bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Review on the Fejér-Type Inequality Pertaining to Fractional Integral Operators
Authors: Tariq Muhammad , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Shaikh Asif Ali
Published: July 2023

A review of the results on the fractional Fejér-type inequalities, associated with different families of convexities and different kinds of fractional integrals, is presented. In the numerous families of convexities, it includes classical convex functions, s-convex functions, quasi-convex functions, strongly convex functions, harmonically convex functions, harmonically quasi-convex functions, quasi-geometrically convex functions, p-convex functions, convexity with respect to strictly monotone function, co-ordinated-convex functions, (θ,h−m)−p-convex functions, and h-preinvex functions. Included in the fractional integral operators are Riemann–Liouville fractional integral, (k−p)-Riemann–Liouville, k-Riemann–Liouville fractional integral, Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals with respect to another function, the weighted fractional integrals of a function with respect to another function, fractional integral operators with the exponential kernel, Hadamard fractional integral, Raina fractional integral operator, conformable integrals, non-conformable fractional integral, and Katugampola fractional integral. Finally, Fejér-type fractional integral inequalities for invex functions and (p,q)-calculus are also included.
PCA of Running Biomechanics after 5 km between Novice and Experienced Runners
Authors: Jiang Xinyan , Xu Datao , Fang Yufei , Bíró István , Baker Julien S. , Gu Yaodong
Published: July 2023

Increased running experience appears to lower the risk of running-related injuries, but the mechanisms underlying this are unknown. Studying the biomechanics of runners with different running experiences before and after long-distance running can improve our understanding of the relationship between faulty running mechanics and injury. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if there were any differences in lower-limb biomechanics between runners after a 5 km run. Biomechanical data were collected from 15 novice and 15 experienced runners. Principal component analysis (PCA) with single-component reconstruction was used to identify variations in running biomechanics across the gait waveforms. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted to explore the effects of runner and a 5 km run. Significant runner group differences were found for the kinematics and kinetics of lower-limb joints and ground reaction force (GRF) with respect to the magnitude across the stance phase. We found that novice runners exhibited greater changes in joint angles, joint moments, and GRFs than experienced runners regardless of the prolonged running session, and those patterns may relate to lower-limb injuries. The results of this study suggest that the PCA approach can provide unique insight into running biomechanics and injury mechanisms. The findings from the study could potentially guide training program developments and injury prevention protocols for runners with different running experiences.
Cofactor Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for Aerobic L-Malate Production with Lower CO2 Emissions
Authors: Jiang Zhiming , Jiang Youming , Wu Hao , Zhang Wenming , Xin Fengxue , Ma Jiangfeng , Jiang Min
Published: July 2023

Escherichia coli has been engineered for L-malate production via aerobic cultivation. However, the maximum yield obtained through this mode is inferior to that of anaerobic fermentation due to massive amounts of CO2 emissions. Here, we aim to address this issue by reducing CO2 emissions of recombinant E. coli during aerobic L-malate production. Our findings indicated that NADH oxidation and ATP-synthesis-related genes were down-regulated with 2 g/L of YE during aerobic cultivations of E. coli E23, as compared to 5 g/L of YE. Then, E23 was engineered via the knockout of nuoA and the introduction of the nonoxidative glycolysis (NOG) pathway, resulting in a reduction of NAD+ and ATP supplies. The results demonstrate that E23 (ΔnuoA, NOG) exhibited decreased CO2 emissions, and it produced 21.3 g/L of L-malate from glucose aerobically with the improved yield of 0.43 g/g. This study suggests that a restricted NAD+ and ATP supply can prompt E. coli to engage in incomplete oxidization of glucose, leading to the accumulation of metabolites instead of utilizing them in cellular respiration.
Exploring Rosiglitazone’s Potential to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease through the Modulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Authors: Nelson Mackayla L. , Pfeifer Julia A. , Hickey Jordan P. , Collins Andrila E. , Kalisch Bettina E.
Published: July 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that debilitates over 55 million individuals worldwide. Currently, treatments manage and alleviate its symptoms; however, there is still a need to find a therapy that prevents or halts disease progression. Since AD has been labeled as “type 3 diabetes” due to its similarity in pathological hallmarks, molecular pathways, and comorbidity with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is growing interest in using anti-diabetic drugs for its treatment. Rosiglitazone (RSG) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist that reduces hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia and improves insulin signaling. In cellular and rodent models of T2DM-associated cognitive decline and AD, RSG has been reported to improve cognitive impairment and reverse AD-like pathology; however, results from human clinical trials remain consistently unsuccessful. RSG has also been reported to modulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that regulates neuroplasticity and energy homeostasis and is implicated in both AD and T2DM. The present review investigates RSG’s limitations and potential therapeutic benefits in pre-clinical models of AD through its modulation of BDNF expression.
Computation of Vascular Parameters: Implementing Methodology and Performance Analysis
Authors: Sikkandar Mohamed Yacin , Padmanabhan Sridharan , Mohan Bobby , AlMohimeed Ibrahim , Alassaf Ahmad , Alshewaier Shady A. , Almukil Ali Abdullah , Begum Sabarunisha
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the feasibility of automated and accurate in vivo measurements of vascular parameters using an ultrasound sensor. The continuous and non-invasive monitoring of certain parameters, such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure (BP), arterial compliance (AC), and stiffness index (SI), is crucial for assessing cardiovascular disorders during surgeries and follow-up procedures. Traditional methods, including cuff-based or invasive catheter techniques, serve as the gold standard for measuring BP, which is then manually used to calculate AC and SI through imaging algorithms. In this context, the Continuous and Non-Invasive Vascular Stiffness and Arterial Compliance Screener (CaNVAS) is developed to provide continuous and non-invasive measurements of these parameters using an ultrasound sensor. By driving 5 MHz (ranging from 2.2 to 10 MHz) acoustic waves through the arterial walls, capturing the reflected echoes, and employing pre-processing techniques, the frequency shift is utilized to calculate PWV. It is observed that PWV measured by CaNVAS correlates exponentially with BP values obtained from the sphygmomanometer (BPMR-120), enabling the computation of instantaneous BP values. The proposed device is validated through measurements conducted on 250 subjects under pre- and post-exercise conditions, demonstrating an accuracy of 95% and an average coefficient of variation of 12.5%. This validates the reliability and precision of CaNVAS in assessing vascular parameters.
Prioritizing Career Preparation: Learning Achievements and Extracurricular Activities of Undergraduate Students for Future Success
Authors: Kang Dongsuk
Published: July 2023

Preparing for a job can be difficult for undergraduates as this would be one of their first experiences of responsibility; obtaining a job will make them economically independent beings taking responsibility for their lives. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, this task has become even more challenging for Generation Z students, born in the mid-1990s, as they navigate a turbulent job market. This study aims to analyze undergraduates’ priority decisions regarding the criteria and activities of their career preparation. The study conducted a questionnaire analysis using the methodology of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with 93 university students in the Republic of Korea. This research finds that students rank personal feelings of achievement as the most important criterion in their career preparation. They perceive extracurricular activities and internships as the most beneficial experiences for job readiness. On the contrary, networking activities within the university and with alumni received the least importance. These results highlight a need for universities to innovate their educational approach. Addressing the gap between current curricula and student needs and enhancing self-efficacy among students are critical. Innovative educational strategies could be a key to meeting societal expectations, such as the integration of business and technology, and catering to the unique learning needs of Generation Z. This becomes particularly relevant considering the rise of new career paths, such as youth startups, leveraging advanced technologies.
A Study and Analysis of the Relationship between Visual—Auditory Logos and Consumer Behavior
Authors: Li Hui , Xu Junping , Fang Meichen , Tang Lingzi , Pan Younghwan
Published: July 2023

Given enterprises' participation in market competition and the development of sensory marketing, in addition to the traditional visual identity, some enterprises gradually begin to pay attention to auditory and then introduce sound design when designing logos. Audio-visual stimulation and media innovation are committed to creating positive attitudes among consumers. This study constructs a model of visual and auditory interactive relationships with consumer behavior using the SOR model. It tests the conceptual model and checks the hypotheses proposed in the study. This study summarizes and contributes to the visual and auditory interactive relationship between information integration, information synergy, mutual competition, and matching degree. It further proposes the influence of purchase intention and consumer support on consumer behavior of perceived brand perception, credibility, and quality perception. The results and highlights ensure brand identities reflect a significant positive result through consumer behavior. In this paper, we collected questionnaires from a random sample of 1407 respondents. We used regression analysis to test the association between visual and auditory interactive relationships as well as consumer behavior. We further verified the mediating role of consumer perception variables. Adding audiovisual logo design to the marketing process can be an effective way for companies and brands to attract customers and increase their support and purchase intentions.
Can Emotional Intelligence Increase the Positive Psychological Capital and Life Satisfaction of Chinese University Students?
Authors: Xu Jingyi , Choi Myeong-Cheol
Published: July 2023

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to dramatic changes in the learning environment and living conditions of college students, who face enormous psychological challenges in the ubiquitous AI environment. Modern student-management research has focused on developing mechanisms for enhancing life satisfaction, alleviating emotional anxiety, and improving self-confidence. This study aims to investigate the influence of participation in cultural and artistic activities on college students’ life satisfaction. Through a questionnaire survey and data analysis of 708 college students, this study found a significant positive relationship between participation in cultural and artistic activities and college students’ life satisfaction. Further mediation analysis showed that positive psychological capital played a mediating role between participation in cultural and artistic activities and life satisfaction. Additionally, emotional intelligence was found to play a moderating role in this relationship, and college students with higher emotional intelligence had a more significant effect on positive psychological capital in terms of participation in cultural and artistic activities. The results of this study herein provide a new understanding of life satisfaction research among college students and offer practical guidance for promoting college students’ mental health and psychological well-being. This research also demonstrates the importance of participation in cultural and artistic activities and encourages college students to be active therein to enhance their psychological capital and improve life satisfaction. Furthermore, the cultivation and enhancement of emotional intelligence is emphasized as a key factor for college students to improve their psychological well-being through cultural and artistic activities.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Training in Disaster Medicine Courses for Students in Nursing: A Scoping Review of Adoptable Tools
Authors: Magi Camilla Elena , Bambi Stefano , Iovino Paolo , El Aoufy Khadija , Amato Carla , Balestri Chiara , Rasero Laura , Longobucco Yari
Published: July 2023

Nurses and paramedics play a pivotal role when mass casualty incidents (MCI) occur, yet they often feel unprepared for such events. Implementation strategies for training activities, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) simulations, offer realistic and immersive learning experiences, enhancing skills and competencies for nursing students. The aim of this work was to investigate the adopted tools in studies on VR and AR simulations for training nursing and paramedic students in managing MCI. A scoping review was performed following the PRISMA-ScR statement, and the search strategy was conducted through five electronic databases from December 2022 to March 2023. Of 162 records identified, 27 full texts were screened and, six studies were included in this review. These studies involved students who were assigned to different training methods, including immersive VR simulation, written instruction, and traditional lecture. VR and AR and immersive simulation generally show promising evidence in enhancing practical skills and knowledge in MCI management. VR and AR showed to be promising in disaster education and preparedness training, offering different levels of immersiveness and engagement, encouraging active and experiential learning. Further research is needed to determine their long-term effectiveness. The choice of training method should consider program goals, target population, and available resources.
NLFEA of Reinforced Concrete Corbels: Proposed Framework, Sensibility Study, and Precision Level
Authors: Reginato Luan , de Sousa Alex M. D. , Santos João V. C. , El Debs Mounir K.
Published: July 2023

Non-linear finite element analysis (NLFEA) has been frequently used to assess the ultimate capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) structures under the most complex conditions. Nevertheless, the guidelines using such methods to evaluate RC corbels are limited. In addition, the influence of material modeling options regarding the behavior of such members was not investigated until now. This paper proposes to present a framework for the NLFEAs of RC corbels using the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model. the influence of several modeling choices related to this constitutive model also is discussed in detail, including the assumed stress–strain behavior in compression and tension and the parameters related to the yield criterion and flow rule. For this, a first set of test results was used to validate the proposed approach to the NLFEA. Afterwards, the sensibility of the numerical results for several modeling choices was investigated. In the end, the proposed framework for the NLFEA was checked against a database of 36 test results from the literature. The mean ratio between the predicted and experimental test results was 1.015 with a coefficient of variation of only 8.57%. The governing failure mechanism of the tests was predicted correctly in approximately 88% of the simulations. In summary, the proposed approach allows for predicting the ultimate capacity and failure mechanism of RC corbels accurately.
A Review on Durability of Foam Concrete
Authors: Zhou Guanzheng , Su Ray Kai Leung
Published: July 2023

Foam concrete is a promising material in building and construction applications, providing such outstanding properties as high specific strength, excellent thermal insulation, and effective acoustic absorption in human-inhabited buildings. However, because the porosity and permeable water absorption properties of foam concrete are significantly higher, its durability is often not comparable to that of ordinary concrete, and so the durability of foam concrete requires significant attention during the life cycle of building applications. Durable materials can greatly reduce the environmental impact of waste from maintenance and replacement and the consumption of natural resources resulting from the production of repair and replacement materials. After hardening, the durability of foam concrete includes freeze-thaw cycle resistance, elevated temperature resistance, carbonation resistance, efflorescence resistance, sulfate resistance, chloride resistance, alkali-silica reaction, and so on. This paper reviews articles on the durability of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) foam concrete, geopolymer foam concrete (GFC), magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) foam concrete, sulphoaluminate cement (SAC) foam concrete, and limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) foam concrete and compares their durability to provide a reference for the life cycle design and service life estimation of foam concrete members.
Diminished Short-Term Efficacy of Reduced-Dose Induction BCG in the Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Ostrowski David A. , Chelluri Raju R. , Herzig Matthew , Xia Leilei , Cortese Brian D. , Roberson Daniel S. , Guzzo Thomas J. , Lee Daniel J. , Malkowicz S. Bruce
Published: July 2023

The ongoing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage has created challenges for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBCa). Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of reduced-dose induction BCG (RD-iBCG) compared to full-dose induction BCG (FD-iBCG) regarding recurrence rates. We hypothesized that patients receiving RD-iBCG may recur at a higher rate compared to those who received FD-iBCG therapy. A retrospective review of all patients with NMIBCa treated with intravesical therapy at our institution between 2015–2020 was conducted. Inclusion criteria consisted of having a diagnosis of AUA intermediate or high-risk NMIBCa with an indication for a six-week induction course of FD or RD-BCG with at least 1 year of documented follow up. The data were censored at one year. Propensity score matching for age, sex, tumor pathology, and initial vs. recurrent disease was performed. The primary endpoint was bladder cancer recurrence, reported as recurrence-free survival. A total of 254 patients were reviewed for this study. Our final cohort was 139 patients after exclusion. Thirty-nine percent of patients had HGT1 disease. 38.6% of patients receiving RD-BCG developed a recurrence of bladder cancer within a one-year follow-up as compared to 33.7% of patients receiving FD therapy. After propensity matching, this value remained statistically significant (p = 0.03). In conclusion, RD-iBCG for NMIBCa is associated with a significantly greater risk of recurrence than full-dose induction therapy, suggesting that RD-iBCG may not be equivalent or non-inferior to full-dose administration in the short term.
Early Age of Onset Is an Independent Predictor for a Worse Response to Neoadjuvant Therapies in Sporadic Rectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Foppa Caterina , Maroli Annalisa , Luberto Antonio , La Raja Carlotta , Spaggiari Paola , Bonifacio Cristiana , De Zanet Stefano , Montorsi Marco , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Terracciano Luigi Maria , Santoro Armando , Spinelli Antonino
Published: July 2023

The incidence of rectal cancer (RC) is increasing in the population aged ≤ 49 (early-onset RC-EORC). EORC patients are more likely to present with locally advanced disease at diagnosis than late-onset RC (LORC; aged ≥ 50) patients. As a consequence, more EORC patients undergo neoadjuvant therapies. The response to treatment in EORC patients is still unknown. This study aims to explore the effect of age of onset on the pathological response to neoadjuvant therapies in sporadic locally advanced RC (LARC) patients. Based on an institutional prospectively maintained database, LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapies and radical surgery between January 2010 and December 2022 were allocated to the EORC and LORC groups. The primary endpoint was the rate of incomplete response (Dworak 0–2). A total of 326 LORC and 79 EORC patients were included. Pre-neoadjuvant tumor features were comparable. A significantly higher rate of incomplete response was observed in EORC patients (49% vs. 35%; p = 0.028). From multivariable analysis, early age of onset, smoking and extramural invasion presented as independent risk factors for a worse response. This study demonstrates that an early age of onset is related to a worse response and calls for different multimodal strategies in this group of patients.
Recent Advances in Platinum and Palladium Solvent Extraction from Real Leaching Solutions of Spent Catalysts
Authors: Paiva Ana Paula
Published: July 2023

The strategic importance of platinum and palladium, two platinum-group metals (PGMs), is particularly supported by their technological applications, one of the most relevant being the role they perform as catalysts for several sorts of chemical reactions. The cumulative demand for these two PGMs to be used as catalysts more than justifies increasing research efforts to develop sustainable recycling processes to maintain their supply. This critically appraised topic review describes the recent research trends (since 2010) developed by the world’s research communities to reach sustainable methods to recover platinum and palladium from spent catalysts in the liquid phase, namely those involving a solvent extraction (SX) step. The selected recycling processes are based on extensive fundamental research, but this paper intends to focus on information collected about SX procedures applied to real leaching samples of spent catalysts, either from automobile or industrial sources. A critical appraisal of the claimed success levels, the identified constraints, and open challenges is carried out, together with some perspectives on possible ways to redirect research efforts and minimize the gap between academia and industry on this matter.
Propofol Inhibits Glioma Stem Cell Growth and Migration and Their Interaction with Microglia via BDNF-AS and Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Nizar Rephael , Cazacu Simona , Xiang Cunli , Krasner Matan , Barbiro-Michaely Efrat , Gerber Doron , Schwartz Jonathan , Fried Iris , Yuval Shira , Brodie Aharon , Kazimirsky Gila , Amos Naama , Unger Ron , Brown Stephen , Rogers Lisa , Penning Donald H. , Brodie Chaya
Published: July 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. GBM contains a small subpopulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs) that are implicated in treatment resistance, tumor infiltration, and recurrence, and are thereby considered important therapeutic targets. Recent clinical studies have suggested that the choice of general anesthetic (GA), particularly propofol, during tumor resection, affects subsequent tumor response to treatments and patient prognosis. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying propofol’s anti-tumor effects on GSCs and their interaction with microglia cells. Propofol exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the self-renewal, expression of mesenchymal markers, and migration of GSCs and sensitized them to both temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation. At higher concentrations, propofol induced a large degree of cell death, as demonstrated using microfluid chip technology. Propofol increased the expression of the lncRNA BDNF-AS, which acts as a tumor suppressor in GBM, and silencing of this lncRNA partially abrogated propofol’s effects. Propofol also inhibited the pro-tumorigenic GSC-microglia crosstalk via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and delivery of BDNF-AS. In conclusion, propofol exerted anti-tumor effects on GSCs, sensitized these cells to radiation and TMZ, and inhibited their pro-tumorigenic interactions with microglia via transfer of BDNF-AS by EVs.
Atopic Dermatitis in Children Under 5: Prevalence Trends in Central, Eastern, and Western Europe
Authors: Ilic Irena , Stojkovic Andjelka , Velickovic Vesna , Zivanovic Macuzic Ivana , Ilic Milena
Published: July 2023

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a major public health issue worldwide, but data on trends in prevalence in children in European countries are sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 in the Central, Eastern, and Western European sub-regions from 1990 to 2019. Methods: In this study, a descriptive, observational epidemiological method was applied. In addition, an ecological study design was used. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess trends. Results: A total of 118 million (54 million males and 64 million females) prevalent cases of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 were reported in European countries in 1990–2019. More than half of all cases of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 in Europe were recorded in the Western European sub-region. The highest prevalence rates of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 were observed in the Eastern European sub-region, with the highest rates in both males and females recorded in Estonia (equally at about 15,000 per 100,000), followed by the Russian Federation (equally at about 12,000 per 100,000). Moreover, the lowest prevalence rates were reported in the Eastern European sub-region (equally at about 5000 per 100,000 in Romania and Latvia). A sex disparity in the prevalence and trends of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 was observed. A significantly increased trend in atopic dermatitis prevalence in children under 5 was recorded in the Eastern European sub-region from 1990 to 2019 (by +0.3% per year in males and by +0.1% per year in females). Conversely, in the Western and Central European sub-regions, trends in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 slightly decreased (about −0.1% per year). The Pearson coefficient showed a significant negative correlation between the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 and the Human Development Index in most countries in the Eastern European sub-region, while a significant positive correlation was reported between the prevalence and HDI in high-income countries in the Western European sub-region. Conclusions: High prevalence rates and mostly stable trends during the last three decades make atopic dermatitis still a major health issue in children under 5 in European countries.
Exploring Photonic Crystals: Band Structure and Topological Interface States
Authors: de Dios-Leyva Melquiades , Márquez-González Andy , Duque Carlos Alberto
Published: July 2023

The physical mechanisms supporting the existence of topological interface modes in photonic structures, formed with the concatenation of two finite, N-period, one-dimensional photonic crystals, are investigated. It is shown that these mechanisms originate from a specific configuration of bands and bandgaps of topological origin in the band structure of the concatenated structure. Our analysis reveals that the characteristics of such a configuration depend on the structural parameters, including the number, N, of unit cells, and determine the properties of the corresponding resonant transmission peak. It was shown that the width and maximum value of the transmission peaks decrease with N. These results not only provide new physical insight into the origin and nature of such modes, but also can be used to control and manipulate the transmission peak properties, such as peak values, full width at half maximum (FWHM), and Q-factor, which are of special interest in the fields of optical sensing, filters, etc.
Are Canadian Women Prepared for the Transition to Primary HPV Testing in Cervical Screening? A National Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs
Authors: Haward Ben , Tatar Ovidiu , Zhu Patricia , Griffin-Mathieu Gabrielle , McBride Emily , Waller Jo , Brotherton Julia , Lofters Aisha , Mayrand Marie-Hélène , Perez Samara , Rosberger Zeev
Published: July 2023

As Canadian provinces and territories prepare to transition to HPV-based primary screening for cervical cancer, failure to identify and address potential barriers to screening could hinder program implementation. We examined screening-eligible Canadians’ attitudes towards and knowledge of cervical screening. A nationally representative sample of screening-eligible Canadians (N = 3724) completed a web-based survey in the summer of 2022. Oversampling ensured that half of the sample were underscreened for cervical cancer (>3 years since previous screening or never screened). The participants completed validated scales of cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV test knowledge and HPV test and self-sampling attitudes and beliefs. Between-group differences (underscreened vs. adequately screened) were calculated for scales and items using independent sample t-tests or chi-square tests. The underscreened participants (n = 1871) demonstrated significantly lower knowledge of cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV test. The adequately screened participants (n = 1853) scored higher on the Confidence and Worries subscales of the HPV Test Attitudes and Beliefs Scale. The underscreened participants scored higher on the Personal Barriers and Social Norms subscales. The underscreened participants also endorsed greater Autonomy conferred by self-sampling. Our findings suggest important differential patterns of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs between the underscreened and adequately screened Canadians. These findings highlight the need to develop targeted communication strategies and promote patient-centered, tailored approaches in cervical screening programs.
Incisional Hernia Following Open Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Incidence and Risk Factors at a Tertiary Care Centre
Authors: González-Abós Carolina , Pineda Catalina , Arrocha Carlos , Farguell Jordi , Gil Ignacio , Ausania Fabio
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Incisional hernia (IH) is one of the most common complications following open abdominal surgery. There is scarce evidence on its real incidence following pancreatic surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and the risk factors associated with IH development in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). (2) Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing PD between 2014 and 2020 at our centre. Data were extracted from a prospectively held database, including perioperative and long-term factors. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis to detect those factors potentially associated with IH development. (3) Results: The incidence of IH was 8.8% (19/213 patients). Median age was 67 (33–85) years. BMI was 24.9 (14–41) and 184 patients (86.4%) underwent PD for malignant disease. Median follow-up was 23 (6–111) months. Median time to IH development was 31 (13–89) months. Six (31.5%) patients required surgical repair. Following univariate and multivariate analysis, preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.24–9.16, p = 0.01) and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.06–8.14, p = 0.049) were the only factors independently associated with the development of IH. (4) Conclusions: The incidence of IH following PD was 8.8% in a tertiary care center. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia and obesity are independently associated with IH occurrence following PD.
Spatial Turnover and Functional Redundancy in the Ants of Urban Fragments of Tropical Dry Forest
Authors: Ramos Ortega Lina María , Guerrero Roberto J.
Published: July 2023

Spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of ants in four urban fragments of the tropical dry forest in the city of Santa Marta was evaluated. The fragments were sampled four times in the dry and rainy season, from October 2019 to January 2020, using pitfall traps, mini-Winkler bags, baits, and manual collection. Both alpha and beta taxonomic diversity and their components were quantified. The functional groups were established based on proposals for Neotropical ant species. A total of 7 subfamilies, 37 genera, and 84 species were collected. Richness varied spatially from 33 to 61 species, but between the two seasons it was 72 and 76 species. Sites N01 and N02 had greater diversity than N03 and N04. In all the fragments, soil ants were dominated by Ectatomma ruidum, but litter ants showed a structure with less dominant species. The dissimilarity between fragments was 60–80%, attributable mainly to turnover (50–70%) but not to nestedness (10%). Seventeen functional groups were identified. Taxonomic diversity of ants in urban fragments in Santa Marta showed marked spatial variation, without influence from the seasons. Despite taxonomic turnover, there was broad similarity in functional groups between the fragments, indicating ecological equivalence of species between the ant assemblages.
Paleoclimatic Reconstruction Based on the Late Pleistocene San Josecito Cave Stratum 720 Fauna Using Fossil Mammals, Reptiles, and Birds
Authors: Cruz J. Alberto , Velasco Julián A. , Arroyo-Cabrales Joaquín , Johnson Eileen
Published: July 2023

Advances in technology have equipped paleobiologists with new analytical tools to assess the fossil record. The functional traits of vertebrates have been used to infer paleoenvironmental conditions. In Quaternary deposits, birds are the second-most-studied group after mammals. They are considered a poor paleoambiental proxy because their high vagility and phenotypic plasticity allow them to respond more effectively to climate change. Investigating multiple groups is important, but it is not often attempted. Biogeographical and climatic niche information concerning small mammals, reptiles, and birds have been used to infer the paleoclimatic conditions present during the Late Pleistocene at San Josecito Cave (~28,000 14C years BP), Mexico. Warmer and dryer conditions are inferred with respect to the present. The use of all of the groups of small vertebrates is recommended because they represent an assemblage of species that have gone through a series of environmental filters in the past. Individually, different vertebrate groups provide different paleoclimatic information. Birds are a good proxy for inferring paleoprecipitation but not paleotemperature. Together, reptiles and small mammals are a good proxy for inferring paleoprecipitation and paleotemperature, but reptiles alone are a bad proxy, and mammals alone are a good proxy for inferring paleotemperature and precipitation. The current paleoclimatic results coupled with those of a previous vegetation structure analysis indicate the presence of non-analog paleoenvironmental conditions during the Late Pleistocene in the San Josecito Cave area. This situation would explain the presence of a disharmonious fauna and the extinction of several taxa when these conditions later disappeared and do not reappear again.
Electric Bioimpedance Sensing for the Detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Carobbio Andrea Luigi Camillo , Cheng Zhuoqi , Gianiorio Tomaso , Missale Francesco , Africano Stefano , Ascoli Alessandro , Fragale Marco , Filauro Marta , Marchi Filippo , Guastini Luca , Mora Francesco , Parrinello Giampiero , Canevari Frank Rikki Mauritz , Peretti Giorgio , Mattos Leonardo S.
Published: July 2023

The early detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is essential to improve patient prognosis and enable organ and function preservation treatments. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of using electrical bioimpedance (EBI) sensing technology to detect HNSCC tissue. A prospective study was carried out analyzing tissue from 46 patients undergoing surgery for HNSCC. The goal was the correct identification of pathologic tissue using a novel needle-based EBI sensing device and AI-based classifiers. Considering the data from the overall patient cohort, the system achieved accuracies between 0.67 and 0.93 when tested on tissues from the mucosa, skin, muscle, lymph node, and cartilage. Furthermore, when considering a patient-specific setting, the accuracy range increased to values between 0.82 and 0.95. This indicates that more reliable results may be achieved when considering a tissue-specific and patient-specific tissue assessment approach. Overall, this study shows that EBI sensing may be a reliable technology to distinguish pathologic from healthy tissue in the head and neck region. This observation supports the continuation of this research on the clinical use of EBI-based devices for early detection and margin assessment of HNSCC.
An Optimal Hierarchical Approach for Oral Cancer Diagnosis Using Rough Set Theory and an Amended Version of the Competitive Search Algorithm
Authors: Song Simin , Ren Xiaojing , He Jing , Gao Meng , Wang Jia’nan , Wang Bin
Published: July 2023

Oral cancer is introduced as the uncontrolled cells’ growth that causes destruction and damage to nearby tissues. This occurs when a sore or lump grows in the mouth that does not disappear. Cancers of the cheeks, lips, floor of the mouth, tongue, sinuses, hard and soft palate, and lungs (throat) are types of this cancer that will be deadly if not detected and cured in the beginning stages. The present study proposes a new pipeline procedure for providing an efficient diagnosis system for oral cancer images. In this procedure, after preprocessing and segmenting the area of interest of the inputted images, the useful characteristics are achieved. Then, some number of useful features are selected, and the others are removed to simplify the method complexity. Finally, the selected features move into a support vector machine (SVM) to classify the images by selected characteristics. The feature selection and classification steps are optimized by an amended version of the competitive search optimizer. The technique is finally implemented on the Oral Cancer (Lips and Tongue) images (OCI) dataset, and its achievements are confirmed by the comparison of it with some other latest techniques, which are weight balancing, a support vector machine, a gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), the deep method, transfer learning, mobile microscopy, and quadratic discriminant analysis. The simulation results were authenticated by four indicators and indicated the suggested method’s efficiency in relation to the others in diagnosing the oral cancer cases.
Triiodothyronine and Protein Malnutrition Could Influence Pulse Wave Velocity in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Rusu Crina Claudia , Kacso Ina , Moldovan Diana , Potra Alina , Tirinescu Dacian , Ticala Maria , Rotar Ancuta M. , Orasan Remus , Budurea Cristian , Barar Andrada , Anton Florin , Valea Ana , Bondor Cosmina Ioana , Ticolea Madalina
Published: July 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the first cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) mortality. For personalized improved medicine, detecting correctable markers of CVD can be considered a priority. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the impact of nutritional, hormonal and inflammatory markers on brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) in pre-dialysis CKD patients. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 68 pre-dialysis CKD patients (median age of 69 years, 41.2% with diabetes mellitus, 52.9% male). Laboratory data were collected, including levels of prolactin, triiodothyronine, TGF α, IL-6, and IL-1β. The high values of brachial-ankle PWV were associated with reduced muscle mass (p = 0.001, r = −0.44), low levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.04, r = −0.26), triglycerides (p = 0.03, r = −0.31), triiodothyronine (p = 0.04, r = −0.24), and prolactin (p = 0.02, r = −0.27). High PWV was associated with advanced age (p < 0.001, r = 0.19). In the multivariate analysis, reduced muscle mass (p = 0.018), low levels of triiodothyronine (p = 0.002), and triglycerides (p = 0.049) were significant predictors of PWV, but age (p < 0.001) remained an important factor. In conclusion, reduced triiodothyronine together with markers of malnutrition and age were associated with PWV in pre-dialysis CKD patients.
Simulation of the Effect of Correlated Packet Loss for sUAS Platforms Operating in Non-Line-of-Sight Indoor Environments
Authors: Meriaux Edwin , Weitzen Jay , Norton Adam
Published: July 2023

The current state of the art in small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) testing and evaluation exists mainly in the realm of outdoor flight. Operating small flying sUAS in constrained indoor or subterranean environments places different constraints on their communication links (control links and camera/sensor links). Communication loss in these environments is much more severe due to the proximity of obstacles. This paper examines how correlated packet loss (burst errors) occurring on both the control and camera communication links affects the ability of pilots to fly and navigate small sUAS platforms in constrained Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) environments. A software test bench called AirSim, a UAV simulator, allows us to better understand the effects of correlated packet loss on flyability without damaging multiple sUAS units by flight testing. The simulation was designed to support the design of test methodologies for evaluating the robustness of the communication links and to understand performance without damaging flight tests. Throughout the simulations, it is observed how different levels of packet loss affect the pilot and the number of simulated crashes into the obstacles placed through space. The simulations modeled packet loss both on the video link and the control link to display how packet loss affects ability to pilot and control the sUAS. The utility of using a simulated environment rather than flight testing prevents damage to the fragile and expensive drones being used.
Soft-Error-Aware Radiation-Hardened Ge-DLTFET-Based SRAM Cell Design
Authors: Raikwal Pushpa , Kumar Prashant , Panchore Meena , Dwivedi Pushpendra , Cecil Kanchan
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a soft-error-aware radiation-hardened 6T SRAM cell has been implemented using germanium-based dopingless tunnel FET (Ge DLTFET). In a circuit level simulation, the device-circuit co-design approach is used. Semiconductor devices are very prone to the radiation environment; hence, finding out the solution to the problem became a necessity for the designers. Single event upset (SEU), also known as soft error, is one of the most frequent issues to tackle in semiconductor devices. To mitigate the effect of soft error due to single-event upset, the radiation-hardening-by-design (RHBD) technique has been employed for Ge DLTFET-based SRAM cells. This technique uses RC feedback paths between the two cross-coupled inverters of an SRAM cell. The soft-error sensitivity is estimated for a conventional and RHBD-based SRAM cell design. It is found that the RHBD-based SRAM cell design is more efficient to mitigate the soft-error effect in comparison to the conventional design. The delay and stability parameters, obtained from the N-curve, of the Ge DLTFET-based SRAM cell performs better than the conventional Si TFET-based SRAM cell. There is an improvement of 305x & 850x in the static power noise margin and write trip power values of the Ge DLTFET SRAM cell with respect to the conventional Si TFET SRAM cell.
Efficient Overdetermined Independent Vector Analysis Based on Iterative Projection with Adjustment
Authors: Guo Ruiming , Luo Zhongqiang , Wang Ling , Feng Li
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a computationally efficient optimization algorithm for independent vector analysis (IVA) is proposed to accelerate iterative convergence speed and enhance the overdetermined convolutive blind speech separation performance. An iterative projection with adjustment (IPA) is investigated to estimate the unmixing matrix for OverIVA. The IPA algorithm jointly executes the iterative projection (IP) algorithm and the iterative source steering (ISS) algorithm to jointly update one row and one column of the mixing matrix, which can perform computationally-efficient blind source separation. It is achieved by updating one demixing filter and jointly adjusting all the other sources along its current direction. Motivated by its technology superiorities, this paper proposes a modified algorithm for the OverIVA, fully exploiting the computational efficiency of IPA optimization scheme. Experimental results corroborate the proposed OverIVA-IPA algorithm converges faster and performs better than the existing state-of-the-arts algorithms.
A Privacy-Preserving Time-Aware Method for Next POI Recommendation
Authors: Fan Jianyong , Pan Chenxi , Geng Yue , Li Shuyu
Published: July 2023

Compared with traditional point-of-interest (POI) recommendation, next POI recommendation is more difficult and requires comprehensive consideration of users’ behavior patterns, spatial–temporal context, and other information. In addition, unreliable service providers may disclose the privacy of users when providing recommendation services. For next POI recommendation, a privacy-preserving time-aware recommendation method (PPTA-RM) is proposed in this paper. The PPTA-RM method is based on centralized differential privacy and combines coarse-grained recommendation with fine-grained recommendation. At the coarse-grained level, the users’ POI category preference is modeled by improved matrix factorization and predicted by singular spectrum analysis (SSA), and gradient perturbation is carried out during the matrix factorization process to protect the POI category preference of users. At the fine-grained level, the users’ POI preference is modeled and predicted by an improved hyperlink-induced topic search (HITS) algorithm, which considers the weighted combination of users’ social attributes and POI geographic distance attributes, and a privacy budget allocation strategy considering the visit count of POIs is designed to add Laplace noise to the check-in data of users. The experimental analysis on two real datasets shows that the proposed method improves F1-Score@10 by 0.4–21.8% under different privacy budgets, which validates that the proposed method holds the next POI recommendation accuracy better while preserving the user’s privacy.