bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solitary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma of the Larynx and Secondary Laryngeal Involvement in Plasma Cell Myeloma: Single-Centre Retrospective Analysis and Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Szczepanek Elżbieta , Drozd-Sokołowska Joanna , Sokołowski Jacek , Rzepakowska Anna , Moskwa Arkadiusz , Pachla Jakub , Grzybowski Jakub , Woźnica Katarzyna , Niemczyk Kazimierz , Jamroziak Krzysztof
Published: July 2022

The involvement of the larynx in plasma cell myeloma (PCM) may manifest as solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx (sEMP-L) or as infiltration of the larynx during newly diagnosed or relapsed systemic disease with bone marrow involvement (plasma cell myeloma with laryngeal involvement, PCM-L). To increase knowledge about these rare conditions, we performed a retrospective analysis along with a comprehensive literature review of cases of sEMP-L or PCM-L. Six patients (two sEMP-L and four PCM-L) were identified in our tertiary laryngological centre from 2009 to 2021, constituting 0.88% of all malignant laryngeal tumours. The literature search yielded 187 cases, including 152 sEMP-L and 35 sPCM-L. A comparison of baseline characteristics between sEMP-L and PCM-L performed in the combined cohort of cases from literature review and retrospective analysis revealed that patients with sEMP-L were younger (56 vs. 64 years, p ≤ 0.001) and presented less commonly with thyroid or cricoid cartilage involvement (2.2% vs. 30.8%, p ≤ 0.001). The prognosis of sEMP-L was better than PCM-L (overall survival 86% vs. 55% at 5 years, p = 0.002). Analysis of potential factors that could influence progression-free survival (PFS) in the group of sEMP-L revealed that male sex and cartilage involvement negatively affected PFS in univariate analyses, while only cartilage involvement retained statistical significance in multivariate analysis (HR = 19.94, p = 0.024). In conclusion, PCM with laryngeal involvement is sporadic. Secondary involvement of the larynx during PCM might be more common than sEMP-L and is associated with worse survival. The involvement of cartilage adversely influences the outcome of sEMP-L.
Real versus Sham Manual Therapy in Addition to Therapeutic Exercise in the Treatment of Non-Specific Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Naranjo-Cinto Fermin , Cerón-Cordero Adriana-Imelda , Figueroa-Padilla Claudia , Galindo-Paz Dulce , Fernández-Carnero Samuel , Gallego-Izquierdo Tomás , Nuñez-Nagy Susana , Pecos-Martín Daniel
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate if manual therapy added to a therapeutic exercise program produced greater improvements than a sham manual therapy added to same exercise program in patients with non-specific shoulder pain. This was an evaluator-blinded randomized controlled trial. Forty-five subjects were randomly allocated into one of three groups: manual therapy (glenohumeral mobilization technique and rib-cage technique); thoracic sham manual therapy (glenohumeral mobilization technique and rib-cage sham technique); or sham manual therapy (sham glenohumeral mobilization technique and rib-cage sham technique). All groups also received a therapeutic exercise program. Pain intensity, disability and pain-free active shoulder range of motion were measured post treatment and at 4-week and 12-week follow-ups. Mixed-model analyses of variance and post hoc pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni corrections were constructed for the analysis of the outcome measures. All groups reported improved pain intensity, disability and pain-free active shoulder range of motion. However, there were no between-group differences in these outcome measures. The addition of the manual therapy techniques applied in the present study to a therapeutic exercise protocol did not seem to add benefits to the management of subjects with non-specific shoulder pain.
The Feasibility of Liver Biopsy for Undefined Nodules in Patients under Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Is Biopsy Really a Useful Tool?
Authors: Renzulli Matteo , Pecorelli Anna , Brandi Nicolò , Brocchi Stefano , Tovoli Francesco , Granito Alessandro , Carrafiello Gianpaolo , Ierardi Anna Maria , Golfieri Rita
Published: July 2022

Background: The aim of the present study is to determine the feasibility of biopsy for atypical liver nodules in patients under surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), assessing which factors influence the decision to perform it. Methods: A total of 128 atypical liver nodules in 108 patients under surveillance for HCC, who underwent CT between September 2018 and September 2019, were included. All the images were saved digitally (on CD-ROM) and the two most representative images in the arterial and delayed phases were selected for each lesion and inserted into a digital atlas (on PDF). Two experienced radiologists (Readers 1 and 2) reviewed both the CD-ROM and the PDF to define the feasibility of biopsy in both scenarios, specifying the reasons for the unfeasibility of biopsy. The intra-observer variability and inter-observer variability were assessed. Results: When reviewing the PDF, 76 (59.4%) and 68 (53.1%) nodules were deemed unfeasible for biopsy by the less experienced radiologist (Reader 1) and the more experienced radiologist (Reader 2), respectively (p = 0.604). When reviewing the entire CT study, both percentages decreased slightly (Reader 1 = 70/128 (54.7%); Reader 2 = 61/128 (47.6%); p = 0.591). The intra-reader agreement on the PDF was substantial (k = 0.648 (95% CI = 0.513–0.783)). The inter-reader agreement on the PDF was slight (k = 0.185 (95% CI = 0.021–0.348)) and moderate on the entire CT study (k = 0.424 (95% CI = 0.269–0.579)). When assessing the PDF, the nodule size (10–20 mm) and location in segments six and eight were negatively and positively associated with the feasibility of liver biopsy, respectively. When assessing the CD-ROM, only the nodule dimension was associated with the unfeasibility of liver biopsy. Conclusions: The unfeasibility of liver biopsy is mainly due to the small size of the lesions and their location.
MSProDiscuss™ Clinical Decision Support Tool for Identifying Multiple Sclerosis Progression
Authors: Ziemssen Tjalf , Vandercappellen Jo , Jordan Mondragon Valeria , Giovannoni Gavin
Published: July 2022

This article describes the rationale for the development of the MSProDiscuss™ clinical decision support (CDS) tool, its development, and insights into how it can help neurologists improve care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a progressive disease characterized by heterogeneous symptoms and variable disease course. There is growing consensus that MS exists on a continuum, with overlap between relapsing–remitting and secondary progressive phenotypes. Evidence demonstrates that neuroaxonal loss occurs from the outset, that progression can occur independent of relapse activity, and that continuous underlying pathological processes may not be reflected by inflammatory activity indicative of the patient’s immune response. Early intervention can benefit patients, and there is a need for a tool that assists physicians in rapidly identifying subtle signs of MS progression. MSProDiscuss, developed with physicians and patients, facilitates a structured approach to patient consultations. It analyzes multidimensional data via an algorithm to estimate the likelihood of progression (the MSProDiscuss score), the contribution of various symptoms, and the impact of symptoms on daily living, enabling a more personalized approach to treatment and disease management. Data from CDS tools such as MSProDiscuss offer new insights into disease course and facilitate informed decision-making and a holistic approach to MS patient care.
Functional Implications of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Expression in Adenomyosis, Potential Targets for Endocrinological Therapy
Authors: Sztachelska Maria , Ponikwicka-Tyszko Donata , Martínez-Rodrigo Lydia , Bernaczyk Piotr , Palak Ewelina , Półchłopek Weronika , Bielawski Tomasz , Wołczyński Sławomir
Published: July 2022

Adenomyosis is a common gynaecological disease associated with the presence of endometrial lesions in the uterine myometrium. Estrogens have been proven to be the crucial hormones driving the growth of adenomyosis. Little is known about the distinct mechanisms of progesterone action in adenomyosis. Hence, in this study, we decided to characterize the expression of all nuclear and membrane estrogen and progesterone receptors. Additionally, as a functional investigation, we monitored prolactin production and cell proliferation after estradiol and progesterone treatments. We confirmed the presence of all nuclear and membrane estrogen and progesterone receptors in adenomyotic lesions at gene and protein levels. The expression of membrane progesterone receptors α and β (mPRα, mPRβ) as well as estrogen receptor β (ERβ) was upregulated in adenomyosis compared to normal myometrium. Estradiol significantly increased adenomyotic cell proliferation. Progesterone and cAMP upregulated prolactin secretion in adenomyosis in the same pattern as in the normal endometrium. In the present study, we showed the functional link between estradiol action and adenomyotic cell proliferation, as well as progesterone and prolactin production. Our findings provide novel insights into the sex steroid receptor expression pattern and potential regulated pathways in adenomyosis, suggesting that all receptors play an important role in adenomyosis pathophysiology.
New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Acute Myocardial Infarction Is a Different Phenomenon than Other Pre-Existing Types of That Arrhythmia
Authors: Raczkowska-Golanko Monika , Młodziński Krzysztof , Raczak Grzegorz , Gruchała Marcin , Daniłowicz-Szymanowicz Ludmiła
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) could worsen the prognosis. Yet, there is no definitive answer to whether new-onset AF (NOAF) is a more aggravating diagnosis than other types of that arrhythmia. The purpose of our study was to compare in-hospital clinical course and outcomes of NOAF patients contrary to patients with other pre-existing types of AF. (2) Methods: AMI patients hospitalized in the high-volume cardiological center within 2017–2018 were included in the study. NOAF was noticed in 106 (11%) patients, 95 (10%) with an AF history and AF during AMI formed the AF group, 60 (6%) with an AF history but without AF during AMI constituted the Prior-AF group, and 693 (73%) patients were without an AF before and during AMI. Medical history, routinely monitored clinical parameters, and in-hospital outcomes were analyzed between the groups. (3) Results: NOAF patients, contrary to others, initially had the highest high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and glucose levels, and the lowest potassium concentration, with the worst profile of changes for that parameter within the first four days of hospitalization. NOAF patients had the highest rate of ST-elevated AMI (40%), the longest hospitalization (p < 0.001), and the highest in-hospital mortality (p < 0.001). Not NOAF, but other AF groups (AF and Prior-AF groups) were more burdened with the previous comorbidities. (4) Conclusions: NOAF could be a distinct phenomenon in AMI patients, identifying those with the worst clinical in-hospital course and outcomes as compared to other types of AF.
Ophiostomatales Associated with Mediterranean Pine Engraver, Orthotomicus erosus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in Dalmatia, Croatia
Authors: Kovač Marta , Rigling Daniel , Pernek Milan
Published: July 2022

Mediterranean pine engraver, Orthotomicus erosus was never considered as a significant pest in Croatia and did not appear in high population densities until 2017, when it reached outbreak level in Aleppo pine stands. The beetle was first detected in Marjan Forest Park, Split, and was soon recorded in other parts of the Dalmatian coast. Soon after the outbreak occurred, we observed that all of the attacked trees exhibit severe blue staining in the sapwood which indicated fungal infection caused by the Ophiostomatales group of fungi. This raised the need to investigate their relationship with O. erosus and the pine decline, and the main aim of this study was to isolate and identify them. Isolates were obtained from adult O. erosus beetles, their galleries, and blue-stained sapwood, and identified according to the morphological characteristics and DNA sequencing. A total of six Ophiostomatales (Ophiostoma ips, O. piceae, Graphilbum cf. rectangulosporium, O. floccosum, Sporothrix pseudoabietina and Ceratocystiopsis cf. minuta) were identified in the study. This is the first record of Ophiostomatales as organisms associated with the pest O. erosus and pine species in Croatia.
Effect of Melanization on Thallus Microstructure in the Lichen Lobaria pulmonaria
Authors: Daminova Amina G. , Rogov Alexey M. , Rassabina Anna E. , Beckett Richard P. , Minibayeva Farida V.
Published: July 2022

Lichens often grow in microhabitats where they experience severe abiotic stresses. Some species respond to high UV radiation by synthesizing dark brown melanic pigments in the upper cortex. However, unlike the melanized structures of non-lichenized fungi, the morphology of the melanic layer in lichens remains unstudied. Here, we analyzed the morphology, ultrastructure, and elemental composition of the melanized layer in UV-exposed thalli of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. Using light microscopy, we detected a pigmented layer sensitive to staining with 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, a precursor of eumelanin, in the upper cortex of melanized thalli. Analysis of cross-sections of melanized thalli using scanning electron microscopy revealed that melanin-like granules are deposited into the hyphal lumens. Melanized thalli also possessed thicker hyphal cell walls compared to pale thalli. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the elemental composition of the hyphal walls and extracted melanin indicated that the type of melanin synthesized by L. pulmonaria is eumelanin. Transmission electron microscopy was used to show that during melanization melanosome-like dark vesicles are transported to the cell surface and secreted into the cell walls of the fungal hyphae. Results from this study provide new insights into the effects of melanin synthesis on the microstructure of lichen thalli.
Pulmonary Conventional Type 1 Langerin-Expressing Dendritic Cells Play a Role in Impairing Early Protective Immune Response against Cryptococcus neoformans Infection in Mice
Authors: Guasconi Lorena , Beccacece Ignacio , Volpini Ximena , Burstein Verónica L. , Mena Cristian J. , Silvane Leonardo , Almeida Mariel A. , Musri Melina Mara , Cervi Laura , Chiapello Laura S.
Published: July 2022

Lung dendritic cells (DC) are powerful antigen-presenting cells constituted by various subpopulations that differ in terms of their function and origin and differentially regulate cell-mediated antifungal immunity. The lung is the primary target organ of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii infections, which makes it essential in the establishment of the first line of anti-cryptococcal defense. However, the lung-specific dynamics and function of DC subsets are poorly understood in cryptococcosis. In this study, we provide evidence for the in vivo function of a conventional langerin-expressing DC1 dendritic cell (LangDC1) population during the first week of intratracheal C. neoformans infection in mice. By using conditional depletion of LangDC1 after diphtheria toxin treatment of LangDTREGFP mice, we demonstrate that these animals better control the fungal infection and produce type 1 and 17 cytokines in the context of a type 2 immune response, favoring a predominance of iNOS over arginase-1 expression by pulmonary cells. Our results suggest that LangDC1 cells play a role in impairing immune response for the clearance of C. neoformans in the early stage of pulmonary infection.
Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Current Research and Future Perspectives
Authors: Franceschi Roberto
Published: July 2022

The prevalence of diabetes has tripled over the past 2 decades, and by 2050, it is estimated to affect 700 million adults [...]
CD24: A Novel Target for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Panagiotou Emmanouil , Syrigos Nikolaos K. , Charpidou Andriani , Kotteas Elias , Vathiotis Ioannis A.
Published: July 2022

Cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24) is a small, highly glycosylated cell adhesion protein that is normally expressed by immune as well as epithelial, neural, and muscle cells. Tumor CD24 expression has been linked with alterations in several oncogenic signaling pathways. In addition, the CD24/Siglec-10 interaction has been implicated in tumor immune evasion, inhibiting macrophage-mediated phagocytosis as well as natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. CD24 blockade has shown promising results in preclinical studies. Although there are limited data on efficacy, monoclonal antibodies against CD24 have demonstrated clinical safety and tolerability in two clinical trials. Other treatment modalities evaluated in the preclinical setting include antibody–drug conjugates and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. In this review, we summarize current evidence and future perspectives on CD24 as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.
Trust-Based Decision-Making in the Health Context Discriminates Biological Risk Profiles in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Jorge Helena , Duarte Isabel C. , Baptista Carla , Relvas Ana Paula , Castelo-Branco Miguel
Published: July 2022

Theoretical accounts on social decision-making under uncertainty postulate that individual risk preferences are context dependent. Generalization of models of decision-making to dyadic interactions in the personal health context remain to be experimentally addressed. In economic utility-based models, interactive behavioral games provide a framework to investigate probabilistic learning of sequential reinforcement. Here, we model an economic trust game in the context of a chronic disease (Diabetes Type 1) which involves iterated daily decisions in complex social contexts. Ninety-one patients performed experimental trust games in both economic and health settings and were characterized by a multiple self-report set of questionnaires. We found that although our groups can correctly infer pay-off contingencies, they behave differently because patients with a biological profile of preserved glycemic control show adaptive choice behavior both in economic and health domains. On the other hand, patients with a biological profile of loss of glycemic control presented a contrasting behavior, showing non-adaptive choices on both contexts. These results provide a direct translation from neuroeconomics to decision-making in the health domain and biological risk profiles, in a behavioral setting that requires difficult and self-consequential decisions with health impact. Our findings also provide a contextual generalization of mechanisms underlying individual decision-making under uncertainty.
Hydrogen Sulfide-to-Thiosulfate Ratio Associated with Blood Pressure Abnormalities in Pediatric CKD
Authors: Hsu Chien-Ning , Chen Wei-Ling , Liao Wei-Ting , Chang-Chien Guo-Ping , Lin Sufan , Tain You-Lin
Published: July 2022

Identifying children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment can prevent CVD events and mortality later in life. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signaling molecule participating in CVD and CKD. Thiosulfate is not only an oxidation product of H2S but is also a H2S donor. We examined whether H2S, thiosulfate, and their combined ratio have differential associations with CVD risk markers in 56 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years with CKD stages G1–G4. Up to two-thirds of CKD children showed higher BP load on 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), even in the early stage. CKD children with ABPM abnormalities had a higher H2S-to-thiosulfate ratio, while H2S-related parameters were not affected by the severity of CKD. The H2S-to-thiosulfate ratio was positively correlated with 24 h systolic BP (SBP), nighttime SBP, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT). After adjusting for confounders, H2S was negatively associated with LV mass, thiosulfate was positively associated with 24-DBP, and the H2S-to-thiosulfate ratio was positively correlated with nighttime SBP and cIMT. Our data demonstrate differential associations in circulating H2S, thiosulfate, and their combined ratio with CVD risk in childhood CKD. Further studies are required to determine whether targeting the H2S signaling pathway can develop novel therapeutic strategies against CVD in this high-risk population.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Myopericarditis: A Nuanced Story
Authors: Jacobs Mark , Kalogeropoulos Andreas P.
Published: July 2022

Vaccination has been a life-saving public health tool in the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated 19 [...]
Co-Jumps, Co-Jump Tests, and Volatility Forecasting: Monte Carlo and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Peng Weijia , Yao Chun
Published: July 2022

This study classifies jumps into idiosyncratic jumps and co-jumps to quantitatively identify systematic risk and idiosyncratic risk by utilizing high-frequency data. We found that systematic risk occurs more frequently and has larger magnitudes than the idiosyncratic risk in an individual asset, which indicates that volatilities from one sector are largely derived from the contagious effect of other sectors. We further investigated the importance of idiosyncratic jumps and co-jumps to predict the sector-level S&P500 exchange-traded fund (ETF) volatility. It was found that the predictive content of co-jumps is higher than that of idiosyncratic jumps, suggesting that systematic risk is more informative than idiosyncratic risk in volatility forecasting. Additionally, we carried out Monte Carlo experiments designed to examine the relative performances of the four co-jump tests. The findings indicate that the BLT test and the co-exceedance rule of the LM test outperform other tests, while the co-exceedance rule of the LM test has larger power and a smaller empirical size than that of the BLT test.
Machine Learning in IoT Networking and Communications
Authors: Jaber Mona
Published: July 2022

The fast and wide spread of Internet of Things (IoT) applications offers new opportunities in multiple domains but also presents new challenges [...]
Spatial Modelling and Prediction with the Spatio-Temporal Matrix: A Study on Predicting Future Settlement Growth
Authors: Wang Zhiyuan , Bachofer Felix , Koehler Jonas , Huth Juliane , Hoeser Thorsten , Marconcini Mattia , Esch Thomas , Kuenzer Claudia
Published: July 2022

In the past decades, various Earth observation-based time series products have emerged, which have enabled studies and analysis of global change processes. Besides their contribution to understanding past processes, time series datasets hold enormous potential for predictive modeling and thereby meet the demands of decision makers on future scenarios. In order to further exploit these data, a novel pixel-based approach has been introduced, which is the spatio-temporal matrix (STM). The approach integrates the historical characteristics of a specific land cover at a high temporal frequency in order to interpret the spatial and temporal information for the neighborhood of a given target pixel. The provided information can be exploited with common predictive models and algorithms. In this study, this approach was utilized and evaluated for the prediction of future urban/built-settlement growth. Random forest and multi-layer perceptron were employed for the prediction. The tests have been carried out with training strategies based on a one-year and a ten-year time span for the urban agglomerations of Surat (India), Ho-Chi-Minh City (Vietnam), and Abidjan (Ivory Coast). The slope, land use, exclusion, urban, transportation, hillshade (SLEUTH) model was selected as a baseline indicator for the performance evaluation. The statistical results from the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) demonstrate a good ability of the STM to facilitate the prediction of future settlement growth and its transferability to different cities, with area under the curve (AUC) values greater than 0.85. Compared with SLEUTH, the STM-based model achieved higher AUC in all of the test cases, while being independent of the additional datasets for the restricted and the preferential development areas.
Simulation and Prediction of Evolution of Specialized Villages Agglomeration Based on System Dynamics
Authors: Ma Yuling , Qiao Jiajun , Han Dong
Published: July 2022

Rural recession is a worldwide problem, and rural revitalization will increasingly become an important global issue. The development of specialized villages is the engine of rural revitalization, so the research on it is of great significance for guiding the sustainable development of the rural economy. In this study, by analyzing the evolutionary mechanism of the specialized villages agglomeration (SVA) from the perspective of system theory, we simulated and predicted the evolution of specialized villages agglomeration at the foot of the Taihang Mountains in Henan Province, China. We based this work on the general process of establishing a system dynamics model, and made the following conclusions: (1) According to the boundary suitability, dimensional consistency, structural evaluation, and sensitivity tests, we considered that the model could simulate the evolution of SVA at the foot of the Taihang Mountains and we explored the corresponding evolutionary mechanism; (2) The SVA effect was an “S-shaped” curve, which we divided into three periods: the formation period (0–8 years), the growth period (9–20 years), and the maturation period (21–30 years); (3) The contribution of capital to the agglomeration effect was most significant in the formation period; during the growth period, the contribution of laborers and technologies to the agglomeration effect increased rapidly; and in the maturation period, the contribution of laborers to the agglomeration effect gradually declined, whereas the contribution of technology and capital to the agglomeration effect still increased. The research results provide a theoretical reference for the sustainable development of specialized villages.
Flood Hazard Index Application in Arid Catchments: Case of the Taguenit Wadi Watershed, Lakhssas, Morocco
Authors: Ikirri Mustapha , Faik Farid , Echogdali Fatima Zahra , Antunes Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro , Abioui Mohamed , Abdelrahman Kamal , Fnais Mohammed S. , Wanaim Abderrahmane , Id-Belqas Mouna , Boutaleb Said , Sajinkumar Kochappi Sathyan , Quesada-Román Adolfo
Published: July 2022

During the last decade, climate change has generated extreme rainfall events triggering flash floods in short periods worldwide. The delimitation of flood zones by detailed mapping generally makes it possible to avoid human and economic losses, especially in regions at high risk of flooding. The Taguenit basin, located in southern Morocco, is a particular case. The mapping of the flood zones of this basin by the method of the Flood Hazard Index (FHI) in a GIS geographic information systems environment was based on the multi-criteria analysis, taking into consideration the seven parameters influencing these extreme phenomena, namely rainfall, slope, flow accumulation, drainage network density, distance from rivers, permeability, and land use. Average annual rainfall data for 37 years (1980 to 2016) was used in this study for floodplain mapping. A weight was calculated for each parameter using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The combination of the maps of the different parameters made it possible to draw up a final map classified into five risk intervals: very high, high, moderate, lower and very lower presenting, respectively, 8.04%, 20.63%, 31.47%, 15.36%, and 24.50% of the area of the basin. The reliability of this method was tested by a Flood susceptibility analysis. The results generated by the Flood Hazard Index (FHI) model are similar to those of previous historical events. Realistic and applicable solutions have been proposed to minimize the impact of these floods as much as possible.
Impacts of Land Use on Pools and Indices of Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in the Ghaggar Flood Plains of Arid India
Authors: Moharana Pravash Chandra , Meena Roshan Lal , Nogiya Mahaveer , Jena Roomesh Kumar , Sharma Gulshan Kumar , Sahoo Sonalika , Jha Prakash Kumar , Aditi Kumari , Vara Prasad P. V.
Published: July 2022

Changes in land use have several impacts on soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, both of which are important for soil stability and fertility. Initially, the study area was barren uncultivated desert land. During the late 1960s, the introduction of a canal in the arid region converted the barren deserts into cultivated land. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of various land use systems on temporal changes in soil organic C and N pools, and to evaluate the usefulness of different C and N management indices for suitable and sustainable land use systems under arid conditions. We quantified soil organic C and N pools in five different land uses of the Ghaggar flood plains, in hot, arid Rajasthan, India. The study focused on five land use systems: uncultivated, agroforestry, citrus orchard, rice–wheat, and forage crop. These land use systems are ≥20 years old. Our results showed that total organic carbon (TOC) was highest (7.20 g kg−1) in the forage crop and lowest in uncultivated land (3.10 g kg−1), and it decreased with depth. Across different land uses, the very labile carbon (VLC) fraction varied from 36.11 to 42.74% of TOC. In comparison to the uncultivated system, forage cropping, rice–wheat, citrus orchard, and agroforestry systems increased active carbon by 103%, 68.3%, 42.5%, and 30.6%, respectively. Changes in management and land use are more likely to affect the VLC. In soil under the forage crop, there was a considerable improvement in total N, labile N, and mineral N. Lability index of C (LIC), carbon management index (CMI), and TOC/clay indices were more sensitive to distinguishing land uses. The highest value of CMI was observed in the forage crop system followed by rice–wheat and agroforestry. In the long term, adoption of the forage crop increased soil quality in the hot, arid desert environment by enhancing CMI and VLC, which are the useful parameters for assessing the capacity of land use systems to promote soil quality.
Recovery and Resilience of the Inner Areas: Identifying Collective Policy Actions through PROMETHEE II
Authors: Ottomano Palmisano Giovanni , Sardaro Ruggiero , La Sala Piermichele
Published: July 2022

Inner areas are rural areas with low population density, distant from the main hotspots offering essential welfare services and endowed with significant environmental assets and cultural heritage. In Italy, their development is at the core of the national strategy for inner areas. Specific documents and program agreements were issued for each inner area and summarized the intervention themes and projects to implement. However, when the inner areas are considered within a regional territorial ‘matrix’, further collective policy actions have to be identified, through comparison and in-depth analysis of their features and influence on development. Therefore, this research aims to identify and analyse the development needs and potentialities of the inner areas, for strengthening the national strategy and improving their recovery and resilience through collective policy actions. The Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding (MCDA) method PROMETHEE II was applied as research methodology to four inner areas in Puglia region (southern Italy), using 43 indicators organized into seven thematic dimensions and setting specific parameters. The results enabled to delineate the overall development score of the four inner areas, and the profile of each inner area based on every indicator and dimension. By analysing this profile, key thematic dimensions where to direct collective policy actions were identified, related mainly to contrast with the depopulation by improving specific essential services (e.g., digitalization, health, education) and to foster the development of agriculture, tourism, and cultural heritage. This research can be considered a first step for future broader studies, to guide the process of policy making for the recovery and resilience of European and Italian inner areas with a multi-perspective approach.
Heritage Education as a Basis for Sustainable Development. The Case of Trujillo, Monfragüe National Park and Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark (Extremadura, Spain)
Authors: Guillén-Peñafiel Rebeca , Hernández-Carretero Ana María , Sánchez-Martín José-Manuel
Published: July 2022

Tourist activity offers numerous possibilities for socioeconomic growth while promoting the dissemination, recognition, and appreciation of heritage. Nevertheless, tourism based on a mercantilist approach, oriented mainly towards the maximization of economic benefits and the massive attraction of visitors, can pose a threat to the conservation and integrity of heritage assets. In this panorama of vulnerability, heritage education stands as a primary strategy to resolve the tensions between heritage and tourism. Based on this premise, research aimed at stimulating tourism activity committed to education and sustainability is presented. Said study is framed in three counties of the region of Extremadura, selected for being great centers of tourist attraction: the Monfragüe National Park, the Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark, and the monumental city of Trujillo. The results reveal that introducing educational principles is decisive in improving the value and competitiveness of tourist destinations and contributing to regional development. Despite this, the approaches of heritage education are not yet sufficiently integrated into tourism plans, which distances the territories from sustainability.
Landscape Impacts on Ecosystem Service Values Using the Image Fusion Approach
Authors: Wang Shuangao , Padmanaban Rajchandar , Shamsudeen Mohamed , Campos Felipe S. , Cabral Pedro
Published: July 2022

The landscape is a complex mosaic of physical and biological patches with infrastructures, cultivable lands, protected ecosystems, water bodies, and many other landforms. Varying land-use changes are vulnerable to the world and need the mitigation and management of landforms to achieve sustainable development, which without proper oversight, may lead to habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation. In this study, we quantify the land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes using downscaled satellite imagery and assess their effects on ecosystem services (ES) and economic values in Ningxia Province, China. Various landscape metrics are derived to study the pattern and spatial configuration over 15 years (2005–2020), in which the landscapes are evolving. The impact of LULC change in various ES is analyzed using ecosystem service values (ESV) and validated with a sensitivity index. Finally, the level of urban sprawl (US) due to overpopulation is established using Renyi’s entropy. Using Landsat 8′s Operational Land Imager (OLI) datasets, we downscaled the MODIS data of 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 to prepare the LULC map through a rotation forest algorithm. Results demonstrate that water bodies, woodlands, and built-up landscapes increased in their spatial distribution over time and that there was a decrease in farmlands. Results further suggest that the connectivity and uniformity of the landscape pattern improved in the later period due to several plans formulated by the government with a slight improvement in landscape diversity. Overall ESV get improved, while LULC classes such as farmland and water bodies have decreased and increased ESV, respectively, and a sensitivity analysis is used to test the reliability of ESV on LULC classes. The level of US is 0.91 in terms of Renyi’s entropy, which reveals the presence of a dispersion of settlements in urban fringes. The simulated US for 2025 shows urbanization is more severe over a prolonged time and finally the impacts of the US in ESV are analyzed. Using an interdisciplinary approach, several recommendations are formulated to maintain the ESV despite rapid LULC changes and to achieve sustainable development globally.
Enhancement of Deep Drilling for Stainless Steels by Nano-Lubricant through Twist Drill Bits
Authors: Hoang Tien-Dat , Mai Thu-Ha , Nguyen Van-Du
Published: July 2022

This paper represents a new lubricant method which is able to one-stroke drill deep holes with a length-to-diameter of 8, on the AISI SUS 304 stainless steel. By adding graphene nanosheet into typical soluble emulsion and then mixing with water, a nano fluid can be made. The results revealed that using nanofluid can provide a reduction of 4.4-fold of the drilling torque, and thus expand the tool life as many as 20 times, compared with using typical emulsion lubricant. The proper set of cutting parameters was found by using Taguchi L9 experiments as 550 rpm spindle speed and 0.05 mm/rev. The results can be expanded to apply in other deep drilling of hard-to-cut material, using inexpensive devices and avoiding peck-drilling. The proposed lubricant can also be promissing for other machining operations.
Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch: Computational Study
Authors: Elaissi Samira , Trabelsi Amira , Alkallas Fatemah , Alrebdi Tahani , Charrada Kamel
Published: July 2022

In this research, we studied the performance analysis of inductively coupled radiofrequency plasma “RF-ICP” torch used in multi-material processing. A 2D numerical model built with COMSOL Multiphysics was used to study the discharge behavior and evaluate the overall efficiency transmitted into the plasma system. The temperature and velocity flow of the plasma were investigated. The numerical results are consistent with previous experimental studies. The temperature and velocity profiles are represented under a wide range of RF power and for different sheath gas flow rates. With increasing power, the radial peak temperature typically shifts towards the wall. The resistance of the torch rises whereas the inductance diminishes with increasing RF power. The overall dependency of the coupling efficiency to the RF power is also estimated. The stabilization of the plasma flow dependency to the sheath swirl flow was investigated. The incorporation of Helium (0.02%) into an Argon gas was established to minimize the energy lost in the sidewall. The number and spacing of induction coil numbers affects the temperature and flow field distribution. A valuable approach to designing and optimizing the induction plasma system is presented in the proposed study. The obtained results are fundamental to specify ICP torch design criteria needed for multi-material processing.
Comment on Kierlik et al. Application of Mössbauer Spectroscopy for Identification of Iron-Containing Components in Upper Silesian Topsoil Being under Industrial Anthropopressure. Materials 2020, 13, 5206
Authors: Nayak Pranaba K.
Published: July 2022

Kierlik et al. recently reported their study in this journal on the application of Mössbauer spectroscopy in identifying the iron-containing components in Upper Silesian topsoil as being under industrial anthropopressure. While the presented work is an excellent example of characterizing topsoil, a significant part of the study involving iron-bearing samples using 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is erroneous. In the spectral fitting routine for the obtained Mössbauer spectra of the sample IIA (Figure 2; Table 3), the authors have erroneously fitted only a single sextet for magnetite, which is unacceptable. The line width obtained by them is also incorrectly mentioned in Figure 2, as evident from fitting D1 and D2 doublets as well as of magnetite tetrahedral and octahedral sites, making the relative abundances of individual phases meaningless. The inaccurate line width makes the authors fit the inadequate number of doublets necessary for the iron-bearing phases present in these samples, resulting in incorrect relative abundance for the other phases found in the materials, making the subsequent discussion not much useful.
Medical Adhesives and Their Role in Laparoscopic Surgery—A Review of Literature
Authors: Mazur Maciej , Zakrzewski Wojciech , Szymonowicz Maria , Rybak Zbigniew
Published: July 2022

Laparoscopic surgery is undergoing rapid development. Replacing the traditional method of joining cut tissues with sutures or staples could greatly simplify and speed up laparoscopic procedures. This alternative could undoubtedly be adhesives. For decades, scientists have been working on a material to bond tissues together to create the best possible conditions for tissue regeneration. The results of research on tissue adhesives achieved over the past years show comparable treatment effects to traditional methods. Tissue adhesives are a good alternative to surgical sutures in wound closure. This article is a review of the most important groups of tissue adhesives including their properties and possible applications. Recent reports on the development of biological adhesives are also discussed.
Experimental Research on Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of Diffusion-Bonded Titanium Alloy Laminates with Preset Unbonded Areas
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Shutian
Published: July 2022

This paper aimed to study the fatigue crack growth behavior of diffusion-bonded titanium alloy laminates (DB-TAL) with preset unbonded areas using an experimental method to understand the toughening mechanisms of presetting unbonded areas in DB-TAL. For two series of specimens of DB-TAL with preset unbonded areas with an open hole, which have a pre-notch at the open hole edge, fatigue experiments under tension–tension cyclic loading were conducted. The fatigue crack growth process, the crack growth rate, and the stress intensity factor on the crack front were analyzed. The results showed that the preset unbonded area leads the crack away from the stress concentration zone and slows down the crack growth rate. Therefore, the preset unbonded area significantly improved the fracture property of DB-TAL.
Effect of Magnetic Stirring on Microstructures and Properties of Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y Alloy
Authors: Zhang Desheng , Yang Hongying , Zhang Qin
Published: July 2022

The microstructure of alloys is an important factor that affects their application. In this work, the Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y alloys were prepared by the permanent magnet stirring method at different rates. The secondary dendrite arm spacing, dendritic segregation, density, microhardness, electrical resistivity, and sulfuration corrosion resistance were analyzed to investigate the effects of different rotation speeds on the microstructures and properties of the Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y alloy. The results showed that the primary dendrite was refined and the secondary dendrite arm spacing decreased with the increase in the stirring rate of the permanent magnets. The Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y alloys prepared with a 900 r/min stirring rate had the largest microhardness, relatively high density, and the best sulfuration corrosion resistance. However, the stirring rate had little effect on the electrical resistivity of the Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y alloys. To sum up, the Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y alloy had the best comprehensive properties when the permanent magnet stirring rate was 900 r/min, including the most refined dendrites, relatively high density, the largest microhardness, and the best sulfuration corrosion resistance. The study of the effects of permanent magnet stirring speed on the microstructures and properties of the Ag–1.5Cu–1.0Y alloy provides an experimental basis for future alloy casting optimization and property improvement of silver-based alloys.
Review on Torque Distribution Scheme of Four-Wheel In-Wheel Motor Electric Vehicle
Authors: He Shuwen , Fan Xiaobin , Wang Quanwei , Chen Xinbo , Zhu Shuaiwei
Published: July 2022

In-wheel motor electric vehicles have the advantages of independently controllable four-wheel torque, high energy utilization rate, and fast motor response speed, which greatly reduces the curb weight of the vehicle and simplifies the structure of the vehicle, making it an expert at home and abroad research hotspots. However, the in-wheel motor independently drives the electric vehicle. The in-wheel motor directly drives the vehicle, and the motion states of each wheel are independent of each other; that is, each wheel can be independently driven by wire control, which puts forward higher requirements for the torque distribution control of the entire vehicle. Starting from the driving form of the car, this paper focuses on the design of the torque distribution scheme of the in-wheel motor by experts and scholars in the past, such as the use of genetic algorithm, BP neural network, particle swarm algorithm, and fuzzy control algorithm to distribute the torque of the in-wheel motor, and the research on vehicle economy and stability under torque distribution optimization is reviewed. The future development direction of in-wheel motor torque distribution is prospected.
Dynamic Response and Synchronizing Characteristic for the Dual-Motor Driving System in Non-Inertial System
Authors: Xie Zhengqiu , Shu Ruizhi , Huang Jin , Fu Benyuan , Zou Zheng , Tan Rulong
Published: July 2022

As one of the typical propulsion systems of the new-energy vehicles (NEVs), the dual-motor driving system (DMDS) is installed and fixed on the bodywork and moves together with the bodywork in space, that is, the DMDS works in non-inertial systems. The previous researches on the DMDS are based on the assumption that the bodywork is stationary. In fact, since the DMDS moves with the bodywork, besides its own excitation forces, it is inevitably affected by the additional inertial terms (AITs) caused by the change in the operating state of the NEVs. In order to investigate the dynamic response and synchronizing characteristic of the DMDS under different motion forms of NEVs, the dynamic model of the DMDS in a non-inertial system is established, considering the permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), time-varying meshing stiffness and transmission error of gears. Subsequently, the expressions of the AITs are deduced under different non-inertial conditions. The translational motion and circular motion of the vehicle are selected to analyze the dynamic response and synchronizing characteristics of the DMDS in a non-inertial system. The results show that the acceleration has a significant influence on the displacement response of gears, torque and speed of PMSMs, but the torque synchronization and speed synchronization between PMSMs are minimally influenced by both the acceleration and the AITs. Meanwhile, the AITs that affect the displacement response are analyzed and quantified.