bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A dual functional Ti-Ga alloy: inhibiting biofilm formation and osteoclastogenesis differentiation via disturbing iron metabolism
Authors: Li Fupeng , Huang Kai , Wang Jinbing , Yuan Kai , Yang Yiqi , Liu Yihao , Zhou Xianhao , Kong Keyu , Yang Tao , He Jian , Liu Chunjie , Ao Haiyong , Liu Fengxiang , Liu Qian , Tang Tingting , Yang Shengbing
Published: March 2023

Background

Although biomedical implants have been widely used in orthopedic treatments, two major clinical challenges remain to be solved, one is the bacterial infection resulting in biofilm formation, and the other is aseptic loosening during implantation due to over-activated osteoclastogenesis. These factors can cause many clinical issues and even lead to implant failure. Thus, it is necessary to endow implants with antibiofilm and aseptic loosening-prevention properties, to facilitate the integration between implants and bone tissues for successful implantation. To achieve this goal, this study aimed to develop a biocompatible titanium alloy with antibiofilm and anti-aseptic loosening dual function by utilizing gallium (Ga) as a component.

Methods

A series of Ti-Ga alloys were prepared. We examined the Ga content, Ga distribution, hardness, tensile strength, biocompatibility, and anti-biofilm performance in vitro and in vivo. We also explored how Ga
3+
ions inhibited the biofilm formation of
Staphylococcus aureus
(
S. aureus
) and
Escherichia coli
(
E. coli
) and osteoclast differentiation.

Results

The alloy exhibited outstanding antibiofilm properties against both
S. aureus
and
E. coli
in vitro and decent antibiofilm performance against
S. aureus
in vivo. The proteomics results demonstrated that Ga
3+
ions could disturb the bacterial Fe metabolism of both
S. aureus
and
E. coli
, inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation. In addition, Ti-Ga alloys could inhibit receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-dependent osteoclast differentiation and function by targeting iron metabolism, then suppressing the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus, showing their potential to prevent aseptic loosening.

Conclusion

This study provides an advanced Ti-Ga alloy that can be used as a promising orthopedic implant raw material for various clinical scenarios. This work also revealed that iron metabolism is the common target of Ga
3+
ions to inhibit biofilm formation and osteoclast differentiation.
Visual function and retinal morphological changes after single suprachoroidal delivery of fluocinolone acetonide (Iluvien®) implant in eyes with chronic diabetic macular edema
Authors: El Rayes Ehab N. , Leila Mahmoud
Published: March 2023

Background

To assess the efficacy and safety of supra-choroidal (SC) Iluvien in the management of chronic diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods

A retrospective interventional non-comparative consecutive case series including patients with chronic DME who received an SC Iluvien implant. All patients had persistent central macular thickness (CMT) ≥ 300µ after previous treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or laser photocoagulation. The main outcome measures were improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reduction of CMT, and detection of ocular hypertension/glaucoma or cataract formation. Friedman’s two-way ANOVA was used to analyze BCVA, intraocular pressure (IOP), and DME across different time points. P-value = 0.05.

Results

The study included 12 eyes of 12 patients. Six patients (50%) were males. The median age was 58 years (range 52–76 years). The median duration of DM was 13 years (range 8–20 years). Ten patients (83.3%) were phakic and 2 patients (17%) were pseudophakic. The median pre-operative BCVA was 0.07 (range 0.05–0.8). The median pre-operative CMT was 544µ (range 354–745µ). The median pre-operative IOP was 17 mmHg (range 14-21mmHg). The median follow-up period was 12 months, range (12–42). Post-operatively, the median final BCVA was 0.15 (range 0.03-1), p 0.02, the median CMT was 404µ (range 213–747), p 0.4 and the median IOP was 19.5 mmHg (range 15–22), p 1. Two out of 10 phakic patients (20%) developed nuclear sclerosis grade I by 12 months. Six patients (50%) developed a transient rise in IOP < 10 mmHg from the baseline that resolved within 3 weeks with antiglaucoma drops.

Conclusion

SC Iluvien is potentially effective in improving visual function, reducing macular edema, and reducing the incidence of steroid-induced cataracts and glaucoma.
The role of working memory capacity in soccer tactical decision making at different levels of expertise
Authors: Glavaš Dragan , Pandžić Mario , Domijan Dražen
Published: March 2023

Athletic skills acquired through deliberate practice are essential for expert sports performance. Some authors even suggest that practice circumvents the limits of working memory capacity (WMC) in skill acquisition. However, this circumvention hypothesis has been challenged recently by the evidence that WMC plays an important role in expert performance in complex domains such as arts and sports. Here, we have used two dynamic soccer tactical tasks to explore the effect of WMC on tactical performance at different levels of expertise. As expected, professional soccer players exhibited better tactical performance than amateur and recreational players. Furthermore, WMC predicted faster and more accurate tactical decisions in the task under auditory distraction and faster tactical decisions in the task without distraction. Importantly, lack of expertise × WMC interaction suggests that the WMC effect exists at all levels of expertise. Our results speak against the circumvention hypothesis and support a model of independent contributions of WMC and deliberate practice on expert performance in sports.
Association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs1030868) variant in matrix metallopeptidase 2 gene and the development of lymphedema
Authors: Shakra Mohammed Youssef , Ibrahim Sherief , El Shahat Mostafa , Mohamed Amr , Sharapy Alaa , Omar Adel , AlSaeed Alshaimaa
Published: March 2023

Background

Understanding the genetic and molecular pathophysiology of lymphedema contributes to the identification of the complex interaction of genes associated with lymphedema and provides a key therapeutic opportunity to restore lymphatic function. This study aims to answer whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1030868 in the MMP-2 gene could be an associated variant in lymphedema development.

Methods

This study was carried out on 93 lymphedema cases (patients’ group) and 187 healthy individuals (control group). Genotyping of MMP-2 (rs1030868) was done following the protocol of Custom TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assays. TaqMan™ Fast Advanced Master Mix (Cat# 4448892) was used.

Results

The risk alleles for MMP-2 SNP rs1030868 were A and G of lymphedema development. The GG genotype was associated with triple the risk of lymphedema (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–6.5,p = 0.019), while the AA genotype was associated with 5.9 times the likelihood of lymphedema (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.3–11.9,p < 0.001).

Conclusions

We concluded that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms of rs1030868 in the matrix metallopeptidase 2 gene (allele A and allele G) could be associated variants with the development of lymphedema.
A surgical case of ciliated muconodular papillary tumor of the lung
Authors: Shidei Hiroaki , Aoshima Hiroe , Ogihara Akira , Isaka Tamami , Onizuka Hiromi , Nagashima Yoji , Nakatani Yukio , Kanzaki Masato
Published: March 2023

Ciliated muconodular papillary tumor (CMPT) is a rare type of tumor with both benign and malignant characteristics. Herein, we report the surgical case of a 65-year-old man with CMPT. Chest computed tomography revealed a solitary cavitary lesion with a maximum diameter of 11-mm in S10b of the right lower lung. A thoracoscopic lung wedge resection was subsequently performed. On microscopic examination, the tumor was composed of highly columnar cells with tubular-to-papillary and cystic growth patterns. On immunostaining, it was positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor. The tumor was diagnosed as a CMPT, exhibiting no recurrence after two years of follow-up.
Successful management of recurrence of lung surgery-induced pyoderma gangrenosum after pacemaker implantation: a case report
Authors: Muto Jun , Hase Ryunosuke , Narita Sho , Otsuka Shouhei , Sasaki Akihiro , Kato Tatsuya
Published: March 2023

Background

Pyoderma gangrenosum begins as a painful erythema with induration, vesicles, or hemorrhagic pustules, which develops into serous ulcers. In addition to ulcerative colitis and myelodysplastic syndrome, surgical intervention may also induce this disease.

Case presentation

A 90-year-old man had previously undergone video-assisted thoracic surgery left upper lobectomy for left lung cancer. Blood tests on the 6th postoperative day showed elevated levels of white blood cells and C-reactive protein. The wound appeared red and drained pus; however, the wound culture was negative for bacteria. A skin biopsy was performed on the 13th postoperative day, and the patient was diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum. Tacrolimus hydrate ointment was administered, symptoms gradually improved around the 18th postoperative day, and the erythematous area shrank. The patient was discharged on the 50th postoperative day.

Six months after lung surgery, a pacemaker was implanted in the left subclavian region. On the 6th postoperative day, the wound appeared reddish-brown and exudate was observed. On the 10th postoperative day, wound dehiscence was observed, and the pacemaker was removed. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum and was re-treated with ointment. On the 29th postoperative day, a leadless pacemaker, which can be implanted with a small incision, was selected for treating arrhythmia. The patient was discharged 7 days after the second implantation.

Conclusion

We report a recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum case following lung cancer surgery after pacemaker implantation as the second surgery, in which disease recurrence could be prevented by changing to a leadless pacemaker. Surgery and other invasive procedures should be avoided in pyoderma gangrenosum patients.
Smoking Cessation After Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Mortality and Cancer Progression: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sheikh Mahdi , Mukeriya Anush , Zahed Hana , Feng Xiaoshuang , Robbins Hilary A. , Shangina Oxana , Matveev Vsevolod , Brennan Paul , Zaridze David
Published: March 2023

PURPOSE

To investigate whether postdiagnosis smoking cessation may affect the risk of death and disease progression in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who smoked at the time of diagnosis.

METHODS

Two hundred twelve patients with primary RCC were recruited between 2007 and 2016 from the Urological Department in N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia. Upon enrollment, a structured questionnaire was completed, and the patients were followed annually through 2020 to repeatedly assess their smoking status and disease progression. Survival probabilities and hazards for all-cause and cancer-specific mortality and disease progression were investigated using extended the Kaplan-Meier method, time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression, and Fine-Gray competing-risk models.

RESULTS

Patients were followed for a median of 8.2 years. During this time, 110 cases of disease progression, 100 total deaths, and 77 cancer-specific deaths were recorded. Eighty-four patients (40%) quit smoking after diagnosis. The total person-years at risk for this analysis were 748.2 for continuing smoking and 611.2 for quitting smoking periods. At 5 years of follow-up, both overall survival (85% v 61%) and progression-free survival (80% v 57%) rates were higher during the quitting than continuing smoking periods (both P < .001). In the multivariable time-dependent models, quitting smoking was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.51; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.85), disease progression (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.71), and cancer-specific mortality (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.93). The beneficial effect of quitting smoking was evident across all subgroups, including light smokers versus moderate-heavy smokers and those with early-stage versus late-stage tumors.

CONCLUSION

Quitting smoking after RCC diagnosis may significantly improve survival and reduce the risk of disease progression and cancer mortality among patients who smoke.
Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy and Long-Term Survival in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Liedtke Cornelia , Mazouni Chafika , Hess Kenneth R. , André Fabrice , Tordai Attila , Mejia Jaime A. , Symmans W. Fraser , Gonzalez-Angulo Ana M. , Hennessy Bryan , Green Marjorie , Cristofanilli Massimo , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Pusztai Lajos
Published: March 2023

PURPOSE

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by the lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression. In this study, we compared response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and survival between patients with TNBC and non-TNBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Analysis of a prospectively collected clinical database was performed. We included 1,118 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for stage I-III breast cancer from 1985 to 2004 and for whom complete receptor information were available. Clinical and pathologic parameters, pathologic complete response rates (pCR), survival measurements, and organ-specific relapse rates were compared between patients with TNBC and non-TNBC.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-five patients (23%) had TNBC. Patients with TNBC compared with non-TNBC had significantly higher pCR rates (22% v 11%; P = .034), but decreased 3-year progression-free survival rates ( P < .0001) and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates ( P < .0001). TNBC was associated with increased risk for visceral metastases ( P = .0005), lower risk for bone recurrence ( P = .027), and shorter postrecurrence survival ( P < .0001). Recurrence and death rates were higher for TNBC only in the first 3 years. If pCR was achieved, patients with TNBC and non-TNBC had similar survival ( P = .24). In contrast, patients with residual disease (RD) had worse OS if they had TNBC compared with non-TNBC ( P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with TNBC have increased pCR rates compared with non-TNBC, and those with pCR have excellent survival. However, patients with RD after neoadjuvant chemotherapy have significantly worse survival if they have TNBC compared with non-TNBC, particularly in the first 3 years.
ASCO Ethical Guidance for the US Oncology Community Where Reproductive Health Care Is Limited by Law
Authors: Spence Rebecca A. , Hinyard Leslie J. , Jagsi Reshma , Jimenez Rachel B. , Lopez Ana Maria , Chavez-MacGregor Mariana , Spector-Bagdady Kayte , Rosenberg Abby R.
Published: March 2023

The decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned federal protections for abortion rights, making way for states to enact abortion bans with or without exceptions for the health or life of the pregnant patient. Patient care across many areas of medicine including oncology continues to be affected. Although the change in the legal landscape is widely felt, the core ethical considerations for physicians do not change because of restrictions on the practice of medicine. ASCO offers this guidance to assist US oncologists and institutions who must balance limitations with established ethical duties. This paper articulates principles for cancer care and pregnancy, offers a framework for ethical reflection and action for oncologists who care for pregnant patients, and makes recommendations for individual and institutional action to support evidence-based, patient-centered care in the United States where abortion is illegal or access is limited.
Data reconstruction for complex flows using AI: Recent progress, obstacles, and perspectives
Authors: Buzzicotti Michele
Published: March 2023

In recent years the fluid mechanics community has been intensely focused on pursuing solutions to its long-standing open problems by exploiting the new machine learning (ML) approaches. The exchange between ML and fluid mechanics is bringing important paybacks in both directions. The first is benefiting from new physics-inspired ML methods and a scientific playground to perform quantitative benchmarks, whilst the latter has been open to a large set of new tools inherently well suited to deal with big data, flexible in scope, and capable of revealing unknown correlations. A special case is the problem of modeling missing information of partially observable systems. The aim of this paper is to review some of the ML algorithms that are playing an important role in the current developments in this field, to uncover potential avenues, and to discuss the open challenges for applications to fluid mechanics.
Significance of classically forbidden regions for short baseline neutrino experiments
Authors: Ahluwalia Dharam Vir
Published: March 2023

Classically forbidden regions (CFRs) are common to both non-relativistic quantum mechanics, and to relativistic quantum field theory. It is known since 2001 that CFR contributes roughly sixteen percent of energy to the ground state of a simple harmonic oscillator (Adunas G. Z. et al., Gen. Relativ. Gravit., 33 (2001) 183). Similarly, quantum field theoretic arguments yield a non-zero amplitude for a massive particle to cross the light cone (that is, into the CFR). The signs of these amplitudes are opposite for fermions and antifermions. This has given rise to an erroneous conclusion that amplitude to cross the light cone is identically zero. This is true as long as a measurement does not reveal the considered object to be a particle or antiparticle. However, neutrino oscillation experiments do measure a neutrino ν, or an antineutrino

. Here we show that in the context of neutrino oscillations these observations have the potential to resolve various short baseline anomalies for a sufficiently light lowest mass eigenstate. In addition, we make a concrete prediction for the upcoming results to be announced later this year by JSNS2.
Size of a 2D ring polymer topologically unentangled with a planar array of obstacles
Authors: Daniels D. R.
Published: March 2023

We readdress the statistical mechanical problem of the size of a 2D ring polymer, topologically unentangled with a planar lattice array of regularly spaced obstacles. It is commonly assumed in the literature that such a polymer adopts a randomly branched type of configuration, in order to ostensibly maximise chain entropy, while minimising obstacle entanglement. Via an innovative analytic approach, valid in the condensed polymer region, we are able to provide a greater theoretical understanding, and justification, for this presumed polymer behaviour. Our theoretically derived results could also potentially have important implications for the structure of interphase chromosomes, as well as electrophoretic ring polymer dynamics.
Oncological Outcome After Lymph Node Dissection for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Huis in ’t Veld Eva A. , Boere Thomas , Zuur Charlotte L. , Wouters Michel W. , van Akkooi Alexander C. J. , Haanen John B. A. G. , Crijns Marianne B. , Smith Myles J. , Mooyaart Antien , Wakkee Marlies , Sewnaik Aniel , Strauss Dirk C. , Grunhagen Dirk J. , Verhoef Cornelis , Hayes Andrew J. , van Houdt Winan J.
Published: March 2023

Background

Although cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is common, lymph node metastases are relatively rare and are usually treated with lymph node dissection (LND). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical course and prognosis after LND for cSCC at all anatomical locations.

Methods

A retrospective search at three centres was performed to identify patients with lymph node metastases of cSCC who were treated with LND. Prognostic factors were identified by uni- and multivariable analysis.

Results

A total of 268 patients were identified with a median age of 74. All lymph node metastases were treated with LND, and 65% of the patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. After LND, 35% developed recurrent disease both locoregionally and distantly. Patients with more than one positive lymph node had an increased risk for recurrent disease.

165 (62%) patients died during follow-up of whom 77 (29%) due to cSCC. The 5-year OS- and DSS rate were 36% and 52%, respectively. Disease-specific survival was significantly worse in immunosuppressed patients, patients with primary tumors >2cm and patients with more than one positive lymph node.

Conclusions

This study shows that LND for patients with lymph node metastases of cSCC leads to a 5-year DSS of 52%. After LND, approximately one-third of the patients develop recurrent disease (locoregional and/or distant), which underscores the need for better systemic treatment options for locally advanced cSCC. The size of the primary tumor, more than one positive lymph node, and immunosuppression are independent predictors for risk of recurrence and disease-specific survival after LND for cSCC.
Energy Saving May Kill: Evidence from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Authors: He Guojun , Tanaka Takanao
Published: March 2023

Following the Fukushima nuclear accident, Japan gradually shut down all its nuclear power plants, causing a countrywide power shortage. In response the government launched large-scale energy-saving campaigns to reduce electricity consumption. Exploiting the electricity-saving targets across regions and over time, we show that the campaigns significantly increased mortality, particularly during extremely hot days. The impact is primarily driven by people using less air conditioning, as encouraged by the government. Nonpecuniary incentives can explain most of the reduction in electricity consumption. Our findings suggest there exists a trade-off between climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. (JEL I12, L94, L98, Q48, Q54, Q58)
Income Segregation and the Rise of the Knowledge Economy
Authors: Berkes Enrico , Gaetani Ruben
Published: March 2023

We analyze the effect of an increase in knowledge-intensive activities on spatial inequality in US cities. We leverage a predetermined network of patent citations to instrument for local innovation trends. Between 1990 and 2010, a one-standard-deviation increase in patent growth increases income segregation by 0.65 Gini points, corresponding to 0.31 standard deviations of the over-time change in income segregation. This effect mainly arises from the sorting of residents by income, occupation, and education. Local shocks to innovation induce a clustering of knowledge-intensive jobs and residents, amplified by the response of rents and amenities. (JEL D31, O31, O33, O34, R23, R32)
Discriminatory Lending: Evidence from Bankers in the Lab
Authors: Brock J. Michelle , De Haas Ralph
Published: March 2023

We implement a lab-in-the-field experiment with 334 Turkish loan officers to document gender discrimination in small business lending and unpack mechanisms. Officers review multiple real-life loan applications in which we randomize applicant gender. While unconditional approval rates are the same, officers are 26 percent more likely to require a guarantor when we present the same application as coming from a female instead of a male entrepreneur. A causal forest algorithm to estimate heterogeneous treatment effects reveals that discrimination is concentrated among young, inexperienced, and gender-biased officers. Discrimination mainly affects female loan applicants in male-dominated industries, indicating how financial frictions can perpetuate entrepreneurial gender segregation across sectors. (JEL C93, G21, G32, J16, L25, L26, O16)
Tax Refund Uncertainty: Evidence and Welfare Implications
Authors: Caldwell Sydnee , Nelson Scott , Waldinger Daniel
Published: March 2023

Transfers paid through annual tax refunds are a large but uncertain source of income for poor households. We document that low-income tax filers have substantial subjective uncertainty about these refunds. We investigate the determinants and consequences of refund uncertainty by linking survey, tax, and credit bureau data. On average, filers' expectations track realized refunds. More uncertain filers have larger differences between expected and realized refunds. Filers borrow in anticipation of their refunds, but more uncertain filers borrow less, consistent with precautionary behavior. A simple consumption-savings model suggests that refund uncertainty reduces the welfare benefits of the EITC by about 10 percent. (JEL D81, D83, D84, G51, H24)
When Externalities Collide: Influenza and Pollution
Authors: Graff Zivin Joshua , Neidell Matthew , Sanders Nicholas J. , Singer Gregor
Published: March 2023

Influenza and air pollution each pose significant health risks with global economic consequences. Their shared etiological pathways present a case of compounding health risk via interacting externalities. Using instrumental variables based on changing wind direction, we show that increased levels of contemporaneous pollution increase influenza hospitalizations. We exploit random variation in effectiveness of the influenza vaccine as an additional instrument to show that vaccine protection neutralizes this relationship. Thus, pollution control and vaccination campaigns jointly provide greater returns than those implied by addressing either in isolation. We show the importance of this consideration in addressing observed gaps in influenza incidence by race. (JEL D62, I12, J15, Q51, Q53)
Antenatally detected fetus in fetu case report
Authors: Puranik Rucha Ulhas , Joshi Priscilla , Jahanvi Vandana , Handu Abhilasha Tej , Puli Karthik Reddy
Published: March 2023

Fetus in fetu (FIF) is an extremely rare pathology in which a malformed fetus is located in the body of its twin. It may occur as a result of an aberration of the twinning process. It is important to distinguish this condition from a teratoma. This article emphasizes the importance of the various modalities in the antenatal diagnosis and post-natal follow-up of FIF. An appropriate early intervention if instituted results in a good prognosis. Only few cases of FIF have been reported in medical literature. We present a case which was antenatally diagnosed and proven on histopathology post-natally. This case report illustrates the importance of multimodality imaging techniques in the diagnosis of this condition.
Revisiting dynamic range and image enhancement ability of contemporary digital radiographic systems—part 2: a subjective assessment
Authors: Marinho-Vieira Luiz Eduardo , Martins Luciano Augusto Cano , Freitas Deborah Queiroz , Haiter-Neto Francisco , Oliveira Matheus L.
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To assess the subjective image quality of original and manually enhanced radiographs acquired at different X-ray exposure times and using different digital systems.

Methods:

A total of 500 radiographs obtained under 10 exposure times, 5 digital systems, and 2 enhancement conditions were assessed by 5 observers, who were asked to categorize each radiograph into acceptable or unacceptable. A radiograph was considered to be acceptable when at least four out of five observers found it acceptable. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize the outcomes and compare the subjective image quality of original and manually enhanced digital radiographs among different X-ray exposure times and digital systems.

Results:

Express had six exposure times producing acceptable original images within a range from 0.063 to 0.4 s, followed by Digora Toto, which had five within a range from 0.063 to 0.32 s, Digora Optime, which had four within a range from 0.063 to 0.2 s,and SnapShot and VistaScan, which had 2 (0.2 and 0.32 s) and 1 (0.63 s), respectively. Image enhancement turned unacceptable images into acceptable ones in four digital systems: SnapShot at three exposure times, Digora Toto at two exposure times, Express at one exposure time, and VistaScan at four exposure times.

Conclusion:

Image enhancement based on brightness and/or contrast adjustments may be necessary to reveal the useful dynamic range of some digital radiographic systems and PSP-based systems may not necessarily have a wider range than sensor-based systems.
Color doppler ultrasound analysis of pathological myopia induced changes in retrobulbar blood flow and its relationship with characteristic changes in myopia
Authors: Yu Cui , Xu Chengcheng , Wang Zhicai , Zhang Xiaohua , Huang Xiaoming
Published: March 2023

Objective: To analyze changes in retrobulbar blood flow in patients with pathological myopia using color doppler ultrasound (CDU), and to explore the relationship of these changes with the characteristic changes resulting from myopia.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients who met the selection criteria in the ophthalmology department of He Eye Specialist Hospital from May 2020 to May 2022 were included in this study. Patients with normal vision (n=40) were considered Group-A, patients with low and moderate myopia (n=40) were considered Group-B, and patients with pathological myopia (n=40) were considered Group-C. All three groups underwent ultrasonography. The peak systolic blood flow velocity (PSV), end-diastolic blood flow velocity (EDV), and resistance index (RI) of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and posterior ciliary artery were recorded and compared, and the characteristics of these parameters and myopia severity were analyzed.

Results: Pathological myopia resulted in significantly lower PSV and EDV of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery and higher RI values than patients with normal vision and low/moderate myopia (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that retrobulbar blood flow changes were significantly correlated with age, eye axis, best corrected visual acuity, and retinal choroidal atrophy.

Conclusion: CDU can objectively evaluate the retrobulbar blood flow changes in pathological myopia, and such blood flow changes are significantly correlated with the characteristic changes of myopia.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7464

How to cite this: Yu C, Xu C, Wang Z, Zhang X, Huang X. Color doppler ultrasound analysis of pathological myopia induced changes in retrobulbar blood flow and its relationship with characteristic changes in myopia. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(3):853-857.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7464

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Roughness prediction of end milling surface for behavior mapping of digital twined machine tools
Authors: Shang Suiyan , Jiang Gedong , Sun Zheng , Tian Wenwen , Zhang Dawei , Xu Jun , Cheung Chi Fai
Published: March 2023

Background: The quality of machined parts is considered as a relevant factor to evaluate the production performance of machine tools. For mapping the production performance into a digital twin machine tool, a virtual metrology model for surface roughness prediction, which affects products' mechanical capacity and aesthetic performance, is proposed in this paper.

Methods: The proposed model applies a three-layer backpropagation neural network by using real-time vibration, force, and current sensor data collected during the end milling machining process. A grid search plan is used to settle down the number of neurons in the middle layer of the backpropagation neural network.

Results: The experimental results indicate that the model with multiple signals as input performs better than it with a single signal. In detail, when the model input is the combination of force, vibration, and current sensor data, the prediction accuracy reaches the optimum with the mean absolute percentage error of 1.01%.

Conclusions: Compared with the state-of-the-art convolutional neural network method with automatic feature extraction ability and other commonly used traditional machine learning methods, the proposed data preprocessing procedure integrated with a three-layer backpropagation neural network has a minimum prediction error.
Awareness and intention to register halal certification of micro and small-scale food enterprises
Authors: Oemar Hirawati , Prasetyaningsih Endang , Bakar Siti Zakiah Abu , Djamaludin Djamaludin , Septiani Anis
Published: March 2023

Background: This paper discusses halal awareness of MSE food producers in West Java Province, Indonesia. Halal awareness is the first step toward obtaining halal certificates, which confirm that the product is lawful according to Islamic Sharia. Unfortunately, despite Islam being the religion of most Indonesians,

most food sold in the market lacks a halal certificate due to a lack of awareness among food producers about the importance of selling halal-certified foods.

Methods: This study aims at measuring the level of halal awareness and the intention of MSE food producers to register halal certification. Halal awareness is assumed to be influenced by knowledge of halal and the food producers’ perception of the benefits of halal certificates. Furthermore, halal awareness, attitudes, and perception of the ease of procedures will encourage the intention to register halal certification. An electronic Google Form with a cover letter and a set of questionnaires was distributed to collect data. Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was chosen to evaluate the adopted theoretical models in the exploratory research.

Results: The results show that halal awareness is influenced by knowledge of halal and perception of its benefits. Moreover, halal awareness influences positively the intention to obtain a halal certificate, but the intention is not significantly affected by attitudes to produce halal foods and perception of procedures for obtaining halal certification. This shows that halal awareness will increase the intention to register halal certification. However, misconceptions about the procedures for obtaining halal certificates keep them from registering.

Conclusions: MSE food producers in West Java Province, Indonesia have a good level of awareness about halal food. However, their products are not halal-certified due to the perception of the procedures for obtaining halal certificates are relatively complicated and costly for them.
Agroecology research in Europe funded by European and transnational programmes: current status and perspectives
Authors: Iocola Ileana , Ciaccia Corrado , Colombo Luca , Grard Baptiste , Maurino Stefania , Wezel Alexander , Canali Stefano
Published: March 2023

Background: Redesigning the agri-food system through agroecology represents a common ambition among practitioners, activists and scholars to achieve environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Research can have a main role to support this path. Although it seems that there is a gradual increasing body of agroecology research, it clearly lacks good knowledge about this. The main objective of this study was therefore to map research projects related to agroecology in Europe with the aim to characterize European research in terms of implementation of agroecology elements, identify needs for future cross collaboration between countries and networks, and support the setting up of appropriate research agendas fostering agroecology research in Europe.

Methods: A desktop research with different databases related to European and transnational funding programmes was carried out to identify funded research projects involved in agroecology. The obtained projects were used to perform a social network analysis. Furthermore, two surveys were conducted, one with coordinators of identified projects and a second one for researchers engaged in agroecology.

Results: Our study highlighted a predominant trajectory of agroecology research prone to the transformation of the agri-food system. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom were the most active countries engaged in agroecology research. In all surveys, issues related to efficiency improvement, synergies strengthening, local economy development, and co-creation and sharing of knowledge were the most implemented to support agri-food transformation. Transdisciplinary approaches were mainly addressed by European projects. Surveys reported a limited participation of value chain actors, while researchers, farmers, and their associations were the most involved. Survey respondents suggested to increase project duration and introduce flexibility methods to modulate research actions according to dynamic of the contexts.

Conclusion: On the basis of the results, some policy recommendations were provided to fostering agroecology research in Europe and its contribution for transformation of agri-foods systems.
Children learn ergative case marking in Hindi using statistical preemption and clause-level semantics (intentionality): evidence from acceptability judgment and elicited production studies with children and adults
Authors: Maitreyee Ramya , Saxena Gaurav , Narasimhan Bhuvana , Misra Sharma Dipti , Mishra Pruthwik , Bhaya Nair Rukmini , Samanta Soumitra , Ambridge Ben
Published: March 2023

Background: A question that lies at the very heart of language acquisition research is how children learn semi-regular systems with exceptions (e.g., the English plural rule that yields cats, dogs, etc, with exceptions feet and men). We investigated this question for Hindi ergative ne marking; another semi-regular but exception-filled system. Generally, in the past tense, the subject of two-participant transitive verbs (e.g., Ram broke the cup) is marked with ne, but there are exceptions. How, then, do children learn when ne marking is required, when it is optional, and when it is ungrammatical?

Methods: We conducted two studies using (a) acceptability judgment and (b) elicited production methods with children (aged 4-5, 5-6 and 9-10 years) and adults.

Results: All age groups showed effects of statistical preemption: the greater the frequency with which a particular verb appears with versus without ne marking on the subject – relative to other verbs – the greater the extent to which participants (a) accepted and (b) produced ne over zero-marked subjects. Both children and adults also showed effects of clause-level semantics, showing greater acceptance of ne over zero-marked subjects for intentional than unintentional actions. Some evidence of semantic effects at the level of the verb was observed in the elicited production task for children and the judgment task for adults.

Conclusions: participants mainly learn ergative marking on an input-based verb-by-verb basis (i.e., via statistical preemption; verb-level semantics), but are also sensitive to clause-level semantic considerations (i.e., the intentionality of the action). These findings add to a growing body of work which suggests that children learn semi-regular, exception-filled systems using both statistics and semantics.
Basic Principles of al-Ghazālī’s Method of Exegesis
Authors: KARAKAYA Takyettin
Published: March 2023

The allusive (ishārī) method of exegesis is the name given to the process of interpreting the Qurʾān depending on the particular type of knowledge called maʿrifah, which is accepted to be based on spiritual experience. In the ishārī exegesis, the meanings of the verses of the Qurʾān are revealed to the Sufi’s mind, and then, the Sufi expresses those senses through symbols and signs by employing an implicit style. Comprehensive and advanced works have been written over time in the field of ishārī exegesis, whose first examples were encountered in the early eras of Sufism. Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad al-Ghazālī (d. 505/1111) wrote works in various fields such as fiqh (Islamic law), theology, philosophy, and Sufism. Although he did not have any complete book in the field of ishārī exegesis, his vast corpus is overflowing with his ishārī interpretations of verses of the Qurʾān. For this reason, he is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the field of ishārī exegesis. This article aims to determine the basic principles on which al-Ghazālī’s ishārī interpretations of the Qurʾān in his various works are built in the context of the basic principles of his understanding of the Qurʾān. The first part of the article emphasizes al-Ghazālī’s approach to the Qurʾān and his view of the Qurʾān and then attempts to determine the basic principles of the method of his ishārī exegesis. The third and last part of the study analyzed some ishārī interpretations of al-Ghazālī in his various works to better understand these principles.
Simulation of diode operation and evaluation of its operation parameters
Authors: Poluektov Aleksandr , Medvedev Roman , Zolnikov V.
Published: March 2023

The article discusses the simulation of the operation of a diode based on the compiled electrical circuit, and also considers the analysis of the operation of the dido under various operating conditions using the AnyDynamics 8 computer simulation program. Various approaches to the concept of modeling, model, and mathematical model are considered. The classification of models of semiconductor devices, current-voltage characteristic (CVC) and device operation scheme are evaluated. The physical properties of the diode are considered, then a transition is made to the analysis of the operation of the diode in a physical model, and on its basis a mathematical model of the diode is built, since the model works with small changes in current and voltage, then the transition is made to a low-signal model and a system of differential equations, behavior of an ideal diode. Classes of elementary elements are being developed, from which it is possible to build an electronic circuit, diode, resistor, capacitor, coil. A circuit is determined with the help of which it is possible to simulate the operation of a circuit with a connected ideal diode. The result of the work of the electrical circuit in the program AnyDynamics 8 was the creation o behavior of an ideal diode. Analysis of the obtained graphs in the future will allow you to perform modeling and analysis of the operation of an ideal diode.
Machine Learning–Supported Prediction of Dual Variables for the Cutting Stock Problem with an Application in Stabilized Column Generation
Authors: Kraul Sebastian , Seizinger Markus , Brunner Jens O.
Published: March 2023

This article presents a prediction model of the optimal dual variables for the cutting stock problem. For this purpose, we first analyze the influence of different attributes on the optimal dual variables within an instance for the cutting stock problem. We apply and compare our predictions in a stabilization technique for column generation. In most studies, the parameters for stabilized column generation are determined by numerical tests, that is, the same problem is solved several times with different settings. We develop two learning algorithms that predict the best algorithm configuration based on the predicted optimal dual variables and thus omit the numerical study. Our extensive computational study shows the tradeoff between the learning algorithms using full and sparse instance information. We show that both algorithms can efficiently predict the optimal dual variables and dominate the common update mechanism in a generic stabilized column generation approach. Although the learning algorithm with full instance information is applicable when one has to solve the problem mainly for a fixed set of items, the algorithm with sparse instance information is applicable when there is more variability in the number of items between the different instances.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms–Discrete.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2023.1277 .
Perturbation-Based Thresholding Search for Packing Equal Circles and Spheres
Authors: Lai Xiangjing , Hao Jin-Kao , Xiao Renbin , Glover Fred
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an effective perturbation-based thresholding search for two popular and challenging packing problems with minimal containers: packing N identical circles in a square and packing N identical spheres in a cube. Following the penalty function approach, we handle these constrained optimization problems by solving a series of unconstrained optimization subproblems with fixed containers. The proposed algorithm relies on a two-phase search strategy that combines a thresholding search method reinforced by two general-purpose perturbation operators and a container adjustment method. The performance of the algorithm is assessed relative to a large number of benchmark instances widely studied in the literature. Computational results show a high performance of the algorithm on both problems compared with the state-of-the-art results. For circle packing, the algorithm improves 156 best-known results (new upper bounds) in the range of [Formula: see text] and matches 242 other best-known results. For sphere packing, the algorithm improves 66 best-known results in the range of [Formula: see text], whereas matching the best-known results for 124 other instances. Experimental analyses are conducted to shed light on the main search ingredients of the proposed algorithm consisting of the two-phase search strategy, the mixed perturbation and the parameters.

History: Accepted by Erwin Pesch, Area Editor for Heuristic Search & Approximation Algorithms.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 61703213 and 61933005].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.1290 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0004 ) at ( http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7579558 ).
Dark Knights: The Rise in Firm Intervention by Credit Default Swap Investors
Authors: Danis András , Gamba Andrea
Published: March 2023

There have been several cases in recent years where credit default swap (CDS) buyers and sellers intervene in the restructuring of a distressed firm. We show theoretically that this can increase firm value. Intervention by CDS buyers solves the commitment problem between equity and debt holders but increases the probability of inefficient liquidation. Intervention by CDS sellers reduces the issue of excessive liquidation while keeping the benefits of CDS buyer intervention. Having both types of intervention decouples the commitment problem from the liquidation problem. Under certain assumptions, the so-called empty creditor problem can be solved, and firm value reaches first best.

This paper was accepted by Lukas Schmid, finance.

Supplemental Material: The internet appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4717 .