bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Effectiveness of Hypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy for Liver Metastasis From Breast Cancer
Authors: Kim Tae Hyun , Lee Keun Seok , Sim Sung Hoon , Kim Yeon-Joo , Kim Dae Yong , Chae Heejung , Lee Eun-Gyeong , Han Jai Hong , Jung So Youn , Lee Seeyoun , Kang Han Sung , Lee Eun Sook
Published: November 2021

Background

Few studies of proton beam therapy (PBT) for patients with liver metastasis from breast cancer (LMBC) are available to date. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PBT for patients with LMBC.

Material and Methods

Seventeen patients with LMBC treated with PBT were included in this study. The median prescribed dose of PBT was 66 GyE (range, 60–80) in 10 fractions, 5 times a week. In patients with LMBC receiving PBT, freedom from local progression (FFLP), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were assessed.

Results

The median follow-up time was 34.2 months (range, 11.5–56.1). The median FFLP time was not yet reached, and the 3-year FFLP rates were 94.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.9–105.3). The median times of PFS and OS were 7.9 months (95% CI, 5.3–10.5) and 39.3 months (95% CI, 33.2–51.9), respectively, and the 3-year PFS and OS rates were 19.6% (95% CI, -1.8–41.0) and 71.7% (95% CI, 46.8–96.6), respectively. Grade 3 or higher adverse events were not observed.

Conclusion

PBT for patients with LMBC showed promising FFLP and OS with safe toxicity profiles. These findings suggest that PBT can be considered a local treatment option in patients with LMBC.
Current and Future Uses of Continuous EEG in the NICU
Authors: Sandoval Karamian Amanda G. , Wusthoff Courtney J.
Published: November 2021

Continuous EEG (cEEG) is a fundamental neurodiagnostic tool in the care of critically ill neonates and is increasingly recommended. cEEG enhances prognostication via assessment of the background brain activity, plays a role in predicting which neonates are at risk for seizures when combined with clinical factors, and allows for accurate diagnosis and management of neonatal seizures. Continuous EEG is the gold standard method for diagnosis of neonatal seizures and should be used for detection of seizures in high-risk clinical conditions, differential diagnosis of paroxysmal events, and assessment of response to treatment. High costs associated with cEEG are a limiting factor in its widespread implementation. Centralized remote cEEG interpretation, automated seizure detection, and pre-natal EEG are potential future applications of this neurodiagnostic tool.
Trends and Patterns of Antibiotics Use in China’s Urban Tertiary Hospitals, 2016–19
Authors: Zhu Yulei , Qiao Yang , Dai Rouli , Hu Xin , Li Xin
Published: November 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the trends in antibiotics utilization and patients costs, evaluating the effect of the policy and exploring factors associated with the irrational use of antibiotics.

Methods: Based on the Cooperation Project Database of Hospital Prescriptions, data were collected from 89 tertiary hospitals in nine cities in China during 2016–2019. The study sample consisted of prescription records with antibiotics for 3,422,710 outpatient and emergency visits and 26, 118, 436 inpatient hospitalizations.

Results: For outpatients, the proportion of treated with antibiotics declined from 14.72 to 13.92% significantly (p < 0.01). The proportion of antibiotic costs for outpatients decreased from 5.79 to 4.45% significantly (p < 0.01). For emergency patients, the proportion of treated with antibiotics increased from 39.31 to 43.45% significantly (p < 0.01). The proportion of antibiotic costs for emergency patients decreased from 36.44 to 34.69%, with no significant change (p = 0.87). For inpatients, the proportion of treated with antibiotics increased from 23.82 to 27.25% significantly (p < 0.01). The proportion of antibiotic costs for outpatients decreased from 18.09 to 17.19% with no statistical significance (p = 0.89). Other β-lactam antibacterials (1,663.03 ten thousand DDD) far exceeded other antibiotics categories. Stablely ranked first, followed by Macrolides, lincosamide and streptogramins (965.74 ten thousand DDD), Quinolone antibacterials (710.42 ten thousand DDD), and β-lactam antibacterials, penicillins (497.01 ten thousand DDD).

Conclusions: The proportion of treated with antibiotics for outpatients and inpatients meet the WHO standards. The antibiotics use varied by different survey areas, clinical departments, patient gender, patient age and antibiotics categories. More efforts should focus on improving the appropriateness of antibiotics use at the individual level.
From Nucleation to Percolation: The Effect of System Size when Disorder and Stress Localization Compete
Authors: Roy Subhadeep
Published: November 2021

A phase diagram for a one-dimensional fiber bundle model is constructed with a continuous variation in two parameters guiding the dynamics of the model: strength of disorder and range of stress relaxation. When the range of stress relaxation is very low, the stress concentration plays a prominent role and the failure process is nucleating where a single crack propagates from a particular nucleus with a very high spatial correlation unless the disorder strength is high. On the other hand, a high range of stress relaxation represents the mean-field limit of the model where the failure events are random in space. At an intermediate disorder strength and stress release range, when these two parameters compete, the failure process shows avalanches and precursor activities. As the size of the bundle is increased, it favors a nucleating failure. In the thermodynamic limit, we only observe a nucleating failure unless either the disorder strength is extremely high or the stress release range is high enough so that the model is in the mean-field limit. A complex phase diagram on the plane of disorder strength, stress release range, and system size is presented showing different failure modes - 1) nucleation 2) avalanche, and 3) percolation, depending on the spatial correlation observed during the failure process.
Effects of Cold Decompression on Hemodynamic Function and Decompression Sickness Risk in a Dry Diving Rat Model
Authors: Gaustad Svein E. , Kondratiev Timofei V. , Eftedal Ingrid , Tveita Torkjel
Published: November 2021

Background: Diving in cold water is thought to increase the risk of decompression sickness (DCS), especially if the diver is cold during decompression. In this study, we investigated hemodynamic function and DCS risk in an animal model, where cold decompression was followed by rewarming at the surface.

Methods: Nine female Sprague Dawley rats had pressure-volume catheters inserted into their left heart ventricle and femoral artery before they were exposed to dry air dives in which their core temperature was normothermic during the bottom phase, cold (35°C) during decompression, and normothermic after the dive. Data from an earlier study were used as controls. The rats were compressed in air to 600kPa, maintained at pressure for 45min, and decompressed at 50kPa/min. Hemodynamic data were recorded before, during, and 60min after decompression. Venous gas bubbles were recorded in the right heart ventricle and pulmonary artery for 60min after the dive.

Results and Conclusion: During decompression, cardiac output (CO), and stroke volume (SV) decreased equally in cold rats and controls. CO and SV were temporarily re-established at the surface, before falling again in the cold rats. There was no difference in post-dive venous bubble grades. However, as the post-dive fall in CO and SV could be a sign of gas emboli obstructing the pulmonary circulation, we cannot conclude whether the DCS risk was increased. More sensitive bubble detection methods are needed to elucidate this point.
Effects of Plateau Pika Disturbance on the Spatial Heterogeneity of Vegetation in Alpine Meadows
Authors: Li Jie , Qi Hao Hao , Duan Yuan Yuan , Guo Zheng Gang
Published: November 2021

Herbivory is one of the important factors that influence spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in grasslands. In this study, we focused on plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) to investigate the effects of the presence of small semi-fossorial herbivores and their disturbance intensity on the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in alpine meadows across three sites in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A random stratified paired sampling method was used to collect vegetation data, and plant species richness at both fine and coarse scales were used to estimate the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation. This study showed that the presence of plateau pikas led to higher spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in alpine meadows, which increased linearly as the disturbance intensities of plateau pikas increased. The findings of this study demonstrate that small semi-fossorial herbivores have an important impact on the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation, and present a possible approach for estimating the effect of the presence of a small semi-fossorial herbivore and its disturbance intensity on the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in grasslands.
Smartphone Time Machine: Tech-Supported Improvements in Time Perspective and Wellbeing Measures
Authors: Mossbridge Julia , Johnson Khari , Washburn Polly , Williams Amber , Sapiro Michael
Published: November 2021

Individuals with a balanced time perspective, which includes good thoughts about the past, awareness of present constraints and adaptive planning for a positive future, are more likely to report optimal wellbeing. However, people who have had traumas such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are likely to have less balanced time perspectives and lower overall wellbeing when compared to those with fewer or no ACEs. Time perspective can be improved viatime-travel narrativesthat support people in feeling connected to a wise and loving future version of themselves, an approach that has until now only been provided in counseling contexts. Our team used an iterative inclusive design process to shape a scalable time-travel narrative tool – a responsive and progressive web application calledTime Machine.Among other functionalities, Time Machine allowed people to record and listen to messages as if they were from and to their past and future selves. Using pre-planned as well aspost-hocanalyses, we analyzed quantitative and qualitative data from 96 paid design partners (participants) who were taken through a 26-day pilot study of the technology. Among other effects, the results revealed: (1) high engagement throughout the design process, (2) improvements in self-reported time perspective and overall wellbeing scores that were greater for those using Time Machine during an optional-use period, (3) twice as much improvement in overall wellbeing scores for design partners with high ACEs (16%) versus low ACEs (8%), and (4) feelings of unconditional love apparently mediating the relationship between scores on time perspective and overall wellbeing measures. We discuss the limitations of these results as well as implications for the future role of spiritually informed scalable time-travel narrative technologies in healthcare and wellness.
The Role of Dynamic Social Norms in Promoting the Internalization of Sportspersonship Behaviors and Values and Psychological Well-Being in Ice Hockey
Authors: Amiot Catherine E. , Skerlj Frederik
Published: November 2021

Conducted among parents of young ice hockey players, this field experiment tested if making salient increasingly popular (i.e., dynamic) social norms that promote sportspersonship, learning, and having fun in sports, increases parents’ own self-determined endorsement of these behaviors and values, improves their psychological well-being, and impacts on their children’s on-ice behaviors. Hockey parents (N= 98) were randomly assigned to the experimental condition (i.e., presenting dynamic norms that increasingly favor sportspersonship, learning, and fun) vs. control condition (i.e., presenting neutral information). Parents’ motivations for encouraging their child to learn and to have fun in hockey were then assessed. Score sheets for the games that followed the study provided access to their children’s on-ice behaviors (i.e., penalties), as indicators of sportspersonship. Parents in the experimental condition reported higher self-determination for encouraging their child to learn and have fun in hockey compared to parents in the control condition. Furthermore, children of parents in the experimental condition had more assists. A mediation model revealed that the dynamic norms manipulation increased parents’ self-determined motivation for encouraging their child to learn and to have fun in hockey, which in turn, predicted higher psychological well-being (i.e., lower anxiety, more vitality). Together, these results provide support for the contention that highlighting increasingly popular social norms that promote sportspersonship, learning, and fun in sports, represents a promising strategy for creating positive social change in this life context.
Differences in Motivation to Engage in Sexual Activity Between People in Monogamous and Non-monogamous Committed Relationships
Authors: Kelberga Anna (Kelberg) , Martinsone Baiba
Published: November 2021

This study compared motivations to engage in sex between monogamous and non-monogamous respondents (n= 1,238, out of which 641 monogamous and 596 non-monogamous respondents; women—47.4%, men—50.9%, other gender—1.7%; age:M= 27.78 years,SD= 7.53, range = 18–62). The research aim was to identify whether there are differences in self-reported reasons to engage in sexual activity between these two groups. Presented with 17 reasons to engage in sexual activity, the respondents rated the frequency with which they engage in sex for each reason. While both monogamous and non-monogamous respondents reported to engage in sex with the same frequency for the reasons of sexual release and physical desirability of a partner, the research uncovered that non-monogamous respondents engage in sex significantly more often to seek new experiences, to boost self-esteem, to guard their mate, to have a specific kind of sex (such as anal, kink, or fetish) or to experience the thrill of the forbidden. Non-monogamous respondents reported higher frequency to engage in sex for most reasons overall. The study also revealed that there are differences in reasons to engage in sex among men and women, some of the differences are related to the relationship status (monogamous or non-monogamous), while others are universal for men or women irrespective of their monogamy status.
Foreign Language Teachers’ Emotion Recognition in College Oral English Classroom Teaching
Authors: Dai Yanyun
Published: November 2021

One of the significant courses in Chinese universities is English. This course is usually taught by a foreign language instructor. There will, however, necessarily be some communication hurdles between “foreign language teachers” and “native students.” This research presents an emotion recognition method for foreign language teachers in order to eliminate communication barriers between teachers and students and improve student learning efficiency. We discovered four factors of emotion recognition through literature analysis: smile, eye contact, gesture, and tone. We believe that differences in foreign language teachers’ performance in these four areas will have an impact on students’ emotion recognition and, as a result, on their learning efficiency. The influence of the foreign language teacher’s eye contact and gestures is larger (the weight of a single variable accounted for 30% or more) in the decision whether can improve the students’ classroom learning efficiency, according to 43 of the questionnaire data analysis. The second is the tone and smile (the weight of a single variable accounted for between 10 and 20%). Our research contributes to the body of knowledge on emotion recognition in university foreign language teachers by presenting a practical method for recognizing emotion in foreign language teachers. We recommend that college foreign language teachers pay attention to eye and gesture communication with students in English classrooms based on the findings. By enriching the style of emotional expression in class, college language teachers, particularly foreign language teachers, can improve communication, and connection with students.
The Correlation of Reduced Fractional Anisotropy in the Cingulum With Suicide Risk in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Tian Fangfang , Wang Xiuli , Long Xipeng , Roberts Neil , Feng Can , Yue Suping , Jia Zhiyun
Published: November 2021

Objective: This study aims to investigate the significant alterations in brain white matter integrity in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) who had attempted suicide by applying a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) approach with tensor-based spatial normalization.

Methods: A TBSS approach with novel tensor-based registration was used to compare the white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) between 51 individuals with BD, of whom 19 had attempted suicide, and 43 healthy controls (HC). The suicide attempt was assessed with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). In addition, we also investigated the correlations of FA values with clinical measures in BD, including illness duration, and the severity of depression and anxiety measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), respectively.

Results: A significant reduction of FA value in the hippocampal cingulum was observed in BD individuals who had attempted suicide compared with those who had not. For the genu/body of the corpus callosum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, and anterior thalamic radiation, the reductions in FA values were significantly greater in both BD subgroups who attempted suicide and who did not, compared to HC. The correlation analysis showed that the illness duration of attempters was correlated to the FA value of the genu of the corpus callosum, while the HAMD and HAMA scores of non-attempters were relevant to the FA of the superior longitudinal fasciculus.

Conclusion: The observation that white matter integrity was altered in the hippocampal cingulum in BD individuals who attempted suicide suggested that this brain area may be the neurobiological basis of suicide attempts. Our findings also support the involvement of white matter (WM) microstructure of frontal–subcortical circuits in the neurobiological mechanism of BD. In addition, the illness duration of patients with attempted suicide may have an effect on the altered integrity of the corpus callosum.
Development and User Experiences of a Biopsychosocial Interprofessional Online Course on Persistent Somatic Symptoms
Authors: van Gils A. , Tak L. M. , Sattel H. , Rosmalen J. G. M.
Published: November 2021

Background: Communication between healthcare providers and patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) is frequently hampered by mutual misunderstanding and dissatisfaction.

Methods: We developed an online, interprofessional course to teach healthcare providers the knowledge, skills, and attitude they need to diagnose and treat PSS in a patient-centered manner based on the biopsychosocial model. The course consisted of six modules of 45–60 min. Each module contained different types of assignments, based on six cases: videos, discussion boards, reading assignments, polls, and quizzes. For this study, we included (1) medical residents, following the course as part of their residency training, and (2) healthcare providers (general practitioners, medical specialists, physiotherapists, nurses, and psychologists), following the course as continuing vocational training. Throughout the course, participants were asked to fill out online surveys, enquiring about their learning gains and satisfaction with the course.

Results: The biopsychosocial approach was integrated across the modules and teached health care workers about recent insights on biological, psychological and social aspects of PSS. In total, 801 participants with a wide variety in clinical experience started the course; the largest groups of professionals were general practitioners (N = 400), physiotherapists (N = 124) and mental healthcare workers (N = 53). At the start of the course, 22% of the participants rated their level of knowledge on PSS as adequate. At the end of the course, 359 participants completed the evaluation questionnaires. Of this group, 81% rated their level of knowledge on PSS as adequate and 86% felt that following the course increased their competencies in communicating with patients with PSS (N = 359). On a scale from 1 to 10, participants gave the course a mean grade of 7.8 points. Accordingly, 85% stated that they would recommend the course to a colleague.

Conclusion: Our course developed in a co-design process involving multiple stakeholders can be implemented, is being used, and is positively evaluated by professionals across a variety of health care settings.
A Cross-Sector Framework to Boost the Sustainable Implementation of Integrated Transport and Spatial Strategies to Improve Safety and Mobility of Moto-Taxi Riders
Authors: Mwebesa Murungi Elizabeth , Chou Chun-Chen , Yoh Kento , Doi Kenji
Published: November 2021

Globally, motorcycle riders make up the biggest percentage of vulnerable road user fatalities. The percentages are higher in African cities where moto-taxi transport is not only the most readily available mode of transport but also a source of income for many especially the youth. Many African cities are re-strategizing on how to sustainably deal with problems like traffic congestion, unplanned development, flooding, air and noise pollution. The authors carried out a questionnaire survey targeting a variety of road safety stakeholders to identify road safety solutions that they think best fit the current situation. Another questionnaire survey targeting moto-taxi riders was carried out, and the data analyzed by SEM to identify how different solutions interact to affect the behavior of riders. Results show that education and training programs have the biggest effect on improving behavior of riders as they adapt to new city regulations such as zoning. Other aspects such as presence of customers, behavior of other road users, road environment were also explored. Currently, city authorities in some developing nations are looking to introduce spatial regulations such as zoning and traffic management strategies such as exclusive lanes. Therefore, the contribution of this study is a proposal of a combination of solutions that different road safety stakeholders in developing countries can contribute toward the sustainable improvement of the safety of riders.
How Does the Octopus Efficiently Control Its Flexible, Multi-Armed Body?
Authors: Nesher Nir , Shomrat Tal
Published: November 2021

The eight flexible arms of an octopus’s body allow it to perform a wide range of actions. Octopi use their arms to perform several types of movement, such as walking, crawling, and swimming. They use different objects, such as empty coconut and clam shells, to create shelters, and they have the amazing ability to change their skin color and body texture to camouflage themselves in their environments. Simultaneously, the flexible body structure of the octopus creates a problem for its motor control system, because it needs to control and manage a nearly infinite number of body states. In this article, we will the interesting mechanisms octopi have developed to allow control over their unique bodies.
Metastatic Pattern Discriminates Survival Benefit of Type of Surgery in Patients With De Novo Stage IV Breast Cancer Based on SEER Database
Authors: Li Kunlong , Zhou Can , Yu Yan , Niu Ligang , Zhang Wei , Wang Bin , He Jianjun , Ge Guanqun
Published: November 2021

Background: The role of surgery and surgery type in de novo stage IV breast cancer (BC) is unclear.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study that included the data of 4,108 individuals with de novo stage IV BC abstracted from SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) data resource from 2010 to 2015. The patients were stratified into the non-surgery group, breast-conserving (BCS) surgery group, and mastectomy group. Inverse probability propensity score weighting (IPTW) was then used to balance clinicopathologic factors. Overall survival (OS), as well as the breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), was assessed in the three groups using Kaplan–Meier analysis and COX model. Subgroups were stratified by metastatic sites for analysis.

Results: Of the 4,108 patients, 48.5% received surgery and were stratified into the BCS group (574 cases) and mastectomy group (1,419 cases). After IPTW balance demographic and clinicopathologic factors, BCS and mastectomy groups had better OS (BCS group: HR, 0.61; 95% CI: 0.49–0.75; mastectomy group: HR, 0.7; 95% CI: 0.63–0.79) and BCSS (BCS group: HR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.47–0.75; mastectomy group: HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63–0.81) than the non-therapy group. Subgroup analyses revealed that BCS, rather than mastectomy, was linked to better OS (HR, 0.66; 95% CI: 0.48–0.91) and BCSS (HR, 0.63; 95% CI: 0.45–0.89) for patients with bone-only metastasis. For patients with viscera metastasis or bone+viscera metastases, BCS achieved similar OS (viscera metastasis: HR, 1.05; 95% CI: 0.74–1.48; bone+viscera metastases: HR, 1.01; 95% CI: 0.64–1.61) and BCSS (viscera metastasis: HR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.64–1.38; bone+viscera metastases: HR, 1.06; 95% CI: 0.66–1.73) in contrast with mastectomy.

Conclusions: Local surgery for patients with distant metastasis (DS) exhibited a remarkable survival advantage in contrast with non-operative management. BCS may have more survival benefits for patients with de novo stage IV BC with bone-only metastasis than other metastatic sites. Decisions on de novo stage IV BC primary surgery should be tailored to the metastatic pattern.
Strategies for Implementing a One Welfare Framework into Emergency Management
Authors: Squance Hayley , MacDonald Carol , Stewart Carol , Prasanna Raj , Johnston David M
Published: November 2021

Responding to emergencies requires many different individuals and organisations to work well together under extraordinary circumstances. Unfortunately, the management of animal welfare in emergencies remains largely disconnected from emergency management overall. This is due predominately to professional silos and a failure to understand the importance of human–animal-environment (h-a-e) interdependencies. One Welfare (OW) is a concept with these interrelationships at its core. This paper argues that by adopting an OW framework it will be possible to achieve a transdisciplinary approach to emergency management in which all stakeholders acknowledge the importance of the h-a-e interdependencies and work to implement a framework to support this. Acknowledging that such a transformational change will not be easy, this paper proposes several strategies to overcome the challenges and optimise the outcomes for animal welfare emergency management (AWEM). These include legislation and policy changes including h-a-e interface interactions as business as usual, improving knowledge through interprofessional education and training, incorporating One Welfare champions, and recognising the role of animals as vital conduits into communities.
Effect of Dams and Suckling Lamb Feeding Systems on the Fatty Acid Composition of Suckling Lamb Meat
Authors: Battacone Gianni , Lunesu Mondina Francesca , Rassu Salvatore Pier Giacomo , Pulina Giuseppe , Nudda Anna
Published: November 2021

The effects of the dams and suckling lamb feeding systems on the fatty acid (FA) profile of lamb meat are reviewed in this article. The suckling lamb can be considered a functional monogastric, and therefore, its meat FA composition is strongly influenced by the FA composition of maternal milk. The major source of variation for ewe milk FA composition is represented by pasture amount and type. In the traditional sheep breeding system of the Mediterranean area, the main lambing period occurs in late autumn–early winter, and ewes are able to exploit the seasonal availability of the natural pastures at their best. Therefore, lambs start suckling when maternal milk concentrations of vaccenic, rumenic, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA in maternal milk are the highest. When maternal diet is mainly based on hay and concentrates, the use of vegetable oils can be considered a good strategy to improve the meat FA profile of suckling lambs.
Molecular Detection of Fluoroquinolone Resistance among Multidrug-, Extensively Drug-, and Pan-Drug-Resistant Campylobacter Species in Egypt
Authors: Ammar Ahmed M. , Abd El-Hamid Marwa I. , El-Malt Rania M. S. , Azab Doaa S. , Albogami Sarah , Al-Sanea Mohammad M. , Soliman Wafaa E. , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Bendary Mahmoud M.
Published: November 2021

In recent times, resistant foodborne pathogens, especially of the Campylobacter species, have created several global crises. These crises have been compounded due to the evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens and the emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) strains. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the development of resistance and the existence of both XDR and PDR among Campylobacter isolates. Moreover, we explored the use of the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique for the detection of fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant Campylobacter isolates. A total of 120 Campylobacter isolates were identified depending on both phenotypic and genotypic methods. Of note, cefoxitin and imipenem were the most effective drugs against the investigated Campylobacter isolates. Interestingly, the majority of our isolates (75%) were MDR. Unfortunately, both XDR and PDR isolates were detected in our study with prevalence rates of 20.8% and 4.2%, respectively. All FQ-resistant isolates with ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentrations ≥4 µg/mL were confirmed by the genetic detection of gyrA chromosomal mutation via substitution of threonine at position 86 to isoleucine (Thr-86-to-Ile) using the PCR-RFLP technique. Herein, PCR-RFLP was a more practical and less expensive method used for the detection of FQ resistant isolates. In conclusion, we introduced a fast genetic method for the identification of FQ-resistant isolates to avoid treatment failure through the proper description of antimicrobials.
Bridge Damping Extraction Method from Vehicle–Bridge Interaction System Using Double-Beam Model
Authors: Gong Fengzong , Han Fei , Wang Yingjie , Xia Ye
Published: November 2021

When vehicles interact with a bridge, a vehicle–bridge interaction (VBI) system is created. The frequency and modal shape of VBI systems have been widely studied, but the damping of VBI systems has not been adequately investigated. In recent years, several incidents of abnormal bridge vibration due to changes in bridge damping have occurred and aroused widespread concern in society. Damping is an important evaluation index of structural dynamic performance. Knowing the damping ratio of a VBI system is useful for analyzing the damping changes while a bridge is in service. This paper presents a method to extract bridge damping values from a VBI system, which can serve as a guide for bridge damping evaluation. First, a double-beam theoretical model was used to simplify the VBI system for cases involving uniform traffic flow. The damping ratio equation for the simplified VBI system was obtained using the extended dynamic stiffness method (EDSM). A double-beam finite element model and a VBI finite element model were established. The damping ratios of the two models were separately calculated and then compared with the simplified VBI model results. The results verified the accuracy of the simplified method. This paper then explains that bridge damping values can be extracted by estimating the equivalent traffic flow parameters and using the damping formula for the simplified VBI system. The bridge damping ratios extracted using this method in an engineering case ranged from 0.75% to 0.78%, which is smaller than the range that was directly identified using monitoring data (0.83–1.19%). The results show that the method can effectively extract bridge damping ratios and improve damping ratio identification.
A Low-Overhead Countermeasure against Differential Power Analysis for AES Block Cipher
Authors: Asfand Hafeez Muhammad , Mazyad Hazzazi  Mohammad , Tariq Hassan , Aljaedi Amer , Javed Asfa , Alharbi Adel R.
Published: November 2021

This paper presents the employment of a DPA attack on the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standardized AES (advance encryption standard) protocol for key retrieval and prevention. Towards key retrieval, we applied the DPA attack on AES to obtain a 128-bit secret key by measuring the power traces of the computations involved in the algorithm. In resistance to the DPA attack, we proposed a countermeasure, or a new modified masking scheme, comprising (i) Boolean and (ii) multiplicative masking, for linear and non-linear operations of AES, respectively. Furthermore, we improved the complexity involved in Boolean masking by introducing Rebecca’s approximation. Moreover, we provide a novel solution to tackle the zero mask problem in multiplicative masking. To evaluate the power traces, we propose our custom correlation technique, which results in a decrease in the calculation time. The synthesis results for original implementation (without countermeasure) and inclusion of countermeasure are given on a Zynq 7020 FPGA (Artix-7 device). It takes 424 FPGA slices when implemented without considering the countermeasure, whereas 714 slices are required to implement AES with the inclusion of the proposed countermeasure. Consequently, the implementation results provide the acceptability of this work for area-constrained applications that require prevention against DPA attacks.
Adsorption of Yttrium Ions on 3-Amino-5-Hydroxypyrazole Impregnated Bleaching Clay, a Novel Sorbent Material
Authors: Sakr Ahmed K. , Cheira Mohamed F. , Hassanin Mohamed A. , Mira Hamed I. , Mohamed Saad A. , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Osman Hamid , Eed Emad M. , Sayyed M. I. , Hanfi Mohamed Y.
Published: November 2021

In this work, spent bleaching clay (SBC) was treated with ethyl acetate and impregnation with 3-amino-5-hydroxypyrazole (AHIBC) that utilized as economical sorbent material. The uptake of yttrium ions from aqueous solution using AHIBC was studied under batch process as a function of pH of the solution, contact time, adsorbent dosage, Yttrium ions concentration, and ambient temperature. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved at the value of pH = 6.0 and agitation time of 60 min at room temperature. The utmost adsorption capacity of Y(III) ions on AHIBC was 171.32 mg·g−1. Kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic models were applied to the experimental data obtained. Adsorption follows a pseudo–second–order kinetic model, while the adsorption isotherm fits the Langmuir model. A negative value of Gibbs free energy ΔG° revealed that the adsorption of the Y ions on the AHIBC adsorbent was spontaneously in nature. In addition, the electrostatic interaction process between the metal ions and AHIBC was favorable. The negative value of ΔH° states that Y ions adsorption was an exothermic process. Desorption efficiency reduced from 97% to 80% after eight consecutive rounds.
Examination of Efficient Operation Method of ATES System by Comparison Operation with WTES System of Existent Heat Storage System
Authors: Oh Jewon , Sumiyoshi Daisuke , Nishioka Masatoshi , Kim Hyunbae
Published: November 2021

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system is widely used mainly in Europe and USA. In this paper, we examined the efficient operation method of ATES by comparing it with the water thermal energy storage (WTES) system of an existent thermal energy storage (TES) system using simulation. This study uses three aquifers: pumping wells, thermal storage wells, and reducing wells. The initial temperature is 19.1 °C groundwater from the surrounding area. ATES systems use the same operating methods as WTES systems to reduce heat storage efficiency and increase energy consumption. The operation that combines the ATES system with the pre-cooling/pre-heating coil can be used for air conditioning operation even if the heat storage diffuses or the pumping temperature changes. The aquifer heat storage system was used for the pre-cooling/pre-heating coil, and the cooling power consumption was reduced by 20%. The heating operation could not maintain heat for a long time due to the influence of groundwater flowing in from the surroundings. Therefore, it is recommended to use the stored heat as soon as possible. When energy saving is important by introducing a pre-cooling/pre-heating coil, the operation is performed by storing heat at a low temperature close to geothermal heat and also using groundwater heat. In addition, if the reduction of peak power in the daytime is important, it is appropriate to operate so that the heat stored in the pre-cooling/pre-heating coil is used up as much as possible. As a result, it was found that it is effective to operate the ATES system in combination with a pre-cooling/pre-heating coil. In cooling operation, ATES-C1-7 was the lowest at coefficient of performance (COP) 2.4 and ATES-C2-14 was the highest at COP 3.7. In heating operation, ATES-H1-45 was the lowest at COP1.2, and in other cases, it was about the same at COP2.4-2.8. In terms of energy efficiency, the heating operation ATES-H1-45 had a low energy efficiency of 4.1 for energy efficiency ratio (EER) and 3.9 for seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). In other cases, the energy efficiency was 8.2–12.4 for EER and 8.7–15.3 for SEER.
Developing Language-Specific Models Using a Neural Architecture Search
Authors: Yoo YongSuk , Park Kang-moon
Published: November 2021

This paper applies the neural architecture search (NAS) method to Korean and English grammaticality judgment tasks. Based on the previous research, which only discusses the application of NAS on a Korean dataset, we extend the method to English grammatical tasks and compare the resulting two architectures from Korean and English. Since complex syntactic operations exist beneath the word order that is computed, the two different resulting architectures out of the automated NAS language modeling provide an interesting testbed for future research. To the extent of our knowledge, the methodology adopted here has not been tested in the literature. Crucially, the resulting structure of the NAS application shows an unexpected design for human experts. Furthermore, NAS has generated different models for Korean and English, which have different syntactic operations.
An Analytical Model for Transient Heat Transfer with a Time-Dependent Boundary in Solar- and Waste-Heat-Assisted Geothermal Borehole Systems: From Single to Multiple Boreholes
Authors: Hefni Mohammed A. , Xu Minghan , Hassani Ferri , Ghoreishi-Madiseh Seyed Ali , Ahmed Haitham M. , Saleem Hussein A. , Ahmed Hussin A. M. , Hassan Gamal S. A. , Ahmed Khaled I. , Sasmito Agus P.
Published: November 2021

With the increasing engineering applications of geothermal borehole heat exchangers (BHEs), accurate and reliable mathematical models can help advance their thermal design and operations. In this study, an analytical model with a time-dependent heat flux boundary condition on the borehole wall is developed, capable of predicting the thermal performance of single, double, and multiple closed-loop BHEs, with an emphasis on solar- and waste-heat-assisted geothermal borehole systems (S-GBS and W-GBS) for energy storage. This analytical framework begins with a one-dimensional transient heat conduction problem subjected to a time-dependent heat flux for a single borehole. The single borehole scenario is then extended to multiple boreholes by exploiting lines of symmetry (or thermal superposition). A final expression of the temperature distribution along the center line is attained for single, double, and multiple boreholes, which is verified with a two-dimensional finite-element numerical model (less than 0.7% mean absolute deviation) and uses much lesser computational power and time. The analytical solution is also validated against a field-scale experiment from the literature regarding the borehole and ground temperatures at different time frames, with an absolute error below 6.3%. Further, the thermal performance of S-GBS and W-GBS is compared for a 3-by-3 borehole configuration using the analytical model to ensure its versatility in thermal energy storage. It is concluded that our proposed analytical framework can rapidly evaluate closed-loop geothermal BHEs, regardless of the numbers of boreholes and the type of the heat flux on the borehole wall.
Simulation of an Adaptive Method of Improving the Accuracy and Extending the Range of Frequency Signal Processing in a Frequency-to-Code Converter
Authors: Warda Piotr
Published: November 2021

The article discusses the modification of one of the basic methods of converting successive periods of a variable frequency signal into numerical values representing them. The method performs the adaptive frequency selection of the clock signal in the system processing the consecutive periods of input signal. The signal processing error is analyzed on an ongoing basis, and the frequency change factor is selected. Algorithms describing the operation of the method are included. The program of the simulator of the measurement channel operation with a frequency carrier of information is described, which allows for the verification of the proposed method. Examples of the simulation results are included.
An Analytical Solution for 2D Dynamic Structure-Soil-Structure Interaction for Twin Flexible Tunnels Embedded in a Homogeneous Half-Space
Authors: Jin Liguo , Liu Xujin , Sun Hongyang , Zhou Zhenghua
Published: November 2021

The interaction between subway tunnels is investigated by using a 2D analytic model of a twin tunnels system embedded in a homogenous half-space. The closed-form analytical solution for tunnel displacement response is derived through the wave function expansion method and the mirror method, and the correctness of the solution is verified through residuals convergence and comparison with the published results. The analysis focuses on the effects of tunnel relative stiffness on tunnel–soil–tunnel interaction. Tunnel relative stiffness has a great influence on tunnel displacement response. For small tunnel relative stiffness, tunnel displacement amplitude can be enlarged by 3.3 times that of single rigid tunnel model. The response of the tunnel–soil–tunnel interaction system depends not only on the distances between tunnels but also on the frequency of the incident wave and the incident angle. The strength of the interaction between the tunnels is highly related to the tunnel spacing distance. The smaller the distance between tunnels, the stronger the interaction between them. When the distance between tunnels reaches s/a = 20, the interaction between tunnels can be ignored. It is worth pointing out that the seismic design of underground tunnels should consider the interaction between tunnels when the tunnel distance is small.
Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals: A Sustainable Green Solution for Clean Environment
Authors: Babu S. M. Omar Faruque , Hossain M. Belal , Rahman M. Safiur , Rahman Moshiur , Ahmed A. S. Shafiuddin , Hasan Md. Monjurul , Rakib Ahmed , Emran Talha Bin , Xiao Jianbo , Simal-Gandara Jesus
Published: November 2021

Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by various sources has become a major worry all over the world. Pollutants can enter the human body through the food chain from aquatic and soil habitats. These pollutants can cause various chronic diseases in humans and mortality if they collect in the body over an extended period. Although the phytoremediation technique cannot completely remove harmful materials, it is an environmentally benign, cost-effective, and natural process that has no negative effects on the environment. The main types of phytoremediation, their mechanisms, and strategies to raise the remediation rate and the use of genetically altered plants, phytoremediation plant prospects, economics, and usable plants are reviewed in this review. Several factors influence the phytoremediation process, including types of contaminants, pollutant characteristics, and plant species selection, climate considerations, flooding and aging, the effect of salt, soil parameters, and redox potential. Phytoremediation’s environmental and economic efficiency, use, and relevance are depicted in our work. Multiple recent breakthroughs in phytoremediation technologies are also mentioned in this review.
Audiometric Characteristics and Tinnitus Features in a Cohort of 170 Spanish Patients
Authors: Cuesta María , Cobo Pedro
Published: November 2021

Background: Tinnitus is a rather prevalent, quite heterogeneous, and difficult to treat auditory disorder. The aim of this article is to provide the design and results of a cross-sectional study related to audiological and tinnitus features in a group of 170 Spanish patients. Methods: Audiometric characteristics were assessed on the basis of the pure-tone audiometry of both ears in 170 tinnitus patients and 85 control subjects. The audiometric status of each tinnitus participant was assessed on the basis of the average auditory threshold (AAT) in the whole frequency range (from 125 Hz to 8 kHz), and low (from 125 Hz to 2 kHz) and high (from 3 kHz to 8 kHz)-frequency intervals. Tinnitus features were evaluated through personal interview with patients and included tinnitus duration, laterality, pitch, sound, and distress (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, THI). Correlational analysis was carried out between audiological (AAT) and tinnitus (THI) variables. Results: A very weak Spearman rank correlation factor is found between both variables. Conclusions: The subjective outcome of tinnitus distress (THI) was not correlated with the objective measure of hearing loss (AAT) in our cohort.
Using Machine Learning in Business Process Re-Engineering
Authors: Al-Anqoudi Younis , Al-Hamdani Abdullah , Al-Badawi Mohamed , Hedjam Rachid
Published: November 2021

A business process re-engineering value in improving the business process is undoubted. Nevertheless, it is incredibly complex, time-consuming and costly. This study aims to review available literature in the use of machine learning for business process re-engineering. The review investigates available literature in business process re-engineering frameworks, methodologies, tools, techniques, and machine-learning applications in automating business process re-engineering. The study covers 200+ research papers published between 2015 and 2020 in reputable scientific publication platforms: Scopus, Emerald, Science Direct, IEEE, and British Library. The results indicate that business process re-engineering is a well-established field with scientifically solid frameworks, methodologies, tools, and techniques, which support decision making by generating and analysing relevant data. The study indicates a wealth of data generated, analysed and utilised throughout business process re-engineering projects, thus making it a potential greenfield for innovative machine-learning applications aiming to reduce implementation costs and manage complexity by exploiting the data’s hiding patterns. This suggests that there were attempts towards applying machine learning in business process management and improvement in general. They address process discovery, process behaviour prediction, process improvement, and process optimisation. The review suggests that expanding the applications to business process re-engineering is promising. The study proposed a machine-learning model for automating business process re-engineering, inspired by the Lean Six Sigma principles of eliminating waste and variance in the business process.