bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
Authors: Ramos-Pulido Sofía , Hernández-Gress Neil , Torres-Delgado Gabriela
Published: February 2023

This study shows the significant features predicting graduates’ job levels, particularly high-level positions. Moreover, it shows that data science methodologies can accurately predict graduate outcomes. The dataset used to analyze graduate outcomes was derived from a private educational institution survey. The original dataset contains information on 17,898 graduates and approximately 148 features. Three machine learning algorithms, namely, decision trees, random forest, and gradient boosting, were used for data analysis. These three machine learning models were compared with ordinal regression. The results indicate that gradient boosting is the best predictive model, which is 6% higher than the ordinal regression accuracy. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), a novel methodology to extract the significant features of different machine learning algorithms, was then used to extract the most important features of the gradient boosting model. Current salary is the most important feature in predicting job levels. Interestingly, graduates who realized the importance of communication skills and teamwork to be good leaders also had higher job positions. Finally, general relevant features to predict job levels include the number of people directly in charge, company size, seniority, and satisfaction with income.
The Impact of Pre-Chemotherapy Body Composition and Immunonutritional Markers on Chemotherapy Adherence in Stage III Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Lee Soohyeon , Kang Dong Hyun , Ahn Tae Sung , Kim Seung Soo , Yun Jong Hyuk , Kim Hyun Jung , Seo Seoung Hee , Kim Tae Wan , Kong Hye Jeong , Baek Moo Jun
Published: February 2023

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) often fail to complete full-course chemotherapy with a standard dose due to various reasons. This study aimed to determine whether body composition affects chemotherapy adherence in patients with CRC. The medical records of 107 patients with stage III CRC who underwent adjuvant folinic acid, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) chemotherapy at a single center between 2014 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Blood test results for selected immunonutritional markers were analyzed and body composition was measured through computed tomography. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on low and high relative dose intensity (RDI) groups, based on an RDI of 0.85. In the univariate analysis, a higher skeletal muscle index was correlated with a higher RDI (p = 0.020). Psoas muscle index was also higher in patients with high RDI than in those with low RDI (p = 0.026). Fat indices were independent of RDI. Multivariate analysis was performed for the aforementioned factors and results showed that age (p = 0.028), white blood cell count (p = 0.024), and skeletal muscle index (p = 0.025) affected RDI. In patients with stage III CRC treated with adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy, a decrease in RDI was related to age, white blood cell count, and skeletal muscle index. Therefore, if we adjust the drug dosage in consideration of these factors, we can expect an increased treatment efficiency in patients by increasing chemotherapy compliance.
Spinal Fractures during Touristic Motorboat Sea Cruises: An Underestimated and Avoidable Phenomenon
Authors: May Adrien Thomas , Bailly Nicolas , Sellier Aurore , Avinens Valentin , Huneidi Maxime , Meyer Mikael , Troude Lucas , Roche Pierre-Hugues , Dufour Henry , Dagain Arnaud , Arnoux Pierre-Jean , Farah Kaissar , Fuentes Stéphane
Published: February 2023

Purpose: Each summer, many vacationers enjoy the Mediterranean Sea shores. Among the recreational nautical activities, motorboat cruise is a popular choice that leads to a significant number of thoracolumbar spine fractures at our clinic. This phenomenon seems to be underreported, and its injury mechanism remains unclear. Here, we aim to describe the fracture pattern and propose a possible mechanism of injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiological, and contextual parameters of all motorboat-related spinal fracture cases during a 14-year period (2006–2020) in three French neurosurgical level I centers bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Fractures were classified according to the AOSpine thoracolumbar classification system. Results: A total of 79 patients presented 90 fractures altogether. Women presented more commonly than men (61/18). Most of the lesions occurred at the thoracolumbar transition region between T10 and L2 (88.9% of the levels fractured). Compression A type fractures were seen in all cases (100%). Only one case of posterior spinal element injury was observed. The occurrence of neurological deficit was rare (7.6%). The most commonly encountered context was a patient sitting at the boat’s bow, without anticipating the trauma, when the ship’s bow suddenly elevated while crossing another wave, resulting in a “deck-slap” mechanism hitting and propelling the patient in the air. Conclusions: Thoracolumbar compression fractures are a frequent finding in nautical tourism. Passengers seated at the boat’s bow are the typical victims. Some specific biomechanical patterns are involved with the boat’s deck suddenly elevating across the waves. More data with biomechanical studies are necessary to understand the phenomenon. Prevention and safety recommendations should be given before motorboat use to fight against these avoidable fractures.
Role of Selective Digestive Decontamination in the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in COVID-19 Patients: A Pre-Post Observational Study
Authors: Biagioni Emanuela , Ferrari Elena , Gatto Ilenia , Serio Lucia , Farinelli Carlotta , Coloretti Irene , Talamonti Marta , Tosi Martina , Meschiari Marianna , Tonelli Roberto , Venturelli Claudia , Mussini Cristina , Clini Enrico , Sarti Mario , Cossarizza Andrea , Busani Stefano , Girardis Massimo
Published: February 2023

The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the introduction of SDD in a structured protocol for VAP prevention was effective in reducing the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in COVID-19 patients without changes in the microbiological pattern of antibiotic resistance. This observational pre-post study included adult patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for severe respiratory failure related to SARS-CoV-2 admitted in three COVID-19 intensive care units (ICUs) in an Italian hospital from 22 February 2020 to 8 March 2022. Selective digestive decontamination (SDD) was introduced from the end of April 2021 in the structured protocol for VAP prevention. The SDD consisted of a tobramycin sulfate, colistin sulfate, and amphotericin B suspension applied in the patient’s oropharynx and the stomach via a nasogastric tube. Three-hundred-and-forty-eight patients were included in the study. In the 86 patients (32.9%) who received SDD, the occurrence of VAP decreased by 7.7% (p = 0.192) compared to the patients who did not receive SDD. The onset time of VAP, the occurrence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms AP, the length of invasive mechanical ventilation, and hospital mortality were similar in the patients who received and who did not receive SDD. The multivariate analysis adjusted for confounders showed that the use of SDD reduces the occurrence of VAP (HR 0.536, CI 0.338–0.851; p = 0.017). Our pre-post observational study indicates that the use of SDD in a structured protocol for VAP prevention seems to reduce the occurrence of VAP without changes in the incidence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in COVID-19 patients.
Pediatric Diabetic Nephropathy: Novel Insights from microRNAs
Authors: Lanzaro Francesca , Barlabà Annalisa , De Nigris Angelica , Di Domenico Federica , Verde Valentina , Miraglia del Giudice Emanuele , Di Sessa Anna
Published: February 2023

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents the most common microvascular complication in patients with diabetes. This progressive kidney disease has been recognized as the major cause of end-stage renal disease with higher morbidity and mortality. However, its tangled pathophysiology is still not fully known. Due to the serious health burden of DN, novel potential biomarkers have been proposed to improve early identification of the disease. In this complex landscape, several lines of evidence supported a critical role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating posttranscriptional levels of protein-coding genes involved in DN pathophysiology. Indeed, intriguing data showed that deregulation of certain miRNAs (e.g., miRNAs 21, -25, -92, -210, -126, -216, and -377) were pathogenically linked to the onset and the progression of DN, suggesting not only a role as early biomarkers but also as potential therapeutic targets. To date, these regulatory biomolecules represent the most promising diagnostic and therapeutic options for DN in adult patients, while similar pediatric evidence is still limited. More, findings from these elegant studies, although promising, need to be deeper investigated in larger validation studies. In an attempt to provide a comprehensive pediatric overview in the field, we aimed to summarize the most recent evidence on the emerging role of miRNAs in pediatric DN pathophysiology.
Pain Relief in Dental Local Anaesthesia with Vibrational Devices: Much Ado about Nothing? A Scoping Review
Authors: Putrino Alessandra , Abed Maria Rosaria , Marinelli Enrico , Zaami Simona
Published: February 2023

In recent years, vibrational devices have been introduced in order to reduce patient discomfort in some situations such as orofacial pain, orthodontic therapy, and injection of local anaesthetics. This article aims to review the clinical experience given by the use of these devices in local anaesthesia. The literature search was carried out on the main scientific databases for articles up to November 2022. Eligibility criteria were established, and pertinent articles selected. The results were classified by author, year, type of study, sample size and characteristics, purpose of use, type of vibrational device used, protocol used, and outcomes. Nine relevant articles were found. These are split mouth randomized clinical trials which evaluate the reduction in pain perception with different devices and different protocols of use in children, during procedures which require local analgesia by injection, compared with traditional local anaesthesia with premedication based on anaesthetic gels. Different objective and subjective scales of pain and discomfort perception were used. Although results are promising, some data, such as those relating to vibrational intensity and frequency, are not clear. Evaluations on samples varying by age and context of use are necessary to fully define the indications for this type of aid during oral rehabilitation procedures.
Next-Generation Sequencing in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Suspected Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Leitl Christoph J. , Stoll Sandra E. , Wetsch Wolfgang A. , Kammerer Tobias , Mathes Alexander , Böttiger Bernd W. , Seifert Harald , Dusse Fabian
Published: February 2023

Background: Rapid pathogen identification and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are crucial in critically ill COVID-19 patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and potential therapeutic benefit of additional next-generation sequencing (NGS) of microbial DNA from plasma in these patients. Methods: This monocentric descriptive retrospective study reviewed clinical data and pathogen diagnostics in COVID-19 ICU patients. NGS (DISQVER®) and blood culture (BC) samples were obtained on suspicion of BSIs. Data were reviewed regarding the adjustment of antimicrobial therapy and diagnostic procedures seven days after sampling and analyzed using the Chi²-test. Results: Twenty-five cases with simultaneous NGS and BC sampling were assessed. The NGS positivity rate was 52% (13/25) with the detection of 23 pathogens (14 bacteria, 1 fungus, 8 viruses), and the BC positivity rate was 28% (7/25, 8 bacteria; p = 0.083). The NGS-positive patients were older (75 vs. 59.5 years; p = 0.03) with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (77% vs. 33%; p = 0.03). These NGS results led to diagnostic procedures in four cases and to the commencement of four antimicrobial therapies in three cases. Empirical treatment was considered appropriate and continued in three cases. Conclusions: In COVID-19 patients with suspected BSIs, NGS may provide a higher positivity rate than BC and enable new therapeutic approaches.
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Hospitalized Patients on Anticoagulants—A Two Center Matched Case-Control Study
Authors: Veldeman Michael , Rossmann Tobias , Weiss Miriam , Conzen-Dilger Catharina , Korja Miikka , Hoellig Anke , Virta Jyri J. , Satopää Jarno , Luostarinen Teemu , Clusmann Hans , Niemelä Mika , Raj Rahul
Published: February 2023

Objective—Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are replacing vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for the prevention of ischemic stroke and venous thromboembolism. We set out to assess the effect of prior treatment with DOAC and VKA in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods—Consecutive SAH patients treated at two (Aachen, Germany and Helsinki, Finland) university hospitals were considered for inclusion. To assess the association between anticoagulant treatments on SAH severity measure by modified Fisher grading (mFisher) and outcome as measured by the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS, 6 months), DOAC- and VKA-treated patients were compared against age- and sex-matched SAH controls without anticoagulants. Results—During the inclusion timeframes, 964 SAH patients were treated in both centers. At the time point of aneurysm rupture, nine patients (0.93%) were on DOAC treatment, and 15 (1.6%) patients were on VKA. These were matched to 34 and 55 SAH age- and sex-matched controls, re-spectively. Overall, 55.6% of DOAC-treated patients suffered poor-grade (WFNS4–5) SAH compared to 38.2% among their respective controls (p = 0.35); 53.3% of patients on VKA suffered poor-grade SAH compared to 36.4% in their respective controls (p = 0.23). Neither treatment with DOAC (aOR 2.70, 95%CI 0.30 to 24.23; p = 0.38), nor VKA (aOR 2.78, 95%CI 0.63 to 12.23; p = 0.18) were inde-pendently associated with unfavorable outcome (GOS1–3) after 12 months. Conclusions—Iatrogenic coagulopathy caused by DOAC or VKA was not associated with more severe radiological or clinical subarachnoid hemorrhage or worse clinical outcome in hospitalized SAH patients.
Applications of Airway Ultrasound for Endotracheal Intubation in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Liu Yijun , Ma Wei , Liu Jin
Published: February 2023

Endotracheal intubation is a challenging procedure for pediatric patients. Airway ultrasound as a new technology is suitable for aiding this process, but its diagnostic value remains unclear. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Chinese biomedical literature database to summarize specific applications of airway ultrasound in each step of endotracheal intubation in pediatric patients. Diagnostic accuracy and 95% confidence interval were used as outcomes. In total, 33 studies (6 randomized controlled trials and 27 diagnostic studies) with 1934 airway ultrasound examinations were included. Population included neonates, infants, and older children. Airway ultrasound could be used to determine the endotracheal tube size and confirm endotracheal intubation and intubation depth; the diagnostic accuracy for all these factors was 23.3–100%, 90.6–100%, and 66.7–100%, respectively. Furthermore, the accuracy of airway ultrasound in predicting endotracheal tube size was consistently higher than traditional methods, such as height formula, age formula, and the width of the little finger. In conclusion, airway ultrasound has unique advantages for confirming successful endotracheal intubation in pediatric patients, and it may become an effective auxiliary tool in this field. There is a need to develop a unified airway ultrasound protocol to conduct clinical trials and practice in the future.
Guided Dental Implant Surgery: Systematic Review
Authors: Dioguardi Mario , Spirito Francesca , Quarta Cristian , Sovereto Diego , Basile Elisabetta , Ballini Andrea , Caloro Giorgia Apollonia , Troiano Giuseppe , Lo Muzio Lorenzo , Mastrangelo Filiberto
Published: February 2023

Among the common procedures in clinical practice in the field of dentistry is prosthetic rehabilitation through the insertion of dental implants. In order to obtain the best aesthetic and functional results, the oral surgeon who deals with implantology must be able to position the dental implants correctly; a crucial role is therefore played by the diagnostic and treatment planning phases, where attention must be paid to anatomical constraints and prosthetic constraints in the alveolar bone site. The parameters, such as bone quality, bone volume, and anatomical restrictions, can be processed and simulated using implant planning software. The simulation of the virtual positioning of the implant can lead to the construction of a three-dimensional model of the implant positioning guide, which can be used during the implant surgery. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate survival rates, early and late failure rates, peri-implant bone remodeling, and possible implant-prosthetic complications related to implants placed using digitally designed surgical guides. This systematic review was written following the indications of PRISMA and envisaged the use of 3 databases: Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Results: Only 9 of the 2001 records were included, including 2 retrospective studies and 7 prospective studies. Conclusion: On the basis of the studies selected in this review, it can be seen that the implant survival obtained with the use of guided implant surgery shows high percentages. Many recorded failures occurred early, due to a lack of osseointegration, and the variables that come into play in the survival of the implants are many.
Improved Fly Ash Based Structural Foam Concrete with Polypropylene Fiber
Authors: Beskopylny Alexey N. , Shcherban’ Evgenii M. , Stel’makh Sergey A. , Mailyan Levon R. , Meskhi Besarion , Varavka Valery , Chernil’nik Andrei , Pogrebnyak Anastasia
Published: February 2023

The direction of construction science that is associated with the development of the theory and practice of creating a new generation of foam concrete is particularly interesting and relevant. The development of improved structural foam concrete using polypropylene fiber and industrial waste, namely fly ash (FA), is prompted by the existing environmental threat posed by FA; this threat is a result of the operation of the fuel energy industry, as well as the possibility of using foam concrete not only as thermal insulation, but as the main material for load-bearing structures that have a certain level of responsibility. The aim of this work was to create and optimize the recipe technological parameters to produce non-autoclaved fiber foam concrete (FFC) using FA as a component. The study used standardized methods for assessing the properties of FFC, and the method of optical microscopy to analyze the structural characteristics of the material. It has been revealed that the replacement of cement with FA in an amount of 10% to 40% helps to reduce the dry density (DD) of FFC. The lowest DD was recorded for samples with 40% FA. The best results for the compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) were recorded for FFC samples with 10% FA instead of cement. The increase in CS was 12%, and the increase in FS was 23%. The best thermal insulation properties of FFC, and in terms of resistance to freezing and thawing, were recorded in samples with a 10% replacement of cement with FA. The maximum decrease in thermal conductivity was 14%.
Inter-Laboratory Study on Measuring the Surface Charge of Electrically Polarized Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Ubele-Kalnina Darta , Nakamura Miho , Gross Karlis Agris
Published: February 2023

Surface charges on implants improve integration into bone and so require a clear protocol for achieving a surface charge and comparable results from different laboratories. This study sintered hydroxyapatite (HAp) at one laboratory to remove the influence of the microstructure on surface charge and then polarized/depolarized the pellets at two different laboratories (in Tokyo and Riga). Surface charges on HAp pellets induced by electric polarization at 400 °C in a 5 kV/cm DC electric field were measured by the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) method as 6–9 µC/cm2. The surface charge results were comparable between laboratories and also agreed with previously documented values. Recommendations describe conditions for polarization and depolarization to generate a surface charge and repeatedly achieve a comparable outcome. A visual display of the polarization mechanisms and the contribution to surface charge point to further aspects that need further development.
Review on Bioinspired Design of ECM-Mimicking Scaffolds by Computer-Aided Assembly of Cell-Free and Cell Laden Micro-Modules
Authors: Salerno Aurelio , Netti Paolo Antonio
Published: February 2023

Tissue engineering needs bioactive drug delivery scaffolds capable of guiding cell biosynthesis and tissue morphogenesis in three dimensions. Several strategies have been developed to design and fabricate ECM-mimicking scaffolds suitable for directing in vitro cell/scaffold interaction, and controlling tissue morphogenesis in vivo. Among these strategies, emerging computer aided design and manufacturing processes, such as modular tissue unit patterning, promise to provide unprecedented control over the generation of biologically and biomechanically competent tissue analogues. This review discusses recent studies and highlights the role of scaffold microstructural properties and their drug release capability in cell fate control and tissue morphogenesis. Furthermore, the work highlights recent advances in the bottom-up fabrication of porous scaffolds and hybrid constructs through the computer-aided assembly of cell-free and/or cell-laden micro-modules. The advantages, current limitations, and future challenges of these strategies are described and discussed.
Adapt, Explore, or Keep Going? The Role of Adaptability, Curiosity, and Perseverance in a Network of Study-Related Factors and Scholastic Success
Authors: Feraco Tommaso , Sella Enrico , Meneghetti Chiara , Cona Giorgia
Published: February 2023

Soft skills are the key characteristics for students’ success and wellbeing in the 21st century, but they were only rarely studied contemporarily or integrated into comprehensive models of self-regulated learning. This makes it difficult to understand the role that specific skills have above and beyond the others and how they work together to favor students’ achievement and life satisfaction. For this reason, in a sample of 585 students (10–18 years old), we applied an exploratory network analysis and studied three crucial soft skills (i.e., adaptability, curiosity, and perseverance) and their contemporary network of inter-relationships with a host of functional study-related factors, including self-regulated learning strategies, motivation, emotions, cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and life and school satisfaction. Results show that the three soft skills play a positive role within the school context through their association with the majority of the study-related factors that mediate their relationships with academic achievement. Importantly, the results differentiated adaptability (which mainly relates with wellbeing and emotional variables), perseverance (which relates with the cognitive and behavioral aspect of learning), and curiosity (which bridges the connection between the other skills and relates with emotional and behavioral variables) in the school context. Overall, these findings contribute to the deepening of the theoretical framework on soft skills and their role as part of a successful learning profile, and inform us about the possible effectiveness of intervention on soft skills for students’ achievement and wellbeing.
Further Study on One of the Numerical Methods for Pure Loss of Stability in Stern Quartering Waves
Authors: Lu Jiang , Gu Min , Boulougouris Evangelos
Published: February 2023

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) finalized the second-generation intact stability criteria in 2022. However, an accurate and practical numerical method for stability loss has yet to be established. Therefore, a 6 DOF numerical model is further improved based on the previous study. Firstly, the rolling motion is simulated using a seakeeping model instead of the previous maneuvering mathematical model. Secondly, the roll-restoring variation is calculated directly considering the instantaneous wet hull instead of the previous pre-calculated method. Thirdly, transferring frequency to time is used to obtain heave and pitch motions, further considering yaw angle and sway velocity. Fourthly, the dynamic forces for sway, roll, and yaw motions are calculated, further considering the effect of the speed variation. Fifthly, the 6 DOF motions are used to determine the instantaneous wet hull, and the FK force and the hydrostatic force are calculated by the body’s exact method. Finally, a new conclusion is obtained that the sway and yaw motions’ effect on the ship speed loss, the relative longitudinal wave profile by the speed loss, the rudder angles, and the accompanying rudder forces in the rolling direction are significant, and much more than their centrifugal force or coupled force in the rolling direction.
Genome Sequencing of Streptomyces griseus SCSIO PteL053, the Producer of 2,2′-Bipyridine and Actinomycin Analogs, and Associated Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Analysis
Authors: Govindarajan Ganesan , Yao Ziwei , Zhou Zhenbin , Zheng Xiaohong , Ma Junying , Kumar Pachaiyappan Saravana , Ju Jianhua , Sun Changli
Published: February 2023

Marine symbiotic actinomycetes play a key role in drug development and their ecological niches can influence a variety of natural product biosynthesis, providing potential defensive benefits. In this study, we report the whole-genome sequence analysis of marine gastropod mollusk Planaxis sp.-associated Streptomyces griseus SCSIO PteL053, which harbors 28 putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Among them, two BGCs encoded by a hybrid non-ribosomal peptide (NRPS)/polyketide (PKS) synthetase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) are responsible for the synthesis of the known therapeutic metabolites 2,2′-bipyridine and actinomycin analogs, respectively. Detailed bioinformatics analysis revealed the putative BGCs and the functions of the involved genes in the biosynthesis of the known compounds SF2738D (1), SF2738F (2), actinomycin D (3), and Actinomycin Xoβ (4). In the present study, complete-genome sequencing allowed us to rediscover known, clinically useful secondary metabolites in the newly isolated Streptomyces griseus SCSIO PteL053.
A Simple Model of Sea-Surface Cooling under a Tropical Cyclone
Authors: Oey Leo
Published: February 2023

A major ocean response to tropical cyclone (TC) wind is the mixing of warm sea-surface water with cool subsurface water, which decreases the sea-surface temperature (SST). The decreased SST (δT) under the TC (rather than the cooled water in the wake after the storm has passed) modifies the storm’s intensity and is of interest to TC intensity studies. Here, the author shows that δT (non-dimensionalized by some reference temperature) is linearly related to Ψ, a dimensionless (nonlinear) function of TC and ocean parameters: the TC maximum wind, radius, and translation speed, as well as the ocean’s 26 °C and 20 °C isothermal depths (Z26 and Z20). The Ψ can be estimated from observations. The modelled δT is validated against sea-surface cooling observed by satellites, δTo, for typhoons during the May–December 2015 period in the western North Pacific. The result yields a best-fit, linear relation between δTo and Ψ that explains ~60% of the observed variance: r2 ≈ 0.6 (99% confidence). Tests show that the cube of the TC maximum wind and the ocean’s Z26 account for 46% and 7%, respectively, of the observed variance, indicating their predominant influence on TC-induced cooling. Contributions from other parameters are less but not negligible.
Dynamic Response Characteristics of the Hydraulic Rotary System of an Azimuth Thruster for a Dynamic Positioning Vessel
Authors: Liu Ruiqi , Jin Zhongyu , Li Xinfei , Yuan Lihao
Published: February 2023

The composition characteristics and working principle of the hydraulic rotary system of the azimuth thruster were analyzed. The mathematical model of the rotary dynamic system of the pump-controlled hydraulic motor driving the gear reduction mechanism was established. Additionally, a fast tracking method for the azimuth angle of the azimuth thruster was proposed to analyze the rotary azimuth angle, angular velocity and dynamic response characteristics of the hydraulic system for different desired azimuth angles. The simulation results show that the established dynamic model can simulate the rotary motion response process of the real thruster, and can realize the rapid and accurate tracking of the azimuth angle. At the same time, the physical constraints of the rotary dynamic response were established. It provides an important reference for research on the motion control methods of dynamic positioning vessels.
CFD Simulation of Centrifugal Pump with Different Impeller Blade Trailing Edges
Authors: Li Hui , Chen Yongjun , Yang Yang , Wang Shixin , Bai Ling , Zhou Ling
Published: February 2023

The centrifugal pump is one of the most widely used types of power machinery in the field of ship and ocean engineering, and the shape of the impeller blade trailing edge has an important influence on their performance. To reveal the mechanism of the effect of different trailing edges on external performance, the internal flow of 16 types of impeller blade trailing edges of a centrifugal pump, consisting of Bezier trailing edges, rounding on the pressure side, cutting on the suction side, and the original trailing edge is studied by numerical simulation. The reverse flow, shaft power, and energy loss distribution in the impeller and diffuser along the streamwise direction are analyzed by calculating them on each micro control body sliced from the fluid domain. The entropy production theory and Ω-vortex identification method are used to display the magnitude and location of energy loss and the vortex structure. Finally, a static structural analysis of the impeller with different trailing edges is performed. The results show that different impeller trailing edges can clearly affect the efficiency of the pump, i.e., the thinner the trailing edge, the higher the efficiency, with the thickest model reducing efficiency by 5.71% and the thinnest model increasing efficiency by 0.59% compared to the original one. Changing the shape of the impeller trailing edge has a great influence on the reverse flow, shaft power, and energy loss near the impeller trailing edge and diffuser inlet but has little influence on the leading part of the impeller. The distribution of local entropy production rate, energy loss, and reverse flow along the streamwise direction shows similar rules, with a local maximum near the leading edge of the impeller due to the impact effect, and a global maximum near the impeller trailing edge resulting from strong flow separation and high vortex strength due to the jet-wake flow. Thinning the impeller trailing edge and smoothing its connection with the blade can reduce the vortex strength and entropy production near the impeller trailing edge and diffuser inlet, improve the flow pattern, and reduce energy loss, thus improving the pump efficiency. In all models, the maximum equivalent stress is less than 6.5 MPa and the maximum total deformation is less than 0.065mm. The results are helpful for a deeper understanding of the complex flow mechanism of the centrifugal pump with different blade trailing edges.
Concrete Autoencoder for the Reconstruction of Sea Temperature Field from Sparse Measurements
Authors: Lobashev Alexander A. , Turko Nikita A. , Ushakov Konstantin V. , Kaurkin Maxim N. , Ibrayev Rashit A.
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a new method for finding the optimal positions for sensors used to reconstruct geophysical fields from sparse measurements. The method is composed of two stages. In the first stage, we estimate the spatial variability of the physical field by approximating its information entropy using the Conditional Pixel CNN network. In the second stage, the entropy is used to initialize the distribution of optimal sensor locations, which is then optimized using the Concrete Autoencoder architecture with the straight-through gradient estimator for the binary mask and with adversarial loss. This allows us to simultaneously minimize the number of sensors and maximize reconstruction accuracy. We apply our method to the global ocean under-surface temperature field and demonstrate its effectiveness on fields with up to a million grid cells. Additionally, we find that the information entropy field has a clear physical interpretation related to the mixing between cold and warm currents.
A Simplified Method to Predict the Crush Behavior of Offshore Bonded Rubber Hose
Authors: Gao Pan , Li Chuangchuang , Wang Hui , Gao Qiang , Li Youan
Published: February 2023

Crush load is one of the common loads for offshore composite rubber hoses. It may induce the damage of the hose on the reel and the tanker reel hose. A theoretical approach is proposed to evaluate the response of the hose to the crush load, which is fulfilled in three steps. (1) The hose wall is treated as a composite shell, and its mechanical properties are deduced based on the rule of the mixture of the composite. (2) The composite hose is equalized as a homogeneous hose, and the equivalent shell thickness is determined based on the strain energy equivalence. On one hand, the relationship between the strain energy and the wall thickness is theoretically deduced for the equivalent homogeneous hose. On the other hand, an FE model of the composite hose is loaded to obtain the strain energy. The equivalence of the two models implies the equality of the strain energy. Therefore, the strain energy is used to calculate the wall thickness of the equivalent homogeneous hose. (3) The response of the homogeneous hose to the crush load is deduced based on the elastic shell theory. The proposed method is validated against an indoor test. It is found that the proposed approach slightly overestimates the rigidity of the hose. This is probably due to the initial imperfection of the test specimen, which reduces the rigidity of the hose. The proposed approach could be a valuable tool for the future design of offshore composite rubber hoses.
Fungi That Promote Plant Growth in the Rhizosphere Boost Crop Growth
Authors: Adedayo Afeez Adesina , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: February 2023

The fungi species dwelling in the rhizosphere of crop plants, revealing functions that endeavor sustainability of the plants, are commonly referred to as ‘plant-growth-promoting fungi’ (PGPF). They are biotic inducers that provide benefits and carry out important functions in agricultural sustainability. The problem encountered in the agricultural system nowadays is how to meet population demand based on crop yield and protection without putting the environment and human and animal health at risk based on crop production. PGPF including Trichoderma spp., Gliocladium virens, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus flavus, Actinomucor elegans, Podospora bulbillosa, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, etc., have proven their ecofriendly nature to ameliorate the production of crops by improving the growth of the shoots and roots of crop plants, the germination of seeds, the production of chlorophyll for photosynthesis, and the abundant production of crops. PGPF’s potential mode of action is as follows: the mineralization of the major and minor elements required to support plants’ growth and productivity. In addition, PGPF produce phytohormones, induced resistance, and defense-related enzymes to inhibit or eradicate the invasion of pathogenic microbes, in other words, to help the plants while encountering stress. This review portrays the potential of PGPF as an effective bioagent to facilitate and promote crop production, plant growth, resistance to disease invasion, and various abiotic stresses.
Identifying Bioactive Ingredients and Antioxidant Activities of Wild Sanghuangporus Species of Medicinal Fungi
Authors: Wang Hao , Ma Jin-Xin , Wu Dong-Mei , Gao Neng , Si Jing , Cui Bao-Kai
Published: February 2023

Sanghuangporus refers to a group of rare medicinal fungi with remarkable therapeutic properties. However, current knowledge on the bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activities of different species of this genus is limited. In this study, a total of 15 wild strains from 8 species of Sanghuangporus were selected as the experimental materials for identification of the bioactive components (polysaccharide, polyphenol, flavonoid, triterpenoid, and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant activities (scavenging activities against hydroxyl, superoxide, DPPH, and ABTS radicals; superoxide dismutase activity; and ferric reducing ability of plasma). Notably, individual strains contained different levels of various indicators, among which Sanghuangporus baumii Cui 3573, S. sanghuang Cui 14419 and Cui 14441, S. vaninii Dai 9061, and S. zonatus Dai 10841 displayed the strongest activities. The correlation analysis of bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activities revealed that the antioxidant capacity of Sanghuangporus is mainly associated with the contents of flavonoid and ascorbic acid, followed by polyphenol and triterpenoid, and finally, polysaccharide. Together, the results obtained from the comprehensive and systematic comparative analyses contribute further potential resources and critical guidance for the separation, purification, and further development and utilization of bioactive agents from wild Sanghuangporus species, as well as the optimization of their artificial cultivation conditions.
Emergence of Clonally-Related South Asian Clade I Clinical Isolates of Candida auris in a Greek COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Katsiari Maria , Mavroidi Angeliki , Kesesidis Nikolaos , Palla Eleftheria , Zourla Konstantina , Ntorlis Kyriakos , Konstantinidis Konstantinos , Laskou Maria , Strigklis Konstantinos , Sakkalis Anastasios , Nikolaou Charikleia , Platsouka Evangelia D. , Karakasiliotis Ioannis , Vrioni Georgia , Tsakris Athanasios
Published: February 2023

Candida auris has recently emerged as a multidrug-resistant yeast implicated in various healthcare-associated invasive infections and hospital outbreaks. In the current study, we report the first five intensive care unit (ICU) cases affected by C. auris isolates in Greece, during October 2020–January 2022. The ICU of the hospital was converted to a COVID-19 unit on 25 February 2021, during the third wave of COVID-19 in Greece. Identification of the isolates was confirmed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF]. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by the EUCAST broth microdilution method. Based on the tentative CDC MIC breakpoints, all five C. auris isolates were resistant to fluconazole (≥32 μg/mL), while three of them exhibited resistance to amphotericin B (≥2 μg/mL). The environmental screening also revealed the dissemination of C. auris in the ICU. Molecular characterization of C. auris clinical and environmental isolates was performed by MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST) of a set of four genetic loci, namely ITS, D1/D2, RPB1 and RPB2, encoding for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the ribosomal subunit, the large ribosomal subunit region and the RNA polymerase II largest subunit, respectively. MLST analysis showed that all isolates possessed identical sequences in the four genetic loci and clustered with the South Asian clade I strains. Additionally, PCR amplification and sequencing of the CJJ09_001802 genetic locus, encoding for the “nucleolar protein 58” that contains clade-specific repeats was performed. Sanger sequence analysis of the TCCTTCTTC repeats within CJJ09_001802 locus also assigned the C. auris isolates to the South Asian clade I. Our study confirms that C. auris is an emerging yeast pathogen in our region, especially in the setting of the ongoing COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Adherence to strict infection control is needed to restrain further spread of the pathogen.
The Lichen Genus Sticta (Lobariaceae, Peltigerales) in East African Montane Ecosystems
Authors: Kaasalainen Ulla , Kirika Paul M. , Mollel Neduvoto P. , Hemp Andreas , Rikkinen Jouko
Published: February 2023

The lichen flora of Africa is still poorly known. In many parts of the tropics, recent studies utilizing DNA methods have revealed extraordinary diversity among various groups of lichenized fungi, including the genus Sticta. In this study, East African Sticta species and their ecology are reviewed using the genetic barcoding marker nuITS and morphological characters. The studied regions represent montane areas in Kenya and Tanzania, including the Taita Hills and Mt. Kilimanjaro, which belong to the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. Altogether 14 Sticta species are confirmed from the study region, including the previously reported S. fuliginosa, S. sublimbata, S. tomentosa, and S. umbilicariiformis. Sticta andina, S. ciliata, S. duplolimbata, S. fuliginoides, and S. marginalis are reported as new to Kenya and/or Tanzania. Sticta afromontana, S. aspratilis, S. cellulosa, S. cyanocaperata, and S. munda, are described as new to science. The abundance of new diversity detected and the number of taxa represented by only few specimens show that more comprehensive sampling of the region may be needed to reveal the true diversity of Sticta in East Africa. More generally, our results highlight the need for further taxonomic studies of lichenized fungi in the region.
Spot–Futures Price Adjustments in the Nikkei 225: Linear or Smooth Transition? Financial Centre Leadership or Home Bias?
Authors: Qin Jieye , Green Christopher J. , Sirichand Kavita
Published: February 2023

This paper studies price discovery in Nikkei 225 markets through the nonlinear smooth transition price adjustments between spot and future prices and across all three futures markets. We test for smooth transition nonlinearity and employ an exponential smooth transition error correction model (ESTECM) with exponential generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (EGARCH), allowing for the effects of transaction costs, heterogeneity, and asymmetry in Nikkei price adjustments. We show that the ESTECM-EGARCH is the appropriate model as it offers new insights into Nikkei price dynamics and information transmission across international markets. For spot–futures price dynamics, we find that futures led spot prices before the crisis, but spot prices led afterwards. This can be explained by the lower level of heterogeneity in the underlying spot transaction costs after the crisis. For cross-border futures prices, the foreign exchanges (Chicago and Singapore) lead in price discovery, which can be attributed to their roles as global information centres and their flexible trading conditions, such as a more heterogeneous structure of transaction costs. The foreign leadership is robust to the use of linear or nonlinear models, the time differences between Chicago and the other markets, and the long-run liquidity conditions of the Nikkei futures markets, and strongly supports the international centre hypothesis.
Interdisciplinary Analysis of Science Communication on Social Media during the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Mandl Thomas , Jaki Sylvia , Mitera Hannah , Schmidt Franziska
Published: February 2023

In times of crisis, science communication needs to be accessible and convincing. In order to understand whether these two criteria apply to concrete science communication formats, it is not enough to merely study the communication product. Instead, the recipient’s perspective also needs to be taken into account. What do recipients value in popular science communication formats concerning COVID-19? What do they criticize? What elements in the formats do they pay attention to? These questions can be answered by reception studies, for example, by analyzing the reactions and comments of social media users. This is particularly relevant since scientific information was increasingly disseminated over social media channels during the COVID-19 crisis. This interdisciplinary study, therefore, focuses both on science communication strategies in media formats and the related comments on social media. First, we selected science communication channels on YouTube and performed a qualitative multi-modal analysis. Second, the comments responding to science communication content online were analyzed by identifying Twitter users who are doctors, researchers, science communicators and those who represent research institutes and then, subsequently, performing topic modeling on the textual data. The main goal was to find topics that directly related to science communication strategies. The qualitative video analysis revealed, for example, a range of strategies for accessible communication and maintaining transparency about scientific insecurities. The quantitative Twitter analysis showed that few tweets commented on aspects of the communication strategies. These were mainly positive while the sentiment in the overall collection was less positive. We downloaded and processed replies for 20 months, starting at the beginning of the pandemic, which resulted in a collection of approximately one million tweets from the German science communication market.
Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area
Authors: Ghorbani Mohammad , Amirahmadi Elnaz , Konvalina Petr , Moudrý Jan , Kopecký Marek , Hoang Trong Nghia
Published: February 2023

Alterations of soil characteristics frequently accompany adaptations of pristine areas to different land uses, and these shifts have an impact on the overall ecosystem. Soil carbon stores and atmospheric CO2 emissions are directly affected by those adaptations in farming management and land usage. To comprehend the mechanisms involved in the carbon pool, this study was conducted in a subtropical region by considering six contiguous land uses; pasture, rice land, kiwi orchard, tea land, woodland, and uncultivated land. A CO2 trap was used to quantify CO2 emissions for six weeks, and the obtained data were used to analyze CO2 respiration. In comparison to other land uses, the pasture and woodland showed the best results in soil microbial respiration (SMR), significantly higher than other land uses, with values of 2561.2 and 2334.8 mg CO2-C kg−1 soil, respectively. Tea land and uncultivated land demonstrated considerably increased microbial metabolic quotients (MMQ) compared to other land uses. Whereas with an increase in soil depth, the MMQ significantly increased in tea and uncultivated lands, other land uses did not show significant changes with depth. Compared to other land uses, pasture, and forest areas boosted soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) both in the top and subsoil. It is reasonable to assume that the amount of SOC and MBC in the soil significantly dropped when the land was converted from pasture and woodland to other land uses.