bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Sex and Obesity on the Gene Expression of Lipid Flippases in Adipose Tissue
Authors: Motahari-Rad Hanieh , Subiri Alba , Soler Rocio , Ocaña Luis , Alcaide Juan , Rodríguez-Capitan Jorge , Buil Veronica , Azzouzi Hamid el , Ortega-Gomez Almudena , Bernal-Lopez Rosa , Insenser Maria , Tinahones Francisco J. , Murri Mora
Published: July 2022

Molecular mechanisms behind obesity and sex-related effects in adipose tissue remain elusive. During adipocyte expansion, adipocytes undergo drastic remodelling of lipid membrane compositions. Lipid flippases catalyse phospholipid translocation from exoplasmic to the cytoplasmic leaflet of membranes. The present study aimed to analyse the effect of sex, obesity, and their interactions on the gene expression of two lipid flippases—ATP8A1 and ATP8B1—and their possible microRNA (miR) modulators in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). In total, 12 normal-weight subjects (5 premenopausal women and 7 men) and 13 morbidly obese patients (7 premenopausal women and 6 men) were submitted to surgery, and VAT samples were obtained. Gene expression levels of ATP8A1, ATP8B1, miR-548b-5p, and miR-4643 were measured in VAT. Our results showed a marked influence of obesity on VAT ATP8A1 and ATP8B1, although the effects of obesity were stronger in men for ATP8A1. Both genes positively correlated with obesity and metabolic markers. Furthermore, ATP8B1 was positively associated with miR-548b-5p and negatively associated with miR-4643. Both miRs were also affected by sex. Thus, lipid flippases are altered by obesity in VAT in a sex-specific manner. Our study provides a better understanding of the sex-specific molecular mechanisms underlying obesity, which may contribute to the development of sex-based precision medicine.
Does It Really Pay-Off? Comparison of Lymphadenectomy versus Observational Approach in Skin Melanoma with Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Richter Karolina , Stefura Tomasz , Macheta Krzysztof , Tempski Jonasz , Kazoń Jakub , Szeremeta Magdalena , Klimont Paweł , Kołodziej-Rzepa Marta , Wojewoda Tomasz , Wysocki Wojciech M.
Published: July 2022

The aim of this meta-analysis was to answer the question as to whether performing CLND (complete lymph node dissection) is necessary in every case of the melanoma patient after the positive SNB (sentinel node biopsy). To resolve doubts the authors reanalyzed previous articles and systematized the knowledge about the concerning medical problem. The databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were screened to find articles that will be helpful to answer the controversial question if performing lymphadenectomy is crucial. The inclusion criteria consisted of randomized clinical trials, comparison of lymphadenectomy versus observation and positive sentinel node biopsy. After which, seven articles were examined. Authors analyzed parameters such as: recurrence, 3-year survival and 5-year survival. There was no relationship between the performance of CLND and melanoma recurrence (OR 1.04; 95% CI: 0.82–1.31; p = 0.75). However, no CLND group had higher 3-year survival (OR 1.22; 95% CI: 1.03–1.44; p = 0.02) and 5-year survival (OR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.19–1.85; p = 0.008). In conclusion, the observational approach to the melanoma patients with positive sentinel node biopsy is associated with comparable or slightly improved 3- and 5-year survival, then in case of routine lymphadenectomy. Although, in each melanoma patient a decision to perform or withhold lymphadenectomy should always be considered individually. Patients with low perioperative risk could be considered for surgical approach. The study was registered in PROSPERO and was assigned with the unique identifying number “CRD42021241272”.
Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Is a Potent Risk Factor for the Development of HFpEF but Not HFrEF: Results of a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ovchinnikov Artem , Belyavskiy Evgeny , Potekhina Alexandra , Ageev Fail
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: The structural and functional features of the natural history of asymptomatic hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are not clearly defined. (2) Objective: To determine structural and functional changes in asymptomatic hypertensive LVH, as well as the incidence and predictors of the transition to different phenotypes of heart failure (HF) after a long-term follow-up. (3) Methods: Based on the assessment of chart reviews, we retrospectively selected 350 asymptomatic patients with hypertensive concentric LVH and LV ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50%. After a median follow-up of 8.1 years, 223 patients had a re-assessment. The final diagnosis (HF with reduced EF [HFrEF], or HF with preserved EF [HFpEF]) was established according to current recommendations. (4) Results: After a follow-up, only 13% of patients remained asymptomatic, 72% developed HFpEF, and 15% developed HFrEF. The transition to HFpEF was associated with an increase in LV diastolic dysfunction grade in 62% of patients. Multivariable analysis identified age, duration of hypertension, interval changes in LV mass, and a lack of statin treatment as independent predictors of HFpEF. Among 34 patients who developed HFrEF, 16 patients (7% of the whole group) had no interval myocardial infarction, corresponding to an internal mechanism of systolic dysfunction. All these 16 patients had mild systolic dysfunction (LVEF > 40%). Baseline LVEF and LV end-diastolic dimension, and interval atrial fibrillation were identified as predictors of internal HFrEF. (5) Conclusions: The majority of patients with asymptomatic LVH developed HFpEF after long-term follow-up, which was associated with the deterioration of LV diastolic dysfunction and a lack of statin treatment. In contrast, the transition to HFrEF was infrequent and characterized by mild LV systolic dysfunction.
Oncological Benefit versus Cardiovascular Risk in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Modern Radiotherapy
Authors: Acevedo Francisco , Ip Teresa , Orellana María , Martínez Gonzalo , Gabrielli Luigi , Andia Marcelo , Besa Cecilia , Pinto Mauricio P. , Sánchez Cesar , Merino Tomas
Published: July 2022

Radiotherapy (RT) is an essential part of breast cancer (BC) treatments. Unfortunately, heart exposure to radiation can also impair the long-term survival of patients. Our study aimed to quantify the oncological benefit and the cardiovascular (CV) risk associated with modern RT in a real-world cohort of BC patients. Our descriptive study enrolled BC patients who received adjuvant RT. Ten-year overall survival (OS) was estimated using Predict® version 2.1 (National Health Service, London, UK). The basal risk of CV events was estimated using the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) CV score. Treatment volumes and mean cardiac doses were obtained from RT treatment plan records. The increased risk of CV events due to RT was estimated using a model proposed by Darby. The risk of acute myocardial infarction or stroke mortality was estimated using HeartScore® (European Society of Cardiology, Brussels, Belgium). A total of 256 BC patients were included in the study. The average age of patients was 57 years old (range: 25–91); 49.6% had left BC. The mean cardiac dose was 166 cGy (interquartile range (IQR) 94–273); the estimated hazard ratio (HR) for CV disease was HR 1.12 (confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.24). The estimated baseline 10-year CV risk was 5.6% (0.2 to 51.2); CV risk increased by 0.9% (range 0.02–35.47%) after RT. The absolute risk of 10-year mortality from CV disease was 2.5% (0.1–9); RT was associated with an estimated 4.9% survival benefit (3.73–6.07) against BC death and a 0.23% (0.17–0.29) estimated increase in CV mortality. Modern RT decreased 10-year BC mortality by 4% but increased CV mortality by 0.2% in this cohort. Our findings encourage the implementation of personalized adjuvant RT treatments that balance risks and benefits to improve long-term BC patient survival.
Does Demineralized Bone Matrix Affect the Nonunion Rate in Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis?
Authors: Schlickewei Carsten , Neumann Julie A. , Yarar-Schlickewei Sinef , Riepenhof Helge , Valderrabano Victor , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Barg Alexej
Published: July 2022

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been shown to have positive effects on union rates in many orthopedic subspecialties; however, minimal evidence exists about bone graft substitutes in foot and ankle surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare nonunion rates in arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis in patients receiving DBM with those without. We hypothesized DBM to be associated with a decreased risk of nonunion. This retrospective review includes 516 consecutive ankle arthrodesis cases from March 2002 to May 2016. Of these, 58 ankles (56 patients) that underwent primary arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis met the inclusion criteria, and 31 of these ankles received DBM, while 27 did not. Nonunion was assessed by clinical examination and routine postoperative radiographs. If nonunion was suspected, a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed. The primary outcome measure was nonunion rate. Secondary outcome measures included wound complications, return to operating room (OR), and rate of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). From the study cases, 58 were available for final follow-up. The average age was 55.9 years (±17.4), and mean follow-up was 43.0 months (range 6.3–119.4). There was no difference in nonunion rate in patients who received DBM (4/31, 12.9%) versus those who did not (4/27, 14.8%) (p = 0.83). Similarly, when comparing the two groups, there were no statistically significant differences in superficial wound complications (6.5% vs. 3.7%, p = 1.0) or rate of return to OR (29% or 0.037/person-years vs. 37% or 0.099/person-years; p = 0.20). No major complications including deep wound infections, DVTs, or PEs occurred. This is the largest study to directly compare nonunion rates and complications for patients receiving DBM versus those who did not in primary arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. No significant association was found between DBM usage and risk of nonunion, wound complications, return to OR, or postoperative DVT or PE development.
Management of Oral Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Therapy in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke with and without Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Pezzella Francesca Romana , Mangiardi Marilena , Ferrante Mario , Fabiano Sebastiano , Anticoli Sabrina , Pennacchi Fabrizio Giorgio , Urso Antonella , De Luca Leonardo , Caso Valeria
Published: July 2022

The association between atrial fibrillation (AF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and stroke is a complex scenario in which the assessment of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk is necessary for scheduling an individually tailored therapeutic plan. Recent clinical trials investigating new antithrombotic drugs and dual and triple pathways in high-risk cardiovascular patients have revealed a new therapeutic scenario. In this paper, we review the burden of ischemic stroke (IS) in patients post-myocardial infarction with and without atrial fibrillation and the possible therapeutic strategies from a stroke point of view.
The Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin I in Patients with or without Three-Vessel Disease Undergoing Complete Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Li Zhi-Fan , Zhang Shuang , Shi Hui-Wei , Zhang Wen-Jia , Sui Yong-Gang , Li Jian-Jun , Dou Ke-Fei , Qian Jie , Wu Na-Qiong
Published: July 2022

Postprocedural cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation commonly occurs in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, its prognostic value remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of peak postprocedural cTnI in cardiac patients with or without three-vessel disease (TVD) undergoing complete PCI. A total of 1237 consecutive patients (77% males, mean age 58 ± 10 years) with normal baseline cTnI levels were enrolled, 439 patients (77% males, 59 ± 10 years) with TVD, and 798 patients (77% males, 57 ± 10 years) with single- or double-vessel disease (non-TVD). The primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke, unplanned revascularization, re-hospitalization due to heart failure or severe arrhythmias, and all-cause death. During the median follow-up of 5.3 years, a total of 169 patients (13.7%) developed MACE, including 73 (16.6%) in the TVD group and 96 (12.0%) in the non-TVD group (p = 0.024). After adjustment, the multivariate Cox analysis showed that hypertension (HR 1.50; 95% CI: 1.01–2.20; p = 0.042), TVD (HR 1.44; 95% CI: 1.03–2.02; p = 0.033), and cTnI ≥ 70× URL (HR 2.47; 95% CI: 1.28–4.78, p = 0.007) were independently associated with increased MACE during long-term follow-up. Further subgroup analyses showed that cTnI ≥ 70× URL was an independent predictor of MACE in TVD patients (HR 3.32, 95% CI: 1.51–7.34, p = 0.003), but not in non-TVD patients (HR 1.01, 95%CI: 0.24–4.32, p = 0.991). In conclusion, elevation of post-PCI cTnI ≥ 70× URL is independently associated with a high risk of MACE during long-term follow-up in patients with TVD, but not in those with non-TVD.
Moderating Effect of the Lean Tissue Index on the Relationship between the Trabecular Bone Score and Augmentation Index in Dialysis Naïve Patients with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Han Byoung-Geun , Pak Daewoo , Lee Jun Young , Kim Jae-Seok , Yang Jae-Won , Kwon Ki-Youn
Published: July 2022

Osteopenia, sarcopenia, and increased vascular stiffness are common in patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) with protein energy wasting and can lead to worse clinical outcomes. We investigated the potential moderating role of the lean tissue index (LTI) in the relationship between bone microarchitecture and vascular stiffness in dialysis naïve patients with stage 5 CKD. Bioimpedance spectroscopy for evaluating LTI, lumbar spine dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for determining the trabecular bone score (TBS), and arterial applanation tonometry measurements for the central augmentation index, at a heart rate of 75 beats/minute (cAIx75), were simultaneously performed in 117 consecutive patients. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to assess the moderating effect of LTI on the relationship between TBS and cAIx75 after adjusting for age and sex. The effect of the interaction between LTI and TBS on cAIx75 was statistically significant (p = 0.030), demonstrating that the cAIx75 tends to decrease more, with the joint effect of LTI and TBS. In the separate analyses, the interaction effect was significant only in women (p = 0.048) and the group of diabetes (p = 0.042). Our study suggests that the evaluation of changes in body composition, bone health, and vascular stiffness needs to be performed simultaneously in patients with advanced-stage CKD. Further research in patients with different stages of CKD warranted to generalize and apply our results to patients in other stages.
Computational Study of Non-Porous Auxetic Plates with Diamond Shape Inclusions
Authors: Afshar Arash , Rezvanpour Hamed
Published: July 2022

Creating non-porous structures that offer auxetic behavior can have a variety of industrial applications, especially when the porosity impairs the functionality of the auxetic structures. This study presents the design and finite element analysis of architected bi-material auxetic plates consisting of repeating unit cells that comprise rigid rotary units and soft inclusions. The change in the design parameters of unit cells produces a variety of mechanical properties, such as different levels of Poisson’s ratio and stiffness for the architected plates that can result in specific static or dynamic responses. The natural frequencies and deflection under uniform lateral loading of the architected plates with clamped boundary conditions were investigated. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the homogenization technique based on the mechanical properties obtained from finite element analysis in predicting the dynamic and static response of the architected plate was also studied.
Static and Vibration Analyses of a Composite CFRP Robot Manipulator
Authors: Khozeimeh Mohammad Amir , Fotouhi Reza , Moazed Reza
Published: July 2022

This paper reports analyses of a 5-degrees-of-freedom (5-DOF) carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) robot manipulator, which has been developed for farm applications. The manipulator was made of aluminum alloy (AA) and steel materials. However, to check the effectiveness of CFRP materials on the static and free-vibration performance of the manipulator, the AA parts were replaced with CFRP. For this purpose, the effects of various cross-sections and layups on three design criteria—deflection, load-carrying capacity, and natural frequency—were investigated. Two types of thin-walled laminated sections, specifically the I section and rectangular tubular sections, were used for the composite parts. These parts were made from three hollow square section (“SSS” section) beams and three I section (“III” section) beams. These multi-cell beams were modeled using the finite element (FE) method. Three configurations were selected for analysis based on the manipulator’s most common operating conditions. The results indicated that the use of CFRP increased the manipulator’s natural frequencies, increased the load-carrying capacity, and decreased the manipulator’s tip deflection when compared with its AA counterpart. An analysis showed that using CFRP in the manipulator’s structure could improve static and vibrational performances. It was observed that the “SSS” section beams were 1.17 times stiffer, could carry a 1.20 times higher load, and were 1.40 times heavier than the “III” section beams. Also, decreasing the fiber direction in angle-ply layups from 90° to 0° and adding 0° plies, while keeping the total number of layers constant, decreased the manipulator’s tip deflection and increased its natural frequencies.
Exploring Automated Classification Approaches to Advance the Assessment of Collaborative Problem Solving Skills
Authors: Andrews-Todd Jessica , Steinberg Jonathan , Flor Michael , Forsyth Carolyn M.
Published: July 2022

Competency in skills associated with collaborative problem solving (CPS) is critical for many contexts, including school, the workplace, and the military. Innovative approaches for assessing individuals’ CPS competency are necessary, as traditional assessment types such as multiple -choice items are not well suited for such a process-oriented competency. In a move to computer-based environments to support CPS assessment, innovative computational approaches are also needed to understand individuals’ CPS behaviors. In the current study, we describe the use of a simulation-based task on electronics concepts as an environment for higher education students to display evidence of their CPS competency. We further describe computational linguistic methods for automatically characterizing students’ display of various CPS skills in the task. Comparisons between such an automated approach and an approach based on human annotation to characterize student CPS behaviors revealed above average agreement. These results give credence to the potential for automated approaches to help advance the assessment of CPS and to circumvent the time-intensive human annotation approaches that are typically used in these contexts.
Laser Additive Manufacturing of Duplex Stainless Steel via Powder Mixture
Authors: Cui Chengsong , Becker Louis , Gärtner Eric , Boes Johannes , Lentz Jonathan , Uhlenwinkel Volker , Steinbacher Matthias , Weber Sebastian , Fechte-Heinen Rainer
Published: July 2022

Laser additively manufactured duplex stainless steels contain mostly ferrite in the as-built parts due to rapid solidification of the printed layers. To achieve duplex microstructures (ferrite and austenite in roughly equal proportions) and, thus, a good combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, an austenitic stainless steel powder (X2CrNiMo17-12-2) and a super duplex stainless steel powder (X2CrNiMoN25-7-4) were mixed in different proportions and the powder mixtures were processed via PBF-LB/M (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) under various processing conditions by varying the laser power and the laser scanning speed. The optimal process parameters for dense as-built parts were determined by means of light optical microscopy and density measurements. The austenitic and ferritic phase formation of the mixed alloys was significantly influenced by the chemical composition adjusted by powder mixing and the laser energy input during PBF-LB/M. The austenite content increases, on the one hand, with an increasing proportion of X2CrNiMo17-12-2 in the powder mixtures and on the other hand with increasing laser energy input. The latter phenomenon could be attributed to a slower solidification and a higher melt pool homogeneity with increasing energy input influencing the phase formation during solidification and cooling. The desired duplex microstructures could be achieved by mixing the X2CrNiMo17-12-2 powder and the X2CrNiMoN25-7-4 powder at a specific mixing ratio and building with the optimal PBF-LB/M parameters.
Correction: Payo et al. Geometrical Analysis of the Inland Topography to Assess the Likely Response of Wave-Dominated Coastline to Sea Level: Application to Great Britain. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8, 866
Authors: Payo Andres , Williams Chris , Vernon Rowan , Hulbert Andrew G. , Lee Kathryn A. , Lee Jonathan R.
Published: July 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Functional and Structural Biological Methods for Palytoxin Detection
Authors: Carlin Michela , Pelin Marco , Ponti Cristina , Sosa Silvio , Tubaro Aurelia
Published: July 2022

Palytoxin (PLTX) and its analogues are marine polyethers identified in Palythoa and Zoanthus corals, Ostreopsis dinoflagellates, and Trichodesmium cyanobacteria. Humans can be exposed to these toxins by different routes with a series of adverse effects but the most severe risk is associated with poisonings by the consumption of edible marine organisms accumulating these toxins, as occurs in (sub)-tropical areas. In temperate areas, adverse effects ascribed to PLTXs have been recorded after inhalation of marine aerosols and/or cutaneous contact with seawater during Ostreopsis blooms, as well as during cleaning procedures of Palythoa-containing home aquaria. Besides instrumental analytical methods, in the last years a series of alternative or complementary methods based on biological/biochemical tools have been developed for the rapid and specific PLTX detection required for risk assessment. These methods are usually sensitive, cost- and time-effective, and do not require highly specialized operators. Among them, structural immunoassays and functional cell-based assays are reviewed. The availability of specific anti-PLTX antibodies allowed the development of different sensitive structural assays, suitable for its detection also in complex matrices, such as mussels. In addition, knowing the mechanism of PLTX action, a series of functional identification methods has been developed. Despite some of them being limited by matrix effects and specificity issues, biological methods for PLTX detection represent a feasible tool, suitable for rapid screening.
Modelling of Chloride Concentration Profiles in Concrete by the Consideration of Concrete Material Factors under Marine Tidal Environment
Authors: Ju Xueli , Wu Linjian , Liu Mingwei , Jiang Han , Zhang Wenxiao
Published: July 2022

The corrosion of reinforcement induced by chloride ions is one of the most significant causes of durability deterioration for reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The concrete material factors, including the water-to-cement ratio (w/c) of concrete, as well as the content, shape, particle grading, and random distribution of coarse aggregate embedded in mortar, have a marked effect on chloride transport performance within concrete. However, comprehensive consideration for the effects of both w/c and coarse aggregate performances on chloride diffusion characteristics in concrete is scarce, especially regarding the chloride diffusion model of concrete. In this paper, an indoor exposure experiment exploring chloride ions intruding into mortar and concrete specimens with w/c = 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 was carried out, in order to acquire the chloride diffusion parameters for concrete three-phases composites. Based on the numerical algorithm of random generation and placement of two-dimensional random convex polygon coarse aggregate, mesoscopic numerical models for concrete, considering various coarse aggregate contents as well as grading, were established. Using the numerical simulation method of finite element analysis for chloride transport in cement-based materials, which can replace some of the exposure tests, the influences of w/c, coarse aggregate content and grading on chloride diffusion performance in concrete mesoscopic models were systematically probed. According to the Fick’s second law, a chloride diffusion model by the consideration of w/c, volume fraction of coarse aggregate (VFCA), and maximum size of coarse aggregate (MSCA) was developed to assess the chloride concentration profiles in concrete under arbitrary w/c, coarse aggregate content, and coarse aggregate grading conditions. Certainly, the precision accuracy for this proposed chloride diffusion model was validated. The research results can provide theoretical support for chloride erosion behavior and structural durability assessment of concrete with different mix proportions.
An Evaluation of the Coordinated Development of Coastal Zone Systems: A Case Study of China’s Yellow Sea Coast
Authors: Fang Jian , Xu Min , Liu Baiqiao , Chen Zhou
Published: July 2022

The coastal zone is an area of transition between land and sea, containing rich resources, and it is an important spatial unit where humans engage in production and livelihood. However, in the process of benefiting from the coastal zone, people have neglected the coordinated development of the ecological environment, the economy, and society. To investigate the coordinated development mechanisms of coastal zone systems influenced by human activities, the DEMATEL (Decision making trial and evaluation laboratory) model was applied to identify the key factors influencing a complex coastal zone system. The results were used to construct an indicator system to evaluate the developmental stages of three coastal zone subsystems (ecological environment (EE), society (SOC), and economy (ECO)). The developmental levels of these subsystems over the past ten years were evaluated in five cities along the Yellow Sea coast of China, and the degrees of coupling and coordination among the subsystems were calculated using the coupling coordination degree model. The results showed that during the past decade, the developmental levels of the EE, SOC, and ECO subsystems increased in all five coastal regions, except for Yancheng, where there was a small decrease in the EE level; the coupling degrees of all five regions were high, and the interactions between the EE, SOC, and ECO were very close; the coordination degree was relatively poor. The mean values of Qingdao and Nantong were at an ‘Intermediate coordination level’, and the other three cities were at the ‘Primary coordination’ or ‘Barely coordination level’. Three types of interactions between the subsystems emerged: (1) three subsystems have benign interactions and collaboration with each other; (2) the EE, SOC, and ECO compete with each other and have fluctuating upward development; (3) there is a focus on development in the SOC and ECO, and there is a neglect of environmental protection. Based on the development trends of the subsystems and the coupling and coordination laws, some suggestions were proposed.
Optimisation Methodology for Skimmer Device Selection for Removal of the Marine Oil Pollution
Authors: Đorđević Marko , Šabalja Đani , Mohović Đani , Brčić David
Published: July 2022

This paper emphasised the importance of proper handling and selection of specialised skimmer equipment for accidental pollution with oils. The research was motivated by the lack of similar papers that offer an extensive and recent literature analysis related to the use of skimmers, with the ultimate aim to present the methodology for proper selection of appropriate pollution equipment. Knowledge on the equipment characteristics such as capacity, selectivity, speed, and pump power of the skimmer is essential for efficient and fast collection of spills. The study aimed to calculate the oil collection rate of an individual skimmer device with different pumps. The classification of skimmers, pumps, and collecting tanks was made according to their main features. The results showed the correlation between pump capacity and the skimmers. Due to the complexity of mechanical equipment and various devices, it was crucial to identify and connect the skimmer with the proper pump. For these reasons, the authors proposed a model which determines the optimal combination for thirteen skimmers and eleven pumps. The model can help shorten the time of collecting oil from the sea surface and provide a more efficient and smoother response in the events of accidental marine pollution.
Ship’s Wake on a Finite Water Depth in the Presence of a Shear Flow
Authors: Shugan Igor , Chen Yang-Yih
Published: July 2022

The ship’s wake in the presence of a shear flow of constant vorticity at a finite water depth is investigated by expanding the Whitham-Lighthill kinematic theory. It has been established that the structure of a wave ship wake radically depends on Froude number Fr (in terms of water depth) and especially on the critical Froude number Frcr, which depends on the magnitude and direction of the shear flow. At its subcritical values FrFrcr only divergent waves are presented inside the wake region. Critical Froude number Frcr is variable and mostly depends on collinear with the ship path component of the shear flow: it decreases with the unidirectional shear flow and increases on the counter shear current. The wedge angle of the ship wake expands with an increase in the unidirectional shear flow and narrows in the oncoming flow in the subcritical mode of the ship’s motion FrFrcr and only divergent waves with the crests almost collinear with ship path are finally presented in the narrow ship wake. For a critical value of the Froude number Fr=Frcr, the ship’s wake has a total wedge angle of 180° with waves directed parallel to the ship’s motion. The presence of a shear flow crossing the path of the ship gives a strong asymmetry to the wake. An increase in the perpendicular shear flow leads to an increase in the difference between the angles of the wake arms.
CRISPR-Cas9 Approach Constructed Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the Deletion of GPD2, FPS1, and ADH2 to Enhance the Production of Ethanol
Authors: Yang Peizhou , Jiang Shuying , Jiang Suwei , Lu Shuhua , Zheng Zhi , Chen Jianchao , Wu Wenjing , Jiang Shaotong
Published: July 2022

Bioethanol plays an important value in renewable liquid fuel. The excessive accumulation of glycerol and organic acids caused the decrease of ethanol content in the process of industrial ethanol production. In this study, the CRISPR-Cas9 approach was used to construct S. cerevisiae engineering strains by the deletion of GPD2, FPS1, and ADH2 for the improvement of ethanol production. RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis were used to investigate the effect of gene deletion on gene expression. The results indicated that engineered S. cerevisiae SCGFA by the simultaneous deletion of GPD2, FPS1, and ADH2 produced 23.1 g/L ethanol, which increased by 0.18% in comparison with the wild-type strain with 50 g/L of glucose as substrate. SCGFA strain exhibited the ethanol conversion rate of 0.462 g per g of glucose. In addition, the contents of glycerol, lactic acid, acetic acid, and succinic acid in SCGFA decreased by 22.7, 12.7, 8.1, 19.9, and 20.7% compared with the wild-type strain, respectively. The up-regulated gene enrichment showed glycolysis, fatty acid, and carbon metabolism could affect the ethanol production of SCGFA according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Therefore, the engineering strain SCGFA had great potential in the production of bioethanol.
Uterine Artery Embolization of Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation: A Systematic Review of Success Rate, Complications, and Posterior Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Ruiz Labarta Francisco Javier , Pintado Recarte María Pilar , González Leyte Manuel , Arribas Coral Bravo , Álvarez Luque Arturo , Cuñarro López Yolanda , García-Montero Cielo , Fraile-Martinez Oscar , Ortega Miguel A. , De León-Luis Juan A.
Published: July 2022

Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation (UAVM) is a rare but life-threating cause of uterine bleeding. The clinical management of this condition is challenging, and there is a need to describe the most adequate approach for these patients. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is the most widely-published treatment in the literature in recent years, although there is a need to update the evidence on this treatment and to compare it with other available therapies. Thus, the objective of this systematic review is to quantify the efficacy of UAE of UAVM. In addition, we evaluated the clinical context of the patients included, the treatment complications, and the pregnancy outcomes after UAE. With this goal in mind, we finally included 371 patients spread over all continents who were included in 95 studies. Our results show that, similar to other medical therapies, the global success rate after embolization treatment was 88.4%, presenting a low risk of adverse outcomes (1.8%), even in women with later pregnancy (77% had no complications). To date, this is the largest systematic review conducted in this field, although there are still some points to address in future studies. The results obtained in our study should be outlined in UAE protocols and guidelines to aid in clinical decision-making in patients with UAVM.
The Impact of the Association between Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus on Mortality
Authors: Kim Sung-Soo , Kim Hun-Sung
Published: July 2022

The prevalence of cancer, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension is increasing in ageing populations. We analyzed the association of DM with cancer and its effects on cancer mortality. The data of 2009–2018 from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey were used; 169,959 adults with cancer as the main diagnosis were identified. The association rule for unsupervised machine learning was used. Association rule mining was used to analyze the association between the diseases. Logistic regression was performed to determine the effects of DM on cancer mortality. DM prevalence was 12.9%. Cancers with high DM prevalence were pancreatic (29.9%), bile duct (22.7%), liver (21.4%), gallbladder (15.5%), and lung cancers (15.4%). Cancers with high hypertension prevalence were bile duct (31.4%), ureter (30.5%), kidney (29.5%), pancreatic (28.1%), and bladder cancers (27.5%). The bidirectional association between DM and hypertension in cancer was the strongest (lift = 2.629, interest support [IS] scale = 0.426), followed by that between lung cancer and hypertension (lift = 1.280, IS scale = 0.204), liver cancer and DM (lift = 1.658, IS scale = 0.204), hypertension and liver cancer and DM (lift = 3.363, IS scale = 0.197), colorectal cancer and hypertension (lift = 1.133, IS scale = 0.180), and gastric cancer and hypertension (lift = 1.072, IS scale = 0.175). DM increased liver cancer mortality (p = 0.000), while hypertension significantly increased the mortality rate of stomach, colorectal, liver, and lung cancers. Our study confirmed the association between cancer and DM. Consequently, a patient management strategy with presumptive diagnostic ability for DM and hypertension is required to decrease cancer mortality rates.
Smart Hospitals and IoT Sensors: Why Is QoS Essential Here?
Authors: Rodrigues Vinicius Facco , Righi Rodrigo da Rosa , da Costa Cristiano André , Antunes Rodolfo Stoffel
Published: July 2022

Background: the increasing adoption of smart and wearable sensors in the healthcare domain empowers the development of cutting-edge medical applications. Smart hospitals can employ sensors and applications for critical decision-making based on real-time monitoring of patients and equipment. In this context, quality of service (QoS) is essential to ensure the reliability of application data. Methods: we developed a QoS-aware sensor middleware for healthcare 4.0 that orchestrates data from several sensors in a hybrid operating room. We deployed depth imaging sensors and real-time location tags to monitor surgeries in real-time, providing data to medical applications. Results: an experimental evaluation in an actual hybrid operating room demonstrates that the solution can reduce the jitter of sensor samples up to 90.3%. Conclusions: the main contribution of this article relies on the QoS Service Elasticity strategy that aims to provide QoS for applications. The development and installation were demonstrated to be complex, but possible to achieve.
Is Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Wounding Frequency Affected by the Presence Versus Absence of Visitors? A Multi-Institutional Study
Authors: Salak Robin Elana , Cloutier Barbour Christina
Published: July 2022

Visitor effect studies have had inconsistent results, due in part to the inability to control for all confounding variables such as time of day, seasonal weather patterns, and so forth. This study represents the first instance where chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) wounding frequencies were investigated across extensive time periods in the presence and complete absence of visitors, thus eliminating many visitor-related variables. Additional variables were eliminated through the zoo selection process, based on institutional responses to a 29-question survey, providing a novel approach to the question of visitor effects. The aim of this study was to determine if visitors were associated with a change in chimpanzee wound event frequencies across four 51-day time conditions, three of which occurred prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one during the first wave of pandemic-related zoo closures. We analyzed the archival records of 21 chimpanzees housed at three U.S. zoos. Due to the small number of wound events across all study windows, frequencies of “no wound” events were analyzed. A chi-square goodness of fit test was performed to determine whether the frequency of “no wound” events was equal between the “open” and “closed” trials. Results indicate that the frequencies did not differ, suggesting that chimpanzee welfare, as it relates to wounding, may not be adversely affected by zoo visitors.
Study on Ecological Loss in Coal Mining Area Based on Net Primary Productivity of Vegetation
Authors: Fu Shuai , Bai Zhongke , Yang Boyu , Xie Lijun
Published: July 2022

Opencast mining contributes to the severe disturbance of vegetation and serious damage to the ecological environment. Scientific assessment of the ecological losses may provide guidance for the sustainable land use in mining areas. This study uses the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model to estimate the net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation in the Pingshuo mining area from 2006 to 2020 and uses statistical analysis and mathematical models to study the impact of mining and land reclamation on NPP. The results show that NPP decreased slowly at a rate of 0.809 gC/(m2·month) per year. In 2006, the urban area of Pinglu and the opencast coal mining area were located in the western part of the study area, while the eastern part was distributed with a large amount of grassland, forested and cultivated land, and the NPP showed a high pattern in the east and low in the west. With the continued eastward movement of Antaibao and Anjialing mining areas, as well as the construction and continuous westward expansion of the East opencast mine, the pits of all three opencast mines moved to a central location in 2020, changing the spatial distribution of NPP to high in the surroundings and low in the middle. The NPP within the three opencast mines decreased significantly, but the change in NPP increased from −7.34 gC/(m2·month) to 7.15 gC/(m2·month) as the reclamation area increased, indicating that mining increased ecological losses while land reclamation mitigated them. The variation of NPP within 600 m outside the mining area is 2.06~7.45 gC/(m2·month), and 0.11~1.00 gC/(m2·month) from 600 m to 1000 m, indicating that NPP is sensitive to the influence of mining. The results may provide guidance for further analysis of the impact of mining on local environments and exploration of more appropriate land reclamation measures.
Land Management in Territorial Planning: Analysis, Appraisal, Strategies for Sustainability—A Review of Studies and Research
Authors: Battisti Fabrizio , Campo Orazio , Manganelli Benedetto
Published: July 2022

Land is increasingly becoming a precious and limited resource [...]
Multi-Decadal Assessment of Soil Loss in a Mediterranean Region Characterized by Contrasting Local Climates
Authors: Samela Caterina , Imbrenda Vito , Coluzzi Rosa , Pace Letizia , Simoniello Tiziana , Lanfredi Maria
Published: July 2022

Soil erosion is one of the most widespread soil degradation phenomena worldwide. Mediterranean landscapes, due to some peculiar characteristics, such as fragility of soils, steep slopes, and rainfall distribution during the year, are particularly subject to this phenomenon, with severe and complex issues for agricultural production and biodiversity protection. In this paper, we present a diachronic approach to the analysis of soil loss, which aims to account for climate variability and land cover dynamics by using remote data about rainfall and land cover to guarantee sufficient observational continuity. The study area (Basilicata, Southern Italy) is characterized by different local climates and ecosystems (temperate, Csa and Csb; arid steppic, Bsk; and cold, Dsb and Dsc), and is particularly suited to represent the biogeographical complexity of the Mediterranean Italy. The well-known Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was applied by integrating information from remote sensing to carry out decadal assessments (1994, 2004, 2014, and 2021) of the annual soil loss. Changes in the rainfall regime and vegetation cover activity were derived from CHIRPS and Landsat data, respectively, to obtain updated information useful for dynamical studies. For the analyzed region, soil loss shows a slight reduction (albeit always remarkable) over the whole period, and distinct spatial patterns between lowland Bsk and Mediterranean mountain Dsb and Dsc climate areas. The most alarming fact is that most of the study area showed soil erosion rates in 2021 greater than 11 t/ha*y, which is considered by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) the threshold for identifying severe erosion phenomena. A final comparison with local studies shows, on average, differences of about 5 t ha−1 y−1 (minimum 2.5 and maximum 7) with respect to the local estimates obtained with the RUSLE model. The assessment at a regional scale provided an average 9.5% of soil loss difference for the arable lands and about 10% for all cultivated areas. The spatial-temporal patterns enhance the relevance of using the cover management factor C derived from satellite data rather than land cover maps, as remote observations are able to highlight the heterogeneity in vegetation density within the same vegetation cover class, which is particularly relevant for agricultural areas. For mountain areas, the adoption of a satellite-gridded rainfall dataset allowed the detection of erosion rate fluctuations due to rainfall variability, also in the case of sparse or absent ground pluviometric stations. The use of remote data represents a precious added value to obtain a dynamic picture of the spatial-temporal variability of soil loss and new insights into the sustainability of soil use in a region whose economy is mostly based on agriculture and the exploitation of natural resources.
Sales Scale, Non-Pastoral Employment and Herders’ Technology Adoption: Evidence from Pastoral China
Authors: Huang Zhipeng , Zhang Yan , Huang Yi , Xu Gang , Shang Shengping
Published: July 2022

The adoption of livestock husbandry technologies has been an important factor affecting the welfare of herders and the efficiency of grazing-based livestock production and grassland protection in China’s pastoral areas. The small-scale herder is the main body of grassland-based grazing husbandry, and so technology adoption is particularly important, though it is currently scarce. To identify the factors influencing technology adoption behavior by Chinese herders, especially its effect on the scale of livestock sales and non-pastoral employment (NPE), we conducted a survey in the Gansu and Qinghai provinces of China with a sample of 296 herder households. The results show that the scale of livestock sale promotes the adoption of technology, while non-pastoral employment has a generally negative effect. In detail, the substitution effect of NPE is positive, but the wealth effect is negative. In addition, NPE and its wealth effect have moderating effects that can enhance the effect of the sales scale on the adoption of herders’ technology. After distinguishing the technologies into profit-seeking technology and pro-environmental technology, we found that NPE and its substitution effect have a significant influence on pro-environmental technology, while the wealth effect has a significant impact on both profit-seeking and pro-environmental technology. Environmental awareness and altruism also have significant positive impacts on pro-environmental technology. These findings are relevant to policy implications dealing with technology adoption in pastoral areas.
Identifying Terrestrial Landscape Character Types in China
Authors: Pan Yulian , Wu Yunong , Xu Xi , Zhang Bin , Li Weifu
Published: July 2022

Landscape character assessment (LCA) is a widely used tool that integrates natural, cultural, and perceptual attributes to identify and portray landscape. In this study, we used the LCA method to identify the landscape characteristics of China at the national scale. Furthermore, we applied cultural and landscape structural factors along with spatial transmission to improve the identification system. First, we incorporated all the parameters in the assessment. We selected 15 landscape character factors from four factor types including nature, culture, spatial geographic co-ordinates, and landscape structure. These parameters were analysed using multilevel overlay and spatial connection tools in ArcGis 10.2, which resulted in 2307 landscape description units (LDUs). Second, the spatial structure properties of the LDUs were determined using a semivariogram and the moving window method in ArcGis 10.2 and Fragstats 4.2 software, respectively. Third, for visualisation, we applied the principal component analysis (PCA) using the SPSS software and elbow and k-means clustering methods using MATLAB to determine 110 landscape character types (LCTs) of China’s entire terrestrial landscape. Finally, we determined 1483 landscape character areas through semiautomatic segmentation and manual visual correction using eCognition. Based on the unique characteristics of the entire terrestrial landscape of China, a set of ideas and methods for the overall identification of LCTs was proposed. Our findings can be used to optimise territorial spatial planning and landscape protection and management, and promote multiscale land-use studies in China.