bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development of an Intelligent Agent to Detect and Non-Invasively Characterize Lung Lesions on CT Scans: Ready for the “Real World”?
Authors: Sollini Martina , Kirienko Margarita , Gozzi Noemi , Bruno Alessandro , Torrisi Chiara , Balzarini Luca , Voulaz Emanuele , Alloisio Marco , Chiti Arturo
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Once lung lesions are identified on CT scans, they must be characterized by assessing the risk of malignancy. Despite the promising performance of computer-aided systems, some limitations related to the study design and technical issues undermine these tools’ efficiency; an “intelligent agent” to detect and non-invasively characterize lung lesions on CT scans is proposed. (2) Methods: Two main modules tackled the detection of lung nodules on CT scans and the diagnosis of each nodule into benign and malignant categories. Computer-aided detection (CADe) and computer aided-diagnosis (CADx) modules relied on deep learning techniques such as Retina U-Net and the convolutional neural network; (3) Results: Tests were conducted on one publicly available dataset and two local datasets featuring CT scans acquired with different devices to reveal deep learning performances in “real-world” clinical scenarios. The CADe module reached an accuracy rate of 78%, while the CADx’s accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity stand at 80%, 73%, and 85.7%, respectively; (4) Conclusions: Two different deep learning techniques have been adapted for CADe and CADx purposes in both publicly available and private CT scan datasets. Experiments have shown adequate performance in both detection and diagnosis tasks. Nevertheless, some drawbacks still characterize the supervised learning paradigm employed in networks such as CNN and Retina U-Net in real-world clinical scenarios, with CT scans from different devices with different sensors’ fingerprints and spatial resolution. Continuous reassessment of CADe and CADx’s performance is needed during their implementation in clinical practice.
ZnO Particles Stabilized in Polymeric Matrix for Liquid-Phase Methanol Synthesis
Authors: Doluda Valentin Yu. , Tkachenko Olga P. , Stepacheva Antonina A. , Sidorov Alexander I. , Bykov Alexey V. , Sulman Mikhail G. , Kosivtsov Yury Yu.
Published: January 2023

ZnO supported on hypercrosslinked polystyrene was developed for liquid-phase methanol synthesis. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using the low-temperature nitrogen physisorption, TEM, XPS, XAS, and CO DRIFT methods. The analysis showed that the catalyst has a high specific surface area (720 m2/g) and is characterized by the micro-mesoporous structure typical of the polymer used. The active phase is represented by ZnO species with a hexagonal wurtzite structure. ZnO-HPS showed high activity, selectivity, and stability in liquid-phase methanol synthesis in comparison with the industrial catalyst. The activity of the proposed catalyst was found to be 1.64 times higher than that of the conventional Cu/ZnO/Al2O3.
Maternal High Fat Diet Anticipates the AD-like Phenotype in 3xTg-AD Mice by Epigenetic Dysregulation of Aβ Metabolism
Authors: Natale Francesca , Spinelli Matteo , Rinaudo Marco , Cocco Sara , Nifo Sarrapochiello Ida , Fusco Salvatore , Grassi Claudio
Published: January 2023

Maternal overnutrition has been reported to affect brain plasticity of the offspring by altering gene expression, regulating both synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis. However, whether perinatal metabolic stress may influence the accumulation of misfolded proteins and the development of neurodegeneration remains to be clarified. We investigated the impact of maternal high fat diet (HFD) in an experimental model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The 3xTg-AD mice born to overfed mothers showed an impairment of synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits earlier than controls. Maternal HFD also altered the expression of genes regulating amyloid-β-protein (Aβ) metabolism (i.e., Bace1, Ern1, Ide and Nicastrin) and enhanced Aβ deposition in the hippocampus. Finally, we found an epigenetic derangement and an aberrant recruitment of transcription factors NF-kB and STAT3 and chromatin remodeler HDAC2 on the regulatory sequences of the same genes. Collectively, our data indicate that early life metabolic stress worsens the AD phenotype via epigenetic alteration of genes regulating Aβ synthesis and clearance.
Breaking Barriers to Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing in Pediatrics: Michigan’s Project Baby Deer
Authors: Bupp Caleb P. , Ames Elizabeth G. , Arenchild Madison K. , Caylor Sara , Dimmock David P. , Fakhoury Joseph D. , Karna Padmani , Lehman April , Meghea Cristian I. , Misra Vinod , Nolan Danielle A. , O’Shea Jessica , Sharangpani Aditi , Franck Linda S. , Scheurer-Monaghan Andrea
Published: January 2023

The integration of precision medicine in the care of hospitalized children is ever evolving. However, access to new genomic diagnostics such as rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) is hindered by barriers in implementation. Michigan’s Project Baby Deer (PBD) is a multi-center collaborative effort that sought to break down barriers to access by offering rWGS to critically ill neonatal and pediatric inpatients in Michigan. The clinical champion team used a standardized approach with inclusion and exclusion criteria, shared learning, and quality improvement evaluation of the project’s impact on the clinical outcomes and economics of inpatient rWGS. Hospitals, including those without on-site geneticists or genetic counselors, noted positive clinical impacts, accelerating time to definitive treatment for project patients. Between 95–214 hospital days were avoided, net savings of $4155 per patient, and family experience of care was improved. The project spurred policy advancement when Michigan became the first state in the United States to have a Medicaid policy with carve-out payment to hospitals for rWGS testing. This state project demonstrates how front-line clinician champions can directly improve access to new technology for pediatric patients and serves as a roadmap for expanding clinical implementation of evidence-based precision medicine technologies.
Motivational Profiles in Physical Education: Differences at the Psychosocial, Gender, Age and Extracurricular Sports Practice Levels
Authors: Heredia-León Diego Andrés , Valero-Valenzuela Alfonso , Gómez-Mármol Alberto , Manzano-Sánchez David
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to analyze the motivational profiles of Physical Education (PE) students and assess differences based on the perception of the support of autonomy, the intention to be physically active, satisfaction with classes, gender, age, and extracurricular sports activities. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 2621 students, aged 8 to 18 years (M = 14.16, SD = 2.28). An analysis of profiles was implemented, taking into account the motivation and the index of psychological mediators. The result of the cluster analysis gave a solution to four motivational profiles: high quality (n = 1094), low quantity (n = 292), low quality (n = 555), and high quantity (n = 680). Students grouped in the high quantity and quality profile presented higher levels of autonomy support, physical activity intention, enjoyment, and lower levels of boredom. Male participants, younger students, and those who participated in extracurricular activity were associated with self-determined profiles. In conclusion, the importance of promoting the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation in PE classes is highlighted, in order to achieve higher values in terms of autonomy support, the intention to be physically active, enjoyment, and to reduce boredom levels in students.
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Patients with Propionic Acidemia—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kovacevic Alexander , Garbade Sven F. , Hörster Friederike , Hoffmann Georg F. , Gorenflo Matthias , Mereles Derliz , Kölker Stefan , Staufner Christian
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: In propionic acidemia (PA), myocardial involvement often leads to progressive cardiac dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV). Cardiomyopathy (CM) is an important contributor to mortality. Although known to be of prognostic value in CM, there are no published data on right ventricular (RV) function in PA patients. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional single-center study, systolic and diastolic RV function of PA patients was assessed by echocardiography, including frequency, onset, and combinations of echocardiographic parameters, as well as correlations to LV size and function. (3) Results: N = 18 patients were enrolled. Tricuspid annulus S’ was abnormal in 16.7%, RV-longitudinal strain in 11.1%, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in 11.1%, Tricuspid valve (TV) E/e’ in 33.3%, and TV E/A in 16.7%. The most prevalent combinations of pathological parameters were TV E/A + TV E/e’ and TAPSE + TV S’. With age, the probability of developing abnormal RV function increases according to age-dependent normative data. There is a significant correlation between TAPSE and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), and RV/LV-longitudinal strain (p ≤ 0.05). N = 5 individuals died 1.94 years (mean) after cardiac evaluation for this study, and all had abnormal RV functional parameters. (4) Conclusions: Signs of diastolic RV dysfunction can be found in up to one third of individuals, and systolic RV dysfunction in 16.7% of individuals in our cohort. RV function is impaired in PA patients with a poor outcome. RV functional parameters should be used to complement clinical and left ventricular echocardiographic findings.
Effect of the Use of Gnrh Analogs in Low-Grade Cerebral Glioma
Authors: de Lucio Delgado Ana , Villegas Rubio Jose Antonio , Riaño-Galán Isolina , Pérez Gordón Juan
Published: January 2023

Low-grade gliomas are the most common brain tumors in children. This tumor type presents a wide range of clinical, histological, and biological behaviors. In recent years, an association between estrogens and progesterone and the development of tumors has been suggested. A case of a 2-year-old girl is described with a low-grade brain tumor treated with chemotherapy and disease stabilization. The treatment with Decapeptyl® was initiated due to precocious puberty, and the tumor showed a decrease in its solid component—more than 50% of the initial size—three years after starting treatment. Several studies have described the influence of estrogen and progesterone on the development of gliomas, decreasing or increasing their expression in those tumors with greater aggressiveness, respectively. Despite the fact that the tumor-hormonal expression relationship in other tumor types has been evaluated, its role in the treatment of brain tumors remains unknown.
The Variability of Hailfall in Catalonia and Its Climatic Implications
Authors: Rigo Tomeu , Farnell Carme
Published: January 2023

In recent years, some works have forecasted the future scenario of severe weather phenomena, which include large hail. In the present manuscript, the authors focus on a region, Catalonia (NE of the Iberian Peninsula), influenced by complex topography, the Mediterranean Sea, and different air masses. These components are a complicated formula in determining the behavior of the hailfall in the Catalan territory. The events of recent years have shown that expectations and the historical context are not always the best indicators for the future, implying the necessity of the further study of hail events. Using radar fields combined with ground registers and a topographic model permits the characterization of the events in the territory. There is high seasonal and annual variability, with reduced hit areas and small vertical developments in non-summer cases. All these factors are not well solved by the spatial resolution of the current climatic models.
Photoprotective Efficacy of the Association of Rosmarinic Acid 0.1% with Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Avobenzone
Authors: de Oliveira Bispo Maíra , Morocho-Jácome Ana Lucía , Escudeiro Cassiano Carlos , Martinez Renata Miliani , de Oliveira Pinto Claudinéia Aparecida Sales , Rosado Catarina , Velasco Maria Valéria Robles , Baby André Rolim
Published: January 2023

Innovative prototype sunscreens with reduced ultraviolet (UV) filters are required to achieve safer, more effective, and more environmentally friendly formulations. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic antioxidant and potential candidate for multifunctional sunscreens. We used RA (0.1% w/w) in combination with avobenzone (2.5% and 5.0% w/w), a UVA filter, and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (10.0% w/w), a UVB filter, to evaluate in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) and critical wavelength, photostability, and the in vivo SPF. RA, in vitro, improved the SPF of F2 (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 10.0% w/w + avobenzone 2.5% w/w + RA 0.1% w/w) and F3 (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 10.0% w/w + avobenzone 5.0% w/w + RA 0.1% w/w), which also presented broad-spectrum profiles; however, no expressive effects were observed for the critical wavelength (nm). By the in vivo trial, RA showed an increment in the F3 SPF value and maintained the F2 effectiveness, even when avobenzone was at 2.5%. Nonetheless, no increase in photostability was observed. Our findings suggest that incorporating natural molecules with antioxidant activities into sunscreens could decrease the proportion of conventional UV filters in the final product, with the advantage of providing other functional properties. Further investigation of higher RA concentrations, even from other sources, and other UV filter combinations could reveal important data for the development of multifunctional sunscreens.
The Impacts of Phosphorus-Containing Compounds on Soil Microorganisms of Rice Rhizosphere Contaminated by Lead
Authors: Pan Xingchen , Shi Wenjun , Feng Guiping , Li Xiaolong , Zhou Qingwei , Fu Li , Jin Meiqing , Wu Weihong
Published: January 2023

The cost effectiveness of using exogenous phosphorus to remediate heavy metals in soil, which would alter the structure of the soil microbial community, had been widely acknowledged. In the present study, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) technology was taken as the breakthrough point, and rhizosphere soil microorganisms in different growth stages (jointing stage and maturity stage) of Minghui 86 (MH) and Yangdao No.6 (YD) rice were taken as the research objects. As revealed by the results, the rhizosphere soil microorganisms of MH and YD had distinct sensitivities to exogenous phosphorus and had a certain inhibitory effect on MH and YD enhancement. The sensitivity of rice root soil microorganisms to exogenous phosphorus also varied in different growth stages of rice. Bacteria were the dominant microorganism in the soil microbial community of rice roots, and the gain of exogenous phosphorus had a certain impact on the structure of the two soil microbial communities. Through analysis of the microbial community characteristics of MH rice and YD soil after adding exogenous phosphorus, further understanding was attained with respect to the effect of exogenous phosphorus on the microbial community characteristics of rice rhizosphere soil and the impact thereof on ecological functions.
On the Usefulness of Employing ANSYS Motor-CAD Software in Designing Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines
Authors: Coteț Florina-Ambrozia , Văscan Iulia , Szabó Loránd
Published: January 2023

This paper deals with the simulation of a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) to be developed for driving a scroll compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system. The simulations were needed for the verification of the pre-sizing and for the electromagnetic behavior analysis of the PMSM. These were performed by using the ANSYS Motor-CAD software. All the obtained results emphasized that the pre-sizing of the PMSM was performed correctly, and the designed electrical machine can fulfill all the prescribed requirements. To highlight the superiority of the chosen surface-mounted PMSM topology, a comparative study was performed for four PMSMs having the same stator but different rotor topologies having the same quantity of permanent magnets. The study revealed that the PMSM with permanent magnets on its rotor surface is the best-fitting variant for the foreseen application. By intensively using the ANSYS Motor-CAD software, the authors appreciated that this product is a very useful tool in the hands of the designers not only in evaluating the machine’s computed geometry (by checking its correctness and feasibility), but also in its in-depth electromagnetic analysis and in calculating its parameters of interest.
Signal Thresholding Segmentation of Ventricular Volumes in Young Patients with Various Diseases—Can We Trust the Numbers?
Authors: Thut Titus , Valsangiacomo Büchel Emanuela , Geiger Julia , Kellenberger Christian Johannes , Rücker Beate , Burkhardt Barbara Elisabeth Ursula
Published: January 2023

In many cardiac diseases, right and left ventricular volumes in systole and diastole are diagnostically and prognostically relevant. Measurements are made by segmentation of the myocardial borders on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images. Automatic detection of myocardial contours is possible by signal thresholding techniques, but must be validated before use in clinical settings. Biventricular volumes were measured in end-diastole (EDVi) and in end-systole (ESVi) both manually and with the MassK application, with signal thresholds at 30%, 50%, and 70%. Stroke volumes (SV) and cardiac indices (CI) were calculated from volumetric measurements and from flow measured in the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery, and both methods were compared. Reproducibility of volumetric measurements was tested in 20 patients. Measurements were acquired in 94 patients aged 15 ± 9 years referred for various conditions. EDVi and ESVi of both ventricles were largest with manual segmentation and inversely proportional to the MassK threshold. Manual and k30 SV and CI corresponded best to flow measurements. Interobserver variability was low for all volumes manually and with MassK. In conclusion, manual and 30% threshold-based biventricular volume segmentation agree best with two-dimensional, phantom-corrected phase contrast flow measurements in a young cardiac referral population and are well reproducible.
Dermatofibromas with Aberrant Expression of CD34 Protein: A Systematic Review and a Reappraisal of Clinicopathological Features and Histogenesis
Authors: Hussein Mahmoud , Abdelwahed Hussein Toka
Published: January 2023

Background: Dermatofibromas (DFs) are benign fibrohistiocytic lesions that usually do not express CD34 protein. This study aimed to analyze the literature concerning the immunohistological and ultrastructural features of DFs. It also related these features to the histogenesis of these lesions. Methods: This study included a PubMed literature search for studies addressing the clinicopathological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of DFs. It also presented some current cases of CD34-negative DFs and a subset of these lesions with aberrant expression of this protein. Results: Analysis of the PubMed literature revealed that DFs with an aberrant expression of CD34 are rare tumors that commonly affect the extremities of adult females. Separating these tumors from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP, CD34-positive tumors) requires using a large panel of immunostains. Ultrastructurally, DFs are composed of diverse cell types, including cells with histiocytic, myofibroblastic, and fibroblastic features. An analysis of the DFs described by this study revealed that cases with an aberrant expression of CD34 protein had slightly high mean age and male sex predominance when compared to CD34-negative cases. The former commonly affected the extremities. There was no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis on follow-up. Conclusions: DFs have the potential to express CD34 protein, defining a rare aberrant phenotype, which was not associated with any differences in the outcome as compared to CD34-negative DFs.
Proposing Intelligent Approach to Predicting Air Kerma within Radiation Beams of Medical X-ray Imaging Systems
Authors: Lu Yanjie , Zheng Nan , Ye Mingtao , Zhu Yihao , Zhang Guodao , Nazemi Ehsan , He Jie
Published: January 2023

The air kerma is a key parameter in medical diagnostic radiology. Radiologists use the air kerma parameter to evaluate organ doses and any associated patient hazards. The air kerma can be simply described as the deposited kinetic energy once a photon passes through the air, and it represents the intensity of the radiation beam. Due to the heel effect in the X-ray sources of medical imaging systems, the air kerma is not uniform within the X-ray beam’s field of view. Additionally, the X-ray tube voltage can also affect this nonuniformity. In this investigation, an intelligent technique based on the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is presented to predict the air kerma at every point within the fields of view of the X-ray beams of medical diagnostic imaging systems based on discrete and limited measured data. First, a diagnostic imaging system was modeled with the help of the Monte Carlo N Particle X version (MCNPX) code. It should be noted that a tungsten target and beryllium window with a thickness of 1 mm (no extra filter was applied) were used for modeling the X-ray tube. Second, the air kerma was calculated at various discrete positions within the conical X-ray beam for tube voltages of 40 kV, 60 kV, 80 kV, 100 kV, 120 kV, and 140 kV (this range covers most medical X-ray imaging applications) to provide the adequate dataset for training the network. The X-ray tube voltage and location of each point at which the air kerma was calculated were used as the RBFNN inputs. The calculated air kerma was also assigned as the output. The trained RBFNN model was capable of estimating the air kerma at any random position within the X-ray beam’s field of view for X-ray tube voltages within the range of medical diagnostic radiology (20–140 kV).
Anemia in Elderly Patients—The Impact of Hemoglobin Cut-Off Levels on Geriatric Domains
Authors: Salis Francesco , Locci Giambeppe , Mura Barbara , Mandas Antonella
Published: January 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of anemia—according to the WHO criteria—on cognitive performances, mood, functional and nutritional status, and comorbidities in a population of subjects aged 65 years or older. The secondary aim of this study was to understand if different hemoglobin cut-off levels are associated with a variation of the mentioned domains’ impairment. Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study, including subjects aged 65 or more consecutively evaluated in an outpatient setting from July 2013 to December 2019. A sum of 1698 subjects met the inclusion criteria. They were evaluated with: MMSE and CDT (cognitive assessment), GDS (mood), BADL, IADL, PPT, and POMA (autonomies), MNA (nutritional status), and CIRS (comorbidities). Results: According to the WHO criteria, non-anemic patients reported significantly better performances than the anemics in BADL (p < 0.0001), IADL (p = 0.0007), PPT (p = 0.0278), POMA (p = 0.0235), MNA, CIRS TOT, CIRS ICC, and CIRS ISC (p < 0.0001). The same tendency has been found by considering the 12 g/dL- and the 13 g/dL-cut-off level in the whole population. The multivariate analysis showed that, considering the 12 g/dL-cut-off level, age (OR: 1.03, p = 0.0072), CIRS (OR: 1.08, p < 0.0001), and gender (OR: 0.57, p = 0.0007) were significant regressors of anemia, while considering the 13 g/dL-cut-off level, age (OR: 1.04, p = 0.0001), POMA (OR: 1.03, p = 0.0172), MNA (OR = 0.95, p = 0.0036), CIRS (OR: 1.17, p < 0.0001), ICC (OR = 0.83, p = 0.018), and gender (OR = 0.48, p < 0.0001) were significant regressors of anemia, while the other CGA variables were excluded by the model (p > 0.01). Conclusions: Our study showed that anemia negatively impact on geriatric people’s general status, regardless of which hemoglobin cut-off level is considered. It also highlighted that hemoglobin concentrations < 13 g/dL, regardless of gender, have an association with the impairment of the affective-functional-nutritional state as well as an increase in comorbidities; therefore, it should be pursuable to consider the elderly person “anemic” if Hb < 13 g/dL regardless of gender.
The Impact of PET/CT on Paediatric Oncology
Authors: Brink Anita , Hlongwa Khanyisile N. , More Stuart
Published: January 2023

This review paper will discuss the use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in paediatric oncology. Functional imaging with PET/CT has proven useful to guide treatment by accurately staging disease and limiting unnecessary treatments by determining the metabolic response to treatment. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (2-[18F]FDG) PET/CT is routinely used in patients with lymphoma. We highlight specific considerations in the paediatric population with lymphoma. The strengths and weaknesses for PET/CT tracers that compliment Meta-[123I]iodobenzylguanidine ([123I]mIBG) for the imaging of neuroblastoma are summarized. 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT has increasingly been used in the staging and evaluation of disease response in sarcomas. The current recommendations for the use of PET/CT in sarcomas are given and potential future developments and highlighted. 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in combination with conventional imaging is currently the standard for disease evaluation in children with Langerhans-cell Histiocytosis (LCH) and the non-LCH disease spectrum. The common pitfalls of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in this setting are discussed.
Classification of Atypical White Blood Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using a Two-Stage Hybrid Model Based on Deep Convolutional Autoencoder and Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Elhassan Tusneem A. , Mohd Rahim Mohd Shafry , Siti Zaiton Mohd Hashim , Swee Tan Tian , Alhaj Taqwa Ahmed , Ali Abdulalem , Aljurf Mahmoud
Published: January 2023

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to numerous medical discoveries. The field of computer vision (CV) for medical diagnosis has received particular attention. Using images of peripheral blood (PB) smears, CV has been utilized in hematology to detect acute leukemia (AL). Significant research has been undertaken in the area of AL diagnosis automation in order to deliver an accurate diagnosis. This study addresses the morphological classification of atypical white blood cells (WBCs), including immature WBCs and atypical lymphocytes, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as observed in peripheral blood (PB) smear images. The purpose of this work is to build a classification model for atypical AML WBCs based on their distinctive features. Using a hybrid model based on geometric transformation (GT) and a deep convolutional autoencoder (DCAE), this work provides a novel technique in the field of AI for resolving the issue of imbalanced distribution of WBCs in blood samples, nicknamed the “GT-DCAE WBC augmentation model”. In addition, to extract context-free atypical WBC features, this study develops a stable learning paradigm by incorporating WBC segmentation into deep learning. In order to classify atypical WBCs into eight distinct subgroups, a hybrid multiclassification model termed the “two-stage DCAE-CNN atypical WBC classification model” (DCAE-CNN) was developed. The model achieved an average accuracy of 97%, a sensitivity of 97%, and a precision of 98%. Overall and by class, the model’s discriminating abilities were exceptional, with an AUC of 99.7% and a class-wise range of 80% to 100%.
A Novel Deep Learning-Based Approach for Segmentation of Different Type Caries Lesions on Panoramic Radiographs
Authors: Dayı Burak , Üzen Hüseyin , Çiçek İpek Balıkçı , Duman Şuayip Burak
Published: January 2023

The study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an artificial intelligence system based on deep learning for the segmentation of occlusal, proximal and cervical caries lesions on panoramic radiographs. The study included 504 anonymous panoramic radiographs obtained from the radiology archive of Inonu University Faculty of Dentistry’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology from January 2018 to January 2020. This study proposes Dental Caries Detection Network (DCDNet) architecture for dental caries segmentation. The main difference between DCDNet and other segmentation architecture is that the last part of DCDNet contains a Multi-Predicted Output (MPO) structure. In MPO, the final feature map split into three different paths for detecting occlusal, proximal and cervical caries. Extensive experimental analyses were executed to analyze the DCDNet network architecture performance. In these comparison results, while the proposed model achieved an average F1-score of 62.79%, the highest average F1-score of 15.69% was achieved with the state-of-the-art segmentation models. These results show that the proposed artificial intelligence-based model can be one of the indispensable auxiliary tools of dentists in the diagnosis and treatment planning of carious lesions by enabling their detection in different locations with high success.
Examining the Impact of Corporate Governance on Investors and Investee Companies: Evidence from Yemen
Authors: Alduais Fahd , Alsawalhah Jafer , Almasria Nashat A.
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine whether corporate governance is an important and effective technique for enhancing investors’ confidence in existing and prospective companies and for creating opportunities for safe investment in Yemen. A survey was conducted among certified public accountants to assess the importance of corporate governance. We employed regression analysis to test our hypothesis. According to the results of the study, corporate governance is an essential component of success for companies, and those firms that apply corporate governance best practices are highly regarded. Additionally, the findings suggest that regulators, policymakers, and standard-setters should raise awareness of the importance of protecting shareholders’ rights by providing seminars and courses for Yemeni media, unions, and professional associations. Moreover, in an environment of uncertainty there is a reluctance to invest and a prevalent tendency to invest in real estate. Furthermore, the results indicate that corporate governance is not practiced by all companies but only to a limited extent by some joint-stock companies. Most of the Yemeni companies that have adopted CG are joint-stock companies, so investors prefer to invest in these companies. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for regulators, practitioners, and academicians. We recommend that this survey be extended to a larger sample, including supervisory managers of companies. This study provides an insightful contribution, because it clarifies the importance of corporate governance for Yemeni investors and investee companies.
Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding School Parents’ Online Groups
Authors: Papakonstantinou Antigoni Alba
Published: January 2023

The present study investigates Greek teachers’ perceptions regarding primary school and kindergarten parents’ online groups. More specifically, we aimed to obtain teachers’ perceptions regarding the online self-organization of students’ parents and the impact of online parental communication and information exchange to their teaching and school relationships. A quantitative study was conducted, using online questionnaires, with the participation of 246 primary school and kindergarten teachers in public and private sector. Our results indicate that teachers are skeptical and suspicious about parental online groups’ function. They believe that information circulated among parents is, most of the times, either fake or distorted and they do not hesitate to state that it helps nobody. Male teachers are better informed than female ones about the content of parental discussions and declare that they have been more often preoccupied with dealing with tensions occurring in online parental groups. Furthermore, private school teachers declare that parents frequently exchange information and gossip concerning teachers’ behavior and teaching, while public school teachers argue that sharing of this kind of information is rare within online parental groups. Moreover, teachers affirm that parental discussions in online groups over-expose school life, reinforce parents’ interventionism and contribute to parents’ hyper-information concerning school matters.
Electric Vehicle Powertrains with Modular Battery Banks Tied to Multilevel NPC Inverters
Authors: Busquets-Monge Sergio , Alepuz Salvador , García-Rojas Gabriel , Bordonau Josep
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, the internal combustion engine in vehicles is being replaced by electric motors, giving way to the electric vehicle, which results in reduced environmental impact, higher efficiency and lower emission of greenhouse gases. The powertrain of an electric vehicle is its most prominent subsystem, with the batteries and traction inverter being key components. Thus, due to their relevance, advances in the design of both components are of paramount importance. In this paper, the potential benefits achieved through a powertrain design approach based on combining a modular battery bank with multilevel NPC traction inverter topologies were analyzed, in comparison to a conventional two-level powertrain design. Several aspects were analyzed: modularity, complexity, battery-pack state-of-charge balancing, inverter loss, motor ac voltage harmonic distortion, motor common-mode voltage and reliability. Particularly, from the comparison study developed under the selected design scenario, the proposed design approach, based on modular battery packs and multilevel technology, shows a potential reduction of up to 55% in inverter losses, up to 65% in motor ac-voltage total harmonic distortion, and up to 75% in rms common-mode voltage.
Closed-Loop Control Applied to the Injection Moulding Process—An Industry 4.0 Refurbishment Case Study
Authors: Vasco Joel C. , Martins Joaquim , Oliveira Pedro , Chaves Paulo
Published: January 2023

Injection moulding process stability is a key issue in ensuring suitable quality of plastic parts. External factors such as processing equipment malfunctions, environmental variations, or tool misuse require qualified professionals to handle the issue or diagnosing systems to detect them at an early stage to avoid production in unsuitable processing conditions. The process control system was developed to provide a solution to these problems, whether by introducing automatic self-corrections to processing conditions or providing key performance indicators (KPI) for operation, maintenance, production, and quality control, with a local or remote interface. The system gathers processing and operating data from the mould and from the processing equipment to provide an overall process view. The data collected are obtained from several sensors located on the mould, placed at strategic locations, and real-time information is provided by the injection equipment or its peripherals. These data are processed in near real-time by the process control system and corrections for processing parameters, if required, are transferred to the injection equipment to be implemented in the subsequent injection cycles. Preliminary results from this case study proved that this solution provided suitable responses to the imposed processing variations, resulting in optimized plastic parts.
Design-Aware Parasitic-Aware Simulation Based Automation and Optimization of Highly Linear RF CMOS Power Amplifiers
Authors: Onsy Rana Aly , El-Nozahi Mohamed , Ragai Hani
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a parasitic-design-aware simulation-based design tool is proposed for highly linear RF power amplifiers. The main aim of the proposed tool is to speed up the design process of RF power amplifiers. In addition, it provides accurate final designs taking into consideration the effect of parasitic components of both active and passive devices. The proposed tool relies on the knowledge of designing highly linear RF power amplifiers. Both the optimization steps and design methodology are presented in this paper. The proposed tool is verified by designing a highly linear RF power amplifier at three different frequencies (7 GHz, 10 GHz, and 13 GHz) using 65 nm technology node. The results show that an OP1 dB higher than 18 dBm, gain/S21 higher than 7 dB, and OIP3 higher than 24 dBm at 6 dB back-off power can be obtained.
Multi-Vehicle Trajectory Tracking towards Digital Twin Intersections for Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Ji Zhanhao , Shen Guojiang , Wang Juntao , Collotta Mario , Liu Zhi , Kong Xiangjie
Published: January 2023

Digital Twin (DT) provides a novel idea for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), while Internet of Vehicles (IoV) provides numerous positioning data of vehicles. However, complex interactions between vehicles as well as offset and loss of measurements can lead to tracking errors of DT trajectories. In this paper, we propose a multi-vehicle trajectory tracking framework towards DT intersections (MVT2DTI). Firstly, the positioning data is unified to the same coordinate system and associated with the tracked trajectories via matching. Secondly, a spatial–temporal tracker (STT) utilizes long short-term memory network (LSTM) and graph attention network (GAT) to extract spatial–temporal features for state prediction. Then, the distance matrix is computed as a proposed tracking loss that feeds tracking errors back to the tracker. Through the iteration of association and prediction, the unlabeled coordinates are connected into the DT trajectories. Finally, four datasets are generated to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the framework.
WGCNA Reveals Genes Associated with Lignification in the Secondary Stages of Wood Formation
Authors: Wang Ruiqi , Xie Miaomiao , Zhao Wenna , Yan Pingyu , Wang Yuting , Gu Yongmei , Jiang Tingbo , Qu Guanzheng
Published: January 2023

The lignified tissue in the secondary stem is the main source of wood. In this study, we applied RNA-Seq analysis to the poplar stems in three developmental stages, including primary stem (PS), transitional stem (TS), and secondary stem (SS), to identify a total of 2028 genes that were highly expressed in the SS. Gene annotation indicated that the functions of these genes are mainly involved in cell wall biosynthesis, xylem development, and programmed cell death (PCD) processes. Subsequently, we explored the expression pattern of these genes at various developmental stages in the horizontal direction of the wood by ASPwood. The expression of these genes was modularized and correlated with the percentage of lignified xylem, using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Among the genes, as many as 690 were identified as directly associated with lignification in the SS. In addition, the gene promoter cis-elements and protein interactions were predicted by PlantRegMap and STRING, respectively. The results were introduced into a co-expression network to confirm their relationship. We eventually found 54 TFs dominating this network, of which ADOF1, ATMYB3, AtbZIP44 (Potri.005G231300), ANAC043, ATWRKY40, ATEBP (Potri.010G006800), ARF5, anac075, RAP2.1, ARF16, AT- HSFB3, Potri.014G050000 (from WRKY family), HAT22, AT-HSFB2B, and AtWRKY20 had extremely high connectivity, which may play an important role in the lignification of wood formation at secondary stages.
Diagnosis and Management of Small-Scale and Data-Limited Fisheries
Authors: Samy-Kamal Mohamed , Teixeira Célia M.
Published: January 2023

Historically, small-scale fisheries (SSFs) have largely been overlooked by fisheries scientists and management authorities at national and international levels [...]
Sharing Scientific Evidence of the Response of Aquatic Animals to Environmental Change
Authors: Kang Chang-Keun , Kim Hyun-Woo , Park Hyun Je , Lee Chung Il
Published: January 2023

Aquatic animals, which are ecologically important consumers in aquatic ecosystems and widely distributed in rivers, lakes, and seas, which occupy 70% of the earth’s surface, respond in unique ways to environmental changes at various temporal and spatial scales, and have optimized strategies for survival [...]
Hyperspectral Imaging with Machine Learning Approaches for Assessing Soluble Solids Content of Tribute Citru
Authors: Li Cheng , He Mengyu , Cai Zeyi , Qi Hengnian , Zhang Jianhong , Zhang Chu
Published: January 2023

Tribute Citru is a natural citrus hybrid with plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Fruits’ soluble solids content (SSC) is a critical quality index. This study used hyperspectral imaging at two spectral ranges (400–1000 nm and 900–1700 nm) to determine SSC in Tribute Citru. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR) models were established in order to determine SSC using the spectral information of the calyx and blossom ends. The average spectra of both ends as well as their fusion was studied. The successive projections algorithm (SPA) and the correlation coefficient analysis (CCA) were used to examine the differences in characteristic wavelengths between the two ends. Most models achieved performances with the correlation coefficient of the training, validation, and testing sets over 0.6. Results showed that differences in the performances among the models using the one-sided and two-sided spectral information. No particular regulation could be found for the differences in model performances and characteristic wavelengths. The results illustrated that the sampling side was an influencing factor but not the determinant factor for SSC determination. These results would help with the development of real-world applications for citrus quality inspection without concerning the sampling sides and the spectral ranges.
Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ultrasound-Assisted Strategy for Simultaneous Extraction of Five Macamides from Lepidium meyenii Walp and In Vitro Bioactivities
Authors: Li Keke , Li Zhongyu , Men Lei , Li Jiwen , Gong Xiaojie
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to develop an integrated approach of deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (DES–UAE) to simultaneously extract five major bioactive macamides from the roots of Lepidium meyenii Walp. Ten different DESs containing choline chloride and selected hydrogen-bond donors were prepared and evaluated based on the extracted macamide content determination using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Choline chloride/1,6-hexanediol in a 1:2 molar ratio with 20% water exhibited the most promising extraction efficiencies under the optimized parameters verified using single-factor optimization as well as Box–Behnken design. Using the optimized DES–UAE method, the extraction efficiencies of the five macamides were up to 40.3% higher compared to those using the most favorable organic solvent petroleum ether and were also superior to those of the other extraction methods, such as heating and combination of heating and stirring. Furthermore, using the macroporous resin HPD-100, the recoveries of the five target macamides from the DES extraction reached 85.62–92.25%. The 20 μg/mL group of the five macamide extracts showed superior neuroprotective activity against PC12 cell injury than that of the positive drug nimodipine. The macamide extracts also showed higher NO inhibition in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Thus, the developed approach was a green and potential alternative that can be used to extract bioactive macamide constituents from L. meyenii in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
A Fractional-Order Telegraph Diffusion Model for Restoring Texture Images with Multiplicative Noise
Authors: Bai Xiangyu , Zhang Dazhi , Shi Shengzhu , Yao Wenjuan , Guo Zhichang , Sun Jiebao
Published: January 2023

Multiplicative noise removal from texture images poses a significant challenge. Different from the diffusion equation-based filter, we consider the telegraph diffusion equation-based model, which can effectively preserve fine structures and edges for texture images. The fractional-order derivative is imposed due to its textural detail enhancing capability. We also introduce the gray level indicator, which fully considers the gray level information of multiplicative noise images, so that the model can effectively remove high level noise and protect the details of the structure. The well-posedness of the proposed fractional-order telegraph diffusion model is presented by applying the Schauder’s fixed-point theorem. To solve the model, we develop an iterative algorithm based on the discrete Fourier transform in the frequency domain. We give various numerical results on despeckling natural and real SAR images. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed method can remove multiplicative noise and preserve texture well.
Insights into the Cardiac Phenotype in 9p Deletion Syndrome: A Multicenter Italian Experience and Literature Review
Authors: Pugnaloni Flaminia , Onesimo Roberta , Blandino Rita , Putotto Carolina , Versacci Paolo , Delogu Angelica Bibiana , Leoni Chiara , Trevisan Valentina , Croci Ileana , Calì Federica , Digilio Maria Cristina , Zampino Giuseppe , Marino Bruno , Calcagni Giulio
Published: January 2023

Chromosome 9p deletion syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder presenting with a broad spectrum of clinical features, including congenital heart defects (CHDs). To date, studies focused on a deep characterization of cardiac phenotype and function associated with this condition are lacking. We conducted a multicentric prospective observational study on a cohort of 10 patients with a molecular diagnosis of 9p deletion syndrome, providing a complete cardiological assessment through conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging echo modality. As a result, we were able to demonstrate that patients with 9p deletion syndrome without major CHDs may display subclinical cardiac structural changes and left-ventricle systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Albeit needing validation in a larger cohort, our findings support the idea that a complete cardiac assessment should be performed in patients with 9p deletion syndrome and should be integrated in the context of a long-term follow-up.
Nurses’ Organization of Work and Its Relation to Workload in Medical Surgical Units: A Cross-Sectional Observational Multi-Center Study
Authors: Ferramosca Federica Maria Pia , De Maria Maddalena , Ivziku Dhurata , Raffaele Barbara , Lommi Marzia , Tolentino Diaz Maria Ymelda , Montini Graziella , Porcelli Barbara , De Benedictis Anna , Tartaglini Daniela , Gualandi Raffaella
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Work contexts can affect nurses’ work and work outcomes. Work context factors of nurses, patients, or workflow can modulate nurses’ organization of work and determine increased workloads. Aim: The aim of this research was to analyze relationships between factors regarding the patient, the nurse, workflow, and nurses’ work organization, to investigate whether work organization is related to physical, mental, and emotional workloads, and to explore whether one dimension of workload influences the other dimensions. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design based on the Job Demand-Resources theory. We asked registered nurses, working in nine medical-surgical wards across three hospitals in Italy, to self-report on work organization and workloads regarding randomized shifts over three consecutive weeks. Four scales from the QEEW 2.0 questionnaire were used on an online survey for data collection. multivariable linear regressions with structural equation modelling were tested. The study was approved by the three local Ethics Committees. Results: We received 334 questionnaires regarding 125 shifts worked. Patient complexity (β = 0.347), patient specialties (β = 0.127), adequacy of staffing (β = −0.204), collaboration with colleagues (β = −0.155), unscheduled activities (β = 0.213), supply search (β = 0.141), and documentation (β = 0.221) significantly influenced nurses’ work organization. Nurses’ work organization was significantly related to physical, mental, and emotional nursing workloads. Conclusions: the patient, the nurse, and workflow aspects influence nurses’ work organization and workloads. Healthcare organizations, managers, and nurses should explore work settings to identify work turbulences early and implement strategies to improve nursing work conditions and workloads.