bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Perceived Social Support of Patients with Chronic Skin Diseases in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Siddiqui Aesha Farheen
Published: August 2023

Background: Chronic skin diseases have been recognised as having a detrimental effect on patients’ social functions. Objectives: To assess the perceived social support in patients with chronic skin disease and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2019 on patients with skin diseases taking treatment at Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. Patients of both sexes aged above 18 years undergoing treatment for a skin disease in ACH for more than 3 months (chronic skin disease) were recruited by simple random sampling, and a total of 249 patients returned completed questionnaires. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant information about the background and disease characteristics of the patients and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The software package IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY, USA: IBM Corp., was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for patient characteristics, and perceived social support was analysed according to specific scoring criteria. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to find out the association of background and disease variables with the perceived social support. Correlation analysis was used to find the relationship of social support with the age of the patient. All associations were considered significant at p < 0.05. Result: The mean age of the study group was 36.52 ± 14.22 years. The majority of the patients were females (71.1%). Atopic dermatitis was the most common skin disease reported, with 22.1% of all patients suffering from it. Mean scores of perceived social support score were low globally (24.97 ± 12.31), as well as in the three dimensions of significant other (7.75 ± 4.14), friends (7.90 ± 4.59), and family support (9.40 ± 5.48). A significant difference in social support was perceived by patients with a disease duration of 3 months to 1 year and those with papulo-squamous skin disease as compared to acne. The presence of skin disease in a second-degree relative indicated a higher level of social support perception and had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.194, p = 0.002) with the age of the patient. Conclusion: Saudi patients with chronic skin disease have low social support. Some important insights into the functioning of social support were suggested by the study finding, which pointed to the significant effect of disease duration, type of disease, and presence of disease in second-degree relatives on the perception of social support in patients with a variety of chronic skin diseases. Qualitative exploratory and prospective research could help in understanding this aspect of psychosocial health in a better way and help to provide solutions.
Osteophyte Bridge Formation Correlates with Vascular Calcification and Cardiovascular Disease in Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Authors: Hirota Ryosuke , Teramoto Atsushi , Yoshimoto Mitsunori , Takashima Hiroyuki , Yasuda Naomi , Tsukamoto Arihiko , Iesato Noriyuki , Emori Makoto , Iba Kousuke , Kawaharada Nobuyoshi , Yamashita Toshihiko
Published: August 2023

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a noninflammatory spondyloarthropathy characterized by ectopic calcification of spinal cord tissue. Its etiology is possibly polygenic. However, its pathogenesis and systemic effects remain unclear. Recent studies have reported a high prevalence of DISH in heart failure patients. The authors investigated how the incidence and severity of DISH are associated with vascular calcification and the occurrence of cardiovascular events. In this retrospective chart review study, 500 patients with cardiovascular disease who underwent surgery (cardiovascular events group) and 500 patients with non-cardiovascular disease who underwent computed tomography scans (non-cardiovascular events group) were randomly selected to investigate the degree of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament and the incidence of DISH. We found that the incidence of DISH was higher in patients with cardiovascular events and that patients with DISH had more calcification of the coronary arteries and aorta. Next, we examined the relationship between the degree of coronary and aortic calcification, the incidence of DISH, and the degree of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament in the non-cardiovascular event group. The prevalence of DISH in the cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular groups was 31.4% and 16.5%, respectively (p = 0.007). Aortic calcification and a predominant degree of vascular calcification with a certain level of ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament suggest some correlation between DISH and cardiovascular events. This study is important in understanding the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of DISH.
Stroke Survivor’s Satisfaction and Experience with Rehabilitation Services: A Qualitative Systematic Review
Authors: Abu Saydah Hanan , Turabi Ruqayyah , Sackley Catherine , Moffatt Fiona
Published: August 2023

Research in healthcare is increasingly focused on quality assurance and continuous quality improvement aiming to promote service quality. Satisfaction is a key endpoint in outcomes research and service benchmarking, along with “traditional” clinical outcomes. What controls stroke survivors’ satisfaction differs among qualitative studies’ conclusions, but there is general consensus on the importance of communication, improvement in activity, and engagement in goal setting. This review aims to collect and synthesise studies of the satisfaction of stroke survivors with rehabilitation services. A systematic search was conducted in seven electronic databases, including CINAHL, OVID, Pedro, Scopus Midline, Web of Science, and PubMed. The database search yielded 1339 studies, while one additional work was identified through hand searching. After removing duplicates, 74 studies were read in full, and after resultant exclusions, 12 qualitative studies were systematically reviewed, extracted, and appraised by two reviewers independently (HAS and RT) and the third reviewer (CS) was available for any disagreement. Five analytical themes were identified: Healthcare Professional–Patient Relationship (HCP), Delivery Service, Perceived Patient Autonomy (PPA), Expectations Shape Satisfaction, and Culture Influences Satisfaction. The studies of survivors’ satisfaction, experiences, and their rehabilitative needs with the services they receive have provided different factors that influence their satisfaction during rehabilitation in different countries worldwide. However, the context in which the studies were conducted is quite limited, and more detailed studies are required for many underexplored contexts.
Influence of Physical Activity during Pregnancy on Birth Weight: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhang Dingfeng , Nagpal Taniya S. , Silva-José Cristina , Sánchez-Polán Miguel , Gil-Ares Javier , Barakat Rubén
Published: August 2023

Birth weight is a marker that is often referred to determine newborn health, potential growth trajectories and risk of future disease. Accordingly, interventions to promote appropriate and healthy birth weight have been extensively studied and implemented in pregnancy. In particular, physical activity in pregnancy is recommended to promote appropriate fetal development and newborn birth weight. This systematic review and meta-analyses aimed to summarize the effect of physical activity during pregnancy specifically from randomized controlled trials on the following outcomes: birth weight, macrosomia, low birth weight, being large for the gestational age, and being small for the gestational age (Registration No.: CRD42022370729). 63 studies (16,524 pregnant women) were included. There was a significant negative relationship between physical activity during pregnancy and macrosomia (z = 2.16; p = 0.03; RR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.63, 0.98, I2 = 29%, Pheterogeneity = 0.09). No other significant relationships were found. Promoting physical activity during pregnancy may be an opportune time to reduce the risk of future chronic disease, such as obesity, through the prevention of macrosomia and the promotion of appropriate birth weights.
Mild Behavioral Impairment in Psychogeriatric Patients: Clinical Features and Psychopathology Severity
Authors: Elefante Camilla , Brancati Giulio Emilio , Ismail Zahinoor , Ricciardulli Sara , Beatino Maria Francesca , Lepri Vittoria , Famà Antonella , Ferrari Elisabetta , Giampietri Linda , Baldacci Filippo , Ceravolo Roberto , Maremmani Icro , Lattanzi Lorenzo , Perugi Giulio
Published: August 2023

The Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI) concept was developed to determine whether late-onset persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) may be early manifestations of cognitive decline. Our study aims to investigate the prevalence and differentiating features of MBI with respect to major neurocognitive disorders (MNDs) and primary psychiatric disorders (PPDs). A total of 144 elderly patients who were referred to our psychogeriatric outpatient service were recruited. The severity of mental illness was evaluated by means of the Clinical Global Impression Severity scale, the severity of psychopathology was evaluated by means of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and overall functioning was evaluated by means of the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. The sample included 73 (50.6%) patients with PPDs, 40 (27.8%) patients with MBI, and 31 (21.5%) patients with MNDs. Patients with MNDs reported the greatest severity of mental illness, the highest BPRS Total, Psychosis, Activation, and Negative Symptom scores, and the lowest functioning. Patients with MBI and PPDs had comparable levels of severity of mental illness and overall functioning, but MBI patients reported higher BPRS Total and Negative Symptom scores than PPD patients. Patients with MBI frequently reported specific clinical features, including a higher severity of apathy and motor retardation. These features merit further investigation since they may help the differential diagnosis between MBI and PPDs.
Red Cell Distribution Width as a Prognostic Indicator in Acute Medical Admissions
Authors: Conway Richard , Byrne Declan , O’Riordan Deirdre , Silke Bernard
Published: August 2023

The red cell distribution width (RDW) is the coefficient of variation of the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). We sought to evaluate RDW as a predictor of outcomes following acute medical admission. We studied 10 years of acute medical admissions (2002–2011) with subsequent follow-up to 2021. RDW was converted to a categorical variable, Q1 < 12.9 fl, Q2–Q4 ≥ 12.9 and <15.7 fL and Q5 ≥ 15.7 fL. The predictive value of RDW for 30-day in-hospital and long-term mortality was evaluated with logistic and Cox regression modelling. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated and loss of life years estimated. There were 62,184 admissions in 35,140 patients. The 30-day in-hospital mortality (n = 3646) occurred in 5.9% of admissions. An additional 15,086 (42.9%) deaths occurred by December 2021. Admission RDW independently predicted 30-day in-hospital mortality aOR 1.93 (95%CI 1.79, 2.07). Admission RDW independently predicted long-term mortality aOR 1.04 (95%CI 1.02, 1.05). Median survival post-admission was 189 months. For those with admission RDW in Q5, observed survival half-life was 133 months—this represents a shortfall of 5.7 life years (33.9%). In conclusion, admission RDW independently predicts 30-day in-hospital and long-term mortality.
Composite Membrane Based on Graphene Oxide and Carboxymethylcellulose from Local Kazakh Raw Materials for Possible Applications in Electronic Devices
Authors: Kuanyshbekov Tilek , Sagdollin Zhandos , Zhasasynov Elzhas , Akatan Kydyrmolla , Kurbanova Bayan , Guseinov Nazim , Tolepov Zhandos , Kantay Nurgamit , Beisebekov Madyar
Published: August 2023

The synthesis of new composite nanomaterials based on graphene oxide (GO)modified with cellulose and its derivatives, as well as nanocellulose, is currently an important direction and contributes toward solving many problems in various fields such as nanotechnology, information technology, medicine, high-dielectric materials, and nanoelectronics. In this work, for the first time, for the production of GO and its membrane with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), local Kazakhstan “Ognevsky” graphite was used as the initial raw material. In this regard, the preparation of nanocomposites of GO modified with cellulose derivatives, including CMC, attracts great interest from scientists and expands its field of practical application due to the significant changes in its physicochemical properties. In this work, the GO obtained using the Hummers method was modified by CMC, and its physicochemical, structural, and electrical characteristics were studied. The GO/CMC membrane was synthesized by mixing 1% GO with crushed solid mass of CMC (0.03 g; 0.06 g; 0.15 g) and then processing using ultrasound. The surface morphology of the GO/CMC membrane was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been established that by increasing the mass of CMC (0.03 g; 0.06 g; 0.15 g), the polymerization of CMC occurs on the surface of GO nanosheets. Cross-sectional micrographs of GO/CMC show the formation of sandwich-like layered structures. The synthesis efficiency (yield) of GO from synthetic graphite is 10.8%, and GO from Ognevsky graphite is 11.9%, almost 1.1% more than GO from synthetic graphite. The mechanical tensile strength increases from 2.3 MPa to 14.3 MPa and the Young’s modulus from 2.3 MPa to 143 MPa. The electrical parameters of the humidity sensor based on GO and GO/CMC membranes (0.03 g; 0.06 g; 0.15 g) were studied as a function of humidity to determine the performance of the device.
Investigation of Part Quality Achieved by Material Extrusion Printers in Relation to Their Price
Authors: Schmidt Carsten , Morlock Adrian , Griesbaum Rainer , Sehrt Jan T. , Finsterwalder Florian
Published: August 2023

Users of material extrusion printers are faced with a wide range of prices. It is unknown which printer price can achieve the required part quality. However, the price and the resulting quality of a printer are decisive factors for the process, especially at small- and medium-sized companies. This study investigated the correlation between the printer price and part quality based on dimensional accuracy, surface quality, strength, and visual appearance. In this paper, 14 printers with different prices were examined. The relationship of printer price and part defects, elongation at break, and the accuracy of roundings could be identified (the regressions achieved a p-value under 0.5 and an R2 over 0.4). A relationship with surface roughness, tensile strength, or other dimensional accuracy characteristics could not be found (the regressions achieved an R2 under 0.4 or anomalies could be detected in the regression analysis). In the performed investigations, more-expensive printers were not necessarily associated with an improvement in these quality characteristics. No relationship between the printer price and the standard deviation, e.g., less variation in part quality, could be identified. This paper provides valuable insights into the relationship of part quality and printer price. The performed research improved upon the existing literature in terms of the number of investigated printers, the observed price range, and the number of tested quality characteristics. The results and approach of this paper will help users select an appropriate printer, and the findings can be used in the sourcing and technology selection phases.
Compressive–Flexural Failure Mechanism and Bearing Capacity Calculation of Over-Ranging Tapered CFDST Members for Support Structures of Offshore Wind Turbines
Authors: Wang Jian-Tao , Liu Xiang-Hong , Sun Qing , Li Yu-Wei
Published: August 2023

Upon the higher requirement on high-performance structures of large-scale supporting structures of offshore wind turbines, the systematic analysis on the compressive-flexural behavior and ultimate bearing capacity of tapered concrete-filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) members designed by over-ranging parameters was performed. Investigating the entire-process mechanism, e.g., the moment–deformation response, stress development, interaction stress, and subassembly contribution, was based on the finite element (FE) analysis, where the moment–deformation curve can be distinguished by four characteristic points, and the transverse local buckling of outer tube partly weakens distribution height of interface pressure in compression zone compared to that in tension zone. Influences of material strengths and geometric parameters were examined by the parametric study, e.g., increasing tapered angle (ψ) slightly reduces the bearing capacity; the higher axial compression ratio (n) contributes a noteworthy action on the post-peak behavior and carrying capacity, e.g., the bearing capacities at n = 0.9 and n = 0.5 reduce by 64.14% and 18.44% compared to capacity at n = 0.1, respectively; influence of Do/to ratio is more significant than Di/ti ratio. Subsequently, the modified cross-sectional stress integration (CSI) method was proposed to predict the moment–strain (M-ε) curves of tapered CFDST members; meanwhile, a confined concrete model with transverse confinement stress as an explicit parameter was modified, and influences of different confined concrete models on predicting M-ε curves were compared. Finally, design methods based on the modified CSI method and limit state method were proposed as a simplified calculation method to determine the correlative relationship of axial compressive strength and moment-resisting capacity (N-M curve).
Field Measurement and Theoretical Analysis of Sidewall Roughness on Shaft Resistance of Rock-Socketed Piles
Authors: Liu Jun , Li Zhongwei , Dai Guoliang , Gong Weiming
Published: August 2023

Sidewall roughness is a key factor influencing the shaft resistance of rock-socketed piles. Owing to the difficulties in onsite measuring and the inconsistency in quantitatively characterizing the roughness degree of sidewalls, existing approaches for estimating the shaft resistance of rock-socketed piles often cannot take this factor into account. Based on the measured surface curves of the 68 sockets in No. 6# and 7# group piles of the Chishi Bridge on the Ru-Chen Expressway in China, sidewall roughness is described by introducing the roughness factor (RF) based on the Horvath and Monash models, respectively, while a statistical analysis of the sidewall roughness in rock-socketed sections is also conducted. In addition, an analytical solution to the shaft resistance of rock-socketed piles with consideration of sidewall roughness and the relative settlement of the pile–rocks interface (∆s), is proposed and further compared with the field load tests. The results showed that: the RF obtained by the Horvath model is bigger than that obtained by the Monash model; the larger RF is, the bigger the mobilized shaft resistance; the analytical solution generally overestimates the mobilized shaft resistance of rock-socketed piles under the same ∆s, and the deviation is less than 15% if ∆s is larger than 3.00 mm. The Horvath model is recommended to quantitatively characterize the roughness degree of sidewalls for its good operability in practice.
Parallel Multiple Methods with Adaptative Decision Making for Gravity-Aided Navigation
Authors: Gao Shuaipeng , Cai Tijing
Published: August 2023

Gravity-aided navigation is an effective navigation method for underwater vehicles. However, the distribution of the gravity field may affect the measurement errors of gravity anomalies and the precision of gravity-aided navigation. In this paper, the upper and lower thresholds of the gravity field standard deviation are computed by the statistical properties of the local gravity field to classify each grid in the gravity map into different levels. A parallel multiple methods with adaptive decision making (PMMADM) for gravity-aided navigation is proposed which incorporates the gravity anomaly measurements, particle filtering, and maximum correlation method into the observation equation of the extended Kalman filter. The algorithm autonomously selects the observation variables in the filter by combining the gravity field standard deviation at the current position of the carrier with a decision tree. This approach can combine the characteristics of different gravity matching algorithms, reduce the impact of random noise in the measurements, and improve the positioning accuracy of gravity-aided navigation. Physical simulation experiments demonstrated that the proposed gravity matching algorithm achieves the high navigation accuracy and long-term stability in different gravity fields, and the mean value of positioning error is 620.72 m.
Multi-Feature Fusion-Guided Low-Visibility Image Enhancement for Maritime Surveillance
Authors: Zhou Wenbo , Li Bin , Luo Guoling
Published: August 2023

Low-visibility maritime image enhancement is essential for maritime surveillance in extreme weathers. However, traditional methods merely optimize contrast while ignoring image features and color recovery, which leads to subpar enhancement outcomes. The majority of learning-based methods attempt to improve low-visibility images by only using local features extracted from convolutional layers, which significantly improves performance but still falls short of fully resolving these issues. Furthermore, the computational complexity is always sacrificed for larger receptive fields and better enhancement in CNN-based methods. In this paper, we propose a multiple-feature fusion-guided low-visibility enhancement network (MFF-Net) for real-time maritime surveillance, which extracts global and local features simultaneously to guide the reconstruction of the low-visibility image. The quantitative and visual experiments on both standard and maritime-related datasets demonstrate that our MFF-Net provides superior enhancement with noise reduction and color restoration, and has a fast computational speed. Furthermore, the object detection experiment indicates practical benefits for maritime surveillance.
Underwater Acoustic Target Recognition Based on Deep Residual Attention Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Ji Fang , Ni Junshuai , Li Guonan , Liu Liming , Wang Yuyang
Published: August 2023

Underwater acoustic target recognition methods based on time-frequency analysis have shortcomings, such as missing information on target characteristics and having a large computation volume, which leads to difficulties in improving the accuracy and immediacy of the target recognition system. In this paper, an underwater acoustic target recognition model based on a deep residual attention convolutional neural network called DRACNN is proposed, whose input is the time-domain signal of the underwater acoustic targets radiated noise. In this model, convolutional blocks with attention to the mechanisms are used to focus on and extract deep features of the target, and residual networks are used to improve the stability of the network training. On the full ShipsEar dataset, the recognition accuracy of the DRACNN model is 97.1%, which is 2.2% higher than the resnet-18 model with an approximately equal number of parameters as this model. With similar recognition accuracies, the DRACNN model parameters are 1/36th and 1/10th of the AResNet model and UTAR-Transformer model, respectively, and the floating-point operations are 1/292nd and 1/46th of the two models, respectively. Finally, the DRACNN model pre-trained on the ShipsEar dataset was migrated to the DeepShip dataset and achieved recognition accuracy of 89.2%. The experimental results illustrate that the DRACNN model has excellent generalization ability and is suitable for a micro-UATR system.
A Subaperture Motion Compensation Algorithm for Wide-Beam, Multiple-Receiver SAS Systems
Authors: Zhang Jiafeng , Cheng Guangli , Tang Jinsong , Wu Haoran , Tian Zhen
Published: August 2023

Uncompensated motion errors can seriously affect the imaging quality of synthetic aperture sonars (SASs). In the existing line-by-line motion compensation (MOCO) algorithms for wide-beam multiple-receiver SAS systems, the approximate form of the range history error usually introduces a significant approximation error, and the residual two-dimensional (2D) range cell migration (RCM) caused by aperture-dependent motion errors is not corrected, resulting in the severe defocus of the image. In this paper, in the presence of translational and rotational errors in a multiple-receiver SAS system, the exact range history error concerning the five-degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion errors of the sway, heave, yaw, pitch, and roll under the non-stop-hop-stop case is derived. Based on this, a two-stage subaperture MOCO algorithm for wide-beam multiple-receiver SAS systems is proposed. We decompose the range history error into the beam-center term (BCT) and the residual spatial-variant term (RSVT) to compensate successively. In the first stage, the time delay and phase error caused by the BCT are compensated receiver-by-receiver through interpolation and phase multiplication in the azimuth-time domain. In the second stage, the data of a single pulse are regarded as a subaperture, and the RSVT is compensated in the subaperture range-Doppler (RD) domain. We divide the range into several blocks to correct RCM caused by the RSVT in the subaperture RD domain, and the phase error caused by the RSVT is compensated by phase multiplication. After compensation, the wide-beam RD algorithm is used for imaging. Simulated and real-data experiments verify the superiority and robustness of the proposed algorithm.
Bearing Characteristics of Tripod Bucket Foundation under Horizontal and Moment Load in Sand
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhao Xue-Liang , Sui Shu-Huan , Hu Zi-Bei , Deng Wen-Ni , Song Qi-Ming
Published: August 2023

Based on a series of physical model tests and numerical simulations, the bearing characteristics of a tripod-bucket foundation are investigated. It is found that with the decrease in aspect ratio (L/D), the rotation center of the foundation will decrease, and the displacement model change from rotation to uplift. Characteristics of earth pressure on the buckets from both finite element analysis and model tests are studied, which is used to explain the failure mechanism for tripod-bucket foundations with different L/D. A revised method is proposed to estimate the moment bearing capacity of the tripod bucket foundation under horizontal and moment load. This method is thought to be more convenient and applicable in the practice.
Preoperative Lower-Limb Muscle Predictors for Gait Speed Improvement after Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients with Osteoarthritis
Authors: Yasuda Tadashi , Ota Satoshi , Mitsuzawa Sadaki , Yamashita Shinnosuke , Tsukamoto Yoshihiro , Takeuchi Hisataka , Onishi Eijiro
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to identify preoperative lower-limb muscle predictors for gait speed improvement after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with hip osteoarthritis. Gait speed improvement was evaluated as the subtraction of preoperative speed from postoperative speed. The preoperative muscle composition of ipsilateral hip abductors was evaluated using computed tomography. The females (n = 45) showed smaller total cross-sectional areas of the gluteal muscles than the males (n = 13). The gluteus maximus in the females showed lower lean muscle mass area (LMM) and higher ratios of the intramuscular fat area and the intramuscular adipose tissue area to the total muscle area (TM) than the males. Regression analysis revealed that LMM/TM of the glutei medius and minimus may correlate negatively with postoperative improvement in gait speed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for prediction of minimum clinically important improvement in gait speed at ≥0.32 m/s resulted in the highest area under the curve for TM in the upper portion of the gluteus maximus with negative correlation. The explanatory variables of hip abductor muscle composition predicted gait speed improvement after THA more precisely in the females compared with the total group of both sexes. Preoperative muscle composition should be evaluated separately based on sex for the achievement of clinically important improvement in gait speed after THA.
An Innovative Scoring System to Select the Optimal Surgery in Breast Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Franco Antonio , Di Leone Alba , Conti Marco , Fabi Alessandra , Carbognin Luisa , Terribile Andreina Daniela , Belli Paolo , Orlandi Armando , Sanchez Martin Alejandro , Moschella Francesca , Mason Elena Jane , Cimino Giovanni , De Filippis Alessandra , Marazzi Fabio , Paris Ida , Visconti Giuseppe , Barone Adesi Liliana , Scardina Lorenzo , D’Archi Sabatino , Salgarello Marzia , Giannarelli Diana , Masetti Riccardo , Franceschini Gianluca
Published: August 2023

Introduction: The selection of surgery post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is difficult and based on surgeons’ expertise. The aim of this study was to create a post-NEoadjuvant Score System (pNESSy) to choose surgery, optimizing oncological and aesthetical outcomes. Methods: Patients (stage I–III) underwent surgery post-NACT (breast-conserving surgery (BCS), oncoplastic surgery (OPS), and conservative mastectomy (CMR) were included. Data selected were BRCA mutation, ptosis, breast volume, radiological response, MRI, and mammography pre- and post-NACT prediction of excised breast area. pNESSy was created using the association between these data and surgery. Area under the curve (AUC) was assessed. Patients were divided into groups according to correspondence (G1) or discrepancy (G2) between score and surgery; oncological and aesthetic outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 255 patients were included (118 BCS, 49 OPS, 88 CMR). pNESSy between 6.896–8.724 was predictive for BCS, 8.725–9.375 for OPS, and 9.376–14.245 for CMR; AUC was, respectively, 0.835, 0.766, and 0.825. G1 presented a lower incidence of involved margins (5–14.7%; p = 0.010), a better locoregional disease-free survival (98.8–88.9%; p < 0.001) and a better overall survival (96.1–86.5%; p = 0.017), and a better satisfaction with breasts (39.8–27.5%; p = 0.017) and physical wellbeing (93.5–73.6%; p = 0.001). Conclusion: A score system based on clinical and radiological features was created to select the optimal surgery post-NACT and improve oncological and aesthetic outcomes.
Is Historical Cartography a Useful Tool for Landscape Analysis? A Perspective from Inland Spain (Zorita de los Canes, Guadalajara) from the Middle Ages to the Present
Authors: Diarte-Blasco Pilar , Castro-Priego Manuel
Published: August 2023

Historical cartography continues to be an essential resource in developing strategies for the analysis of anthropised landscapes. In recent years, the digitisation and conversion of a large number of pre-20th-century maps to modern geographic coordinate systems and data hierarchisation in GIS-integrated databases have opened up huge possibilities. In this paper, we highlight some of the advantages and issues that we observed in using historical cartography in the Iberian Peninsula heartlands by comparing archaeological data, textual sources and maps and various levels of information obtained for our area of study: the southeast of the present-day province of Guadalajara, Spain. Using the longue durée approach conceptualised by Fernand Braudel (1976), historical cartography enabled us to delve deeper into two essential aspects, land use and the road network, while providing elements of diachrony that suggest changes in the landscape in specific and disruptive periods.
Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the National Comprehensive Disaster-Reduction Demonstration Community in China
Authors: Su Haoran , Liu Chang , Dai Donghui , Chen Wenkai , Zhang Zhen , Wang Yaowu
Published: August 2023

Establishing the National Comprehensive Disaster-Reduction Demonstration Community (NCDDC) is crucial for enhancing comprehensive disaster risk reduction at the grassroots level in China. Studying the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of NCDDCs can guide future NCDDC layout optimization and related policy adjustments. Using the standard deviation ellipse, nearest neighbor index, kernel density, spatial autocorrelation, and Geodetector, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of NCDDCs in China from 2008 to 2021 and detected their influencing factors. The findings are as follows: (1) NCDDCs exhibit an uneven distribution at different scales, including spatial, urban–rural, and county scales. (2) The spatial distribution of NCDDCs mainly follows a northwest–southeast pattern during 2008–2014 and shows a northeast–southwest trend after 2014. (3) The positive spatial correlation and spatial agglomeration of NCDDCs increase annually. (4) NCDDCs show a concentrated and contiguous distribution pattern in 2021, based on “core density zone–ring-core decreasing area–ring-core expansion group–Ɔ-shaped area–belt-shaped area”. (5) The main factors affecting the NCDDC distribution are hospital density, road density, GDP density, and population density, with factors’ interactions exhibiting bilinear and nonlinear enhancement effects. This study reveals the NCDDC spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and its influence mechanism, providing a scientific basis for future NCDDC layout optimization and related policy adjustments.
The Role of the Master Plan in City Development, Latakia Master Plan in an International Context
Authors: Khadour Nebras , Fekete Albert , Sárospataki Máté
Published: August 2023

The master plan has been a critical instrument for shaping the development of cities worldwide. This article delves into the impact of a well-designed master plan on shaping and transforming the structure of a city, while also exploring the various aspects that can be adapted in different contexts and conditions. The article aims to highlight how an effective master plan can drive development, guide urban growth, and offer a comprehensive framework for decision-making. Specifically, this study analyses the Latakia (SY) master plan, which was proposed in 2008, and compares it with the master plans of Barcelona (ES) and Montpellier (FR), two cities with significant experience in master planning. The analysis was conducted using several key criteria, such as general vision, housing policies, urban mobility, and green network. The results showed that urban development strategies in the Latakia master plan were of limited efficiency range compared to the other case studies, as it focused on tourism and economic development rather than providing an approach for sustainable city development. Therefore, this study recommends revising the development strategies of the Latakia master plan and addressing its limitations to improve the city’s structure, increase its sustainability, and quality of life. This article contributes to the existing body of knowledge on master planning by providing a critical evaluation of urban development strategies and offering a roadmap for future master plans.
Spatiotemporal Relationships between Ecosystem Health and Urbanization on the Tibetan Plateau from a Coupling Coordination Perspective
Authors: Hu Yu , Wu Tong , Guo Luo , Zhang Shidong
Published: August 2023

A complex relationship exists between natural environmental and urban systems. This study focuses on the province of Qinghai, which is a major part of the Tibetan Plateau. For the period 1995–2020, we explore the relationships between ecosystem health and urbanization. We established an indicator system for ecosystem health and urbanization and quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal pattern of coupling coordination between the two. It shows that between 1995 and 2020, the urbanization level in Qinghai showed a continuous upward trend, with the urbanization index in 2020 increasing by 147.20% compared to 1995. The level of ecosystem health also showed an upward trend, with the ecosystem health index (EHI) value in 2020 increasing by 3.31% compared to 1995. The coupling coordination degree between ecosystem health and urbanization in Qinghai increased year-on-year. Areas with high coupling coordination between ecosystem health and urbanization basically overlapped with areas with high urbanization, and the area gradually increased during the study period. Locations with slightly unbalanced development were located on the periphery of high coupling-coordination areas, and that area expanded in the years covered in this study. The low coupling-coordination areas were located in the northwest and southwest of Qinghai, bounded by the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. These results can support the evaluation of ecosystem health and urbanization on the Tibetan Plateau and high-altitude river source areas similar to Qinghai in China and elsewhere, contributing to sustainable land use policy.
Evaluation of Spatial Functions and Scale Effects of “Production–Living–Ecological” Space in Hainan Island
Authors: Peng Yuchen , Luan Qiaolin , Xiong Changsheng
Published: August 2023

The identification, evaluation, and spatial distribution of “Production–Living–Ecological” space (PLEs) have been widely studied, but there is still little attention paid to whether their distribution characteristics will vary with scale changes. This article takes the organic whole of the PLEs composed of production space, living space, and ecological space on Hainan Island as the research object. Starting from the perspective of spatial heterogeneity, it quantitatively evaluates its spatial functions and explores the regularities of its aggregation and coordination characteristics with changes in scale, revealing the evolution of its distribution pattern with changes in scale. The results show that: (1) The distribution of PLEs in Hainan Island has obvious heterogeneity. The functional values of production and living space are distributed in a pattern of high in the south and north, low in the middle; The ecological space shows a high distribution pattern in the middle and low around it. (2) The PLEs in Hainan Island is significantly affected by scale effects. The degree of aggregation decreases as the scale increases, with the ecological space showing the most obvious downward trend, the living space showing a weaker downward trend and the production space being moderate. (3) The overall level of coupling-coordination of PLEs in Hainan Island is low, which decreases as the scale increases, with 500 m × 500 m being the peak value. The research results of this article indicate that there are scale effects in the functional distribution characteristics of PLEs, which can provide decision support for the national spatial planning at different scales.
The Effects of the Low-Carbon Pilot City Program on Green Innovation: Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Jinchao , Meng Shuang , Yu Jiajie
Published: August 2023

This study examines the effectiveness of the low-carbon pilot city program in promoting green innovation outcomes in China. Using a time-varying difference-in-differences model based on 277 cities from 2003 to 2019, this study finds that the implementation of the low-carbon pilot city program has a positive and significant impact on city-level green innovation outcomes. The policy effect is heterogeneous across different urban infrastructure characteristics, including geographic location, city scale, factor endowment, carbon emission intensity, and ICT infrastructure. This study provides important insights into the effectiveness of low-carbon policies in promoting green innovation and has important implications for policymakers and practitioners who are interested in promoting sustainable development in emerging economies.
Long-Term Monitoring of Tree Population Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems: Integrating Field and Satellite Data
Authors: Isaacson Sivan , Ephrath Jhonathan E. , Rachmilevitch Shimon , Blumberg Dan G. , Shalmon Benny , Katz Ofir , Maman Shimrit
Published: August 2023

Arid environments are characterized by rare rain events that are highly variable, as a result of which plant populations often exhibit episodic recruitment and mortality dynamics. However, direct records and observations of such events are rare because of the slow development of woody species. In this study, we described how a decrease in annual precipitation affected acacia tree population dynamics in two hydrological regime types: small wadis and salt flats. This study combines 15 years of continuous, yearly field monitoring of individual acacia trees and data from a historical Corona satellite image, which has extended the time scope of the research. Results indicate that the annual mortality of acacia trees in small wadis reflects the cumulative effective rain events in the preceding five years, whereas the population on the salt flats was not affected by annual rainfall fluctuations. Moreover, in small wadis, rain events of less than 8 mm did not increase acacia tree survival rates. The mortality pattern and dynamics of each plot was unique, suggesting unsynchronized mortality and recruitment episodes on a regional scale. Mortality in all plots was documented both in “old” trees (i.e., recognized in 1968) and “new” trees (not recognized in 1968), but varied highly between plots. More than 50% of the dead trees recorded at the sites had died during the previous dry period (2000–2010). Combining field monitoring and historical satellite image data provided a unique database of acacia population dynamics. This record revealed the response of the acacia population to climate fluctuations and a period of episodic mortality.
Visual Quality, Motility Behavior, and Retinal Changes Associated with Reading Tasks Performed on Electronic Devices
Authors: Orduna-Hospital Elvira , Munarriz-Escribano María , Sanchez-Cano Ana
Published: August 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate visual discomfort using an eye tracker and aberrometer after a 21-min reading session on an iPad and an Ebook. Additionally, retinal changes were analyzed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: A total of 31 young subjects (24 ± 4 years) participated in this study. They read for 21 min on an Ebook and for another 21 min on an iPad under controlled lighting conditions while their eye movements were monitored using an eye tracker. Aberrometry and retinal OCT measurements were taken before and after each reading session. Parameters such as pupil diameter, fixations, saccades, blinks, total aberration, high-order aberration, low-order aberration, and central and peripheral retinal thickness in the nine early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) areas were measured for each reading situation. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data. Results: No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two devices were observed in terms of the different types of eye movements or the changes in retinal thickness. However, the aberrometric analysis showed variations in post-reading situations depending on the device used. Conclusion: Reading speed and visual discomfort resulting from electronic device usage can be objectively assessed using an eye tracker and aberrometer. Additionally, changes found in central and peripheral retinal thickness between the two devices and the baseline measurements were not significant and remained relatively stable.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Paradoxical Reaction to Anti-TNF-α Treatment—A Review
Authors: Mihai Ioana Ruxandra , Burlui Alexandra Maria , Rezus Ioana Irina , Mihai Cătălina , Macovei Luana Andreea , Cardoneanu Anca , Gavrilescu Otilia , Dranga Mihaela , Rezus Elena
Published: August 2023

TNF-α inhibitors (TNFis) have revolutionized the treatment of certain chronic immune-mediated diseases, being widely and successfully used in rheumatic inflammatory diseases, and have also proved their efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, among the side effects of these agents are the so-called paradoxical effects. They can be defined as the appearance or exacerbation of a pathological condition that usually responds to this class of drug while treating a patient for another condition. A wide range of paradoxical effects have been reported including dermatological, intestinal and ophthalmic conditions. The causal mechanism of occurrence may implicate an imbalance of cytokines, but is still not fully understood, and remains a matter of debate. These paradoxical reactions often show improvement on discontinuation of the medication or on switching to another TNFi, but in some cases it is a class effect that could lead to the withdrawal of all anti-TNF agents. Close monitoring of patients treated with TNFis is necessary in order to detect paradoxical reactions. In this study we focus on reviewing IBD occurrence as a paradoxical effect of TNFi therapy in patients with rheumatological diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis).
Evaluation of Carcass Attributes and Physical, Chemical, and Qualitative Characteristics of Breast Meat of Broiler Chickens Fed on Pulicaria jaubertii Powder
Authors: Al-Baadani Hani H. , Alhidary Ibrahim A. , Alharthi Abdulrahman S. , Azzam Mahmoud M. , Suliman Gamaleldin M. , Ahmed Mohammed A. , Qasem Akram A.
Published: August 2023

Pulicaria jaubertii (PJ) is a medicinal plant used as a synthetic antioxidant and as a traditional medicine due to its bioactive compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PJ on carcass traits and breast meat quality parameters of broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty male broilers (1 day old) were divided into four groups (0, 3, 6, and 9 g of PJ/kg of basal diet). Performance indicators were evaluated during the feeding stages, and carcass characteristics and physiochemical and qualitative parameters of breast meat were measured at 36 days old. The results showed that PJ improved performance parameters such as weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and production efficiency index (p < 0.05) in the finishing stage. The diets supplemented with PJ were associated with better carcass characteristics (p < 0.05), but some body parts, such as legs (6 and 9 g PJ) and backs (3–9 g PJ) decreased (p < 0.05). Temperature and initial pH were decreased by PJ (p < 0.05). Meat color was not affected by PJ (p > 0.05), although the yellowness and saturation index were lower at 9 g PJ. Total saturated fatty acid content was higher at 3 g PJ, while total polyunsaturated fatty acids and unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio were lower at 3 and 6 g PJ (p < 0.05). Total monounsaturated fatty acid content increased at 6 and 9 g PJ. Omega-6 fatty acids and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 were lower at 3 g PJ. PJ resulted in higher weight loss on cooking (6 and 9 g PJ) and shear force (3–9 g PJ). In conclusion, PJ had a positive influence on performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile, and some meat quality traits were generally improved by PJ, but knowledge of its mode of action is still limited and therefore requires further investigation.