bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assistive technology, information asymmetry and the role of brokerage services: a scoping review
Authors: D'Cunha Nathan Martin , Isbel Stephen , Goss John , Pezzullo Lynne , Naumovski Nenad , Gibson Diane
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Access to assistive technologies (ATs) is a human right for people with disabilities, but there are a range of barriers, including lack of adequate information. This review aimed to explore the implications of information asymmetry on the delivery of AT and to investigate if there are effective and equitable ways of providing AT brokerage services to people needing AT.

Design

Scoping review.

Data sources

EBSCO Medline, EBSCO Cinahl, Academic Search Ultimate, Business Source Ultimate, Proquest Central, Scopus, Web of Science, PsychINFO, EconLit and JSTOR were searched through 18 July 2021.

Eligibility criteria

Intervention and observational studies and articles directly related to information asymmetry and brokerage in the context of AT were included. In addition, a scan of web-based resources and services was undertaken.

Data extraction and synthesis

Four authors independently screened the articles for inclusion and performed a narrative synthesis.

Results

Thirty-three articles were identified. The narrative synthesis showed that: (1) AT users want access to impartial information sources; (2) users want to be involved in AT selection; (3) users benefit from access to demonstration sites; (4) users want access to training and ongoing support in their use of AT; and (5) users want access to information on new and emerging technologies. Access to information and user engagement, we produced better outcomes and satisfaction. Web-based repositories are valuable for user research and peer feedback, while demonstration sites address the need for expert advice, trial use of equipment, training and support in equipment use and maintenance.

Conclusions

Access to impartial information brokerage is critical to optimise AT selection. The implications of information asymmetry include lower user satisfaction, equipment underutilisation or abandonment. Aspects such as access to demonstration sites and web-based resources were also important.
Neutrino flavor mixing with approximate μ-τ symmetry within the low-scale minimal linear seesaw model
Authors: Matute Ernesto A.
Published: December 2022

Neutrino flavor mixing is explained within the recently proposed low-scale minimal linear seesaw model of neutrino mass generation, a variant of the standard linear seesaw led by a Dirac pair of extra sterile neutrinos which is odd under a discrete [Formula: see text] symmetry and has a mass at or below the GeV scale. The tri-bimaximal mixing and its deviations are derived straightforwardly on the basis of the symmetry between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] flavors, without introducing non-abelian discrete flavor symmetries in the first place.
Quantum entanglement of anyon composites
Authors: Ramadas N. , Sreedhar V. V.
Published: December 2022

Studying quantum entanglement in systems of indistinguishable particles, in particular anyons, poses subtle challenges. Here, we investigate a model of one-dimensional anyons defined by a generalized algebra. This algebra has the special property that fermions in this model are composites of anyons. A Hubbard-like Hamiltonian is considered that allows hopping between nearest neighbor sites not just for the fundamental anyons, but for the fermionic anyon composites. Some interesting results regarding the quantum entanglement of these particles are obtained.
Dynamic viscosity of hydrocarbons and ionic liquids at high-temperature
Authors: Mirzayeva G. G. , Alekperov A. S. , Ibrahimli A. B. , Naghiyeva N. V.
Published: December 2022

In this work, dynamic viscosities of hydrocarbons and ionic liquids are studied. At high temperatures in these materials, a decrease in the value of dynamic viscosity was observed. Intermolecular interactions in the objects of study have been studied. It has been established that the intermolecular interaction in hydrocarbons is determined by the Born potential ([Formula: see text]. In this case, the temperature dependence of the dynamic viscosity of hydrocarbons is described by the law [Formula: see text]. It has been established that the dynamic viscosity of hydrocarbons in liquid form has a non-activating character. This occurs directly due to momentum transfer by phonons between adjacent layers located at a distance of nanometers.
A Station Terminal Management System Based on Scheduling Small Site in Power Dispatching
Authors: Zeng Shibo
Published: December 2022

In the process of power dispatching and control, dispatching small network is an effective means to realize the remote number allocation in power dispatching and switching network. However, due to the scattered site, a wide range, and some unmanned site remote locations, there is a need for a small site terminal equipment to find the fault. To solve these problems, a terminal graphics management system is established. First, the real-time status monitoring mechanism of terminal is established based on IPoE technology to realize the status awareness of remote terminal. The heartbeat mechanism is segmented in link layer to meet the real-time performance of terminal state presentation. Then, the message class method with special characters is used to replace the original dial method to test the detection mode of manual answering. Automatic monitoring using telemetry technology can effectively monitor in unattended situations. Finally, considering the performance of different devices and various fault scenarios, according to the inherent hardware characteristics of segmented devices, the unified packet detection technology is used to realize the fault diagnosis of network sub-nodes, and finally realize the fault diagnosis of the terminal. After experimental verification and testing, the platform can realize remote fault detection and management of each plant terminal through topological graphical management system. The system can improve the scale and management ability of intelligent power dispatching of small stations.
Different Types of Constitutive Parameters Red Blood Cell Membrane Based on Machine Learning and FEM
Authors: Wei Xinyu , Sang Jianbing , Tian Chuan , Sun Lifang , Liu Baoyou
Published: December 2022

Research on mechanical response of single red blood cells (RBCs) to mechanical stimuli and the complex material properties of erythrocyte membranes is significant. This work proposes a novel procedure that combines nonlinear finite element method and two machine learning algorithms including Two-Way Deepnets and XGboost together with experiments to identify the hyper elastic material parameters of erythrocyte membranes. Finite element models were established to simulate the stretching process of erythrocyte optical tweezers with different constitutive material parameters from three constitutive models. And the results from the finite element analysis were carried out to generate the training sets for the neural networks. In order to validate the predictions in great detail, the finite element response curves based on the three groups of predicted constitutive parameters are compared with the experimental data. The comparison results show that the Two-Way Deepnets model has performed better efficiency and accuracy and that Reduced Polynomial can describe more precisely the hyperelastic properties of the erythrocyte membrane in the range of experimentally obtained characteristics of single RBCs. This research provides new insights into the identification of constitutive parameters of biological cell membranes, which is crucial for the future research on mechanical mechanisms of the biological cells.
Energy-efficient resource allocation for NOMA heterogeneous networks using feedback water cycle algorithm
Authors: Raghu Kasula , Chandra Sekhar Reddy P.
Published: December 2022

In recent years, nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has grasped the attention of all researchers in both industrial and academic fields because it has been regarded as an effective solution for 5G technologies to maximize spectral efficiency and connectivity of the system. Also, it has sufficient potential to maximize the performance of a network. Besides, the deployment of NOMA in heterogeneous networks (HetNets) satisfies the requirements of user’s explosive data traffic. However, the increasing demand for energy consumption of the wireless network provokes the researchers to establish an energy-efficient resource allocation scheme. The applications of NOMA provide better utilization of spectrum efficiency and minimize the cost of resource allocation. The resource allocation problem in wireless networks still remains a challenging task as the HetNets are suffered from mutual cross-tier interference. Hence, this research proposes a new effective hybrid optimization-based energy-efficient resource allocation scheme for NOMA HetNets by introducing a newly proposed method called Feedback Water Cycle Algorithm (FWCA). The method evaluates the user-pairing and sub-channel issue for reducing computational complexity. In addition to this, the network is analyzed for determining the power consumption and energy model with dynamic coefficients. Moreover, the developed FWCO obtained the maximum achievable rate of 25.992[Formula: see text]Mbps/Hz, maximum energy efficiency of 77.398%, maximum sum rate of 31.748[Formula: see text]Mbps/Hz, and maximum throughput of 8.888[Formula: see text]Mbps.
THE INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL GLOBALIZATION ASPECTS ON OPEC MEMBER COUNTRIES’ EXPORT OPERATIONS
Authors: KHARCHENKO LUDMILA , EFIMOVA LARISA , LOKTIONOVA YULIA , BUDKO EVGENIA
Published: December 2022

Modern resource markets are globalized, which gives significant advantages to countries that own these resources. The proceeds from the sale of resources to global markets can serve as a financial phase for the implementation of important government development programs for a country. The paper examines the influence of the economic and political aspects of globalization on the export operations of the OPEC and OPEC+ member countries. A statistical study of the dependence of export volume dynamics on the KOF Globalization Index and its components was carried out, which made it possible to quantitatively assess the impact of political and economic globalization on OPEC countries’ exports by developing a mathematical model that would describe the relationship of these indicators. The OPEC and OPEC+ countries were grouped depending on those components of the globalization indicator that affect export volumes, that is, according to the level of countries’ involvement in globalization.
Neuro-Interfaces Review
Authors: Mihaylova Yuliya , Pozdeeva Anna , Leukhin Alexey , Toschev Alexander , Talanov Max , Vallverdú Jordi , Suleimanova Alina
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we provide a brief description of currently existing neural interfaces such as a brain–machine interface, machine–brain interface and bidirectional brain–computer–brain interface. Nevertheless, our aim is not only to provide a review of the current state of the art in these technologies but also to include a philosophical analysis of their fundamental role in the evolution and transformation of cognitive sciences. Also we will show the advantages and disadvantages of different degrees of interface invasiveness. We will highlight the general design schema of them.
Real-Time Prediction of Removal Rate and Friction Coefficient During Chemical Mechanical Polishing Using Motor Load Currents with a Polisher
Authors: Uneda Michio , Ota Shunpei , Takiguchi Shunsuke , Yamamoto Yuko , Miyashita Tadakazu , Ishikawa Ken-ichi
Published: December 2022

Herein, a method for predicting real-time removal rate and friction coefficient between the pad and substrate during chemical mechanical polishing was investigated using only the load currents of two motors of a polisher. Polishers for semiconductor devices are equipped with various sensors, enabling a real-time prediction of the removal amount. The polishers used to polish substrates are not usually equipped with sensors, and the polishing time is fine-tuned by skilled-technicians to achieve the desired substrate thickness. However, since every polisher has some motors, predicting the removal rate and friction coefficient using only the real-time data produced by these motors would be beneficial. This study attempts to predict the removal rate and friction coefficient in long-time polishing using a training dataset obtained from short-time polishing. Results showed that by performing extremely low-pressure, long-time polishing to understand the polisher characteristics and then subtracting the polisher characteristics from the motor information during long-time polishing, highly accurate predictions of the removal rate and friction coefficient within ∼94% in percent match (prediction accuracy) between the experimental and predicted values can be obtained. Furthermore, slurry degradation during CMP can be monitored using this prediction method.
Cleaning Nanoceria Particles by Diluted HNO3 with H2O2 Mixture (NPM) Solution at Different Temperatures
Authors: Wang Yingjie , Wu Bingbing , Qiu Li-Na , Hu Lianfeng , Cheng Haijun , Qu Xin-Ping , Hamada Satomi , Wada Yutaka , Hiyama Hirokuni
Published: December 2022

It is difficult to remove nanoceria abrasives from the SiO2 substrate after the shallow trench isolation (STI) chemical mechanical polishing process. In this work, we studied the cleaning behavior of ceria particles by using an acidic cleaning solution instead of normal sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture solution (SPM) at high temperatures (above 85 °C) and low temperatures (below 30 °C). The solution, named as NPM, consists of HNO3 (1–2 vol%), H2O2 (5–10 vol%), and deionized water (DIW). It is found that NPM can dissolve nanoceria particles at high temperatures with higher cleaning efficiency (CE) than that of SPM. NPM can clean the A90 (90 nm ceria) particles under ultrasonic/megasonic at low temperatures, while SPM has poor CE at 20 °C. The redox reaction of NPM and its effect on cleaning mechanism were systematically studied.
Investigation of the Structure and Magnetic and Microwave Absorption Properties of Nanocomposite PVA/Graphite/CoFe1.97Ce0.03O4
Authors: Frolova L. , Saltykov D. , Kushnerov O.
Published: December 2022

Composites PVA/Graphite/CoFe1.97Ce0.03O4 and PVA/CoFe1.97Ce0.03O4 were synthesized and studied. The morphology and structure of the starting materials and composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The magnetic parameters were measured using a vibrating magnetometer. The absorptive capacity of the obtained materials was evaluated based on the results of measuring the transmission and reflection coefficients using a scalar network analyzer in the range of 8–12 GHz. The results show that the absorption characteristics of the PVA/Graphite/CoFe1.97Ce0.03O4 composite are significantly higher than those of the PVA/CoFe1.97Ce0.03O4 composites. Effective absorption is observed for the PVA/Graphite/CoFe1.97Ce0.03O4 composite in the frequency range of 8–12 GHz and corresponds to −25.08 dB mm−1, which indicates excellent absorption characteristics of electromagnetic radiation in this frequency range.
Review—Photoluminescence Spectroscopy of Eu2+-Activated Phosphors: From Near-UV to Deep Red Luminescence
Authors: Adachi Sadao
Published: December 2022

The present review article discusses the characteristic luminescence behaviors of the Eu2+-activated phosphors from a spectroscopic point of view. This spectroscopic point of view makes possible to classify the Eu2+-activated phosphors into two groups: types Eu2-A and Eu2-B, where an energy inequality relation of the lowest excited state of type Eu2-A to be given by 4f
7
(6
P
7/2) ∼ 4f
65d, whereas that of type Eu2-B is given by 4f
7 (6
P
7/2) > 4f
65d. Simply saying, the 6
P
7/2 excited manifold of the 4f
7 configuration is located just below and well above the lowest-energy 5d level of the Eu2+ ion in types Eu2-A and Eu2-B phosphors, respectively. While generally uncommon, in some host materials the 4f
7 (6
P
7/2) → 4f
7
(8
S
7/2) intra-configurational transitions of Eu2+ occur with exhibiting the characteristic narrow-line emissions. An analysis method based on the Franck−Condon principle within the configurational-coordinate motel is proposed to exactly determine the lowest excited-state 4f
65d energy in both types of phosphors Eu2-A and Eu2-B. Thermal stability of the phosphor properties is of crucial importance and scientific interest. Therefore, key understandings of the temperature dependences of luminescence intensity and decay time in the Eu2+-activated phosphors are also presented as the additional and important concern in the present review article.
Performance Investigation of a Dielectric Stacked Triple Material Cylindrical Gate All Around MOSFET (DSTMCGAA) for Low Power Applications
Authors: Gupta Neeraj , Gupta Rashmi , Gupta S. B. , Yadav Rekha , Kumar Prashant
Published: December 2022

This paper presents an analysis of gate stacked triple material dual-halo cylindrical MOSFET. The surface potential and electric field have been plotted for the proposed device using TCAD Silvaco at various channel lengths. The analytical model of surface potential, field and subthreshold current is also present. A comparative analysis has been accomplished for the proposed device with Asymmetric gate stack triple metal gate all around (AGSTMGAA), dual dielectric triple metal surrounding gate (DDTMSG) and Triple metal surrounding gate MOSFET. The performance metric of the device has been investigated in terms of Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL), Subthreshold swing and threshold-voltage roll-off. Furthermore, the analog behaviour of the device has been evaluated by determining transconductance, early voltage and intrinsic gain. The proposed device shows much better performance when compared to its counterpart. The mitigation in DIBL and leakage current indicates the cut back in the SCEs. The proposed device shows 8% improvement in SS, 36.2% improvement in DIBL and 13.5% improvement in threshold voltage roll-off as compared to AGSTMGAA. Hence, it can be used for low power applications.
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Bamboo Fiber–Reinforced PLA Polymer Composites: A Critical Study
Authors: Nirmal Kumar K. , Dinesh Babu P. , Surakasi Raviteja , Kumar P. Manoj , Ashokkumar P. , Khan Rashid , Alfozan Adel , Gebreyohannes Dawit Tafesse
Published: December 2022

In the past few years, a new passion for the growth of biodegradable polymers based on elements derived from natural sources has been getting much attention. Natural fiber-based polymer matrix composites offer weight loss, reduction in cost and carbon dioxide emission, and recyclability. In addition, natural fiber composites have a minimal impact on the environment in regards to global warming, health, and pollution. Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the best natural resource polymers available among biodegradable polymers. Natural fiber–reinforced PLA polymer composites have been extensively researched by polymer researchers to compete with conventional polymers. The type of fiber used plays a massive part in fiber and matrix bonds and, thereby, influences the composite’s mechanical properties and thermal properties. Among the various natural fibers, low density, high strength bamboo fibers (BF) have attracted attention. PLA and bamboo fiber composites play a vital character in an extensive range of structural and non-structural applications. This review briefly discussed on currently developed PLA-based natural bamboo fiber–reinforced polymer composites concentrating on the property affiliation of fibers. PLA polymer–reinforced natural bamboo fiber used to establish composite materials, various composite fabrication methods, various pretreatment methods on fibers, their effect on mechanical properties, as well as thermal properties and applications on different fields of such composites are discussed in this study. This review also presents a summary of the issues in the fabrication of natural fiber composites.
An Obscure Presence of Gastroduodenal Involvement in a Newly Diagnosed Ileocolonic Crohn’s Disease Patient
Authors: Miranda Clive Jude , Ali Murad Hayatt , Ayaz Muddasir , Soofi Yousef , Mahl Thomas Christopher
Published: December 2022

Whereas typical Crohn’s disease is confined to the terminal ileum and presents with abdominal pain and diarrhea, gastroduodenal manifestations of Crohn’s disease are rare, with often asymptomatic patient presentations and inconclusive diagnostic testing. It is, however, a more severe form of Crohn’s disease and thus warrants treatment with steroids and biologics much earlier than its ileocolonic counterpart. We present the case of a young, otherwise healthy, male with newly diagnosed ileocolonic Crohn’s disease with concurrent gastroduodenal involvement that initially failed management with biologic agents. We discuss the clinical manifestations and often obscure pathology of gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease and highlight the necessity of performing a concurrent esophagogastroduodenoscopic evaluation on newly diagnosed ileocolonic Crohn’s disease to assess the presence of upper gastrointestinal involvement.
Lymphocyte‐to‐Monocyte Ratio Is Independently Associated with Progressive Infarction in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Mao Xiaocheng , Yu Qiulong , Liao Yunfang , Huang Qin , Luo Si , Li Shumeng , Qiu Yuexin , Wu Yuhang , Zhang Jinchong , Chen Qianxi , Zhu Min , Li Huihua , Lin Jing , Hong Daojun
Published: December 2022

Background and Purpose. Approximately one‐third of patients with acute ischemic stroke experience early neurological deterioration (END). Multiple mechanisms lead to END, and progressive infarction (PI) representing extension of the original infarction is the most common type. Lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) has been reported to be associated with stroke, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, but no relationship with PI has been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between LMR and PI. Methods. From April 2017 to December 2020, we retrospectively recruited 477 patients with acute ischemic stroke (within 48 hours after onset). Progressive infarction was defined as an increase of ≥1 point in motor power or ≥2 points on the total National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 7 days after admission and extension of the original infarction were further confirmed by diffusion‐weighted imaging. Demographic characteristics, clinical information, and neuroimaging characteristics were evaluated after admission. All blood draws and initial imaging were completed within 24 hours of admission. Results. PI occurred in 147 (30.8%) patients. Univariate analysis comparing the two groups revealed that hypertension, initial NIHSS score, discharge NIHSS score, modified Rankin scale score at 90 days, monocyte level, creatinine level, fasting glucose level, LMR, monocyte‐to‐high‐density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), and lesion location were significantly different (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of PI increased as the quartile of LMR increased, with the lowest quartile as the reference value. Subgroup analyses showed that a high LMR was an independent predictor of PI only in large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to estimate the predictive value of LMR for PI. For all cases, the area under the curve was 0.583 (95% CI 0.526‐0.641), and the best predictive cutoff value was 3.506, with a sensitivity of 53.1% and a specificity of 63.9%. In patients with LAA, the area under the curve was 0.585 (95% CI 0.505‐0.665), and the best predictive cutoff value was 3.944, with a sensitivity of 48.7% and a specificity of 72.8%. Conclusions. LMR was an independent predictor for progressive infarction in patients with acute ischemic stroke, especially in LAA cerebral infarction patients.
Controversial Issues of Hydrocarbon Field Formation and the Role of Geomagnetic Fields
Authors: Ponomarev Andrey A. , Kadyrov Marsel A. , Vaganov Yuri V. , Cheymetova Valeria A. , Aleksandrov Vadim M. , Morev Aleksandr V.
Published: December 2022

This review paper presents controversial issues on the formation of hydrocarbon deposits. We look into the geological contradictions of the abiogenic and biogenic theories of petroleum origin, indicating the connection between hydrocarbon deposits and disjunctive dislocations, as well as present disputes about the geological period over which hydrocarbon deposits have been formed. We further overviewed the radical chain mechanism of hydrocarbon generation from organic matter as proposed by Prof. Nesterov. It is noted that the petroleum generation process in reservoir conditions occurs almost instantly in the presence of discrete geomagnetic fields and does not require a long geological time. This is explained by spin magnetic effects (spin catalysis, magnetic isotope properties). We briefly highlight the effect of magnetic fields on chemical reactions involving organic compounds and the use of magnetic fields to enhance oil recovery. We also present the leading causes of discrete magnetic fields in the sedimentary cover: Earth’s geomagnetic reversals, generation of ferromagnetic minerals in oil deposits, electromechanical effects of rock friction near faults, and intermixing of reservoir waters with different mineralization (spontaneous ion polarization). Based on the material reported, we conclude that the radical chain mechanism of petroleum generation processes explains some contradictions of the abiogenic and biogenic theories of petroleum origin. Elaborating this research area has excellent prospects for developing new criteria for hydrocarbon prospecting and devising innovative methods to enhance the oil recovery for shale oil production.
Bibliometric Analysis of Marine Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China: Development, Differences, and Trends Directions
Authors: Cao Wenxuan , Liu Jia , Dai Yulin , Zhou Yashuang , Li Ruili , Yu Peng
Published: December 2022

Background. Marine traditional Chinese medicine (MTCM) is a class of traditional medicine that has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Bibliometric approaches were used in this study to conduct systematic research in order to gain a complete picture of MTCM research around the world. Methods. CiteSpace and NoteExpress software were utilized as tools to examine the information about authors, sources, keywords, etc. Chinese publications were collected from the CNKI, VIP, and WANFANG databases; English publications were collected from the Web of Science database. Results. A total of 10080 publications were screened, and the search volume of Chinese literature is greater than that of English literature; Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China, and Jeju National University, South Korea, published a greater number of articles than other institutions; the scholars Zhaohui-Zhang and Youjin-Jeon have published the highest number of articles in the world. MTCM of shells was often researched for inorganic elements, and data mining methods were applied frequently; MTCM of animals was commonly used for antifatigue and was taken authenticity identification owing to the scarcity of resources; scholars conducted the most research on MTCM of plants, this category usually for antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant purposes, and the mechanisms of action were studied in depth. The Chinese literature has undertaken a multifaceted research study based on the theories of processing and the nature of TCM. In the English literature, in-depth studies have been done from the perspectives of the mechanism of action, the extraction and purification of active substances, etc. Conclusions. According to the analysis of keywords, different medicinal parts present their own special research directions, and different research hotspots have also emerged under different medical theories. The development of MTCM is moving in the direction of standardization and modernization, thanks to the development of cross-disciplinary research as well as the use of several new technologies and statistical techniques.
Drug-Coated Balloons for Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Metaanalysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Chen Delong , Dong Qichao , Xu Yi , Fang Jiacheng , Zhang Huaqing , Jiang Jun
Published: December 2022

Background. The role of a drug-coated balloon (DCB) in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not well established. Methods. Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that compared DCB with stents in the treatment of AMI from their inception to 30 July 2021. The primary clinical endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Summary estimations were conducted using fixed-effects analysis complemented by several subgroups. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/CRD42021272886). Results. A total of 4 randomized controlled trials with 485 patients were included. On routine clinical follow-up, DCB was associated with no difference in the incidence of MACEs compared with control (risk ratio [RR] 0.59 [0.31 to 1.13];

P
=
0.11

). DCB was associated with similar MACEs compared with drug-eluting stent and lower MACEs compared with bare-metal stent. There was no difference between DCB and control in terms of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stent thrombosis, target lesion revascularization, and minimal lumen diameter during follow-up. However, DCB was associated with a lower incidence of myocardial infarction (RR 0.16 [0.03 to 0.90];

P
=
0.04

) and lower late lumen loss (mean difference −0.20 [−0.27 to −0.13];

P
<
0.00001

). Conclusions. In treatment of patients with AMI, DCB might be a feasible interventional strategy versus control as it associated with comparable clinical outcomes. Future large-volume, well-designed randomized controlled trials to evaluating the role of the DCB in this setting are warranted.
An Improved Self-Organizing Migration Algorithm for Short-Term Load Forecasting with LSTM Structure Optimization
Authors: Rong Xiaofeng , Zhou Hanghang , Cao Zijian , Wang Chang , Fan Linjuan
Published: December 2022

Establishing an accurate and robust short-term load forecasting (STLF) model for a power system in safe operation and rational dispatching is both required and beneficial. Although deep long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have been widely used in load forecasting applications, it still has some problems to optimize, such as unstable network performance and long optimization time. This study proposes an adaptive step size self-organizing migration algorithm (AS-SOMA) to improve the predictive performance of LSTM. First, an optimization model for LSTM prediction is developed, which divides the LSTM structure seeking into two stages. One is the optimization of the number of hidden layer layers, and the other optimizes the number of neurons, time step, learning rate, epochs, and batch size. Then, a logistic chaotic mapping and an adaptive step size method were proposed to overcome slow convergence problems and stacking into local optimum of SOMA. Comparison experiments with SOMA, PSO, CPSO, LSOMA, and OSMA on test function sets show the advantages of the improved algorithm. Finally, the AS-SOMA-LSTM network prediction model is used to solve the STLF problem to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Simulation experiments show that the AS-SOMA exhibits higher accuracy and convergence speed on the standard test function set and has strong prediction ability in STLF application with LSTM.
Approximating Fixed Points and the Solution of a Nonlinear Fractional Difference Equation via an Iterative Method
Authors: Khan Faizan Ahmad
Published: December 2022

The main intent of this article is to innovate a new iterative method to approximate fixed points of contraction and nonexpansive mappings. We prove that the new iterative method is stable for contraction and has a better rate of convergence than some distinctive iterative methods. Furthermore, some convergence results are proved for nonexpansive mappings. Finally, the solution of a nonlinear fractional difference equation is approximated via the proposed iterative method. Some numerical examples are constructed to support the analytical results and to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed iterative method.
Potential Effects of Bisphenol A on the Heart and Coronary Artery of Adult Male Rats and the Possible Role of L-Carnitine
Authors: Badawy Mohamed Moharram , Elsherbiny Mohsen M. , Elshopakey Gehad Elsaid , Elsayyad Asmaa Ezat , Abd-El-Same’e El-Kattan Mohammad , Hamama Mohamed G. , Aldariweesh Fatemah H. , Fehaid Alaa
Published: December 2022

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental toxin utilized for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Due to BPA’s extensive production and environmental contamination, human exposure is unavoidable. The effects of low-dose of BPA on various body tissues and organs remain controversial. Our study investigated the potential of BPA to induce biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical changes in the coronary artery and myocardium and the potential protective role of L-carnitine (LC). 24 adult Wistar albino male rats were divided equally into a control group, a BPA-treated group (40 mg/kg/d, by gavage for 4 weeks), and a BPA plus LC-treated group (received 40 mg/kg/d of BPA and 300 mg/kg/d of LC, by gavage for 4 weeks). BPA-exposed rats demonstrated structural anomalies in the coronary artery tissue including vacuolation of cells in the media and detachment of the endothelium of the intima. Congestion of blood vessels and infiltration by polynuclear cells were observed in the myocardium. There was an enhanced collagen deposition in both tissues indicating fibrosis. Immunohistochemical changes included enhanced eNOS and caspase-3 expression in the coronary artery and myocardium indicating vascular disease and apoptosis, respectively. Oxidative damage was evident in the coronary artery and the myocardium of BPA-treated rats, which was indicated by the reduced level of glutathione (GSH) and elevated malondydehyde (MDA) levels. The coadministration of LC significantly improved BPA-induced structural alterations and oxidative stress. In conclusion, BPA could potentially cause pathologic changes and oxidative damage in the coronary artery and myocardium, which could be improved by LC coadministration.
Common Arterial Trunk in Fetal Life: Accuracy of Diagnosis and Prediction of Outcome
Authors: Villalaín Cecilia , Gómez-Montes Enery , Felipe Eva , Escribano David , García-Torres Enrique , Granados Miguel Angel , Herraiz Ignacio , Galindo Alberto
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Common arterial trunk (CAT) is a congenital heart disease with significant perinatal mortality in which diagnostic agreement remains low. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on fetuses with suspected CAT. Diagnostic accuracy was tested considering gold-standard postnatal ultrasound or necropsy. Prenatal sonographic markers were evaluated by logistic regression for perinatal survival. Results: There were 79 fetuses with suspected CAT, and 55 cases had available necropsy/postnatal ultrasound confirming the study population. The diagnostic accuracy was 90.9% for CAT and 83.6% at a subtype level. In those with a confirmed diagnosis and intention-to-treat (n = 28) composite early mortality (intrauterine, presurgical, and early surgery) was of 25%, 10.5% in isolated cases. The OR for early-mortality of isolated cases was 0.13 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.75). After adjusting for isolated cases, the only prognostic prenatal markers of perinatal mortality were a dysplastic truncal valve OR 7.78 (95% CI: 1.23–49.13) and a stenotic flow OR 8.48 (95% CI: 1.40–51.10). Conclusion: CAT is a condition that if evaluated by experts, can be diagnosed with a high degree of accuracy. It remains an entity with high perinatal mortality. Its most important prognostic factor is its association with other anomalies. In isolated cases, the presence of a dysplastic truncal valve and a stenotic flow increase the chances of perinatal death.
Progression of Rhinitis to Rhinosinusitis: A Cohort Study
Authors: van Schie Bram , Vavrina Joel J. , Soyka Michael B.
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Chronic rhinitis (CR) and rhinosinusitis are prevalent conditions affecting people all over the world. Their exact relationship is still not fully understood. We sought to find out, whether CR is a risk factor for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and which main subgroup or other factors could be predisposing. Methods: Patients with diagnosed CR between 2005 and 2010 were selected from the electronic medical record and were contacted by phone call. They were interviewed and screened for possible CRS using internationally approved questionnaires, e.g. NOSE-D and SNOT-20-GAV. Those with elevated scores were invited for a clinical examination. Results: Of 113 patients available for statistical analysis (48/65 = f/m), mean age of 52 ± 15 years, 13 patients were diagnosed with CRS. Extrapolated for the total cohort of 334, calculated prevalence was 9.5%. No statistical significantly higher probability of developing CRS for either main subgroup of CR was found. Age of onset, prior surgery of the nose, and use of topical nasal treatments were associated with the development of CRS in multivariate analyses (OR = 0.1, 3.2, and 3.2, respectively). Discussion/Conclusions: Only a small number of rhinitis patients developed CRS, questioning the paradigm of CR being a clear risk factor for CRS.
Molecular Diversity of Neuron Types in the Salamander Amygdala and Implications for Amygdalar Evolution
Authors: Deryckere Astrid , Woych Jamie , Jaeger Eliza C.B. , Tosches Maria Antonietta
Published: December 2022

The amygdala is a complex brain structure in the vertebrate telencephalon, essential for regulating social behaviors, emotions, and (social) cognition. In contrast to the vast majority of neuron types described in the many nuclei of the mammalian amygdala, little is known about the neuronal diversity in non-mammals, making reconstruction of its evolution particularly difficult. Here, we characterize glutamatergic neuron types in the amygdala of the urodele amphibian Pleurodeles waltl. Our single-cell RNA sequencing data indicate the existence of at least ten distinct types and subtypes of glutamatergic neurons in the salamander amygdala. These neuron types are molecularly distinct from neurons in the ventral pallium (VP), suggesting that the pallial amygdala and the VP are two separate areas in the telencephalon. In situ hybridization for marker genes indicates that amygdalar glutamatergic neuron types are located in three major subdivisions: the lateral amygdala, the medial amygdala, and a newly defined area demarcated by high expression of the transcription factor Sim1. The gene expression profiles of these neuron types suggest similarities with specific neurons in the sauropsid and mammalian amygdala. In particular, we identify Sim1+ and Sim1+ Otp+ expressing neuron types, potentially homologous to the mammalian nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (NLOT) and to hypothalamic-derived neurons of the medial amygdala, respectively. Taken together, our results reveal a surprising diversity of glutamatergic neuron types in the amygdala of salamanders, despite the anatomical simplicity of their brain. These results offer new insights on the cellular and anatomical complexity of the amygdala in tetrapod ancestors.
Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Beta-Thalassemia Disease by Using Digital PCR Analysis of Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma
Authors: Charoenkwan Pimlak , Traisrisilp Kuntharee , Sirichotiyakul Supatra , Phusua Arunee , Sanguansermsri Torpong , Tongsong Theera
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia disease was usually based on invasive technique. Noninvasive diagnosis using cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) was described with various laboratory techniques. The aim of this study was to identify the performance of dPCR for analyzing cff-DNA in maternal plasma to diagnose fetal beta-thalassemia diseases. Methods: Thirty-five couples at risk of fetal beta-thalassemia disease caused by four common mutations of HBB were enrolled at 12–18 weeks. The dPCR assay was designed to detect and quantify paternally inherited beta-thalassemia allele (PIB) and maternally inherited beta-thalassemia allele (MIB) from cff-DNA in maternal plasma. Results: Of 29 couples with different paternal/maternal mutations, all cases who inherited paternal mutation had detectable PIB-M. The MIB-mutant/wild-type (MIB-M/MIB-N) ratio in the mothers whose fetuses did not inherit maternal mutation was 0.87 ± 0.07 which was significantly lower than that of the mothers whose fetuses inherited maternal mutation, 1.01 ± 0.05. The sensitivity and specificity of MIB-M/MIB-N ratio >0.95 in predicting fetus inheriting maternal mutation were 100 and 92.3%, respectively. In four couples with same paternal/maternal mutation, IB-M/IB-N ratio of >0.95 correctly predicted the presence of an inheritance of at least one beta-thalassemia allele. In two couples with paternal Hb E/beta-thalassemia, the presence of PIB-M and the MIB-M/MIB-N ratio of >0.95 correctly predicted the presence of paternal/maternal mutations, respectively. Conclusions: The method of analyzing cff-DNA in maternal plasma by dPCR is efficient for prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia.
A Modified Transversal Two-Suture Microsurgical Intussusception Vasoepididymostomy for the Treatment of Epididymal Obstructive Azoospermia
Authors: Liu Zengqin , Ding Zheng , Jiang Hongtao , Yuan Qian , Xiao Kefeng , Wang Bin
Published: December 2022

Introduction: We have developed a modified vasoepididymostomy procedure, namely “fenestrated” transversal two-suture microsurgical intussusception vasoepididymostomy. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and outcome of this fenestrated vasoepididymostomy for epididymal obstructive azoospermia (OA). Methods: Microsurgical two-suture transversal intussusception vasoepididymostomy was performed using our modified fenestration technique in 64 OA patients due to epididymal obstruction at our hospital. Fenestration means making an opening on the epididymal tubule wall. The edges of the epididymal tubule “window” were stitched transversally (two stitches) using the two double-armed 9–0 atraumatic sutures. The epididymal tubule was anastomosed to the lumen of the vas deferens. The patency rate and pregnancy rate were assessed. Results: Of the 64 OA patients, 45 received bilateral microsurgical two-suture transversal intussusception vasoepididymostomy, while 19 underwent unilateral microsurgical two-suture transversal intussusception vasoepididymostomy. All of the patients were followed up after the operation. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 54 months. Among 45 cases of bilateral surgery, the patency rate was 88.89% (40/45), and the natural pregnancy rate was 28.89% (13/45). After the patency was confirmed postoperatively, 3 cases had recurrent OA, of which 2 cases had return of sperm to the ejaculate by oral antibiotics and scrotal self-massage. As for the 19 cases of unilateral microsurgery, the patency rate was 68.42% (13/19), and the natural pregnancy rate was 21.05% (4/19). Conclusion: The fenestrated transversal two-suture microsurgical intussusception vasoepididymostomy can achieve a good patency rate in OA patients and did not increase the difficulty and duration of the procedure.
Revising the taxonomy of Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892) and Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) (Squamata, Lacertidae): a Morpho-Phylogenetic integrated study in a complex Anatolian scenario
Authors: ARRIBAS OSCAR , CANDAN KAMİL , KORNILIOS PANAGIOTIS , AYAZ DİNÇER , KUMLUTAŞ YUSUF , GÜL SERKAN , YILMAZ CAN , CAYNAK ELİF YILDIRIM , ILGAZ ÇETİN
Published: December 2022

Revealing biodiversity allows the accurate determination of the underlying causes of many biological processes such as speciation and hybridization. These processes contain many complex patterns, especially in areas with high species diversity. As two of the prominent zoogeographic areas, Anatolia and Caucasus are also home to the genus Darevskia, which has a complex morphological structure and parthenogenetic speciation. Darevskia valentini and D. rudis are two largely distributed taxa of this genus, both of which have a controversial taxonomic delimitation. Here we performed both a highly detailed morphological comparison and a molecular evaluation for the populations in both species groups. The most comprehensive taxonomic revision of this complex was carried out to determine the cases where the data obtained were compatible or not with each approach. As a result of the obtained outputs, it seems that D. spitzenbergerae stat. nov., D. mirabilis stat. nov. and D. obscura stat. nov. should be accepted as the species level, this later with subspecies D. o. bischoffi comb. nov. and D. o. macromaculata comb. nov.. Also, we propose two new taxa: D. josefschmidtleri sp. nov. and D. spitzenbergerae wernermayeri ssp. nov.. It has also been shown that “lantzicyreni” subspecies belong to D. rudis instead of D. valentini. The extensive revision has contributed to subsequent studies to more accurately understand the past histories of species in the genus Darevskia.
Comparing Thoracoscopic and Robotic Lobectomy Using a Nationally Representative Database
Authors: Alvarado Christine E. , Worrell Stephanie G. , Sarode Anuja L. , Jiang Boxiang , Halloran Sean J. , Argote-Greene Luis M. , Linden Philip A. , Towe Christopher W.
Published: December 2022

Background

Studies of robotic lobectomy (Robot-L) have been performed using data from high-volume, specialty centers which may not be generalizable. The purpose of this study was to compare mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost between Robot-L and thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS-L) using a nationally representative database hypothesizing they would be similar.

Methods

The Premier Healthcare Database was used to identify patients receiving elective lobectomy for lung cancer from 2009 to 2019. Patients were categorized as receiving Robot-L or VATS-L using ICD-9/10 codes. Survey methodology and patient level weighting were used to correct for sampling error and estimation of a nationally representative sample. A propensity match analysis was performed to reduce bias between the groups. Primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were LOS and patient charges.

Results

Among 62 698 patients, 19 506 (31.1%) underwent Robot-L and 43 192 (68.9%) underwent VATS-L. Differences between the groups included age, race, comorbidities, and insurance type. A propensity matched cohort demonstrated similar in-hospital mortality for Robot-L and VATS-L (.9% vs .9%, respectively, P = .91). Patients who underwent Robot-L had a shorter LOS (4 vs 5d, respectively, P < .001) but higher patient charges (90 593.0 vs 72 733.3 USD, respectively, P < .001).

Conclusions

In a nationally representative database, Robot-L and VATS-L had similar mortality. Although Robot-L was associated with shorter hospitalization, it was also associated with excess charges of almost $20,000. As Robot-L is now the most common approach for lobectomy in the U.S., further study into the cost and benefit of robotic surgery is warranted.