bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CT Perfusion as a Predictor of the Final Infarct Volume in Patients with Tandem Occlusion
Authors: Lacidogna Giordano , Pitocchi Francesca , Mascolo Alfredo Paolo , Marrama Federico , D’Agostino Federica , Rocco Alessandro , Mori Francesco , Maestrini Ilaria , Sabuzi Federico , Cavallo Armando , Morosetti Daniele , Garaci Francesco , Di Giuliano Francesca , Floris Roberto , Sallustio Fabrizio , Diomedi Marina , Da Ros Valerio
Published: February 2023

Background: CT perfusion (CTP) is used in patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS) for predicting the final infarct volume (FIV). Tandem occlusion (TO), involving both intracranial large vessels and the ipsilateral cervical internal carotid artery could generate hemodynamic changes altering perfusion parameters. Our aim is to evaluate the accuracy of CTP in the prediction of the FIV in TOs. Methods: consecutive patients with AIS due to middle cerebral artery occlusion, referred to a tertiary stroke center between March 2019 and January 2021, with an automated CTP and successful recanalization (mTICI = 2b − 3) after endovascular treatment were retrospectively included in the tandem group (TG) or in the control group (CG). Patients with parenchymal hematoma type 2, according to ECASS II classification of hemorrhagic transformations, were excluded in a secondary analysis. Demographic, clinical, radiological, time intervals, safety, and outcome measures were collected. Results: among 319 patients analyzed, a comparison between the TG (N = 22) and CG (n = 37) revealed similar cerebral blood flow (CBF) > 30% (29.50 ± 32.33 vs. 15.76 ± 20.93 p = 0.18) and FIV (54.67 ± 65.73 vs. 55.14 ± 64.64 p = 0.875). Predicted ischemic core (PIC) and FIV correlated in both TG (tau = 0.761, p < 0.001) and CG (tau = 0.315, p = 0.029). The Bland–Altmann plot showed agreement between PIC and FIV for both groups, mainly in the secondary analysis. Conclusion: automated CTP could represent a good predictor of FIV in patients with AIS due to TO.
Evaluation of the Association between Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and All-Cause Mortality in Geriatric Patients with Hip Fractures: A Prospective Cohort Study of 339 Patients
Authors: Kang Xin , Tian Bin , Zhao Zan-Dong , Zhang Bin-Fei , Zhang Ming
Published: February 2023

Background: Many factors affect the prognosis of hip fractures in the elderly. Some studies have suggested a direct or indirect association among serum lipid levels, osteoporosis, and hip fracture risk. LDL levels were found to have a statistically significant nonlinear U-shaped relationship with hip fracture risk. However, the relationship between serum LDL levels and the prognosis of patients with hip fractures remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the influence of serum LDL levels on patient mortality over a long-term follow-up period. Methods: Elderly patients with hip fractures were screened between January 2015 and September 2019, and their demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Linear and nonlinear multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify the association between LDL levels and mortality. Analyses were performed using Empower Stats and R software. Results: Overall, 339 patients with a mean follow-up period of 34.17 months were included in this study. Ninety-nine patients (29.20%) died due to all-cause mortality. Linear multivariate Cox regression models showed that LDL levels were associated with mortality (HR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.53, 0.91, p = 0.0085) after adjusting for confounding factors. However, the linear association was unstable, and nonlinearity was identified. An LDL concentration of 2.31 mmol/L was defined as the inflection point for prediction. A LDL level < 2.31 mmol/L was associated with mortality (HR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.25, 0.69, p = 0.0006), whereas LDL > 2.31 mmol/L was not a risk factor for mortality (HR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.70, 1.63, p = 0.7722). Conclusions: The preoperative LDL level was nonlinearly associated with mortality in elderly patients with hip fractures, and the LDL level was a risk indicator of mortality. Furthermore, 2.31 mmol/L could be considered a predictor cut-off for risk.
Herding Trend in Working Capital Management Practices: Evidence from the Non-Financial Sector of Pakistan
Authors: Farooq Umar , Tabash Mosab I. , Al-Naimi Ahmad A. , Daniel Linda Nalini , Al-Omari Mohammad Ahmad
Published: February 2023

Working capital management requires careful attention from corporate managers because it plays an important role in corporate stability. The social belongingness of managers induced them to learn from their society, colleagues, and overall industrial movement. They also learn from their peers that have more strategic efficiency. In line with these arguments, the objective of the current study is to explore the peer influence on corporate working capital management practices. For regression analysis, we utilized ten years of data (2009–2018) of non-financial publicly listed firms at PSX (Pakistan Stock Exchange). We used the cash conversion cycle (CCC) as a proxy variable to measure working capital management (WCM). We employed panel fixed effect and system GMM (generalized method of moments) models to estimate regression between the variables of the study. The empirical findings suggest the significant impact of peer WCM on corporate WCM. They also suggest the significant impact of other variables that determine the WCM. This study recommends social learning policy for corporate managers. They can learn from their peers to manage the working capital. Most previous studies discuss peer influence on investment decisions, corporate cash holding, financing policy, etc., but no study explores such a relationship specifically in the case of Pakistan.
Managing Household Finances: How Engaging in Financial Management Activities Relates to the Experiential Well-Being of Americans
Authors: Korankye Thomas , Pearson Blain
Published: February 2023

This study examines how engagement in financial management activities influences well-being using nationally representative data (N = approximately 30,000) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey and its associated Well-Being Modules. The current study estimates ordered probit models for several measures of experiential well-being, which consider how meaningful an activity is for a household and how happy, sad, tired, in pain, and stressed respondents felt during the activity. Controlling for a standard set of demographic and socioeconomic factors, the econometric results indicate that households report lower utility gains (lower happiness, greater sadness, and higher stress) when engaging in financial management activities relative to other activities. Furthermore, the results suggest increases in household time allocated toward performing financial management activities is associated with a lower (higher) likelihood of being very happy (very stressed) compared to other activities. The findings strongly indicate that households perceive financial management activities as vexing, reinforcing the need for financial stewardship support to promote household well-being.
Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Sarcoidosis and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Roeder Maurice , Sievi Noriane A. , Malesevic Stefan , Gaisl Thomas , Franzen Daniel , Kohler Malcolm
Published: February 2023

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sarcoidosis have both been implied to be risk factors for increased arterial stiffness. However, it is unclear whether an elevated apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) in sarcoidosis patients increases arterial stiffness and thus the cardiovascular risk. Methods: We performed non-invasive applanation tonometry in 57 adults with sarcoidosis. The participants underwent SphygmoCor to assess arterial stiffness using an aortic augmentation index with a heart rate of 75/min (AIx) and level-3 respiratory polygraphy. An AHI of ≥5/h, ≥15/h, and ≥30/h defined mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the association between AIx and AHI, adjusted for prespecified risk factors for AIx. Results: 23 (40%) sarcoidosis patients had at least mild OSA (AHI ≥ 5), while 7 (12%) patients showed AHI ≥ 15/h. AHI was significantly associated with AIx (coef. (95%CI) of 0.31 (0.09/0.52), p = 0.006) even after adjustment for known risk factors of arterial stiffness. While severe OSA was positively associated with increased AIx, mild and moderate OSA were not associated with increased AIx after adjusting for known risk factors. Conclusions: Increased AHI is independently associated with increased arterial stiffness in sarcoidosis patients. Further investigations are needed to underline the association between OSA severity and the magnitude of arterial stiffness.
Visualisation of High-Density City Research Evolution, Trends, and Outlook in the 21st Century
Authors: Yao Muxia , Yao Bin , Cenci Jeremy , Liao Chenyang , Zhang Jiazhen
Published: February 2023

High-density cities are growing in number and importance due to globalisation, significantly contributing to local, regional, and worldwide economies. It is progressively becoming clear that the high-density features of cities are associated with the frequency of disasters. As more than half of the world’s population currently resides in cities, the study of high-density cities is evolving into an academic topic. In this study, the WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection) and CiteSpace software were used to visualise and analyse the development history, current status, hotspots, and trends in high-density city research. We analysed a total of 377 valid articles spanning 2001 to 2022. This research aimed to illustrate the trajectory of high-density city development and to summarise the field’s research hotspots and development history after entering the 21st century. It is hoped that this study will provide a theoretical reference and development direction for the future development of the field of high-density city research. Our results indicate that more publications have used the relevant keywords over time and that the research has overall trended from general to specific, noticeably changing in response to urban modernisation. Academic study in this area is still in its early stage. Instead of an inherent urge to spontaneously advance due to academic output, the research field has primarily grown in response to urban problems. COVID-19 has also hastened urban infill, further impacting existing high-density communities’ urban environments, transportation infrastructure, and economies. The global epidemic has added urgency to research on high-density cities, and new content and directions are being developed. Assessing the hazards of high urban density while maximising its economic role is a significant part of academic research on high-density cities at this stage and will remain so in the future.
Identification and Delineation of Broad-Base Agricultural Terraces in Flat Landscapes in Northeastern Oklahoma, USA
Authors: Winzeler Hans Edwin , Owens Phillip R. , Kharel Tulsi , Ashworth Amanda , Libohova Zamir
Published: February 2023

Broad-base agricultural terraces can be difficult to delineate in flat landscapes, particularly when covered by crops, due to subtle changes in elevation over relatively wide distances. In northeastern Oklahoma, these terraces are usually less than half a meter high and 15 to 20 m wide. The objective of this research was to develop and test a technique for identifying and classifying terraces using computer vision applied to terrain derivatives calculated from digital elevation models at five sites. We tested 38 terrain-derivative grid combinations or sets that represented 19 terrain characteristics, calculated from elevation models after two Gaussian smoothing strategies to provide some degree of generalization and a removal of excess noise. The best subsets achieved a 98% classification accuracy (kappa 0.96) and consisted of derivatives representing hydrology, morphometry, and visibility categories. Inaccuracies occurred primarily at the edges of some of the study sites, where agricultural fields bordered incised drainage areas where changes in elevation were similar to those for the terraces. Further study will elucidate the relationships between terrace “borrow” and “deposition” areas in the terrace areas and their relationships to yield and salinity issues. This work seeks to automate terrace identification for digital soil mapping on terraced fields for the improved delivery of soil information for resource conservation and land use.
Effects of Waste Application (Carboniferous Rock and Post-Fermentation Sludge) on Soil Quality
Authors: Pranagal Jacek , Ligęza Sławomir , Smal Halina , Gmitrowicz-Iwan Joanna
Published: February 2023

This paper shows the changes in soil properties in the fourth year after the application of two kinds of environmentally burdensome wastes. One of the wastes was mineral—carboniferous rock from a coal mine, and the other one was organic—post-fermentation sludge from an agricultural biogas plant. The wastes were applied once to a soil of poor quality—a Podzol. The hypothesis to be verified was that one-time application of waste carboniferous rock and/or post-fermentation sludge to a soil has a beneficial effect on the physical status of the soil, and the changes in the soil properties have a permanent character. Also, based on the experiment results, we suggested how these types of waste should be applied to soil. For that purpose, an assessment was performed of the durability, range, and character of changes in soil properties, inter alia: soil texture (PSD), total organic carbon content (TOC), particle density (PD), bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), air capacity (FAC), air permeability (FAP), sampling moisture (SM), field water capacity (FC), available water (AWC), unavailable water (UWC), and hydraulic conductivity (Ks). Some soil properties have been improved by the use of post-fermentation sludge and the combined application of the two wastes. These were the following soil properties: PSD, TOC, BD, TP, and SM. However, changes to the soil air-water properties (FAC, FAP, FC, AWC, UWC, and Ks) were unfavorable. The effect of the waste’s application was permanent, as differences in soil properties were still visible in the fourth year after their addition. The observations made in the course of the experiment indicate that natural utilization of wastes requires a lot of consideration and should be focused on keeping the balance in the relations between the environmental functions of the soil.
Thematic Comparison between ESA WorldCover 2020 Land Cover Product and a National Land Use Land Cover Map
Authors: Duarte Diogo , Fonte Cidália , Costa Hugo , Caetano Mário
Published: February 2023

This work presents a comparison between a global and a national land cover map, namely the ESA WorldCover 2020 (WC20) and the Portuguese use/land cover map (Carta de Uso e Ocupação do Solo 2018) (COS18). Such a comparison is relevant given the current amount of publicly available LULC products (either national or global) where such comparative studies enable a better understanding regarding different sets of LULC information and their production, focus and characteristics, especially when comparing authoritative maps built by national mapping agencies and global land cover focused products. Moreover, this comparison is also aimed at complementing the global validation report released with the WC20 product, which focused on global and continental level accuracy assessments, with no additional information for specific countries. The maps were compared by following a framework composed by four steps: (1) class nomenclature harmonization, (2) computing cross-tabulation matrices between WC20 and the Portuguese map, (3) determining the area occupied by each harmonized class in each data source, and (4) visual comparison between the maps to illustrate their differences focusing on Portuguese landscape details. Some of the differences were due to the different minimum mapping unit ofCOS18 and WC20, different nomenclatures and focuses on either land use or land cover. Overall, the results show that while WC20 detail is able to distinguish small occurrences of artificial surfaces and grasslands within an urban environment, WC20 is often not able to distinguish sparse/individual trees from the neighboring cover, which is a common occurrence in the Portuguese landscape. While selecting a map, users should be aware that differences between maps can have a range of causes, such as scale, temporal reference, nomenclature and errors.
Housing Prices and the Characteristics of Nearby Green Space: Does Landscape Pattern Index Matter? Evidence from Metropolitan Area
Authors: Chen Yiyi , Jones Colin A. , Dunse Neil A. , Li Enquan , Liu Ye
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to examine the association between housing prices and green space characteristics with a special focus on exploring the effects of the shape pattern index. The research was based on a hedonic price model across two main distance buffers from residential properties to urban green spaces. Green spaces were characterized by size and shape measured by a landscape shape index (LSI). This study was based on 16,222 housing transaction data obtained from the website of real estate agencies during December 2019 in the Metropolitan Area of Beijing. Linear regression and semi-log regression analysis were used to examine the associations between independent housing and neighborhood characteristic variables and housing prices. The results suggested that a one-unit increase in the natural logarithm of the landscape shape index (LSI) can increase housing prices by 4% (5543 CNY ≈ 826 USD). Such marginal effects were more pronounced for residences located close to urban green spaces and tended to decay as the distance from residences to green spaces increased. Additional analysis captured the marginal effects of the natural logarithm of the landscape shape index (LSI > 1.3) on achieving the maximum monetary evaluation of the property. The findings of this study suggest that the effects of specific green space characteristics on housing prices should be taken into account in landscape and urban design.
Lubrication Mechanism of scCO2-MQL in the Assisted Machining of Titanium Alloys
Authors: Shi Limin , Wang Tong , Liu Erliang , Wang Ruyue
Published: February 2023

Cutting fluids are often used in the machining of titanium alloys to reduce processing temperature and maximize quality and productivity. The permeability of the cutting fluid in the capillary tube directly influences the effect of lubrication on cooling performance. In this study, supercritical carbon dioxide cryogenic micro-lubrication (scCO2-MQL) is used for the auxiliary machining of titanium alloys. A capillary model for scCO2-MQL-assisted cutting is proposed and established while considering the characteristics of three-phase states produced during the decompression release of scCO2. The injection temperature and characteristics of scCO2 are experimentally investigated, and the dynamic process of scCO2-MQL penetration into the capillary is analyzed. The results show that under the applied experimental conditions, the injection temperature of scCO2-MQL ranges from approximately −45 °C to 60 °C. Because scCO2 presents good solubility in oil, it has the capacity to refine the oil droplets into smaller particles, thus resulting in a higher lubricating oil content in the capillary per unit of time. This leads to enhanced lubricity that can benefit processing applications.
A Two-Step Approach to Scheduling a Class of Two-Stage Flow Shops in Automotive Glass Manufacturing
Authors: Qiao Yan , Wu Naiqi , Li Zhiwu , Al-Ahmari Abdulrahman M. , El-Tamimi Abdul-Aziz , Kaid Husam
Published: February 2023

Driven from real-life applications, this work aims to cope with the scheduling problem of automotive glass manufacturing systems, that is characterized as a two-stage flow-shop with small batches, inevitable setup time for different product changeover at the first stage, and un-interruption requirement at the second stage. To the best knowledge of the authors, there is no report on this topic from other research groups. Our previous study presents a method to assign all batches to each machine at the first stage only without sequencing the assigned batches, resulting in an incomplete schedule. To cope with this problem, if a mathematical programming method is directly applied to minimize the makespan of the production process, binary variables should be introduced to describe the processing sequence of all the products, not only the batches, resulting in huge number of binary variables for the model. Thus, it is necessary and challenging to search for a method to solve the problem efficiently. Due to the mandatory requirement that the second stage should keep working continuously without interruption, solution feasibility is essential. Therefore, the key to solve the addressed problem is how to guarantee the solution feasibility. To do so, we present a method to determine the minimal size of each batch such that the second stage can continuously work without interruption if the sizes of all batches are same. Then, the conditions under which a feasible schedule exists are derived. Based on the conditions, we are able to develop a two-step solution method. At the first step, an integer linear program (ILP) is formulated for handling the batch allocation problem at the first stage. By the ILP, we need then to distinguish the batches only, greatly reducing the number of variables and constraints. Then, the batches assigned to each machine at the first stage are optimally sequenced at the second step by an algorithm with polynomial complexity. In this way, by the proposed method, the computational complexity is greatly reduced in comparison with the problem formulation without the established feasibility conditions. To validate the proposed approach, we carry out extensive experiments on a real case from an automotive glass manufacturer. We run ILP on CPLEX for testing. For large-size problems, we set 3600 s as the longest time for getting a solution and a gap of 1% for the lower bound of solutions. The results show that CPLEX can solve 96.83% cases. Moreover, we can obtain good solutions with the maximum gap of 4.9416% for the unsolved cases.
A Switching Mode Control Scheme for the Hovering Control of Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Cheng Nana , Wang Chaoli
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a novel switching mode control scheme for the six-DOF hovering control of underactuated quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs) with strong coupling. Through this paper, the full six states of the position and attitude of the QUAV can be controlled to the special target configuration in a fixed time. First, a continuously differentiable fixed time controller with a state constraint was designed for the position system. Second, a fixed-time integral sliding mode controller was designed for the attitude subsystem. Thirdly, a switching law was designed to switch the above two types of controllers a limited number of times during hovering control. Additionally, the crash problem is fully discussed during the entire control process. In summary, the full-state hover mission was completed. The simulation experiments verify the effectiveness of the control algorithm.
Faults Modeling in Networked Environment and Its Tolerant Control with Multiple Simultaneous Faults
Authors: Mahmood Atif , Khan Abdul Qayyum , Ullah Nasim , Khan Adil Sarwar , Abbasi Muhammad Asim , Mohammad Alsharef , Noorwali Abdulfattah
Published: February 2023

This paper presents two new fault models for networked systems. These fault models are more realistic and generalized for networked systems in the sense that they can represent the effects of fault at the node and network levels. At the network layer, the uncertain effects of the network lines are modeled using a Markov chain with complex transition probabilities simultaneously with the stochastic behavior of the network using a Bernoulli process. A new output feedback-based controller, which is two-mode dependent and considers network uncertainties and output measurements for gain calculation, is presented. Using the tools of robust control and stochastic stability, linear matrix inequality-based sufficient conditions are derived. The proposed controller successfully maintains the system’s performance by tolerating the effects of simultaneous sensor and actuator faults, ensuring the stability of networked loops. Simulation results verify the applicability of the presented fault-tolerant control against multiple simultaneous faults.
M-Polar Fuzzy Graphs and Deep Learning for the Design of Analog Amplifiers
Authors: Ivanova Malinka , Durcheva Mariana
Published: February 2023

The design of analog circuits is a complex and repetitive process aimed at finding the best design variant. It is characterized by uncertainty and multivariate approaches. The designer has to make different choices to satisfy a predefined specification with required parameters. This paper proposes a method for facilitating the design of analog amplifiers based on m-polar fuzzy graphs theory and deep learning. M-polar fuzzy graphs are used because of their flexibility and the possibility to model different real-life multi-attribute problems. Deep learning is applied to solve a regression task and to predict the membership functions of the m-polar fuzzy graph vertices (the solutions), taking on the role of domain experts. The performance of the learner is high since the obtained errors are very small: Root Mean Squared Error is from 0.0032 to 0.0187, Absolute Error is from 0.022 to 0.098 and Relative Error is between 0.27% and 1.57%. The proposed method is verified through the design of three amplifiers: summing amplifier, subtracting amplifier, and summing/subtracting amplifier. The method can be used for improving the design process of electronic circuits with the possibility of automating some tasks.
A Mathematical Analysis of 4IR Innovation Barriers in Developmental Social Work—A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Singh Paramjit Singh Jamir , Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Kineber Ahmed Farouk , Olanrewaju Oludolapo Ibrahim , Omole Olayinka , Samsurijan Mohamad Shaharudin , Ramli Rosfaraliza Azura
Published: February 2023

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era also known as digital age is central to the advancement of the construction industry as the industry is currently facing a myriad of challenges, including poor productivity and project failure. Therefore, there is an urgent need for industry to adopt 4IR innovations to increase the building business’s performance. The study explored the relationship between the critical barriers to 4IR innovations to foster sustainable development. The study embraced a numerical exploration approach which employed a questionnaire to obtain information from building industry experts. The questionnaire data were used to classify the 4IR barriers into policy and structure, readiness, and acquisition, using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Likewise, a predictive model was developed using Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). It explained the relationship between the barrier categories and the barriers to 4IR innovation adoption for sustainable development. The results showed that policy and structure were critical components of 4IR adoption that the stakeholders of the construction industry must pay close attention to. The study also provided valuable areas for future research to enhance 4IR innovation adoption for sustainable development.
An Efficient Algorithm for the Joint Replenishment Problem with Quantity Discounts, Minimum Order Quantity and Transport Capacity Constraints
Authors: Liu Shiyu , Liu Ou , Jiang Xiaoming
Published: February 2023

The joint replenishment problem has been extensively studied and the joint replenishment strategy has been adopted by a large variety of retailers in recent years. However, the joint replenishment problem under minimum order quantity and other constraints does not receive sufficient attention. This paper analyzes a retailing supply chain involving a supplier that provides quantity discount schedules and limits the order quantity. The order quantity constraints include minimum order requirements for each item and as to the total quantity; additionally, the latter cannot exceed the transport capacity constraint. These are common constraints in the retail industry today and create greater complexity and difficulty in the retailer’s decision-making. To analyze the problem, an integer nonlinear programming model is set up to maximize retailers’ profit with all practical constraints. A two-layer efficient algorithm named the Marginal and Cumulative Profit-Based Algorithm (MCPB) is then proposed to find whether to order and the optimal order quantity for each item. The results of computational experiments show that the proposed algorithm can find near-optimal solutions to the problem efficiently and is a reference for retailers to solve practical joint replenishment problems.
Scheduling of Jobs with Multiple Weights on a Single Machine for Minimizing the Total Weighted Number of Tardy Jobs
Authors: Guo Shuen , Lang Hao , Zhang Hanxiang
Published: February 2023

We consider the scheduling of jobs with multiple weights on a single machine for minimizing the total weighted number of tardy jobs. In this setting, each job has m weights (or equivalently, the jobs have m weighting vectors), and thus we have m criteria, each of which is to minimize the total weighted number of tardy jobs under a corresponding weighting vector of the jobs. For this scheduling model, the feasibility problem aims to find a feasible schedule such that each criterion is upper bounded by its threshold value, and the Pareto scheduling problem aims to find all the Pareto-optimal points and for each one a corresponding Pareto-optimal schedule. Although the two problems have not been studied before, it is implied in the literature that both of them are unary NP-hard when m is an arbitrary number. We show in this paper that, in the case where m is a fixed number, the two problems are solvable in pseudo-polynomial time, the feasibility problem admits a dual-fully polynomial-time approximation scheme, and the Pareto-scheduling problem admits a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme.
Complete Separable Reversible Data Hiding for Encrypted Digital Images Using Code Division Multiplexing with Versatile Bit Depth Management
Authors: Mata-Mendoza David , Nuñez-Ramirez Diana , Cedillo-Hernandez Manuel , Nakano-Miyatake Mariko , Perez-Meana Hector
Published: February 2023

A reversible data hiding in the encrypted domain (RDH-ED) aims to hide data within encrypted images, protecting its content, while allowing additional information to be distributed. This paper presents a complete separable RDH-ED scheme, whose main contribution is allowing the receiver to extract data and restore the image, either from the cryptogram with hidden data or from the directly decrypted version. With versatile bit-depth management, the most significant bits of each pixel are encrypted with AES-CTR cipher algorithm, while the additional data will be inserted inside the least significant bit planes of the encrypted pixels, by means of the code division multiplexing technique. Considering the marked/encrypted images, and encryption/data-hiding keys, a receiver could: (a) directly decrypt the encrypted image and obtain its approximate version, (b) extract the error-free hidden data, and (c) recover the data and original image. Considering an image approximation version and the data hiding key, a receiver could: (d) extract the hidden data from the plaintext domain, and (e) restore the image to its original state, while accessing the hidden data without any loss. Experimental results show the performance of the developed algorithm, evaluating the capacity and imperceptibility of the proposed scheme with respect to current state of the art.
Femoral Anteversion Measured by the Surgical Transepicondylar Axis Is Correlated with the Tibial Tubercle–Roman Arch Distance in Patients with Lateral Patellar Dislocation
Authors: Chen Jiaxing , Chen Fuling , Fan Lin , Liu Sizhu , Feng Yi , Li Qiaochu , Zhang Jian , Quan Zhengxue , Zhou Aiguo
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Various predisposing factors for lateral patellar dislocation (LPD) have been identified, but the relation between femoral rotational deformity and the tibial tubercle–Roman arch (TT-RA) distance remains elusive. Materials and Methods: We conducted this study including 72 consecutive patients with unilateral LPD. Femoral anteversion was measured by the surgical transepicondylar axis (S-tAV), and the posterior condylar reference line (P-tAV), TT-RA distance, trochlear dysplasia, knee joint rotation, patellar height, and hip–knee–ankle angle were measured by CT images or by radiographs. The correlations among these parameters were analyzed, and the parameters were compared between patients with and without a pathological TT-RA distance. Binary regression analysis was performed, and receiver operating characteristic curves were obtained. Results: The TT-RA distance was correlated with S-tAV (r = 0.360, p = 0.002), but the correlation between P-tAV and the TT-RA distance was not significant. S-tAV had an AUC of 0.711 for predicting a pathological TT-RA, with a value of >18.6° indicating 54.8% sensitivity and 82.9% specificity. S-tAV revealed an OR of 1.13 (95% CI [1.04, 1.22], p = 0.003) with regard to the pathological TT-RA distance by an adjusted regression model. Conclusions: S-tAV was significantly correlated with the TT-RA distance, with a correlation coefficient of 0.360, and was identified as an independent risk factor for a pathological TT-RA distance. However, the TT-RA distance was found to be independent of P-tAV.
Borate Transporters and SLC4 Bicarbonate Transporters Share Key Functional Properties
Authors: Beltran Jean L. , McGrath Lila G. , Caruso Sophia , Bain Richara K. , Hendrix Claire E. , Kamran Hana , Johnston Hartlee G. , Collings Rebecca M. , Henry Menkara-Chinua N. , Abera Tsega-Ab L. , Donoso Valeria A. , Carriker Erin C. , Thurtle-Schmidt Bryan H.
Published: February 2023

Borate transporters are membrane transport proteins that regulate intracellular borate levels. In plants, borate is a micronutrient essential for growth but is toxic in excess, while in yeast, borate is unnecessary for growth and borate export confers tolerance. Borate transporters share structural homology with human bicarbonate transporters in the SLC4 family despite low sequence identity and differences in transported solutes. Here, we characterize the S. cerevisiae borate transporter Bor1p and examine whether key biochemical features of SLC4 transporters extend to borate transporters. We show that borate transporters and SLC4 transporters share multiple properties, including lipid-promoted dimerization, sensitivity to stilbene disulfonate-derived inhibitors, and a requirement for an acidic residue at the solute binding site. We also identify several amino acids critical for Bor1p function and show that disease-causing mutations in human SLC4A1 will eliminate in vivo function when their homologous mutations are introduced in Bor1p. Our data help elucidate mechanistic features of Bor1p and reveal significant functional properties shared between borate transporters and SLC4 transporters.
Prediction of a Large-Scale Database of Collision Cross-Section and Retention Time Using Machine Learning to Reduce False Positive Annotations in Untargeted Metabolomics
Authors: Lenski Marie , Maallem Saïd , Zarcone Gianni , Garçon Guillaume , Lo-Guidice Jean-Marc , Anthérieu Sébastien , Allorge Delphine
Published: February 2023

Metabolite identification in untargeted metabolomics is complex, with the risk of false positive annotations. This work aims to use machine learning to successively predict the retention time (Rt) and the collision cross-section (CCS) of an open-access database to accelerate the interpretation of metabolomic results. Standards of metabolites were tested using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. In CCSBase and QSRR predictor machine learning models, experimental results were used to generate predicted CCS and Rt of the Human Metabolome Database. From 542 standards, 266 and 301 compounds were detected in positive and negative electrospray ionization mode, respectively, corresponding to 380 different metabolites. CCS and Rt were then predicted using machine learning tools for almost 114,000 metabolites. R2 score of the linear regression between predicted and measured data achieved 0.938 and 0.898 for CCS and Rt, respectively, demonstrating the models’ reliability. A CCS and Rt index filter of mean error ± 2 standard deviations could remove most misidentifications. Its application to data generated from a toxicology study on tobacco cigarettes reduced hits by 76%. Regarding the volume of data produced by metabolomics, the practical workflow provided allows for the implementation of valuable large-scale databases to improve the biological interpretation of metabolomics data.
Short-Term Estivation and Hibernation Induce Changes in the Blood and Circulating Hemocytes of the Apple Snail Pomacea canaliculata
Authors: Rodriguez Cristian , Campoy-Diaz Alejandra D. , Giraud-Billoud Maximiliano
Published: February 2023

States of natural dormancy include estivation and hibernation. Ampullariids are exemplary because they undergo estivation when deprived of water or hibernation when exposed to very low temperatures. Regardless of the condition, ampullariids show increased endogenous antioxidant defenses, anticipating the expected respiratory burst during reoxygenation after reactivation, known as “Preparation for Oxidative Stress (POS)”. In this work, we tested the POS hypothesis for changes in the blood and hemocytes of the bimodal breather Pomacea canaliculata (Ampullariidae) induced at experimental estivation and hibernation. We described respiratory (hemocyanin, proteins, lactate), antioxidant (GSH, uric acid, SOD, CAT, GST), and immunological (hemocyte levels, ROS production) parameters. We showed that, although the protein level remains unchanged in all experimental groups, hemocyanin increases in response to estivation. Furthermore, lactate remains unchanged in challenged snails, suggesting an aerobic metabolism during short-term challenges. Blood uric acid increases during estivation and arousal from estivation or hibernation, supporting the previously proposed antioxidant role. Regarding hemocytes, we showed that the total population increases with all challenges, and granulocytes increase during hibernation. We further showed that hibernation affects ROS production by hemocytes, possibly through mitochondrial inhibition. This study contributed to the knowledge of the adaptive strategies of ampullariids to tolerate adverse environmental conditions.
Abnormalities of Sphingolipids Metabolic Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis
Authors: Burger Beatriz , Sagiorato Roberta Nicolli , Cavenaghi Isabella , Rodrigues Hosana Gomes
Published: February 2023

Psoriasis is immune-mediated skin disorder affecting thousands of people. Sphingolipids (SLs) are bioactive molecules present in the epidermis, involved in the following cellular processes: proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of keratinocytes. Alterations in SLs synthesis have been observed in psoriatic skin. To investigate if the imbalance in lipid skin metabolism could be related to psoriasis, we analyzed the gene expression in non-lesioned and lesioned skin of patients with psoriasis available in two datasets (GSE161683 and GSE136757) obtained from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were searched for using NCBI analysis, and Gene Ontology (GO) biological process analyses were performed using the Database of Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) platform. Venn diagrams were done with InteractiVenn tool and heatmaps were constructed using Morpheus software. We observed that the gene expression of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (PLA2G4D), glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase domain containing 3 (GDP3), arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase R type (ALOX12B), phospholipase B-like 1 (PLBD1), sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (SMPD3), ganglioside GM2 activator (GM2A), and serine palmitoyltransferase long chain subunit 2 (SPTLC2) was up-regulated in lesioned skin psoriasis when compared with the non-lesioned skin. These genes are related to lipid metabolism and more specifically to sphingolipids. So, in the present study, the role of sphingolipids in psoriasis pathogenesis is summarized. These genes could be used as prognostic biomarkers of psoriasis and could be targets for the treatment of patients who suffer from the disease.
Supplementation of Vitamin D and Mental Health in Adults with Respiratory System Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Głąbska Dominika , Kołota Aleksandra , Lachowicz Katarzyna , Skolmowska Dominika , Stachoń Małgorzata , Guzek Dominika
Published: February 2023

Vitamin D is indicated to be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of both respiratory health and mental health problems, while mental health issues are a common consequence of diseases of the respiratory system. The aim of the presented systematic review was to gather available evidence regarding the influence of the supplementation of vitamin D on mental health in adults with respiratory system diseases obtained within randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The systematic review was conducted on the basis of the PubMed and Web of Science databases in agreement with the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), while being registered within the database of the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42020155779). A total of 8514 studies published before September 2021 were screened and 5 RCTs were included, which were assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Screening, inclusion, reporting, and assessment were conducted by two researchers independently. The studies focused on the assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, pulmonary tuberculosis, and bronchial asthma. The studies were conducted for various periods of time—from 2 months to a year—while the dose of vitamin D applied was also diverse—from 4000 IU applied daily, to 100,000 IU applied weekly, or monthly. The psychological measures applied within the studies allowed the assessment, mainly, of quality of life, but also well-being, and depression. For the majority of studies, some concerns regarding risk of bias were defined, resulting from the randomization process and selection of reported results; however, for one study, the risk was even defined as high. Within the included studies, three studies confirmed a beneficial effect of vitamin D (including those with a high risk of bias), but two studies did not confirm it. Taking into account the evidence gathered, in spite of a positive influence of vitamin D on mental health in individuals with increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infections and bronchial asthma, the conducted systematic review is not a strong confirmation of the beneficial effect of the supplementation of vitamin D on mental health in adults with respiratory system diseases.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitosis in Guinea: Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Guilavogui Timothé , Verdun Stéphane , Koïvogui Akoï , Viscogliosi Eric , Certad Gabriela
Published: February 2023

Background: Intestinal parasitosis constitute a major public health issue, particularly in sub-tropical and tropical areas. Even though they are classified as neglected tropical diseases, no national study has been carried out recently in Guinea to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis. Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in Guinea. Method: The PRISMA method was used to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. The studies carried out in order to study intestinal parasitosis in Guinea and published between 2010 and 2020 were searched in online public databases. The prevalence of parasitosis was calculated by a random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup comparisons were performed using Q-tests. Statistical analyses were performed with the R software. This review was registered with PROSPERO under the identification number CRD42022349743. Results: 69 studies were selected out of 1230 studies identified in online public databases. The meta-analysis involved 44,186 people with an overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections of 52%. Conclusions: This is the first study in Guinea to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in different regions of the country. It was found that intestinal parasitosis are a real health problem in Guinea, hence, the need to put in place national strategies for regular control.
Radiophotoluminescence Phenomenon of CaF2 Ceramics Doped with Li
Authors: Kato Takumi , Nakauchi Daisuke , Kawaguchi Noriaki , Yanagida Takayuki
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study is to examine the impact of Li-doping on the radiophotoluminescent (RPL) properties of CaF2. Before ionizing irradiation, Li-doped CaF2 exhibited no photoluminescence (PL) under excitation in the range of 250–700 nm. After ionizing irradiation, Li-doped CaF2 displayed PL at 800 nm when excited at 390 and 610 nm. The decay time constant for this luminescence was determined to be 20 ns, which suggests that it is attributed to (F2+)A centers. All the Li-doped CaF2 showed higher PL intensity than the non-doped CaF2 did, with the highest intensity observed in the 0.5% Li-doped CaF2. The 0.5% Li-doped CaF2 was also found to have a minimum measurable dose of 14 μGy as an RPL dosimeter, and the RPL response monotonically increased to 10 Gy. As for radiation-induced luminescence other than RPL, the scintillation peak and the thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow peak were mainly observed at 300 nm and 140 °C, respectively.
Key Space Enhancement in Chaotic Secure Communication Utilizing Monolithically Integrated Multi-Section Semiconductor Lasers
Authors: Zhang Feifan , Wang Yuncai , Sun Yuehui , Xu Junpei , Li Pu , Wang Anbang , Qin Yuwen
Published: February 2023

Chaotic secure communication schemes encounter a conflict of key space enhancement between the consistency and complexity of chaotic transceivers. In this paper, we propose a monolithically integrated multi-section semiconductor laser (MIMSL), used as a compact chaotic transceiver with an enhanced key space. The MIMSL consists of a distributed feedback (DFB) laser section, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) section, two phase (P) sections and a passive optical waveguide. We simulate the dynamics of the MIMSL by applying the time-dependent coupled-wave equations for traveling-wave optical fields. Further, we numerically demonstrate a security enhancement of the unidirectional chaotic communication scheme using the MIMSL transceivers with independent high-speed modulation in the phase sections of the MIMSL. The security of our scheme depends not only on the difficulty of identifying the MIMSL structural parameters and the bias current of each section, but also on the phase shifts in two phase sections providing the additional dimension of security key space. Final simulation results show that a total of 248 key spaces can be achieved with a data rate of 2.5 Gb/s and an injection strength of 0.36.