bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability in Healthcare Sector: The Dental Aligners Case
Authors: Caelli Chiara , Tamburrino Francesco , Brondi Carlo , Razionale Armando Viviano , Ballarino Andrea , Barone Sandro
Published: December 2023

Additive manufacturing is a technology gaining ground in fields where a high degree of product customization is required; in particular, several aspects need to be explored concerning traditional technologies, such as the variety of materials and their consumption. It also remains to be clarified whether these technologies can contribute to the ecological transition when applied in healthcare. This study compares two technologies for producing clear dental aligners: thermoforming and direct 3D printing. The former method thermoforms a polymeric disc over 3D-printed, customized models. The second, more innovative approach involves directly printing aligners using Additive Manufacturing (AM), specifically applying Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology. The study conducts a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis to assess the environmental impact of these two different manufacturing processes. The research results highlight that adopting direct printing through AM can bring advantages in terms of environmental sustainability, thanks to the reduction in raw materials and electricity consumption. These drops are drivers for the decreased potential environmental impacts across all impact categories considered within the EF 3.1 method. Furthermore, lowering the amount of raw material needed in the direct printing process contributes to a notable decrease in the overall volume of waste generated, emphasizing the environmental benefits of this technique.
A Hybrid Model of Variational Mode Decomposition and Long Short-Term Memory for Next-Hour Wind Speed Forecasting in a Hot Desert Climate
Authors: Alkhayat Ghadah , Hasan Syed Hamid , Mehmood Rashid
Published: December 2023

Advancements in technology, policies, and cost reductions have led to rapid growth in wind power (WP) production. One of the major challenges in wind energy production is the instability of WP generation due to weather changes. Efficient power grid management requires accurate power output forecasting. New wind energy forecasting methods based on deep learning (DL) are delivering competitive performance versus traditional methods, like numerical weather prediction (NWP), statistical models and machine learning (ML) models. This is truer for short-term prediction. Since there is a relationship between methods, climates and forecasting complexity, forecasting methods do not always perform the same depending on the climate and terrain of the data source. This paper presents a novel model that combines the variational mode decomposition (VMD) method with a long short-term memory (LSTM) model for next-hour wind speed (WS) prediction in a hot desert climate, such as the climate in Saudi Arabia. The proposed model performance is compared to two other hybrid models, six DL models and four ML models using different feature sets. Also, the proposed model is tested on data from different climates, Caracas and Toronto. The proposed model showed a forecast skill (FS) between 61% and 74% based on mean absolute error (MAE), 64% and 72% based on root mean square error (RMSE), and 59% and 68% based on mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for locations in Saudi Arabia.
Codesigned Digital Tools for Social Engagement in Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Obracht-Prondzyńska Hanna , Radziszewski Kacper , Anacka Helena , Duda Ewa , Walnik Magdalena , Wereszko Kacper , Geirbo Hanne Cecilie
Published: December 2023

Digital technologies and economies can strengthen participative processes and data- and knowledge-based sustainable urban development. It can also accelerate social integration and the efforts of urban dwellers towards more resilient urban environments. Gap: Most of the tools that strengthen participatory processes were not cocreated with stakeholders. Research shows that codesigned platforms driven by new technological advances and the development of collaborative sharing economy concepts can increase climate change awareness. Still, the rise of participatory innovation technologies does not focus on enabling social engagement in climate change mitigation. Therefore, this paper addresses a research question: can a codesigned community currency stimulate bottom-up initiatives for climate change mitigation, and what is needed for such tools to succeed with the implementation of climate-responsive policies? The aim was to introduce an approach allowing us to codesign an application to encourage pro-environmental behaviors. Hence, the approach of this research was to define the concept of such a tool as a part of a cocreation process with stakeholders in a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral environment. Method: It uses design thinking enriched with case studies evaluation, workshops, UX design, low fidelity, SUS, and testbeds. Findings and value: The authors introduce the Greencoin concept and argue that the codesigned digital currency operating based on an educational application has the potential to strengthen social engagement in climate change mitigation. Beneficiaries and practical implementation: Such a tool can increase climate awareness by supporting social integration and bottom-up initiatives for climate change mitigation. It can therefore be used by local communities to strengthen their climate-responsive efforts.
Trade-Offs in Ecosystem Services: Clarifying Concepts and Measuring Severity within the Production Possibility Frontier Framework
Authors: Trubins Renats
Published: December 2023

Production possibility frontier (PPF) in economics denotes the set of all efficient combinations of the amounts of two or more goods that can be produced from the given resources and within the given technology. In the ecosystem services context, it corresponds to all efficient combinations of the amounts of two or more ecosystem services that can be obtained from the given land area within the given management framework. PPF thus captures the conflict, or trade-off, between the production of different goods or services. However, there is a lack of an agreed understanding of what precisely in a PPF expresses the degree of that conflict. This lack of clarity may greatly confound the discussions on trade-offs. This paper tries to answer the two following questions: (1) what exactly is trade-off in the PPF context? (2) how to effectively measure and compare trade-offs across PPFs? In response to the second question, a quantitative generic measure of trade-off severity is proposed.
Rainfall-Induced Landslide Susceptibility Assessment and the Establishment of Early Warning Techniques at Regional Scale
Authors: Hsu Chia-Feng
Published: December 2023

This study builds upon deterministic evaluations of the extensive cumulative rainfall thresholds associated with shallow landslides in the Gaoping River Basin, with a specific focus on the necessary response times during typhoon and intense rainfall events. Following the significant impact of Typhoon Morakot on the Liugui area, our investigation enhances previous research by employing a downscaled approach. We aim to establish early warning models for village-level, intermediate-scale landslide cumulative rainfall thresholds and to create action thresholds for small-scale, key landslide-prone slopes. Our inquiry not only combines various analytical models but also validates their reliability through comprehensive case studies. Comparative analysis with the empirical values set by the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB) and the National Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) provides a median response time of 6 h, confirming that our findings are consistent with the response time frameworks established by these institutions, thus validating their effectiveness for typhoon-related landslide alerts. The results not only highlight the reference value of applying downscaled cumulative rainfall thresholds at the village level but also emphasize the significance of the evaluated warning thresholds as viable benchmarks for early warnings in landslide disaster management during Taiwan’s flood and typhoon seasons. This research offers a refined methodological approach to landslide early warning systems and provides scientific support for decision making by local governments and disaster response teams.
Performance and Techno-Economic Analysis of Optimal Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for the Mining Industry in South Africa
Authors: Nkambule Mpho Sam , Hasan Ali N. , Shongwe Thokozani
Published: December 2023

This paper presents an exploration of the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs), combining floating solar photovoltaics (FPV), wind turbines, and vanadium redox flow (VRF) battery energy storage systems (BESSs) to expedite the transition from conventional to renewable energy for the mining sector in South Africa. The feasibility study assesses how to enhance the overall efficiency and minimize greenhouse gas emissions from an economic standpoint by using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) grid software version 1.11.1 and PVsyst version 7.4. Furthermore, the BESS Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES) dispatch algorithm is proposed to make the most of the battery storage capacity and capability, aligning it with the dynamic energy demand and supply patterns of an HRES. The proposed HRES includes a highly efficient SFPV with a performance ratio of 0.855 and an annual energy production of 15,835 MWh; a wind turbine (WT) operating for 2977 h annually, achieving a 25% wind penetration rate; and a dynamic VRF-BESS with a 15,439 kWh life throughput and a 3 s dispatch response time. This HRES has a CapEx of R172 million, a 23.5% Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and an investment payback period of 4.9 years. It offers a low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) at 4.27 R/kWh, a competitive Blended Cost of Energy (BCoE) at 1.91 R/kWh, and a positive net present cost (NPC), making it economically advantageous without external subsidies. Moreover, it annually reduces CO2 emissions by 1,715,468 kg, SO2 emissions by 7437 kg, and NOx emissions by 3637 kg, contributing to a significant environmental benefit.
Exploring the Role of Shared Leadership on Job Performance in IT Industries: Testing the Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Wang Yu , Jin Xiu
Published: December 2023

Shared leadership, unlike the traditional perspective, is characterized by the fact that organizational members constitute the source of its leadership. In fact, there is a lack of research on how shared leadership improves performance among small- and medium-sized enterprises in China. In particular, in the Chinese organizational context with a strong collectivist culture, sharing and cooperation among organizational members can have a great positive impact on the sustainability of small- and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, this study focused on shared leadership on job performance, unlike traditional leadership. According to the research background, it showed the need for research on the link between shared leadership and job performance and presented the moderated mediation effect of self-efficacy in the Chinese organizational context. In order to verify our purpose, a survey was conducted with 320 employees from small- and medium-sized IT enterprises in China. The results indicated that shared leadership positively influenced job performance via psychological stability. Additionally, the moderated mediation effect of self-efficacy was significant. Based on these results, this study suggested ways to improve job performance, verified related research models, and presented future research directions for job performance enhancement. Overall, this research contributed to expanding the research field of shared leadership via its role and influence in various industrial fields.
Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University Students and the University’s Role Aligned with Vision 2030
Authors: Eid Nawal A. Al , Alkhathlan Khalid Abdullah , Haque Mohammad Imdadul , Alkhateeb Tarek Tawfik Yousef , Mahmoud Doaa H. I. , Eliw Moataz , Adow Anass Hamadelneel
Published: December 2023

This research examines entrepreneurial intentions among female students at Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia, utilizing the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as the foundational theoretical framework. The study adopted a quantitative methodology, collecting data through questionnaires distributed to a select group of students. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the complex relationships between attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and entrepreneurial intention. The findings indicate a strong tendency towards entrepreneurship, with over 64% of respondents expressing their intention to engage in entrepreneurial activities in the future. This suggests a substantial potential for female entrepreneurship. In contrast, a minor proportion (3.21%) showed no interest in entrepreneurship, and about 32% were undecided, highlighting the necessity for enhanced mentorship and support to encourage their entrepreneurial spirit. The application of TPB reveals that participants generally have positive attitudes and perceived control over entrepreneurship, although societal norms occasionally act as barriers. The study emphasizes the significance of cultural support and academic initiatives, including entrepreneurship courses and incubators, to nurture the entrepreneurial ambitions of female students. Based on these findings, the study advocates for the expansion of mentorship programs to further strengthen female entrepreneurial involvement. This research contributes to understanding the dynamics of female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the importance of a supportive environment for women’s entrepreneurial ventures.
Hyperspectral Inversion of Heavy Metal Copper Content in Corn Leaves Based on DRS–XGBoost
Authors: Wu Bing , Yang Keming , Li Yanru , He Jiale
Published: December 2023

This study proposes a method that is used for the nondestructive detection of copper content in corn leaves, which is achieved via visible–near infrared spectroscopy. In this paper, we collected the visible–near infrared spectral data of corn leaves that were planted in soils undergoing different gradients of heavy metal copper stress. Then, a preliminary pretreatment was carried out to obtain the original spectrum (OS), the continuous removal spectrum (CR), and the derivative of ratio spectroscopy (DRS). Singular value decomposition was used for spectral denoising. The characteristic bands corresponding to the OS, CR, and DRS were determined using correlation analysis, as well as mutual information. Based on training the extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost) predictive model using feature bands, the copper content in corn leaves was predicted, and a comparative analysis was conducted with the commonly used partial least squares regression (PLSR) model in regression analysis. The results showed that the accuracy of the PLSR and XGBoost models, which were established with CR and DRS, were higher than that of the OS, among which the DRS model had the highest accuracy. For the validation set in the PLSR model, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.72, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1.21 mg/kg, and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) was 1.89. For the validation set in the XGBoost model, the R2 was 0.86, the RMSE was 0.86 mg/kg, and the RPD was 2.66. At the same time, the spectral data of the field-planted corn near a mining area were selected to test the robustness of the model. Among them, the DRS had a higher accuracy in the XGBoost model, where its R2 was 0.51, its RMSE was 0.86 mg/kg, and its RPD was 1.45, thus indicating that the model can better predict the copper content in corn leaves and that the model has a higher robustness, which could provide new ideas for the prediction of heavy metal content in crops.
Hydrological Implications of Recent Droughts (2004–2022): A SWAT-Based Study in an Ancient Lowland Irrigation Area in Lombardy, Northern Italy
Authors: Bernini Alice , Becker Rike , Adeniyi Odunayo David , Pilla Giorgio , Sadeghi Seyed Hamidreza , Maerker Michael
Published: December 2023

This study examines the hydrological dynamics of the Ticino irrigation cascade in northern Italy from 2004 to 2022. The region, which is shaped by human activity, is characterized by its flat topography and complex management of water resources, featuring a unique historic irrigation cascade. Utilizing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), we investigated the water availability during recent severe droughts in this complex agricultural environment, which lacks natural drainage. This area faces risks due to increasing temperatures and increased rainless days. Therefore, understanding the soil water dynamics is essential for maintaining the system’s sustainability. Calibrating and validating the SWAT model with runoff data was challenging due to the absence of natural drainage. Thus, we utilized MOD16 evapotranspiration (AET) data for calibration. Generally, the calibration and validation of the SWAT model yielded satisfactory results in terms of the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE). Despite some discrepancies, which were mainly related to the data sources and resolution, the calibrated model’s outputs showed increased actual evapotranspiration that was influenced by climate and irrigation, leading to water deficits and droughts. The soil water content (SWC) decreased by 7% over 15 years, impacting crop productivity and environmental sustainability. This also resulted in rising water stress for crops and the ecosystem in general, highlighting the direct impact of adverse climate conditions on soil hydrology and agriculture. Our research contributes to the understanding of soil–water dynamics, as it specifically addresses recent droughts in the Lombardy lowlands.
Sustainability Consciousness Research Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Gulzar Yonis , Eksili Nisa , Caylak Pınar Celik , Mir Mohammad Shuaib
Published: December 2023

Sustainability consciousness (SC) is a crucial determinant for the successful execution of sustainability initiatives. The changing of citizens’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors is an essential component in attaining sustainable development (SD). Ensuring a sustainable future hinges on cultivating a durable sense of awareness among citizens. The aim of this article is to present a systematic literature review (SLR) on SC and to reveal the research trends and future perspectives. The data were obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database and the data analysis of 49 articles selected based on determined criteria was carried out with two approaches: bibliometric and content analysis. The analysis reveals that publications pertaining to the topic of SC have emerged mainly within the past decade, with a maximum annual publication count of nine. The analyzed publications were categorized into four primary themes: (1) SC through education for sustainable development (ESD), (2) SC of consumers, (3) SC in business, and (4) measurement tools for SC. Education and educational research emerged as the primary field of study, with students being selected as the focus of research. However, research has indicated that even among children who receive SC education, there may be a decline in SC levels over a period. The attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) necessitates a society characterized by a high level of SC. The scope of SC should extend beyond educational institutions to encompass broader societal contexts, including corporations and professional environments. The findings of this study demonstrate significant deficiencies in the existing literature on SC and emphasize the significance of SC in attaining the UN SDGs.
The Place of Descriptive Geometry in the Face of Industry 4.0 Challenges
Authors: Ladrón-de-Guevara-Muñoz M. Carmen , Alonso-García María , de-Cózar-Macías Óscar D. , Blázquez-Parra E. Beatriz
Published: December 2023

Industrial process automation has long been the main goal in production lines that seek to decrease human involvement. However, it is broadly agreed that a collaboration between humans and technologies must still exist as human capital is required to provide certain skills and abilities that machines cannot offer yet. For instance, in the context of design and simulation, CAD, CAM, and CAE professionals must count not only on a deep knowledge of the technology employed but also on specific skills that make the human factor an integral piece of the transition. These abilities are considered fundamental to achieving sustainable development in the industrial sector. This work focuses on analyzing through four study cases where whether specular o bilateral symmetry, a.k.a. planar symmetry is present, the weaknesses found in the human factor related to CAD training of future industrial engineers. The most common mistakes found when developing the different symmetric pieces proposed are thoroughly examined in order to define their origin, which mainly lies in students’ lack of descriptive geometry (DG) understanding. This is aggravated in some cases by the lack of spatial visualization abilities. The unstoppable and fast advances in design and simulation tools and technologies require humans to update their capabilities almost in real time. However, results show that this should not threaten the need for the human mind to spatially understand the changes being made on the screen. Otherwise, humans are at risk of ending up at the service of machines and technologies instead of the opposite.
Evaluation of the Prolate Spheroidal Wavefunctions via a Discrete-Time Fourier Transform Based Approach
Authors: Baddour Natalie , Sun Zuwen
Published: December 2023

Computation of prolate spheroidal wavefunctions (PSWFs) is notoriously difficult and time consuming. This paper applies operator theory to the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to address the problem of computing PSWFs. The problem is turned into an infinite dimensional matrix operator eigenvalue problem, which we recognize as being the definition of the DPSSs. Truncation of the infinite matrix leads to a finite dimensional matrix eigenvalue problem which in turn yields what is known as the Slepian basis. These discrete-valued Slepian basis vectors can then be used as (approximately) discrete time evaluations of the PSWFs. Taking an inverse Fourier transform further demonstrates that continuous PSWFs can be reconstructed from the Slepian basis. The feasibility of this approach is shown via theoretical derivations followed by simulations to consider practical aspects. Simulations demonstrate that the level of errors between the reconstructed Slepian basis approach and true PSWFs are low when the orders of the eigenvectors are low but can become large when the orders of the eigenvectors are high. Accuracy can be increased by increasing the number of points used to generate the Slepian basis. Users need to balance accuracy with computational cost. For large time-bandwidth product PSWFs, the number of Slepian basis points required increases for a reconstruction to reach the same error as for low time-bandwidth products. However, when the time-bandwidth products increase and reach maximum concentration, the required number of points to achieve a given error level achieves steady state values. Furthermore, this method of reconstructing the PSWF from the Slepian basis can be more accurate when compared to the Shannon sampling approach and traditional quadrature approach for large time-bandwidth products. Finally, since the Slepian basis represents the (approximate) sampled values of PSWFs, when the number of points is sufficiently large, the reconstruction process can be omitted entirely so that the Slepian vectors can be used directly, without a reconstruction step.
Transformer-Based Recognition Model for Ground-Glass Nodules from the View of Global 3D Asymmetry Feature Representation
Authors: Miao Jun , Zhang Maoxuan , Chang Yiru , Qiao Yuanhua
Published: December 2023

Ground-glass nodules (GGN) are the main manifestation of early lung cancer, and accurate and efficient identification of ground-glass pulmonary nodules is of great significance for the treatment of lung diseases. In response to the problem of traditional machine learning requiring manual feature extraction, and most deep learning models applied to 2D image classification, this paper proposes a Transformer-based recognition model for ground-glass nodules from the view of global 3D asymmetry feature representation. Firstly, a 3D convolutional neural network is used as the backbone to extract the features of the three-dimensional CT-image block of pulmonary nodules automatically; secondly, positional encoding information is added to the extracted feature map and input into the Transformer encoder layer for further extraction of global 3D asymmetry features, which can preserve more spatial information and obtain higher-order asymmetry feature representation; finally, the extracted asymmetry features are entered into a support vector machine or ELM-KNN model to further improve the recognition ability of the model. The experimental results show that the recognition accuracy of the proposed method reaches 95.89%, which is 4.79, 2.05, 4.11, and 2.74 percentage points higher than the common deep learning models of AlexNet, DenseNet121, GoogLeNet, and VGG19, respectively; compared with the latest models proposed in the field of pulmonary nodule classification, the accuracy has been improved by 2.05, 2.05, and 0.68 percentage points, respectively, which can effectively improve the recognition accuracy of ground-glass nodules.
The Horizons in Circular Accelerated Motions and Its Consequences
Authors: Giné Jaume
Published: December 2023

In this work, we study the existence of horizons in circular accelerated motions and its consequences. One particular case is the existence of two horizons in any uniform circular motion. The radiation of the Poincaré invariant vacuum is related to the spontaneous breakdown of the conformal symmetry in Quantum Field Theory The main consequence of the existence of these horizons is the Unruh radiation coming from such horizons. This consequence allows us to study the possible experimental detection of the Unruh radiation in such motions. The radiation of the Poincaré invariant vacuum is related to the spontaneous breakdown of the conformal symmetry in Quantum Field Theory. This radiation is associated with an effective temperature that can be detected using an Unruh–DeWitt detector. In fact, this effective temperature at the relativistic limit depends linearly with respect to the proper acceleration. However, in general, this dependence is not linear, contrary of what happens in the classical Unruh effect. In the relativistic limit and high density case, the uniform circular motion becomes a rotating black hole. This allows for future studies of pre-black hole configurations.
Methylomic, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Correlates of Traffic-Related Air Pollution in the Context of Cardiorespiratory Health: A Systematic Review, Pathway Analysis, and Network Analysis
Authors: Casella Cameron , Kiles Frances , Urquhart Catherine , Michaud Dominique S. , Kirwa Kipruto , Corlin Laura
Published: December 2023

A growing body of literature has attempted to characterize how traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) affects molecular and subclinical biological processes in ways that could lead to cardiorespiratory disease. To provide a streamlined synthesis of what is known about the multiple mechanisms through which TRAP could lead to cardiorespiratory pathology, we conducted a systematic review of the epidemiological literature relating TRAP exposure to methylomic, proteomic, and metabolomic biomarkers in adult populations. Using the 139 papers that met our inclusion criteria, we identified the omic biomarkers significantly associated with short- or long-term TRAP and used these biomarkers to conduct pathway and network analyses. We considered the evidence for TRAP-related associations with biological pathways involving lipid metabolism, cellular energy production, amino acid metabolism, inflammation and immunity, coagulation, endothelial function, and oxidative stress. Our analysis suggests that an integrated multi-omics approach may provide critical new insights into the ways TRAP could lead to adverse clinical outcomes. We advocate for efforts to build a more unified approach for characterizing the dynamic and complex biological processes linking TRAP exposure and subclinical and clinical disease and highlight contemporary challenges and opportunities associated with such efforts.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Active Control, Multicenter, Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Liztox® versus Botox® in Post-Stroke Upper Limb Spasticity
Authors: Ye Dong Hyun , Chun Min Ho , Park Yoon Ghil , Paik Nam-Jong , Lee Shi-Uk , Yoo Seung Don , Kim Deog Young
Published: December 2023

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection is a commonly used therapeutic intervention for upper limb spasticity in stroke patients. This study was designed as a randomized, active-drug-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Liztox® in comparison to onabotulinum toxin A (Botox®) for individuals with post-stroke upper limb spasticity. The primary outcome was the alteration in wrist flexor muscle tone from the initial assessment to the fourth week, evaluated using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Secondary outcomes included MAS score changes for the wrist at weeks 8 and 12 from baseline; MAS score changes for finger and elbow flexors; and changes in the Disability Assessment Scale (DAS), Subject’s Global Assessment (SGA), the Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA), and Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) at weeks 4, 8, and 12 from baseline. The MAS score for wrist flexor spasticity decreased by −1.14 ± 0.59 in the Liztox® group and −1.22 ± 0.59 in the Botox® group from baseline to week 4. The difference [97.5% confidence interval (CI)] between the test and control groups was 0.08 [−∞, 0.26], confirming the non-inferiority of the test group compared to the control group. Furthermore, there were consistent improvements in the IGA, SGA, and CBS scores across all assessment intervals, with no statistically significant variances detected between the two groups. No safety-related concerns were reported during the study. In conclusion, Liztox® injection proved to be a secure and efficacious intervention for managing upper extremity spasticity in post-stroke patients.
Trends of Infective Endocarditis at Two Teaching Hospitals: A 12-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Damasco Paulo Vieira , Solórzano Victor Edgar Fiestas , Fortes Natália Rodrigues Querido , Setta Daniel Xavier de Brito , Fonseca Aloysio Guimaraes da , Perez Mario Castro Alvarez , Jazbick João Carlos , Gonçalves-Oliveira Jonathan , Horta Marco Aurélio Pereira , de Lemos Elba Regina Sampaio , Fortes Claudio Querido
Published: December 2023

Background: Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the incidence and mortality of infective endocarditis (IE) have increased in recent decades. Studies on the risk factors for mortality in endocarditis in Latin America are scarce. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 240 patients diagnosed with IE according to the modified Duke criteria who were admitted to two university hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from January 2009 to June 2021. Poisson regression analysis was performed for trend tests. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of predictors of in-hospital mortality. Findings: The median age was 55 years (IQR: 39–66 years), 57% were male, and 41% had a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score > 3. Healthcare-associated infective endocarditis (54%), left-sided native valve IE (77.5%), and staphylococcal IE (26%) predominated. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 45.8%, and mortality was significantly higher in the following patients: aged ≥ 60 years (53%), CCI score ≥ 3 (60%), healthcare-associated infective endocarditis (HAIE) (53%), left-sided IE (51%), and enterococcal IE (67%). Poisson regression analysis showed no trend in in-hospital mortality per year. The adjusted multivariate model determined that age ≥ 60 years was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (HR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.2–3.1; p = 0.008). Interpretation: In this 12-year retrospective cohort, there was no evidence of an improvement in survival in patients with IE. Since older age is a risk factor for mortality, consensus is needed for the management of IE in this group of patients.
In Vitro Activities of Dithiocarbamate Derivatives against Echinococcus multilocularis Metacestode Vesicles
Authors: Kaethner Marc , Rennar Georg , Gallinger Tom , Kämpfer Tobias , Hemphill Andrew , Mäder Patrick , Luque-Gómez Ana , Schlitzer Martin , Lundström-Stadelmann Britta
Published: December 2023

The metacestode stage of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis causes the severe zoonotic disease alveolar echinococcosis. New treatment options are urgently needed. Disulfiram and dithiocarbamates were previously shown to exhibit activity against the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. As both parasites belong to the platyhelminths, here we investigated whether these compounds were also active against E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles in vitro. We used an in vitro drug-screening cascade for the identification of novel compounds against E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles with disulfiram and 51 dithiocarbamates. Five compounds showed activity against E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles after five days of drug incubation in a damage marker release assay. Structure–activity relationship analyses revealed that a S-2-hydroxy-5-nitro benzyl moiety was necessary for anti-echinococcal activity, as derivatives without this group had no effect on E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles. The five active compounds were further tested for potential cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. For two compounds with low toxicity (Schl-32.315 and Schl-33.652), IC50 values in metacestode vesicles and IC50 values in germinal layer cells were calculated. The compounds were not highly active on isolated GL cells with IC50 values of 27.0 ± 4.2 µM for Schl-32.315 and 24.7 ± 11.5 µM for Schl-33.652, respectively. Against metacestode vesicles, Schl-32.315 was not very active either with an IC50 value of 41.6 ± 3.2 µM, while Schl-33.652 showed a low IC50 of 4.3 ± 1 µM and should be further investigated in the future for its activity against alveolar echinococcosis.
Differences in HCV Seroprevalence, Clinical Features, and Treatment Outcomes between Female and Male Incarcerated Population: Results from a Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Fiore Vito , De Vito Andrea , Rastrelli Elena , Manca Valentina , De Matteis Giuseppe , Ranieri Roberto , Pontali Emanuele , Geremia Nicholas , Panese Sandro , Starnini Giulio , Madeddu Giordano , Babudieri Sergio
Published: December 2023

Background: Women represent less than 5% of the incarcerated population in Italy, with very limited data on HCV infection. Higher HCV seroprevalence and active infection rates have been described among incarcerated females in available studies. Our aim is to compare the prevalence and cascade of care of HCV between male and female populations in Italian penitentiaries. Methods: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study comparing HCV seroprevalence, active infections, treatment, and SVR rates between female (Group A) and male (Group B) populations in Italian prison settings. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding PWIDs (p = 0.16), nor in people living with HIV (p = 0.35) or HBV co-infection (p = 0.36). HCV seroprevalence was higher in Group A (p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding active infections (p = 0.41). Both groups showed a low level of fibrosis, and the dominant genotype was 3a. Almost all patients underwent antiviral treatment. All treated patients achieved SVR12. Conclusions: Our findings illuminate the importance of recognizing and addressing gender differences in HCV seroprevalence within penitentiary settings. Moving forward, addressing the unique needs of incarcerated females and optimizing HCV care for all incarcerated individuals are essential steps in the pursuit of achieving HCV micro-elimination goals.
Hematologic Abnormalities and Diseases Associated with Moderate-to-Marked Basophilia in a Large Cohort of Dogs
Authors: Held Elizabeth , Mochizuki Hiroyuki
Published: December 2023

Basophilia is a rare hematologic finding in dogs. This research aimed to describe the hematologic and clinical characteristics of dogs with moderate-to-marked basophilia. CBC reports with blood smear examinations from dogs presented to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital were retrospectively reviewed for basophilia (>193 cells/µL). We classified basophilia as moderate when counts were ≥500 cells/µL and marked when they reached ≥1000 cells/µL. We compared the hematologic and clinical profiles of dogs with moderate-to-marked basophilia (the basophilia group) to those without basophilia, serving as our control group. In addition, we investigated differences between dogs with marked basophilia versus those with moderate basophilia, as well as between dogs in the basophilia group with and without concurrent eosinophilia. Diseases associated with moderate-to-marked basophilia included eosinophilic lung disease (p < 0.0001), leukemia/myeloproliferative neoplasms (p = 0.004), parasitic infection (p = 0.004), mast cell tumor (p = 0.005), and inflammatory bowel disease (p = 0.02). Overall, dogs with marked basophilia had a lower frequency of inflammatory diseases (51% vs. 70%, p = 0.009) and a higher frequency of neoplastic diseases (48% vs. 26%, p = 0.003) compared to those with moderate basophilia. In the basophilia group, concurrent eosinophilia was only seen in 36% of dogs. Dogs with concurrent eosinophilia were more often diagnosed with inflammatory diseases (77% vs. 58%, p = 0.006), with fewer diagnoses of neoplasia (19% vs. 40%, p = 0.001), compared to dogs without concurrent eosinophilia. The findings of this study offer veterinary clinicians valuable guidance in determining diagnostic priorities for dogs with moderate-to-marked basophilia.
Phosphorus Threshold for the Growth of Microcystis wesenbergii, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Chlorella vulgaris Based on the Monod Formula
Authors: Guo Yansen , Fu Wenrui , Xiong Nan , He Jian , Zheng Zheng
Published: December 2023

The outbreak of algae in freshwater bodies poses an important threat to aquatic ecosystems, making finding an effective method for controlling algal blooms imperative. Numerous key factors influence algal bloom outbreaks, with nutrient levels in the water body being the decisive factor. Current research regarding the effect of nutrient levels on algal growth shows that phosphorus is a nutrient that influences algal blooms. Herein, we propose the concept of a modified Monod model for the relationship between algal specific growth rate and phosphorus concentration. Through this improved Monod model, we inferred that the phosphorus concentration at a specific growth rate of zero is the lower threshold of phosphorus concentration that limits algal growth and can effectively control algal outbreaks. This lower threshold is denoted as S′. On the basis of this concept, we designed algal growth experiments. Our results provided an equation that effectively describes the relationship between algal growth and nutrient concentration. When three algal species grow under phosphorus-limited conditions, the corresponding phosphorus concentrations at which they maintain a growth rate of 0 are 0.0565, 0.0386, and 0.0205 mg/L as reflected by the following order of their S′ values: Microcystis wesenbergii S′ < Microcystis aeruginosa S′ < Chlorella vulgaris S′. Furthermore, with the increase in phosphorus concentration, the growth of M. aeruginosa becomes faster than that of M. wesenbergii and C. vulgaris. Consequently, M. aeruginosa becomes the dominant population in the water, leading to its predominance in algal blooms. This situation explains the common occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for regulating the concentration of phosphorus to control algal outbreaks. Therefore, our study is of great importance for controlling the eutrophication of water bodies.
Pressure Pulsation Characteristics of Agricultural Irrigation Pumps under Cavitation Conditions
Authors: Yu Guisheng , Li Guohui , Wang Chuan
Published: December 2023

Agricultural irrigation pumps are the main agricultural irrigation machinery, and their performance is closely related to the flow characteristics inside them. This paper combines experimental research and numerical simulation analysis. Based on the good agreement between the experimental results and numerical simulation data, this paper focuses on studying the characteristics of pressure fluctuations of agricultural irrigation pumps under cavitation conditions. The study found that under non-cavitation conditions, the pressure fluctuations at different monitoring points in pumps with different numbers of blades showed periodic variations, which are related to the number of blades. Under cavitation conditions, the pressure fluctuation coefficients of agricultural irrigation pumps with different impeller blade numbers increased, with a significant impact on the distribution of radial forces on the impeller. The research results supplement the relevant theoretical analysis and have certain practical significance for the application of agricultural irrigation pumps to practical production.
Fractional Linear Reservoir Model as Elementary Hydrologic Response Function
Authors: Yoon Yeo-Jin , Kim Joo-Cheol
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a fractional linear reservoir model as the elementary response function of hydrologic systems corresponding to the classical linear reservoir model and tests its applicability to rainfall–runoff modeling. To this end, we formulate a fractional linear reservoir model in terms of fractional calculus following the same procedure as the classical linear reservoir model and, at the simplest level, compare its performance of rainfall–runoff modeling with the linear and nonlinear reservoir models. The impulse response function of a fractional linear reservoir model, a probability density function (PDF) following the Mittag–Leffler distribution, shows nonlinearity due to its time-variant behavior compared to that of a linear reservoir model. In traditional linear hydrologic system theory, the lag and route version of a fractional linear reservoir model produces the fast-rising and slow-recession of runoff hydrographs, implying the mixed response of linear and nonlinear reservoir models to rainfall. So, a fractional linear reservoir model could be considered a fundamental tool to effectively reflect the nonlinearity of rainfall–runoff phenomena within the framework of the linear hydrologic system theory. In this respect, the fractional order of the storage relationship specifying a fractional linear reservoir model can be viewed as a kind of parameter to quantify the heterogeneity of runoff generation within a river basin.
Transpiration Water Consumption by Salix matsudana and Populus simonii and Water Use Patterns at Different Developmental Stages on Sandy Land
Authors: Zhai Qiaoting , Xu Li , Zhang Tiegang , Guo Jianying , Gao Haibo , Jiao Rui , Yang Bo
Published: December 2023

Moisture plays a pivotal role in the establishment of vegetation in sandy areas, underscoring the need to comprehend the water utilization strategies employed by established trees for the judicious use of water resources. Despite this significance, there exists a research gap concerning the water uptake patterns and consumption disparities between the dominant trees, namely the dry willow (Salix matsudana) and small-leafed poplar (Populus simonii), in the Mu Us sandy region. Consequently, our study sought to investigate the water utilization patterns and transpiration water consumption of these two plants. This was achieved through the analysis of hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions in xylem water, soil water, and groundwater, coupled with the assessment of stem flow rates of tree trunks. The findings reveal that both Salix matsudana and Populus simonii exhibited variations in soil water content with soil depth, characterized by an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease. During the months of July, August, and September, both species demonstrated the ability to absorb water from multiple sources concurrently. Specifically, Salix matsudana and Populus simonii predominantly utilized middle and shallow soil water sources in July and September, respectively. However, in August, both species primarily relied on shallow soil water for absorption. Over the period from July to September, the sap flow rate of Salix matsudana surpassed that of Populus simonii by 1888.2 mL·h−1 to 2499.04 mL·h−1, representing a 1.5 to 2.2 times increase. This underscores the necessity for Salix matsudana to draw water from middle and deep soil layers to compensate for shallow water deficits. In summary, schemes for the establishment of vegetation in sandy areas should consider the dynamic nature of water uptake and evapotranspiration, emphasizing the importance of regulating these processes for efficient water conservation and utilization.
Variation of Local Wind Fields under the Background of Climate Change and Its Impact on Algal Blooms in Lake Taihu, China
Authors: Li Yachun , Zhu Shihua , Hang Xin , Sun Liangxiao , Li Xinyi , Luo Xiaochun , Han Xiuzhen
Published: December 2023

Global climate change can greatly promote the continuing expansion of algal blooms in eutrophic inland lakes. Wind fields, an important climate factor, provide an external driving force for the movement of algal blooms. Based on algal bloom satellite imageries and wind observation data from 2003 to 2022, this study explored a quantitative assessment of the variations in surface wind fields and their impacts on the algal blooms in Lake Taihu, China. The results indicate that the mean wind speed at different time scales in the Lake Taihu area presents a continuous descending tendency in recent decades, which is the probable cause for the increasing frequency and severity of algal blooms in the lake. Wind fields affect the formation, location, and severity of algal blooms in diverse and complex ways. The area and frequency of algal blooms in Lake Taihu increase with the decrease in wind speed. The 6 h mean wind speed before 12:00 LT (Local Time) on the day of the algal bloom occurrence generally follows a Gaussian distribution, with a wind speed range of (0.6 m/s, 3.4 m/s) at the 95.5% confidence level. Accordingly, the wind speeds of 0.6 m/s and 3.4 m/s are identified to be the lower and upper critical wind speed indicators suitable for the formation of algal blooms, respectively. Another meaningful finding is that the outbreak of large-scale algal blooms requires stricter wind speed conditions, with a significantly lower wind speed threshold of around 2 m/s. Our study also demonstrates that the dominant wind direction of southeast in the region may be an important cause of the continuous water-quality decline and the high frequency and severity of algal blooms in the northwest waters of the lake. These findings will contribute to further studies on the dynamic mechanism of algal blooms and provide support for water environment management and algal bloom prevention and control.