bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Determinism in the Prediction of Corrosion Damage
Authors: Macdonald Digby D.
Published: March 2023

This paper explores the roles of empiricism and determinism in science and concludes that the intellectual exercise that we call “science” is best described as the transition from empiricism (i.e., observation) to determinism, which is the philosophy that the future can be predicted from the past based on the natural laws that are condensations of all previous scientific knowledge. This transition (i.e., “science”) is accomplished by formulating theories to explain the observations and models that are based on those theories to predict new phenomena. Thus, models are the computational arms of theories, and all models must possess a theoretical basis, but not all theories need to predict. The structure of a deterministic model is reviewed, and it is emphasized that all models must contain an input, a model engine, and an output, together with a feedback loop that permits the continual updating of the model parameters and a means of assessing predictions against new observations. This latter feature facilitates the application of the “scientific method” of cyclical prediction/assessment that continues until the model can no longer account for new observations. At that point, the model (and possibly the theory, too) has been “falsified” and must be discarded and a new theory/model constructed. In this regard, it is important to stress that no amount of successful prediction can prove a theory/model to be “correct”, because theories and models are merely the figments of our imagination as developed through imperfect senses and imperfect intellect and, hence, are invariably wrong at some level of detail. Contrariwise, a single failure of a model to predict an observation invalidates (“falsifies”) the theory/model. The impediment to model building is complexity and its impact on model building is discussed. Thus, we employ instruments such as microscopes and telescopes to extend our senses to examining smaller and larger objects, respectively, just as we now employ computers to extend our intellects as reflected in our computational prowess. The process of model building is illustrated with reference to the deterministic Coupled Environment Fracture Model (CEFM) that has proven to be highly successful in predicting crack growth rate in metals and alloys in contact with high-temperature aqueous environments of the type that exist in water-cooled nuclear power reactor primary coolant circuits.
Enterosorbents Based on Rhubarb Biomass with a Hybrid Polymer-Inorganic Coating for the Immobilization of Azaheterocyclic Mycotoxins
Authors: Kornilova Nadezhda , Koksharov Sergey , Aleeva Svetlana , Lepilova Olga , Bikbulatova Albina , Nikiforova Elena
Published: March 2023

The aim of the study was the improvement of the phytosorbent range to solve the actual problems of preventing mycotoxicosis caused by numerous types of azaheterocyclic mycotoxins. Technological approaches to structural released pectin and to the formation of a surface layer that was capable of adhesive interaction with montmorillonite particles was identified. The increase in the material porosity and the formation of a hybrid polymer-inorganic coating on a cellulose matrix surface were revealed by scanning electron microscopy and gas adsorption. The modification of rhubarb biomass increased sorption capacity in comparison with the raw material seven-fold. The properties of rhubarb pectin and a hybrid composite based on it were investigated using FTIR spectroscopy, viscometry, laser diffraction and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results were compared with the characteristics of commercial citrus pectin. Models of the molecular structure of the polymer chain and the spatial interaction between macromolecules in the structure of the sorbing grain were proposed based on the pectin chemical state. The influence of the pectin structural organization on the kinetic parameters of the pH-regulated sorption of the test alkaloid under conditions simulating the functioning of the human digestive organs and those of farm animals was traced. The results of the studies allow prognoses on the sorption binding of alkaloids and determinations of the dosage of pectin-containing phytopreparations for mycotoxicos prevention.
Effect of Fluorocarbon Polymers on Hydrophobicity, Wear Resistance and Corrosion Resistance of Epoxy Resins
Authors: Tan Yali , Tang Jun , Zhao Nie , Qi Fugang , Ouyang Xiaoping
Published: March 2023

In order to meet the anticorrosion and wear resistance requirements of petroleum pipelines, we selected a polymer (FC) containing difunctional hydroxyl propyl acrylate (HPA) and perfluoroalkyl ethyl acrylate (TEAc-N) free radical polymerization to prepare hydrophobic fluorocarbon chain oil and a hydroxyl special functional group. Combined with tetrafluororesin (F4), the hydrophobic, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant properties of epoxy coating were improved. The optimum synthesis ratio of TEAc-N:HPA was 9:1, and the FC polymer with the best hydrophobicity was prepared. The hydrophobic angle of the coating was 100.3% higher than that of pure Q235 section steel. By adding 5 wt.% of FC to epoxy resin (EP), the hydrophobicity increased by 65.4% and oleophobicity increased by 32.1% compared with pure EP. The coefficient of friction was reduced by 73.8%. EIS test results showed that the impedance modulus in the low frequency region (|Z|0.01 Hz) was two orders of magnitude higher than that of the pure epoxy coating. The composite coating has sufficient utility to meet the wear, heat and corrosion resistance requirements for oil pipeline transportation.
Oxygen Vacancies in Zirconia and Their Migration: The Role of Hubbard-U Parameters in Density Functional Theory
Authors: Gebauer Ralph
Published: March 2023

Cubic zirconia (c-ZrO2) is studied using Density Functional Theory with Hubbard-U corrections (DFT+U). It is shown that the determination of the U-parameters from first principles leads to values for U(Zr-4d) and U(O-2p) which are very different from standard choices. The calculated band gap with these values for U closely matches the experimental gap. Oxygen vacancies are studied using this approach, and it is found that it is possible to closely reproduce the vacancy migration energies calculated with a hybrid functional. The oxygen vacancy is associated with two excess electrons which localize in the vacancy’s cavity. In the presence of these excess electrons, the barrier for vacancy migration is very high. If instead, a charged vacancy VO2+ is considered, its mobility increases considerably—an effect that is attributed to the absence of space charges localized in the cavity.
Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Germeroth Lillian , Sumnicht Theodore , Verble Robin
Published: March 2023

The grain for which an observer conducts a study is an important determinant of its outcome. Studies of ants have considered spatial grains spanning from single meters to entire forest ecosystems and found patterns related to nutrient availability, leaf litter depth, disturbance, and forest composition. Here, we examine a Bornean leaf litter ant community at small (1–4 m) and large (50–250 m) spatial scales and consider the differences in community structure using structured 1 m2 quadrats sampled via leaf litter sifting and Berlese extraction. We found that small-scale patterns in ant abundance and richness did not spatially autocorrelate within a plot until >1.5 m. Leaf litter characteristics, forest stand characteristics and sampling season were homogenous among our sites, suggesting that macro-scale stand variables are not largely regulating the small spatial scale ant communities: These may be driven by microclimate, competition, niche space, nutrient available, microclimatic conditions, or other localized effects. Further experimental work is needed to elicit causal mechanisms.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Infancy: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Del Duca Fabio , Maiese Aniello , Spina Federica , Visi Giacomo , La Russa Raffaele , Santoro Paola , Pignotti Maria Serenella , Frati Paola , Fineschi Vittorio
Published: March 2023

Acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants (AIPHI) is a rare and quite low-described entity. Nowadays, pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood, although the lethality remains high. We present an autopsy case report of a 2-day-old male who developed respiratory distress and blood leakage from the endotracheal tube (ET) and suddenly died because of acute pulmonary hemorrhage. A postmortem examination and histological analysis were performed and are reported in this paper. Alveolar spaces were filled with red blood cells and hyaline membranes in all the examined samples. The absence of other findings led us to select a post-mortem diagnosis of AIPHI. To support our diagnosis, we conducted a systematic review of the updated scientific literature and found that only 61 cases have been reported. Most of them presented acute respiratory distress and bleeding from the upper airways with blood leakage from ET (9.83%), hemoptysis (52.45%), epistaxis (8.2%), and hematemesis (3.27%). The autopsy data revealed hemorrhages of the lower airways and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. The data from the scientific publications and our findings are essential to achieving a correct diagnosis. On these bases, we suggest autoptic criteria to achieve a post-mortem diagnosis of AIPHI.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition of Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Aiming for a Comprehensive Genome Profile
Authors: Hijioka Susumu , Nagashio Yoshikuni , Maruki Yuta , Kawasaki Yuki , Takeshita Kotaro , Morizane Chigusa , Okusaka Takuji
Published: March 2023

In recent years, cancer genomic medicine centered on comprehensive genome profile (CGP) analysis has become widely used in the field of pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) has played an important role in pancreatic cancer, and recently, more EUS-TA tissue samples are considered for CGP analysis. Differences exist between the Oncoguide NCC Oncopanel System and Foundation One CDx Cancer Genome Profile, which are CGP tests approved by insurance programs in Japan, including the analysis criteria, optimal needle selection for meeting these criteria, and puncture target. It is important to understand not only the specimen collection factors, but also the specimen processing factors that can increase the success rate of CGP testing. Furthermore, cancer genome medicine is expected to enter an era of increasing turbulence in the future, and endoscopists need to respond flexibly to these changes. Herein, we review the current status of cancer genome medicine in pancreatic and biliary tract cancers and cancer gene panel testing using EUS-TA.
Smartphone Usage in Science Education: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ubben Malte S. , Kremer Fabienne E. , Heinicke Susanne , Marohn Annette , Heusler Stefan
Published: March 2023

This article presents a review of research on smartphone usage in educational science settings published between January 2015 and August 2022, and aims to provide an overview of the constructs evaluated and to identify potential gaps in current research for researchers working on this topic. Specifically, the search for publications in the relevant years was narrowed down to such studies that provided empirical evidence for the impact of smartphone usage on teaching and learning in natural science education. The databases used for the search were ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science. In total, 100 articles were surveyed. The study findings were categorized regarding the type of smartphone usage, as well as the type of educational institution and constructs investigated. Overall, the results from this review show that smartphone usage in educational science environments has the potential for rather positive effects, such as an increase in learning achievements or an increase in motivation, and smartphone usage rarely leads to detrimental effects. Despite the substantial amount of studies to date, more research in these areas would allow for more generalized statistical results and analyses and is therefore desirable.
Tinkering the Teacher–Technology Nexus: The Case of Teacher- and Technology-Driven Personalisation
Authors: Van Schoors Rani , Elen Jan , Raes Annelies , Depaepe Fien
Published: March 2023

Teacher-driven personalisation can be challenging to facilitate, especially in large heterogeneous classes and during demanding courses. Because of the growing digitalisation, more possibilities arise towards technology-driven personalisation. Nonetheless, little is known about how teachers interact with or implement digital personalised learning (DPL) tools in the classroom. This study explores two research questions: (RQ1) what personalisation strategies are enacted by teachers while implementing a DPL-tool for programming? and (RQ2) how does the teacher–technology interaction take shape? A qualitative multiple case study was established, comprising four cases (two pairs of co-teachers and two teachers who teach individually) implementing a DPL-track for programming in first grade of secondary education (12-to-14-year-old students). Within-case and cross-case analyses of interviews and observations revealed that, although the technology-driven personalisation remained unchanged over the cases, teachers used different personalisation strategies while enacting the DPL-track. Subsequently, various forms of the teacher–technology relationship were observed. Based on the findings, (1) a teacher–technology interaction continuum and (2) a new concept, i.e., ‘the teacher–technology nexus’, are presented as they can be of value for the elaboration of theory on the implementation of DPL-tools in real life classrooms.
Improving Code Completion by Solving Data Inconsistencies in the Source Code with a Hierarchical Language Model
Authors: Yang Yixiao
Published: March 2023

In the field of software engineering, applying language models to the token sequence of source code is the state-of-the-art approach to building a code recommendation system. When applying language models to source code, it is difficult for state-of-the-art language models to deal with the data inconsistency problem, which is caused by the free naming conventions of source code. It is common for user-defined variables or methods with similar semantics in source code, to have different names in different projects. This means that a model trained on one project may encounter many words the model has never seen before during another project. Those freely named variables or functions in the code will bring difficulties to the processes of training and prediction and cause a data inconsistency problem between projects. However, we discover that the syntax tree of source code has hierarchical structures. This code structure has strong regularity in different projects and can be used to combat data inconsistency. In this paper, we propose a novel Hierarchical Language Model (HLM) to improve the robustness of the state-of-the-art recurrent language model, in order to be able to deal with data inconsistency between training and testing. The newly proposed HLM takes the hierarchical structure of the code tree into consideration to predict code. The proposed HLM method generates the embedding for each sub-tree according to hierarchies and collects the embedding of each sub-tree in context, to predict the next piece of code. The experiments on inner-project and cross-project datasets indicate that the newly proposed HLM method performs better than the state-of-the-art recurrent language model in dealing with the data inconsistency between training and testing, and achieves an average improvement in prediction accuracy of 11.2%.
Communication, Computing, and Caching Trade-Off in VR Networks
Authors: Feng Yuqing , Wang Dongyu , Hou Yanzhao
Published: March 2023

As technology continues to advance, virtual reality (VR) video services are able to provide an increasingly realistic video experience. VR applications are limited, since the creation of an immersive experience requires processing and delivery of incredibly huge amounts of data. A potential technique to decrease the operation time for VR, as well as its energy use, is mobile edge computing (MEC). In this study, we develop a VR network in which several MEC servers can supply field-of-view (FOV) files to a VR device in order to satisfy the transmission requirements of VR video service and improve the quality of the experience. In this way, the projection process from 2D FOV to 3D FOV and the cached data is possible on an MEC server or a VR device. A cooperative computational offloading and caching strategy is developed as a decision matrix to reduce transmission requirements based on the service time constraint requirement. The VR video service mechanism is examined through the decision matrix. The trade-off between communication, caching, and computation (3C trade-off) is further implemented by means of a closed equation for the decision matrix. Results from simulations show that the suggested technique can perform close to optimally compared to alternative opposing methods.
Designing a 1550 nm Pulsed Semiconductor Laser-Emission Module Based on a Multiquantum-Well Equivalent Circuit Model
Authors: Li Li , Li Lin , Xu Huiwu , Yan Lihua , Li Gang , Wang Dapeng , Ying Jiaju , Huang Fuyu
Published: March 2023

The demand for eye-safe 1550 nm pulsed semiconductor laser-emission modules is increasing in the field of active laser detection, owing to their long range and high precision. The high power and narrow pulse of these modules can significantly improve the distance and accuracy of active-laser detection. Here, we propose an equivalent circuit model of a multiquantum-well laser based on the structure of a laser device. We developed a design method for 1550 nm pulsed semiconductor laser-emission modules according to the equivalent circuit model of an InGaAlAs laser. In this method, the module design was divided into laser chip and laser-driver levels for optimization and simulation. At the chip level, a high-output power laser chip with optimal cavity length and optical facet coating coefficients was obtained. At the laser-driver level, the model was applied to a drive circuit to provide direct narrow optical pulses. Finally, a laser-emission module was fabricated based on the optimal design results. In addition to the power-current features of the actual laser, the critical voltage of the emission module and laser pulses were tested. By comparing the test and simulation results, the effectiveness of the proposed method was confirmed.
Guidelines for Future Agile Methodologies and Architecture Reconciliation for Software-Intensive Systems
Authors: Rocha Fábio Gomes , Misra Sanjay , Soares Michel S.
Published: March 2023

Background: Several methodologies have been proposed since the first days of software development, from what is now named traditional/heavy methodologies, and later their counterpart, the agile methodologies. The whole idea behind agile methodologies is to produce software at a faster pace than what was considered with plan-based methodologies, which had a greater focus on documenting all tasks and activities before starting the proper software development. Problem: One issue here is that strict agilists are often against fully documenting the software architecture in the first phases of a software process development. However, architectural documentation cannot be neglected, given the well-known importance of software architecture to the success of a software project. Proposed Solution: In this article, we describe the past and current situation of agile methodologies and their relation to architecture description, as well as guidelines for future Agile Methodologies and Architecture Reconciliation. Method: We propose a literature review to understand how agile methodologies and architecture reconciliation can help in providing trends towards the success of a software project and supporting software development at a faster pace. This work was grounded in General Systems Theory as we describe the past, present, and future trends for rapid systems development through the integration of organizations, stakeholders, processes, and systems for software development. Summary of results: As extensively discussed in the literature, we found that there is a false dichotomy between agility and software architecture, and then we describe guidelines for future trends in agile methodologies and reconciliation of architecture to document agile architectures with both architectural decisions and agile processes for any system, as well as future trends to support organizations, stakeholders, processes, and systems.
A Study on Social Exclusion in Human-Robot Interaction
Authors: Spisak Sharon Ewa , Indurkhya Bipin
Published: March 2023

Recent research in human-robot interaction (HRI) points to possible unfair outcomes caused by artificial systems based on machine learning. The aim of this study was to investigate if people are susceptible to social exclusion shown by a robot and, if they are, how they signal the feeling of being rejected from the group. We review the research on social exclusion in the context of human–human interaction and explore its relevance for HRI. Then we present the results of our experiment to simulate social exclusion in the context of HRI: the participants (for whom it was their first encounter with a robot) and the Nao robot were asked to cooperate in solving the bomb defusal task, during which the robot favored one participant with whom it had a longer interaction before the task. The robot was controlled using the Wizard-of-Oz methodology throughout the experiment. Our results show that the discriminated participants reported a higher feeling of exclusion. Though some other hypotheses were not confirmed, we present several qualitative observations from our experiment. For example, it was noticed that the participants who behaved more openly and were more extraverted acted more comfortably when interacting with the robot.
Hydrocarbon Generation Mechanism of Mixed Siliciclastic–Carbonate Shale: Implications from Semi–Closed Hydrous Pyrolysis
Authors: Wang Jian , Jin Jun , Liu Jin , Tan Jingqiang , Chen Lichang , Cui Haisu , Ma Xiao , Song Xueqi
Published: March 2023

Affected by the complex mechanism of organic–inorganic interactions, the generation–retention–expulsion model of mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sediments is more complicated than that of common siliciclastic and carbonate shale deposited in lacustrine and marine environments. In this study, mixed siliciclastic–carbonate shale from Lucaogou Formation in Junggar Basin was selected for semi–closed hydrous pyrolysis experiments, and seven experiments were conducted from room temperature to 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 450, and 500 °C, respectively. The quantities and chemical composition of oil, gases, and bitumen were comprehensively analyzed. The results show that the hydrocarbon generation stage of shale in Lucaogou Formation can be divided into kerogen cracking stage (300–350 °C), peak oil generation stage (350–400 °C), wet gas generation stage (400–450 °C), and gas secondary cracking stage (450–500 °C). The liquid hydrocarbon yield (oil + bitumen) reached the peak of 720.42 mg/g TOC at 400 °C. The saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltine percentages of bitumen were similar to those of crude oil collected from Lucaogou Formation, indicating that semi–closed pyrolysis could stimulate the natural hydrocarbon generation process. Lucaogou shale does not strictly follow the “sequential” reaction model of kerogen, which is described as kerogen firstly generating the intermediate products of heavy hydrocarbon compounds (NSOs) and NSOs then cracking to generate oil and gas. Indeed, the results of this study show that the generation of oil and gas was synchronous with that of NSOs and followed the “alternate pathway” mechanism during the initial pyrolysis stage. The hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency sharply increased from an average of 27% to 97% at 450 °C, meaning that the shale retained considerable amounts of oil below 450 °C. The producible oil reached the peak yield of 515.45 mg/g TOC at 400 °C and was synchronous with liquid hydrocarbons. Therefore, 400 °C is considered the most suitable temperature for fracturing technology.
Economic Efficiency of Pine Wood Processing in Furniture Production
Authors: Wieruszewski Marek , Turbański Wojciech , Mydlarz Katarzyna , Sydor Maciej
Published: March 2023

The wood industry faces challenges due to rising prices and limited wood availability, putting pressure on material efficiency in wood processing. This justifies the analysis of the relationship between efficiency and economy in pine wood processing. The study aimed to measure the impact of variations in the thickness of logs, changes in the technology of their further processing, and changes in prices of raw materials and products on the material efficiency in the context of large-scale production of furniture elements made of pinewood. The raw material input consisted of three categories of log sizes, from which the specialized purpose lumber was produced. The lumber was then processed into semi-finished furniture elements with three technologies: without detecting natural wood defects, with human detection, and with automatic detection. The study was conducted in Poland from 2020 to 2022. The material efficiencies in every stage of the analyzed wood processing and the cost efficiencies were calculated and analyzed based on the results obtained under real industrial conditions. The main findings are as follows: (1) when comparing the logs in the three tested diameter ranges (14–23 cm, 23–30 cm, and more than 30 cm), it can be observed that the overall material efficiency of sawing is in the range of 70%–85% and increases with the thickness of the log; (2) the share of 38 mm specialized sawn timber in the total amount of sawn timber was 41%–58% and increased with increasing log diameter; (3) the economic efficiency of the technological process is 170%–290%, based on the log size and the technology of further processing employed. The determining factor affecting cost efficiencies is unexpected changes in raw material prices and product demand in 2022. The findings suggest that while improvements in processing technology can boost efficiency, they cannot fully offset the rise in raw wood material prices.
View Synthesis with Scene Recognition for Cross-View Image Localization
Authors: Lee Uddom , Jiang Peng , Wu Hongyi , Xin Chunsheng
Published: March 2023

Image-based localization has been widely used for autonomous vehicles, robotics, augmented reality, etc., and this is carried out by matching a query image taken from a cell phone or vehicle dashcam to a large scale of geo-tagged reference images, such as satellite/aerial images or Google Street Views. However, the problem remains challenging due to the inconsistency between the query images and the large-scale reference datasets regarding various light and weather conditions. To tackle this issue, this work proposes a novel view synthesis framework equipped with deep generative models, which can merge the unique features from the outdated reference dataset with features from the images containing seasonal changes. Our design features a unique scheme to ensure that the synthesized images contain the important features from both reference and patch images, covering seasonable features and minimizing the gap for the image-based localization tasks. The performance evaluation shows that the proposed framework can synthesize the views in various weather and lighting conditions.
In-Fiber All-Optical Fractional Differentiator Using an Asymmetrical Moiré Fiber Grating
Authors: Tendela Lucas P. , Cuadrado-Laborde Christian A. , Andrés Miguel V.
Published: March 2023

In this work, it is demonstrated numerically that an asymmetric Moiré fiber grating operated in reflection can provide the required spectral response to implement an all-optical fractional differentiator. In our case, the accumulated phase shift is not associated with a point phase shift, as when working with fiber Bragg gratings and long-period gratings with punctual defects, but is distributed all over the grating. The proposed device is supported by numerical simulations, and a dimensionless deviation factor is calculated to make quantitative analysis feasible. The performance of the proposed device is analyzed using numerical simulations by computing the fractional time derivatives of the complex field of an arbitrary transform-limited Gaussian pulse. A comparison with the performance given by theoretical differentiation is also presented.
Diet Quality of Older African Americans: Impact of Knowledge and Perceived Threat of COVID-19
Authors: Kibe Lucy W. , Bazargan Mohsen , Bosah Adaobi , Schrode Katrina M. , Kuo Yufu , Andikrah Edward , Shaheen Magda
Published: March 2023

Confusing health messages and environmental changes intended to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus have affected the dietary behavior of older African Americans. We investigated the impact of COVID-19-related factors on diet quality and the relationship between food access and diet quality. We surveyed 150 African Americans aged 55 years and above during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data obtained included socio-demographic and health information, and COVID-19-related knowledge and perceptions. Dietary intake data was obtained using the Diet History Questionnaire III. Analyses included bivariate and multivariable statistics. Overall, based on United States Department of Agriculture guidelines, the diet quality of older African Americans was poor. Lower knowledge and a lower perceived threat of COVID-19 were significantly associated with poor diet quality. Additionally, older African Americans with chronic diseases and food insecurity had poor diet quality. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of diet quality. The combined impact of poor knowledge and perceived threat of COVID-19, chronic disease, and food insecurity contribute to poor diet quality in this population. This study adds to the well-known need for strategies to support the right to a healthy diet, particularly during COVID-19 and future pandemics. Proactive interventions to counteract the potential consequences of poor diets are needed.
Predictors of Maternal Serum Concentrations for Selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Pregnant Women and Associations with Birth Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study from Southern Malawi
Authors: Mwapasa Mphatso , Huber Sandra , Chakhame Bertha Magreta , Maluwa Alfred , Odland Maria Lisa , Ndhlovu Victor , Röllin Halina , Xu Shanshan , Odland Jon Øyvind
Published: March 2023

Population exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may result in detrimental health effects, especially to pregnant women, developing foetuses and young children. We are reporting the findings of a cross-sectional study of 605 mothers in their late pregnancy, recruited between August 2020 and July 2021 in southern Malawi, and their offspring. The aim was to measure the concentrations of selected POPs in their maternal serum and indicate associations with social demographic characteristics and birth outcomes. A high level of education was the main predictor of p,p′-DDE (p = 0.008), p,p′-DDT (p < 0.001), cis-NC (p = 0.014), o,p′-DDT (p = 0.019) and o,p′-DDE (p = 0.019) concentrations in maternal serum. Multiparity was negatively associated with o,p′-DDE (p = 0.021) concentrations. Maternal age was also positively associated (p,p′-DDE (p = 0.013), o,p′-DDT (p = 0.017) and o,p′-DDE (p = 0.045) concentrations. Living in rural areas was inversely associated with high maternal serum concentrations of p,p′-DDT (p < 0.001). Gestational age was positively associated with p,p′-DDE (p = 0.031), p,p′-DDT (p = 0.010) and o,p′-DDT (p = 0.022) concentrations. Lastly, an inverse association was observed between head circumference and t-NC (p = 0.044), Oxychlordane (p = 0.01) and cis-NC (p = 0.048). These results highlight the need to continue monitoring levels of POPs among vulnerable populations in the southern hemisphere.
Caregiver Perceptions of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in New Delhi, India
Authors: Lockwood Estrin Georgia , Bhavnani Supriya , Arora Rashi , Gulati Sheffali , Divan Gauri
Published: March 2023

Evidence suggests that parenting an autistic child or a child with neurodevelopmental disabilities can be more challenging than parenting a child meeting their developmental milestones, especially when there is a dearth of support services, such as in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the majority of the world’s children residing in LMICs, there are limited studies examining the understanding of developmental disorders and autism in these regions. We therefore aim to investigate perceptions of autism and developmental disabilities in caregivers of children in an urban setting in New Delhi, India. Thirteen semi-structured interviews with parents/caregivers of children were conducted in three groups: (1) caregivers with a child with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); (2) caregivers with a child with a diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID); (3) and caregivers with children meeting their developmental milestones. Transcripts were analysed using framework analysis. Three themes on the impact of cultural and contextual factors on the recognition, interpretation, and reporting of autistic symptoms are discussed, and additional themes focus on the impact of diagnosis and family support. Our findings highlighted a vital need for greater community awareness and recognition of autism in India, for example through community and healthcare training, which may help to reduce stigma and facilitate wider family support.
Perioperative Management of Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients Who Undergo Dental Procedures: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Boccatonda Andrea , Frisone Alessio , Lorusso Felice , Bugea Calogero , Di Carmine Maristella , Schiavone Cosima , Cocco Giulio , D’Ardes Damiano , Scarano Antonio , Guagnano Maria Teresa
Published: March 2023

Background: The surgical dental treatment of subjects admitted for anticoagulants therapy represents a consistent risk for peri-operative bleeding. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical findings of dental surgery operative management of the patients under anticoagulants drugs protocol. Methods: The literature screening was performed using Pubmed/Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane library, considering only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) papers. No limitations about the publication’s period, follow-up time or clinical parameters were considered. Results: A total of eight RCTs were included for the qualitative synthesis. No thromboembolic complications were reported in any studies. Several bleeding episodes associated with anticoagulant drugs in dental surgery were mild and generally happened on the first day after the treatment. Conclusions: The use of local haemostatic measures is generally effective for bleeding control with no further pharmacological drug management or suspension.
Multiple Blockholders and Firm Value: A Simulation Analysis
Authors: Russino Annalisa
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we analyse the relationship between the distribution of ownership and firm value in the presence of multiple blockholders. In recent years, the topic has attracted the attention of many scholars. Yet, the empirical evidence on the relationship between the distribution of ownership among large shareholders and firm value has been non-conclusive and contradictory. We focus on the interaction between a controlling block of shareholders and a non-controlling block that can monitor the largest controlling block. We develop and simulate a simple model combining the two effects related to the presence of additional blockholders that can monitor the largest controlling block of shareholders. The first concerns the incentives of the controlling blockholders to expropriate other shareholders (the alignment effect); the second concerns the incentives for non-controlling blockholders to exercise monitoring activities (the monitoring effect). We examine the influence of the distribution of ownership between controlling and non-controlling shareholders on the total amount of company resources diverted to provide private benefits to controlling shareholders. Since net firm value is decreasing in the amount of company resources diverted, our analysis sheds light on the relationship between the ownership structure and firm value. We show that, in the presence of multiple blockholders, the relationship between ownership concentration and firm value may change depending on the relative size of the shareholders and the relative size of private benefits of control. Our results help in understanding the variety of shapes that have been empirically detected, and shed some light on the conditions that make optimal diversions, as a function of the level of ownership concentration, monotone (increasing and decreasing) or non-monotone.
Genomic Identification of CCCH-Type Zinc Finger Protein Genes Reveals the Role of HuTZF3 in Tolerance of Heat and Salt Stress of Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus)
Authors: Xu Weijuan , Jian Shuguang , Li Jianyi , Wang Yusang , Zhang Mingyong , Xia Kuaifei
Published: March 2023

Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) is cultivated in a broad ecological range, due to its tolerance to drought, heat, and poor soil. The zinc finger proteins regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, by interacting with DNA, RNA, and proteins, to play roles in plant growth and development, and stress response. Here, a total of 81 CCCH-type zinc finger protein genes were identified from the pitaya genome. Transcriptomic analysis showed that nine of them, including HuTZF3, responded to both salt and heat stress. RT-qPCR results showed that HuTZF3 is expressed in all tested organs of pitaya, with a high level in the roots and stems, and confirmed that expression of HuTZF3 is induced by salt and heat stress. Subcellular localization showed that HuTZF3 is targeted in the processing bodies (PBs) and stress granules (SGs). Heterologous expression of HuTZF3 could improve both salt and heat tolerance in Arabidopsis, reduce oxidative stress, and improve the activity of catalase and peroxidase. Therefore, HuTZF3 may be involved in post-transcriptional regulation via localizing to PBs and SGs, contributing to both salt and heat tolerance in pitaya.
Landscape Effects on the Cabbage Seedpod Weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and on Its Parasitoid, Trichomalus perfectus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in Canola
Authors: D’Ottavio Marie , Boquel Sébastien , Labrie Geneviève , Lucas Eric
Published: March 2023

The cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus, an exotic pest accidentally introduced in North America in 1931, spread all over this continent and is now a major pest of canola crops. One of its main natural enemies in Europe, Trichomalus perfectus, was observed in eastern Canada in 2009. This study aimed to evaluate the landscape influence on CSW infestation and abundance and on T. perfectus parasitism in Quebec to understand the optimal conditions to potentially release this parasitoid in the Canadian Prairies. Field research was conducted in 19 to 28 canola fields per year, from 2015 to 2020, among eight Quebec regions. CSW was sampled by sweep net during canola blooming and parasitoids by collecting canola pods kept in emergence boxes until adults emerge. Infestation and parasitism calculations were based on pod emergence holes. For analysis, 20 landscape predictors were considered. Results show that CSW infestation and abundance increased if there were more roads and cereal crops in the landscapes. Meanwhile, T. perfectus parasitism decreased when hedgerows length and distance from water were longer. However, it increased when landscape diversity and average crop perimeter-to-area ratio were higher, and along with more hay/pastures and soybean crops. This study’s results highlight that these four landscape predictors could provide more resources and overwintering areas, promoting greater efficiency of T. perfectus to control the CSW.
Long-Term Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Retinal and Choroidal Microvasculature
Authors: Kal Magdalena , Winiarczyk Mateusz , Zarębska-Michaluk Dorota , Odrobina Dominik , Cieśla Elżbieta , Płatkowska-Adamska Bernadetta , Biskup Michał , Pabjan Paweł , Głuszek Stanisław , Mackiewicz Jerzy
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the persistent changes in microvascular parameters based on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia. The case-control prospective study was carried out among 49 patients with COVID-19 and 45 healthy age- and gender-matched 2 and 8 months after hospital discharge. We found a significantly decreased vessel density (VD) in superficial capillary plexus (SCP) in COVID-19 patients. Significantly decreased vessel density (VD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC), with significantly increased vessel density observed in the choriocapillaris in the foveal area (FCC). The foveal avascular zone in DCP (FAZd) was significantly increased in the COVID-19 group. We found differences between OCTA parameters according to gender. The foveal VD in SCP and DCP was significantly decreased in women compared to men. The FAZ area in SCP (FAZs) and superior VD in the choriocapillaris (SCC) were significantly increased in women. In conclusion, we noticed persistent changes in the ocular parameters of OCTA in COVID-19 patients. At the second follow-up visit, we observed a widened FAZ zone in SCP and decreased VD in some regions of the retina and choroid.
Epilepsy in Dravet Syndrome—Current and Future Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Gao Chao , Pielas Mikolaj , Jiao Fuyong , Mei Daoqi , Wang Xiaona , Kotulska Katarzyna , Jozwiak Sergiusz
Published: March 2023

Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a developmental epileptic encephalopathy characterized by drug-resistant seizures and other clinical features, including intellectual disability and behavioral, sleep, and gait problems. The pathogenesis is strongly connected to voltage-gated sodium channel dysfunction. The current consensus of seizure management in DS consists of a combination of conventional and recently approved drugs such as stiripentol, cannabidiol, and fenfluramine. Despite promising results in randomized clinical trials and extension studies, the prognosis of the developmental outcomes of patients with DS remains unfavorable. The article summarizes recent changes in the therapeutic approach to DS and discusses ongoing clinical research directions. Serotonergic agents under investigation show promising results and may replace less DS-specific medicines. The use of antisense nucleotides and gene therapy is focused not only on symptom relief but primarily addresses the underlying cause of the syndrome. Novel compounds, after expected safe and successful implementation in clinical practice, will open a new era for patients with DS. The main goal of causative treatment is to modify the natural course of the disease and provide the best neurodevelopmental outcome with minimum neurological deficit.
A Multi-Centre Non-Interventional Study to Assess the Tolerability and Effectiveness of Extended-Release Tacrolimus (LCPT) in De Novo Liver Transplant Patients
Authors: Soliman Thomas , Gyoeri Georg , Salat Andreas , Mejzlík Vladimír , Berlakovich Gabriela
Published: March 2023

Background: Available tacrolimus formulations exhibit substantial inter- and intra-individual variability in absorption and metabolism. The present non-interventional cohort study aimed to assess the tolerability and effectiveness of the once-daily tacrolimus formulation, LCPT, in hepatic allograft recipients in real life. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in Austria and the Czech Republic between July 2016 and August 2019. Patients aged ≥ 18 years old received LCPT per the approved label and local clinical routine. All the participants provided informed consent. Patients newly treated with tacrolimus (de novo) directly after transplantation were observed for six months. The relevant clinical variables were tacrolimus trough level (TL), total daily dose (TDD), number of dose adjustments, kidney and liver function, and tolerability. Results: Of the 70 analyzed patients, 72.9% were male and 85.7% were aged < 65 years old. The mean (SD) time to achieve tacrolimus target TL was 6.4 (4.6) days after 4.4 (4.0) dose adjustments; thereafter, TL remained stable throughout observation at approximately 8 ng/mL. The LCPT TDD at initiation was 8 mg and decreased by a median of 41.4% to 5 mg at 6 months. Liver function continuously improved, and kidney function remained stable. LCPT was well tolerated with 24 adverse events in eight patients (17 related to immunosuppression, mostly mild renal insufficiency, and hematological adverse events); two serious unrelated adverse events were reported (atrial flutter and liver dysfunction). Conclusions: TL was rapidly attained with few dose adaptations after LCPT initiation in de novo liver transplant patients. Liver function rapidly improved, whereas kidney function remained normal. LCPT was well-tolerated in this population.
Post-Operative Anorectal Manometry in Children following Anorectal Malformation Repair: A Systematic Review
Authors: Evans-Barns Hannah M. E. , Tien Melissa Y. , Trajanovska Misel , Safe Mark , Hutson John M. , Dinning Phil G. , King Sebastian K.
Published: March 2023

Despite surgical correction, children with anorectal malformations may experience long-term bowel dysfunction, including fecal incontinence and/or disorders of evacuation. Anorectal manometry is the most widely used test of anorectal function. Although considerable attention has been devoted to its application in the anorectal malformation cohort, there have been few attempts to consolidate the findings obtained. This systematic review aimed to (1) synthesize and evaluate the existing data regarding anorectal manometry results in children following anorectal malformation repair, and (2) evaluate the manometry protocols utilized, including equipment, assessment approach, and interpretation. We reviewed four databases (Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed) for relevant articles published between 1 January 1985 and 10 March 2022. Studies reporting post-operative anorectal manometry in children (<18 years) following anorectal malformation repair were evaluated for eligibility. Sixty-three studies were eligible for inclusion. Of the combined total cohort of 2155 patients, anorectal manometry results were reported for 1755 children following repair of anorectal malformations. Reduced resting pressure was consistently identified in children with anorectal malformations, particularly in those with more complex malformation types and/or fecal incontinence. Significant variability was identified in relation to manometry equipment, protocols, and interpretation. Few studies provided adequate cohort medical characteristics to facilitate interpretation of anorectal manometry findings within the context of the broader continence mechanism. This review highlights a widespread lack of standardization in the anorectal manometry procedure used to assess anorectal function in children following anorectal malformation repair. Consequently, interpretation and comparison of findings, both within and between institutions, is exceedingly challenging, if not impossible. Standardized manometry protocols, accompanied by a consistent approach to analysis, including definitions of normality and abnormality, are essential to enhance the comparability and clinical relevance of results.