bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shapley Mapping and Its Axiomatizations in n-Person Cooperative Interval Games
Authors: Shino Junnosuke , Ishihara Shinichi , Yamauchi Shimpei
Published: October 2022

Interval games are an extension of cooperative coalitional games, in which players are assumed to face payoff uncertainty. Characteristic functions thus assign a closed interval, instead of a real number. In this paper, we first examine the notion of solution mapping, a solution concept applied to interval games, by comparing it with the existing solution concept called the interval solution concept. Then, we define a Shapley mapping as a specific form of the solution mapping. Finally, it is shown that the Shapley mapping can be characterized by two different axiomatizations, both of which employ interval game versions of standard axioms used in the traditional cooperative game analysis such as efficiency, symmetry, null player property, additivity and separability.
Network-Induced Soft Sets and Stock Market Applications
Authors: Balcı Mehmet Ali , Batrancea Larissa M. , Akgüller Ömer
Published: October 2022

The intricacy of the financial systems reflected in bilateral ties has piqued the interest of many specialists. In this research, we introduce network-induced soft sets, a novel mathematical model for studying the dynamics of a financial stock market with several orders of interaction. To achieve its intelligent parameterization, this model relies on the bilateral connections between economic actors, who are agents in a financial network, rather than relying on any other single feature of the network itself. Our study also introduces recently developed statistical measures for network-induced soft sets and provides an analysis of their application to the study of financial markets. Findings validate the efficacy of this novel method in assessing the effects of various economic stress periods registered in Borsa Istanbul.
Infusion-Net: Inter- and Intra-Weighted Cross-Fusion Network for Multispectral Object Detection
Authors: Yun Jun-Seok , Park Seon-Hoo , Yoo Seok Bong
Published: October 2022

Object recognition is conducted using red, green, and blue (RGB) images in object recognition studies. However, RGB images in low-light environments or environments where other objects occlude the target objects cause poor object recognition performance. In contrast, infrared (IR) images provide acceptable object recognition performance in these environments because they detect IR waves rather than visible illumination. In this paper, we propose an inter- and intra-weighted cross-fusion network (Infusion-Net), which improves object recognition performance by combining the strengths of the RGB-IR image pairs. Infusion-Net connects dual object detection models using a high-frequency (HF) assistant (HFA) to combine the advantages of RGB-IR images. To extract HF components, the HFA transforms input images into a discrete cosine transform domain. The extracted HF components are weighted via pretrained inter- and intra-weights for feature-domain cross-fusion. The inter-weighted fused features are transmitted to each other’s networks to complement the limitations of each modality. The intra-weighted features are also used to enhance any insufficient HF components of the target objects. Thus, the experimental results present the superiority of the proposed network and present improved performance of the multispectral object recognition task.
Pseudocode Generation from Source Code Using the BART Model
Authors: Alokla Anas , Gad Walaa , Nazih Waleed , Aref Mustafa , Salem Abdel-badeeh
Published: October 2022

In the software development process, more than one developer may work on developing the same program and bugs in the program may be fixed by a different developer; therefore, understanding the source code is an important issue. Pseudocode plays an important role in solving this problem, as it helps the developer to understand the source code. Recently, transformer-based pre-trained models achieved remarkable results in machine translation, which is similar to pseudocode generation. In this paper, we propose a novel automatic pseudocode generation from the source code based on a pre-trained Bidirectional and Auto-Regressive Transformer (BART) model. We fine-tuned two pre-trained BART models (i.e., large and base) using a dataset containing source code and its equivalent pseudocode. In addition, two benchmark datasets (i.e., Django and SPoC) were used to evaluate the proposed model. The proposed model based on the BART large model outperforms other state-of-the-art models in terms of BLEU measurement by 15% and 27% for Django and SPoC datasets, respectively.
A Multi-Service Composition Model for Tasks in Cloud Manufacturing Based on VS–ABC Algorithm
Authors: Liang Di , Wang Jieyi , Bhamra Ran , Lu Liezhao , Li Yuting
Published: October 2022

This study analyzes the impact of Industry 4.0 and SARS-CoV-2 on the manufacturing industry, in which manufacturing entities are faced with insufficient resources and uncertain services; however, the current study does not fit this situation well. A multi-service composition for complex manufacturing tasks in a cloud manufacturing environment is proposed to improve the utilization of manufacturing service resources. Combining execution time, cost, energy consumption, service reliability and availability, a quality of service (QoS) model is constructed as the evaluation standard. A hybrid search algorithm (VS–ABC algorithm) based on the vortex search algorithm (VS) and the artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) is introduced and combines the advantages of the two algorithms in search range and calculation speed. We take the customization production of automobiles as an example, and the case study shows that the VS–ABC algorithm has better applicability compared with traditional vortex search and artificial bee colony algorithms.
An Exact Algorithm for Multi-Task Large-Scale Inter-Satellite Routing Problem with Time Windows and Capacity Constraints
Authors: Liu Jinming , Zhang Guoting , Xing Lining , Qi Weihua , Chen Yingwu
Published: October 2022

In the context of a low-orbit mega constellation network, we consider the large-scale inter-satellite routing problem with time windows and capacity constraints (ISRPTWC) with the goal of minimizing the total consumption cost, including transmission, resource consumption, and other environmentally impacted costs. Initially, we develop an integer linear programming model for ISRPTWC. However, a difficult issue when solving ISRPTWC is how to deal with complex time window constraints and how to reduce congestion and meet transmission capacity. Along this line, we construct a three-dimensional time-space state network aiming to comprehensively enumerate the satellite network state at any moment in time and a task transmission route at any given time and further propose a time-discretized multi-commodity network flow model for the ISRPTWC. Then, we adopt a dynamic programming algorithm to solve the single-task ISRPTWC. By utilizing a Lagrangian relaxation algorithm, the primal multi-task routing problem is decomposed into a sequence of single-task routing subproblems, with Lagrangian multipliers for individual task route nodes and links being updated by a subgradient method. Notably, we devise a novel idea for constructing the upper bound of the ISRPTWC. Finally, a case study using illustrative and real-world mega constellation networks is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Cross Domain Data Generation for Smart Building Fault Detection and Diagnosis
Authors: Li Dan , Xu Yudong , Zhou Yuxun , Gou Chao , Ng See-Kiong
Published: October 2022

Benefiting extensively from the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor network technologies, the modern smart building achieves thermal comfort. It prevents energy wastage by performing automatic Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) to maintain the good condition of its air-conditioning systems. Often, real-time multi-sensor measurements are collected, and supervised learning algorithms are adopted to exploit the data for an effective FDD. A key issue with the supervised methods is their dependence on well-labeled fault data, which is difficult to obtain in many real-world scenarios despite the abundance of unlabelled sensor data. Intuitively, the problem can be greatly alleviated if some well-labeled fault data collected under a particular setting can be re-used and transferred to other cases where labeled fault data is challenging or costly. Bearing this idea, we proposed a novel Adversarial Cross domain Data Generation (ACDG) framework to impute missing fault data for building fault detection and diagnosis where labeled data is costly. Unlike traditional Transfer Learning (TL)-related applications that adapt models or features learned in the source domain to the target domain, ACDG essentially “generates” the unknown sensor data for the target setting (target domain). This is accomplished by capturing the data patterns and common knowledge from known counterparts in the other setting (source domain), the inter-domain knowledge, and the intra-domain relations. The proposed ACDG framework is tested with the real-world Air Handling Unit (AHU) fault dataset of the ASHRAE Research Project 1312. Extensive experimental results on the cross-domain AHU fault data showed the effectiveness of ACDG in supplementing the data for a missing fault category by exploiting the underlying commonalities between different domain settings.
Network Alignment across Social Networks Using Multiple Embedding Techniques
Authors: Le Van-Vang , Tran Toai Kim , Nguyen Bich-Ngan T. , Nguyen Quoc-Dung , Snasel Vaclav
Published: October 2022

Network alignment, which is also known as user identity linkage, is a kind of network analysis task that predicts overlapping users between two different social networks. This research direction has attracted much attention from the research community, and it is considered to be one of the most important research directions in the field of social network analysis. There are many different models for finding users that overlap between two networks, but most of these models use separate and different techniques to solve prediction problems, with very little work that has combined them. In this paper, we propose a method that combines different embedding techniques to solve the network alignment problem. Each association network alignment technique has its advantages and disadvantages, so combining them together will take full advantage and can overcome those disadvantages. Our model combines three-level embedding techniques of text-based user attributes, a graph attention network, a graph-drawing embedding technique, and fuzzy c-mean clustering to embed each piece of network information into a low-dimensional representation. We then project them into a common space by using canonical correlation analysis and compute the similarity matrix between them to make predictions. We tested our network alignment model on two real-life datasets, and the experimental results showed that our method can considerably improve the accuracy by about 10–15% compared to the baseline models. In addition, when experimenting with different ratios of training data, our proposed model could also handle the over-fitting problem effectively.
A Track-Based Conference Scheduling Problem
Authors: Riquelme Fabian , Montero Elizabeth , Pérez-Cáceres Leslie , Rojas-Morales Nicolás
Published: October 2022

The scheduling of conferences is a challenging task that aims at creating successful conference programs that fulfill an often wide variety of requirements. In this work, we focus on the problem of generating conference programs that organize talks into tracks: subevents within the conference that are group-related talks. The main contributions of this work can be organized into three scopes: literature review, problem formulation and benchmarking, and heuristic approach. We provide a literature review of conference scheduling approaches that organizes these approaches within a timetabling problem taxonomy. We also describe the main characteristics of the conference scheduling approaches in the literature and propose a classification scheme for such works. To study the scheduling of conferences that include tracks, we introduce the definition of the track-based conference scheduling problem, a new problem that incorporates tracks in the conference program. We provide a binary integer linear programming model formulation for this problem. Our formulation considers the availability of presenters, chairs, and organizers, the avoidance of parallel tracks, and best paper sessions, among other classical constraints of conference scheduling problems. Additionally, based on our formulation, we propose a simple instance-generation procedure that we apply to generate a set of artificial instances. We complete our work by proposing a heuristic method based on the simulated annealing metaheuristic for solving the track-based conference scheduling problem. We compare the results obtained by our heuristic approach and the Gurobi solver regarding execution time and solution quality. The results show that the proposed heuristic method is a practical approach for tackling the problem as it obtains solutions in a fraction of the time required by Gurobi, while Gurobi is also unable to obtain an optimal solution in the defined time for a subset of the instances. Finally, from a general perspective, this work provides a new conference scheduling problem formulation that can be extended in the future to include other features common in conference programs. Moreover, thanks to the instance generation procedure, this formulation can be used as a benchmark for designing and comparing new solving approaches.
Quantification of Model Uncertainty Based on Variance and Entropy of Bernoulli Distribution
Authors: Kala Zdeněk
Published: October 2022

This article studies the role of model uncertainties in sensitivity and probability analysis of reliability. The measure of reliability is failure probability. The failure probability is analysed using the Bernoulli distribution with binary outcomes of success (0) and failure (1). Deeper connections between Shannon entropy and variance are explored. Model uncertainties increase the heterogeneity in the data 0 and 1. The article proposes a new methodology for quantifying model uncertainties based on the equality of variance and entropy. This methodology is briefly called “variance = entropy”. It is useful for stochastic computational models without additional information. The “variance = entropy” rule estimates the “safe” failure probability with the added effect of model uncertainties without adding random variables to the computational model. Case studies are presented with seven variants of model uncertainties that can increase the variance to the entropy value. Although model uncertainties are justified in the assessment of reliability, they can distort the results of the global sensitivity analysis of the basic input variables. The solution to this problem is a global sensitivity analysis of failure probability without added model uncertainties. This paper shows that Shannon entropy is a good sensitivity measure that is useful for quantifying model uncertainties.
AHP-Based Systematic Approach to Analyzing and Evaluating Critical Success Factors and Practices for Component-Based Outsourcing Software Development
Authors: Khan Abdul Wahid , Khan Shams Ullah , Alwageed Hathal Salamah , Khan Faheem , Khan Jawad , Lee Youngmoon
Published: October 2022

Component-based software development (CBSD) is a difficult method for creating complicated products or systems. In CBSD, multiple components are used to construct software or a product. A complex system or program can be created with CBSD quickly and with money while maintaining excellent quality and security. On the other hand, this research will persuade outsourced vendor companies to embrace CBSD approaches for component software development. We conducted a systemic literature review (SLR) to investigate the success factors that have a favorable impact on software outsourcing vendors’ organizations, and we selected 91 relevant research publications by creating a search string based on the study questions. This useful information was compiled using Google Scholar, IEEE Explore, MDPI, WILLEY Digital Library, and Elsevier. Furthermore, we completed all of the procedures in SLR for the full literature review, including the formulation of the SLR protocol, initial and final data collection, retrieval, assessment processes, and data synthesis. Among the ten (10) critical success factors we identified are a well-trained and skilled team, proper component selection, use of design standards, well-defined architecture, well-defined analysis and testing, well-defined integration, quality assurance, good organization of documentation, and well-organized security, and proper certification. Furthermore, the proposed SLR includes 46 best practices for these critical success factors, which could assist vendor organizations in enhancing critical success factors for CBOSD. According to our findings, the discovered success factors are similar and distinct across different periods, continents, databases, and approaches. The recommended SLR will also assist software vendor organizations in implementing the CBSD idea. We used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method to prioritize and analyze the success factors of component-based outsourcing software development and the result of different equations of the AHP approach to construct the pairwise comparison matrix. The largest eigenvalue was 3.096 and the CR value was 0.082, which is less than 0.1, and thus sufficient and acceptable.
Jewel 2.0: An Improved Joint Estimation Method for Multiple Gaussian Graphical Models
Authors: Angelini Claudia , De Canditiis Daniela , Plaksienko Anna
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the graphs of conditional dependencies between variables (i.e., graphical models) from multiple datasets under Gaussian settings. We present jewel 2.0, which improves our previous method jewel 1.0 by modeling commonality and class-specific differences in the graph structures and better estimating graphs with hubs, making this new approach more appealing for biological data applications. We introduce these two improvements by modifying the regression-based problem formulation and the corresponding minimization algorithm. We also present, for the first time in the multiple graphs setting, a stability selection procedure to reduce the number of false positives in the estimated graphs. Finally, we illustrate the performance of jewel 2.0 through simulated and real data examples. The method is implemented in the new version of the R package \({\texttt{jewel}}\).
Marine Sources of DHA-Rich Phospholipids with Anti-Alzheimer Effect
Authors: Ferreira Inês , Rauter Amélia P. , Bandarra Narcisa M.
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex and progressive disease, which affects millions of people around the world. Despite the many efforts over the years to find efficient therapeutics, there is no cure yet. Nonetheless, many compounds have been proven to decrease Alzheimer’s symptoms. After a short overview of the hypotheses considered in AD drug development and the drugs approved for AD treatment, which lead to symptom release, we focus on the valorization of natural marine sources that decrease AD symptoms, particularly on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an important component in membrane phospholipids and the most abundant n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) found in gray matter of the brain and in retina and on the DHA-containing phospholipids (DHA-PLs) present in marine sources, namely fish, krill, mollusks and in fisheries and aquaculture by-products. DHA-PLs’ bioactivities are presented, namely their properties in anti-neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, as anticancer agents, as well as their benefits to obesity and visual problems. Fisheries and aquaculture by-products are also highlighted as they have a high content of DHA and DHA-rich phospholipids, can be extracted by green methodologies and should be considered in a circular economy for a healthy sustainable future.
Development of Biocomposite Alginate-Cuttlebone-Gelatin 3D Printing Inks Designed for Scaffolds with Bone Regeneration Potential
Authors: Curti Filis , Serafim Andrada , Olaret Elena , Dinescu Sorina , Samoila Iuliana , Vasile Bogdan Stefan , Iovu Horia , Lungu Adriana , Stancu Izabela Cristina , Marinescu Rodica
Published: October 2022

Fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds using natural biomaterials introduces valuable opportunities in bone tissue reconstruction and regeneration. The current study aimed at the development of paste-like 3D printing inks with an extracellular matrix-inspired formulation based on marine materials: sodium alginate (SA), cuttlebone (CB), and fish gelatin (FG). Macroporous scaffolds with microporous biocomposite filaments were obtained by 3D printing combined with post-printing crosslinking. CB fragments were used for their potential to stimulate biomineralization. Alginate enhanced CB embedding within the polymer matrix as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) and improved the deformation under controlled compression as revealed by micro-CT. SA addition resulted in a modulation of the bulk and surface mechanical behavior, and lead to more elongated cell morphology as imaged by confocal microscopy and ESEM after the adhesion of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts at 48 h. Formation of a new mineral phase was detected on the scaffold’s surface after cell cultures. All the results were correlated with the scaffolds’ compositions. Overall, the study reveals the potential of the marine materials-containing inks to deliver 3D scaffolds with potential for bone regeneration applications.
Long-Term Survival Rate of Autogenous Tooth Transplantation: Up to 162 Months
Authors: Park Jin-Han , Kim Yong-Gun , Suh Jo-Young , Jin Myoung-Uk , Lee Jae-Mok
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to observe the usefulness of autogenous tooth transplantation by examining the cumulative survival rate according to the period of auto-transplanted teeth as pre-implant treatment. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 111 patients who visited Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital and underwent autogenous tooth transplantation between November 2008 and January 2021 (about 13 years). The cumulative survival rate of autogenous tooth transplantation according to the causes of extraction of the recipient tooth (caries, periapical lesion, crack, crown fracture, periodontitis) and condition of opposing teeth (natural teeth vs. fixed prosthesis). The cumulative survival rate of autogenous tooth transplantation according to the age (under 30 vs. over 30) was also investigated and it was examined whether there were any differences in each factor. Results: The average follow-up period was 12 months, followed by a maximum of 162 months. The 24-month cumulative survival rate of all auto-transplanted teeth was 91.7%, 83.1% at 60 months and the 162-month cumulative survival rate was 30.1%. There were no statistical differences between the causes of extraction of the recipient’s teeth, differences in the condition of the opposing teeth, and differences under and over the age of 30. Conclusions: The survival rate of autogenous tooth transplantation appears to be influenced by the conditions of the donor tooth rather than the conditions of the recipient tooth. Although autogenous tooth transplantation cannot completely replace implant treatment, it is meaningful in that it can slightly delay or at least earn the time until implant placement is possible.
Osteogenic Differentiation of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Seeded on Equine-Derived Xenograft in Osteogenic Growth Media
Authors: Alqutub Montaser N. , Mukhtar Areej H. , Alali Yasser , Vohra Fahim , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives: The duration of bone turnover is critical, and different time points help in identifying the optimal endpoint of treatment duration. However, investigating the combination of xenograft and stem cells to allow tissue regeneration within an ideal time duration remains an under-investigated topic. The current study aimed to assess the impact of equine-derived xenograft bone blocks in assisting the human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) to demonstrate osteogenic differentiation (collagen type 1 expression and calcium deposition) within an osteogenic growth media. Materials and Methods: Human PDLSCs were acquired commercially and seeded onto xenograft bone blocks. After the 14th and 21st day of culture, enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was utilized for the detection and quantification of levels of collagen type I, while the mineralization assessment (deposition of calcium) was conducted by staining the PDLSCs with Alizarin Red S (ARS). The statistical comparison between the means and standard deviations of study groups were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: ELISA assessment revealed an upsurge in the expression of collagen type I for PDLSCs cultured with xenograft after 14 and 21 days compared to the controls (intergroup comparisons significant at p < 0.05). Similar findings were obtained for mineralization assessment and on ARS staining. PDLSCs cultured with xenograft bone blocks presented an increased deposition of calcium compared to their control counterparts (intergroup comparisons significant at p < 0.05). Conclusions: PDLSCs embedded in xenograft bone blocks inside an osteogenic growth medium demonstrated greater osteogenic differentiation potential after 14 and 21 days. This superior osteogenic differentiation capability was evident by increased collagen type I expression and more significant calcium deposition at the 14th and 21st days after culture.
Perioperative Red Cell Line Trend following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Di Bello Francesco , Di Mauro Ernesto , Collà Ruvolo Claudia , Creta Massimiliano , La Rocca Roberto , Celentano Giuseppe , Capece Marco , Napolitano Luigi , Morra Simone , Pezone Gabriele , Passaro Francesco , De Luca Ciro , Mangiapia Francesco , Logrieco Nicola , Buonanno Pasquale , Servillo Giuseppe , Imbimbo Ciro , Mirone Vincenzo , Longo Nicola , Califano Gianluigi
Published: October 2022

Background and Objective: Blood loss represents a long-standing concern of radical prostatectomy (RP). This study aimed to assess how red line cell values changed following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and Methods: The blood panels of 453 consecutive PCa patients undergoing RARP at a single tertiary academic referral center, from September 2020 to April 2022, were reviewed. Data from 363 patients with the blood panel available for the following timeframe: within seven days before surgery, six hours after surgery, and the first three postoperative days, were analyzed. Specifically, hemoglobin (Hb, g/dL), red blood cells (RBCs, ×106/μL), and hematocrit (HCT, %) trends were collected. Results: Considering the Hb trend, the median values in the preoperative day, postoperative day (POD) 2, and POD 3 are 14.7 (interquartile range (IQR) = 13.9–15.4), 12.1 (IQR = 11.2–12.9), and 12.2 (IQR = 11.2–13.1), respectively. The ∆ between preoperative day and POD 2 is 2.5 (IQR = 1.8–3.2) (p < 0.001). Considering the RBCs trend, the median values in the preoperative day, POD 2, and POD 3 are 4.9 (IQR = 4.7–5.3), 4.1 (IQR = 3.8–4.4), and 4.1 (IQR = 3.8–4.5), respectively. The ∆ between preoperative day and POD 2 is 0.9 (IQR = 0.6–1.1) (p < 0.001). Considering the HCT trend, the median values in the preoperative day, POD 2, and POD 3 are 44.4 (IQR = 41.7–46.6), 36.4 (IQR = 33.8–38.9), and 36.1 (IQR = 33.5–38.7), respectively. The ∆ between preoperative day and POD 2 is 7.8 (IQR = 5.2–10.5) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Overall, patients undergoing RARP experience a significant, but clinically limited, decline in red line cell values between the preoperative time and the second day post-surgery. These observations are important to provide physicians with knowledge of the expected postoperative course and, thus, to improve the quality of patient care.
Absence of Neuroplastic Changes in the Bilateral H-Reflex Amplitude following Spinal Manipulation with Activator IV
Authors: Fragoso Alma , Martínez Brayan , Ceballos-Villegas María Elena , Herrera Elizabeth , Saldaña Juan José , Gutiérrez-Lozano Ana Lilia , Manjarrez Elías , Lomelí Joel
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives: Chiropractic spinal manipulation is an alternative medical procedure for treating various spinal dysfunctions. Great interest exists in investigating its neuroplastic effects on the central nervous system. Previous studies have found contradictory results in relation to the neuroplastic changes in the H-reflex amplitude as a response to manual spinal manipulation. The discrepancies could be partly due to differences in the unilateral nature of these recordings and/or the variable force exerted in manual techniques applied by distinct chiropractors. Concerning the latter point, the variability in the performance of manual interventions may bias the determination of the significance of changes in H-reflex responses derived from spinal manipulation. To investigate such responses, a chiropractic device can be used to provide more precise and reproducible results. The current contribution aimed to examine whether spinal manipulation with an Activator IV instrument generates neuroplastic effects on the bilateral H-reflex amplitude in dancers and non-dancers. Materials and Methods: A radiograph verified spinal dysfunction in both groups of participants. Since there were significant differences between groups in the mean Hmax values of the H-reflex amplitude before spinal intervention, an assessment was made of the possible dependence of the effects of spinal manipulation with Activator IV on the basal conditions. Results: Ten sessions of spinal manipulation with Activator IV did not cause statistically significant changes in the bilateral H-reflex amplitude (measured as the Hmax/Mmax ratio) in either group. Furthermore, no significant difference was detected in the effects of spinal manipulation between groups, despite their distinct basal H-reflex amplitude. Conclusions: Regarding the therapeutic benefits of a chiropractic adjustment, herein carried out with Activator IV, the present findings suggest that the mechanism of action is not on the monosynaptic H-reflex pathway. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved.
An Italian Twin Study of Non-Cancer Chronic Pain as a Wide Phenotype and Its Intensity
Authors: Fagnani Corrado , Toccaceli Virgilia , Tenti Michael , Medda Emanuela , Ferri Maurizio , Stazi Maria Antonietta , Raffaeli William
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives: Non-cancer chronic pain (CP) results from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Twin studies help to estimate genetic and environmental contributions to complex traits such as CP. To date, twin studies on the heritability of pain phenotypes have relied almost exclusively on specific diagnoses, neglecting pain intensity. This study aims to estimate the genetic and environmental contributions to CP occurrence as a wide phenotype and its intensity among a non-clinical population. Materials and Methods: A nationwide online survey was conducted in February 2020 on 6000 adult twins enrolled in the Italian Twin Registry. A five-item questionnaire, designed and validated by our study group, was administered to detect the CP condition along with its intensity, underlying causes or triggers, treatments, and self-perceived efficacy. The twin study design was used to infer the relative weight of genes and environment on CP occurrence and intensity, and biometrical modelling was applied to these phenotypes. Results: A total of 3258 twins, aged ≥18, replied to the online survey (response rate 54%). These included 762 intact pairs (mean age: 39 years; age range: 18–82 years; 34% male; CP prevalence: 24%), of whom 750 pairs were subjected to biometrical modelling after the exclusion of pairs with either unknown zygosity or cancer-associated CP. Broad-sense heritability estimates were driven by non-additive genetic effects and were 0.36 (0.19–0.51) for CP occurrence and 0.31 (0.16–0.44) for CP intensity. No evidence emerged for either sex differences in genetic and environmental variance components or interactions of these components with age. Conclusions: Moderate non-additive genetic components were suggested for non-cancer CP occurrence and its intensity. These results encourage further research on the gene–gene interactions underlying CP liability and associated phenotypes, and also strengthen the need for prevention strategies to avoid CP occurrence or to decrease pain intensity.
PIGN-Related Disease in Two Lithuanian Families: A Report of Two Novel Pathogenic Variants, Molecular and Clinical Characterisation
Authors: Siavrienė Evelina , Maldžienė Živilė , Mikštienė Violeta , Petraitytė Gunda , Rančelis Tautvydas , Dapkūnas Justas , Burnytė Birutė , Benušienė Eglė , Sasnauskienė Aušra , Grikinienė Jurgita , Griškevičiūtė Eglė , Utkus Algirdas , Preikšaitienė Eglė
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives: Pathogenic variants of PIGN are a known cause of multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome 1 (MCAHS1). Many affected individuals have clinical features overlapping with Fryns syndrome and are mainly characterised by developmental delay, congenital anomalies, hypotonia, seizures, and specific minor facial anomalies. This study investigates the clinical and molecular data of three individuals from two unrelated families, the clinical features of which were consistent with a diagnosis of MCAHS1. Materials and Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology was used to identify the changes in the DNA sequence. Sanger sequencing of gDNA of probands and their parents was used for validation and segregation analysis. Bioinformatics tools were used to investigate the consequences of pathogenic or likely pathogenic PIGN variants at the protein sequence and structure level. Results: The analysis of NGS data and segregation analysis revealed a compound heterozygous NM_176787.5:c.[1942G>T];[1247_1251del] PIGN genotype in family 1 and NG_033144.1(NM_176787.5):c.[932T>G];[1674+1G>C] PIGN genotype in family 2. In silico, c.1942G>T (p.(Glu648Ter)), c.1247_1251del (p.(Glu416GlyfsTer22)), and c.1674+1G>C (p.(Glu525AspfsTer68)) variants are predicted to result in a premature termination codon that leads to truncated and functionally disrupted protein causing the phenotype of MCAHS1 in the affected individuals. Conclusions: PIGN-related disease represents a wide spectrum of phenotypic features, making clinical diagnosis inaccurate and complicated. The genetic testing of every individual with this phenotype provides new insights into the origin and development of the disease.
Fixation of an Osteochondral Lesion of the Femoral Intercondylar Groove Using Autogenous Osteochondral Grafts and Bioabsorbable Pins in a Patient with Open Physes: A Case Report
Authors: Yokoe Takuji , Tajima Takuya , Yamaguchi Nami , Morita Yudai , Chosa Etsuo
Published: October 2022

Osteochondral lesion (OCL) of the patellofemoral (PF) joint is not an uncommon cause of knee pain, and surgery is needed when conservative treatment fails. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the optimal surgical treatment for OCL of the PF joint. Fixation of OCLs using autogenous osteochondral grafts has been reported to be effective for OCL of the knee. However, in this surgical technique, the biomechanical strength of osteochondral grafts may not be sufficient in patients with open physes due to the specific quality of the cartilage and subchondral bone given their age. There is a lack of studies reporting fixation of the OCL located in the PF joint using autogenous osteochondral grafts. We herein report a case of OCL of the femoral intercondylar groove where autogenous osteochondral grafts augmented with bioabsorbable pins were used to fix the lesion in a 14-year-old patient with open physes. Preoperative MRI revealed a completely detached OCL of the intercondylar groove (36 mm × 20 mm). Although a total of four osteochondral grafts were harvested from the non-weightbearing area of the lateral femoral condyle, cartilage detached from one of the grafts. The quality of the osteochondral grafts was considered to be insufficient for stabilization of the OCL; thus, two bioabsorbable pins were additionally inserted following fixation of the lesion using three osteochondral grafts. After two years of follow-up, postoperative functional scores were favorable without knee pain. The present case suggests that fixation of the OCL using autogenous osteochondral grafts may not be appropriate for young patients with open physes.
Could Artificial Intelligence Prevent Intraoperative Anaphylaxis? Reference Review and Proof of Concept
Authors: Dumitru Mihai , Berghi Ovidiu Nicolae , Taciuc Iulian-Alexandru , Vrinceanu Daniela , Manole Felicia , Costache Adrian
Published: October 2022

Drugs and various medical substances have been used for many decades to diagnose or treat diseases. Procedures like surgery and anesthesia (either local or general) use different pharmacological products during these events. In most of the cases, the procedure is safe and the physician performs the technique without incidents. Although they are safe for use, these substances (including drugs) may have adverse effects, varying from mild ones to life-threatening reactions in a minority of patients. Artificial intelligence may be a useful tool in approximating the risk of anaphylaxis before undertaking a medical procedure. This material presents these undesirable responses produced by medical products from a multidisciplinary point of view. Moreover, we present a proof of concept for using artificial intelligence as a possible guardship against intraoperative anaphylaxis.
Reliability, Validity and Temporal Stability of the Serbian Version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
Authors: Bulatovic Darko , Nikolic Dejan , Hrkovic Marija , Filipovic Tamara , Cirovic Dragana , Radosavljevic Natasa , Lazovic Milica
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the Serbian version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and to evaluate temporal stability for the purpose of its implementation in the evaluation of Serbian patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Materials and Methods: For the validation of the Serbian version of the BCTQ (BCTQSR), we tested 69 individuals with diagnosed CTS that were referred for a conservative treatment at the Institute for Rehabilitation. Neurophysiological tests were used for the electrophysiological grading (EG) of CTS severity in the study sample. The final version of the BCTQSR was given to the tested participants from the study on two occasions: test and retest, with a five-day period between the two measurements. Results: The mean value for the symptom severity subscale (SSS) of the BCTQSR was 3.01 ± 0.94; for the functional status subscale (FSS) of the BCTQSR it was 2.85 ± 1.00. Cronbach’s α for the SSS was 0.91 and 0.93 for the FSS. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) concerning the test–retest were significant (p < 0.001) and were 0.949 for the SSS and 0.959 for the FSS. Those with a higher EG grade had higher values of the SSS and FSS but without a statistical significance (p = 0.103 and p = 0.053, respectively). The intercorrelation of the BCTQSR subscales (SSS and FSS) on the test was significant (p < 0.001) with a correlation coefficient equal to 0.777. Conclusion: The Serbian version of the BCTQ (BCTQSR) was successfully culturally adopted. The BCTQSR was a valid and reliable instrument for the measurement of symptom severity and functional status in adults with CTS. Therefore, it can be used in clinical practice for patients with CTS.
Current Denture Loss in Geriatric Facilities
Authors: Endo Miki , Nakayama Nami , Yamada Miki , Iijima Yosuke , Hino Shunsuke , Ariya Kiyoko , Horie Norio , Kaneko Takahiro
Published: October 2022

Purpose: Denture loss is still being reported as a problem in geriatric facilities, although losses seem less frequent than in the last decade. However, there have been no reports that have examined recent losses of dentures in detail. The aim of this study was to clarify the actual situation of recent denture loss, together with the denture loss rate in Japan. Materials and methods: This retrospective study investigated the number of cases of denture loss, the denture loss rate for denture wearers, and the details of losses in geriatric facilities during the 1-year period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. Results: Eleven special elderly nursing homes and four group homes participated in this research. The number of residents from each was 315 and 40 and the number of denture wearers was 165 and 33, respectively (p < 0.001). The loss of dentures was found in one case from a special elderly nursing home and in one case from a group home. The loss rate for denture wearers was 1.01% in total, with 0.61% for special elderly nursing homes and 3.03% for group homes, with no significant differences between the two types of facilities. Conclusion: In geriatric facilities in Japan, the current 1-year denture loss rate for denture wearers was 1.01%. This seems to represent a considerable decrease when compared with the previous report. Further, proper denture management and staff efforts appear to have contributed to a reduction in denture loss against a background of promoting oral healthcare.
Mechanism Understanding of Li-ion Separation Using A Perovskite-Based Membrane
Authors: Golmohammadi Mahsa , Habibi Meysam , Rezvantalab Sima , Mehdizadeh Chellehbari Yasin , Maleki Reza , Razmjou Amir
Published: October 2022

Lithium ions play a crucial role in the energy storage industry. Finding suitable lithium-ion-conductive membranes is one of the important issues of energy storage studies. Hence, a perovskite-based membrane, Lithium Lanthanum Titanate (LLTO), was innovatively implemented in the presence and absence of solvents to precisely understand the mechanism of lithium ion separation. The ion-selective membrane’s mechanism and the perovskite-based membrane’s efficiency were investigated using Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulation. The results specified that the change in the ambient condition, pH, and temperature led to a shift in LLTO pore sizes. Based on the results, pH plays an undeniable role in facilitating lithium ion transmission through the membrane. It is noticeable that the hydrogen bond interaction between the ions and membrane led to an expanding pore size, from (1.07 Å) to (1.18–1.20 Å), successfully enriching lithium from seawater. However, this value in the absence of the solvent would have been 1.1 Å at 50 °C. It was found that increasing the temperature slightly impacted lithium extraction. The charge analysis exhibited that the trapping energies applied by the membrane to the first three ions (Li+, K+, and Na+) were more than the ions’ hydration energies. Therefore, Li+, K+, and Na+ were fully dehydrated, whereas Mg2+ was partially dehydrated and could not pass through the membrane. Evaluating the membrane window diameter, and the combined effect of the three key parameters (barrier energy, hydration energy, and binding energy) illustrates that the required energy to transport Li ions through the membrane is higher than that for other monovalent cations.
Layer-by-Layer Heterostructure of MnO2@Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites as High-Performance Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Tingting , Chen Lei , Chen Ling , Tian Guoxing , Ji Mingtong , Zhou Shuai
Published: October 2022

In this paper, δ-MnO2 with layered structure was prepared by a facile liquid phase method, and exfoliated MnO2 nanosheet (e-MnO2) was obtained by ultrasonic exfoliation, whose surface was negatively charged. Then, positive charges were grafted on the surface of MnO2 nanosheets with a polycation electrolyte of polydiallyl dimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) in different concentrations. A series of e-MnO2@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were obtained by electrostatic self-assembly combined with hydrothermal chemical reduction. When PDDA was adjusted to 0.75 g/L, the thickness of e-MnO2 was ~1.2 nm, and the nanosheets were uniformly adsorbed on the surface of graphene, which shows layer-by-layer morphology with a specific surface area of ~154 m2/g. On account of the unique heterostructure, the composite exhibits good electrochemical performance as supercapacitor electrodes. The specific capacitance of e-MnO2-0.75@rGO can reach 456 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g in KOH electrolyte, which still remains 201 F/g at 10 A/g. In addition, the capacitance retention is 98.7% after 10000 charge-discharge cycles at 20 A/g. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device of e-MnO2-0.75@rGO//graphene hydrogel (GH) was assembled, of which the specific capacitance achieves 94 F/g (1 A/g) and the cycle stability is excellent, with a retention rate of 99.3% over 10000 cycles (20 A/g).
Prediction of Thermal Distortion during Steel Solidification
Authors: Azizi Ghavam , Thomas Brian. G. , Asle Zaeem Mohsen
Published: October 2022

Thermal distortion during the initial stages of solidification is an important cause of surface quality problems in cast products. In this work, a finite element model including non-linear temperature-, phase-, and carbon-content-dependent elastic–viscoplastic constitutive equations is applied to study the effect of steel grade and interfacial heat flux on thermal distortion of a solidifying steel droplet. Due to thermal contraction, the bottom surface of the droplet bends away from the chill plate and a gap forms. It is shown that, regardless of the nature of the heat flux, the gap forms and grows the most very early during solidification (~0.1 s) and remains almost unchanged afterward. Increasing the heat flux decreases the time for evolution of the gap and increases its depth. When the carbon content is less than 0.10%C, the gap depth is very sensitive to the heat flux, but for higher carbon contents, this sensitivity is much weaker. The highest gap depths are predicted in ultra-low carbon (0.003%C) and peritectic steels (0.12%C), and agree both qualitatively and quantitatively with the experimental measurements. Thus, the current thermal-mechanical model, including its phase-dependent properties, captures the mechanism responsible for nonuniform solidification, depression sensitivity and surface defects affecting these steels.