bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PD-L1 Expression by RNA-Sequencing in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Concordance with Immunohistochemistry and Associations with Pembrolizumab Treatment Outcomes
Authors: Nesline Mary K. , Previs Rebecca A. , Dy Grace K. , Deng Lei , Lee Yong Hee , DePietro Paul , Zhang Shengle , Meyers Nathan , Severson Eric , Ramkissoon Shakti , Pabla Sarabjot , Conroy Jeffrey M.
Published: September 2023

Programmed cell death ligand (PD-L1) expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) lacks sensitivity for pembrolizumab immunotherapy selection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly for tumors with low expression. We retrospectively evaluated transcriptomic PD-L1 by mRNA next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq). In an unselected NSCLC patient cohort (n = 3168) tested during standard care (2017–2021), PD-L1 IHC and RNA-seq demonstrated moderate concordance, with 80% agreement overall. Most discordant cases were either low or negative for PD-L1 expression by IHC but high by RNA-seq. RNA-seq accurately discriminated PD-L1 IHC high from low tumors by receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis but could not distinguish PD-L1 IHC low from negative tumors. In a separate pembrolizumab monotherapy cohort (n = 102), NSCLC tumors classified as PD-L1 high versus not high by RNA-seq had significantly improved response, progression-free survival, and overall survival as an individual measure and in combination with IHC high or low status. PD-L1 IHC status (high or low) trended toward but had no significant associations with improved outcomes. Conventional PD-L1 IHC testing has inherent limitations, making it an imperfect reference standard for evaluating novel testing technologies. RNA-seq offers an objective PD-L1 measure that could represent a complementary method to IHC to improve NSCLC patient selection for immunotherapy.
The Application of Picein Wax Carbon Composite Electrode for Plant-Based Milk Profiling
Authors: Wójcik Szymon , Wyrwa Jan , Ciepiela Filip , Jakubowska Małgorzata
Published: September 2023

This work demonstrates the successful application of the picein wax carbon composite electrode (PWCCE) for profiling both commercial and homemade plant milks. Picein wax was utilized as an unconventional binder. The resulting electrode paste exhibited a solidified and hard texture, enabling its use in a manner analogous to that of the glassy carbon electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with an automated measurement and recording procedure was employed to obtain plant-based milk profiles. The utilization of operator-independent measurement procedures yielded high-quality electrochemical fingerprints suitable for subsequent calculations. To interpret the data, unsupervised machine learning methods were implemented, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. These chemometric techniques confirmed the electrode effectiveness of the construction for this type of research. Moreover, they proved valuable in distinguishing between plant-based milk and cow’s milk, including two different variants: whole milk and lactose-free milk.
Uncommon Large and Bilateral Fibrous Cephalic Plaques in a Patient with TSC2-Related Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Authors: González-del Angel Ariadna , Ruiz-Herrera Adriana , Hernández-Martínez Nancy Leticia , Todd-Quiñones Carlos G. , Durán-McKinster Carola , Herrera-Mora Patricia , Alcántara-Ortigoza Miguel Angel
Published: September 2023

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder, frequently characterized by early dermatological manifestations. The recognition and adequate description of these dermatological manifestations are of utmost importance for early diagnosis, allowing for the implementation of therapeutic and preventive measures. Fibrous cephalic plaques (FCPs) are considered a major diagnostic criterion for TSC, as FCPs are the most specific skin lesions of TSC. The localization, consistency, color, and size of FCPs vary widely, which can cause diagnostic delay, especially in patients with atypical presentations. The present report describes a female TSC patient with a confirmed heterozygous pathogenic genotype, NG_005895.1 (TSC2_v001): c.2640-1G>T, who presented with uncommon large and bilateral FCPs causing bilateral ptosis and marked with hyperostosis of the diploe that generated an asymmetry of the brain parenchyma. Differential diagnoses considered initially in this patient due to the atypical FCPs are described.
A Simulation Competition on Neonatal Resuscitation as a New Educational Tool for Pediatric Residents
Authors: Zanetto Lorenzo , Cavallin Francesco , Doglioni Nicoletta , Bua Benedetta , Savino Sandro , Bernardo Giuseppe De , Pratesi Simone , Villani Paolo Ernesto , Weiner Gary M. , Trevisanuto Daniele ,   on behalf of the Task Force on Neonatal Resuscitation of the Italian Society of Neonatology
Published: September 2023

Background: Training programs on resuscitation have been developed using simulation-based learning to build skills, strengthen cognitive strategies, and improve team performance. This is especially important for residency programs where reduced working hours and high numbers of residents can reduce the educational opportunities during the residency, with lower exposure to practical procedures and prolonged length of training. Within this context, gamification has gained popularity in teaching and learning activities. This report describes the implementation of a competition format in the context of newborn resuscitation and participants’ perceptions of the educational experience. Methods: Thirty-one teams of three Italian pediatric residents participated in a 3-day simulation competition on neonatal resuscitation. The event included an introductory lecture, familiarization time, and competition time in a tournament-like structure using high-fidelity simulation stations. Each match was evaluated by experts in neonatal resuscitation and followed by a debriefing. The scenarios and debriefings of simulation station #1 were live broadcasted in the central auditorium where teams not currently competing could observe. At the end of the event, participants received an online survey regarding their perceptions of the educational experience. Results: 81/93 (87%) participants completed the survey. Training before the event mostly included reviewing protocols and textbooks. Low-fidelity manikins were the most available simulation tools at the residency programs. Overall, the participants were satisfied with the event and appreciated the live broadcast of scenarios and debriefings in the auditorium. Most participants felt that the event improved their knowledge and self-confidence and stimulated them to be more involved in high-fidelity simulations. Suggested areas of improvement included more time for familiarization and improved communication between judges and participants during the debriefing. Conclusions: Participants appreciated the simulation competition. They self-perceived the educational impact of the event and felt that it improved their knowledge and self-confidence. Our findings suggest areas of improvements for further editions and may serve as an educational model for other institutions.
Caring for Infants with Robin Sequence Treated with the Tübingen Palatal Plate: A Review of Personal Practice
Authors: Knechtel Petra , Weismann Christina , Poets Christian F.
Published: September 2023

The Tübingen Palatal Plate (TPP) is a minimally invasive yet highly effective functional orthodontic treatment for upper airway obstruction in infants with Robin Sequence (RS). It consists of a palatal plate to cover the cleft and a velar extension that shifts the root of the tongue forward. We review our practical experience with this approach. First, upon admission, our local orthodontists perform an (3-D) intraoral scan of the maxilla. Based on the scan data, the TPP is manufactured in a semi-digital workflow. The length and angulation of its extension is checked via awake laryngoscopy and the effectiveness confirmed by a sleep study. Plates are kept in place by adhesive cream. When inserting the TPP, the tip of the tongue must be visible. Next, metal fixation bows should be secured to the forehead using tape and elastic bands. Plates are removed daily for cleaning, and the oral mucosa is then checked for pressure marks. Feeding training (initially only via finger feeding) may even start before plate insertion. Breathing often normalizes immediately once the plate is inserted. For isolated RS, we have never had to perform a tracheostomy. This has largely been possible through our highly dedicated and competent team, particularly the nursing staff, and the early involvement of parents.
Ledderhose’s Disease: An Up-to-Date Review of a Rare Non-Malignant Disorder
Authors: Tomac Alexandru , Ion Alexandru Petru , Opriș Diana Roxana , Arbănași Eliza Mihaela , Ciucanu Claudiu Constantin , Bandici Bogdan Corneliu , Coșarcă Cătălin Mircea , Covalcic Diana Carina , Mureșan Adrian Vasile
Published: September 2023

Plantar fibromatosis (or Ledderhose’s disease) is a rare benign condition, difficult to treat, defined by gradual-growing nodules in the central medial part of the plantar fascia, with the possibility of sclerosis and shrinkage of the entire fascia or, rarely, contractures of the toes. From a histopathological point of view, it is linked to Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand and Peyronie’s disease of the penis, being part of a large group of fibromatoses, based on a proliferation of collagen and fibroblasts. Its etiology is still not fully understood, even though it has been associated with trauma, diabetes mellitus, use of anticonvulsants, frozen shoulder, alcohol consumption, and liver disease. Typically, ultrasound confirms the diagnosis, and magnetic resonance imaging is used for more aggressive and advanced types. Several conservative treatment techniques, such as steroid injections, verapamil, imatinib, radiation therapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, tamoxifen, sorafenib, mitomycin C, and collagenase, have been documented. When non-operative care fails, surgical measures may be considered, even though recurrence is expected. We attempted to provide a better understanding of this disease by covering all of the important aspects: its history, clinical and radiologic findings, diagnosis, pathophysiology features, conservative and surgical treatment, recurrence rate, and prognosis.
Trade Openness and Inflation Rate in China: Empirical Evidence from Time Series Data
Authors: Tahir Muhammad , Ali Norulazidah Omar , Naseem Imran , Burki Umar
Published: September 2023

This study empirically examines the influence of trade openness on the rate of inflation by focusing on the Chinese economy. The study utilizes data covering the period 1987–2019 and employs the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) for the extraction of results from the designed models. The results of the study indicate that trade openness has indeed impacted the rate of inflation not only negatively but also significantly. This means that trade openness could be used as a tool to fight against higher inflation. Similarly, government expenditure, economic growth, exchange rate and money supply positively affect inflation. Money supply and government expenditures positively affect the rate of inflation in the short run. The study has important policy implications for the Chinese economy.
Export Coefficient Modelling of Nutrient Neutrality to Protect Aquatic Habitats in the River Wensum Catchment, UK
Authors: Hiscock Kevin M. , Cooper Richard J. , Lovett Andrew A. , Sünnenberg Gilla
Published: September 2023

The pressure of nutrient pollution derived from wastewater treatment works and agricultural runoff is a reason for the decline in the ecological health of aquatic habitats. Projected residential development in catchments creates further nutrient loading that can be offset by nutrient management solutions that maintain ‘nutrient neutrality’ either onsite or elsewhere within the same catchment. This study developed an export coefficient model in conjunction with detailed farm business data to explore a nature-based solution to nutrient neutrality involving seven scenarios of crop conversion to mixed woodland or grazing grass in an area of intensive arable cultivation in the groundwater-fed Blackwater sub-catchment of the River Wensum, UK. When compared with the monitored riverine export of nutrients, the calculated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs under current land use showed that subsurface denitrification is removing 48–78% of the leached N and that P is accumulating in the field soils. The addition of 235 residential homes planned for 2018–2038 in the Blackwater will generate an additional nutrient load of 190 kg N a−1 and 4.9 kg P a−1. In six of the seven scenarios, the modelled fractions of crop conversion (0.02–0.21) resulted in the required reduction in P loading and more than sufficient reduction in N loading (196–1874 kg a−1 for mixed woodland and 287–2103 kg a−1 for grazing grass), with the additional reduction in N load above the requirement for nutrient neutrality potentially contributing to further improvement in water quality. The cost of land conversion is modelled in terms of crop gross margins and nutrient credits generated in the form of 0.1 kg units of N or P. For the range of scenarios considered, the annual cost per credit ranged from GBP 0.78–11.50 for N for mixed woodland (GBP 0.74–7.85 for N for grazing grass) and from GBP 160–782 for P for both scenarios. It is concluded that crop conversion is a viable option to achieve nutrient neutrality in arable catchments in eastern England when considered together with other nutrient management solutions.
Assessment of the Performance of FireFOAM in Simulating a Real-Scale Fire Scenario Using High Resolution Data
Authors: Jahn Wolfram , Zamorano Rafael , Calderón Ignacio , Claren Raimundo , Molina Benjamín
Published: September 2023

An assessment of the performance of FireFOAM in simulating a large-scale compartment fire scenario is presented in this study, using the Edinburgh Tall Building Fire Test I (2017) as the basis for evaluation. Different mesh geometries and sizes are tested, and both theory-based and experiment-based validation approaches are employed. The theory-based validation revealed that the implemented finite volumes method is generally conservative, but unaccounted deviations of up to 20% for the heat release rate were observed due to errors in numerically modelling subgrid phenomena, particularly with tetrahedral meshes. In the experiment-based validation, the simulated data showed good agreement with experimental measurements for flow patterns inside the compartment, neutral plane height, and temperatures outside the ceiling jet. However, there were relatively large errors in incident radiation in the hot gas zone, thermal boundary layer transient temperatures, and compartment inflow/outflow velocities. Systematic errors were attributed to deficient heat transfer boundary conditions and under-estimated air entrainment. The study also identified ways to improve run-time efficiency by implementing parallel processing or reducing solid angles in FVDOM, although using large meshes (30 cm and 40 cm cell size) resulted in faster run-times at the cost of accuracy.
Packaging Communication as a Tool to Reduce Disgust with Insect-Based Foods: Effect of Informative and Visual Elements
Authors: Naranjo-Guevara Natalia , Stroh Bastian , Floto-Stammen Sonja
Published: September 2023

Disgust associated with insect consumption is a significant challenge faced by the insect-based food industry. One cost-effective approach that managers can employ to increase consumer acceptance is by enhancing packaging design. The packaging represents a cheap and effective means of communication. It is also referred to as a silent seller. This study investigates the potential of packaging communication in reducing disgust towards insect-based products in Germany. In a survey, 422 participants were confronted with packaging designs representing different visual and informative elements. The results showed that images of familiar ingredients and transparent windows on the packaging are particularly effective in reducing disgust. The presence of the organic and specific Ento seals significantly increased the assumed food safety. Claims about protein content and sustainability were less effective. Cricket images had a significant impact on increasing disgust. Practical implications for managers who are seeking to address consumer resistance towards insect-based food products are discussed.
Traceability Research on Dendrobium devonianum Based on SWATHtoMRM
Authors: Lin Tao , Chen Xinglian , Du Lijuan , Wang Jing , Hu Zhengxu , Cheng Long , Liu Zhenhuan , Liu Hongcheng
Published: September 2023

SWATHtoMRM technology was used in this experiment to further identify and trace the sources of Dendrobium devonianum and Dendrobium officinale produced in the same area using TOF and MS-MRM. After the conversion of the R package of SWATHtoMRM, 191 MRM pairs of positive ions and 96 pairs of negative ions were obtained. Dendrobium devonianum and Dendrobium officinale can be separated very well using the PCA and PLS-DA analysis of MRM ion pairs; this shows that there are obvious differences in chemical composition between Dendrobium devonianum and Dendrobium officinale, which clearly proves that the pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on SWATHtoMRM can be used for traceability identification research. A total of 146 characteristic compounds were obtained, with 20 characteristic compounds in Dendrobium devonianum. The enrichment pathways of the characteristic compounds were mainly concentrated in lipids and atherosclerosis, chagas disease, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, proteoglycans in cancer, the IL-17 signaling pathway, the sphingolipid signaling pathway, diabetic cardiomyopathy, arginine and proline metabolism, etc., among which the lipid and atherosclerosis pathways were more enriched, and 11 characteristic compounds affected the expression levels of IL-1, TNFα, CD36, IL-1β, etc. These can be used as a reference for research on variety improvement and active substance accumulation in Dendrobium devonianum and Dendrobium officinale.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyle and Psychosocial Behavior of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review
Authors: Nishida Yu , Hosomi Shuhei , Kobayashi Yumie , Nakata Rieko , Ominami Masaki , Nadatani Yuji , Fukunaga Shusei , Otani Koji , Tanaka Fumio , Nagami Yasuaki , Taira Koichi , Kamata Noriko , Fujiwara Yasuhiro
Published: September 2023

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a considerable impact on the global healthcare system and potentially the clinical course of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although IBD is a chronic disease, its therapy (except steroid therapy) does not increase the risk of contracting or aggravating COVID-19. However, the clinical course of patients is significantly influenced by environmental factors. Social restrictions due to the pandemic or the fear of contracting the virus have influenced lifestyle and psychosocial behaviors that may worsen the clinical course of patients with IBD. This narrative literature review summarizes the current evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyle and psychosocial behaviors of patients with IBD. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the lifestyle and psychosocial behaviors of patients with IBD. Furthermore, patients with IBD failed to maintain medication adherence, thus affecting the clinical course of their condition.
Determinants of Communication Failure in Intubated Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study from the Perspective of Critical Care Nurses
Authors: Perelló-Campaner Catalina , González-Trujillo Antonio , Alorda-Terrassa Carme , González-Gascúe Maite , Pérez-Castelló Josep Antoni , Morales-Asencio José Miguel , Molina-Mula Jesús
Published: September 2023

Aim: To explore what factors determine communication with awake intubated critically ill patients from the point of view of critical care nursing professionals. Background: Impaired communication frequently affects mechanically ventilated patients with artificial airways in the intensive care unit. Consequences of communication breaches comprise emotional and ethical aspects as well as clinical safety, affecting both patients and their conversation partners. Identification of determining factors in communication with awake intubated patients is needed to design effective action strategies. Design: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method. A total of 11 participants from three intensive care units of three Majorcan public hospitals, selected by purposive sampling, were interviewed. Findings: Three major themes regarding the communication determinants of the awake intubated critically ill patients were identified from the interviewees’ statements: factors related to the patient (physical and cognitive functionality to communicate, their relational and communicative style and their personal circumstances), to the context (family presence, ICU characteristics, workload, availability/adequacy of communication aids, features of the messages and communication situations) and, finally, those related to the professionals themselves (professional experience and person-centredness). Conclusions: The present study reveals determinants that influence communication with the awake intubated patient, as there are attitudes and professional beliefs. Relevance to clinical practice: The discovery of relations between different kinds of determinants (of patient, context or professionals) provides a multi-factor perspective on the communicative problem which should be considered in the design of new approaches to improve communicative effectiveness. This study is reported according to the COREQ checklist.
Association between Periodontitis and HbA1c Levels in Non-Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhao Dan , Sun Yangyang , Li Xin , Wang Xiaoxiao , Lu Lijie , Li Chen , Pan Yaping , Wang Songlin
Published: September 2023

Background: A high detection rate of diabetes among dental visitors has been reported recently. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between periodontitis and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels among non-diabetic individuals. Methods: The EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Open GREY databases were searched, and observational studies published until 1st June 2023 were identified. A methodological quality assessment was conducted based on the original and modified versions of the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional studies that performed clinical periodontal examinations and measured HbA1c levels in non-diabetic adults were included. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) between individuals with and without periodontitis. Results: In total, 29 case–control and 5 cross-sectional studies were selected from 2583 potentially eligible articles. Among them, sixteen case–control and three cross-sectional studies with moderate to high quality were selected for the meta-analyses. The HbA1c levels in periodontitis patients were significantly higher than those in individuals with healthy periodontal conditions (WMD = 0.16; p < 0.001) among the non-diabetic populations. Conclusions: This study reveals a significant association between periodontitis and HbA1c levels in non-diabetic populations. Thus, HbA1c screening may be recommended to detect potential hyperglycemia in non-diabetic periodontitis patients.
Associations between Physical Activity and Kyphosis and Lumbar Lordosis Abnormalities, Pain, and Quality of Life in Healthy Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zaborova Victoria , Zolnikova Oxana , Dzhakhaya Natiya , Prokhorova Svetlana , Izotov Alexander , Butkova Tatyana , Pustovoyt Vasiliy , Yurku Ksenia , Shestakov Dmitry , Zaytseva Tatyana , Shafaei Hassan
Published: September 2023

Significant evidence suggests that regular physical activity (PA) leads to numerous physical and psychological outcomes in the elderly. This cross-sectional study was designed to further explore this issue by investigating the associations between PA (measured by accelerometer) and kyphosis and lumbar lordosis abnormalities, pain, and quality of life (QoL) in the elderly. In this cross-sectional study, 163 older adults (73 women) over 65 years of age (mean age: 68.70 ± 3.09) from Russia acted as participants. The following instruments were used to measure research variables: ActiGraph wGT3X-BT for measuring PA, spinal-mouse for measuring kyphosis and lumbar lordosis abnormalities, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire for measuring QoL. Pain was measured using two questions. The Independent t-test and a regression analysis were used to analyze data. The results showed that our sample participated on average in 15.8 min of moderate PA (MPA) per day, which is lower than the recommended guidelines. Men were significantly more physically active than women. In addition, MPA was significantly associated with lower kyphosis and lumbar lordosis abnormalities and pain in older adults. Finally, MPA was significantly associated with higher QoL. These findings indicate that PA is a critical concern for the elderly. Accordingly, physical educators and fitness instructors should adopt appropriate strategies to promote an active lifestyle among older adults.
Modified Early Warning Score: Clinical Deterioration of Mexican Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 and Chronic Disease
Authors: Santiago González Nicolás , García-Hernández María de Lourdes , Cruz-Bello Patricia , Chaparro-Díaz Lorena , Rico-González María de Lourdes , Hernández-Ortega Yolanda
Published: September 2023

The objective was to evaluate the Modified Early Warning Score in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 plus chronic disease. Methods: Retrospective observational study, 430 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and chronic disease. Instrument, Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS). Data analysis, with Cox and logistic regression, to predict survival and risk. Results: Of 430 patients, 58.6% survived, and 41.4% did not. The risk was: low 53.5%, medium 23.7%, and high 22.8%. The MEWS score was similar between survivors 3.02, p 0.373 (95% CI: −0.225–0.597) and non-survivors 3.20 (95% CI: −0.224–0.597). There is a linear relationship between MEWS and mortality risk R 0.920, ANOVA 0.000, constant 4.713, and coefficient 4.406. The Cox Regression p 0.011, with a risk of deterioration of 0.325, with a positive coefficient, the higher the risk, the higher the mortality, while the invasive mechanical ventilation coefficient was negative −0.757. By providing oxygen and ventilation, mortality is lower. Conclusions: The predictive value of the modified early warning score in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and chronic disease is not predictive with the MEWS scale. Additional assessment is required to prevent complications, especially when patients are assessed as low-risk.
The Opportunity for Impactful Integration of Vascular and Podiatric Care
Authors: Kim Young , Southerland Kevin W.
Published: September 2023

Background: The importance of collaboration between vascular and podiatric surgeons has been well-established. High-level partnerships are integral to the development of multidisciplinary programs and wound care centers, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes. This vascular–podiatric integration is not universal, however, and podiatric surgery may not be aligned within a vascular surgery division at many institutions. As one such institution, we reviewed our single-center experience in order to identify opportunities for the impactful integration of vascular–podiatric patient care. Methods: Institutional electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all procedures performed by vascular surgeons at a high volume, safety-net academic medical center. Data were collected on all primary and additional procedures, current procedural terminology (CPT) codes, case type (elective, urgent, emergent), surgeon specialty, and date/time of the procedures performed. CPT codes were linked to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Physician Fee Schedule to estimate the work relative value unit (wRVU) per procedure. Results: From 2018 to 2022, vascular surgeons performed a total of 12,206 operations, of which 1102 (9.9%) involved podiatric procedures. The most common vascular-performed podiatry procedures performed were toe amputations (38.1%, n = 420), transmetatarsal foot amputations (20.1%, n = 222), and ankle/foot debridement (16.2%, n = 178). Foot/ankle-specific procedures were identified as the primary procedure in 726 (65.9%) cases and as the adjunct procedure in 376 (34.1%) cases. A substantial proportion of podiatric procedures occurred on an urgent (n = 278, 25.2%) or emergent (n = 28, 2.5%) basis. A total of 163 (14.8%) cases occurred after hours (either before 0600 or after 1800), and 133 (12.1%) cases were performed on a holiday or weekend. Procedure-specific revenue included 4243.39 wRVU for primary procedures and 2108.08 wRVU for additional procedures performed. Conclusions: We report our single-center experience in which vascular surgeons provide a significant proportion of podiatric procedures. Our study underscores the potential for integrating podiatric surgeons within a vascular surgical division and presents opportunities for collaboration and enhanced patient care.
Low-Performing Students Confidently Overpredict Their Grade Performance throughout the Semester
Authors: Karaca Meltem , Geraci Lisa , Kurpad Nayantara , Lithander Marcus P. G. , Balsis Steve
Published: September 2023

When asked to predict how they will perform on an upcoming exam, students are often poorly calibrated, typically in the direction of overpredicting their performance. Research shows that low-performing students’ calibration tends to remain poor across multiple tests over the course of a semester. We tested whether these students remain confident in these erroneously high grade predictions across the semester or whether their confidence wanes, suggesting some degree of metacognitive awareness. In two studies, students made grade predictions prior to taking four in-class exams and then rated their level of confidence in their predictions. Results from both studies showed that miscalibration and confidence remained stable across tests, suggesting that low-performing students continued to believe that they would perform well on upcoming exams despite prior evidence to the contrary.
Development of a Complex Vulnerability Index for Fishing Shelters—The Case of Cyprus
Authors: Chalastani Vasiliki I. , Pantelidis Andreas , Feloni Elissavet , Papadimitriou Andreas , Tsaimou Christina N. , Nisiforou Olympia , Tsoukala Vasiliki K.
Published: September 2023

Small fishing harbours substantially contribute to coastal economies as they support not only fishing but also tourism activities. They are located at the land–sea interface and are considered vulnerable infrastructure affected by the increased human activities but also by the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events. In this paper, the 16 existing fishing shelters of Cyprus are used as a case study to develop a complex vulnerability index for assessing the shelters’ vulnerability. The index incorporates physical, environmental, technical and socioeconomic variables, which are quantified and scored to denote the current state of vulnerability. The results are validated through on-site visits, questionnaires answered by local fishermen and targeted interviews with representatives of the port authorities. Furthermore, climate change projections are taken into account for the physical variables to evaluate the impact of climate change on vulnerability changes. The study highlights the complex interactions between a variety of factors characterising the fishing shelters and driving vulnerability. The proposed index can assist decisionmakers with prioritising interventions, allocating funding and designing adaptation pathways that reduce the shelters’ vulnerability while increasing their resilience.
Numerical Study on Internal and External Flow Fields of the UHMWPE Cage
Authors: Hu Yiyang , Zhao Haisheng , Shi Wei , Bi Chunwei , Li Xin
Published: September 2023

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a new kind of fishing gear material applied in deep-sea fishing cages, which is becoming a trend. Studies on the internal and external flow fields of cages made of UHMWPE have been scarce previously. Therefore, a three-dimensional numerical model for the UHMWPE cage is established herein, where the cage is modeled by a porous media model. The Darcy–Forchheimer coefficients of the porous media are obtained by physical model experiments and numerical simulations. Then, the cylindrical cage is divided into 16 planar nets circumferentially, along with an additional bottom net, to investigate its internal and external flow fields numerically. For a single cylindrical cage, the degree of deceleration decreases as the flow velocity increases, and this effect becomes less apparent when the flow velocity reaches a certain threshold. Finally, the flow field characteristics of double cages with different spacing and multiple cages with equal spacing are revealed.
A Microwave Radiometer Residual Inversion Neural Network Based on a Deadband Conditioning Model
Authors: Zhao Yuxin , Wu Changzhe , Wu Peng , Zhu Kexin , Deng Xiong
Published: September 2023

Microwave radiometers are passive remote sensing devices that are widely used in marine atmospheric observations. The accuracy of its inversion of temperature and humidity profiles is an important indicator of its performance. Back Propagation (BP) neural networks are widely used in the study of microwave radiometer inversion problems. However, the BP network which is carried by the radiometer inversion suffers from profile data collapse. To address this, this study introduced a residual network to improve the accuracy of water vapor vertical profiles. Aiming at the problem of large inversion temperature error due to the effect of turbulence on the light-travel phase induced by stationary fronts along the seashore in the subtropical monsoon climate region, we used historical data to establish the seasonal a priori mean profile and design a dead-zone residual adjustment model. The accuracy of the residual network and the deadband-adjusted residual network was verified using the meteorological records of the Taizhou region from 2013–2018, with the experimental data and BP hierarchical network as the comparison term. We found no data collapse in the temperature and humidity profile inversion results of the residual network. Relative to the initial BP hierarchical algorithm, where the error of water vapor in the range 6–10 km was reduced by 80%, the dead zone residual adjustment model in the inverse-temperature phenomenon reduced the sum of squares error by 21%, compared with the ordinary residual network inversion results. Our findings provide new insights into the accuracy improvement of radiometer remote sensing.
Identification of Vibration Modes in Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
Authors: Serrano-Antoñanazas Mikel , Sierra-Garcia Jesús-Enrique , Santos Matilde , Tomas-Rodríguez María
Published: September 2023

Compared to onshore turbines, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) take advantage of the increased availability of offshore wind while causing less environmental impact. However, the strong winds, waves, and currents to which they are subjected trigger oscillations that can cause significant damage to the entire structural system and reduce its useful life. To reduce these loads, active tower damping techniques such as filter banks can be used. These filters must be carefully tuned to block specific vibration frequencies. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the nature of the oscillations in the FOWT and to understand how the frequencies vary in time. This topic is usually approached from a point of view very focused on a specific turbine. What is proposed here is a general method, which can be applied to any type of wind turbine, to automatically study the relationship between vibration frequencies and the degrees of freedom (DOF) of the turbine, which facilitates the design of structural control. Each frequency is associated with the DOF of the FOWT that produces it. This methodology has been successfully validated in simulation experiments with the NREL 5 MW ITI Barge FOWT. Under the wind conditions of the experiments, the main frequency found is 0.605 Hz. This frequency coincides with the 3P theoretical frequency of the FOWT. This proposal may help to design structural control systems able to damp these vibration frequencies with accuracy and efficiency.
Effects of Interaction between Claroideogolmus etuicatum and Bacillus aryabhattai on the Utilization of Organic Phosphorus in Camellia oleifera Abel.
Authors: Huang Yuxuan , Lin Yulan , Zhang Linping , Wu Fei , Zhang Yang , Huang Shaohua
Published: September 2023

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are involved in phosphorus (P) mobilization and turnover; however, the impact of their interaction on plant P absorption and organic P mineralization in the hyphosphere (rootless soil) are unknown. This study examined the interactive effects of two native microorganisms, namely Claroideogolmus etuicatum and Bacillus aryabhattai, and the effects of co-inoculation of both microorganisms on organic P mineralization and the subsequent transfer to Camellia oleifera, using a three-compartment microcosm with a nylon mesh barrier. The results demonstrated that the co-inoculation treatment (AMF + PSB) significantly increased the plant P content and biomass accumulation in C. oleifera compared to those of the non-inoculated control. Furthermore, co-inoculation boosted soil phosphatase and phytase activities as well as the liable P content. Compared to the non-inoculated control, inoculation of AMF decreased the NaOH-Po content. A correlation analysis showed that AMF colonization and hyphal density was significantly positively correlated with H2O-P and NaHCO3-Pi and negatively correlated with NaOH-Po. It was shown that co-inoculation could increase phosphatase activity, phytase activity, and promote the liable P content, thus increasing the phosphorus content and biomass accumulation of C. oleifera. In conclusion, AMF and PSB interactively enhanced the mineralization of soil organic P, and therefore positively affected P uptake and plant growth.
Simulation Analysis of Dynamic Damage Probability Modelling for Laser Systems
Authors: Shi Jiaowei , Sun Shiyan , Xie Jun , Zheng Chaobing
Published: September 2023

The paper proposes a method that analyses the dynamic damage probability of laser systems to address the shortcomings of the quantitative model for the damage probability of laser systems. Firstly, the far-field energy density distribution model is constructed according to the power spectrum inversion method. Then, the instantaneous on-target spot power density distribution is equivalently portrayed based on the combination of the far-field power density and the missile target characteristics. Next, the instantaneous on-target spot is combined with the tracking and aiming error to obtain the probability distribution of the energy density of the long-period on-target spot. Finally, the temperature probability distribution is obtained by analyzing the relation between the target energy density and the temperature of the inner wall of the warhead. Consequently, the damage probability was calculated. The simulation shows that there is a unique maximum damage probability when the target is flying in a straight line and the laser system strikes the missile sideways. The method can provide support for the shooting timing of high-energy laser systems.
A Mathematical Model of Financial Bubbles: A Behavioral Approach
Authors: Afilipoaei Andrei , Carrero Gustavo
Published: September 2023

In this work, we propose a mathematical model to describe the price trends of unsustainable growth, abrupt collapse, and eventual stabilization characteristic of financial bubbles. The proposed model uses a set of ordinary differential equations to depict the role played by social contagion and herd behavior in the formation of financial bubbles from a behavioral standpoint, in which the market population is divided into neutral, bull (optimistic), bear (pessimistic), and quitter subgroups. The market demand is taken to be a function of both price and bull population, and the market supply is taken to be a function of both price and bear population. In such a manner, the spread of optimism and pessimism controls the supply and demand dynamics of the market and offers a dynamical characterization of the asset price behavior of a financial bubble.
Research on a Hotel Collaborative Filtering Recommendation Algorithm Based on the Probabilistic Language Term Set
Authors: Wang Erwei , Chen Yingyin , Li Yumin
Published: September 2023

In the face of problems such as information overload and the information cocoon resulting from big data, it is a key point of current research to solve the problem of semantic fuzziness of online reviews and improve the accuracy of personalized recommendation algorithms by using online reviews. Based on the advantage of the probabilistic language term set to deal with fuzzy information and the historical data of online hotel reviews, this paper proposes a collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm for hotels. Firstly, the text data of hotel online reviews are crawled by a crawler and processed by jieba and TF-IDF tools. Secondly, the hotel evaluation attribute set is constructed, and the sentiment analysis of the review statements is carried out with the help of the HowNet sentiment dictionary and manual annotation method. The probabilistic language term set is used to classify the data and derive statistics, and the maximum deviation method is used to determine the weight of each attribute. Then, the cosine similarity formula is fused with the modified cosine similarity formula to calculate the similarity and construct the decision matrix. Finally, combined with the historical data of the user’s hotel selection, the hotel recommendation results are generated. This paper collected review data from 10 hotels in Macau from the official “Ctrip” website. The proposed recommendation algorithm model was then applied to process and analyze the data, resulting in the generation of a ranked list of hotel recommendations. To validate the accuracy and effectiveness of this research, the recommendation results were compared with those produced by other algorithms.
Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Variations in Gut Microbiomes of the Schistosoma mansoni-Transmitting Snails Biomphalaria straminea and Biomphalaria glabrata
Authors: Li Peipei , Hong Jinni , Wu Mingrou , Yuan Zhanhong , Li Dinghao , Wu Zhongdao , Sun Xi , Lin Datao
Published: September 2023

Biomphalaria snails play a crucial role in the transmission of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. The gut microbiota of intermediate hosts is known to influence their physiological functions, but little is known about its composition and role in Biomphalaria snails. To gain insights into the biological characteristics of these freshwater intermediate hosts, we conducted metagenomic sequencing on Biomphalaria straminea and B. glabrata to investigate variations in their gut microbiota. This study revealed that the dominant members of the gut microbiota in B. glabrata belong to the phyla Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, which were also found to be the top two most abundant gut bacteria in B. straminea. We identified Firmicutes, Acidovorax and Bosea as distinctive gut microbes in B. straminea, while Aeromonas, Cloacibacterium and Chryseobacterium were found to be dependent features of the B. glabrata gut microbiota. We observed significant differences in the community structures and bacterial functions of the gut microbiota between the two host species. Notably, we found a distinctive richness of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) associated with various classes of antibiotics, including bacitracin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, sulfonamide, penicillin, cephalosporin_ii and cephalosporin_i, fluoroquinolone, aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, multidrug and trimethoprim, in the digestive tracts of the snails. Furthermore, this study revealed the potential correlations between snail gut microbiota and the infection rate of S. mansoni using Spearman correlation analysis. Through metagenomic analysis, our study provided new insights into the gut microbiota of Biomphalaria snails and how it is influenced by host species, thereby enhancing our understanding of variant patterns of gut microbial communities in intermediate hosts. Our findings may contribute to future studies on gastropod–microbe interactions and may provide valuable knowledge for developing snail control strategies to combat schistosomiasis in the future.
Shock-Impacts and Vibrational g-Forces Can Dislodge Bacillus spp. Spores from Spacecraft Surfaces
Authors: Schuerger Andrew C. , Borrell Adriana V.
Published: September 2023

Mars spacecraft encounter numerous g-loads that occur along the launch or landing vectors (called axial vectors) or along lateral off-axes vectors. The goal of this research was to determine if there was a threshold for dislodging spores under brute-force dynamic shock compressional impacts (i.e., henceforth called shock-impacts) or long-term vibrationally induced g-loads that might simulate spacecraft launches or landings profiles. Results indicated that spores of Bacillus subtilis 168 and B. atrophaeus ATCC 9372 were dislodged from ChemFilm-coated aluminum coupons during shock impact events of 60 g’s or higher. In contrast, the threshold for dislodging B. pumilus SAFR-032 spores was approx. 80 g’s. Vibrational g-loading was conducted at approx. 12–15 g’s (z-axis) and 77 Hz. All three Bacillus spp. exhibited very modest spore dislodgement at 1, 4, or 8 min of induced vibrational g-loads. However, the numbers of spores released depended on the Earth’s g-vector relative to the bacterial monolayers. When the experimental hardware was placed in an ‘Up’ orientation (defined as the spores sat on the upper surface of the coupons and the coupons pointed up and away from Earth’s g-vector), zero to only a few spores were dislodged. When the experimental hardware was inverted and the coupon surfaces were in a ‘Down’ orientation, the number of spores released increased by 20–30 times. Overall, the results of both assays suggest that spores on spacecraft surfaces will not likely be dislodged during nominal launch and landing scenarios, with the exception of jettisoned hardware (e.g., heat shields or backshells) during landing that might hit the Martian terrain at high g’s. However, off-nominal landings hitting the Martian surface at >60 g’s are likely to release low numbers of spores into the atmosphere and regolith.