bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medium/Long-Term Efficiency of Struvite for Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Production: Effect on Soil Quality
Authors: Mancho Carolina , Diez-Pascual Sergio , Alonso Juan , Gil-Díaz Mar , García-Gonzalo Pilar , Lobo M. Carmen
Published: May 2023

The global rise in population highlights the need for a greater production of quality food. In this regard, intensification of the agricultural sector and an increased use of fertilizers are key. Phosphorus (P), together with nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), is one of the essential elements for plant growth. Modern agriculture is dependent on P derived from phosphate rock, which is a non-renewable resource whose high-quality reserves are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. In this context, alternative sources of P and the development of new recovery technologies are required. Such technologies are increasingly focused on struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) (STR) from urban or livestock wastewater, whose accessibility is guaranteed. In this study, the medium–long term efficiency of STR from urban wastewater as a fertilizer was evaluated in three successive lettuce crops using a 25 kg pot trial. To this end, STR application was compared with the use of other conventional P fertilizers (NPK, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and single superphosphate (SSP)) at a dose of 100 kg P ha−1. Crop biomass yield, P uptake, and the nutritional quality of the plants were determined. Moreover, the effect of STR on soil quality was examined using several soil biological indicators. In general, the STR treatment yielded similar biomass results to those obtained with NPK in the three successive lettuce crops. MAP and SSP treatments produced higher biomass in the first crop, but these values diminished in the next two. In relation to the effect on soil, STR treatment maintained the concentration of available P during the three growing cycles and enhanced microbial activity and functional diversity. On the basis of our findings, STR emerges as a sustainable P-fertilization strategy for lettuce production.
A Review of the COVID-19 Mental Health Impact in Post-Conflict Settings: Bridging the Mental Health Gap with Case Exemplars from an Implementation Science Lens
Authors: Noble Elizabeth , Adenikinju Deborah , Ruan Christina , Zuniga Sophia , Thakkar Diksha , Malburg Carly M. , Gyamfi Joyce , Ojo Temitope , Islam Farha , Diawara Amy , Dike Lotanna , Chukwu Chinenye , Tampubolon Siphra , Peprah Emmanuel
Published: May 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the burden of mental health and presents an opportunity for public health research to focus on evidence-based interventions appropriate for populations residing in resource-constrained, post-conflict settings. Post-conflict settings have a higher service gap in mental health and fewer protective factors, such as economic and domestic security. Post-conflict settings are defined as locations where open warfare has ended but resulting challenges have remained for years. A strong emphasis on the engagement of diverse stakeholders is needed to arrive at sustainable and scalable solutions to mental health service delivery. This review discusses mental health service delivery gaps in post-conflict settings, highlights the urgency of the matter in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides recommendations for service gaps from evidence-based case study exemplars with an implementation science lens using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as guide to improving adaptation and uptake.
Animal Experimental Models in Bone Metabolic Disease
Authors: Usategui-Martín Ricardo , Pérez-Castrillón José Luis
Published: May 2023

Bone is a highly specialized and dynamic tissue with several crucial functions, including support, movement support, protection of vital organs, and mineral storage [...]
Interpretation of Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (BIM) Using SSD-MobileNet-V2 FPNLite and COCO mAP
Authors: Saiful Bahri Iffah Zulaikha , Saon Sharifah , Mahamad Abd Kadir , Isa Khalid , Fadlilah Umi , Ahmadon Mohd Anuaruddin Bin , Yamaguchi Shingo
Published: May 2023

This research proposes a study on two-way communication between deaf/mute and normal people using an Android application. Despite advancements in technology, there is still a lack of mobile applications that facilitate two-way communication between deaf/mute and normal people, especially by using Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (BIM). This project consists of three parts: First, we use BIM letters, which enables the recognition of BIM letters and BIM combined letters to form a word. In this part, a MobileNet pre-trained model is implemented to train the model with a total of 87,000 images for 29 classes, with a 10% test size and a 90% training size. The second part is BIM word hand gestures, which consists of five classes that are trained with the SSD-MobileNet-V2 FPNLite 320 × 320 pre-trained model with a speed of 22 s/frame rate and COCO mAP of 22.2, with a total of 500 images for all five classes and first-time training set to 2000 steps, while the second- and third-time training are set to 2500 steps. The third part is Android application development using Android Studio, which contains the features of the BIM letters and BIM word hand gestures, with the trained models converted into TensorFlow Lite. This feature also includes the conversion of speech to text, whereby this feature allows converting speech to text through the Android application. Thus, BIM letters obtain 99.75% accuracy after training the models, while BIM word hand gestures obtain 61.60% accuracy. The suggested system is validated as a result of these simulations and tests.
The First Study of White Rust Disease Recognition by Using Deep Neural Networks and Raspberry Pi Module Application in Chrysanthemum
Authors: Nguyen Toan Khac , Dang L. Minh , Do Truong-Dong , Lim Jin Hee
Published: May 2023

Growth factors affect farm owners, environmental conditions, nutrient adaptation, and resistance to chrysanthemum diseases. Healthy chrysanthemum plants can overcome all these factors and provide farms owners with a lot of income. Chrysanthemum white rust disease is a common disease that occurs worldwide; if not treated promptly, the disease spreads to the entire leaf surface, causing the plant’s leaves to burn, turn yellow, and fall prematurely, reducing the photosynthetic performance of the plant and the appearance of the flower branches. In Korea, chrysanthemum white rust disease most often occurs during the spring and autumn seasons, when temperature varies during the summer monsoon, and when ventilation is poor in the winter. Deep neural networks were used to determine healthy and unhealthy plants. We applied the Raspberry Pi 3 module to recognize white rust and test four neural network models. The five main deep neural network processes utilized for a dataset of non-diseased and white rust leaves include: (1) data collection; (2) data partitioning; (3) feature extraction; (4) feature engineering; and (5) prediction modeling based on the train–test loss of 35 epochs within 20 min using Linux. White rust recognition is performed for comparison using four models, namely, DenseNet-121, ResNet-50, VGG-19, and MobileNet v2. The qualitative white rust detection system is achieved using a Raspberry Pi 3 module. All models accomplished an accuracy of over 94%, and MobileNet v2 achieved the highest accuracy, precision, and recall at over 98%. In the precision comparison, DenseNet-121 obtained the second highest recognition accuracy of 97%, whereas ResNet-50 and VGG-19 achieved slightly lower accuracies at 95% and 94%, respectively. Qualitative results were obtained using the Raspberry Pi 3 module to assess the performance of the seven models. All models had accuracies of over 91%, with ResNet-50 obtaining a value of 91%, VGG-19 reaching a value of 93%, DenseNet-121 reaching 95%, SqueezeNet obtaining over 95%, MobileNet obtaining over 96%, and MobileNetv2-YOLOv3 reaching 92%. The highest accuracy rate was 97% (MobileNet v2). MobileNet v2 was validated as the most effective model to recognize white rust in chrysanthemums using the Raspberry Pi 3 system. Raspberry Pi 3 module was considered, in conjunction with the MobileNet v2 model, to be the best application system. MobileNet v2 and Raspberry Pi require a low cost for the recognition of chrysanthemum white rust and the diagnosis of chrysanthemum plant health conditions, reducing the risk of white rust disease and minimizing costs and efforts while improving floral production. Chrysanthemum farmers should consider applying the Raspberry Pi module for detecting white rust, protecting healthy plant growth, and increasing yields with low-cost.
Recasting Current Knowledge of Human Fetal Circulation: The Importance of Computational Models
Authors: Zhang Daibo , Lindsey Stephanie E.
Published: May 2023

Computational hemodynamic simulations are becoming increasingly important for cardiovascular research and clinical practice, yet incorporating numerical simulations of human fetal circulation is relatively underutilized and underdeveloped. The fetus possesses unique vascular shunts to appropriately distribute oxygen and nutrients acquired from the placenta, adding complexity and adaptability to blood flow patterns within the fetal vascular network. Perturbations to fetal circulation compromise fetal growth and trigger the abnormal cardiovascular remodeling that underlies congenital heart defects. Computational modeling can be used to elucidate complex blood flow patterns in the fetal circulatory system for normal versus abnormal development. We present an overview of fetal cardiovascular physiology and its evolution from being investigated with invasive experiments and primitive imaging techniques to advanced imaging (4D MRI and ultrasound) and computational modeling. We introduce the theoretical backgrounds of both lumped-parameter networks and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulations of the cardiovascular system. We subsequently summarize existing modeling studies of human fetal circulation along with their limitations and challenges. Finally, we highlight opportunities for improved fetal circulation models.
Increased Risk of Glaucoma in Patients with Rosacea: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Chae Kyunghee , Kim Suyeon , Kim Sukil , Woo Yu Ri
Published: May 2023

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with various ocular manifestations. However, little is known about the association between rosacea and glaucoma. This study aimed to determine the risk of glaucoma in patients with rosacea. This nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study enrolled 1056 individuals with rosacea and 10,440 age- and sex-matched controls without rosacea from the Korean National Health Insurance System (NHIS) database from 2002 to 2015. The incidence rate of glaucoma was 1215.4 per 100,000 person-years (PYs) in patients with rosacea and 741.3 per 100,000 PYs in patients without rosacea. A significantly higher cumulative incidence probability of glaucoma was observed in patients with rosacea than in non-rosacea controls (p = 0.0004). Rosacea was associated with an increased risk of developing glaucoma (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.659; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.245–2.211) compared to those without rosacea. In subgroup analysis, increased risk of glaucoma was observed in patients with rosacea younger than 50 years (aHR, 1.943; 95% CI, 1.305–2.893), females (aHR, 1.871; 95% CI, 1.324–2.644), and patients with hypertension (aHR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.037–2.351) compared to those without rosacea. Rosacea is associated with an increased risk of developing glaucoma. Proper screening for glaucoma should be conducted in rosacea patients younger than 50 years, females, and patients with hypertension to better control the disease and prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion—Contemporary Approach and Future Directions
Authors: Dąbrowski Emil Julian , Święczkowski Michał , Dudzik Joanna Maria , Grunwald Oliwia , Januszko Tomasz , Muszyński Paweł , Pogorzelski Piotr , Tokarewicz Justyna , Południewski Maciej , Kożuch Marcin , Dobrzycki Sławomir
Published: May 2023

In the aging society, the issue of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) has become a challenge for invasive cardiologists. Despite the lack of clear indications in European and American guidelines, the rates of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for CTO increased over the last years. Well-conducted randomized clinical trials (RCT) and large observational studies brought significant and substantial progress in many CTO blind spots. However, the results regarding the rationale behind revascularization and the long-term benefit of CTO are inconclusive. Knowing the uncertainties regarding PCI CTO, our work sought to sum up and provide a comprehensive review of the latest evidence on percutaneous recanalization of coronary artery chronic total occlusion.
Trends and Obstacles to Implement Dynamic Perfusion Concepts for Clinical Liver Transplantation: Results from a Global Web-Based Survey
Authors: Parente Alessandro , Flores Carvalho Mauricio , Panconesi Rebecca , Boteon Yuri L. , De Carlis Riccardo , Dutkowski Philipp , Muiesan Paolo , Dondossola Daniele , Schlegel Andrea
Published: May 2023

Background: Organ perfusion technology is increasingly used in many countries, with a focus, however, on the Western world. This study investigates the current international trends and obstacles to the broader routine implementation of dynamic perfusion concepts in liver transplantation. Methods: A web-based anonymous survey was launched in 2021. Experts of all involved specializations from 70 centers in 34 countries were contacted, based on the published literature and experience in the field of abdominal organ perfusion. Results: Overall, 143 participants from 23 countries completed the survey. Most respondents were male (67.8%) and transplant surgeons (64.3%) working at university hospitals (67.9%). The majority had experience with organ perfusion (82%), applying mainly hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP; 38%) and other concepts. While most (94.4%) expect a higher utilization of marginal organs with machine perfusion, the majority considers HMP the best technique to reduce liver discard-rates. While most respondents (90%) believed machine perfusion should be fully commissioned, the lack of funding (34%) and knowledge (16%) as well as limited staff (19%) were the three main obstacles to a routine clinical implementation. Conclusion: Although dynamic preservation concepts are increasingly used in clinical practice, significant challenges remain. Specific financial pathways, uniform regulations, and tight collaborations among involved experts are needed to achieve wider global clinical use.
Evaluation of Aniseikonia in Patients with Successfully Treated Anisometropic Amblyopia Using Spatial Aniseikonia Test
Authors: Takigawa Ryusei , Sasaki Kakeru , Hirota Masakazu , Nakagawa Maki , Sasaki Kozue , Mihashi Toshifumi , Mizuno Yoshinobu , Mizota Atsushi , Matsuoka Kumiko
Published: May 2023

Anisometropic amblyopia is decreased visual acuity in one eye, and treatment consists of wearing complete corrective spectacles. Aniseikonia occurs with complete correction of anisometropia using spectacles. Aniseikonia has been ignored when treating pediatric anisometropic amblyopia because of the prevailing belief that anisometropic symptoms are suppressed by adaptation. However, the conventional direct comparison method for evaluating aniseikonia significantly underestimates the degree of aniseikonia. This study investigated whether the adaptation occurs due to long-term anisometropic amblyopia treatment in patients who have had successful amblyopia treatment using a spatial aniseikonia test with high accuracy and repeatability compared with the conventional direct comparison method. The amount of aniseikonia was not significantly different between the patients with successful amblyopia treatment and individuals with anisometropia without a history of amblyopia. In both groups, the aniseikonia per 1.00 D of anisometropia and the aniseikonia per 1.00 mm of aniso-axial length were comparable. The repeatability of the amount of aniseikonia using the spatial aniseikonia test did not differ significantly between the two groups, indicating a high degree of agreement. These findings suggest that aniseikonia is not adapted to amblyopia treatment and that aniseikonia increases as the difference between spherical equivalent and axial length increases.
Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis at the Time of Esophageal Food Impaction
Authors: Lee Christina , Sievers Tyson J. , Vaughn Byron P.
Published: May 2023

Background: Esophageal food impactions (EFI) often precede a diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE). Current guidelines suggest obtaining esophageal biopsies upon suspicion of EOE, treating with proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and repeating esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). This study was conducted to determine provider practice patterns with these mentioned recommendations at the time of EFI. Methods: In this retrospective study, key outcomes were the proportion of patients who had EOE mucosal biopsies, EOE diagnosis, PPI initiation, and recommendations and completions of repeat EGD. Differences in outcomes among age, sex, race, off-hours time of procedure, and trainee involvement were examined. EOE diagnosis predictors were explored with logistic regression. Results: Twenty-nine percent of the patients had esophageal biopsies taken at the time of index EGD (iEGD). Sixteen patients were diagnosed with EOE at the time of index EFI, while fourteen patients were diagnosed on subsequent EGDs. Among those diagnosed with EOE at iEGD, 94% were placed on PPI. Of patients with confirmed EOE on index biopsy, 63% of patients were recommended repeat EGD, of which 50% completed it within 90 days. Older age was protective of EOE diagnosis while no GERD history and endoscopist suspicion of EOE predicted diagnosis of EOE. Conclusions: Endoscopists uncommonly take biopsies at the time of EFI, which may delay diagnosis and treatment of EOE.
Potential Effects of AIT on Nonspecific Allergic Immune Responses or Symptoms
Authors: Nakagome Kazuyuki , Fujio Keishi , Nagata Makoto
Published: May 2023

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a treatment in which clinically corresponding allergens are administered to patients with allergic diseases, either by subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), or by oral immunotherapy (OIT) in the case of food allergy. Since etiological allergens are administered to patients, AIT is presumed to modify mainly allergen-specific immune responses. In bronchial asthma, AIT with house dust mites (HDM) alleviates clinical symptoms, suppresses airway hyperresponsiveness, and reduces medication doses of HDM-sensitive asthmatics. Moreover, AIT can suppress the symptoms of other allergic diseases associated with asthma including allergic rhinitis. However, AIT sometimes reduces allergic symptoms not induced by the responsible allergens, such as non-targeted allergens, in clinical settings. Furthermore, AIT can suppress the spread of sensitization to new allergens that are not targeted allergens by AIT, suggesting the suppression of allergic immune responses in an allergen-nonspecific manner. In this review, the nonspecific suppression of allergic immune responses by AIT is discussed. AIT has been reported to increase regulatory T cells that produce IL-10, transforming growth factor-β, and IL-35, IL-10-producing regulatory B cells, and IL-10-producing innate lymphoid cells. These cells can suppress type-2 mediated immune responses mainly through the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines or a cell–cell contact mechanism, which may be involved in the nonspecific suppression of allergic immune responses by AIT.
How Does Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification Affect Pain Intensity, Pain Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Patients? An Experimental Single-Case Study
Authors: Matko Karin , Burzynski Meike , Pilhatsch Maximilian , Brinkhaus Benno , Michalsen Andreas , Bringmann Holger C.
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Chronic pain is a growing worldwide health problem and complementary and integrative therapy options are becoming increasingly important. Multi-component yoga interventions represent such an integrative therapy approach with a promising body of evidence. Methods: The present study employed an experimental single-case multiple-baseline design. It investigated the effects of an 8-week yoga-based mind-body intervention, Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM), in the treatment of chronic pain. The main outcomes were pain intensity (BPI-sf), quality of life (WHO-5), and pain self-efficacy (PSEQ). Results: Twenty-two patients with chronic pain (back pain, fibromyalgia, or migraines) participated in the study and 17 women completed the intervention. MBLM proved to be an effective intervention for a large proportion of the participants. The largest effects were found for pain self-efficacy (TAU-U = 0.35), followed by average pain intensity (TAU-U = 0.21), quality of life (TAU-U = 0.23), and most severe pain (TAU-U = 0.14). However, the participants varied in their responses to the treatment. Conclusion: The present results point to relevant clinical effects of MBLM for the multifactorial conditions of chronic pain. Future controlled clinical studies should investigate its usefulness and safety with larger samples. The ethical and philosophical aspects of yoga should be further explored to verify their therapeutic utility.
Vertical Hemispherotomy: Contribution of Advanced Three-Dimensional Modeling for Presurgical Planning and Training
Authors: De Benedictis Alessandro , Marasi Alessandra , Rossi-Espagnet Maria , Napolitano Antonio , Parrillo Chiara , Fracassi Donatella , Baldassari Giulia , Borro Luca , Bua Antonella , de Palma Luca , Luisi Concetta , Pepi Chiara , Savioli Alessandra , Luglietto Davide , Marras Carlo
Published: May 2023

Vertical hemispherotomy is an effective treatment for many drug-resistant encephalopathies with unilateral involvement. One of the main factors influencing positive surgical results and long-term seizure freedom is the quality of disconnection. For this reason, perfect anatomical awareness is mandatory during each step of the procedure. Although previous groups attempted to reproduce the surgical anatomy through schematic representations, cadaveric dissections, and intraoperative photographs and videos, a comprehensive understanding of the approach may still be difficult, especially for less experienced neurosurgeons. In this work, we reported the application of advanced technology for three-dimensional (3D) modeling and visualization of the main neurova-scular structures during vertical hemispherotomy procedures. In the first part of the study, we built a detailed 3D model of the main structures and landmarks involved during each disconnection phase. In the second part, we discussed the adjunctive value of augmented reality systems for the management of the most challenging etiologies, such as hemimegalencephaly and post-ischemic encephalopathy. We demonstrated the contribution of advanced 3D modeling and visualization to enhance the quality of anatomical representation and interaction between the operator and model according to a surgical perspective, optimizing the quality of presurgical planning, intraoperative orientation, and educational training.
Coastal Flooding Caused by Extreme Coastal Water Level at the World Heritage Historic Keta City (Ghana, West Africa)
Authors: Brempong Emmanuel K. , Almar Rafael , Angnuureng Donatus Bapentire , Mattah Precious Agbeko Dzorgbe , Jayson-Quashigah Philip-Neri , Antwi-Agyakwa Kwesi Twum , Charuka Blessing
Published: May 2023

Like low-lying sandy coasts around the world, the Ghanaian coast is experiencing increasingly frequent coastal flooding due to climate change, putting important socioeconomic infrastructure and people at risk. Our study assesses the major factors contributing to extreme coastal water levels (ECWLs) from 1994 to 2015. ECWLs are categorized into low, moderate, and severe levels corresponding to the 30th, 60th, and 98th percentiles, respectively. Using these three levels over the Pleiades satellite-derived digital elevation model topography, potential flood extent zones are mapped. ECWLs have the potential to flood more than 40% of the study area, including socioeconomically important sites such as tourist beach resorts, Cape St. Paul lighthouse, and Fort Prinzenstein. In this study, all coastal flooding events recorded by the municipality of Keta fall within the 98th percentile category. Our results show a gradual increase in the frequency of flooding over the years. Flooding events are caused by a compound effect of the tide, sea level anomaly, waves, and atmospheric conditions. Finally, while wave run-up is the major contributor to coastal flooding, the tide is the one varying most, which facilitates a simple early warning system based on waves and tide but adds uncertainty and complicates long-term predictability.
Performance of a Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of Five Candida Species in Blood Samples from ICU Patients at Risk of Candidemia
Authors: Felix Gabriel N. , de Freitas Vera L. T. , da Silva Junior Afonso R. , Magri Marcello M. C. , Rossi Flavia , Sejas Odeli N. E. , Abdala Edson , Malbouisson Luiz M. S. , Guimarães Thais , Benard Gil , Del Negro Gilda M. B.
Published: May 2023

The gold standard for diagnosing invasive candidiasis still relies on blood cultures, which are inefficient and time-consuming to analyze. We developed an in-house qPCR assay to identify the 5 major Candida species in 78 peripheral blood (PB) samples from ICU patients at risk of candidemia. Blood cultures and (1,3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) testing were performed concurrently to evaluate the performance of the qPCR. The qPCR was positive for DNA samples from all 20 patients with proven candidemia (positive PB cultures), showing complete concordance with Candida species identification in blood cultures, except for detection of dual candidemia in 4 patients, which was missed by blood cultures. Additionally, the qPCR detected Candida species in six DNA samples from patients with positive central venous catheters blood (CB) but negative PB cultures. BDG values were similarly high in these six samples and the ones with proven candidemia, strongly suggesting the diagnosis of a true candidemia episode despite the negative PB cultures. Samples from patients neither infected nor colonized yielded negative results in both the qPCR and BDG testing. Our qPCR assay was at least as sensitive as blood cultures, but with a shorter turnaround time. Furthermore, negative results from the qPCR provided strong evidence for the absence of candidemia caused by the five major Candida species.
A Prospective Study on Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Clinical Profile and Polysomnographic Variables
Authors: Kandasamy Geetha , Almeleebia Tahani
Published: May 2023

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurring episodes of pharyngeal collapse, which can partially or completely block airflow during sleep and cause cardiorespiratory and neurological imbalances. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess OSA and the relationship between AHI and polysomnographic characteristics in OSA patients. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine for two years. All 216 participants underwent polysomnography, and 175 of them were reported to have OSA (AHI ≥ 5), while 41 of them did not (AHI < 5). ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test were performed. Results: In terms of the study population’s average AHI, Group 1 had 1.69 ± 1.34, mild OSA had 11.79 ± 3.55, moderate OSA had 22.12 ± 4.34, and severe OSA was found to have 59.16 ± 22.15 events/hour. The study group’s average age was 53.77 ± 7.19 out of 175 OSA patients. According to AHI, the BMI for mild OSA was 31.66 ± 8.32 kg/m2, for moderate OSA, it was 30.52 ± 3.99 kg/m2, and for severe OSA, it was 34.35 ± 8.22 kg/m2. The average number of oxygen desaturation events and snoring duration were 25.20 ± 18.63 and 24.61 ± 28.53 min, respectively. BMI (r = 0.249, p < 0.001), average oxygen saturation (r = −0.387, p < 0.000), oxygen desaturation (r = 0.661, p < 0.000), snoring time (r = 0.231, p < 0.002), and the number of snores (r = 0.383, p < 0.001) were the polysomnographic variables that showed significant correlations with AHI in the study group. Conclusions: In this study, a substantial prevalence of obesity and a high OSA frequency were found in men. Our research showed that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea experience nocturnal desaturations. Polysomnography is the primary test for early detection of this treatable condition.
Usage of Object Matching Algorithms Combined with Mixed Reality for Enhanced Decision Making in Orbital Reconstruction—A Technical Note
Authors: Wilkat Max , Karnatz Nadia , Schrader Felix , Schorn Lara , Lommen Julian , Parviz Aida , Möllmann Henriette Louise , Rana Majeed
Published: May 2023

This technical note describes the usage of object matching to virtually compare different modes of reconstruction in orbital trauma and display the results to the surgeon and the patient pre-operatively via mixed reality devices for enhanced surgical decision making and immersive patient education. A case of an orbital floor fracture is presented for which surface and volume matching were implemented to compare orbital reconstruction utilizing pre-fabricated titanium meshes versus patient-specific implants. The results could be visualized by mixed reality devices to further enhance surgical decision-making. The data sets were demonstrated to the patient in mixed reality for immersive patient education and enhanced shared decision making. The advantages of the new technologies are discussed in view of the new possibilities of improved patient education and informed consent processes, as well as new ways of teaching medical trainees.
Comparative Study of Flesh Quality, Blood Profile, Antioxidant Status, and Intestinal Microbiota of European Catfish (Silurus glanis) Cultivated in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and Earthen Pond System
Authors: Barbacariu Cristian-Alin , Rimbu Cristina Mihaela , Burducea Marian , Dirvariu Lenuta , Miron Liviu-Dan , Boiangiu Razvan Stefan , Dumitru Gabriela , Todirascu-Ciornea Elena
Published: May 2023

With the increasing demand for European catfish, traditional extensive growth methods in polyculture are no longer sufficient to meet market needs. Therefore, this study aimed to identify indicators for improving recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology by determining and comparing growth performance, flesh quality, blood profile, oxidative status, and intestinal microbiota parameters between fish cultivated in a RAS and an earthen pond. Results revealed that RAS-grown fish had a higher fat content compared to pond-grown fish, while no significant differences were found for growth parameters. Sensory analysis showed no significant difference in taste between the two groups. Blood composition analysis showed small differences. Oxidative status analyses showed higher catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in RAS-grown fish and slightly higher superoxide dismutase activity in pond-grown fish. Microbial analysis showed differences in the intestinal microflora, with a higher total number of aerobic germs and anaerobic germs and a lower total number of sulfite-reducing clostridia in RAS-grown fish. This study provides valuable insights into the comparative performance of a RAS and a pond rearing system in European catfish production, potentially informing future growth technologies.
Lung Segmentectomy in NSCLC Surgery
Authors: Salvicchi Alberto , Tombelli Simone , Mugnaini Giovanni , Gonfiotti Alessandro
Published: May 2023

Current guidelines recommend surgery for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The standard treatment for patients with cT1N0 NSCLC has been lobectomy with lymph-node dissection, with sublobar resection used only in patients with inadequate cardio-respiratory reserve, with poor performance status, or who are elderly. In 1995, the Lung Cancer Study Group published the results of a randomized, prospective trial demonstrating the superiority of lobectomy compared with sublobar resection. From then on, wedge resection and segmentectomy were reserved exclusively for patients with poor functional reserve who could not tolerate lobectomy. Therefore, the exact role of segmentectomy has been controversial over the past 20 years. Recently, the randomized controlled trial JCOG0802/WJOG4607L demonstrated that segmentectomy was superior to lobectomy in patients with stage IA NSCLC (<2 cm and CTR < 0.5) in terms of both overall-survival and post-operative lung function. Based on these results, segmentectomy should be considered the standard surgical procedure for this patient group. In 2023, the randomized phase III CALGB 140503 (Alliance) trial demonstrated the efficacy and non-inferiority of sublobar resection, including wedge resection, for clinical stage IA NSCLC with tumor diameter of < 2 cm. This article is a narrative review of the current role of segmentectomy in lung cancer treatment and summarizes the most relevant studies in this context.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate Treatment Improves Cryopreservation Efficiency in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Oh Seong-Ju , Jo Chan-Hee , Kim Tae-Seok , Hong Chae-Yeon , Lee Sung-Lim , Kang Young-Hoon , Rho Gyu-Jin
Published: May 2023

The actin cytoskeleton plays a crucial role not only in maintaining cell shape and viability but also in homing/engraftment properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a valuable source of cell therapy. Therefore, during the cryopreservation process of MSCs, protecting the actin cytoskeleton from the freezing/thawing stress is critical in maintaining their functionality and therapeutic potential. In this study, the safety and cryoprotective potential of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which has a stabilizing effect on actin cytoskeleton, on dental pulp-derived MSCs (DP-MSCs) was investigated. Our results demonstrated that S1P treatment did not adversely affect viability and stemness of DP-MSCs. Furthermore, S1P pretreatment enhanced cell viability and proliferation properties of post-freeze/thaw DP-MSCs, protecting them against damage to the actin cytoskeleton and adhesion ability as well. These findings suggest that a new cryopreservation method using S1P pretreatment can enhance the overall quality of cryopreserved MSCs by stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton and making them more suitable for various applications in regenerative medicine and cell therapy.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Centranthus longiflorus Stems Extracts Recovered Using Ired-Irrad®, an Innovative Infrared Technology, Compared to Water Bath and Ultrasound
Authors: Hammoud Mariam , Rajha Hiba N. , Chokr Ali , Safi Carl , van den Broek Lambertus A. M. , van Erven Gijs van , Maroun Richard G. , Debs Espérance , Rammal Hassan , Louka Nicolas
Published: May 2023

Extraction of polyphenols from Centranthus longiflorus stems was conducted using ultrasound and infrared Ired-Irrad® techniques, and compared to the conventional water bath method. Response surface methodology was used to analyse the effect of time, temperature, and ethanol percentage, as well as to optimize the three extraction methods. The highest phenolic content (81 mg GAE/g DM) and antioxidant activity (76% DPPH inhibition) were recorded with the Ired-Irrad® extract obtained under the optimal conditions: 55 °C, 127 min, 48% (v/v) ethanol. Biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial and antibiofilm) of the three extracts were assessed. All C. longiflorus stems extracts showed limited antibacterial effects regardless of the extraction method (MIC = 50 mg/mL), whereas Ired-Irrad® extract exhibited the highest biofilm eradication and prevention capacities (93% against Escherichia coli and 97% against Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively). This bioactivity is likely related to abundant caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin rutinoside, as identified by RP-UHPLC-PDA-MS analysis. The results obtained further promote the effectiveness of Ired-Irrad® as a highly flexible and cost-efficient extraction technique.
Three-Dimensional Visualization System for Vitreoretinal Surgery: Results from a Monocentric Experience and Comparison with Conventional Surgery
Authors: Giansanti Fabrizio , Nicolosi Cristina , Bacherini Daniela , Soloperto Federica , Sarati Federica , Giattini Dario , Vicini Giulio
Published: May 2023

Purpose: To describe the experience of our centre (Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy) in using a heads-up three-dimensional (3D) surgical viewing system in vitreoretinal surgery, making a comparison with the conventional microscope surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data taken from 240 patients (240 eyes) with surgical macular diseases (macular hole and epiretinal membrane), retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage who underwent vitreoretinal surgeries, by means of the NGENUITY 3D Visualization System (Alcon Laboratories Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA), in comparison with 210 patients (210 eyes) who underwent vitreoretinal surgeries performed using a conventional microscope. All surgeries were performed with standardized procedures by the same surgeons. We analyzed data over a follow-up period of 6 months, comparing the surgical outcomes (best-corrected visual acuity, anatomical success rate and postoperative complication rate) between the two groups. Results: the 3D group included 74 patients with retinal detachment, 78 with epiretinal membrane, 64 with macular hole and 24 with vitreous hemorrhage. There were no significant differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics between the 3D group and the conventional group. We found no significant differences in outcome measures at three and six months follow-up between the two groups (p-value ≥ 0.05 for all comparisons). Surgery durations were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: In our experience, a heads-up 3D surgical viewing system provided comparable functional and anatomical outcomes in comparison with conventional microscope surgery, proving to be a valuable tool for vitreoretinal surgery in the treatment of different retinal diseases.
Deciphering Lung Adenocarcinoma Heterogeneity: An Overview of Pathological and Clinical Features of Rare Subtypes
Authors: Mogavero Andrea , Bironzo Paolo , Righi Luisella , Merlini Alessandra , Benso Federica , Novello Silvia , Passiglia Francesco
Published: May 2023

Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related death. The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification provided a detailed and updated categorization of lung adenocarcinomas with a special focus on rare histological types, including enteric, fetal and colloid types, as well as not otherwise specified adenocarcinoma, overall accounting for about 5–10% of all cases. However, rare entities are nowadays difficult to diagnose in most centers, and evidence of optimal therapeutic management for these patients is still lacking. In recent years, increasing knowledge about the mutational profile of lung cancer, in addition to the spreading diffusion of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in different centers, have been helpful in the identification of rare variants of lung cancer. Hence, the hope is that several new drugs will be available in the near future to treat these rare lung tumors, such as in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which are often used in clinical practice for several malignancies. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about the molecular pathology and clinical management of the most common rare adenocarcinoma subtypes in order to provide a concise and updated report that can drive clinicians’ choices in their routine practice.
Simulation of Internal Defects in TKX-50 Crystals
Authors: Qiu Siqi , Zhao Xue , Li Yuanyuan , Ding Wenyuan , Huang Junrui
Published: May 2023

1,1′-Dihydroxy-5,5′-bi-tetrazolium dihydroxylamine salt (TKX-50) is a new type of high-energy low-sense explosive with great application value, but TKX-50 made directly from the reaction has problems such as irregular crystal morphology and relatively large length-diameter, and these factors seriously affect the sensitivity of TKX-50 and limit its large-scale application. The internal defects of TKX-50 crystals have a great influence on their weakness, and studying its related properties is of great theoretical significance and application value. To further investigate the microscopic properties of TKX-50 crystals and to explore the connection between microscopic parameters and macroscopic susceptibility, this paper reports the use of molecular dynamics simulations to construct TKX-50 crystal scaling models with three types of defects—vacancy, dislocation and doping—and conducts molecular dynamics simulations. The influence of TKX-50 crystal defects on the initiation bond length, density, bonding diatomic interaction energy, and cohesive energy density of the crystal was obtained. The simulation results show that the models with a higher bond length of the initiator bond and higher percentage activated the initiator’s N-N bond and lowered the bond-linked diatomic energy, cohesive energy density, and density corresponding to higher crystal sensitivities. This led to a preliminary connection between TKX-50 microscopic model parameters and macroscopic susceptibility. The results of the study can provide a reference for the design of subsequent experiments, and the research method can be extended to the research work on other energy-containing materials.
Achievement of High Perpendicular Anisotropy and Modification of Heat Treatment Peeling in Micron-Thickness Nd-Fe-B Films Used for Magnetic MEMS
Authors: Huang Jingbin , Wang Zhanyong , Liao Shijie , Wang Fang , Huang Min , Zhang Jian
Published: May 2023

Thick Nd-Fe-B permanent magnetic films with good perpendicular anisotropy have important applications in magnetic microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs). However, when the thickness of the Nd-Fe-B film reaches the micron level, the magnetic anisotropy and texture of NdFeB film will become worse, and it is also prone to peeling during heat treatment, which seriously limits their applications. In this paper, Si(100)/Ta(100 nm)/NdxFe91−xB9(x = 14.5, 16.4, 18.2)/Ta (100 nm) films with thicknesses of 2–10 μm are prepared by magnetron sputtering. It is found that gradient annealing (GN) could help improve the magnetic anisotropy and texture of the micron-thickness film. When the Nd-Fe-B film thickness increases from 2 μm to 9 μm, its magnetic anisotropy and texture do not deteriorate. For the 9 μm Nd-Fe-B film, a high coercivity of 20.26 kOe and high magnetic anisotropy (remanence ratio Mr/Ms = 0.91) are achieved. An in-depth analysis of the elemental composition of the film along the thickness direction is conducted, and the presence of Nd aggregation layers at the interface between the Nd-Fe-B and the Ta layers is confirmed. The influence of thicknesses of the Ta buffer layer on the peeling of Nd-Fe-B micron-thickness films after high-temperature annealing is investigated, and it is found that increasing the thickness of the Ta buffer layer could effectively inhibit the peeling of Nd-Fe-B films. Our finding provides an effective way to modify the heat treatment peeling of Nd-Fe-B films. Our results are important for the development of Nd-Fe-B micron-scale films with high perpendicular anisotropy for applications in magnetic MEMS.
Aero-Engine Blade Cryogenic Cooling Milling Deformation Simulation and Process Parameter Optimization
Authors: Chen Ting , Xu Yun , Huang Bo , Shi Yan , Zhang Jiahu , Li Lei , Meng Yaozhi , Li Xuqing
Published: May 2023

For the machining of aero-engine blades, factors such as machining residual stress, milling force, and heat deformation can result in poor blade profile accuracy. To address this issue, simulations of blade milling were completed using DEFORM11.0 and ABAQUS2020 software to analyze blade deformation under heat-force fields. Process parameters such as spindle speed, feed per tooth, depth of cut, and jet temperature are used to design both a single-factor control and BBD test scheme to study the influence of jet temperature and multiple changes in process parameters on blade deformation. The multiple quadratic regression method was applied to establish a mathematical model correlating blade deformation with process parameters, and a preferred set of process parameters was obtained through the particle swarm algorithm. Results from the single-factor test indicated that blade deformation rates were reduced by more than 31.36% in low-temperature milling (−190 °C to −10 °C) compared with dry milling (10 °C to 20 °C). However, the margin of the blade profile exceeded the permissible range (±50 µm); therefore, the particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to optimize machining process parameters, resulting in a maximum deformation of 0.0396 mm when the blade temperature was −160 °C~−180 °C, meeting the allowable blade profile deformation error.
Description of Material Properties of Degraded and Damaged Segments of Multi-Leaf Masonry in Analyses of Large Three-Dimensional Structures
Authors: Miedziałowski Czesław , Walendziuk Adam
Published: May 2023

This article focuses on the description of material properties of segments of masonry structures in three-dimensional analyses. It mainly considers degraded and damaged multi-leaf masonry walls. In the beginning, the causes of degradation and damage to masonry are described with examples. It was reported that the analysis of such structures is difficult due to the adequate description of the mechanical properties in the individual segments of the structure and the amount of computational cost of large three-dimensional structures. Next, a method of describing large fragments of masonry structures by means of macro-elements was proposed. The formulation of such macro-elements in three-dimensional and two-dimensional problems was given by introducing limits of variation in material parameters and damage of structures expressed by the limits of integration of macro-elements with specified internal structures. Then, it was stated that such macro-elements can be used to build computational models by the finite element method, which allows the analysis of the deformation–stress state, and at the same time, reduce the number of unknowns in such issues. A strategy for performing analyses and examples of practical applications in masonry analyses were proposed. It was reported that the results of the analyses can be used to plan the repairs and strengthening of structures. Finally, the conducted considerations and proposals were summarised, as well as examples of practical applications.