bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Dynamic Impact of Extreme Climate Events on Vegetation Productivity under Climate Change
Authors: Xu Hanqing , Tan Jinkai , Li Chunlan , Niu Yiying , Wang Jun
Published: April 2023

As global warming continues to intensify, the relationship between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and vegetation productivity continues to change over time. However, the impact of DTR changes on vegetation activities remains uncertain. Thus, further study about how DTR changes affect the physiological activities of plants is also urgently needed. In this study, we employed copula function theory to analyze the impact of DTR on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons from 1982 to 2014 for various land types in the Inner Mongolia Plain (IMP), China. The results showed that the relationship between DTR and NDVI in the IMP was characterized by correlation at the upper tail and asymptotical independence at the lower tail. This demonstrated that the DTR had little effect on NDVI when they reached their minimum value. However, it has a significant impact on NDVI at its maximum values. This study provides valuable insight into the dynamic impact of monthly DTR on different land use types under climate change.
Total Lipids and Fatty Acids in Major New Zealand Grape Varieties during Ripening, Prolonged Pomace Contacts and Ethanolic Extractions Mimicking Fermentation
Authors: Sherman Emma , Yvon Muriel , Grab Franzi , Zarate Erica , Green Saras , Bang Kyung Whan , Pinu Farhana R.
Published: April 2023

Despite the important roles of lipids in winemaking, changes in lipids during grape ripening are largely unknown for New Zealand (NZ) varieties. Therefore, we aimed to determine the fatty acid profiles and total lipid content in two of NZ’s major grape varieties. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, absolute quantification of 45 fatty acids was determined in Sauvignon blanc (SB) and Pinot noir (PN) grapes harvested at two different stages of ripeness. Lipid concentrations were as high as 0.4 g/g in seeds of both varieties, while pulp contained the least amount. Many unsaturated fatty acids were present, particularly in grape seeds, while skin contained relatively higher amounts of saturated fatty acids that increased throughout ripening. For both varieties, a significant increase in lipid concentration was observed in grapes harvested at the later stage of ripeness, indicating an association between lipids and grape maturity, and providing a novel insight about the use of total lipids as another parameter of grape ripeness. A variety-specific trend in the development and extraction of grape lipids was found from the analysis of the must and ethanolic extracts. Lipid extraction increased linearly with the ethanol concentration and with the extended pomace contact time. More lipids were extracted from the SB pomace to the must than PN within 144 h, suggesting a must matrix effect on lipid extraction. The knowledge generated here is relevant to both industry and academia and can be used to develop lipid diversification strategies to produce different wine styles.
Towards a Reference Architecture for Cargo Ports
Authors: Romero Virginia M. , Fernandez Eduardo B.
Published: April 2023

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are physical systems whose operations are coordinated, monitored, and controlled by computing and communication functions. These systems are typically heterogeneous, including Internet of Things and information technology subsystems, and can present a myriad of implementation details, making them very complex systems. An important type of CPS is a maritime container terminal (cargo port), which is a facility where cargo containers are transported between ships and land vehicles for onward transportation and vice versa. A cargo port performs four basic functions: receiving, storing, staging, and loading for both import and export containers. We present here process patterns that describe the functional aspects of cargo ports and a pattern that describes their structural properties (patterns are encapsulated solutions to recurrent problems). These patterns describe semantic aspects found in any cargo port and can be adapted to describe other CPSs. We decompose these process patterns into use cases that describe their interactions with the system. We then integrate the process patterns with structural patterns to assemble a partial reference architecture (RA) that shows the interactions of all the patterns while also indicating the typical stakeholders found in all ports. We validate the proposed reference architecture, highlighting its theoretical and practical value. Software and system designers of cargo ports need to start from a conceptual and abstract view that is subsequently refined to add more details. The use of reference architectures and patterns is an effective way to organize and describe the functional and non-functional aspects of a system, as well as to unify the design of all its aspects. This is, until now, the only published RA for cargo ports, and it can be a useful guideline for the designers of any type of cargo port.
Valorisation of Wasted Immature Tomato to Innovative Fermented Functional Foods
Authors: Pereira Nelson , Farrokhi Mahsa , Vida Manuela , Lageiro Manuela , Ramos Ana Cristina , Vieira Margarida C. , Alegria Carla , Gonçalves Elsa M. , Abreu Marta
Published: April 2023

In this study, the lactic fermentation of immature tomatoes as a tool for food ingredient production was evaluated as a circular economy-oriented alternative for valorising industrial tomatoes that are unsuitable for processing and which have wasted away in large quantities in the field. Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were assessed as starter cultures in an immature tomato pulp fermentation to produce functional food ingredients with probiotic potential. The first trial evaluated the probiotic character of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LAB97, isolated from immature tomato microbiota) and Weissella paramesenteroides (C1090, from the INIAV collection) through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion simulation. The results showed that LAB97 and C1090 met the probiotic potential viability criterion by maintaining 6 log10 CFU/mL counts after in vitro simulation. The second trial assessed the LAB starters’ fermentative ability. Partially decontaminated (110 °C/2 min) immature tomato pulp was used to prepare the individually inoculated samples (Id: LAB97 and C1090). Non-inoculated samples, both with and without thermal treatment (Id: CTR-TT and CTR-NTT, respectively), were prepared as the controls. Fermentation was undertaken (25 °C, 100 rpm) for 14 days. Throughout storage (0, 24, 48, 72 h, 7, and 14 days), all the samples were tested for LAB and Y&M counts, titratable acidity (TA), solid soluble content (SSC), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AOx), as well as for organic acids and phenolic profiles, and CIELab colour and sensory evaluation (14th day). The LAB growth reached ca. 9 log10 CFU/mL for all samples after 72 h. The LAB97 samples had an earlier and higher acidification rate than the remaining ones, and they were highly correlated to lactic acid increments. The inoculated samples showed a faster and higher decrease rate in their SSC levels when compared to the controls. A nearly two-fold increase (p < 0.05) during the fermentation, over time, was observed in all samples’ AOx and TPC (p < 0.05, r = 0.93; similar pattern). The LAB97 samples obtained the best sensory acceptance for flavour and overall appreciation scores when compared to the others. In conclusion, the L. plantarum LAB97 starter culture was selected as a novel probiotic candidate to obtain a potential probiotic ingredient from immature tomato fruits.
A Differential Game for Optimal Water Price Management
Authors: Caravaggio Andrea , De Cesare Luigi , Di Liddo Andrea
Published: April 2023

This article studies a leader–follower differential game with a finite horizon, where a single buyer reacts to the selling price set by an agency (water supplier). The Open-Loop Stackelberg equilibrium is calculated, assuming that the user demand is fully satisfied (that is, the interior solution is considered), and the following different tariff schemes are analyzed: linear scheme, increasing block tariff, and convex tariff. Numerical simulations highlight how tariff convexity and seasonality in buyer’s preferences affect water price and demand, and the dynamics of the basin over time. The study shows that synchrony or asynchrony between basin recharge and buyer cyclical demand can dramatically affect the dynamics and basin levels observed at the end of the time period considered. Additionally, the presence of a large number of fluctuations in buyer preferences affects basin fluctuations, while natural recharge may help in maintaining acceptable levels of future water demands.
DOE-Assisted Formulation, Optimization, and Characterization of Tioconazole-Loaded Transferosomal Hydrogel for the Effective Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation
Authors: Kharwade Rohini , Ali Nemat , Gangane Purushottam , Pawar Kapil , More Sachin , Iqbal Muzaffar , Bhat Abid R. , AlAsmari Abdullah F. , Kaleem Mohammed
Published: April 2023

The present study was performed to determine the therapeutic effects of tioconazole (Tz)-loaded novel transferosome carriers (TFs) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Method: Tioconazole transferosomes suspension (TTFs) was formulated and optimized using a 32 factorial design. After that, the optimized batch of TTFs loaded into Carbopol 934 and sodium CMC was prepared with hydrogel and noted as TTFsH. Subsequently, it was evaluated for pH, spread ability, drug content, in vitro drug release, viscosity, in vivo scratching and erythema score, skin irritation, and histopathology study. Result: The optimized batch of TTFs (B4) showed the values of vesicle size, flux, and entrapment efficiency to be 171.40 ± 9.03 nm, 48.23 ± 0.42, and 93.89 ± 2.41, respectively. All batches of TTFsH showed sustained drug release for up to 24 h. The F2 optimized batch released Tz in an amount of 94.23 ± 0.98% with a flux of 47.23 ± 0.823 and followed the Higuchi kinetic model. The in vivo studies provided evidence that the F2 batch of TTFsH was able to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) by reducing the erythema and the scratching score compared to that of the marketed formulation (Candiderm cream, Glenmark). The histopathology study supported the result of the erythema and scratching score study with intact skin structure. It showed that a formulated low dose of TTFsH was safe and biocompatible to both the dermis and the epidermis layer of skin. Conclusion: Thus, a low dose of F2-TTFsH is a promising tool that effectively targeted the skin for the topical delivery of Tz to treat atopic dermatitis symptoms.
Infant and Young Child Feeding Knowledge among Caregivers of Children Aged between 0 and 24 Months in Seshego Township, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Muleka Ndivhudzannyi , Maanaso Baatseba , Phoku Mafiwa , Mphasha Mabitsela Hezekiel , Makwela Maishataba
Published: April 2023

Background: Appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) involves the initiation of breastfeeding within an hour of delivery, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, introduction of complementary feeding at 6 months while continuing breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond. Adequate IYCF knowledge among caregivers is associated with improved practices, lowers risk of kids developing malnutrition, infection, morbidity, and mortality. Early introduction of solid foods, mixed feeding, inadequate breastfeeding, and complementary feeding are all prevalent in South Africa. These are related to caregivers’ lack of IYCF knowledge. Hence, this study aims to determine the IYCF knowledge level of caregivers of children under 24 months in the semiurban Seshego Township, South Africa. Methodology: Quantitative and cross-sectional design was applied. A total of 86 caregivers were selected using simple random sampling, which is representative of a target population of 110. Structured questionnaire was utilised to gather data, and analysed through statistical software, using descriptive and inferential statistics. Chi-square test was used to calculate associations at 95% confidence interval, where a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Findings show that 67% of participants had good IYCF knowledge (a score of 81 to 100%) and there was a significant relationship between knowledge and education (p = 0.001). Moreover, 40.7% did not know that exclusive breastfeeding should be up to 6 months, and 90% mentioned that breastmilk protects the child against diseases. Most participants (82.6%) know that complementary feeding should be introduced at 6 months with continuation of breastfeeding. Conclusions: Caregivers know that breastfeeding should begin immediately after birth, and that it protects against diseases. Moreover, they know that solid food should be introduced at 6 months. However, there is still a need to strengthen IYCF education, particularly on exclusive breastfeeding. Interventions to improve IYCF knowledge should be intertwined with improving educational and health literacy on breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
Fatty Acids and Minerals as Markers Useful to Classify Hass Avocado Quality: Ripening Patterns, Internal Disorders, and Sensory Quality
Authors: Rodríguez Pablo , Soto Iris , Villamizar Jairo , Rebolledo Alexander
Published: April 2023

Hass avocado quality varies by origin, season, and production practices. However, there is a lack of methodologies to guarantee that fruit reaching the market has consistent quality. The aim of this work was to identify predictive markers for quality management. Fruit samples produced under different nutrient management, elevation, date-to-harvest, and growth cycle conditions were analyzed. Dry matter, oil content, internal disorders, sensory attributes, minerals, and fatty acids were evaluated as quality variables. The results highlighted soil and weather differences among orchards. Nutrient management practices based on index balancing in some samples increased both productivity and fruit size. High variability was observed in the dry matter related to the age of the fruit at harvest. Ripening heterogeneity was very large in low-elevation orchards where the fruit was picked relatively early. High flesh mineral contents delayed fruit ripening. At low growing temperatures, more oleic and linoleic acids were present in fruits. The sensory texture and taste descriptors were affected by the fruit age and related to the flesh composition. Logistic, PLS-DA, and biplot models effectively represented the variabilities in the ripening pattern, composition, and sensory profile of avocado fruits and allowed the samples to be grouped according to the internal fruit quality.
Stress and Well-Being of Greek Primary School Educators: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zagkas Dimitrios G. , Chrousos George P. , Bacopoulou Flora , Kanaka-Gantenbein Christina , Vlachakis Dimitrios , Tzelepi Ioanna , Darviri Christina
Published: April 2023

The teaching profession has always been challenging, while for various reasons the magnitude of observed stress in teachers has been continually growing over time. This study was conducted to demonstrate the relevance of stress in this professional group and to generate evidence for the benefit of primary school teachers and, indirectly, their pupils. To this end, we examined a large number of school teachers in a descriptive cross-sectional study. The survey comprised 786 primary school instructors aged 21 to 65 years, 646 women (82.2%) and 140 males (17.8%), and was performed from March to October 2022. Participants were asked about their gender, age, marital status, place of domicile, satisfaction with their income, whether their income met their needs, number of children, whether they cared for a person with a disability, work experience, alcohol use, eating patterns, and their height and weight for computation of their Body Mass Index (BMI). The survey included the Teacher Subjective Well-being Questionnaire (TSWQ), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Healthy Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire (HLPCQ), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The results showed that there were significant differences between the two sexes in age, marital status, work experience, smoking, alcohol use, and eating breakfast. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the two sexes in BMI, PSS Total, Dietary Health Choice, Harm Avoidance and Total HLPCQ. The variance of PSS Total was predicted by Sex, Teacher Efficacy, Total PSQI, Dietary Health Choice, organized physical exercise, social support and mental control, and Total HLPCQ. Between teacher efficacy, school connectedness, teacher well-being, organized physical exercise, social support and mental control, Total HLPCQ and PSS Total, the correlation coefficients were negative and significant at the <0.05 level. Between Total PSQI and PSS Total, the correlation coefficient was positive and significant at the <0.05 level. Between teacher efficacy, school connectedness and teacher well-being, organized physical exercise, social support and mental control, Total HLPCQ and Total PSQI, the correlation coefficients were negative and significant at the <0.05 level. In summary, we demonstrated that Greek primary school teachers experience significant stress, which is intertwined with their way of life, and reflected in significant decreases in their sense of well-being, quality of sleep, and overall life satisfaction, as well as in their standards of teaching.
Increasing Machine-Related Safety on Farms: Development of an Intervention Using the Behaviour Change Wheel Approach
Authors: Surendran Aswathi , McSharry Jennifer , Meade Oonagh , Bligh Francis , McNamara John , Meredith David , O’Hora Denis
Published: April 2023

Farming is essential work, but it suffers from very high injury and fatality rates. Machinery, including tractors, are a leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities to farmers and farm workers in many countries. Herein, we document the systematic development of an evidence-based, theory-informed behaviour change intervention to increase machine-related safety on farms. Intervention development progressed through four phases. Phase 1 defined the problem in behavioural terms based a review of the literature, Phase 2 identified candidate intervention targets through a series of focus groups guided by the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation–Behaviour (COM-B) model and Phase 3 employed expert and stakeholder consultation guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to consider potential target behaviours and intervention components and finalise the intervention content. Phase 4 finalised the evaluation strategies with a team of agricultural advisors who supported the rollout and identified outcome measures for the first trial. The target intervention was the identification of blind spots of farm tractors, and three priority target behaviours (farm safety practices) were identified. Following Phase 3, the intervention comprised four components that are delivered in a group-based, face-to-face session with farmers. In Phase 4, the acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of these components were identified as the outcome measures for the first trial of the intervention. The four-phase systematic method detailed here constitutes an initial template for developing theory-based, stakeholder-driven, behaviour-change-based interventions targeting farmers and reporting such developments.
The Knowledge and Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Framework in Athletic Training
Authors: Millet Nathaniel , Snyder Valier Alison , Eberman Lindsey , Rivera Matthew , Winkelmann Zachary
Published: April 2023

In 2015, the Strategic Alliance adopted the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as the disablement model framework for delivery of and communication about patient care in athletic training. The purpose of this study was to examine athletic trainers’ familiarity, knowledge, application, and implementation of the ICF framework. We used a cross-sectional online survey with 185 athletic trainers (age = 35 ± 9 y), which included 32 items focused on familiarity, knowledge, application, and implementation of the ICF framework. Most participants (n = 96, 51.9%) reported never learning about the ICF framework. During the knowledge assessment, participants scored 4.3 ± 2.7 out of 8, which is equivalent to 53.7%. For the sorting assessment, participants scored 10.9 ± 3.9 out of 18, which is equivalent to 60.5%. On the implementation matrix, the most frequently reported ICF tasks elicited by the athletic trainers included neuromusculoskeletal and movement, structure related to movement, and mobility. The most common ‘never elicited’ ICF tasks included voice and speech, sexual orientation, and structures related to genitourinary and reproductive system. Deficits related to the ICF framework exist. Athletic trainers reported low implementation across all ICF categories. The decision to not elicit information on these areas of health may reduce the ability to provide patient-centered healthcare.
Consumer Fraud against Older Adults in Digital Society: Examining Victimization and Its Impact
Authors: Kemp Steven , Erades Pérez Nieves
Published: April 2023

The European population is aging, which means more people aged sixty-five and over are at risk of financial exploitation. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding whether older persons are at greater risk of fraud than younger counterparts due to physical, economic, and social factors or, rather, whether they are slightly protected from fraud in the digital era due to less frequent online activity. Moreover, little is known about the financial, emotional, psychological, and physical impacts of fraud experiences amongst older generations in digital society. We employ multilevel modelling on a sample of EU citizens (n = 26,735) to analyze these issues. The results show that, holding other factors constant, older adults are more likely to suffer fraud in general, but not fraud via online channels. Identity theft in which the offender attempts to trick the victim by impersonating a reputable organization is found to be particularly relevant for citizens aged sixty-five and above. Older persons are less likely to suffer a financial impact but more likely to experience anger, irritation, embarrassment, and negative impacts on their physical health from fraud in general as well as from online fraud. Many organizations aim to help protect older adults from financial crime and its impacts; thus, the results emphasize the need to understand particular fraud categories suffered by older generations and to design support programs that fully take into account the non-financial impacts of this crime.
A Spherical Volume-Rendering Method of Ocean Scalar Data Based on Adaptive Ray Casting
Authors: Li Weijie , Liang Changxia , Yang Fan , Ai Bo , Shi Qingtong , Lv Guannan
Published: April 2023

There are some limitations in traditional ocean scalar field visualization methods, such as inaccurate expression and low efficiency in the three-dimensional digital Earth environment. This paper presents a spherical volume-rendering method based on adaptive ray casting to express ocean scalar field. Specifically, the minimum bounding volume based on spherical mosaic is constructed as the proxy geometry, and the depth texture of the seabed terrain is applied to determine the position of sampling points in the spatial interpolation process, which realizes the fusion of ocean scalar field and seabed terrain. Then, we propose an adaptive sampling step algorithm according to the heterogeneous depth distribution and data change rate of the ocean scalar field dataset to improve the efficiency of the ray-casting algorithm. In addition, this paper proposes a nonlinear color-mapping enhancement scheme based on the skewness characteristics of the datasets to optimize the expression effect of volume rendering, and the transparency transfer function is designed to realize volume rendering and local feature structure extraction of ocean scalar field data in the study area.
Distal Flow Diversion with Anti-Thrombotically Coated and Bare Metal Low-Profile Flow Diverters—A Comparison
Authors: Schüngel Marie-Sophie , Hoffmann Karl-Titus , Weber Erik , Maybaum Jens , Bailis Nikolaos , Scheer Maximilian , Nestler Ulf , Schob Stefan
Published: April 2023

Background and purpose: The establishment of low-profile flow diverting stents (FDS), for example, the Silk Vista Baby (SVB) and the p48MW, facilitated endovascular treatment of peripheral cerebral aneurysms. This study therefore aims to compare the performance and outcomes of the SVB with those of the p48MW HPC, with a special focus on hemodynamic aspects of peripheral segments and bifurcations. Materials and methods: The study cohort comprises 108 patients, who were either treated with the SVB or the p48MW HPC between June 2018 and April 2021. Results: Sixty patients received a SVB and forty-eight patients a p48MW HPC. The SVB was used predominantly in the AcomA-complex, and the p48MW HPC in the MCA bifurcation. Immediately after implantation, significant hemodynamic downgrading (OKM A2-A3, B1-B3, C3) was achieved in 60% in the SVB group vs. 75.1% in the p48MW HPC group. At the second follow-up, after an average of 8.8 and 10.9 months, respectively, OKM D1 was observed in 64.4% of the SVB group vs. 27.3% in the p48MW HPC group. Only 1.7% vs. 6.8% of the aneurysms remained morphologically unaltered (OKM A1). Adverse events with persisting neurologic sequalae at last follow-up were largely comparable in both groups (5.0% vs. 4.2%). Conclusion: Immediately after implantation, the p48MW HPC had a more profound hemodynamic impact than the SVB; however, early complete occlusions were achieved in a greater proportion of lesions after implantation of the uncoated SVB.
Rescue of Pap-Mas in Systemic JIA Using Janus Kinase Inhibitors, Case Report and Systematic Review
Authors: Zekre Franck , Duncan Anita , Laurent Audrey , Tusseau Maud , Pescarmona Rémi , Collardeau-Frachon Sophie , Ohlmann Camille , Viel Sébastien , Reix Philippe , Benezech Sarah , Belot Alexandre
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) targeting interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β represent a steroid-sparing first-line therapy used in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). Recently, the occurrence of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) in sJIA patients was reported with early-onset and exposure to bDMARDs as potential risk factors. We report on a new case with longitudinal immunomonitoring successfully treated by Janus Kinase inhibitors (JAKi) and review past clinical descriptions of this new entity. Methods: We report one case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and macrophage activation syndrome (PAP-MAS) with longitudinal immunomonitoring. We then conducted a review of the literature of seven publications reporting 107 cases of PAP-MAS sJIA, and included the main characteristics and evolution under treatment. Results: Of the seven articles analyzed, the incidence of PAP-MAS among sJIA patients varied from 1.28% to 12.9%. We report here a single case among a cohort of 537 sJIA patients followed in the pediatric department of the Hospices Civils de Lyon over the last 15 years. This child presented with all clinical and immunological characteristics of PAP-MAS. After several lines of treatment, he benefited from JAKi and improved with respect to both systemic symptoms and lung disease. In the literature, strategies with monoclonal antibodies targeting either INF-γ or IL-1β/IL-18 have been tested with variable results. Orally taken JAKi presents the advantage of targeting multiple cytokines and avoiding parenteral injections of monoclonal antibodies that may contribute to the pathogenesis. Conclusions: JAKi represent a promising option in the treatment of lung disease associated with sJIA.
Association between Preoperative Hand Grip Strength and Postoperative Delirium after Cardiovascular Surgery: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Kotani Taichi , Ida Mitsuru , Inoue Satoki , Naito Yusuke , Kawaguchi Masahiko
Published: April 2023

The association of frailty with postoperative delirium has not been fully investigated in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether preoperative hand grip strength is associated with postoperative delirium. This retrospective study included patients aged >65 years who had undergone elective cardiovascular surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass at a Japanese university hospital between April 2020 and February 2022. We defined low hand grip strength as hand grip values of <275 n and <177 n for men and women, respectively. Postoperative delirium was assessed using the confusion assessment method during patients’ intensive care unit stay. The odds ratio of low hand grip strength for postoperative delirium was estimated using multiple logistic analysis, which was adjusted for prominent clinical factors. Ninety-five patients with a median age of 74 years were included in the final analysis, and 31.5% of them had low hand grip strength. Postoperative delirium occurred in 37% of patients, and the odds ratio of low preoperative hand grip strength for postoperative delirium was 4.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.57–13.2). Thirty-seven patients experienced postoperative delirium after cardiovascular surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass, and low preoperative hand grip strength was positively associated with its occurrence.
An Improved NSGA-II Based on Multi-Task Optimization for Multi-UAV Maritime Search and Rescue under Severe Weather
Authors: Ma Yue , Li Bo , Huang Wentao , Fan Qinqin
Published: April 2023

The international trade heavily relies on maritime transportation. Due to the vastness of the ocean, once an accident happens, fast maritime search and rescue (MSR) is a must, as it is of life-and-death matter. Using unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is an effective approach to completing complex MSR tasks, especially when the environment is dangerous and changeable. However, how to effectively plan paths for multi-UAVs under severe weather, e.g., to rescue the most urgent targets in the shortest time, is a challenging task. In this study, an improved NSGA-II based on multi-task optimization (INSGA-II-MTO) is proposed to plan paths for multi-UAVs in the MSR tasks. In the INSGA-II-MTO, a novel population initialization method is proposed to improve the diversity of an initial population. Further, two tasks are introduced during the execution of the search algorithm. Namely, one assistant task, which solves a simplified MSR problem through multi-task optimization, is implemented to provide necessary evolutional knowledge to a main task that solves an original MSR problem. The performance of the proposed INSGA-II-MTO is compared with other competitors in three MSR scenarios. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm performs best among the compared ones. It is observed that the INSGA-II-MTO can find a set of shorter total paths and handle the most urgent task in the shortest possible time. Therefore, the proposed method is an effective and promising approach to solving multi-UAVs MSR problems to reduce human causalities and property losses.
A Two-Stage Network Based on Transformer and Physical Model for Single Underwater Image Enhancement
Authors: Zhang Yuhao , Chen Dujing , Zhang Yanyan , Shen Meiling , Zhao Weiyu
Published: April 2023

The absorption and scattering properties of water can cause various distortions in underwater images, which limit the ability to investigate underwater resources. In this paper, we propose a two-stage network called WaterFormer to address this issue using deep learning and an underwater physical imaging model. The first stage of WaterFormer uses the Soft Reconstruction Network (SRN) to reconstruct underwater images based on the Jaffe–McGramery model, while the second stage uses the Hard Enhancement Network (HEN) to estimate the global residual between the original image and the reconstructed result to further enhance the images. To capture long dependencies between pixels, we designed the encoder and decoder of WaterFormer using the Transformer structure. Additionally, we propose the Locally Intended Multiple Layer Perceptron (LIMP) to help the network process local information more effectively, considering the significance of adjacent pixels in enhancing distorted underwater images. We also proposed the Channel-Wise Self-Attention module (CSA) to help the network learn more details of the distorted underwater images by considering the correlated and different distortions in RGB channels. To overcome the drawbacks of physical underwater image enhancement (UIE) methods, where extra errors are introduced when estimating multiple physical parameters separately, we proposed the Joint Parameter Estimation method (JPE). In this method, we integrated multiple parameters in the Jaffe–McGramery model into one joint parameter (JP) through a special mathematical transform, which allowed for physical reconstruction based on the joint parameter (JP). Our experimental results show that WaterFormer can effectively restore the color and texture details of underwater images in various underwater scenes with stable performance.
A Dedicated Mycosis Flask Increases the Likelihood of Identifying Candidemia Sepsis
Authors: Ahlström Magnus G. , Antsupova Valeria S. , Pedersen Michael , Johansen Helle Krogh , Hansen Dennis Schrøder , Knudsen Inge Jenny Dahl
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Candidemia is a severe condition associated with high mortality, and fungi are often not covered by empiric antimicrobial regimes for sepsis. Therefore, the shortest possible time to detection of yeast in the blood is of the essence. Materials and methods: We performed a cohort study of blood culture flasks drawn from patients aged 18 or older in the capital region of Denmark. In 2018 a blood cultures set consisted of two aerobic and two anaerobic flasks. This was changed in 2020 to two aerobic, one anaerobic, and one mycosis flask. We used time-to-event statistics to model time to positivity and compared 2018 with 2020; further, we stratified analyses on the blood culture system used (BacTAlert™ vs. BACTEC™) and high-risk vs. low-risk departments. Results: We included 175,416 blood culture sets and 107,077 unique patients. We found an absolute difference in the likelihood of identifying fungi in a blood culture set of 1.2 (95% CI: 0.72; 1.6) pr. 1.000 blood culture sets corresponding to the number needed to treat 853 (617; 1382). In high-risk departments, the absolute difference was profound, whereas it was negligible and statistically non-significant in low-risk departments 5.2 (95% CI: 3.4; 7.1) vs. 0.16 (−0.17; 0.48) pr. 1.000 blood culture sets. Conclusions: We found that including a mycosis flask in a blood culture set increases the likelihood of identifying candidemia. The effect was mainly seen in high-risk departments.
Intra- and Interrater Reliability of CT- versus MRI-Based Cochlear Duct Length Measurement in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Candidates and Its Impact on Personalized Electrode Array Selection
Authors: Thomas Jan Peter , Klein Hannah , Haubitz Imme , Dazert Stefan , Völter Christiane
Published: April 2023

Background: Radiological high-resolution computed tomography-based evaluation of cochlear implant candidates’ cochlear duct length (CDL) has become the method of choice for electrode array selection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if MRI-based data match CT-based data and if this impacts on electrode array choice. Methods: Participants were 39 children. CDL, length at two turns, diameters, and height of the cochlea were determined via CT and MRI by three raters using tablet-based otosurgical planning software. Personalized electrode array length, angular insertion depth (AID), intra- and interrater differences, and reliability were calculated. Results: Mean intrarater difference of CT- versus MRI-based CDL was 0.528 ± 0.483 mm without significant differences. Individual length at two turns differed between 28.0 mm and 36.6 mm. Intrarater reliability between CT versus MRI measurements was high (intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.929–0.938). Selection of the optimal electrode array based on CT and MRI matched in 90.1% of cases. Mean AID was 629.5° based on the CT and 634.6° based on the MRI; this is not a significant difference. ICC of the mean interrater reliability was 0.887 for the CT-based evaluation and 0.82 for the MRI-based evaluation. Conclusion: MRI-based CDL measurement shows a low intrarater difference and a high interrater reliability and is therefore suitable for personalized electrode array selection.
Protect or Compete? Evidence of Firms’ Innovation from Import Penetration
Authors: Hu Changjie , Liu Ming
Published: April 2023

This paper reassesses the long-debated relationship between market competition and firms’ innovation. While competition is traditionally measured at the industry level using historical data, our study utilizes two recently developed text-based measures of competitive threats which are forward-looking and constructed at the level of individual firms. We address the potential endogeneity concerns and provide causal inference using instrumental variables including import tariffs and trade-weighted exchange rates, along with the propensity score matching (PSM) of firms that experienced exogenous shock from import competition. Our results show that an increase in competition unambiguously promotes firms’ innovation in terms of both quality and quantity.
The Impact of Industrial Agglomeration on Urban Land Green Use Efficiency and Its Spatio-Temporal Pattern: Evidence from 283 Cities in China
Authors: Xu Binkai , Sun Yanming
Published: April 2023

Industrial agglomeration is one of the primary driving factors in city creation, and the improvement of urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) is an important part in green development. This study concentrates on the impact of industrial agglomeration on ULGUE in the process of urbanization. Based on the panel data of 283 cities in China from 2003 to 2019, this paper constructs a super efficiency SBM-DEA model including unexpected outputs to evaluate ULGUE. Using a spatial Durbin model, we examine the spatial spillover effects of manufacturing and productive services agglomeration on ULGUE. The results show the following: (1) There has been fluctuation over the study period, which can be classified into three stages, and ULGUE in China as a whole is on the rise. (2) Chinese ULGUE has increased greatly in the western and northeastern regions, changed massively in the eastern region, and stayed largely steady in the middle region. The degree of manufacturing agglomeration is further improved, exhibiting a feature resembling a ladder, with high concentrations in the southeast coastal region and low concentrations in the interior. Production service industry agglomeration intensity has declined, revealing a more dispersed spatial pattern. (3) The rise in local ULGUE will have a beneficial impact on the ULGUE of spatially correlated regions, according to ULGUE’s relatively strong spillover effect. (4) Manufacturing agglomerations can enhance the ULGUE in the neighborhood, but it is not obvious how this will impact the local regions. The agglomeration of production service industry can enhance the improvement of ULGUE in local and spatially correlated regions, but the direct effect is weak. (5) The integration of the manufacturing and productive service industry does not quite strengthen its stimulatory effects on the growth of ULGUE.
“Wanna Be Provoked”: Inner Peripheries Generators of Social Innovation in the Italian Apennine
Authors: Micelli Ezio , Ostanel Elena , Lazzarini Luca
Published: April 2023

The article examines the territorial conditions, actors, and processes that facilitate or hinder the emergence of social innovation in the inner peripheries. It investigates three social innovation initiatives taking place in the Italian Apennine through a discourse analysis of policy documents and a number of semi-structured interviews of project promoters and local actors. The research findings show that social innovation emerges as an act of territorial provocation practiced by a coalition of actors that weave strong ties with the local community. Provocation takes the form of an adaptive response of the local community to the dynamics of territorial marginalization, a reaction to tackle what we called the “wanna be” feeling, namely, a sense of constriction and frustration found in local inhabitants and linked to conditions of physical and social isolation, inertia, and a lack of future perspectives. This reaction has allowed them to shape new socio-institutional networks and structures that have catalyzed local communities’ capacity to mobilize particular resources or specific assets existing in places, improving their living conditions.
An Adjusted Landscape Ecological Security of Cultivated Land Evaluation Method Based on the Interaction between Cultivated Land and Surrounding Land Types
Authors: Wang Yifang , Cheng Linlin , Zheng Yang
Published: April 2023

Because the relationship between cultivated land and the surrounding land types is not taken into account, there existed a deviation in the assessment of cultivated landscape ecological security. A novel methodology assessing the cultivated landscape ecological security is presented in this study, in the grid scale adjusted cultivated landscape ecological security index by the cultivated land disturbance index and the surrounding environment index. This method was applied in Xintai City, Shandong Province. The results demonstrate that (1) between 1985 and 2015, there was a constant loss of 173.2 km2 cultivated land, the bulk of which was converted to building land, primarily on the outskirts of cities. (2) The landscape ecological security of cultivated land has decreased; the bulk of high-risk grids are located in central metropolitan areas and mining districts, and have a tendency to spread out over time. (3) We applied a three–dimensional model to generate a spatial combination of cultivated land and presented zoning suggestions for regional cultivated land use and management. This assessment technique reduces errors that may occur when relying solely on landscape features for cultivated ecological security evaluation. The evaluation’s results more accurately reflect the impact of human activity and urban growth, are more consistent with local features, and have a higher quality of reference value.
Oncological Outcomes of Segmentectomy versus Lobectomy in Clinical Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer up to Two Centimeters: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Righi Ilaria , Maiorca Sebastiano , Diotti Cristina , Bonitta Gianluca , Mendogni Paolo , Tosi Davide , Nosotti Mario , Rosso Lorenzo
Published: April 2023

Objective. In recent years, pulmonary segmentectomy has emerged as an alternative to lobectomy for the treatment of patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Considering the conflicting results reported in the literature, the oncological effectiveness of segmentectomy remains controversial. To provide new insight into oncological results, we reviewed the literature, including recent randomized trials. Methods. We performed a systematic review for surgical treatment of stage I NSCLC up to 2 cm using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database from 1990 to December 2022. Primary outcomes for pooled analysis were overall and disease-free survival; secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and 30-day mortality. Results. Eleven studies were considered for the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis included 3074 and 2278 patients who received lobectomy and segmentectomy, respectively. The estimated pooled hazard ratio showed a similar hazard for segmentectomy compared to lobectomy in terms of overall and disease-free survival. The restricted mean survival time difference between the two procedures was statistically and clinically not significant for overall and disease-free survival. Nevertheless, the overall survival hazard ratio was time-dependent: segmentectomy was at a disadvantage starting from 40 months after surgery. Six papers reported 30-day mortality: there were no events on 1766 procedures. The overall relative risk showed that the postoperative complication rate was higher in segmentectomy compared to lobectomy, without statistical significance. Conclusions. Our results suggest that segmentectomy might be a useful alternative to lobectomy for stage I NSCLC up to 2 cm. However, this appears to be time-dependent; in fact, the risk ratio for overall mortality becomes unfavorable for segmentectomy starting at 40 months after surgery. This last observation, together with some still undefined questions (solid/non-solid ratio, depth of the lesion, modest functional savings, etc.), leave room for further investigations on the real oncological effectiveness of segmentectomy.
Evolving Diagnostic and Management Advances in Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: de Oliveira Laterza Ribeiro Matheus , Correia Vinícius Machado , Herling de Oliveira Lucas Lentini , Soares Paulo Rogério , Scudeler Thiago Luis
Published: April 2023

Despite considerable improvement in diagnostic modalities and therapeutic options over the last few decades, the global burden of ischemic heart disease is steadily rising, remaining a major cause of death worldwide. Thus, new strategies are needed to lessen cardiovascular events. Researchers in different areas such as biotechnology and tissue engineering have developed novel therapeutic strategies such as stem cells, nanotechnology, and robotic surgery, among others (3D printing and drugs). In addition, advances in bioengineering have led to the emergence of new diagnostic and prognostic techniques, such as quantitative flow ratio (QFR), and biomarkers for atherosclerosis. In this review, we explore novel diagnostic invasive and noninvasive modalities that allow a more detailed characterization of coronary disease. We delve into new technological revascularization procedures and pharmacological agents that target several residual cardiovascular risks, including inflammatory, thrombotic, and metabolic pathways.
Thermodynamically-Consistent Modeling of Ferromagnetic Hysteresis
Authors: Giorgi Claudio , Morro Angelo
Published: April 2023

Models of ferromagnetic hysteresis are established by following a thermodynamic approach. The class of constitutive properties is required to obey the second law, expressed by the Clausius–Duhem inequality, and the Euclidean invariance. While the second law states that the entropy production is non-negative for every admissible thermodynamic process, here the entropy production is viewed as a non-negative constitutive function. In a three-dimensional setting, the magnetic field and the magnetization are represented by invariant vectors. Next, hysteretic properties are shown to require that the entropy production is needed in an appropriate form merely to account for different behavior in the loading and the unloading portions of the loops. In the special case of a one-dimensional setting, a detailed model is determined for the magnetization function, in terms of a given susceptibility function. Starting from different initial magnetized states, hysteresis cycles are obtained by solving a nonlinear ordinary differential system. Cyclic processes with large and small amplitudes are established for materials such as soft iron.