bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Volcanic Pozzolan from the Phlegraean Fields in the Structural Mortars of the Roman Temple of Nora (Sardinia)
Authors: Dilaria Simone , Previato Caterina , Bonetto Jacopo , Secco Michele , Zara Arturo , De Luca Raffaella , Miriello Domenico
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we discuss the presence of volcanic pozzolans in the structural mortars of the Roman Temple of Nora in Sardinia (3rd c. AD), represented by pyroclastic rocks (pumices and tuffs) employed as coarse and fine aggregates. The provenance of these materials from the Phlegraean Fields was highlighted through a multi-analytical approach, involving Polarized Light Microscopy on thin sections (PLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Quantitative Phase Analysis by X-ray Powder Diffraction (QPA-XRPD), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) investigations. These volcanic pozzolans, outcropping in the Bay of Naples between Pozzuoli and the Vesuvius, are traditionally associated with the pulvis puteolana, the famous pozzolanic ash prescribed by Vitruvius and Pliny in order to confer strength and waterproofing capabilities to ancient concretes. This is the first evidence of the trade of this volcanic material from the Neapolitan area to Sardinia, starting at least by the Middle Imperial Age. The use of the pulvis puteolana in the Roman Temple of Nora seems primarily targeted to strengthen above-ground masonries, while waterproofing capabilities were not strictly pursued. This opens new questions about the construction reasons for which the demand and commercialization for this product was intended.
An Investigation of Electrochemical Dechlorination of Wrought Iron Specimens from the Marine Environment
Authors: Siova Eleni , Argyropoulos Vasilike , Batis George
Published: January 2023

The research shows the benefits provided by the use of electrochemical treatment, with the application of impressed current combining the use of a porous medium for the dechlorination of large iron structures removed and/or located in the marine environment. Considering the previous work for the dechlorination of the paddle wheel of the shipwreck “Patris”, located in the Aegean Sea, this study aims to determine the optimum parameters of the amount of current density, the time and the use of the porous medium to stimulate the chloride ion diffusion into an alkaline solution. Specimens of wrought iron coming from the shipwreck were electrochemically treated and the efficiency of the method was verified by the determination of the chloride concentration removal using a chloride ion selective electrode. Samples of corrosion products before and after treatment were analyzed for chloride content using SEM-EDX analysis. The results found that changing the porous medium every 24 h with replenished alkaline solution and using a stainless steel mesh is the best approach for the dechlorination of the specimens. This electrochemical method, is economical and fast, and can be applied to the conservation of large iron structures in situ, coming from and/or located near a marine environment with less waste than the traditional dehlorination methods.
Prediction of Soluble Solids Content by Means of NIR Spectroscopy and Relation with Botrytis cinerea Tolerance in Strawberry Cultivars
Authors: Mancini Manuela , Mazzoni Luca , Qaderi Rohullah , Leoni Elena , Tonanni Virginia , Gagliardi Francesco , Capocasa Franco , Toscano Giuseppe , Mezzetti Bruno
Published: January 2023

Strawberry fruits are particularly appreciated by consumers for their sweet taste related to their soluble solids content (SSC). However, strawberries are characterized by a short shelf-life and high susceptibility to tissue infection, mainly by Botrytis cinerea. The SSC determination of strawberry fruit through traditional destructive techniques has some limitations related to the applicability, timing, and number of samples. The aims of this study are (i) to verify if any relation between SSC and B. cinerea susceptibility in the fruits of five strawberry cultivars occurs and (ii) to determine the SSC of strawberry fruits through near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). Principal component analysis was used to search for spectral differences among the strawberry genotypes. The partial least squares regression technique was computed in order to predict the SSC of the fruits collected during two harvesting seasons. Moreover, variable selection methods were tested in order to improve the models and get better predictions. The results demonstrated that there was a high correlation between SSC and B. cinerea susceptibility (R2 up to 0.87). The SSC was predicted with a standard error of 0.84 °Brix and R2p 0.75 (for the best model), which indicated the possibility to use the models for screening applications. NIR spectroscopy represents an important non-destructive alternative and finds remarkable applications in the agro-food market.
Preharvest Use of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) as an Innovative Treatment to Enhance Yield and Quality in Lemon Fruit
Authors: Badiche Fátima , Valverde Juan Miguel , Martínez-Romero Domingo , Castillo Salvador , Serrano María , Valero Daniel
Published: January 2023

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) occurs naturally at a low concentration in fruits, but can be increased following several stress events, playing a physiological effect. Lemon trees were preharvest treated with GABA at three concentrations (10, 50, and 100 mM) during two consecutive seasons (2019–2020 and 2020–2021). Fruit growth (diameter) and crop yield (kg tree−1 and number of fruits tree−1) and quality traits were evaluated at harvest. Results showed that treatments were effective at increasing lemon size (a 5% higher) and yield, especially for GABA at 100 mM, for the two assayed seasons. Thus, yield was increased between 13 and 18% with respect to the control trees for the two harvest dates. With respect to the quality traits, GABA treatments did not impact any negative effects on the quality attributes, since the total soluble solids (7–8° Brix), total acidity (5–6 g 100 g−1), and fruit firmness (13–14 N mm−1) were similar to the control fruits. Therefore, GABA applied as preharvest treatment could be considered as a potent tool to enhance the yield of lemon fruits.
What Triggers Corporate Site Visits, and Do Investors Care? A Comparison of Buy-Side and Sell-Side Analyst Site Visits in China
Authors: Sheng Dachen , Montgomery Heather
Published: January 2023

Taking advantage of a recently established dataset that records financial analysts’ firm visits, this study examines the factors that determine the number of buy-side and sell-side analyst firm visits in a given year and how investors respond to these visits. Both buy-side and sell-side analysts seem motivated to visit firms when they are considering buying or recommending that investors buy shares rather than when they are considering selling or when they are recommending that investors sell shares. However, there are still significant differences in the firms that buy-side and sell-side analysts choose to visit. Using a binomial count model, this study shows that buy-side analyst firm visits are heavily focused on industry leaders—firms with a high share of the total revenue in their given industry—while sell-side analyst firm visits are not. By looking at the response of investors to buy-side or sell-side analyst firm visits, a regression analysis uncovers evidence that investors trust buy-side analysts, responding to firm visits by buy-side analysts by purchasing more shares in the firm. Investors do not have the same level of confidence in sell-side analysts. Investors respond to firm visits by sell-side analysts by selling more shares in the firm. This phenomenon is even more significant for firms that are outperforming the market. The results suggest that there is a significant cost to the conflict of interest inherent in sell-side analysts’ research. These costs increase when analysts recommend outperforming firms to the public.
An Approach to Assess the Impact of Tutorials in Video Games
Authors: Benvenuti Dario , Ferro Lauren S. , Marrella Andrea , Catarci Tiziana
Published: January 2023

Video games are an established medium that provides interactive entertainment beyond pure enjoyment in many contexts. Game designers create dedicated tutorials to teach players the game mechanisms and rules, such as the conventions for interaction, control schemes, core game mechanics, etc. While effective tutorial design is considered a crucial aspect to support this learning process, the existing literature approaches focus on designing ad hoc tutorials for specific game genres rather than investigating the impact of different tutorial styles on game learnability and player engagement. In this paper, we tackle this challenge by presenting a general-purpose approach aimed at supporting game designers in the identification of the most suitable tutorial style for a specific genre of video games. The approach is evaluated in the context of a simple first-person shooter (FPS) mainstream video game built by the authors through a controlled comparative user experiment involving 46 players.
Comparison of Methyl Bromide and Ethyl Formate for Fumigation of Snail and Fly Pests of Imported Orchids
Authors: Kwon Tae-Hyung , Kim Dong-Bin , Lee Byung-Ho , Cha Dong H. , Park Min-Goo
Published: January 2023

Invasive snails and flies are major pests of imported orchids, controlled by methyl bromide (MB) fumigation in Korea. We compared the efficacy and phytotoxicity of ethyl formate (EF) and MB on four species of imported orchids using juvenile stages of Achatina fulica and third and fourth instars of Lycoriella mali. EF was as effective as MB. The LCt99 values of EF were 68.1 and 73.1 g h/m3 at 15 °C; and those of MB were 95.9 and 78.4 g h/m3 at 15 °C for A. fulica and L. mali, respectively. In the scale-up trials, EF treatment at 35 g/m3 for 4 h at 15 °C resulted in complete control of both pests. MB treatment based on the current treatment guidelines for imported orchids (48 g/m3, 2 h, at >15 °C) resulted in complete control of L. mali but not of A. fulica. Chlorophyll content and hue values of treated orchids were not affected by EF treatment but significantly changed by MB (p-value < 0.05). All four treated species of orchids died within 30 d of MB treatment, while only one species died from EF treatment. Our results suggest that EF is a potential alternative to MB in phytosanitary treatment of imported orchids.
Multi-Omics Reveals the Effect of Population Density on the Phenotype, Transcriptome and Metabolome of Mythimna separata
Authors: Wang Sibo , Yang Hongjia , Hu Yushuo , Zhang Chunyu , Fan Dong
Published: January 2023

Population-density-dependent polymorphism is important in the biology of some agricultural pests. The oriental armyworm (Mythimna separata) is a lepidopteran pest (family Noctuidae). As the population density increases, its body color becomes darker, and the insect eats more and causes greater damage to crops. The molecular mechanisms underlying this phase change are not fully clear. Here, we used transcriptomic and metabolomic methods to study the effect of population density on the differentiation of second-day sixth instar M. separata larvae. The transcriptomic analysis identified 1148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in gregarious-type (i.e., high-population-density) armyworms compared with solitary-type (low-population-density) armyworms; 481 and 667 genes were up- and downregulated, respectively. The metabolomic analysis identified 137 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), including 59 upregulated and 78 downregulated. The analysis of DEGs and DAMs showed that activation of the insulin-like signaling pathway promotes the melanization of gregarious armyworms and accelerates the decomposition of saccharides, which promotes the gregarious type to take in more food. The gregarious type is more capable of digesting and absorbing proteins and decreases energy consumption by inhibiting transcription and translation processes. The phase change traits of the armyworm are thus attributable to plasticity of its energy metabolism. These data broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of insect-density-dependent polymorphism.
Surgical Management of Scapulothoracic Bursitis in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report
Authors: Choi Jun Ho , Choi Seung Yeon , Kim Kwang Seog , Hwang Jae Ha , Lee Sam Yong
Published: January 2023

Scapulothoracic bursitis involves inflammation of the scapulothoracic bursa caused by overuse of the shoulder or traumatic injury. Conservative management is recommended initially, and a surgical approach, such as bursectomy or scapular angle resection, is indicated later. Scapulothoracic bursitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been rarely reported in the literature. A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized in our hospital for a palpable mass on the right side of her back. She had a history of SLE, which was diagnosed and treated with medication 13 years prior. Chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed fluid collection measuring 6.0 cm × 6.0 cm × 2.0 cm between the rib cage and subscapularis muscle. Histopathological examination identified the mass as bursitis with cystic degeneration. Surgical excision was performed at the infrascapular area. About 11 months later, the mass recurred in the same area. Surgical excision was again performed in the same way as before, and the same diagnosis was confirmed. Every 6 months, ultrasound examination is being conducted to assess for recurrence. The patient has not had any further complications or a relapse for the last 3 years. Prompt bursectomy can be a definitive and long-lasting treatment option for scapulothoracic bursitis accompanied by SLE.
Application of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Esophagectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Boyang , Yang Tianbao , Wang Wu , Tang Weifeng , Xie Jinbiao , Kang Mingqiang
Published: January 2023

Background: recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP) is a common and severe complication of esophagectomy in esophageal cancer (EC). Several studies explored the application of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in esophagectomy to prevent RLNP. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the value of IONM in esophagectomy for EC. Methods: an electronic of the literature using Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science (data up to October 2022) was conducted and screened to compare IONM-assisted and conventional non-IONM-assisted esophagectomy. RLNP, the number of mediastinal lymph nodes (LN) dissected, aspiration, pneumonia, chylothorax, anastomotic leakage, the number of total LN dissected, postoperative hospital stay and total operation time were evaluated using Review Manager 5.4.1. Result: ten studies were ultimately included, with a total of 949 patients from one randomized controlled trial and nine retrospective case–control studies in the meta-analysis. The present study demonstrated that IONM reduced the incidence of RLNP(Odds Ratio (OR) 0.37, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.26–0.52) and pneumonia (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.41–0.82) and was associated with more mediastinal LN dissected (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) 4.75, 95%CI 3.02–6.48) and total mediastinal LN dissected (WMD 5.47, 95%CI 0.39–10.56). In addition, IONM does not increase the incidence of aspiration (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.07–2.51), chylothorax (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.17–1.76), and anastomotic leakage (OR 0.78, 95%CI 0.48–1.27) and does not increase the total operative time (WMD −12.33, 95%CI −33.94–9.28) or postoperative hospital stay (WMD −2.07 95%CI −6.61–2.46) after esophagectomy. Conclusion: IONM showed advantages for preventing RLNP and pneumonia and was associated with more mediastinal and total LN dissected in esophagectomy. IONM should be recommended for esophagectomy.
The Validity of Motion Capture Analysis System against the Gold Standard Long-Standing Radiography in the Measurement of Lower Extremity Alignment
Authors: Ossendorff Robert , Richter Johanna , Heijens Etienne , Schildberg Frank A. , Haeder Gordon , Salzmann Gian M.
Published: January 2023

Motion capture analysis (MCA) has the advantage of providing a static and dynamic leg axis analysis without radiation. Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence regarding the accuracy of this technique. To test whether mechanical femorotibial axis angle (MAA) measurement recorded with a non-invasive MCA system is equal to the gold standard static long-standing full-leg radiographs (LSX) and if the degree of malalignment or other parameters (BMI, body mass, height, age) influence the accuracy, a total of 102 consecutive patients were examined using LSX and MCA. Static as well as all gait motion phases at 3 km/h were analyzed regarding the difference between the two angles. There was no statistical difference for MAA between LSX (MAArad) and MCA (MAAstat) (p = 0.091). There was a strong correlation (rs = 0.858, p < 0.001) between the two methods. The highest accuracy was detected for values of standing MCA. Also, the gait MCA values showed strong correlation with LSX but weaker correlation compared to standing MCA (initial swing rs = 0.549; terminal stance rs = 0.815; p < 0.001). BMI, body mass, and height did not influence the accuracy of MCA. MCA enables frontal alignment analysis with high accuracy and without the side effect of radiation.
Recurrence and Mortality Risks in Patients with First Incident Acute Stroke or Myocardial Infarction: A Longitudinal Study Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database
Authors: Park Dougho , Kim Mun-Chul , Hong Daeyoung , Jeong Yong-Suk , Kim Hyoung Seop , Kim Jong Hun
Published: January 2023

Background: We aimed to identify the long-term risk of recurrence and mortality in patients who experienced acute ischemic stroke (AIS), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or acute hemorrhagic stroke (AHS) using a population-level database. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adults aged ≥55 years diagnosed with AIS, AMI, and AHS in the National Health Insurance Service Database between 2004 and 2007. The target outcomes were secondary AIS, AMI, AHS, and all-cause mortality. Predetermined covariates, such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, were adjusted. Results: We included 151,181, 49,077, and 41,636 patients in the AIS, AHS, and AMI groups, respectively. The AMI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.318; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.306–0.330; p < 0.001) and AHS (aHR, 0.489; 95% CI, 0.472–0.506; p < 0.001) groups had a significantly lower risk of developing secondary AIS than the AIS group. The risk of developing secondary AMI was significantly lower in the AMI (aHR, 0.388; 95% CI, 0.348–0.433; p < 0.001) and AHS (aHR, 0.711; 95% CI, 0.640–0.790; p < 0.001) groups than in the AIS group. Initial AHS was a decisive risk factor for secondary AHS (aHR, 8.546; 95% CI, 8.218–8.887; p < 0.001). The AMI (aHR, 1.436; 95% CI, 1.412–1.461; p < 0.001) and AHS (aHR, 1.328; 95% CI, 1.309–1.348; p < 0.001) groups were associated with a significantly higher risk of long-term mortality than the AIS group. Conclusion: Our results elucidated that initial AIS was a significant risk factor for recurrent AIS and AMI; initial AHS was a decisive risk factor for developing secondary AHS. Further, AMI and AHS were more closely related to long-term mortality than AIS.
Increased General, Eating, and Body-Related Psychopathology in Inpatients in a Specialized Eating Disorders Unit after the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Comparison with the Pre-Pandemic Period
Authors: Martini Matteo , Longo Paola , Delsedime Nadia , Abbate-Daga Giovanni , Panero Matteo
Published: January 2023

The study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals who attended mental health services is needed to identify the specific vulnerabilities associated to this challenging period. Despite several analyses reporting the worsening of eating disorders symptomatology after the beginning of the pandemic, characterizations of adult inpatients with eating disorders are still lacking. We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess whether adult individuals who underwent hospitalization in a specialized eating disorders unit in the two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic differed in clinical presentation, psychopathological measures, and treatment outcomes from inpatients hospitalized in the two years before. In the comparison between the two groups, the individuals who began treatment after the start of the pandemic presented with more physical hyperactivity and more severe psychopathological scores in most of the areas investigated, with differences in eating symptoms still evident at discharge. Notably, body-related symptoms (i.e., body shape concerns, body checking, body avoidance) were associated with the pandemic, and also for inpatients with extreme anorexia nervosa. This retrospective analysis does not allow us to separate the impact of COVID-19 from other potentially relevant co-occurring factors; however, these findings help in understanding how the pandemic could have affected individuals that needed specialized intensive treatment.
The Effect of PRP Augmentation of Arthroscopic Repairs of Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tears on Postoperative Clinical Scores and Retear Rates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Trantos Ioannis Angelos , Vasiliadis Elias S. , Giannoulis Filippos S. , Pappa Eleni , Kakridonis Fotios , Pneumaticos Spyros G.
Published: January 2023

The aim of this review and meta-analysis is to assess recent clinical trials concerning the combination of operative treatment of rotator cuff tears and the administration of PRP and its effect on clinical scores and postoperative retear rates. The trials were used to compare the combination of PRP treatment and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to arthroscopy alone. Twenty-five clinical trials were reviewed. A risk-of-bias assessment was made for all randomized clinical trials included, using the Cochrane collaboration’s tool as well as a quality assessment for all non-randomized studies utilizing the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The PRP-treated patients showed statistically significant improvement postoperatively compared to control groups concerning the Constant–Murley (mean difference 2.46, 95% CI 1.4–3.52, p < 0.00001), SST (mean difference 0.32, 95% CI 0.02–0.63, p = 0.04), and UCLA (mean difference 0.82, 95% CI 0.23–1.43, p = 0.07) scores. A statistically significant decrease of retear rates in the PRP-treated patients, with a risk ratio of 0.78 (95% CI 0.65–0.94, p = 0.01), was found. We believe that the results presented have positive aspects, especially concerning the retear risk, but are yet inconclusive concerning clinical results such as shoulder pain and function.
Changes in Maternal Heart Rate and Autonomic Regulation following the Antenatal Administration of Corticosteroids: A Secondary Analysis
Authors: Bester Maretha , Joshi Rohan , van Dooren Joyce H. A. M. , Mischi Massimo , Vullings Rik , van Laar Judith O. E. H.
Published: January 2023

While the effect of antenatally administered corticosteroids on fetal heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) is well established, little information is available on how these drugs affect maternal physiology. In this secondary analysis of a prospective, observational cohort study, we quantify how corticosteroids affect maternal HR and HRV, which serve as a proxy measure for autonomic regulation. Abdominal ECG measurements were recorded before and in the five days following the administration of betamethasone—a corticosteroid commonly used for fetal maturation—in 46 women with singleton pregnancies. Maternal HR and HRV were determined from these recordings and compared between these days. HRV was assessed with time- and frequency-domain features, as well as non-linear and complexity features. In the 24 h after betamethasone administration, maternal HR was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by approximately 10 beats per minute, while HRV features linked to parasympathetic activity and HR complexity were significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Within four days after the initial administration of betamethasone, HR decreases and HRV features increase again, indicating a diminishing effect of betamethasone a few days after administration. We conclude that betamethasone administration results in changes in maternal HR and HRV, despite the heterogeneity of the studied population. Therefore, its recent administration should be considered when evaluating these cardiovascular metrics.
Partial Two-Stage Exchange for Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Treatment to Take into Account
Authors: Moreno-Romero Miguel , Ordas-Bayon Alejandro , Gomez-Rice Alejandro , Ortega Miguel A. , De La Torre Escuredo Basilio J.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Two-stage revision is the gold standard for chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The removal of well-fixed implants, especially the femoral component, can be extremely difficult and additional osteotomies may be needed, which is time-consuming and results in bone stock loss. When the femoral stem is osseointegrated, there is no clear indication for the use of partial two-stage revision. The primary objective was to assess infection eradication after surgery. Methods: Retrospective study of specific case series. A total of eight patients with a chronic uncemented PJI, in the setting of complex revision surgeries, were treated with partial two-stage revision, which included selective retention of the well-fixed femoral component and complete acetabular removal. Stem retention was carried out regardless of the bacteria or associated comorbidities. Results: All patients were re-revision cases with at least two previous surgeries (range, 2–4). Complex revisions were performed in five cases (non-articulated spacer) and simple revisions in three cases (articulated spacer). The minimum follow-up time was 24 months (range, 24–132 months). The infection eradication rate at final follow-up was 100%. Conclusion: Partial two-stage reconstruction is a promising technique for the treatment of chronic PJI in patients with a well-fixed stem and complex re-revision acetabular procedures. Further prospective studies and prolonged follow-ups are required to confirm our results.
Relevance of Costovertebral Exarticulation of the First Rib in Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Retrospective Clinical Study
Authors: Lassner Franz , Becker Michael , Prescher Andreas
Published: January 2023

Purpose: The failure rate for operative decompression in neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) is high compared to more distal nerve compression syndromes, such as cubital or carpal tunnel syndrome. Herein, we aimed to determine if a more radical approach, namely costovertebral exarticulation of the first rib, may improve the postoperative results in patients with NTOS. Methods: From October 2002 to December 2020, 105 operative decompressions in 95 patients were evaluated; in 10 cases, decompressions were performed bilaterally. We presented the clinical outcomes of 59 exarticulations compared to those of 46 conventional resections. Evaluation was performed at a minimum of one year post-operation using the DASH questionnaire. Results: The exarticulation group presented with significantly better clinical outcomes (two-sample t-test assuming unequal variances, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that significantly better results were obtained when exarticulation of the first rib was performed in patients with NTOS. This finding supports the hypothesis that, in certain cases, the proximal portion of the first rib plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NTOS.
Lymphatic System and Fistulas—Radiological Imaging Primer
Authors: Sommer Christof Matthias , Pieper Claus Christian
Published: January 2023

While the imaging of arteries and veins by CT, MRI, and angiography is standard practice in large and small hospitals as well as in outpatient practices in developed countries, the diverse and sophisticated radiological procedures for imaging lymph ducts are often unknown and available only in a few specialized institutions [...]
Combined Endovenous Laser and Mechanochemical Ablation to Reduce Sclerosant for Three or Four Veins with Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Authors: Choi Kangjoo , Kwon Yujin , Jun Heejae , Yoon Myunghee
Published: January 2023

Background: A large amount of sclerosant is needed for the treatment of saphenous vein insufficiency with mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) for three or four veins with chronic venous insufficiency. In addition, what constitutes a safe amount is not clearly defined. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of the combined endovenous laser and mechanochemical ablation to reduce the amount of sclerosant as compared with mechanochemical ablation monotherapy. Methods: A total of 327 patients diagnosed with superficial vein insufficiency between June 2018 and May 2020 and treated in a single center by one surgeon were evaluated retrospectively. There were 130 patients included who were treated with mechanochemical ablation (MOCA, Group I) and 197 patients who were treated with combined endovenous laser ablation and mechanochemical ablation (EVLA and MOCA, Group II). Results: The amount of sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STD) used per number of limbs was 5.5 ± 2.05 mL in Group I and 4.51 ± 1.2 mL in Group II (p < 0.001). The amount of STD used per number of veins was 4.77 ± 1.91 mL versus 3.12 ± 1.02 mL in Groups I and II, respectively, (p < 0.001). Recanalization rates within 52 weeks were 0% (0/130) in Group I and 5.58% (11/197) in Group II, while after 52 weeks they were 2.31% (3/130) in Group I and 6.60% (13/197) Group II and were not statistically significant. Complications within 4 weeks were 3.84% and 7.11% in Groups I and II, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study show that combined EVLA and MOCA reduces the amount of sclerosant per the number of veins and legs treated as compared with MOCA monotherapy for three or four veins with chronic venous insufficiency. The combined EVLA and MOCA treatment in patients with three or four varicose veins has few side effects, reduces the amount of sclerotic agent, and can be considered to be an effective treatment method for inducing venous occlusion.
Valuating Multifunctionality of Land Use for Sustainable Development: Framework, Method, and Application
Authors: Peng Rongxi , Liu Tao , Cao Guangzhong
Published: January 2023

The concept of land use functions (LUFs) has been widely employed to study and manage sustainable development. However, its employment is barely based on actual land uses. Difficulties in the accessibility of data and comparability of results also hinder the wide application of contemporary LUF frameworks on sustainability analysis. To fill these gaps, this study improves the LUF framework in which the monetary value of economic, social, and environmental LUF is evaluated using land use data. This framework is then used to examine how different LUFs relate to each other in Shandong, China. Results show that, at the township level, monetary values of economic and social functions are positively correlated, but are both negatively correlated with environmental function. All three functions grew between 2009 and 2018 in Shandong. Results also suggest that a focus on quantitative trade-offs of these three LUFs is insufficient; rather, their spatial balance also requires attention.
Are Green Spaces More Available and Accessible to Green Building Users? A Comparative Study in Texas
Authors: Cai Senhong , Gou Zhonghua
Published: January 2023

Green buildings (GBs) and green spaces (GSs) play a key foundational role as important drivers of urban Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There have been many studies on the spatial distribution of GBs and GSs, but relevant studies exploring the spatial relationship between GBs and GSs are lacking. The research questions were: whether GBs are more likely to access GSs than nongreen buildings (NGBs) and whether GBs with higher certification levels are more likely to access GSs. In this study, we used Texas and its four major cities (Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio) as case studies to compare the availability and accessibility of GSs to GBs (certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED by U.S. Green Building Council) and NGBs. The study was conducted using spatial analysis tools in a geographic information system (GIS) to explore the spatial distribution of GBs and quantify the availability and accessibility of GSs in a comparison of GBs and NGBs and different GB certification levels. The study found that GBs in each city showed uneven distribution with multicore distribution. In addition, the availability and accessibility of GSs for GBs are lower than for NGBs, and the ability to obtain GSs does not increase with higher GB certification levels. This is because many GBs are located in areas far from the city center or in small cities around large cities where there are few GSs available, resulting in a mismatch in the distribution of GBs and GSs. The study also reviewed the certification manuals and found that LEED has regulated GSs at the city and community levels, yet has ignored them at the building level, and thus further suggests specific improvements. This study provides references and suggestions for adding GSs to the certification content, helping policymakers to optimize future efforts to improve GB certification programs and contributing to the eventual greater role of GBs and GSs together in urban SDGs.
Lacustrine Urban Blue Spaces: Low Availability and Inequitable Distribution in the Most Populated Cities in Mexico
Authors: Falfán Ina , Zambrano Luis
Published: January 2023

Lacustrine blue spaces provide benefits to the urbanites and wildlife habitat. Their availability varies depending on the city in which they are established and intra-urban social interactions. We analyzed the presence, distribution, and size of lentic water bodies in Mexico’s 145 most populated cities. We searched for patterns in their distribution concerning demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic data, aiming to understand their socio-ecological interactions in cities. We digitized lacustrine spaces to obtain their number per city, total surface, area of blue space per inhabitant, and surface as a percentage of the city’s total area. We tested for relationships between their number and surface and city population, hydrological regions, and urban marginalization index through linear and generalized linear models. We delimited 1834 lacustrine blue spaces, finding almost two-thirds of them artificial. Their presence and surface in Mexican cities were generally low, except for hydrological regions close to the Gulf of Mexico. Their number and surface decreased as the urban marginalization index increased. The lack of equitable provision of lacustrine space at the national level has implications for urban planning and land management. Blue spaces should maximize their ecosystem services’ provision for the whole society to promote cities’ sustainability and resilience.
Widefield and Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging: A Geometrical Analysis
Authors: Lucente Amedeo , Taloni Andrea , Scorcia Vincenzo , Giannaccare Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) often causes a wide range of lesions in the peripheral retina, which can be undetected when using a traditional fundus camera. Widefield (WF) and Ultra-Widefield (UWF) technologies aim to significantly expand the photographable retinal field. We conducted a geometrical analysis to assess the field of view (FOV) of WF and UWF imaging, comparing it to the angular extension of the retina. For this task, we shot WF images using the Zeiss Clarus 500 fundus camera (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Approximating the ocular bulb to an ideal sphere, the angular extension of the theoretically photographable retinal surface was 242 degrees. Performing one shot, centered on the macula, it was possible to photograph a retinal surface of ~570 mm2, with a FOV of 133 degrees. Performing four shots with automatic montage, we obtained a retinal surface area of ~1100 mm2 and an FOV of 200 degrees. Finally, performing six shots with semi-automatic montage, we obtained a retinal surface area of ~1400 mm2 and an FOV of 236.27 degrees, which is close to the entire surface of the retina. WF and UWF imaging allow the detailed visualization of the peripheral retina, with significant impact on the diagnosis and management of DR.
Diagnostic Accuracy of an Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) for Screening of Babesia bovis in Cattle from West Africa
Authors: Toure Alassane , Sanogo Moussa , Sghiri Abdelmalek , Sahibi Hamid
Published: January 2023

The epidemiology of corresponding tick-borne diseases has changed as a result of the recent introduction of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to West Africa. The current study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of an indirect ELISA for the detection of Babesia bovis infection in cattle. In a cross-section study, using a Bayesian Latent Class Model and iELISA diagnostic test for cattle babesiosis due to Babesia bovis, accuracy has been assessed with RT-PCR as an imperfect reference test. A total of 766 cattle were tested. The optimal diagnostic performances were obtained with 5% percentage of positivity. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 0.94 [Cr. I.: 0.85–0.99] and 0.89 [Cr. I.: 0.87–0.92]. Additional diagnostic characteristics revealed that the Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) were 96.6% [Cr. I.: 92.7–100%] and 82.2% [Cr. I.: 72–93%]. Overall, this test well discriminates an infected status from an uninfected status considering the area under the ROC curve (AUC) which was 0.78 [Cr. I: 0.72–0.85] and a Diagnostic Odds Ratio (DOR) of 127.8 [Cr. I.: 10.43–1562.27]. The AUC was significantly higher than 0.5 (p < 10−5). In consequence, this serologic assay could be suitable in moderate to high prevalence assessments.
Impact of Experimental Conditions on Extracellular Vesicles’ Proteome: A Comparative Study
Authors: Böröczky Tímea , Dobra Gabriella , Bukva Mátyás , Gyukity-Sebestyén Edina , Hunyadi-Gulyás Éva , Darula Zsuzsanna , Horváth Péter , Buzás Krisztina , Harmati Mária
Published: January 2023

Extracellular vesicle (EV) research is a rapidly developing field, mainly due to the key role of EVs in intercellular communication and pathophysiological processes. However, the heterogeneity of EVs challenges their exploration and the establishment of gold-standard methods. Here, we aimed to reveal the influence of technical changes on EV biology and the reliability of experimental data. We used B16F1 melanoma cells as a model and applied nanoparticle tracking analysis, mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and pathway enrichment analysis to analyze the quantity, size distribution, proteome and function of their small EVs (sEVs) produced in sEV-depleted fetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing medium or serum-free medium. Additionally, we investigated the effects of minor technical variances on the quality of sEV preparations. We found that storage of the isolates at −80 °C has no adverse effect on LC-MS/MS analysis, and an additional washing step after differential ultracentrifugation has a minor influence on the sEV proteome. In contrast, FBS starvation affects the production and proteome of sEVs; moreover, these vesicles may have a greater impact on protein metabolism, but a smaller impact on cell adhesion and membrane raft assembly, than the control sEVs. As we demonstrated that FBS starvation has a strong influence on sEV biology, applying serum-free conditions might be considered in in vitro sEV studies.
Linear Solvation–Energy Relationships (LSER) and Equation-of-State Thermodynamics: On the Extraction of Thermodynamic Information from the LSER Database
Authors: Panayiotou Costas , Zuburtikudis Ioannis , Abu Khalifeh Hadil , Hatzimanikatis Vassily
Published: January 2023

There is a remarkable wealth of thermodynamic information in freely accessible databases, the LSER database being a classical example. The LSER, or Abraham solvation parameter model, is a very successful predictive tool in a variety of applications in the (bio)chemical and environmental sector. The model and the associated database are very rich in thermodynamic information and information on intermolecular interactions, which, if extracted properly, would be particularly useful in various thermodynamic developments for further applications. Partial Solvation Parameters (PSP), based on equation-of-state thermodynamics, are designed as a versatile tool that would facilitate this extraction of information. The present work explores the possibilities of such an LSER–PSP interconnection and the challenging issues this effort is faced with. The thermodynamic basis of the very linearity of the LSER model is examined, especially, with respect to the contribution of strong specific interactions in the solute/solvent system. This is done by combining the equation-of-state solvation thermodynamics with the statistical thermodynamics of hydrogen bonding. It is verified that there is, indeed, a thermodynamic basis of the LFER linearity. Besides the provenance of the sought linearity, an insight is gained on the thermodynamic character and content of coefficients and terms of the LSER linearity equations. The perspectives from this insight for the further development of LSER and related databases are discussed. The thermodynamic LSER–PSP interconnection is examined as a model for the exchange in information between QSPR-type databases and equation-of-state developments and the associated challenges are examined with representative calculations.
Designing a New Location-Allocation and Routing Model with Simultaneous Pick-Up and Delivery in a Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network under Uncertainty
Authors: Bathaee Mehrnaz , Nozari Hamed , Szmelter-Jarosz Agnieszka
Published: January 2023

Background: In this paper, a new closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) network model, including economic, social and environmental goals, is designed. This paper’s primary purpose is to meet customers’ uncertain demands in different scenarios where the new robust-fuzzy-probabilistic method has been used to estimate the exact demand. Furthermore, strategic and tactical decisions, such as vehicle routing, facility location and optimal flow allocation in the CLSC network, are considered, and features such as queuing system in product distribution and time window in product delivery are considered. Methods: To solve the problem, NSGA II and MOPSO have been used. Results: The results of solving numerical examples in larger sizes show that as the environmental effects decrease and the social effects increase, the design costs of the total supply chain network (SCN) increase. Moreover, the NSGA II is more efficient than the MOPSO in problem-solving and achieving comparison indicators. Conclusions: The results of sensitivity analysis show that with increasing network uncertainty rate, the total costs of the SCN, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and the maximum vehicle traffic time increase.
Intelligent Tool-Wear Prediction Based on Informer Encoder and Bi-Directional Long Short-Term Memory
Authors: Xie Xingang , Huang Min , Liu Yue , An Qi
Published: January 2023

Herein, to accurately predict tool wear, we proposed a new deep learning network—that is, the IE-Bi-LSTM—based on an informer encoder and bi-directional long short-term memory. The IE-Bi-LSTM uses the encoder part of the informer model to capture connections globally and to extract long feature sequences with rich information from multichannel sensors. In contrast to methods using CNN and RNN, this model could achieve remote feature extraction and the parallel computation of long-sequence-dependent features. The informer encoder adopts the attention distillation layer to increase computational efficiency, thereby lowering the attention computational overhead in comparison to that of a transformer encoder. To better collect location information while maintaining serialization properties, a bi-directional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) network was employed. After the fully connected layer, the tool-wear prediction value was generated. After data augmentation, the PHM2010 basic dataset was used to check the effectiveness of the model. A comparison test revealed that the model could learn more full features and had a strong prediction accuracy after hyperparameter tweaking. An ablation experiment was also carried out to demonstrate the efficacy of the improved model module.
Testing Doses and Treatment Timelines of Anti-Angiogenic Drug Bevacizumab Numerically as a Single-Agent for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Khatiwada Dharma Raj , Wallace Miana
Published: January 2023

An anti-angiogenic drug in cancer treatment prevents the growth of new blood vessels in tumors by binding to VEGF molecules, which otherwise induce endothelial cells inside blood vessels to sprout the blood supply toward the tumor. This would prevent the growth of new blood cells which will deprive the tumor of nutrients, thus decreasing its carrying capacity, and ultimately shrinking its volume. With new vascularization absent, the tumor will be isolated, making it easier to treat. Although there is an availability of various anti-angiogenic drugs, their effectiveness is low compared to other cancer treatments. We are specifically pinpointing the various combination of doses and the treatment timelines as reasonable factors to increase the effectiveness of the anti-angiogenic drug Bevacizumab, which can possibly prolong the patient’s survival rate and offer lower toxicity compared to other treatment modalities such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We have numerically analyzed different doses of Bevacizumab, including 15 mg/kg, an FDA-approved dose if offered in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs, carboplatin and paclitaxel, as a single-agent treatment option. Based on the results, the tumor volume was observed to be stabilizing for the duration of the treatment, which was chosen to be 400 days. The toxicity levels of these doses with Bevacizumab as a single-agent treatment option have not been tested in a clinical setting. However, these mathematically promising results can provide a gateway for the successful treatment of ovarian cancer in the future.
Mathematical Modeling of COVID-19 Dynamics under Two Vaccination Doses and Delay Effects
Authors: Sepulveda Gabriel , Arenas Abraham J. , González-Parra Gilberto
Published: January 2023

The aim of this paper is to investigate the qualitative behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic under an initial vaccination program. We constructed a mathematical model based on a nonlinear system of delayed differential equations. The time delay represents the time that the vaccine takes to provide immune protection against SARS-CoV-2. We investigate the impact of transmission rates, vaccination, and time delay on the dynamics of the constructed system. The model was developed for the beginning of the implementation of vaccination programs to control the COVID-19 pandemic. We perform a stability analysis at the equilibrium points and show, using methods of stability analysis for delayed systems, that the system undergoes a Hopf bifurcation. The theoretical results reveal that under some conditions related to the values of the parameters and the basic reproduction number, the system approaches the disease-free equilibrium point, but if the basic reproduction number is larger than one, the system approaches endemic equilibrium and SARS-CoV-2 cannot be eradicated. Numerical examples corroborate the theoretical results and the methodology. Finally, conclusions and discussions about the results are presented.