bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Qualitative Assessment of the Essential Health and Nutrition Service Delivery in the Context of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: The Perspective of Divisional Directors
Authors: Gaitán-Rossi Pablo , Vilar-Compte Mireya , Cruz-Villalba Valeria , Sabina Nazme , Villar-Uribe Manuela
Published: August 2022

Bangladesh suffered disruptions in the utilization of essential health and nutrition services (EHNS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The magnitude of the pandemic has been documented, but little is known from the perspectives of health administrators. A rapid qualitative assessment of division-level capacity identified successes and bottlenecks in providing EHNS- and COVID-19-related services during the first months of the pandemic in Bangladesh. Semi-structured interviews were held with the Health and Family Planning Divisional Directors of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Primary Health Care System Framework guided the content analysis, focusing on (i) service delivery, (ii) communication and community outreach, and (iii) surveillance and service monitoring. Our findings identified low care seeking due to fears of getting infected and unawareness that EHNS were still available. Adaptations to telemedicine were highly heterogeneous between divisions, but collaboration with NGOs were fruitful in reinstating outreach activities. Guidelines were centered on COVID-19 information and less so on EHNS. The inflexibility of spending capacities at divisional and clinic levels hindered service provision. Misinformation and information voids were difficult to handle all around the country. Community health workers were useful for outreach communication. EHNS must be guaranteed during sanitary emergencies, and Bangladesh presented with both significant efforts and areas of opportunity for improvement.
Overcrowding in Emergency Department: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions—A Narrative Review
Authors: Sartini Marina , Carbone Alessio , Demartini Alice , Giribone Luana , Oliva Martino , Spagnolo Anna Maria , Cremonesi Paolo , Canale Francesco , Cristina Maria Luisa
Published: August 2022

Overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a phenomenon that is now widespread globally and causes a significant negative impact that goes on to affect the entire hospital. This contributes to a number of consequences that can affect both the number of resources available and the quality of care. Overcrowding is due to a number of factors that in most cases lead to an increase in the number of people within the ED, an increase in mortality and morbidity, and a decrease in the ability to provide critical services in a timely manner to patients suffering from medical emergencies. This phenomenon results in the Emergency Department reaching, and in some cases exceeding, its optimal capacity. In this review, the main causes and consequences involving this phenomenon were collected, including the effect caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in recent years. Finally, special attention was paid to the main operational strategies that have been developed over the years, strategies that can be applied both at the ED level (microlevel strategies) and at the hospital level (macrolevel strategies).
Impact of Ground Applied Micronutrients on Root Growth and Fruit Yield of Severely Huanglongbing-Affected Grapefruit Trees
Authors: Hallman Lukas M. , Kadyampakeni Davie M. , Ferrarezi Rhuanito Soranz , Wright Alan L. , Ritenour Mark A. , Johnson Evan G. , Rossi Lorenzo
Published: August 2022

Citrus greening (huanglongbing, HLB) is a bacterial disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) and vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) (ACP). No cure is yet available, and as a result, increased fertilizer applications continue to be a major management method used to prolong the productive life of affected trees. However, questions remain regarding proper fertilizer rates and in what form these nutrients should be applied to increase tree health and yield. Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify optimum micronutrient application forms and rates to increase root growth, canopy size and fruit yield as well as reduce leaf and root CLas cycle threshold (Ct) value of HLB-affected grapefruit trees (Citrus × paradisi Macfad). A large-scale field study consisting of six-year-old HLB-affected ‘Ruby Red’ grapefruit trees grafted on ‘sour orange’ (Citrus × aurantium) rootstock was conducted in the Florida Indian River District. Eight different treatments consisting of four granular and four liquid fertilizers with 1×, 2×, and 4× the current University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recommended rates of boron, zinc, manganese, and iron were applied for three times a year (granular), biweekly (liquid), or weekly (liquid), for three years. Root density, length and diameter, root, and leaf CLas Ct value, canopy volume, visual HLB symptoms, and fruit yield were measured throughout the study. Regardless of treatment, tree health declined over time, and no significant impact on severely HLB-affected grapefruit tree health was detected within the three-year time frame of the study. This was the first study to solely compare the impact of ground applied micronutrient application rates and methods on HLB-affected grapefruit tree health in Florida’s Indian River District. More time would be needed to determine the potential benefits of increased micronutrient performance of HLB-affected grapefruit trees.
Chemical Fruit Profiles of Different Raspberry Cultivars Grown in Specific Norwegian Agroclimatic Conditions
Authors: Fotirić Akšić Milica , Nešović Milica , Ćirić Ivanka , Tešić Živoslav , Pezo Lato , Tosti Tomislav , Gašić Uroš , Dojčinović Biljana , Lončar Biljana , Meland Mekjell
Published: August 2022

Raspberries are considered valuable fruits due to their high levels of nutrients and phytochemicals, which have many beneficial effects on humans. As many external factors affect the composition of these fruits (the type of cultivation, soil characteristics, ripeness, storage time and post-harvest technologies, cultivar/genotype, and climatic conditions), the goal of this study was to analyze different raspberry cultivars grown in Norway. Considering that Norway is a country with specific climatic conditions, as well as has a limited period of fruit vegetation, another important goal of this study was also to compare raspberries from different Norwegian areas, as well as different grown cultivars. Modern analytical techniques, such as high-performance anion-exchange liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPEAC-PAD), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD MS/MS), and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), provided a detailed examination of the raspberry extract samples. Based on their high levels of minerals (especially N, P, and K), organic acids (predominantly citric and malic acids), sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and galactose), and polyphenols (ellagic acid, syringic acid, quercetin, and rutin), Norwegian raspberries could be considered fruits with increased health-beneficial compounds. The chemical composition of the studied cultivars depended on the locality of growth.
A Transcription Factor SlNAC10 Gene of Suaeda liaotungensis Regulates Proline Synthesis and Enhances Salt and Drought Tolerance
Authors: Du Xinran , Su Mingxing , Jiao Yang , Xu Suxiang , Song Jieqiong , Wang Hongfei , Li Qiuli
Published: August 2022

The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors are one of the largest families of transcription factors in plants and play an important role in plant development and the response to adversity. In this study, we cloned a new NAC gene, SlNAC10, from the halophyte Suaeda liaotungensis K. The gene has a total length of 1584 bp including a complete ORF of 1107 bp that encodes 369 amino acids. The SlNAC10-GFP fusion protein is located in the nucleus and SlNAC10 has a transcription activation structural domain at the C-terminus. We studied the expression characteristics of SlNAC10 and found that it was highest in the leaves of S. liaotungensis and induced by drought, salt, cold, and abscisic acid (ABA). To analyze the function of SlNAC10 in plants, we obtained SlNAC10 transgenic Arabidopsis. The growth characteristics and physiological indicators of transgenic Arabidopsis were measured under salt and drought stress. The transgenic Arabidopsis showed obvious advantages in the root length and survival rate; chlorophyll fluorescence levels; and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, and the proline content was higher than that of the wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis, whereas the relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were lower than those of the wild-type Arabidopsis. We explored the regulatory role of SlNAC10 on proline synthesis-related enzyme genes and found that SlNAC10 binds to the AtP5CS1, AtP5CS2, and AtP5CR promoters and regulates their downstream gene transcription. To sum up, SlNAC10 as a transcription factor improves salt and drought tolerance in plants possibly by regulating proline synthesis.
Computational Pipeline for Reference-Free Comparative Analysis of RNA 3D Structures Applied to SARS-CoV-2 UTR Models
Authors: Gumna Julita , Antczak Maciej , Adamiak Ryszard W. , Bujnicki Janusz M. , Chen Shi-Jie , Ding Feng , Ghosh Pritha , Li Jun , Mukherjee Sunandan , Nithin Chandran , Pachulska-Wieczorek Katarzyna , Ponce-Salvatierra Almudena , Popenda Mariusz , Sarzynska Joanna , Wirecki Tomasz , Zhang Dong , Zhang Sicheng , Zok Tomasz , Westhof Eric , Miao Zhichao , Szachniuk Marta , Rybarczyk Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

RNA is a unique biomolecule that is involved in a variety of fundamental biological functions, all of which depend solely on its structure and dynamics. Since the experimental determination of crystal RNA structures is laborious, computational 3D structure prediction methods are experiencing an ongoing and thriving development. Such methods can lead to many models; thus, it is necessary to build comparisons and extract common structural motifs for further medical or biological studies. Here, we introduce a computational pipeline dedicated to reference-free high-throughput comparative analysis of 3D RNA structures. We show its application in the RNA-Puzzles challenge, in which five participating groups attempted to predict the three-dimensional structures of 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We report the results of this puzzle and discuss the structural motifs obtained from the analysis. All simulated models and tools incorporated into the pipeline are open to scientific and academic use.
Effects of Two Distinct Psychoactive Microbes, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus JB-1 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri 6475, on Circulating and Hippocampal mRNA in Male Mice
Authors: Haas-Neill Sandor , Iwashita Eiko , Dvorkin-Gheva Anna , Forsythe Paul
Published: August 2022

Discovery of the microbiota-gut–brain axis has led to proposed microbe-based therapeutic strategies in mental health, including the use of mood-altering bacterial species, termed psychobiotics. However, we still have limited understanding of the key signaling pathways engaged by specific organisms in modulating brain function, and evidence suggests that bacteria with broadly similar neuroactive and immunomodulatory actions can drive different behavioral outcomes. We sought to identify pathways distinguishing two psychoactive bacterial strains that seemingly engage similar gut–brain signaling pathways but have distinct effects on behaviour. We used RNAseq to identify mRNAs differentially expressed in the blood and hippocampus of mice following Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus JB-1, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri 6475 treatment and performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to identify enrichment in pathway activity. L. rhamnosus, but not L. reuteri treatment altered several pathways in the blood and hippocampus, and the rhamnosus could be clearly distinguished based on mRNA profile. In particular, L. rhamnosus treatment modulated the activity of interferon signaling, JAK/STAT, and TNF-alpha via NF-KB pathways. Our results highlight that psychobiotics can induce complex changes in host gene expression, andin understanding these changes, we may help fine-tune selection of psychobiotics for treating mood disorders.
cAMP/PKA Signaling Modulates Mitochondrial Supercomplex Organization
Authors: Signorile Anna , Pacelli Consiglia , Palese Luigi Leonardo , Santeramo Arcangela , Roca Emilio , Cocco Tiziana , De Rasmo Domenico
Published: August 2022

The oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system couples the transfer of electrons to oxygen with pumping of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, ensuring the ATP production. Evidence suggests that respiratory chain complexes may also assemble into supramolecular structures, called supercomplexes (SCs). The SCs appear to increase the efficiency/capacity of OXPHOS and reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, especially that which is produced by complex I. Studies suggest a mutual regulation between complex I and SCs, while SCs organization is important for complex I assembly/stability, complex I is involved in the supercomplex formation. Complex I is a pacemaker of the OXPHOS system, and it has been shown that the PKA-dependent phosphorylation of some of its subunits increases the activity of the complex, reducing the ROS production. In this work, using in ex vivo and in vitro models, we show that the activation of cAMP/PKA cascade resulted in an increase in SCs formation associated with an enhanced capacity of electron flux and ATP production rate. This is also associated with the phosphorylation of the NDUFS4 subunit of complex I. This aspect highlights the key role of complex I in cellular energy production.
Environmental Sustainability in Infrastructure Construction—A Review Study on Australian Higher Education Program Offerings
Authors: Sandanayake Malindu , Bouras Yanni , Vrcelj Zora
Published: August 2022

Infrastructure advancement is a key attribute that defines the development and effective growth of a city or region. Since the introduction of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs), more construction companies are focusing on adopting sustainable construction practices. However, a lack of relevant competencies among employees at various infrastructure construction organizations often hinders the successful implementation of sustainable practices. Education that facilitates systematic professional development and contemporary competencies’ acquisition is a key to overcoming this barrier. Thus, the current study adopts a three-stage review to identify current research trends and inform future research directions for the enhancement of the environmental sustainability competencies base for infrastructure professionals. A bibliometric assessment was first conducted followed by a focused literature review on sustainability education. Subsequently, two engineering and construction higher education curricula were assessed for infrastructure sustainability content. The results from the three-step analysis indicate that the growing interest in sustainability concepts in the construction industry is driven by policy changes. A lack of financial incentives, the unavailability of resources, a lack of motivation amongst graduates, and limited time in the infrastructure construction sector were identified as some of the major impediments for developing the environmental sustainability competencies base. The requirement for integrated and structured Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs to facilitate ongoing knowledge acquisition and structured evaluation of professional knowledge in addition to effective undergraduate program development are highlighted. The necessity for a digitally personalised platform that can graphically represent current progress and future milestones and enable peer interaction and collaboration was also identified as critical for improving the uptake of such programs. The findings from this study could be useful for government agencies and infrastructure construction organizations keen to enhance the environmental sustainability knowledge of their employees. Future studies are required to assess sustainability education across the globe and to develop new learning components of infrastructure sustainability that are validated through stakeholder participation.
Structure and Vibrational Spectra of Pyridine Solvated Solid Bis(Pyridine)silver(I) Perchlorate, [Agpy2ClO4]·0.5py
Authors: May Nóra V. , Bayat Niloofar , Béres Kende Attila , Bombicz Petra , Petruševski Vladimir M. , Lendvay György , Farkas Attila , Kótai László
Published: August 2022

A hemipyridine solvate of bis(pyridine)silver(I) perchlorate, [Agpy2ClO4]·0.5py (compound 1) was prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis and vibrational spectroscopy (R and low-temperature Raman). Compound 1 was prepared via the trituration of [Agpy2ClO4] and 4[Agpy2ClO4]·[Agpy4]ClO4 (as the source of the solvate pyridine) in a mixed solvent of acetone:benzene =1:1 (v = v) at room temperature. The monoclinic crystals of compound 1 were found to be isomorphic with the analogous permanganate complex (a = 19.1093(16) Å, b = 7.7016(8) Å, c = 20.6915(19) Å, β = 105.515(7)°; space group: C2/c). Two [Agpy2]+ cations formed a dimeric unit [Agpy2ClO4]2, and each silver ion was connected to two ClO4− anions via oxygen atoms. The Ag∙∙∙Ag distance was 3.3873(5) Å, the perchlorate ions were coordinated to silver ions, and the Ag∙∙∙O distances were 2.840(2) Å and 2.8749(16) Å in the centrosymmetric rectangle of Ag-O-Ag-O. The stoichiometric ratio of the monomer [Agpy2ClO4] and the solvent pyridine was 1:0.5. The guest pyridine occupied 527.2 Å3, which was 18.0% of the volume of the unit cell. There was no additional residual solvent-accessible void in the crystal lattice. The solvate pyridine was connected via its a-CH to one of the O atoms of the perchlorate anion. Correlation analysis, as well as IR and low-temperature Raman studies, were performed to assign all perchlorate and pyridine vibrational modes. The solvate and coordinated pyridine bands in the IR and Raman spectra were not distinguishable. A perchlorate contribution via Ag-O coordination to low-frequency Raman bands was also assigned.
RADiCAL—Precision Timing, Ultracompact, Radiation-Hard Electromagnetic Calorimetry
Authors: Anderson Thomas , Barbera Thomas , Cox Bradley , Debbins Paul , Dubnowski Maxwell , Ford Kiva , Herrmann Maxwell , Hu Chen , Jessop Colin , Kamer-Koseyan Ohannes , Ledovskoy Alexander , Onel Yasar , Perez-Lara Carlos , Ruchti Randal , Ruggiero Daniel , Smith Daniel , Vigneault Mark , Wan Yuyi , Wayne Mitchell , Wetzel James , Zhang Liyuan , Zhu Ren-Yuan
Published: August 2022

To address the challenges of providing high-performance calorimetry in future hadron collider experiments under conditions of high luminosity and high radiation (FCC-hh environments), we conducted R&D on advanced calorimetry techniques suitable for such operation, based on scintillation and wavelength-shifting technologies and photosensor (SiPM and SiPM-like) technology. In particular, we focused our attention on ultra-compact radiation-hard EM calorimeters based on modular structures (RADiCAL modules) consisting of alternating layers of the very dense absorber and scintillating plates, read out via radiation hard wavelength shifting (WLS) solid fiber or capillary elements to photosensors positioned either proximately or remotely, depending upon their radiation tolerance. RADiCAL modules provide the capability to measure simultaneously and with high precision the position, energy and timing of EM showers. This paper provides an overview of the instrumentation and photosensor R&D associated with the RADiCAL program.
Early Anticoagulation in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Palaiodimou Lina , Stefanou Maria-Ioanna , Katsanos Aristeidis H. , Paciaroni Maurizio , Sacco Simona , De Marchis Gian Marco , Shoamanesh Ashkan , Malhotra Konark , de Sousa Diana Aguiar , Lambadiari Vaia , Kantzanou Maria , Vassilopoulou Sofia , Toutouzas Konstantinos , Filippou Dimitrios K. , Seiffge David J. , Tsivgoulis Georgios
Published: August 2022

Introduction: There is uncertainty regarding the optimal timing for initiation of oral anticoagulation in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies to assess the efficacy and safety of early anticoagulation in AF-related AIS (within 1 week versus 2 weeks). A second comparison was performed assessing the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) in the two early time windows. The outcomes of interest were IS recurrence, all-cause mortality, symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (sICH) and any ICH. Results: Eight eligible studies (6 observational, 2 RCTs) were identified, including 5616 patients with AF-related AIS who received early anticoagulation. Patients that received anticoagulants within the first week after index stroke had similar rate of recurrent IS, sICH and all-cause mortality compared to patients that received anticoagulation within two weeks (test for subgroup differences p = 0.1677; p = 0.8941; and p = 0.7786, respectively). When DOACs were compared to VKAs, there was a significant decline of IS recurrence in DOAC-treated patients compared to VKAs (RR: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.52–0.82), which was evident in both time windows of treatment initiation. DOACs were also associated with lower likelihood of sICH and all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Early initiation of anticoagulation within the first week may have a similar efficacy and safety profile compared to later anticoagulation (within two weeks), while DOACs seem more effective in terms of IS recurrence and survival compared to VKAs.
Effect of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors vs. Metformin on Major Cardiovascular Events Using Spontaneous Reporting System and Real-World Database Study
Authors: Noguchi Yoshihiro , Yoshizawa Shunsuke , Tachi Tomoya , Teramachi Hitomi
Published: August 2022

Background: Metformin had been recommended as the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes since 2006 because of its low cost, high efficacy, and potential to reduce cardiovascular events, and thus death. However, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed first-line agents for patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on preventing cardiovascular events, taking into consideration the actual prescription of antidiabetic drugs in Japan. Methods: This study examined the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on preventing cardiovascular events. The Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database, a spontaneous reporting system in Japan, and the Japanese Medical Data Center (JMDC) Claims Database, a Japanese health insurance claims and medical checkup database, were used for the analysis. Metformin was used as the DPP-4 inhibitor comparator. Major cardiovascular events were set as the primary endpoint. Results: In the analysis using the JADER database, a signal of major cardiovascular events was detected with DPP-4 inhibitors (IC: 0.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.40) but not with metformin. In the analysis using the JMDC Claims Database, the hazard ratio of major cardiovascular events for DPP-4 inhibitors versus metformin was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.84–1.20). Conclusions: A comprehensive analysis using two different databases in Japan, the JADER and the JMDC Claims Database, showed that DPP-4 inhibitors, which are widely used in Japan, have a non-inferior risk of cardiovascular events compared to metformin, which is used as the first-line drug in the United States and Europe.
Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Undergoing Radiation Therapy: Insights from a Ten-Year Tertiary Center Experience
Authors: Gulletta Simone , Falasconi Giulio , Cianfanelli Lorenzo , Centola Alice , Paglino Gabriele , Cireddu Manuela , Radinovic Andrea , D’Angelo Giuseppe , Marzi Alessandra , Sala Simone , Fierro Nicolai , Bisceglia Caterina , Peretto Giovanni , Di Muzio Nadia , Della Bella Paolo , Vergara Pasquale , Dell’Oca Italo
Published: August 2022

Background: The number of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) receiving radiotherapy (RT) is increasing. The management of CIED-carriers undergoing RT is challenging and requires a collaborative multidisciplinary approach. Aim: The aim of the study is to report the real-world, ten-year experience of a tertiary multidisciplinary teaching hospital. Methods: We conducted an observational, real-world, retrospective, single-center study, enrolling all CIED-carriers who underwent RT at the San Raffaele University Hospital, between June 2010 and December 2021. All devices were MRI-conditional. The devices were programmed to an asynchronous pacing mode for patients who had an intrinsic heart rate of less than 40 beats per minute. An inhibited pacing mode was used for all other patients. All tachyarrhythmia device functions were temporarily disabled. After each RT session, the CIED were reprogrammed to the original settings. Outcomes included adverse events and changes in the variables that indicate lead and device functions. Results: Between June 2010 and December 2021, 107 patients were enrolled, among which 63 (58.9%) were pacemaker carriers and 44 (41.1%) were ICD carriers. Patients were subjected to a mean of 16.4 (±10.7) RT sessions. The most represented tumors in our cohort were prostate cancer (12; 11%), breast cancer (10; 9%) and lung cancer (28; 26%). No statistically significant changes in device parameters were recorded before and after radiotherapy. Generator failures, power-on resets, changes in pacing threshold or sensing requiring system revision or programming changes, battery depletions, pacing inhibitions and inappropriate therapies did not occur in our cohort of patients during a ten-year time span period. Atrial arrhythmias were recorded during RT session in 14 patients (13.1%) and ventricular arrhythmias were observed at device interrogation in 10 patients (9.9%). Conclusions: Changes in device parameters and arrhythmia occurrence were infrequent, and none resulted in a clinically significant adverse event.
Implementation of Antibacterial Nanoparticles in Additive Manufacturing to Increase Part Strength and Stiffness
Authors: Billings Christopher , Kim Peter , Shadid Tyler , Ballard Jimmy D. , Cai Changjie , Liu Yingtao
Published: August 2022

The introduction of novel composites suited for additive manufacturing machines offers a solution for the current slow adoption of the technology. Many composites offer secondary functions and mechanical improvements to suit unique applications better. This article presents the creation of a set of novel nanocomposites consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) and a photocurable resin using a masked stereolithography additive machine. These nanocomposites are produced in 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% concentrations and are characterized based on their mechanical and surface properties. Using ZnO allows for the creation of mechanically stronger parts with reduced wettability while offering antibacterial properties throughout the entire part. Best results were observed at a 5% concentration of ZnO with a nearly 25% strength increase and 45% decrease in wettability. Additionally, SEM analysis demonstrated proper dispersion with minimal agglomerations present. In the sporicidal effect analysis, the ZnO (with 7.5% concentration) reduced 31.5% of Clostridioides difficile spores. These results demonstrate the capability of producing antibacterial nanocomposites using low-cost additive manufacturing to enhance public health options.
Dystrophin-Glycoprotein Complex Behavior in Sternocleidomastoid Muscle of High- and Low-Ranking Baboons: A Possible Phylogenetic Arrangement
Authors: Centofanti Antonio , Vermiglio Giovanna , Cutroneo Giuseppina , Favaloro Angelo , Picciolo Giacomo , Festa Felice , Anastasi Giuseppe Pio
Published: August 2022

The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex is a multimeric system made up of the sarcoglycan sub-complex, the sarcomplasmatic complex and the dystroglycans complex. The sarcoglycan sub-complex stabilizes the sarcolemma during muscle activity and plays a role in force transduction. This protein system is also expressed in the muscle of non-human primates such as chimpanzees and baboons, and its expression changes depending on social ranking. In fact, previous data have shown that all muscle fibers of masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles of chimpanzees and high- ranking baboons always express sarcoglycans, while middle- and low-ranking baboons are characterized by fibers that are negative for the sarcoglycan sub-complex. Given this information, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the expression of other proteins such as laminin, beta dystroglycan and dystrophin in the sternocleidomastoid muscle of high- and low-ranking baboons. The samples were processed by immunohistochemistry; results show that in high-ranking baboons, all tested proteins were always expressed while in low-ranking baboons, fibers that were negative for sarcoglycans and beta dystroglycan have been observed. No negative fibers for laminin and dystrophin have been found in low-ranking baboons suggesting that only the transmembrane proteins of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex change in their expression and that could be correlated to a phylogenetic arrangement.
3D Dynamic Spatiotemporal Atlas of the Vocal Tract during Consonant–Vowel Production from 2D Real Time MRI
Authors: Douros Ioannis K. , Xie Yu , Dourou Chrysanthi , Isaieva Karyna , Vuissoz Pierre-André , Felblinger Jacques , Laprie Yves
Published: August 2022

In this work, we address the problem of creating a 3D dynamic atlas of the vocal tract that captures the dynamics of the articulators in all three dimensions in order to create a global speaker model independent of speaker-specific characteristics. The core steps of the proposed method are the temporal alignment of the real-time MR images acquired in several sagittal planes and their combination with adaptive kernel regression. As a preprocessing step, a reference space was created to be used in order to remove anatomical information of the speakers and keep only the variability in speech production for the construction of the atlas. The adaptive kernel regression makes the choice of atlas time points independently of the time points of the frames that are used as an input for the construction. The evaluation of this atlas construction method was made by mapping two new speakers to the atlas and by checking how similar the resulting mapped images are. The use of the atlas helps in reducing subject variability. The results show that the use of the proposed atlas can capture the dynamic behavior of the articulators and is able to generalize the speech production process by creating a universal-speaker reference space.
Investigation of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Two Manta Rays Tandem Gliding
Authors: Ma Yunlong , Huang Qiaogao , Pan Guang , Gao Pengcheng
Published: August 2022

Collective motion is a unique biological habit of manta rays. As the most basic unit, the hydrodynamic mechanism of tandem gliding deserves further study. In this paper, a numerical simulation method was used to explore the influence of the front-to-back distance and the angle of attack on the overall and individual hydrodynamic performance of a pair of manta rays gliding. Specifically, a numerical simulation of the hydrodynamic parameters and the distribution of pressure and velocity fields was carried out when the pair of manta rays were arranged at a distance of 0.25–1 times the body length and the angle of attack was −8° to 8°. The simulation results show that, when a pair of manta rays glide at close range, compared to a single manta ray gliding, the resistance of the leader is greatly reduced, and the lift changes little, while the resistance of the follower is greatly increased, and the lift is significantly reduced. For the average resistance of the system, in the specific scenario of a close range and a small negative degree angle of attack, the two manta rays’ tandem gliding system can significantly reduce the resistance and play a role in reducing resistance and saving energy. The research content of this paper provides a theoretical basis for understanding the biological habits of manta rays and designing an underwater bionic robot group system.
A Hybrid Dynamic Method for Conflict-Free Integrated Schedule Optimization in U-Shaped Automated Container Terminals
Authors: Xu Bowei , Jie Depei , Li Junjun , Zhou Yunfeng , Wang Hailing , Fan Huiyao
Published: August 2022

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in the U-shaped automated container terminal travel longer and more complex paths. The conflicts among AGVs are trickier. The scheduling strategy of the traditional automated container terminal is difficult to be applied to the U-shaped automated container terminal. In order to minimize the handling time of all tasks and avoid AGV conflicts simultaneously in the U-shaped automated container terminal, this paper establishes a hybrid programming model for conflict-free integrated scheduling of quay cranes, AGVs, and double-cantilever rail cranes in the unloading process. It consists of a discrete event dynamic model and a continuous time dynamic model. An improved genetic seagull optimization algorithm (GSOA) is designed. A series of numerical experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness and the efficiency of the model and the algorithm. The results show that the proposed method can simultaneously realize the AGVs collision avoidance and multi-equipment integrated scheduling optimization in the U-shaped automated container terminal.
Numerical Research of the Pressure Fluctuation of the Bow of the Submarine at Different Velocities
Authors: He Xing , Huang Qiaogao , Sun Guocang , Wang Xihui
Published: August 2022

A numerical analysis based on stress-blended eddy simulation was conducted to investigate the pressure fluctuation of the bow of a submarine at various velocities (5.93 kn, 10 kn, and 12 kn). The simulation results were compared with the experimental data to demonstrate the validity of the numerical method. Self-power spectrum and wave-number frequency spectrum were discussed from the perspective of energy. The results show that with increasing submarine velocity, the pressure fluctuation in the axial direction increases, the transition point moves forward, and the frequency of the Tollmien–Schlichting wave raises.
Experimental Investigation on the Mechanism of Longshore Sediment Transport Using a Circular Wave Basin
Authors: Islam Mohammad Shaiful , Akita Naoki , Nakamura Tomoaki , Cho Yong-Hwan , Mizutani Norimi
Published: August 2022

In this paper, a hydraulic model experiment was conducted to investigate the mechanism of longshore sediment transport on a sloping beach of 1:7 using a circular wave tank equipped with a spiral wave maker. The experimental results revealed that cross-shore sediment transport was predominant up to the formation of equilibrium cross-section. Then the longshore sediment transport was actively dominant near the bar after the development of equilibrium topography. The wave-breaking positions and the characteristics of sand displacement in the vicinity of the wave-breaking zone were observed throughout the installation of fluorescent sands in different cross-sections under several wave conditions on the same terrain to presume the coastal erosion. From the outcomes, it was confirmed that the gradient of the average water level due to the obliquely incident waves breaking and the differences in breaking positions along the shoreline accelerated the generation of longshore currents and longshore sediment transport in the sloping beach profile. Moreover, the actively longshore sediment transport tendency throughout the breaking waves and the longshore current had been confirmed in this study where the gradually increasing wave heights influenced the stronger degree of wave breaking on the sloping beach, which enhanced the sediment transport procedure to deform the beach profile.
Classification of Electrical Power Disturbances on Hybrid-Electric Ferries Using Wavelet Transform and Neural Network
Authors: Cuculić Aleksandar , Draščić Luka , Panić Ivan , Ćelić Jasmin
Published: August 2022

Electrical power systems on hybrid-electric ferries are characterized by the intensive use of power electronics and a complex usage profile with the often-limited power of battery storage. It is extremely important to detect faults in a timely manner, which can lead to system malfunctions that can directly affect the safety and economic performance of the vessel. In this paper, a power disturbance classification method for hybrid-electric ferries is developed based on a wavelet transform and a neural network classifier. For each of the observed power disturbance categories, 200 signals were artificially generated. A discrete wavelet transform was applied to these signals, allowing different time-frequency resolutions to be used for different frequencies. Three statistical parameters are calculated for each coefficient: Standard deviation, entropy and asymmetry of the signal, providing a total of 18 variables for a signal. A neural network with 18 input neurons, 3 hidden neurons, and 6 output neurons was used to detect the aforementioned perturbations. The classification models with different wavelets were analyzed based on accuracy, confusion matrices, and other parameters. The analysis showed that the proposed model can be successfully used for the detection and classification of disturbances in the considered vessels, which allows the implementation of better and more efficient algorithms for energy management.
Real-World Testing of a Machine Learning–Derived Visual Scale for Tc99m TRODAT-1 for Diagnosing Lewy Body Disease: Comparison with a Traditional Approach Using Semiquantification
Authors: Chiu Pai-Yi , Hou Po-Nien , Hung Guang-Uei , Hsieh Te-Chun , Chan Pak-Ki , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: August 2022

Objectives: Abnormal dopamine transporter (DAT) uptake is an important biomarker for diagnosing Lewy body disease (LBD), including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We evaluated a machine learning-derived visual scale (ML-VS) for Tc99m TRODAT-1 from one center and compared it with the striatal/background ratio (SBR) using semiquantification for diagnosing LBD in two other centers. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data from a history-based computerized dementia diagnostic system. MT-VS and SBR among normal controls (NCs) and patients with PD, PD with dementia (PDD), DLB, or Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were compared. Results: We included 715 individuals, including 122 NCs, 286 patients with PD, 40 with AD, 179 with DLB, and 88 with PDD. Compared with NCs, patients with PD exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal DAT uptake using all methods. Compared with the AD group, PDD and DLB groups exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal DAT uptake using all methods. The distribution of ML-VS was significantly different between PD and NC, DLB and AD, and PDD and AD groups (all p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient of ML-VS/SBR in all participants was 0.679. Conclusions: The ML-VS designed in one center is useful for differentiating PD from NC, DLB from AD, and PDD from AD in other centers. Its correlation with traditional approaches using different scanning machines is also acceptable. Future studies should develop models using data pools from multiple centers for increasing diagnostic accuracy.
Is Radiomics Growing towards Clinical Practice?
Authors: Aiello Marco
Published: August 2022

A recent article [...]
A Nomogram Based on Preoperative Lipiodol Deposition after Sequential Retreatment with Transarterial Chemoembolization to Predict Prognoses for Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Niu Xiang-Ke , He Xiao-Feng
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is the mainstay treatment for patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, BCLC B-stage patients treated with cTACE represent a prognostically heterogeneous population. We aim to develop and validate a lipiodol-deposition-based nomogram for predicting the long-term survival of BCLC B-stage HCC patients after sequential cTACE. (2) Methods: In this retrospective study, 229 intermediate-stage HCC patients from two hospitals were separately allocated to a training cohort (n = 142) and a validation cohort (n = 87); these patients underwent repeated TACE (≥4 TACE sessions) between May 2010 and May 2017. Lipiodol deposition was assessed by semiautomatic volumetric measurement with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) before cTACE and was characterized by two ordinal levels: ≤50% (low) and >50% (high). A clinical lipiodol deposition nomogram was constructed based on independent risk factors identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and the optimal cutoff points were obtained. Prediction models were assessed by time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. (3) Results: The median number of TACE sessions was five (range, 4–7) in both cohorts. Before the TACE-3 sessions, the newly constructed nomogram based on lipiodol deposition achieved desirable diagnostic performance in the training and validation cohorts with AUCs of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.69–0.74) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.68–0.73), respectively, and demonstrated higher predictive ability compared with previously published prognostic models (all p < 0.05). The prognostic nomogram obtained good clinical usefulness in predicting the patient outcomes after TACE. (4) Conclusions: Based on each pre-TACE lipiodol deposition, two sessions are recommended before abandoning cTACE or combining treatment for patients with intermediate-stage HCC. Furthermore, the nomogram based on pre-TACE-3 lipiodol deposition can be used to predict the prognoses of patients with BCLC B-stage HCC.
Ultrathin Struts Drug-Eluting Stents: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Leone Attilio , Simonetti Fiorenzo , Avvedimento Marisa , Angellotti Domenico , Immobile Molaro Maddalena , Franzone Anna , Esposito Giovanni , Piccolo Raffaele
Published: August 2022

New-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) represent the standard of care for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent iterations in DES technology have led to the development of newer stent platforms with a further reduction in strut thickness. This new DES class, known as ultrathin struts DESs, has struts thinner than 70 µm. The evidence base for these devices consists of observational data, large-scale meta-analyses, and randomized trials with long-term follow-up, which have been conducted to investigate the difference between ultrathin struts DESs and conventional new-generation DESs in a variety of clinical settings and lesion subsets. Ultrathin struts DESs may further improve the efficacy and safety profile of PCI by reducing the risk of target-lesion and target-vessel failures in comparison to new-generation DESs. In this article, we reviewed device characteristics and clinical data of the Orsiro (Biotronik, Bülach, Switzerland), Coroflex ISAR (B. Braun Melsungen, Germany), BioMime (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat, India), MiStent (MiCell Technologies, USA), and Supraflex (Sahajanand Medical Technologies, Surat, India) sirolimus-eluting stents.
“Empirical Corporate Finance: Opportunities and Challenges”—Editorial Synthesis of the Special Issue
Authors: Sinnadurai Philip
Published: August 2022

This concept paper synthesises the special issue with an integrated discussion of all four papers published therein, from the viewpoint of the theme of this special issue: opportunities and challenges for future empirical research in corporate finance. The four papers highlight that future empirical research faces the challenge of acknowledging fundamental paradigms in the literature. These include analytical models of capital structure, agency theory, the literature on Initial Public Offering anomalies and earnings valuation. An opportunity for future empirical research is to use these foundations to contribute to emerging paradigms. The latter include the empirical evidence of the shareholder wealth effects of government investment, managerial overinvestment and the acknowledgement of unlisted entities within capital markets research.
The Impact of Organizational Culture on the Effectiveness of Corporate Governance to Control Earnings Management
Authors: Jarne-Jarne José Ignacio , Callao-Gastón Susana , Marco-Fondevila Miguel , Llena-Macarulla Fernando
Published: August 2022

The relationship between culture, earnings management and corporate governance has been studied in different ways, but the influence that culture has over the actual effectiveness of corporate governance to control earnings management has not, even though it should be a determinant factor to define successful governance schemes. Using Hofstede four organizational models as a framework, in this paper, we analyze a sample of companies listed in 16 different stock markets in terms of organizational culture, assessing their governance standards and performance in relation to earnings management, and measuring their actual effectiveness. The results confirm that earnings management is conditioned by organizational culture and that corporate governance acts as a brake on earnings management, regardless of the cultural field in which it is analyzed. However, its effectiveness depends on organizational culture, mostly on the uncertainty avoidance and the power distance. Therefore, modelling a country based on its organizational culture does limit the success of corporate governance policies and standards. This study brings in a new perspective for policy makers and practitioners to design and enforce their corporate governance policies targeting earnings management, according to the prevailing culture. The previous literature on the subject is complemented and enriched by this significant contribution, through which limitations in terms of the number of countries studied could be overcome by further studies addressing specific regions or sectors.
External Benefits of Irrigation in Mountain Areas: Stakeholder Perceptions and Water Policy Implications
Authors: Novelli Silvia , Moino Francesca , Borsotto Patrizia
Published: August 2022

Irrigation contributes to land and ecosystem degradation, especially in intensive farming areas. However, in marginal areas, long-established irrigation systems also supply agroecosystem services. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the external benefits provided by irrigation in extensive grazing farms in an Italian alpine region (Aosta Valley, NW Italy). Three local stakeholder groups (land irrigation consortia members, non-farmer users of the irrigation water service, and non-user citizens) engaged in focus group discussions. The transcriptions were analyzed with an integrated subjective and computer-assisted approach. The main result of the study showed that a convergence of stakeholder opinions led to prioritization of the same four benefits, i.e., hydro-geological and land maintenance, traditional agricultural landscape conservation, biodiversity conservation, and leisure recreational activities provision. Incorporating this information into decision-making processes is relevant in marginal mountain areas, especially in light of the implementation of the water pricing policy laid down in the EU Water Framework Directive. To this end, the economic value of the external benefits should be considered along with the recovery costs for water services. Such information is essential to balance the environmental costs of irrigation and to compare the resource cost of alternative water uses.