bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active stability of the shield tunneling face crossing an adjacent existing tunnel: transparent clay model test and DEM simulation
Authors: Lei Huayang , Liu Yingnan , Hu Yao , Jia Rui , Zhang Yajie
Published: December 2022

Tunnel face stability is critical for tunneling safety, especially in constructing a tunnel adjacent to another. In tunnel construction, if there is an adjacent existing tunnel and the active failure of the tunnel face happens, there will be severe consequences. Therefore, the active stability of shield tunnel face should be studied considering existing tunnels nearby. In this work, a series of transparent clay model tests were conducted to investigate the active stability of a shield tunnel face adjacent to an existing tunnel based on the development process, failure mode, influence range and support force. In addition, discrete element method was used to study the shield tunnel face stability under various conditions. The role of existing tunnels on the shield tunnel face stability was discussed. The failure mode of the shield tunnel face is an overall failure mode and similar to a wedge shape and ladder shape along the longitudinal and transverse section, respectively. The critical support force ratio is approximately 4.5%. The relative vertical and horizontal distance have significant influences on failure mode, while the influence of burial depth and overlapping angles are not significant.
A 500 ka record of volcanism and paleoenvironment in the northern Garibaldi Volcanic Belt, British Columbia
Authors: Harris Martin A. , Russell James K. , Wilson Alexander , Jicha Brian
Published: December 2022

The Mount Meager volcanic complex (MMVC) is one of the eight major calc-alkaline volcanic centres within the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt, Canada. MMVC volcanism spans ∼2 Ma and has been mainly intermediate to felsic in composition. However, small-volume mafic centres are located around the periphery of the Mount Meager massif and have been collectively referred to as the Mosaic Assemblage or Mount Meager basalts. Here, we present new 40Ar/39Ar ages and expanded chemical datasets for the MMVC mafic rocks. We show that mafic eruptive ages are both older and longer-lived than previously interpreted, spanning the last ∼450 ka, and occurring in four episodes at ∼440, 200, 106, and 17 ka. We also found that chemical signatures for the MMVC mafic rocks have evolved across the four periods, fluctuating from “OIB”-like melt characteristics to more typical slab-influenced, calc-alkaline, before returning to “OIB”-like in the youngest phase. These findings provide the first evidence of a temporal-chemical evolution of melt sourcing for the Garibaldi belt volcanism. Lastly, field mapping has identified edifices and deposits that are glaciovolcanic in origin (vs. nonglaciovolcanic), which were used in conjunction with our new 40Ar/39Ar age estimates to document the presence or absence of Coast Mountain sectors of earlier Cordilleran ice sheets in southwest British Columbia over the last 500 ka.
Accelerating LHC event generation with simplified pilot runs and fast PDFs
Authors: Bothmann Enrico , Buckley Andy , Christidi Ilektra A. , Gütschow Christian , Höche Stefan , Knobbe Max , Martin Tim , Schönherr Marek
Published: December 2022

Poor computing efficiency of precision event generators for LHC physics has become a bottleneck for Monte-Carlo event simulation campaigns. We provide solutions to this problem by focusing on two major components of general-purpose event generators: The PDF evaluator and the matrix-element generator. For a typical production setup in the ATLAS experiment, we show that the two can consume about 80% of the total runtime. Using NLO simulations of $$pp\rightarrow \ell ^+\ell ^-+\text {jets}$$

p
p
→

ℓ
+

ℓ
-

+
jets

and $$pp\rightarrow t\bar{t}+\text {jets}$$

p
p
→
t

t

¯

+
jets

as an example, we demonstrate that the computing footprint of Lhapdf and Sherpa can be reduced by factors of order 10, while maintaining the formal accuracy of the event sample. The improved codes are made publicly available.
On magnetohydrodynamics Powell–Eyring fluid with Cattaneo–Christov heat flux over a curved surface
Authors: Khan Ambreen A. , Saleem Iqra , Ellahi R. , Sait Sadiq M. , Vafai K.
Published: December 2022

This study explores the effects of thermal and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) on Powell–Eyring fluid with the Cattaneo–Christov heat flux over a curved surface. The mathematical framework regarding the physical problem turn out to a set of nonlinear partial differential equation. The set of governing equations are first reduced into nonlinear ordinary differential equations via appropriate transformations and then analytical solutions of resulting nonlinear differential equations have been obtained by optimal homotopy asymptotic method. The influence of involved parameters such as magnetic parameter, fluid parameter, thermal relaxation parameter, curvature parameter, relaxation parameter, Grashof number, material parameter and Prandtl number are discussed and analyzed in tabular as well as in pictorial form. Finally, a comparison with the existing literature is prepared and an excellent agreement is seen.
Which Exceptions Do We Have to Catch in the Python Code for AI Projects?
Authors: Kang Mingu , Kim Suntae , Ryu Duksan , Cho Jaehyuk
Published: December 2022

Recently, Python is the most-widely used language in artificial intelligence (AI) projects requiring huge amount of CPU and memory resources, and long execution time for training. For saving the project duration and making AI software systems more reliable, it is inevitable to handle exceptions appropriately at the code level. However, handling exceptions highly relies on developer’s experience. This is because, as an interpreter-based programming language, it does not force a developer to catch exceptions during development. In order to resolve this issue, we propose an approach to suggesting appropriate exceptions for the AI code segments during development after training exceptions from the existing handling statements in the AI projects. This approach learns the appropriate token units for the exception code and pretrains the embedding model to capture the semantic features of the code. Additionally, the attention mechanism learns to catch the salient features of the exception code. For evaluating our approach, we collected 32,771 AI projects using two popular AI frameworks (i.e. Pytorch and Tensorflow) and we obtained the 0.94 of Area under the Precision-Recall Curve (AUPRC) on average. Experimental results show that the proposed method can support the developer’s exception handling with better exception proposal performance than the compared models.
NON-AUTONOMOUS FRACTIONAL EVOLUTION EQUATIONS WITH NON-INSTANTANEOUS IMPULSE CONDITIONS OF ORDER (1,2): A CAUCHY PROBLEM
Authors: IQBAL NAVEED , NIAZI AZMAT ULLAH KHAN , KHAN IKRAM ULLAH , KARACA YELİZ
Published: December 2022

The non-instantaneous condition is utilized in our study through the employment of the Cauchy problem in order to contract a system of nonlinear non-autonomous mixed-type integro-differential (ID) fractional evolution equations in infinite-dimensional Banach spaces. We reveal the existence of new mild solutions in the condition that the nonlinear function modifies approximately suitable, measure of non-compactness (MNC) form and local growth form using evolution classes along with fractional calculus (FC) theory as well as the fixed-point theorem with respect to k-set-contractive operator and MNC standard set. Consequently, as an example, we consider a fractional non-autonomous partial differential equation (PDE) with a homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition and a non-instantaneous impulse condition. The conclusion of mild solution regarding the uniqueness and existence of a mild solution for a system with a probability density function and evolution classes is drawn with respect to the related domains.
Statistical aspects of diatomic gases in the GUP framework
Authors: Khosropour B.
Published: December 2022

One of the most important challenges in theoretical physics is investigating the theory of quantum gravity. In this work, according to generalized uncertainty principle, we study the statistical aspects of diatomic gases. The generalized statistical quantities of the diatomic gases such as partition function, mean energy, entropy and specific heat at constant volume are obtained. Note that, in the limit [Formula: see text], all of modified statistical characteristics of diatomic gases become the usual forms. Also, the effect of linear and quadratic GUP (LQGUP) on the partition function and mean energy of diatomic gases is investigated.
Characterization of Tensile and Fatigue Damages in Composite Structures Using Lamb Wave for Improved Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Driss Hana , El Mahi Abderrahim , Bentahar Mourad , Beyaoui Moez , Haddar Mohamed
Published: December 2022

The majority of ultrasonic characterizations are done on thermoplastics, with just a few articles available on the characterization of thermoset resin characteristics. A non-destructive methodology for monitoring fatigue and static deformation induced by mechanical loading on a fiber-reinforced plastic is presented. However, these materials’ dynamics of elastic waves are considerably more complicated. A large part was devoted to the calculation of dispersion curves of guided waves in composites. Therefore, this study presents a thorough description of the Glass/Epoxy system by comparing ultrasonic and mechanical data. Ultrasonic wave propagation at high frequencies, functioning as a dynamic mechanical deformation, may be utilized to calculate longitudinal and shear moduli during static and dynamic loading. The evolution of attenuation and velocity during loading is linked to the significant changes that occur during the aging process. The experimental transfer function is determined by the Fourier transform of all the obtained ultrasonic echoes.
Structural Insights into the Interactions of Belumosudil with Rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinases 1 and 2 Based on Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and Free Energy Calculations
Authors: Shi Mingsong , Liu Jiang , Fu Suhong , Pei Heying , Peng Bin , Wen Yi , Wei Haoche , Zhou Xin , Chen Lijuan , Xu Dingguo
Published: December 2022

Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinases (ROCKs) are members of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase/protein kinase G/protein kinase C family that participates in a variety of important physiological functions, including smooth muscle contraction, cell proliferation, cell adhesion, migration, and inflammatory responses. In this study, we focused on ROCK1 and ROCK2, which are targets of the Food and Drug Administration-approved inhibitor 2-(3-(4-((1[Formula: see text]-Indazol-5-yl)amino)quinazolin-2-yl)phenoxy)-[Formula: see text]-isopropylacetamide (belumosudil). We constructed four representative belumosudil/ROCK complex structures by molecular docking. The interactions between belumosudil and ROCK were then investigated via molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. It was found that belumosudil showed a stronger binding affinity toward ROCK2 than toward ROCK1. Binding free energy calculations and free energy decompositions suggested that the modification of various regions of the belumosudil structure may enhance its binding affinity with ROCK, in addition to improving the selectivity between ROCK1 and ROCK2. This work therefore provides useful information to aid future drug design.
Stratigraphic expression of the human impacts in condensed deposits of the Northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Berensmeier Michaela , Tomašových Adam , Nawrot Rafał , Cassin Daniele , Zonta Roberto , Koubová Ivana , Zuschin Martin
Published: December 2022

Evaluating the history of human impacts on marine ecosystems based on sediment cores is challenging on shelves characterized by very slow sedimentation. To assess the stratigraphic expression of such impacts in the condensed deposits of an epicontinental sea, we analysed a 3 m-long core collected at 31 m water depth off the Po prodelta in the Northern Adriatic Sea by integrating geochronological (
14
C and
210
Pb), sedimentological, geochemical and palaeontological proxies. A depositional history of the last 10 000 years is expressed in four different facies: (1) alluvial floodplain, (2) transitional, shell-poor silts, (3) a condensed 30 cm-thick shell lag, and (4) a 10 cm-thick layer of distal prodelta silts comprising the last
c.
500 years. 10 000-year-old shells of
Lentidium mediterraneum
spread over the shell lag and prodelta sediments document onshore transport during the early Holocene sea-level rise.
Varicorbula gibba
shells are age-homogeneous within the subsurface shell lag, documenting decimetre-scale mixing by bioturbation in the past. However, in spite of low sedimentation rates, the organic and heavy metal enrichment, the increase in proportional abundance of benthic foraminifers preferring organic-rich sediments (
Nonionella
sp.), and the increase in size of molluscs (
V. gibba
) in the upper 10 cm formed by prodelta silts still detect the eutrophication in this region during the twentieth century. These eutrophication proxies are preserved in the stratigraphic record owing to temporarily increasing sedimentation rate and decreasing mixing depth.
Log-related Coding Patterns to Conduct Postmortems of Attacks in Supervised Learning-based Projects
Authors: Bhuiyan Farzana Ahamed , Rahman Akond
Published: December 2022

Adversarial attacks against supervised learning
a
algorithms, which necessitates the application of logging while using supervised learning algorithms in software projects. Logging enables practitioners to conduct postmortem analysis, which can be helpful to diagnose any conducted attacks. We conduct an empirical study to identify and characterize log-related coding patterns, i.e., recurring coding patterns that can be leveraged to conduct adversarial attacks and needs to be logged. A list of log-related coding patterns can guide practitioners on what to log while using supervised learning algorithms in software projects.

We apply qualitative analysis on 3,004 Python files used to implement 103 supervised learning-based software projects. We identify a list of 54 log-related coding patterns that map to six attacks related to supervised learning algorithms. Using

Lo
g Assistant to conduct
P
ostmortems for
Su
pervised
L
earning (
LOPSUL
)

, we quantify the frequency of the identified log-related coding patterns with 278 open-source software projects that use supervised learning. We observe log-related coding patterns to appear for 22% of the analyzed files, where training data forensics is the most frequently occurring category.
FinTech on the Web: An Overview
Authors: Chen Chung-Chi , Huang Hen-Hsen , Takamura Hiroya , Kato Makoto P. , Huang Yu-Lieh
Published: December 2022

In this article, we provide an overview of ACM TWEB’s special issue,
Financial Technology on the Web
. This special issue covers diverse topics: (1) a new architecture for leveraging online news to investment and risk management, (2) a cross-platform analysis of the post quality and users’ behaviors, and (3) an empirical study on disentangling decentralized finance compositions. In addition to a guide for the special issue, we also share a brief opinion on the future of financial technology on the Web.
Compositional Reasoning for Non-multicopy Atomic Architectures
Authors: Coughlin Nicholas , Winter Kirsten , Smith Graeme
Published: December 2022

Rely/guarantee reasoning provides a compositional approach to reasoning about concurrent programs. However, such reasoning traditionally assumes a sequentially consistent memory model and hence is unsound on modern hardware in the presence of data races. In this article, we present a rely/guarantee-based approach for
non-multicopy atomic
weak memory models, i.e., where a thread’s stores are not simultaneously propagated to all other threads and hence are not observable by other threads at the same time. Such memory models include those of the earlier versions of the ARM processor as well as the POWER processor.

This article builds on our approach to compositional reasoning for
multicopy atomic
architectures, i.e., where a thread’s stores are simultaneously propagated to all other threads. In that context, an operational semantics can be based on thread-local instruction reordering. We exploit this to provide an efficient compositional proof technique in which weak memory behaviour can be shown to preserve rely/guarantee reasoning on a sequentially consistent memory model. To achieve this, we introduce a side-condition,
reordering interference freedom
on each thread, reducing the complexity of weak memory to checks over pairs of reorderable instructions.

In this article, we extend our approach to non-multicopy atomic weak memory models. We utilise the idea of reordering interference freedom between parallel components. This by itself would break compositionality but serves as a vehicle to derive a refined compatibility check between rely and guarantee conditions, which takes into account the effects of propagations of stores that are only partial, i.e., not covering all threads. All aspects of our approach have been encoded and proved sound in Isabelle/HOL.
“It could be better. It could be much worse”
: Understanding Accessibility in User Experience Practice with Implications for Industry and Education
Authors: Putnam Cynthia , Rose Emma J. , MacDonald Craig M.
Published: December 2022

While accessibility is acknowledged as a crucial component in design, many technologies remain inaccessible for people with disabilities. As part of a study to better understand UX practice to inform pedagogy, we analyzed 58 interview sessions that included 65 senior user experience (UX) professionals and asked them “How do you consider accessibility in your work?” Using transitivity analysis from critical discourse analysis, our findings provide insight into the disparate practices of individuals and organizations. Key findings include the growing role of design systems to structurally address accessibility and the range of organizational strategies, including dedicated teams. We also found that the categories of accessibility consideration were somewhat superficial and largely focused on vision-related challenges. Additionally, our findings support previous work that many practitioners did not feel their formal education adequately prepared them to address accessibility. We conclude with implications for education and industry, namely, the importance of implementing and teaching design systems in human-computer interaction and computer-science programs.
Explainable Regression Via Prototypes
Authors: Filho Renato Miranda , Lacerda Anísio M. , Pappa Gisele L.
Published: December 2022

Model interpretability/explainability is increasingly a concern when applying machine learning to real-world problems. In this article, we are interested in explaining regression models by exploiting prototypes, which are exemplar cases in the problem domain. Previous works focused on finding prototypes that are representative of all training data but ignore the model predictions, i.e., they explain the data distribution but not necessarily the predictions. We propose a two-level model-agnostic method that considers prototypes to provide global and local explanations for regression problems and that account for both the input features and the model output. M-PEER (Multiobjective Prototype-basEd Explanation for Regression) is based on a multi-objective evolutionary method that optimizes both the error of the explainable model and two other “semantics”-based measures of interpretability adapted from the context of classification, namely, model fidelity and stability. We compare the proposed method with the state-of-the-art method based on prototypes for explanation—ProtoDash—and with other methods widely used in correlated areas of machine learning, such as instance selection and clustering. We conduct experiments on 25 datasets, and results demonstrate significant gains of M-PEER over other strategies, with an average of 12% improvement in the proposed metrics (i.e., model fidelity and stability) and 17% in root mean squared error (RMSE) when compared to ProtoDash.
Novel Electrochemical Sensor Application for Dopamine and Preparation of N-rGO Micro-regionally Constrained WS2 Nanocomposite
Authors: Dai Ning , Shi Guohua , Li Tingting , Liu Nan , Xu Zhongkai , Chen Zhe , Sun Xiaohong , Sun Jiefang , Guo Ruisong , Zheng Chunming
Published: December 2022

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter for organisms and affects their function, so monitoring and detecting dopamine levels are essential. Sensitivity and selectivity of electrochemical sensors for the detection of dopamine usually rely on hybrid nanocomposites. In this context, we designed a micro-regionally restricted hybrid nanocomposite by modulating the micro-nano structure. Using functional groups on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) to restrict the random growth of tungsten disulfide nanosheets, we obtained a 2D layered material with bidirectional structural support to achieve high specific surface and high activity for application in robust and novel dopamine electrochemical sensors. A facile electrochemical sensor for dopamine detection was fabricated by modifying a screen-printed carbon electrode with the nanocomposite. The sensor exhibits excellent performance of dopamine detection in the wide range of 1 μmol l−1–100 μmol l−1 with a detection limit of 0.2 μmol l−1 and a high sensitivity of 0.56 μA μmol−1 l−1. The optimized sensor shows a good selectivity, satisfactory long-term stability and reproducibility towards DA and a separation of peak potential of 142 mV with uric acid. In addition, the prepared sensor provides favorable recovery in human serum and artificial cerebrospinal solution (aSCF), indicating great potentials in electrochemical detection and biological sensing applications.
Electrical Noise Analysis of Z Shape Horizontal Pocket and Hetero Stack TFETs under Trap Distribution
Authors: Tiwari Shreyas , Saha Rajesh
Published: December 2022

In this work, a comprehensive investigation on noise analysis for two different low power devices, namely Z-shaped Horizontal Pocket (ZHP) and Hetero Stack (HS) TFETs, is presented within low to high frequency range. The simulation is performed for these structures in the presence of Uniform and Gaussian trap distributions at the interface of Silicon and oxide materials for three different noise namely Flicker noise, Generation Recombination (GR) noise, and Diffusion noise with the help of the Sentaurus TCAD simulator. The result reveals that Flicker and GR noise are dominates at Low Frequency, while, the diffusion noise reports significant influence at the high-frequency range. Finally, a comparative analysis has been done in terms of noise current spectral density (Sid) of the considered structures with the existing literature.
Electroneurological changes in peripheral nerves in patients post-COVID
Authors: Stępień Jakub , Pastuszak Żanna
Published: December 2022

Various neurological manifestations are observed in about 36.4% of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and post-COVID neuropathy is one of them. There is lack of studies describing neurophysiological abnormalities in peripheral nerves in case of patients who had SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in peripheral nervous system in case of COVID-19 survivors.
Evaluation of Transarterial Chemoembolization Protocol with Drug-Eluting Beads in Combination with Lipiodol for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Controlled Study
Authors: Dong Xiangjun , Wang Ying , Hao Jieya , Chen Lei , Sun Tao , Zhang Weihua , Sun Bo , Zhu Licheng , Guo Yusheng , Zheng Chuansheng
Published: December 2022

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) and lipiodol (DEB-Lipiodol TACE) in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Materials and Methods. The medical records of consecutive unresectable HCC patients who underwent DEB-TACE or DEB-Lipiodol TACE from June 2016 to July 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Therapeutic response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events (AEs) were compared among the groups. Results. Three hundred and twenty-seven patients were enrolled in the study, including 293 patients in the DEB-TACE group and 34 patients in the DEB-Lipiodol TACE group. The objective response rate in the DEB-Lipiodol TACE group was 17.6%, significantly higher than that in the DEB-TACE group (5.8%,

P
=
0.011

). Similarly, DEB-Lipiodol TACE group also had a higher disease control rate (91.2% vs 68.6%,

P
=
0.006

). Median OS was 13 months (95% CI: 11.0 months and 15.0 months) and 22 months (95% CI: 17.3 months and 26.7 months) in the DEB-TACE group and DEB-Lipiodol TACE group, respectively (

P
=
0.041

). Meanwhile, median PFS was 7 months (95% CI: 5.2 months and 8.8 months) in the DEB-TACE group and 12 months (95% CI: 7.9 months and 16.1 months) in the DEB-Lipiodol TACE group (

P
=
0.174

). There was no statistically significant difference in AEs incidence among the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). Conclusions. DEB-Lipiodol TACE was safe, well tolerated, and had a better efficacy compared with DEB-TACE in unresectable HCC patients.
PPARβ/δ-Interfering Peptide Enhanced Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Immunoregulatory Properties
Authors: Tejedor Gautier , Boisguerin Prisca , Vivès Éric , Jorgensen Christian , Guicheux Jérôme , Vinatier Claire , Gondeau Claire , Djouad Farida
Published: December 2022

Background. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely used for their therapeutic properties in many clinical applications including osteoarthritis. Despite promising preclinical results showing the ability of MSC to reduce the clinical severity of osteoarthritis (OA) in experimental animal models, the benefits of intra-articular injection of MSC in OA patients are limited to the short term. In this regard, it is anticipated that improving the properties of MSC may collectively enhance their long-term beneficial effects on OA. Methods and Results. Recently, we have shown that PPARβ/δ inhibition using a commercially available antagonist in murine MSC increases their immunoregulatory potential in vitro as well as their therapeutic potential in an experimental murine arthritis model. Here, we relied on an innovative strategy to inhibit PPARβ/δ:NF-κB TF65 subunit interaction in human MSC by designing and synthesizing an interfering peptide, referred to PP11. Through RT-qPCR experiments, we evidenced that the newly synthesized PP11 peptide reduced the expression level of PDK4, a PPARβ/δ target gene, but did not modify the expression levels of ACOX1 and CPT1A, PPARα target genes, and FABP4, a PPARγ target gene compared with untreated human MSC. Moreover, we showed that human MSCs pretreated with PP11 exhibit a significantly higher capacity to inhibit the proliferation of activated PBMC and to decrease the frequency of M1-like macrophages. Conclusions. We designed and synthesized an interfering peptide that potently and specifically blocks PPARβ/δ activity with concomitant enhancement of MSC immunoregulatory properties.
Reduced Opioid Consumption with Pericapsular Nerve Group Block for Hip Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Chung Chan Jong , Eom Deuk Won , Lee Tae Young , Park Sang Yoong
Published: December 2022

The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block targets the nerves innervating the anterior hip surface; however, few studies on this technique are currently available. We investigated the effects of the PENG block on postoperative opioid consumption after a hip surgery. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted at a single institution. Fifty patients undergoing hip surgery were randomly allocated, 25 in each group, to receive a PENG block either using 25 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine (PENG group) or 25 mL of saline (control group). The primary outcome was the total opioid consumption 24 h postoperatively. The secondary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, time to first opioid demand, sensory block efficiency, quadriceps muscle strength, complications, and patient satisfaction. Compared with those in the control group, patients in the PENG group had a significantly lower total opioid consumption 24 h postoperatively (440.72 ± 242.20 μg vs. 611.07 ± 313.89 μg, P = 0.037) and significantly lower pain scores at 30 min postblock and 6 postoperatively (

P
<
0.001

and

P
<
0.001

, respectively). The time to first opioid demand was significantly shorter in the control group than in the PENG group

P
<
0.001

. Sensory block effectiveness was better in the PENG group 30 min postblock and 6 and 12 h postoperatively than in the control group. Patient satisfaction was also better in the PENG group than in the control group. There were no differences in the other outcomes. The PENG block reduced the total opioid consumption in the first 24 h after hip surgery with no significant effects on quadriceps muscle strength and complication rate. This study was registered at the Korea Clinical Research Information Service (cris.nih.go.kr; Reg. No. KCT0006348) on July 16, 2021.
Strategies for the Development of Bioprotective Cultures in Food Preservation
Authors: Souza Luana Virgínia , Martins Evandro , Moreira Isabella Maria Fernandes Botelho , de Carvalho Antônio Fernandes
Published: December 2022

Consumers worldwide are increasingly demanding food with fewer ingredients, preferably without chemical additives. The trend called “Clean Label” has stimulated the development and commercialization of new types of bioprotective bacterial cultures. These bacteria are not considered new, and several cultures have been available on the market. Additionally, new bioprotective bacteria are being identified to service the clean label trend, extend the shelf life, and, mainly, improve the food safety of food. In this context, the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been extensively prospected as a bioprotective culture, as they have a long history in food production and their antimicrobial activity against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms is well established. However, to make LAB cultures available in the market is not that easy, the strains should be characterized phenotypically and genotypically, and studies of safety and technological application are necessary to validate their bioprotection performance. Thus, this review presents information on the bioprotection mechanisms developed by LAB in foods and describes the main strategies used to identify and characterize bioprotective LAB with potential application in the food industry.
Handover Optimization Algorithm Based on T2RFS-FNN
Authors: Chen Yong , Niu Kaiyu , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2022

As a key technology for highly reliable communication in the fifth generation mobile communication for railway (5G-R) high-speed railway wireless communication system, once the handover fails, it will pose a serious risk to the safe operation of high-speed railway. As the speed of high-speed trains continues to increase, the handover will become more frequent, and how to improve the success rate of the handover is a key problem that needs to be solved. In this paper, we proposed an optimization algorithm based on the interval type 2 feature selection recurrent fuzzy neural network (T2RFS-FNN), which is a recurrent fuzzy neural network with interval type 2 feature selection, to address the problem of fixed hysteresis threshold and single consideration for the handover algorithm between the control plane and the user plane of the high-speed railway under 5G-R. The algorithm integrates reference signal receiving power (RSRP). Reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ) and throughput to optimise the hysteresis threshold. First, a feedforward neural network structure is designed to implement fuzzy logic inference, and an interval type-two Gaussian subordination function is used to improve the nonlinear expressiveness of the model. Then, a feature selection layer is added to determine the output of the affiliation function, which completes the optimization of the hysteresis threshold and overcomes the drawback of the fixed hysteresis threshold of the handover algorithm. Finally, simulation analysis of the control-plane and user-plane handover algorithms is carried out separately. The results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the success rate and reduce the ping-pong handover rate compared to the comparison algorithms. The results provide a theoretical reference for the speedup of high-speed railway trains and the evolution of the global system for mobile communications for railway (GSM-R) to 5G-R.
Effect of a Developed Nursing Stretch Break Application on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Complications and Fatigue among Nurses: An Interventional Study
Authors: Hosseini Elahe , Sharifian Roxana , Bashiri Azadeh , Daneshmandi Hadi
Published: December 2022

Objective. The present study aimed to develop Nursing Stretch Break (NSB) application to relieve work-related musculoskeletal complications and fatigue among hospital nurses. Methods. This interventional study was conducted among 71 nurses (15 men and 56 women with a mean age of 33.32 ± 6.42) employed in Shiraz governmental hospitals, Southwest Iran, for four months. In this study, NSB was developed; it includes eight main menus for the user, including (1) Registration, (2) Stretches, (3) User panel, (4) Questions from the researcher, (5) About us, (6) Contact us, (7) Reports, and (8) Answers to questions. Data were collected pre and post-intervention via the Persian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (P-NMQ), the Persian version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (P-MAF) Scale, the Persian version of the Numeric Rating Scale (P-NRS), and the Persian version of the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of use (P-USE) questionnaire. Results. NSB application usability testing showed that the mean scores of P-USE subscales were high. The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) in the last 7 days in nurses’ body parts, except the elbows and knees, was significantly lower after the intervention than before. In addition, the intensity of work-related musculoskeletal pain/discomfort in all body parts, except the knees, was significant relief after the intervention compared to before. The results demonstrated that the difference in the mean score of the total fatigue and its subscales, except “degree of interference with activities of daily living,” was significant after the intervention compared to before. Conclusions. NSB could be a low-cost and feasible ergonomic solution to improve the nurses’ musculoskeletal health.
Remote Calibration Technology in Target RCS Time Domain Outfield Measurement
Authors: Gong Ming-Hao , Li Yi-Wen , Wei Bing , Wei Xiao-Long
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a new method of remote calibration in time domain measurement of outfield RCS is proposed. Based on the basic principle of RCS time domain measurement and the characteristics of time domain system, the difference in time and frequency domain measurement is analyzed. The frequency domain remote calibration formula is extended to the time domain by time-frequency transform. Through the analysis of the time domain echo signal of the calibration body in the correction formula and the experimental verification of the calibration sphere echo signal, the influence of the calibration body size and measurement distance on the time domain echo signal and spectrum of the calibration body is given. The typical targets are measured by using the time domain system, and the results of time domain remote calibration, theoretical simulation, and frequency domain measurement are compared. The results show that the error between the time domain remote calibration results and the theoretical simulation results is not more than 1 dB at the −25 dB level. In the outfield measurement, this scheme can fully reflect the advantages of time domain measurement of wide frequency bands and low environmental requirements.
Myo-Inositol Enhances the Inhibitory Effect of Metformin on Gonadotropin Levels in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Krysiak Robert , Kowalcze Karolina , Okopień Bogusław
Published: December 2022

Objectives: Metformin decreased circulating levels of anterior pituitary hormones and its effect on thyrotropin concentration was found to be stronger in individuals receiving myo-inositol. Phospholipids containing inositols are precursors of second messengers of several hormones, including gonadotropins and insulin. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether the concomitant use of myo-inositol changes the effect of metformin on gonadotropin levels. Design: A prospective observational study. Participants/Materials, Setting, and Methods: This study, conducted at a university-affiliated medical center, included two groups of postmenopausal women with prediabetes, matched for age, FSH and LH levels, and insulin sensitivity: women taking myo-inositol preparations for at least 6 months (group A, n = 23) and women not receiving inositol preparations (group B, n = 23). All participants were treated with metformin (850 mg twice daily) for the following 6 months. At the beginning and at the end of the study, we assessed plasma glucose, insulin, FSH, LH, thyrotropin, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, estradiol, and glycated hemoglobin. Results: The impact of metformin on glucose levels, the homeostatic model assessment 1 of insulin resistance ratio, and glycated hemoglobin was more pronounced in group A than in group B. Metformin administered with myo-inositol reduced both FSH and LH. No significant changes in gonadotropin levels were observed in women receiving only metformin. The impact on FSH and LH levels correlated with their baseline concentrations and with the degree of improvement in insulin sensitivity. Levels of the remaining hormones did not change throughout the study. Limitations: The most important limitation of the study is a relatively small number of participants. Moreover, the study protocol does not allow to conclude whether similar effects are observed in premenopausal women. Conclusions: Myo-inositol may enhance the inhibitory effect of metformin on gonadotropin production in postmenopausal women.
Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery: Is There a Need for Standardization? Results of a Nationwide Survey
Authors: Maliko Nansi , Schok Thomas , Bijker Nina , Wouters Michel W.J.M. , Strobbe Luc J.A. , Hoornweg Marije J. , Vrancken Peeters Marie-Jeanne T.F.D.
Published: December 2022

Introduction: The NABON Breast Cancer Audit showed that more than 70% of the Dutch women undergoing surgery for breast cancer maintained their breast contour by breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or by immediate reconstruction after ablative surgery. The proportion of oncoplastic surgery applied in patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment remains unknown. The aim of our study was to assess the need for standardization of oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OPBCS) in an attempt to enable measurement of the quality of OPBCS. Methods: To gain a better understanding of current practice in OPBCS, we sent a questionnaire to all breast surgeons in The Netherlands who are members of the breast surgery working group (n = 134). Results: A total of 60 breast surgeons, representing different hospitals in The Netherlands, responded. 61.7% of the breast surgeons performed BCS on 60–100% of their patients. 68.3% responded that BCS was performed using OPS techniques in up to 40% of their patients. OPBCS was defined as level I volume displacement by 45.2% of the breast surgeons and as BCS performed by a breast surgeon and plastic surgeon together by 32.3% of the breast surgeons. 94.5% indicated that there is a need for standardization of the definition of OPBCS in The Netherlands. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that OPBCS is a major part of daily clinical practice of Dutch breast surgeons treating BC patients. Despite this, there is no clear definition of OPS in breast-conserving treatment in The Netherlands. Only after standardization can a classification code and quality indicator be initiated for OPBCS. Ultimately, this will facilitate improvement in quality of BC care.
A Nutrigenetic Approach to Investigate ApoB EcoR1 Polymorphism-Dietary Acid Load Interactions on Lipid and Anthropometric-Related Outcomes in Adults with Dyslipidemic Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Naeini Zeinab , Abaj Faezeh , Esmaeily Zahra , Alvandi Ehsan , Rafiee Masoumeh , Koohdani Fariba
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Despite multiple studies having considered the role of dietary acid load (DAL) or the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) EcoR1 rs1042031 polymorphism in diabetes, none have assessed their interplay effect on metabolic markers. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the interaction of EcoR1 rs1042031 and DAL on metabolic markers among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: 492 randomly selected individuals with T2DM were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was evaluated by a validated food frequency questionnaire. DAL was assessed as net-endogenous acid production (NEAP) and potential renal acid load (PRAL). Real-time-PCR was used to genotype the EcoR1 rs1042031 polymorphism. Metabolic markers were also assessed. The interaction effect of the polymorphism and DAL indexes was analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Result: The frequency of EcoR1 rs1042031 genotypes was not different between dyslipidemic and normolipidemic participants (p > 0.05). Among participants with dyslipidemia, those with the GG genotype and who consumed a higher level of NEAP had higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03) and waist circumference (WC; p = 0.02). Moreover, triglyceride (TG) concentration (p = 0.007), the LDL/HDL ratio (p = 0.03), and the TG/HDL (p = 0.03) ratio were significantly higher in A allele carriers with higher than the median intake of NEAP, in comparison with GG homozygotes. Finally, GA/AA carriers who had a higher intake of PRAL had a higher TG concentration (p = 0.006) and TG/HDL ratio (p = 0.01) compared to lower median intake in the dyslipidemia group. Discussion: In the dyslipidemic group, there was a higher TG concentration among individuals with the GA/AA genotype and a higher intake of NEAP/PRAL. Also, in this group, a higher intake of NEAP may be considered as a risk factor for increased levels of BMI and WC among participants with the GG genotype.
Posterior Capsular Rupture during Cataract Surgery in Eyes Previously Treated with Intravitreal Injections
Authors: Leite João , Castro Catarina , Abreu Ana Carolina , Pessoa Bernardete , Furtado Maria João , Lume Miguel , Menéres Pedro
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Intravitreal injections (IVIs) are currently the most common intraocular surgical procedure worldwide. Some studies have reported a higher risk of intraoperative complications, namely, posterior capsular rupture (PCR), during cataract surgery. The aim of this retrospective and observational study, conducted at Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, was to assess the risk of PCR during cataract surgery in eyes previously treated with IVIs with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) and/or corticosteroids. Methods: Eyes undergoing cataract surgery between June 2019 and May 2021 were included. Combined surgeries, such as glaucoma surgery and pars plana vitrectomy, were excluded. The occurrence of PCR during cataract surgery in treated and previously untreated eyes with IVI was analyzed. Results: A total of 5,813 cataract surgeries were analyzed; 4.1% of the cases had previously undergone IVI. The PCR rate in cataract surgery was 1.8%: 6.7% in eyes previously treated with IVI and 1.6% without previous IVI (OR = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.6–7.7, p < 0.001). The combined therapy (anti-VEGF with corticosteroids) presents a higher risk compared to the two therapies alone as monotherapy (OR = 11.6, 95% CI: 4.7–28.5, p < 0.001), as well as treated eyes treated with ≥10 IVI (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 0.8–6.1, p = 0.144) and a time interval between the last IVI and cataract surgery was ≤6 months (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 0.6–6.1, p = 0.296). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that eyes that require IV treatment prior to cataract surgery are at increased risk of CPA during cataract surgery, and careful assessment of the characteristics of the cataract and posterior capsule is critical.
Decontamination and Repair Protocol Promotes Positive Outcomes in Implants Affected by Peri-implantitis: A Human Case Series
Authors: Sallé Marcos Ribeiro , Deluiz Daniel , Fletcher Paul , Santoro Monike F , Tinoco Eduardo M B
Published: December 2022

This study assessed the effectiveness and predictability of a readily available protocol to treat peri-implantitis utilizing mechanical debridement, chemical antiseptic surface detoxification, and osseous grafting. Nine patients (7 women, 2 men; mean age: 56.5 years) with 15 implants with peri-implantitis were included. Pocket probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and standardized digital periapical radiographic measurements were taken. Surgical flaps were elevated, and the implant threads were cleaned with a plastic curette. Chemical decontamination was performed by scrubbing solutions of 0.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and 1.5% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) around the exposed implant using cotton pellets. Bony defects were filled with a 50/50 mixture of bovine hydroxyapatite and nanocrystalline calcium sulfate (CaSO4). A porcine collagen membrane was placed over the grafted bony defect. Follow-up appointments were scheduled 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year posttreatment. Clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed and compared. At baseline, PPD ranged from 5 to 7.5 mm (mean: 6 ± 0.7 mm). At 12 months, PPD ranged from 1.5 to 4.2 mm (mean: 2.5 ± 0.8 mm). The mean PPD reduction of 3.6 mm (59.2%) was statistically significant (P < .001). The number of bleeding sites around each test implant decreased significantly from 4 to 0.4 sites between baseline and 12 months (P < .001). Mean radiographic bone loss decreased from 4.8 ± 1.3 mm to 2.7 ± 1.2 mm (P < .001). The proposed method of mechanical decontamination, chemical detoxification, and bone regeneration is clinically effective and reproducible. Clinical peri-implant parameters and radiographic bone levels were improved and maintained their stability for 1 year using this peri-implantitis treatment protocol.