bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quasars: Standard Candles up to z = 7.5 with the Precision of Supernovae Ia
Authors: Dainotti M. G. , Bargiacchi G. , Lenart A. Ł. , Nagataki S. , Capozziello S.
Published: June 2023

Currently, the Λ cold dark matter model, which relies on the existence of cold dark matter and a cosmological constant Λ, best describes the universe. However, we lack information in the high-redshift (z) region between Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia; up to z = 2.26) and the cosmic microwave background (z = 1100), an interval crucial to test cosmological models and their possible evolution. We have defined a sample of 983 quasars up to z = 7.54 with a reduced intrinsic dispersion δ = 0.007, which determines the matter density parameter Ω
M
with the same precision of SNe Ia. Although previous analysis have used quasars as cosmological tools, this is the first time that high-redshift sources, in this case quasars, as standalone cosmological probes yield such tight constraints on Ω
M
. Our results show the importance of correcting cosmological relationships for selection biases and redshift evolution and how the choice of a golden sample reduces considerably the intrinsic scatter. This proves the reliability of quasars as standard cosmological candles.
Optical Color of Type Ib and Ic Supernovae and Implications for Their Progenitors
Authors: Jin Harim , Yoon Sung-Chul , Blinnikov Sergei
Published: June 2023

Type Ib and Ic supernovae (SNe Ib/Ic) originate from hydrogen-deficient massive star progenitors, of which the exact properties are still much debated. Using SN data in the literature, we investigate the optical B − V color of SNe Ib/Ic at the V-band peak and show that SNe Ib are systematically bluer than SNe Ic. We construct SN models from helium-rich and helium-poor progenitors of various masses using the radiation hydrodynamics code STELLA and discuss how the B − V color at the V-band peak is affected by the 56Ni to ejecta mass ratio, 56Ni mixing, and the presence/absence of a helium envelope. We argue that the dichotomy in the amount of helium in the progenitors plays the primary role in making the observed systematic color difference at the optical peak, in favor of the most commonly invoked SN scenario that SNe Ib and SNe Ic progenitors are helium rich and helium poor, respectively.
The Spin-down Accretion Regime of Galactic Ultraluminous X-Ray Pulsar Swift J0243.6+6124
Authors: Liu Jiren , Ji Long , Ge Mingyu
Published: June 2023

The relatively high fluxes of the Galactic ultraluminous X-ray pulsar Swift J0243 allow a detailed study of its spin-down regime in the quiescent state for the first time. After the 2017 giant outburst, its spin frequency shows a linearly decreasing trend with some variations due to minor outbursts. The linear spin-down rate is ∼ −1.9 × 10−12 Hz s−1 during the period of lowest luminosity, from which one can infer a dipole field of ∼1.75 × 1013 G. The

ν

̇

–
L

relation during the spin-down regime is complex, and

ν

̇

is close to zero when the luminosity reaches both the high end (L
38 ∼ 0.3) and the lowest value (L
38 ∼ 0.03). The luminosity of zero torque is different for the giant outburst and other minor outbursts. This is likely due to different accretion flows for different types of outburst, as evidenced by the differences in the spectra and pulse profiles at a similar luminosity for different types of outburst (giant or not). The pulse profile changes from double peaks in the spin-up state to a single broad peak in the low spin-down regime, indicating the emission beam/region is larger in the low spin-down regime. These results show that accretion is still ongoing in the low spin-down regime, for which the neutron star is supposed to be in a propeller state.
The GRETOBAPE Gas-phase Reaction Network: The Importance of Being Exothermic
Authors: Tinacci Lorenzo , Ferrada-Chamorro Simón , Ceccarelli Cecilia , Pantaleone Stefano , Ascenzi Daniela , Maranzana Andrea , Balucani Nadia , Ugliengo Piero
Published: June 2023

The gas-phase reaction networks are the backbone of astrochemical models. However, due to their complexity and nonlinear impact on the astrochemical modeling, they can be the first source of error in the simulations if incorrect reactions are present. Over time, following the increasing number of species detected, astrochemists have added new reactions, based on laboratory experiments and quantum mechanics (QM) computations, as well as reactions inferred by chemical intuition and the similarity principle. However, sometimes no verification of their feasibility in the interstellar conditions, namely their exothermicity, was performed. In this work, we present a new gas-phase reaction network, GRETOBAPE, based on the KIDA2014 network and updated with several reactions, cleaned from endothermic reactions not explicitly recognized as such. To this end, we characterized all the species in the GRETOBAPE network with accurate QM calculations. We found that ∼5% of the reactions in the original network are endothermic, although most of them are reported as barrierless. The reaction network of Si-bearing species is the most impacted by the endothermicity cleaning process. We also produced a cleaned reduced network, GRETOBAPE-red, to be used to simulate astrochemical situations where only C-, O-, N-, and S-bearing species with less than six atoms are needed. Finally, the new GRETOBAPE network, its reduced version, and the database with all the molecular properties are made publicly available. The species property database can be used in the future to test the feasibility of possibly new reactions.
Improving MCMC Convergence for Joint Astrometry and Radial Velocity Orbit-fits Through Reparameterization
Authors: Surti Tirth , Hirsch Lea , Madayen Tabassom , Ali Ziyyad , Nielsen Eric , Blunt Sarah , Wang Jason , Ferrer-Chávez Rodrigo , Macintosh Bruce
Published: June 2023

The exoplanet orbit-fitting software package orbitize! was initially designed to fit the orbits of directly imaged planets with relative astrometric measurements using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. Since the publication of orbitize! v1.0, the ability to jointly fit radial velocities and astrometry has been incorporated. We first implemented a Basis class into orbitize! that enables users to add and fit in various orbit parameterizations. We then introduced a radial velocity-focused parameterization of the Keplerian orbital elements for the joint radial velocity and astrometry fits. We compared MCMC convergence speeds of the new radial velocity-focused basis to the original orbitize! standard basis for the system HD 190771, which has full orbital coverage in radial velocity data. We found a 16% faster convergence in time with the radial velocity-focused basis. We encourage users to consider using this basis when doing joint radial velocity and astrometry fits.
Advanced Platelet-rich Fibrin versus Sticky Bone in Socket Preservation - Clinical and X-ray Assessment: Case Report
Authors: Trajculeski Stavre , Veleska-Stevkovska Daniela , Trajculeski Marija
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND: The preservation of post-extraction alveola, as part of guided bone regeneration, is recommended for the creation of a biological foundation for future implant-prosthetic or prosthetic production. Several graft materials are used, either independently or in a combination of each other. Advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) as an autologous blood derivate in the recent years has been increasingly used because of its properties in angiogenesis, epithelialization, and hemostasis. Simple production, low cost, and non-use of anticoagulants are advantages for more mass use of it.
CASE PRESENTATION: Two clinical cases are described, one is using a combination of A-PRF with xenograft, and the second clinical case is using a solo A-PRF, for socket preservation.
CONCLUSION: The properties of A-PRF for preserving both bone volume and quality have been confirmed, highlighting its potential as a valuable therapeutic tool. Furthermore, the post-operative period following A-PRF treatment has been found to be free of significant discomfort and morbidity for patients, suggesting that this approach may represent a safe and effective means of promoting optimal clinical outcomes.
The Potential of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide as a Biomarker in Predicting and Optimizing Use of Treatment in Asthma
Authors: Ali Hirowati , Rasya Salsabila Faiha Wiendra , Siregar Muhammad Abi Ghoffari
Published: June 2023

Asthma affects the respiratory system and causes airway inflammation. The indication of asthma includes a triad of airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and obstruction. Nitric Oxide (NO) is a gas that is exhaled and is a sign of airway inflammation. NO levels in the exhaled breath of patients with type 2 asthma are elevated, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is an objective biomarker of airway inflammation. Measurements of FeNO are noninvasive, require minimal patient effort, and are easy to collect in clinical settings. The current review is a systematic review performed using PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar according to The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocol (PRISMA-P) guidelines. This review discusses the entanglement of understanding FeNO measurement and supplementing existing diagnostic and assessment tools for inflammatory lung diseases. Monitoring FeNO can also help identify different asthma phenotypes within the asthma syndrome and suggest the optimal administration of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as elevated FeNO levels indicate ICS response. Non-adherence to ICS is a significant contributor to the failure of asthma treatment. A FeNO suppression test can be done to determine non-adherence. FeNO levels should be used with a careful history, conventional spirometric testing with bronchodilator reversibility, measures of bronchial hyperreactivity using methacholine, and other measures of eosinophilic inflammation, such as a peripheral blood eosinophil cell count. FeNO is more sensitive and specific when paired with other lung function tests.
The secret life of a rock-dweller: arboreal acrobatics observed in the European leaf-toed gecko Euleptes europaea
Authors: Salvi Daniele , Berrilli Emanuele , Bruni Giacomo , Garzia Matteo , Gomes Veronica , Radi Giacomo , Delaugerre Michel-Jean
Published: June 2023

The European leaf toed Gecko,Euleptes europaea, is a strictly nocturnal species endemic to the western Mediterranean and has long been considered a rock-specialist as it is associated with this habitat during its entire daily and life cycle. In this study, we report observations of arboreal behaviour inE. europaea, collected during field research over a 40-year period from across the entire species range. We provide a review of the available information on this topic that contributes to a refined view of the habitat uses and arboreal abilities of this species. Arboreal behaviour inE. europaeawas observed throughout the year, across different macrohabitats, on a wide variety of tree, shrub, and bush species, on various parts of the plant (trunk, branches, fronds, twigs, leaves), and at different height from the ground. Remarkably,E. europaeashows an extraordinarily agile arboreal locomotion associated with striking morphological adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle, namely a prehensile tail bearing a terminal adhesive pad that supplements grasping force, an equilibrium asset, and scansor adhesion both in static condition and during escape. We conclude thatE. europaeais a climbing gecko (opposed to ground dwelling), occupying both rocky and arboreal microhabitats. While the evolutionary origin and ecological drivers of the arboreal behaviour ofE. europaearemains to be fully investigated, this realization has important implications for designing fieldwork research and management strategies for conservation.
The rise of the Functional Response in invasion science: a systematic review
Authors: Faria Larissa , Cuthbert Ross N. , Dickey James W. E. , Jeschke Jonathan M. , Ricciardi Anthony , Dick Jaimie T. A. , Vitule Jean R. S.
Published: June 2023

Predicting which non-native species will negatively impact biodiversity is a longstanding research priority. The Functional Response (FR; resource use in relation to availability) is a classical ecological concept that has been increasingly applied to quantify, assess and compare ecological impacts of non-native species. Despite this recent growth, an overview of applications and knowledge gaps across relevant contexts is currently lacking. We conducted a systematic review using a combination of terms regarding FR and invasion science to synthesise scientific studies that apply the FR approach in the field and to suggest new areas where it could have valuable applications. Trends of publications using FR in invasion science and publications about FR in general were compared through the Activity Index. Data were extracted from papers to reveal temporal, bibliographic, and geographic trends, patterns in study attributes such as type of interaction and habitat investigated, taxonomic groups used, and context-dependencies assessed. In total, 120 papers were included in the review. We identified substantial unevenness in the reporting of FRs in invasion science, despite a rapidly growing number of studies. To date, research has been geographically skewed towards North America and Europe, as well as towards predator-prey interactions in freshwater habitats. Most studies have focused on a few species of invertebrates and fishes. Species origin, life stage, environmental temperature and habitat complexity were the most frequently considered context-dependencies. We conclude that while the FR approach has thus far been narrowly applied, it has broad potential application in invasion science and can be used to test major hypotheses in this research field.
Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Schizophrenia
Authors: Lisboa João Roberto F. , Simei João Luís , de Souza José Diogo R. , Gomes Felipe V.
Published: June 2023

Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder that has undergone significant advancements in its treatment. However, there are still many aspects of symptom management and prevention that could benefit from new developments in psychopharmacology. One potential avenue is the use of cannabidiol (CBD), a major phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Preliminary evidence suggests that CBD could effectively treat certain symptoms of the disorder with fewer side effects than conventional antipsychotics. This article provides the reader with an in-depth discussion of the current scientific evidence concerning the use of CBD in the treatment of schizophrenia.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2023;53(6):252–255.]
Cannabidiol in the Pediatric Population
Authors: de Almeida Marcela Fischer , Crippa Ana Chrystina
Published: June 2023

Recently, there has been significant interest in using cannabidiol (CBD) in the pediatric population. Robust evidence exists for the anticonvulsant action of CBD in some childhood epileptic syndromes, and CBD can reduce anxiety symptoms, stereotyped behavior, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders. However, there are other diseases, such as fragile X syndrome and conditions resulting in intellectual disability, in which CBD use is developing. This article provides the reader with a discussion of the current scientific evidence regarding the use of CBD in the pediatric population.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2023;53(6):256–258.]
Fractional order modeling for injectable and oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis
Authors: Moya Erick Manuel Delgado , Rodrigues Diego Samuel
Published: June 2023

The search for therapies and prevention methods for HIV infection is essential for controlling the virus in a population. In this paper, we introduce a fractional order mathematical model to study the impact of the oral to the injectable Pre-Exposured Prophylaxis modality, which is completely new in terms of public health. For that, we consider current antiretroviral therapies, undiagnosed cases, and the impact of PrEP on the case diagnosis. To investigate the model, besides the use of fractional order derivatives, we also consider illustrative cases by means of demographic data from Brazil and parameter values from the literature. We compare the influence on incidence, prevalence, diagnosis, and mortality of oral PrEP with the injectable PrEP, which is the new current trend on the subject. As a result, an increasing in incidence, prevalence and also mortality are revealed by augmented fractional order of derivatives for both PrEP modalities, but PrEP reached better results in its oral modality. Despite the need for further studies, this contribution is intended as a first preliminary step to contribute to decision-making by health authorities.
La estigmatización de las comunidades gitanas en la pandemia de gripe española. Un estudio de caso a través de la provincia de Bizkaia en 1918
Authors: De Miguel-Salanova Santiago , Hernando-Pérez Josu , Buhigas-Jimenez Rafael
Published: June 2023

La pandemia de gripe española que tuvo lugar entre 1918 y 1920 ha sido profundamente estudiada desde numerosas perspectivas. Sin embargo, existen efectos sociales de la pandemia que todavía no se han explorado lo suficiente. La estigmatización y discriminación de ciertos grupos significados étnicamente como los gitanos fueron producto de las medidas profilácticas aplicadas para poner freno a la extensión del virus. La circulación y presencia de las comunidades gitanas sirvieron como argumento para explicar en ocasiones los desastres sociosanitarios. Por medio del estudio concreto de la provincia de Bizkaia este artículo pretende profundizar en la dimensión social del conflicto y, al mismo tiempo, analizar el encaje de los gitanos ante la situación de crisis sanitaria que dio lugar a discursos y prácticas dirigidas al control de estos grupos étnicos que históricamente han contraído relaciones complejas con las regulaciones gubernativas.
Complex organizations, an exploration between design practices and management
Authors: Rosini Caterina , Barbero Silvia
Published: June 2023

Organisational change has become increasingly an influential process in enterprise evolution because as a fundamental step in enabling the corporate to adapt and follow the changes occurring in its environment. All types of enterprises are involved in these dynamics. However, this paper will focus on organisational change for social enterprises (SE). In SE, organisational issues are complex, and they entail satisfying both economic and social mission needs while avoiding isomorphism with for-profit companies. On these considerations, this article aims to provide an insight into the role that design can play in processes that facilitate organisational change. Moreover, the paper investigates three design processes that deal with organisational issues and evaluate which one is the most suitable for SE organisational issue. The article synthesises and discusses literature from three areas of reference: design in the organisational field, organisational evolution of SEs, and organisations as complex systems. The aim of this literature review is to understand how design can support the development path of SE in its organisational change. Specifically for the SE category, it emerges how Systemic Design could play a more significant role in designing and implementing organisational development that can guarantee resilience and social sustainability valorising the specific context where they are based.
Roles of Empathetic Competency and Participative Design in Organizational Stakeholder Relationships
Authors: Gallego Carmenza , Calderón Hernández Gregorio
Published: June 2023

The objective of the present article was to encounter empirical evidence of the use that companies make of the empathetic competency and participative design for relationship development with their interest groups. Empirical comparison occurred by way of a case study in a Colombian family business group composed of three companies. A mixed research design was applied, using a questionnaire to measure the use of empathy, as was an in-depth interview, to learn the use of participative design in stakeholder relationships. Results show acceptable use of the empathetic competency, and that the participative approach, characteristic of design, is partially employed, although the upper level of co-creation is not achieved. It is concluded that, if the empathetic competency is not made to form the base of the participative approach, organization relational capital is wasted. Further, companies may improve stakeholder relationships if they are able to apply participative design methodologies, techniques, and tools, as these reduce resistance to change, and improve the work environment, leadership, and productivity.
Convergences between design attitude and strategic design: a theoretical model proposition
Authors: Da Silva Paz Cesar Fernando , Da Costa Filipe Campelo Xavier , Severo de Borba Gustavo
Published: June 2023

This study aims to identify and discuss the relationship between the design attitude concept and the strategic design approach. Strategic design attitudes were analyzed in organizational contexts to reflect on who is the strategic designer and what characterizes him as a being capable of designing organizational strategies. This work is based on Michlewski's design attitude model (2015), debated and analyzed from the experts' point of view (PhD researchers who investigate strategic design). With the elements built in this dialogue, the expanded model of design attitude for strategic design is born, consisting of seven components that confirm the attitudes of the strategic designer
A Questionnaire for Assessing Immersive Websites
Authors: Scuri Sabrina , Nunes Nuno , Nisi Valentina
Published: June 2023

Web-immersion – i.e., a deep sense of cognitive and perceptual absorption engendered by the content and interactive features of a website - plays an important role in our modern, digital world. Yet, this topic has received little attention from design and HCI scholars. The lack of tools to assess and measure immersion in the Web may severely limit our ability to understand the nature of such experience, thereby constraining future research in the area. To address this issue, we designed a questionnaire for assessing immersive websites and conducted a preliminary evaluation on it. In this article, we outline the questionnaire design and report on findings from a preliminary study conducted to analyse its reliability and validity. Moreover, we present results from Factor Analysis performed to investigate the dimensionality of the instrument. Finally, we conclude by discussing the implications of our findings, along with limitations of the study and future work.
Application of n-Cylindrical Fuzzy Neutrosophic Sets in Education Using Neutrosophic Similarity Index and Neutrosophic Score Ratio
Authors: R. Sarannya Kumari , Kalayathankal Sunny Joseph , George Mathews M. , Smarandache Florentin
Published: June 2023

The n-Cylindrical fuzzy neutrosophic sets (n-CyFNS) with I as independent neutrosophic component, are one of the largest extension of fuzzy sets except fuzzy neutrosophic sets. Here the positive, neutral, and negative membership functions are satisfying the condition, 0≤ βA(x) ≤1 and 0≤ αAn(x) + γAn(x) ≤ 1, n≥1, is an integer. In this set, two constrains are defined, in order to broaden the membership value range. In this chapter, some applications of n-Cylindrical fuzzy neutrosophic sets in the field of education are presented, such as evaluating a funded project proposal and staff recruitment using a neutrosophic score ratio and a neutrosophic similarity index. A modest attempt is made to make sociometry more acceptable in the context of mathematics. For this, n-Cylindrical fuzzy neutrosophic relations (n-CyFNRs) are introduced. Using n-CyFNRs, this study hope to provide a new quantitative approach to sociometry.
The Use of Neutrosophic Linear Programming Method in the Field of Education
Authors: Jdid Maissam Ahmed
Published: June 2023

In light of the great development witnessed by all fields of science, it was necessary to keep pace with this development, benefit from it, and adapt it to serve humanity through organized observation of natural events and conditions, discovering facts, formulating appropriate laws for those facts, and exploiting available resources. By using operations research methods, we can face most problems and find solutions, which prompted many researchers and scholars in the field of education to claim the need to use these methods in the management of educational institutions and to include them in the curricula for students in the early educational stages. The authors prepared this study using the concepts of neutrosophic logic through which they present some problems that can be converted into linear neutrosophic models, which can be used in the management of educational institutions and also be included in academic curricula.
Psychological Correlates of Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Among Social Media Users
Authors: Ubaradka Anantha , Fathima Ayesha , Batra Shreya
Published: June 2023

The recent burgeon on social media usage has contributed to much research examining the role of enmeshing psychological and psychosocial factors. Concerning the existing scenario, this study investigates the networking between narcissism, self-esteem and perfectionistic self-presentation among Facebook and Instagram users. Perfectionistic self-presentation is a major constituent of young people's identity development and may intensify during the transition to college. Against this backdrop, the study was conducted on 578 Indian students who belonged to the age range of 18-24 years. The result showed that perfectionistic self-presentation was predicted by self-esteem, narcissism, and intense usage of Instagram. The result also divulged the current trend and proclaimed that Instagram is a major online platform where perfectionistic self-presentation is portrayed to salvage the deflated self-esteem.
Strategic Analyses of Applying an Option-Based Hedging Mechanism in Parallel Airline Alliances
Authors: Wang Xiaojia , Fung Richard Y. K.
Published: June 2023

The extant literature proposes an option-based hedging mechanism for airlines in a parallel alliance to transfer bumped passengers to their alliance partner's flight. This paper extends this literature by conducting strategic analyses and developing a two-stage simulation-based algorithm to identify the best strategy for applying the hedging mechanism. Specifically, the best strategy refers to the best number of options for the allied carriers to transact. The authors show that there exists a robust result of the best number of options, and it is obtained under the objective of maximizing alliance-wide revenue. The result of this paper can provide direct guidance to the management of airlines on the best practice of hedging ex-post overbooking risks and matching supply with demand.
Condition Monitoring and Analysis Method of Smart Substation Equipment Based on Deep Learning in Power Internet of Things
Authors: Zhang Lishuo , Ma Zhuxing , Gu Hao , Xin Zizhong , Han Pengcheng
Published: June 2023

An accurate perception of the state of smart substation equipment is a strong guarantee for the reliable operation of the large power grid. This article proposes using deep learning for the device condition monitoring and analysis method in a power internet of things cloud edge collaboration mode. The speeded up robust features (SURF) feature detector is used at the edge of the network to accurately collect the interest points from the image data set, providing a reliable and complete sample data set support for the cloud-based deep learning network. Adding the attention mechanism module to the cloud improves the Yolov5 network model, enhance feature extraction, and increase the monitoring and analysis capabilities of the equipment. The simulation results show that the proposed method has achieved a recall rate of 91.21% and an accuracy rate of 90.54% for insulator fault evaluation indicators.
Machine Learning-Based Automatic Litter Detection and Classification Using Neural Networks in Smart Cities
Authors: Malik Meena , Prabha Chander , Soni Punit , Arya Varsha , Alhalabi Wadee Alhalabi , Gupta Brij B. , Albeshri Aiiad A. , Almomani Ammar
Published: June 2023

Machine learning and deep learning are one of the most sought-after areas in computer science which are finding tremendous applications ranging from elementary education to genetic and space engineering. The applications of machine learning techniques for the development of smart cities have already been started; however, still in their infancy stage. A major challenge for Smart City developments is effective waste management by following proper planning and implementation for linking different regions such as residential buildings, hotels, industrial and commercial establishments, the transport sector, healthcare institutes, tourism spots, public places, and several others. Smart City experts perform an important role for evaluation and formulation of an efficient waste management scheme which can be easily integrated with the overall development plan for the complete city. In this work, we have offered an automated classification model for urban waste into multiple categories using Convolutional Neural Networks. We have represented the model which is being implemented using Fine Tuning of Pretrained Neural Network Model with new datasets for litter classification. With the help of this model, software, and hardware both can be developed using low-cost resources and can be deployed at a large scale as it is the issue associated with healthy living provisions across cities. The main significant aspects for the development of such models are to use pre-trained models and to utilize transfer learning for fine-tuning a pre-trained model for a specific task.
Privacy-Preserving Contact Tracing for Curbing the Spread of Infectious Disease
Authors: Li Hui , Zhu Yifei
Published: June 2023

The world is facing one of the greatest public health threats in modern history. Various techniques based on contact tracing have been developed to support non-pharmaceutical interventions. The growing evidence shows that app-based contact tracing can reduce the spread of COVID-19 if a certain proportion of the population uses the apps. However, the risk of privacy breaches that comes with such apps has long been a public concern which may hinder the uptake of the apps. In this paper, the authors attempt to find a solution to complete the spatiotemporal intersection computation without exposing the infected patient location and the user location to one another. The authors implement the solution in the WeChat applet to aid the local health center. This study conducts experiments for six scenarios to justify the applicability of the applet. Experiment results indicate that the applet is a promising non-pharmaceutical tool for curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Incidence of "Caterpillar hump" of right hepatic artery in the "Calot triangle" among a selected population in Sri Lanka. A chart review
Authors: Abeysuriya V. , Chandrasena L.
Published: June 2023

Introduction: "Caterpillar hump" of the right hepatic artery in the triangle of Calot, is a rare variation that increases the risk of vascular and biliary injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study aims to determine the prevalence of right hepatic artery forming "Caterpillar hump" in a selected cohort of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a private hospital in Sri Lanka.Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine the prevalence of "Caterpillar hump" of the right hepatic artery among patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis in a private hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 2015 to 2022. Data were retrieved from the available records at hospitals from 2015 to 2022. There were 79 patients recode during the study period. These records consist of manually written bed head charts, discharge summaries and electronic medical records. Patient records which did not clearly mention the Calot triangle vasculature or illegible handwriting were excluded from the study. Out of that, only 75 [94.9%] patients' charts were eligible for the study. Data on demographic and Calot triangle vasculature was recorded during surgery and retrieved from the hospital records. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the hospital's ethical committee.Results: Among the patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 50 (66.7%) were female, and 25(33.3%) were male patients, with a mean (±SD) age of 57.4±4.8 years (range 18–81). The prevalence of the "Caterpillar hump" right hepatic artery in the calot's triangle among the study sample was 4 % ( 3/75). Two were females and one male. In all cases, the vascular variation was reported in a single-loop fashion, and no double-loop configuration was noted.Conclusions: This study showed that the right hepatic artery was subjected to this rare anatomical variation. This anomalous presentation increased the risk of vessel ligation or injury during laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. Thus, the awareness of caterpillar hump within Calot triangle, during surgical procedures is useful.
Histopathological changes due to osteoarthritis in articular cartilages of the knee
Authors: Amaratunga H. A. , Adikari S. B. , Suraweera H. J. , Amunugama A. W. M. W. D. B. , Illeperuma M. R. , Sivakanesan T. , Rathnaweera W. S. , Dissanayake D. R. C. K.
Published: June 2023

Introduction: The bony ends of a synovial joint are lined by a specialised hyaline cartilage termed the articular cartilage. Articular cartilage can be affected with degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Knee being one of the larger joints built for weight bearing is the commonest site for osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to describe the macroscopic and microscopic features of articular cartilages of the knee joint in patients diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis.Methods: Seventy-two articular cartilages removed during total knee replacement surgery were observed for macroscopic damage and graded according to the direct visual assessment score. Thirty specimens randomly selected were processed for histology and stained with Safranin-O-fast green-iron hematoxylin and observed and scored using the Mankins histological and histochemical grading system.Results: majority of specimens showed severe damage in the medial compartment and much less damage in the lateral compartment. In the tibia the damage was greatest on the medial most edge where the articular cartilage was absent leaving the bone exposed. Anteromedial area was relatively spared. In the femur the middle part of the medial condyle was seen to be more severely damaged. A similar pattern was observed in 19 (63.3%) of the specimens and showed exposure of bone. In the lateral compartment worst damage was observed in the middle of the lateral femoral condyle, with the rest of the lateral compartment being well persevered. This pattern was observed in 26 (86.6%) of the knee specimens.Conclusion: OA of the medial compartment causes the two cartilage surfaces to grind together, mechanically denuding the cartilage layers, while the lateral compartment which receives much less mechanical stress is well preserved.
Effect of dietary inclusion of a sugarcane extract on growth performance of broiler chickens
Authors: Senaarachchi R. , Hasanjana M. G. Y. , De Seram H. E. L. , Nizanantha K. , Pushpakumara P. G. A. , Karunaratne N. D.
Published: June 2023

Polyphenol-rich natural sugarcane extract can protect living cells against oxidative damage that could negatively affect broiler performance. The objective was to evaluate the effect of graded levels of a dietary sugarcane extract on the growth performance of broiler chickens under local conditions. A study was conducted by housing a total of 960 broilers (Cobb 500) in litter floor pens and feeding graded levels of dietary sugarcane extract (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%) from 0 to 35 days. Each of the four rooms (replications) was portioned into four pens (60 birds/pen). Each treatment was randomly assigned to four pens in each room. Birds were fed commercial starter (crumbles; day 0 to 18) and finisher (pellets; day 19 to 35) diets according to Cobb 500 broiler performance objectives, and water was given adlibitum throughout the study. Treatment diets were prepared by adding the respective levels of sugarcane extract to the commercial diets. Mortality was recorded daily, and body weight gain, feed intake, and feed-to-gain ratio were evaluated weekly (day 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35) on a pen basis. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA for randomized complete block design. Statistical significance was P ≤ 0.05. The dietary level of sugarcane extract did not significantly affect the broiler performance parameters each week and overall trial period and did not negatively affect Cobb 500 performance targets. Sugarcane extract levels of 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%, respectively, resulted in 2.268, 2.261, 2.242 and 2.227 kg body weight gain (P = 0.437) and 3.429, 3.417, 3.348 and 3.350 kg feed intake (P = 0.245) for the total trial period. Feed-togain ratios (P = 0.207) for the entire trial length were 1.51, 1.51, 1.49 and 1.50 for 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% sugarcane extract, respectively. Dietary sugarcane extract levels did not affect broiler performance.
Phenobarbital responsive Sialadenosis in rottweiler dog - case report on clinical findings and treatments
Authors: Bandusena N. A. , Bandara A. M. S. S. V.
Published: June 2023

Sialadenosis is a bilateral, painless, noninflammatory, uniform, and nonneoplastic condition reported in human and animal medicine. It is a rare condition in animal medicine with only a handful of case reports published to date. According to the different case reviews in the veterinary literature, it can be classified under different forms that are associated with enlargement of a salivary gland with gastrointestinal diseases or without any other abnormality and also phenobarbital responsive or non-responsive form. Phenobarbital-responsive sialadenosis associated with an oesophagal foreign body has also been reported in a dog. This communication presents a case report of phenobarbital responsive sialadenosis of a ten-month old male Rottweiler. This dog was presented with the main complaint of acute vomiting together with inappetence, gulping, and progressive weight loss. Imaging studies revealed gastrointestinal inflammation in the stomach with mild ulceration with unclear aetiology. The dog did not show any improvement to symptomatic treatments. Additionally, it developed bilateral enlargement of the submandibular salivary glands which were hard in consistency and evident at the second presentation at 10 days after the first. Treatment with oral phenobarbital brought rapid resolution of clinical signs. Until recently, the pathogenesis of sialadenosis and why it does respond to phenobarbital have not been well understood. Because of the response to phenobarbital treatments, sialadenosis may represent a form of limbic epilepsy or peripheral autonomic dysfunction.
Genotype–phenotype correlations, surgical selections, and postoperative complications of 5α-reductase 2 deficiency in 69 children with hypospadias
Authors: Wen Xu , Fan Li-Jun , Zhang Wei-Ping , Ni Xin , Gong Chun-Xiu
Published: June 2023

5α-reductase 2 deficiency prevents testosterone from being converted to dihydrotestosterone, which causes abnormal urogenital sinus development. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between genotype–phenotype, surgical selections, and postoperative complications of 5α-reductase 2-deficient patients with hypospadias. We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with 5α-reductase 2 deficiency after genetic testing in the Department of Endocrinology and underwent initial hypospadias surgery in the Department of Urology in Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University (Beijing, China), from April 2007 to December 2021. A total of 69 patients were included in this study; the mean age at surgery was 34.1 months, and the average follow-up time was 54.1 months. Sixty children were treated with preoperative hormone stimulation (PHS) to promote penile growth. The average penis length and glans width were increased by 1.46 cm and 0.62 cm, respectively. The most frequent mutations were p.R227Q (39.1%, 54/138), p.Q6* (15.2%, 21/138), p.G203S (12.3%, 17/138), and p.R246Q (11.6%, 16/138). In 64 patients who were followed up, 43 had a one-stage operation and 21 had a staged operation, and there were significant differences in external masculinization score (EMS) (P = 0.008) and the average number of operation required to cure (P < 0.001) between one-stage and staged operations. PHS had a positive effect (P < 0.001) on penile development. The p.R227Q mutation was associated with higher EMS and less severe hypospadias. One-stage surgery can be selected if conditions permit. The growth and development of children are acceptable in the long term, but penis growth remains unsatisfactory. Long-term complications of hypospadias should be considered during puberty.
Transanal Resection of Anorectal Leiomyosarcoma
Authors: Venkatesh Pooja P. , Ray Juliet J. , Esen Eren , Grieco Michael , Bernstein Mitchell
Published: June 2023

Anorectal leiomyosarcoma (AL) is a rare and aggressive malignancy. Although the optimal treatment of AL is unknown, surgical resection with negative margins is the mainstay of management. We describe the case of a 72-year-old woman with metastatic rectal leiomyosarcoma, who initially presented with blood per rectum and worsening constipation. She was found to have a 7 × 7.3 cm mass prolapsing through the anal canal into the perineum without extraluminal extension or pathologic lymph nodes on MRI, with pathology consistent with sarcomatoid carcinoma. Transanal R0 resection was performed. Pathology showed a 6 cm high grade sarcoma consistent with leiomyosarcoma and negative margins. Two years post-resection, the patient was found to have a metastatic flank lesion, for which she underwent surgery. If accessible transanally, radical resection of AL is a valuable approach to treatment. Evidence regarding the best adjuvant treatment strategy is lacking and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Number of similar cases published:

27 articles published with 51 cases of anorectal sarcoma based on a review published in 2019.
The Association between Body Mass Index and Lymph Node Harvest After Elective Colon Cancer Resections
Authors: Cataneo Jose L. , Meidl Hanna , Joshi Gaurang , Zhang Michael S. , Willand Luke , Lutfi Rami , Quinteros Francisco
Published: June 2023

Background:

Obesity has been linked to the development of colorectal cancer and increase in morbidity. However, the impact body mass index (BMI) has on surgical staging through nodal harvest is not entirely understood.

Objective:

To identify the association between BMI and nodal harvest during elective colon cancer surgeries

Design:

Retrospective cohort review from 2015 to 2019.

Setting:

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-targeted colectomy database.

Materials and Methods:

The cohort was selected based on the codes corresponding to elective colectomies for colon cancer. BMI was grouped into the five clinically relevant categories and dichotomized. Nodal harvest was dichotomized into <12 and ≥12 lymph nodes. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis.

Sample Size:

A total of 35,039 patients.

Main Outcomes Measures:

The main outcome was adequate lymph node harvest for each BMI group. Secondary outcomes included analysis in laterality of tumors, approach, extent of resection, and identification of risk factors for adequate harvest.

Results:

The median BMI was 29.02 kg/m2 (interquartile range = 24.37–32.44) with a median of 22 (15–27) lymph nodes harvested. The BMI groups with the highest adequate lymph nodes harvested were those ≤25 with 93.7% compared to 92.8% in BMI >25 (P = 0.002). Right colon cancers had a higher rate of achieving adequate harvest than left colon cancers (94.8% vs. 90.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). Right tumors had a higher rate of adequate harvest in the ≤25 group, this frequency decreases as BMI increases and is the opposite for left tumors (P < 0.001). Inadequate harvest was higher for the open approach (9.82%) than that for laparoscopic (6.12%) or robotic (6.6%) procedures (P ≤ 0.001). BMI of ≤25 was associated with a 13% increase in the likelihood of an adequate nodal harvest (odds ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence index = 1.02–1.26).

Conclusion:

This study found that lower BMI was associated with a higher probability of achieving adequate nodal harvest. This can increase awareness about the risk of incomplete harvest in overweight and obese patients.

Limitations:

Large sample size bias, selection bias, and lack of details in specific variables due to the type of database.
Robotic versus Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer
Authors: Farid Uddin Aba Khaled M.
Published: June 2023

The purpose of the review is to establish the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery (RAS) and laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LAS) for colorectal disease based on randomized controlled trial studies. The objective of this study is to evaluate two different operative interventions for short-term outcomes. The short-term outcomes include the conversion rate to open operation, intraoperative bleeding, operation time, length of hospital stay, number of lymph nodes harvested, peri-operative complications, and clear pathological resection margins. A search of MEDLINE at EBSCOhost, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for articles from 1991 to 2020 was performed to identify randomized controlled trial studies that compared the clinical or oncologic outcomes of RAS and LAS. A meta-analysis was performed using the Review Manager (RevMan5.3) software. The data used were mean differences and odds ratios for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Fixed-effects or random-effects models were adopted according to heterogeneity. Ten randomized controlled trial studies were included in the meta-analysis; 687 patients underwent RAS and 794 patients underwent LAS. The results revealed that conversion rates [relative risk (RR) =0.36, 95% confidence index (CI) =0.23–0.55, P < 0.00001], estimated blood losses [mean deviation (MD) = −15.01, 95% CI = −23.93–6.08, P = 0.0010], length of hospital stay (MD = −0.78, 95% CI = −1.11–0.46, P < 0.00001), and complications [odds ratio (OR) =1.04, 95% CI = 0.73–1.48, P = 0.97] were significantly reduced following RAS compared to that with LAS. There were no significant differences in operation time (MD = 0.61, 95% CI = −3.48–4.71, P = 0.77), number of lymph nodes harvested (MD = −0.08, 95% CI = −1.03–0.88, P = 0.87), and circumferential resection margin non-involvement (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 0.88–2.25, P = 0.16) between the two techniques. The meta-analysis favored the robot-assisted technique. RAS is a promising technique and is a safe and effective alternative to LAS for colorectal surgery. The advantages of RAS include lower conversion rates, shorter hospital stay, and less intraoperative bleeding and complications. Further studies are required to define the effects of RAS on quality of life and long-term oncologic outcomes.