bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conventional and Deep-Learning-Based Image Reconstructions of Undersampled K-Space Data of the Lumbar Spine Using Compressed Sensing in MRI: A Comparative Study on 20 Subjects
Authors: Fervers Philipp , Zaeske Charlotte , Rauen Philip , Iuga Andra-Iza , Kottlors Jonathan , Persigehl Thorsten , Sonnabend Kristina , Weiss Kilian , Bratke Grischa
Published: January 2023

Compressed sensing accelerates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition by undersampling of the k-space. Yet, excessive undersampling impairs image quality when using conventional reconstruction techniques. Deep-learning-based reconstruction methods might allow for stronger undersampling and thus faster MRI scans without loss of crucial image quality. We compared imaging approaches using parallel imaging (SENSE), a combination of parallel imaging and compressed sensing (COMPRESSED SENSE, CS), and a combination of CS and a deep-learning-based reconstruction (CS AI) on raw k-space data acquired at different undersampling factors. 3D T2-weighted images of the lumbar spine were obtained from 20 volunteers, including a 3D sequence (standard SENSE), as provided by the manufacturer, as well as accelerated 3D sequences (undersampling factors 4.5, 8, and 11) reconstructed with CS and CS AI. Subjective rating was performed using a 5-point Likert scale to evaluate anatomical structures and overall image impression. Objective rating was performed using apparent signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (aSNR and aCNR) as well as root mean square error (RMSE) and structural-similarity index (SSIM). The CS AI 4.5 sequence was subjectively rated better than the standard in several categories and deep-learning-based reconstructions were subjectively rated better than conventional reconstructions in several categories for acceleration factors 8 and 11. In the objective rating, only aSNR of the bone showed a significant tendency towards better results of the deep-learning-based reconstructions. We conclude that CS in combination with deep-learning-based image reconstruction allows for stronger undersampling of k-space data without loss of image quality, and thus has potential for further scan time reduction.
Acquired Hemophilia A: An Update on the Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Zanon Ezio
Published: January 2023

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by inhibitory autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). AHA is a disease that most commonly affects the elderly but has also been observed in children and in the postpartum period. AHA is idiopathic in 50% of cases and is associated with autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and infections in the remaining 50%. Recently, cases of association between AHA, COVID-19 vaccination, and infection have been reported in the literature. For diagnoses, determining FVIII levels is crucial to distinguish the different causes of aPTT prolongation. Treatment of AHA is based on bypassing agents (recombinant factor VIIa, activated prothrombin complex concentrate) and porcine FVIII to control the bleeding and immunosuppressive therapy (corticosteroids, rituximab, cyclophosphamide) to suppress autoantibody production. It is important to start a prophylactic regimen to prevent further bleeding episodes until the inhibitor is negative. Recently, the series of cases reported in the literature suggest that emicizumab may provide effective and safe haemorrhage prophylaxis in the outpatient setting.
Omicron in Infants—Respiratory or Digestive Disease?
Authors: Drăgănescu Anca Cristina , Miron Victor Daniel , Săndulescu Oana , Bilaşco Anuţa , Streinu-Cercel Anca , Sandu Roxana Gabriela , Marinescu Adrian , Gunșahin Deniz , Hoffmann Karina Ioana , Horobeț Daria Ștefana , Pițigoi Daniela , Streinu-Cercel Adrian , Pleșca Doina Anca
Published: January 2023

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has caused a large number of cases and hospitalizations in the pediatric population. Infants due to their age are susceptible to viral infections that may have a worse prognosis. Therefore, the aim of the current study has been to characterize the clinical features and the outcome of infants hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron wave. We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive infants hospitalized with symptomatic COVID-19 and no other co-infections, from January to September 2022 in one of the largest infectious diseases hospitals from Bucharest, Romania. A total of 613 infants were included in the analysis. The median age was 5 months (IQR: 3, 8 months). The clinical features were dominated by fever (96.4%), cough (64.8%) and loss of appetite (63.3%), and overall, respiratory symptoms were the most numerous (76.0%). Infants between 1-3 months old had a 1.5-fold increased risk of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values, and a longer length of hospitalization as compared to older infants. Infants between 7-9 months of age had 1.5-fold higher odds of loss of appetite, 1.7-fold more frequent cough and 1.6-fold more frequent digestive symptoms compared to infants in other age groups. The presence of digestive symptoms increased the probability of hepatic cytolysis (increased ALT) by 1.9-fold. Continued monitoring of COVID-19 among infants is very necessary, given the progressive character of SARS-CoV-2, in order to take correct and rapid therapeutic measures and to adapt to clinical changes driven by viral variant change.
In Vivo Characterization of Mucin and Amyloid Deposits in Primary Basal Cell Carcinoma through Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: A Correlation with Histopathology
Authors: Lupu Mihai , Malciu Ana Maria , Voiculescu Vlad Mihai
Published: January 2023

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common keratinocyte carcinoma and the most prevalent skin cancer in humans, worldwide. BCC is histologically characterized by the proliferation of basaloid cells, arranged in globular masses of varying size, often separated from the surrounding stroma by optically empty spaces. Although attributed to tumor retraction during tissue processing for the preparation of pathology slides, these spaces are also seen on cryostat sections. The aim of this study is to in vivo characterize amyloid and mucin deposits in primary BCC lesions through RCM, followed by histopathological correlation. We included twenty-two consecutive subjects totaling thirty-one primary BCCs. Each lesion underwent the same evaluation protocol which included: clinical and dermoscopic images, RCM imaging, excisional biopsy under local anesthesia, and histopathological examination (colloidal iron and cytokeratin 34betaE12 stains). Hypo-reflective peritumoral clefts and hyper-reflective globules were measured on RCM images and compared to mucin and amyloid deposits seen on histology slides. The mean differences between RCM and histology measurements in both mucin and amyloid were not statistically significant. There were medium and strong correlations between RCM and histology regarding mucin and amyloid deposits, respectively.
A Business Process-Based Security Enhancement Scheme for the Network Function Service Access Procedure in the 5G Core Network
Authors: Zhu Ying , Liu Caixia , You Wei , Zhang Yiming , Zhang Weicheng
Published: January 2023

As the signaling processing center of 5G, the security and stability of the 5G Core Network (5GC) are of great importance for 5G. The current 5GC consists of multiple mutually independent Network Functions (NFs). However, the NF service access procedure does not match NF service requests and business processes. NFs can request authorized services for access at any time, which poses a security threat to NFs and user data. This paper proposes a security enhancement scheme for NF service access procedures based on the business process, which realizes the management of the NF business process. The NRF adds a token identifier field bound to the business process in the access token and establishes an access token repository to store the token identifier. NF Service Producer introduces an access token re-signature mechanism and a shared repository of responded access tokens. The security of the proposed scheme is verified by theoretical analysis and formal analysis, and the performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated in terms of response rate and resource consumption. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme can meet the security requirement with little efficiency degradation under the condition of increasing certain resource loss.
Applicability and Trend of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Bioenergy Research between 1991–2021: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Cheng Yi , Zhao Chuzhi , Neupane Pradeep , Benjamin Bradley , Wang Jiawei , Zhang Tongsheng
Published: January 2023

The bibliometric analysis investigated the impact of publications on trends in the literature and bioenergy research using artificial intelligence (AI) from 1991 to 2021. In this study, 1721 publications were extracted from the Web of Science, and an analysis of the countries, authorship, institutions, journals, and keywords was visualised. In the recent decades, this field has entered an outbreak phase. India was the most productive country in this area, followed by China, Iran, and the US. It also noted several notable differences between trends and subjects in developed and developing countries. The former led this field at the initial stage and later attached importance to using AI for research feedstock and impact assessment. Developing countries encouraged the advancement of this area and emphasised the feedstock usage of phase treatment and process optimisation. In addition, a co-authorship and institutes study revealed that authors and institutes in distant regions rarely collaborated. The journal analysis shows strong links between Energy, Fuel, and Energy Conversion and Management. Machine learning is by far the most common application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in bioenergy research, with 53% of the articles using it. In these AI-related publications, the keyword artificial neural network (ANN) appeared most frequently in the articles.
Key Performance Indicators for Smart Energy Systems in Sustainable Universities
Authors: Kifor Claudiu Vasile , Olteanu Alexandru , Zerbes Mihai
Published: January 2023

Sustainable campus management includes energy-saving measures and waste reduction and has become important to many universities, being part of the institution’s societal responsibility. Smart energy systems (SESs), as part of campus energy management, can bring many benefits, including increased efficiency, reduced energy consumption, reduced emissions, increased reliability, and real-time control, and facilitate the integration of the renewable energy systems (RES). Despite the growing interest in energy efficiency and for the initiatives and projects to implement SESs, there are no universally accepted standards for assessing the performance of SESs, with most techniques being dedicated to subsystems. A KPI (key performance indicator) framework for evaluating the SESs’ performance from university campuses is proposed, starting from the current findings and priorities from the scientific literature, energy standards, legislation, and university rankings. The framework can support the implementation, operation, and evaluation of the SESs from university campuses, based on SES requirements and the stakeholders’ goals. Unlike previously developed solutions, the framework is focused not only on the technical side of SESs but also on the role that education, research, and innovation should have in sustainable development, making universities key contributors to achieving these goals.
The Effects of Stand Density Control on Carbon Cycle in Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold and Zucc.) Endl. Forests
Authors: Lee Jeong-Gwan , Lee Du-Hee , Jung Jun-Young , Lee Sle-Gee , Han Seung Hyun , Kim Seongjun , Kim Hyun-Jun
Published: January 2023

This study was conducted to quantify the carbon storage in each pool (including trees, forest floor, and soil) and to analyze the carbon cycle in a Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold and Zucc.) Endl. forest according to different thinning intensities. The study site was located in Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and the treatments consisted of a control (Con), a light thinning (LT), and a heavy thinning (HT), based on 3000 trees originally planted per hectare. As stand density decreased, total C storage decreased, and the annual C storage of trees and C released through soil respiration significantly increased. Net ecosystem production (NEP; Mg·C·ha−1·year−1), as the difference between net primary production and microbial respiration, was 1.95, 2.49, and 2.11 in the Con, LT, and HT treatments, respectively; i.e., the LT stimulated greater NEP than the Con and HT treatments. While these results show that thinning decreases total C storage of forests, proper thinning enhances carbon uptake capacity. In addition, this study can be a basic reference for the effects of thinning on forest carbon cycles. Repeated measurements of each C pool should be performed over multiple years to see the exact movement patterns of forest carbon in the future.
Improvement of Sinapine Extraction from Mustard Seed Meal by Application of Emerging Technologies
Authors: Chadni Morad , Boussetta Nadia , Guerin Cédric , Lagalle Fabien , Zoghlami Aya , Perré Patrick , Allais Florent , Grimi Nabil , Ioannou Irina
Published: January 2023

Sinapine is a phenolic compound found in mustard (Brassica juncea) seed meal. It has numerous beneficial properties such as antitumor, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects, making its extraction relevant. In this study, the extraction of sinapine was investigated using three methods: (i) from a mustard seed meal defatted by a supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) pretreatment, (ii) by the implementation of high-voltage electrical discharges (HVEDs), (iii) and by the use of ultrasound. The use of SC-CO2 pretreatment resulted in a dual effect on the valorization of mustard seed meal, acting as a green solvent for oil recovery and increasing the yield of extracted sinapine by 24.4% compared to the control. The combination of ultrasound and SC-CO2 pretreatment further increased the yield of sinapine by 32%. The optimal conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction, determined through a response surface methodology, are a temperature of 75 °C, 70% ethanol, and 100% ultrasound amplitude, resulting in a sinapine yield of 6.90 ± 0.03 mg/g dry matter. In contrast, the application of HVEDs in the extraction process was not optimized, as it led to the degradation of sinapine even at low-energy inputs.
Clinical Predictors for Upper Limb Recovery after Stroke Rehabilitation: Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Salvalaggio Silvia , Cacciante Luisa , Maistrello Lorenza , Turolla Andrea
Published: January 2023

After stroke, recovery of upper limb (UL) motor function is enhanced by a high dose of rehabilitation and is supposed to be supported by attentive functions. However, their mutual influence during rehabilitation is not well known yet. The aim of this retrospective observational cohort study was to investigate the association between rehabilitation dose and motor and cognitive functions, during UL motor recovery. Inpatients with first unilateral stroke, without time restrictions from onset, and undergoing at least 15 h of rehabilitation were enrolled. Data on dose and modalities of rehabilitation received, together with motor and cognitive outcomes before and after therapy, were collected. Fugl–Meyer values for the Upper Extremity were the primary outcome measure. Logistic regression models were used to detect any associations between UL motor improvement and motor and cognitive-linguistic features at acceptance, regarding dose of rehabilitation received. Thirty-five patients were enrolled and received 80.57 ± 30.1 h of rehabilitation on average. Manual dexterity, level of independence and UL motor function improved after rehabilitation, with no influence of attentive functions on motor recovery. The total amount of rehabilitation delivered was the strongest factor (p = 0.031) influencing the recovery of UL motor function after stroke, whereas cognitive-linguistic characteristics were not found to influence UL motor gains.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Coronavirus Disease Prevention Practices among University Staff and Students in Durban, South Africa in 2020–2021
Authors: Sibiya Maureen Nokuthula , Oladimeji Kelechi Elizabeth , Anyiam Felix Emeka , Oladimeji Olanrewaju
Published: January 2023

Background: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on individuals, education, and the economy. During its peak, the pandemic forced school closures. Although there is currently no cure for corona virus, non-pharmaceutical measures can help prevent its spread. Among these preventive measures are regular handwashing with soap and water or the use of hand sanitizers, avoiding touching the mouth, nose, and eyes, social distancing, and the use of face masks. As a result, this study investigated COVID-19 prevention practices among Durban University of Technology staff and students in South Africa. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, data were gathered online via self-administered, structured questionnaires from 5849 university students and staff members between May 2020 and March 2021. Utilizing descriptive statistics, the characteristics of the study sample were reported. Using logistic regression models, the relationship between demographic characteristics and the overall level of COVID-19 preventive practices was evaluated. Results: The multivariate logistic regression model showed statistically significantly associations for COVID-19 preventive practices by: male (AOR: 9.815, 95% CI: 1.721–55.959, p = 0.01) compared to female participants, single participants (AOR: 6.012, 95% CI: 2.070–17.461, p = 0.001) compared to other marital categories, and those in the faculty of Health Sciences (AOR: 1.721, 95% CI: 1.023–2.894, p = 0.041) compared to other faculties. Conclusions: Overall, the study’s preventive practices were commendable; they were also influenced by socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and university faculty. Increasing age was associated with reduced compliance with COVID-19 preventive practices. In addition, men demonstrated greater caution than women.
An ELOVL2-Based Epigenetic Clock for Forensic Age Prediction: A Systematic Review
Authors: Paparazzo Ersilia , Lagani Vincenzo , Geracitano Silvana , Citrigno Luigi , Aceto Mirella Aurora , Malvaso Antonio , Bruno Francesco , Passarino Giuseppe , Montesanto Alberto
Published: January 2023

The prediction of chronological age from methylation-based biomarkers represents one of the most promising applications in the field of forensic sciences. Age-prediction models developed so far are not easily applicable for forensic caseworkers. Among the several attempts to pursue this objective, the formulation of single-locus models might represent a good strategy. The present work aimed to develop an accurate single-locus model for age prediction exploiting ELOVL2, a gene for which epigenetic alterations are most highly correlated with age. We carried out a systematic review of different published pyrosequencing datasets in which methylation of the ELOVL2 promoter was analysed to formulate age prediction models. Nine of these, with available datasets involving 2298 participants, were selected. We found that irrespective of which model was adopted, a very strong relationship between ELOVL2 methylation levels and age exists. In particular, the model giving the best age-prediction accuracy was the gradient boosting regressor with a prediction error of about 5.5 years. The findings reported here strongly support the use of ELOVL2 for the formulation of a single-locus epigenetic model, but the inclusion of additional, non-redundant markers is a fundamental requirement to apply a molecular model to forensic applications with more robust results.
Identification and Functional Prediction of CircRNAs in Leaves of F1 Hybrid Poplars with Different Growth Potential and Their Parents
Authors: Zhang Weixi , Yuan Zhengsai , Zhang Jing , Su Xiaohua , Huang Qinjun , Liu Qi , Ding Changjun
Published: January 2023

Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) regulate plant growth and development; however, their role in poplar heterosis is unclear. We identified 3722 circRNAs in poplar leaves, most of which were intergenic (57.2%) and exonic (40.2%). The expression of circRNAs in F1 hybrids with high growth potential was higher than that in those with low growth potential. Non-additive expression of circRNAs and single-parent expression of circRNAs (SPE-circRNAs) might regulate poplar heterosis through microRNA sponging and protein translation, respectively. DECs among F1 hybrids with different growth potentials might regulate the growth potential of poplar via microRNA sponging. Correlation analysis between circRNA expression and its parent gene expression showed that SPE-M circRNA (circRNAs expressed by male parent only) might regulate poplar heterosis by inhibiting parent gene expression, while other circRNAs might regulate poplar heterosis by enhancing parent gene expression. Weighted correlation network analysis of gene/circRNA expression showed that circRNAs mainly regulate poplar heterosis via carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and material transport. In addition, we identified seven circRNAs that positively or negatively regulate poplar heterosis. Thus, non-additively expressed circRNAs and SPE circRNAs are involved in regulating poplar heterosis, and DECs among F1 hybrids with different growth potentials were involved in regulating poplar growth potential.
A Deep Learning Technique for Biometric Authentication Using ECG Beat Template Matching
Authors: Prakash Allam Jaya , Patro Kiran Kumar , Samantray Saunak , Pławiak Paweł , Hammad Mohamed
Published: January 2023

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a unique representation of a person’s identity, similar to fingerprints, and its rhythm and shape are completely different from person to person. Cloning and tampering with ECG-based biometric systems are very difficult. So, ECG signals have been used successfully in a number of biometric recognition applications where security is a top priority. The major challenges in the existing literature are (i) the noise components in the signals, (ii) the inability to automatically extract the feature set, and (iii) the performance of the system. This paper suggests a beat-based template matching deep learning (DL) technique to solve problems with traditional techniques. ECG beat denoising, R-peak detection, and segmentation are done in the pre-processing stage of this proposed methodology. These noise-free ECG beats are converted into gray-scale images and applied to the proposed deep-learning technique. A customized activation function is also developed in this work for faster convergence of the deep learning network. The proposed network can extract features automatically from the input data. The network performance is tested with a publicly available ECGID biometric database, and the proposed method is compared with the existing literature. The comparison shows that the proposed modified Siamese network authenticated biometrics have an accuracy of 99.85%, a sensitivity of 99.30%, a specificity of 99.85%, and a positive predictivity of 99.76%. The experimental results show that the proposed method works better than the state-of-the-art techniques.
Sympathetic Denervation and Pharmacological Stimulation of Parasympathetic Nervous System Prevent Pulmonary Vascular Bed Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Karpov Andrei A. , Vachrushev Nikita S. , Shilenko Leonid A. , Smirnov Sergey S. , Bunenkov Nikolay S. , Butskih Maxim G. , Chervaev Al-Khalim A. , Vaulina Dariya D. , Ivkin Dmitry Yu. , Moiseeva Olga M. , Galagudza Michael M.
Published: January 2023

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) develops in 1.5–2.0% of patients experiencing pulmonary embolism (PE) and is characterized by stable pulmonary artery obstruction, heart failure, and poor prognosis. Little is known about involvement of autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the mechanisms of CTEPH. This study was aimed at evaluation of the effect of vagal and sympathetic denervation, as well as stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, on the outcomes of CTEPH in rats. CTEPH was induced by multiple intravenous injections of alginate microspheres. Sympathetic and vagal denervation was performed using unilateral surgical ablation of the stellate ganglion and vagotomy, respectively. Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system was carried out by administering pyridostigmine. The effect of neuromodulatory effects was assessed in terms of hemodynamics, histology, and gene expression. The results demonstrated the key role of ANS in the development of CTEPH. Sympathetic denervation as well as parasympathetic stimulation resulted in attenuated pulmonary vascular remodeling. These salutary changes were associated with altered MMP2 and TIMP1 expression in the lung and decreased FGFb level in the blood. Unilateral vagotomy had no effect on physiological and morphological outcomes of the study. The data obtained contribute to the identification of new therapeutic targets for CTEPH treatment.
Anticoagulation for Left Ventricle Thrombus—Case Series and Literature Review for Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Authors: Pradhan Akshyaya , Bhandari Monika , Vishwakarma Pravesh , Salimei Chiara , Iellamo Ferdinando , Sethi Rishi , Perrone Marco Alfonso
Published: January 2023

Left ventricular thrombus is a known complication following acute myocardial infarction that can lead to systemic thromboembolism. To obviate the risk of thromboembolism, the patient needs anticoagulation in addition to dual antiplatelet therapy. However, combining antiplatelets with anticoagulants substantially increases the bleeding risk. Traditionally, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the sheet anchor for anticoagulation in this scenario. The use of direct oral anticoagulants has significantly attenuated the bleeding risk associated with anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in conjunction with antiplatelets has been found to be noninferior in reducing ischemic events while significantly attenuating the bleeding compared with VKA. After initial case reports, multiple observational and nonrandomized studies have now safely and effectively utilized direct oral anticoagulants for anticoagulation in left ventricular thrombus. Here, we report a series of two cases presenting with left ventricular thrombus following acute myocardial infarction. In this case series, we try to address the issues concerning the choice and duration of anticoagulation in the case of postinfarct left ventricular thrombus. Pending the results of large randomized control trials, the judicious use of direct oral anticoagulant is warranted when taking into consideration the ischemic and bleeding profile in an individualized approach.
Expectations of Personal Life Development and Decision-Making in People with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: García-Candel José Antonio , Belmonte María Luisa , Bernárdez-Gómez Abraham
Published: January 2023

People with intellectual disabilities have a need for personal and social development that is often unknown or poorly understood. The main motivation is the fact that students belong to a group usually excluded from the ordinary educational process. That process is replaced with measures that focus on caring for students rather than promoting their development. The objective of this research is to understand the expectations for personal development and decision-making of students with intellectual disabilities. To achieve the stated objective, a qualitative research based on two complementary approaches, grounded theory and case study, has been employed. The sample (n = 28) was drawn from a specific study program for the training and development of people with intellectual disabilities at the University of Murcia, called “We are all Campus”. We aim to identify the different perceptions of their reality and potential for personal development, to understand their decision-making and what motivates them. Likewise, we investigate the self-perceptions of students with intellectual disabilities have and their understanding of their future life expectations. The main conclusions show that the training program represents an opportunity for students’ progression and personal development. Thus far, the expectations of the students have remained the same, focusing on their work and social inclusion.
VFR: The Underwater Acoustic Target Recognition Using Cross-Domain Pre-Training with FBank Fusion Features
Authors: Wu Ji , Li Peng , Wang Yongxian , Lan Qiang , Xiao Wenbin , Wang Zhenghua
Published: January 2023

Underwater acoustic target recognition is a hot research area in acoustic signal processing. With the development of deep learning, feature extraction and neural network computation have become two major steps of recognition. Due to the complexity of the marine environment, traditional feature extraction cannot express the characteristics of the targets well. In this paper, we propose an underwater acoustic target recognition approach named VFR. VFR adopts a novel feature extraction method by fusing three-dimensional FBank features, and inputs the extracted features into a residual network, instead of the classical CNN network, plus cross-domain pre-training to perform target recognition. The experimental results show that VFR achieves 98.5% recognition accuracy on the randomly divided ShipsEar dataset and 93.8% on the time-divided dataset, respectively, which are better than state-of-the-art results.
Nontrombotic Pulmonary Embolism: Different Etiology, Same Significant Consequences
Authors: Sirbu Oana , Sorodoc Victorita , Floria Mariana , Statescu Cristian , Sascau Radu , Lionte Catalina , Petris Ovidiu Rusalim , Haliga Raluca Ecaterina , Morariu Paula Cristina , Tirnoveanu Andreea , Burduloi Vladut Mirel , Ursulescu Corina , Sorodoc Laurentiu
Published: January 2023

Nontrombotic pulmonary embolism represents the embolization of different types of materials (cells, organisms, gas, foreign material) into pulmonary circulation. The disease is uncommon, and clinical presentation together with laboratory findings are nonspecific. Its pathology is usually misdiagnosed based on imaging findings as pulmonary thromboembolism, but the correct diagnosis is essential because different therapeutic approaches are required. In this context, knowledge of the risk factors associated with nontrombotic pulmonary embolism and specific clinical symptoms is fundamental. Our objective was to discuss the specific features of the most common etiologies of nontrombotic pulmonary embolism, gas, fat, amniotic fluid, sepsis and tumors, to provide assistance for a rapid and correct diagnosis. Because the most common etiologies are iatrogenic, knowledge of the risk factors could be an important tool for prevention or rapid treatment if the disease develops during different procedures. The diagnosis of nontrombotic pulmonary embolisms represent a laborious challenge, and endeavors should be made to prevent development and increase awareness of this disease.
Effects of Crude Oil Price Shocks on Stock Markets and Currency Exchange Rates in the Context of Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Evidence from G7 Countries
Authors: Bagchi Bhaskar , Paul Biswajit
Published: January 2023

The present study examines the effects of the steep surge in crude oil prices which has also been considered as an oil price shock on the stock price returns and currency exchange rates of G7 countries, namely Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), in the context of the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Due to the outbreak of the war, the steep surge in Brent crude oil price returns is seen as an exogenous shock to stock price returns and exchange rates during the period from 2 January 2017 to 29 June 2022. The paper applies the Fractionally Integrated GARCH (FIGARCH) model to capture the effect of the crude oil price shock and the Breakpoint unit root test to examine the structural breaks in the dataset. Structural breakpoints in the dataset for the entire stock price returns and exchange rates are observed during the period commencing from the last week of February, 2022, to the last week of March, 2022. Except for TSX, NASDAQ and USD, noteworthy long memory effects running from Brent crude oil price to all the stock price returns along with the currency exchange rates for all G7 countries were also found.
Hedging Performance and Fair-Value Financial Reporting: Evidence from Bank Holding Companies
Authors: Zhou Hui
Published: January 2023

This study investigates whether the inclusion of the fair-value-based hedging performance measure improves the value and risk relevance of accounting earnings using data from the regulatory filings of bank holding companies required by the Federal Reserve Bank. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133) requires most types of hedge ineffectiveness to be measured on a fair value basis and reported in earnings. This earnings recognition requirement was the focal point of controversy surrounding the adoption of SFAS 133. This study provides new evidence that the fair-value-based earnings component required under SFAS has predictive power over future performance. I further show that incorporating this fair-value-based hedging performance measure helps improve the value and risk relevance of accounting earnings. The findings of this study help inform the broader debate over the effect of fair-value-based financial reporting on capital markets.
External vs. In-House Advising Service: Evidence from the Financial Industry Acquisitions
Authors: Huang Jian , Yu Han , Zhang Zhen
Published: January 2023

This study analyzes the wealth impact on M&A deals when the acquirers in the financial industry utilize external versus in-house advising services. A quasi-natural observatory setting is applied to investigate the costs and benefits of retaining a financial advisor. Based on agency theory, information asymmetry and conflict of interest both exist in the setting of M&A deals when acquirers use advisory services. We first find that almost 40% of financial acquirers are more likely to use in-house advising services, the frequency of which is significantly higher than that of non-financial acquisitions previously documented. Further, we find that in certain complex deals of greater information asymmetry, the frequency of retaining advisory services in-house is even higher. This finding suggests that for financial acquirers who possess expertise in the M&A market, the concern of conflict of interests (i.e., misaligned incentives) between the acquirers and their advisors are more salient than the concern of information asymmetry. More importantly, using the two-stage regressions method controlling the endogeneity of the choice between in-house versus external advisory services, this study finds that the three-day abnormal returns around the acquisition announcements are 4.5% higher for the acquirers retaining in-house advisory services, 18.7% higher for the corresponding target, and the combined merger gains are 2.2% higher. Overall, our findings provide direct evidence of the agency cost when an external advisor is hired and document the incremental values that the financial acquirers’ in-house advisory services may create.
Markov-Regime Switches in Oil Markets: The Fear Factor Dynamics
Authors: Okawa Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

This paper is an attempt to examine regime switches in the empirical relation between return dynamics and implied volatility in energy markets. The time-varying properties of the return-generating process are defined as a function of several risk factors, including oil market volatility and changes in stock prices and currency rates. The empirical evidence is based on Markov-regime switching models, which have the capacity to capture, in particular, the stochastic behavior of the OVX oil volatility index as a benchmark for investors’ fear. The results suggest that the dynamics of oil market returns are governed by two distinct regimes, a state driven by a negative relationship between returns and implied volatility and another state characterized by a more pronounced negative correlation. It is the latter regime with a stronger correlation that tends to prevail over the sample period from 2008 to 2021, but the frequency of regime shifts also seems to increase under more volatile oil price dynamics in association with significant events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the evidence of a negative correlation structure is found to be robust to changes in the estimation period, which suggests that the oil volatility index remains a reliable gauge of market sentiment in the energy markets.
Ecological Restoration and Transformation of Maoming Oil Shale Mining Area: Experience and Inspirations
Authors: Zhao Difei , Zhang Wei , Xie Wanyu , Liu Chaowei , Yang Yingying , Chen Yingxing , Ren Chongyang , Chen Hongyu , Zhang Qing , Folinas Sotiris
Published: January 2023

Oil shale is a kind of unconventional energy resource with abundant reserves, but its exploitation has a continuous negative impact on the environment, which has hindered the research and exploitation of oil shale under the international environmental consensus on issues such as climate change. Therefore, more attention should be paid to environmental problems as the side effect of oil shale exploitation. With the combination of field research, literature collection, and tracking survey, the oil shale open-pit exploitation and management process in Maoming, Guangdong, China, has been investigated, and its development and transformation model has been subsequently refined and summarized. The research results show that Maoming oil shale open-pit mine area has gone through four main stages: pre-exploitation stage, large-scale utilization stage, restoration stage, and green development stage. Through the management of mine pit treatment, vegetation restoration, ecological park construction, and tourism resource development, the abandoned open-pit mine has been transformed into an ecological park combining ecosystem, tourism, and cultural resources. In this process, this area has achieved the transformation from rough resource extraction to environment-friendly sustainable growth in its development mode. As a successful case of open-pit mine management in the world, the ecological restoration experience in Maoming can function as a reference for the smooth development and transformation of other oil shale mines in developing countries.
Inflammation as Prognostic Hallmark of Clinical Outcome in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Fuzio Diana , Inchingolo Angelo Michele , Ruggieri Vitalba , Fasano Massimo , Federico Maria , Mandorino Manuela , Dirienzo Lavinia , Scacco Salvatore , Rizzello Alessandro , Delvecchio Maurizio , Parise Massimiliano , Rana Roberto , Faccilongo Nicola , Rapone Biagio , Inchingolo Francesco , Mancini Antonio , Fatone Maria Celeste , Gnoni Antonio , Dipalma Gianna , Dirienzo Giovanni
Published: January 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is often characterized by a life-threatening interstitial pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to identify hallmarks of in-hospital mortality in patients affected by Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). A total of 150 patients admitted for COVID-19 from March to June 2021 to “F. Perinei” Murgia Hospital in Altamura, Italy, were divided into survivors (n = 100) and non-survivors groups (n = 50). Blood counts, inflammation-related biomarkers and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed into two groups in the first 24 h after admission and compared by Student’s t-test. A multivariable logistic analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Total lymphocyte count and CD3+ and CD4+ CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets were significantly lower in non-survivors. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly higher in non-survivors. Age > 65 years and presence of comorbidities were identified as independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality, while IL-6 and LDH showed a borderline significance. According to our results, markers of inflammation and lymphocytopenia predict in-hospital mortality in COVID-19.
Ephedra alata Subsp. Alenda as a Novel Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals: Characterization Based on the Mass Spectrometry and Profiling of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Authors: Mufti Afoua , Contreras María del Mar , Gómez-Cruz Irene , Alshamrani Abdullah , Nahdi Saber , Mansour Lamjed , Alwasel Salah , Harrath Abdel Halim , Tlili Nizar
Published: January 2023

The aim of the present study was to examine, for the first time, the phytochemical content of Ephedra alata pulp extract (EAP) and explore its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–QTOF/MS) was used for phytochemical analysis and three in vitro antioxidant assays together with three in vitro anti-inflammatory tests were used for the assessment of biological activity. The HPLC–ESI–QTOF/MS analysis revealed the presence of 42 metabolites, including flavonoids, sphingolipides, fatty acids, ephedrine derivatives, and amino acid derivatives. In vitro findings revealed that EAP has interesting 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide, and ferrous ion chelating capacities (IC50 values were 0.57 mg/mL, 0.55 mg/mL, and 0.51 mg/mL for DPPH, superoxide radical, and ferrous ion, respectively). Furthermore, EAP showed a noticeable anti-inflammatory ability by inhibiting the two cyclooxygenase isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2 (IC50 of 59.1 and 58.8 µg/mL for COX-1 and COX-2, respectively), preventing protein denaturation (IC50 = 0.51 mg/mL), and protecting membrane stabilization (IC50 = 0.53 mg/mL). The results highlighted the use of Ephedra alata pulp as a potential source of natural compounds with therapeutic effects for the management of inflammatory disorders.
Time-Dependent Seismic Reliability of Coastal Bridge Piers Subjected to Nonuniform Corrosion
Authors: Yuan Wenting , Wu Xiangtong , Wang Yuren , Liu Zhenliang , Zhou Peng
Published: January 2023

Coastal bridge piers suffer random performance deterioration owing to the presence of complex nonuniform corrosion characteristics and material uncertainties. Some of these piers will also be threatened by random earthquakes during a long-term service period, and therefore, structural safety needs to be probabilistically assessed by the seismic reliability method. To deal with this problem, we present a method to calculate the time-dependent reliability of the coastal bridge pier, comprehensively considering the randomness of a seismic event, nonuniform corrosion, and material uncertainty. First, the time-dependent M–N interaction diagrams are established by using the Monte Carlo simulation method. On the basis of the interaction diagrams, the moment resistance reduction function and time-dependent moment resistance distribution are determined. Subsequently, the moment demand under the seismic load is determined using the Poisson model and the response acceleration spectrum. Then, the formulas to calculate the time-dependent reliability of a nonuniform corroded pier are derived on the basis of the theorem of total probability. The proposed method is illustrated with a case study of a coastal bridge pier. It was found that the increase in corrosion damage would obviously increase time-dependent reliability. Furthermore, the increase in submerged zone height delayed the year when the failure section shifts from the pier bottom to the bottom of the splash and tidal zone, and it reduces the failure probability of the coastal pier. The research results presented herein show that the nonuniform corrosion manifestations influence the failure mode–related time-dependent seismic reliability of the coastal bridge pier.
Analysis of Shear Performance of Multi-Bolt Shear Connectors
Authors: Xie Rongtian , Yang Tao , Li Baojun , Liu Shiyuan , Zhang Yongbing
Published: January 2023

Bolt shear connectors used in prefabricated steel–concrete composite beams can be arranged into a group to enhance the construction efficiency, which will cause the multi-bolt effect and further affect the shear performance of bolt connectors. This paper developed three-dimensional finite element models of push-out specimens to investigate the shear performance of multi-bolt connectors. Numerical results showed that the friction coefficient at the interfaces between the steel girders and precast concrete (PC) slabs and bolt preload dramatically improved the initial stiffness of bolts; when the longitudinal spacing of bolts was reduced from 100 mm to 60 mm, the decrease in the average peak load per bolt was 3.5%, 9.2%, and 11.4% for bolts of 16 mm, 20 mm, and 24 mm diameters. A modified calculation method for the shear resistance of multi-bolt shear connectors was proposed based on the numerical analysis, and a simplified model of shear load versus relative slip was further developed.
Numerical Simulation on Laser Shock Peening of B4C-TiB2 Composite Ceramics
Authors: Wang Xin , Chen Beidi , Zhang Fan , Liu Lisheng , Xu Shuang , Mei Hai , Lai Xin , Ren Lin
Published: January 2023

The introduction of residual stresses using laser shock peening (LSP) is an effective means of improving the mechanical properties of ceramics. Numerical simulations offer greater convenience and efficiency than in-lab experiments when testing the effects of different processing techniques on residual stress distribution. In this work, a B4C-TiB2 ceramic model based on the extended Drucker–Prager model was established to investigate the effects of laser power density, the number of impacts and laser spot overlapping rate on the residual stress distribution, and the reliability of the simulation method was verified by experimental data. The following results are obtained: increasing the laser power density and the number of impacts can increase the surface residual compressive stress and reduce the depth of the residual compressive stress; the presence of multiple impacts will significantly reduce the depth of the residual compressive stress layer; with the increase in the laser spot overlapping rate, the compressive residual stress in the processed area gradually increases and is more uniformly distributed; the best processing effect can be achieved by using a spot overlapping rate of 50%.
A SLAM-Based Localization and Navigation System for Social Robots: The Pepper Robot Case
Authors: Alhmiedat Tareq , Marei Ashraf M. , Messoudi Wassim , Albelwi Saleh , Bushnag Anas , Bassfar Zaid , Alnajjar Fady , Elfaki Abdelrahman Osman
Published: January 2023

Robot navigation in indoor environments has become an essential task for several applications, including situations in which a mobile robot needs to travel independently to a certain location safely and using the shortest path possible. However, indoor robot navigation faces challenges, such as obstacles and a dynamic environment. This paper addresses the problem of social robot navigation in dynamic indoor environments, through developing an efficient SLAM-based localization and navigation system for service robots using the Pepper robot platform. In addition, this paper discusses the issue of developing this system in a way that allows the robot to navigate freely in complex indoor environments and efficiently interact with humans. The developed Pepper-based navigation system has been validated using the Robot Operating System (ROS), an efficient robot platform architecture, in two different indoor environments. The obtained results show an efficient navigation system with an average localization error of 0.51 m and a user acceptability level of 86.1%.