with high precision, utilizing personalized designed guidance templates. This technique can be used to reduce the surgical risk and difficulty of screw placement and high-level osteotomy.
Evaluation of Surface Crack Development and Soil Damage Based on UAV Images of Coal Mining Areas
Authors: Zhang Fan , Hu Zhenqi , Liang Yusheng , Li Quanzhi
Published: March 2023

Coal mining is necessary for the development of society but at the same time causes ecological damage that must also be repaired based on science. In the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, surface cracks are one of the major geo-environmental problems caused by coal mining, and studies are urgently needed to determine how to effectively repair them in a scientific manner. The rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing technology in recent years has resulted in a good source of data for acquiring feature information on surface cracks. Existing studies mainly focus on high-precision crack extraction methods, and there are few studies on the methods for evaluating cracks. However, clarifying the degree of cracks requiring repair and what repair measures are required through scientific and reasonable evaluation methods is necessary to formulate effective crack repair and land reclamation plans. Given these considerations, in this study, the degree of both crack development and soil damage were evaluated based on the crack extraction results of UAV images. Based on the results of indoor experiments and field measurements, the grading criteria for the degree of crack development and soil damage were constructed. Crack density was used as the evaluation index for the degree of crack development (slight: <0.4%, moderate: 0.4–2%, severe: >2%). The distance between soil and cracks was the basis of the evaluation index for the soil damage degree (severe damage area: <0.6 m; slight damage area: 0.6–1.2 m; no obvious damage area: >1.2 m). Through the results from evaluating the degree of both crack development and soil damage in the study area, it was found that the degree of crack development was mainly moderate and located in the northern crack zone of the study area, with the cracks and damaged soil showing a striped pattern in the east-west direction. Combining the evaluation results of crack development and soil damage, the ecological restoration model of “natural restoration + crack filling + water supplementing + vegetation planting” is proposed. We conclude that crack repair should be applied in areas where moderate and severe cracks have developed, whereas soil repair should target the soil within 1.2 m of the cracks in the above area. This study is the first attempt to construct and evaluate the classification criteria of crack development degree and soil damage degree from the perspective of cracks and soil, and the results are of guiding significance for land reclamation in mining areas.
A Procedure for Evaluating Historical Land Use Change and Resilience in Highly Reclaimed Coastal Areas: The Case of the Tavoliere di Puglia (Southern Italy)
Authors: De Santis Vincenzo , Rizzo Angela , Scardino Giovanni , Scicchitano Giovanni , Caldara Massimo
Published: March 2023

In this research, an operative procedure for the evaluation of land use change that occurred in highly reclaimed coastal areas from the middle of the XIX century up to the present day is proposed. The multitemporal analysis envisages the use of historical maps, aerial photographs, and satellite images, whose interpretation is performed in a GIS environment. The proposed methodological approach starts from the interpretation of the symbols used in the legend of the historical maps. Subsequently, in order to compare historical information with the most recent land use classifications (i.e., CORINE land cover), a set of twenty-two macro-categories is proposed to find a compromise between a highly detailed land use classification and its applicability to both historical and present-day data. The study area is located in the coastal sector of the Tavoliere di Puglia (Apulia region, Southern Italy), the second-largest coastal plain in Italy. In this area, environmental changes were mostly driven by extensive reclamation and drainage works, which allowed more than 170 km2 of land to be removed from coastal marshes and wetlands. The results show a strong increase in the surface occupied by arable land, urban areas, and saltwork, which today occupy about 57%, 3%, and 23% of the total investigated area, respectively. In contrast, the total surface occupied by grassland, pasture, meadow, and shrubland decreased from 59.6% in 1869 to 4.6% in the present-day setting. It is worth noting that although fluvial sediments were trapped and used to fill the marshy areas, the coastline prograded up to the first half of the XX century, favouring the formation of wide coastal dune systems. Nevertheless, the natural coastal resilience of the investigated system has been reduced since the second half of the XX century, probably as a consequence of the construction of numerous dams in the Ofanto River catchment, which represents the main river in the investigated area.
Machine Learning-Based Assessment of Watershed Morphometry in Makran
Authors: Derakhshani Reza , Zaresefat Mojtaba , Nikpeyman Vahid , GhasemiNejad Amin , Shafieibafti Shahram , Rashidi Ahmad , Nemati Majid , Raoof Amir
Published: March 2023

This study proposes an artificial intelligence approach to assess watershed morphometry in the Makran subduction zones of South Iran and Pakistan. The approach integrates machine learning algorithms, including artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector regression (SVR), and multivariate linear regression (MLR), on a single platform. The study area was analyzed by extracting watersheds from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and calculating eight morphometric indices. The morphometric parameters were normalized using fuzzy membership functions to improve accuracy. The performance of the machine learning algorithms is evaluated by mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and correlation coefficient (R2) between the output of the method and the actual dataset. The ANN model demonstrated high accuracy with an R2 value of 0.974, MSE of 4.14 × 10−6, and MAE of 0.0015. The results of the machine learning algorithms were compared to the tectonic characteristics of the area, indicating the potential for utilizing the ANN algorithm in similar investigations. This approach offers a novel way to assess watershed morphometry using ML techniques, which may have advantages over other approaches.
A Numerical Approach to Characterize the Efficiency of Cyclone Separator
Authors: Kang Yu Rim , Kwak Jae B.
Published: March 2023

Cyclone separators are active filtering devices suitable for a variety of industrial applications from conventional cutting oil pumps to recycling liquids. Since the vortex flow inside cyclones is highly complicated, the performance and flow patterns of these filters should be thoroughly researched. Liquid–solid cyclones mostly use water. Numerical studies on cyclones using higher-viscosity oils are limited. In this study, a liquid–solid cyclone injected with medium-viscosity cutting oil containing various sized-particles was comprehensively investigated. The reliability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods was verified through a comparison with the experimental results. Three models with different geometries were considered for the analysis. One model was used for CFD verification. The other two models involved adding sockets for hopper length extension and changing the shape of the bottom of the hopper. The models that changed the shape of the hopper, thus directly affecting the cyclone performance, were investigated, and each model was qualitatively compared using a validated method. In addition, particle separation efficiency was evaluated by focusing on the velocity distribution to quantitatively confirm the influence of changing the shape of the hopper. The tangential velocity was determined to be similar across all three models, while the axial velocity was different and the change in the velocity of transport of the particles affected the filter function.
Distributed Fire Detection and Localization Model Using Federated Learning
Authors: Hu Yue , Fu Xinghao , Zeng Wei
Published: March 2023

Fire detection and monitoring systems based on machine vision have been gradually developed in recent years. Traditional centralized deep learning model training methods transfer large amounts of video image data to the cloud, making image data privacy and confidentiality difficult. In order to protect the data privacy in the fire detection system with heterogeneous data and to enhance its efficiency, this paper proposes an improved federated learning algorithm incorporating computer vision: FedVIS, which uses a federated dropout and gradient selection algorithm to reduce communication overhead, and uses a transformer to replace a traditional neural network to improve the robustness of federated learning in the context of heterogeneous data. FedVIS can reduce the communication overhead in addition to reducing the catastrophic forgetting of previous devices, improving convergence, and producing superior global models. In this paper’s experimental results, FedVIS outperforms the common federated learning methods FedSGD, FedAVG, FedAWS, and CMFL, and improves the detection effect by reducing communication costs. As the amount of clients increases, the accuracy of other algorithmic models decreases by 2–5%, and the number of communication rounds required increases significantly; meanwhile, our method maintains a superior detection performance while requiring roughly the same number of communication rounds.
Predictive Modeling of the Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Rocks Using an Artificial Neural Network Approach
Authors: Wei Xin , Shahani Niaz Muhammad , Zheng Xigui
Published: March 2023

Sedimentary rocks provide information on previous environments on the surface of the Earth. As a result, they are the principal narrators of the former climate, life, and important events on the surface of the Earth. The complexity and cost of direct destructive laboratory tests adversely affect the data scarcity problem, making the development of intelligent indirect methods an integral step in attempts to address the problem faced by rock engineering projects. This study established an artificial neural network (ANN) approach to predict the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) in MPa of sedimentary rocks using different input parameters; i.e., dry density (ρd) in g/cm3, Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) in MPa, and wet density (ρwet) in g/cm3. The developed ANN models, M1, M2, and M3, were divided as follows: the overall dataset, 70% training dataset and 30% testing dataset, and 60% training dataset and 40% testing dataset, respectively. In addition, multiple linear regression (MLR) was performed for comparison to the proposed ANN models to verify the accuracy of the predicted values. The performance indices were also calculated by estimating the established models. The predictive performance of the M2 ANN model in terms of the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean squared error (RMSE), variance accounts for (VAF), and a20-index was 0.831, 0.27672, 0.92, and 0.80, respectively, in the testing dataset, revealing ideal results, thus it was proposed as the best-fit prediction model for UCS of sedimentary rocks at the Thar coalfield, Pakistan, among the models developed in this study. Moreover, by performing a sensitivity analysis, it was determined that BTS was the most influential parameter in predicting UCS.
General Fractional Calculus in Multi-Dimensional Space: Riesz Form
Authors: Tarasov Vasily E.
Published: March 2023

An extension of the general fractional calculus (GFC) is proposed as a generalization of the Riesz fractional calculus, which was suggested by Marsel Riesz in 1949. The proposed Riesz form of GFC can be considered as an extension GFC from the positive real line and the Laplace convolution to the m-dimensional Euclidean space and the Fourier convolution. To formulate the general fractional calculus in the Riesz form, the Luchko approach to construction of the GFC, which was suggested by Yuri Luchko in 2021, is used. The general fractional integrals and derivatives are defined as convolution-type operators. In these definitions the Fourier convolution on m-dimensional Euclidean space is used instead of the Laplace convolution on positive semi-axis. Some properties of these general fractional operators are described. The general fractional analogs of first and second fundamental theorems of fractional calculus are proved. The fractional calculus of the Riesz potential and the fractional Laplacian of the Riesz form are special cases of proposed general fractional calculus of the Riesz form.
Apex Method: A New Scalable Iterative Method for Linear Programming
Authors: Sokolinsky Leonid B. , Sokolinskaya Irina M.
Published: March 2023

The article presents a new scalable iterative method for linear programming called the “apex method”. The key feature of this method is constructing a path close to optimal on the surface of the feasible region from a certain starting point to the exact solution of a linear programming problem. The optimal path refers to a path of the minimum length according to the Euclidean metric. The apex method is based on the predictor—corrector framework and proceeds in two stages: quest (predictor) and target (corrector). The quest stage calculates a rough initial approximation of the linear programming problem. The target stage refines the initial approximation with a given precision. The main operation used in the apex method is an operation that calculates the pseudoprojection, which is a generalization of the metric projection to a convex closed set. This operation is used both in the quest stage and in the target stage. A parallel algorithm using a Fejér mapping to compute the pseudoprojection is presented. An analytical estimation of the parallelism degree of this algorithm is obtained. AlsoAdditionally, an algorithm implementing the target stage is given. The convergence of this algorithm is proven. An experimental study of the scalability of the apex method on a cluster computing system is described. The results of applying the apex method to solve problems from the Netlib-LP repository are presented.
Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Liquid Water during Switching Mode for Unitised Regenerative Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Low Hock Chin , Lim Bee Huah
Published: March 2023

As unitised regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cell (URPEMFC) is progressing in terms of its performance, more emphasis should be placed on the understanding of the interaction between multiphase reactants and products and its effect during the switching mode. A 3D transient computational fluid dynamics model was utilised in this study to simulate the supply of liquid water into the flow field when the system switched from fuel cell mode to electrolyser mode. Different water velocities were investigated to identify their effect on the transport behaviour under parallel, serpentine, and symmetry flow fields. From the simulation results, 0.5 m·s−1 water velocity was the best-performing parameter in achieving optimal distribution. Among different flow field configurations, the serpentine design achieved the best flow distribution due to its single-channel model. Modification and refinement in the form of flow field geometric structure can be performed to further improve the water transportation behaviour in URPEMFC.
Future Research and Developments on Reuse and Recycling of Steelmaking By-Products
Authors: Colla Valentina , Branca Teresa Annunziata , Pietruck Roland , Wölfelschneider Simon , Morillon Agnieszka , Algermissen David , Rosendahl Sara , Granbom Hanna , Martini Umberto , Snaet Delphine
Published: March 2023

In the steel sector, sustainable management of by-products is a key challenge to preserve natural resources and achieve the zero waste goal. In this paper, the main trends of future research and development on reuse and recycling of by-products of the steel industry are presented in the form of a roadmap, which is the outcome of a dissemination project funded by the European Union based on the analysis of the most relevant and recent European projects concerning reuse and recycling of by-products from the steel production cycle. In particular, the developed roadmap highlights the most important topics of future research activities and challenges related to reuse and recycling of by-products from the existing or alternative steelmaking routes. A time horizon of 10 years has been considered, taking into account the European Commission targets to achieve carbon neutrality in a circular economy context. In addition, current technological trends derived from past and ongoing research projects are analysed. Research needs are based on the main categories of by-products and residual materials. Due to the different pathways to reduce CO2 emissions, each category is divided into subcategories considering both current and novel process routes targeting decarbonization of steel production. This work identifies the most urgent and demanding research directions for the coming years based on a survey targeting the steel companies, services providers of the steel industry and research organizations active in the field.
Strengthening Granulating and Sintering Performance of Refractory Iron Concentrate by Pre-Pelletizing
Authors: Han Fengguang , Yang Yongbin , Wang Lin , Tang Peiyao , Zhong Qiang , Li Qian , Jiang Tao
Published: March 2023

May Concentrate Iron ore, as a refractory iron concentrate, deteriorates the permeability of the sintered layer during the sintering process due to its fine particle size and poor granulating performance. Therefore, it cannot be widely used in iron ore sintering. In this study, the strengthening granulation of May Concentrate Iron ore using pre-pelletizing to expand its utilization ratio was proposed. The experiments of conventional granulation, pre-pelletizing granulation and sinter pot test were carried out. Increasing May Concentrate Iron ore (a refractory iron concentrate) proportion was detrimental to conventional granulation, reducing the quasi-particle particle size and strength. May Concentrate Iron granulating and sintering performances were improved by pre-pelletizing. The quasi-particle average size at 36% May Concentrate Iron proportion jumped to 4.92 mm of pre-pelletizing granulation from 3.22 mm of conventional granulation. Meanwhile, the permeability index rose to 0.33 from 0.11, while the falling and drying pulverization ratio fell to 7.05% and 6.11% from 22.59% and 15.88%, respectively. The consolidation mode of matrix materials was liquid phase consolidation, while that of May Concentrate Iron pellets was solid phase consolidation, forming the structure of the pellets embedded in the matrix materials. Furthermore, the partial alkalinity of the matrix materials was increased because of the separation of May Concentrate Iron, generating a large amount of acicular calcium ferrite with better consolidation strength than conventional granulation sintering.
Effects of Hypolipidemic Drugs on Psoriasis
Authors: Matwiejuk Mateusz , Mysliwiec Hanna , Jakubowicz-Zalewska Olivia , Chabowski Adrian , Flisiak Iwona
Published: March 2023

Psoriasis is a chronic, systematic, inflammatory disease in which multiple metabolic and immunologic disturbances lead to lipid abnormalities, impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and numerous metabolic disorders. In clinical practice, the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of lipid abnormalities are statins and fibrates. Statins are characterized by pleiotropic effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antiproliferative. They work by reducing the concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, and triglycerides and stabilizing atherosclerotic plaque. Fibrates are medications, which help to lower triglycerides, LDL, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and increase lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In recent years, many new drugs were found to normalize the lipid profile in patients with psoriasis: glitazones (pioglitazone, troglitazone), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Pioglitazone improves the lipid profile, including the decrease of triglycerides, fatty acids, and LDL, as well as the increase of HDL. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogs decrease modestly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, and triglycerides. The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of knowledge on the effect of different hypolipidemic treatments on the course of psoriasis. The study includes literature from medical databases PubMed and Google Scholar. We were browsing PubMed and Google Scholar until the beginning of December. The systematic review includes 41 eligible original articles.
Oral Sources of Salivary Metabolites
Authors: Hyvärinen Eelis , Kashyap Bina , Kullaa Arja M.
Published: March 2023

The oral cavity is very diverse, wherein saliva plays an important role in maintaining oral health. The metabolism of saliva has been used to investigate oral diseases as well as general diseases, mainly to detect diagnostic biomarkers. There are many sources of salivary metabolites in the mouth. Online English language sources and the PubMed database were searched to retrieve relevant studies on oral salivary metabolites. The physiological balance of the mouth is influenced by many factors that are reflected in the salivary metabolite profile. Similarly, the dysbiosis of microbes can alter the salivary metabolite profile, which may express oral inflammation or oral diseases. This narrative review highlights the factors to be considered when examining saliva and its use as a diagnostic biofluid for different diseases. Salivary metabolites, mainly small-molecule metabolites may enter the bloodstream and cause illness elsewhere in the body. The importance of salivary metabolites produced in the oral cavity as risk factors for general diseases and their possible relationship to the body’s function are also discussed.