bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of modified systemic inflammation score for postoperative unplanned ICU admission in patients with NSCLC
Authors: Wang Zhulin , Zhang Hua , Huang Chunyao , Li Kaiyuan , Luo Wenqing , Zhang Guoqing , Li Xiangnan
Published: August 2022

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the modified systemic inflammation score (mSIS) in postoperative unplanned admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

The clinical data of 1,321 patients with NSCLC treated with thoracic surgery in our hospital from August 2019 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The preoperative mSIS, which takes into account the serum albumin (ALB) level and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), was recorded as 0, 1 or 2 and then was used to identify high-risk patients with unplanned admission to the ICU. The independent risk factors for unplanned admission to the ICU in patients with NSCLC after surgery were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 1,321 patients, including 549 (41.6%) males and 772 (58.4%) females, were included. The median age was 57 years (range 16–95 years). The incidence of unplanned admission to the ICU in patients with mSIS = 2 was significantly higher than that in those with mSIS = 0 and mSIS = 1. The multivariate analysis showed that an mSIS of 2 (OR = 3.728; P = 0.004; 95% CI, 1.520–9.143), an alcohol consumption history (OR = 2.791, P = 0.011; 95% CI, 1.262–6.171), intraoperative infusion volume (OR = 1.001, P = 0.021; 95% CI, 1.000–1.001) and preoperative underlying diseases (OR = 3. 57, P = 0.004; 95% CI, 1.497–8.552) were independent risk factors for unplanned admission to the ICU after lung cancer surgery. In addition, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the C-statistic value was 0.799 (95% CI: 0.726∼0.872, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The mSIS scoring system can be used as a simplified and effective predictive tool for unplanned ICU admission in patients with NSCLC.
Case report: Thromboembolic heartworm induced lower limb necrosis in a dog
Authors: Taweethavonsawat Piyanan , Rattanapinyopituk Kasem , Tachampa Kittipong , Kiertkrittikhoon Srireepong , Jitsamai Wanarit , Klomkleaw Wuthichai , Choisunirachon Nan , Komin Kiatpichet
Published: August 2022

A 9-year-old spayed female boxer suffered from lameness in both hindlimbs with a perforated paw wound. Additionally, a linear, worm-like creature was penetrating out from the wound. On examination, the dog was emaciated and infected with heartworms, detected through a fresh blood smear, echocardiography, and transabdominal ultrasonography. Adult heartworms were detected at the right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), and pulmonary artery (PA), including the distal abdominal aorta, external iliac, and femoral arteries. During the surgery, adults heartworms were removed from both the heart (n= 8) and the femoral arteries (n= 5). Unfortunately, not all heartworms could be removed from these locations due to the extent of the heartworm infection. The opened, ischemic wounds in the distal limbs progressively expanded and the dog subsequently died, possibly due to caval syndrome complications and septicemia. The necropsy showed no evidence of an atrial septal defect, and a total of 25 adult heartworms were collected from the perforated paw, heart, pulmonary, and femoral arteries. All worms collected during the necropsy process were molecularly confirmed to beDirofilaria immitis.
Role of Rotifers in Betanodavirus Transmission to European Sea Bass Larvae
Authors: Vázquez-Salgado Lucia , Pascoli Francesco , Marsella Andrea , Biasini Lorena , Buratin Alessandra , Pretto Tobia , Abbadi Miriam , Melchiotti Erica , Bandín Isabel , Toffan Anna
Published: August 2022

Marine invertebrates such as rotifers or Artemia, frequently used for fish larvae feeding, can be a potential source of pathogens. It has been demonstrated that Artemia can act as a nervous necrosis virus (NNV)-vector to Senegalese sole larvae. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to clarify the role of rotifers in NNV transmission to sea bass larvae following an oral challenge. Our results showed that sea bass larvae fed on a single dose of rotifers retaining NNV displayed clinical signs, mortality, and viral replication similar to the immersion challenge, although the course of the infection was slightly different between the two infection routes. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that rotifers can internalize NNV particles due to their filtering nature and maintain virus viability since viral particles were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and cell culture within the rotifer body. However, viral quantification data suggested that rotifers are not permissive to NNV replication. In conclusion, this research demonstrated NNV horizontal transmission through rotifers to sea bass larvae, highlighting the importance of establishing strict routine controls on live food to prevent the introduction of potential pathogens to hatcheries.
Non-electrocardiography- and electrocardiography-gated computed tomography angiography for the evaluation of feline coronary arteries
Authors: Kim Junyoung , Kim Dae-Hyun , Kim Kitae , Oh Dayoung , Yoon Junghee
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Few studies have directly compared the clinical feasibility of electrocardiography-gated and non-electrocardiography-gated multidetector computed tomography for evaluating coronary arteries in veterinary medicine. We aimed to characterize and visualize feline coronary arteries using these two imaging modalities. We hypothesed that ECG-gated MDCT is superior to or advantageous to the non-ECG gated.

Methods

This prospective, controlled, comparative pilot study examined six client-owned cats (five clinically normal and one with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) using non-electrocardiography-gated and retrospective electrocardiography-gated scans. Optimal non-electrocardiography scan timing or electrocardiography-gated R-R reconstruction interval for coronary artery visualization was determined. The degree of opacification and sharpness of proximal coronary branches was subjectively graded; coronary dominance, left coronary artery branching types, and the diameter and length of coronary artery branches were also assessed.

Results

Non-electrocardiography-gated images provided the least information on the bilateral coronary artery ostium and proximal segments, while electrocardiography-gated images clarified the detailed course of the main coronary branches at diastole in all cats. The degree of opacification and sharpness of the coronary arteries was subjectively evaluated as good/excellent in all cats. Coronary dominance (left: four; right: two) and left coronary artery branching types (three different patterns, two additional tortuous branches) varied. Body weight and sex were not significantly associated with coronary artery length or diameter. Vertebral heart score positively correlated with the right coronary artery and negatively correlated with the left main coronary artery.

Clinical significance

Electrocardiography-gated multidetector computed tomography provides images with adequate resolution to identify the anatomy of feline coronary arteries. Detailed morphological knowledge of feline coronary vessels will enable novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods in veterinary medicine.
Determinants of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Service Uptake Among Adult Sub-Saharan Africans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sambou Muhammed Lamin , Dai Juncheng , Zhao Xiaoyu , Hong Tongtong , Basnet Til Bahadur , Marley Gifty , Sambou Alima , Fadoua El Hafa , Naveed Muhammad
Published: August 2022

Objective: To examine the major determinants of VCT service uptake among adults in SSA.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched to identify eligible English language publications. Reporting of the study selection procedure was done according to PRISMA and the selected articles were also critically appraised.

Results: We found 8 significant determinants of VCT uptake among adults in SSA, such as less physical access [OR (Odds ratio): 0.77 (95% CI (Confidence interval): 0.62–0.96), p < 0.01], older age [OR: 1.36 (95% CI: 1.08–1.73), p < 0.01], higher education level [OR: 1.60 (95% CI: 1.24–2.05), p < 0.01], high knowledge of HIV and VCT awareness [OR: 1.40 (95% CI: 1.03–1.90), p < 0.01], unprotected sexual practices [OR: 1.75 (95% CI: 1.18–2.58), p < 0.01], discussion on HIV among partners and others [OR: 1.76 (95% CI: 1.10–2.81), p < 0.01], other STIs [OR: 1.40 (95% CI: 1.00–1.98), p < 0.01], and divorced/separated [OR: 1.39 (95% CI: 1.12–1.72), p < 0.01].

Conclusion: This study showed that 8 determinants were significantly associated with VCT service uptake in SSA. Thus, HIV interventions and policy initiatives should be tailored to these determinants to ensure scale-up of VCT service uptake in SSA.
Trójjęzyczność ukraińsko-rosyjsko-polska uczniów szkół lwowskich z polskim językiem nauczania.
Authors: Levchuk Paweł
Published: August 2022

This paper discusses the situation of trilingualism of students at Lviv
schools with Polish as the language of instruction. Earlier linguistic studies
paid no attention to the individuals of non-Polish descent who attended such
schools. Part one of this paper presents the profi le of the examined group, which
comprised, apart from persons of Polish descent, individuals of non-Polish
descent, for whom Polish is a foreign language. The next part discusses the
results of sociolinguistic surveys concerning the motivation for learning Polish
and the level of command of the languages used by the respondents. It also
presents preferences as regards the use of media and non-verbal communication.
The fi nal part describes the interviewees’ attitude to the languages as well as
to Poland and Ukraine. The studies were conducted using earlier research
concepts regarding Polish–foreign language bilingualism by Ewa Lipińska,
Władysław Miodunka, Marzena Błasiak, and Pavel Levchuk. In the description
of the private-sphere language choice, William Mackey’s method was applied.
Wyrażenie młode wilki we współczesnym języku polskim
Authors: Połowniak-Wawrzonek Dorota
Published: August 2022

The idiom młode wilki (young wolves), with an additional meaning ‘young,
entrepreneurial, go-getting people, who climb the career ladder fast, are
extremely successful in a given fi eld’ exists in the contemporary Polish language.
The meaning of this expression reveals the following semes that are signifi cant
for the stereotype of wolf: ‘predacious’, ‘aggressive’, ‘hostile’, ‘distrustful’,
‘wild’, ‘dangerous for a human being’. Such a meaning of this idiom has been
established under the infl uence of a fi lm directed by J. Żamojda and the song
titled Obława (Hunt) by Jacek Kaczmarski although the impact of the fi lm seems
to be predominant here. In the contemporary Polish texts, the expression młode
wilki can be found in both standard and modifi ed forms: these are usually
innovations with additions, cf. e.g. młode wilki polskiego kina (young wolves
of the Polish cinematography), młode wilki obozu władzy (young wolves of the
ruling camp), and młode wilki biznesu (young wolves of business).
Towarzystwo Kultury Języka – historia i współczesność
Authors: Porayski-Pomsta Józef
Published: August 2022

The paper Towarzystwo Kultury Języka (Society for Language Culture):
the past and the present is a brief recollection of the history of Towarzystwo
Poprawności Języka Polskiego (Society for the Proper Use of the Polish
Language) and Towarzystwo Krzewienia Poprawności i Kultury Języka (Society
for the Propagation of the Proper Use and Culture of the Polish Language),
scientifi c societies operating in the period 1932–1939, the successor of which is
Towarzystwo Kultury Języka (Society for Language Culture). It reminds also of
the directions of the operation of TKJ and its accomplishments, with a particular
focus on the works concerned with the implementation of the project entitled
„Dialog pokoleń” (Dialogue of generations) and cooperation with the local
governments of Mazovia and Podlasie poviats, cities and towns.
Rozwój językoznawstwa polonistycznego w minionym stuleciu. Badania polszczyzny krajowej wspólnoty komunikacyjnej
Authors: Dubisz Stanisław
Published: August 2022

The history of Polish linguistics of the last century should be analysed in three
periods corresponding to the development stages of the Polish language: interwar
period (1918–1939), second half of the 20th c. (1945–1990), contemporariness
(since 1990), excluding the period of the Second World War and occupation
(1939–1945), when there were no scientifi c publications in this fi eld. Polish
linguistics has developed progressively, gradually achieving the status of an
autonomous sub-discipline within Polish philology and developing the methods
and instruments for a comprehensive analysis of the status of Polish, as regards
both synchrony and diachrony.
Zapomniane rozstrzygnięcia normatywne Walentego Szylarskiego
Authors: Decyk-Zięba Wanda
Published: August 2022

Walenty Szylarski is the author of two Polish grammar books, one in the form
of manuscript of 1767 and the other one published in Lviv in 1770. The subject
matter of the analysis is fi ve normative resolutions proposed by Szylarski. They
concerned: 1) the use of a diacritic over a, 2) the position of ą in the alphabet;
3) the spelling of j before a vowel; 4) the nominative and accusative cases of
singular neuter nouns ending with -ę; 5) the instrumental and locative cases
of singular and instrumental case of plural masculine and neuter adjectives.
Szylarski’s suggestions concerning orthography had two basic causes: one was
the lack of standardised, generally accepted rules of o rthography (fl uctuations in
the use of endings), the other was the incompatibility of the spelling convention
and the properties of language in use (j, -ę in the fi nal position, position of ą in
the alphabet, use of a diacritic over the conjunction a). Some of the orthographic
proposals were noticed, while others were not.
Struktura tematyczna zapożyczeń czasownikowych wychodzących z użycia w dobie nowopolskiej
Authors: Kwapień Ewelina
Published: August 2022

The subject matter of this paper is the thematic structure of the verbal
borrowings going out of use in the New Polish period. An extensive material (of
760 positions) was collected based on SJPD (Doroszewski’s Dictionary of Polish)
and encompasses lexical units designated with chronological labels. The foreign
origin of the words was verifi ed in dictionaries of foreign words. The text presents
the quantitative and qualitative arrangement of lexical and semantic fi elds. The
research has shown that nearly a half of the analysed material, i.e. the borrowed
verbs going out of use, belonged to the fi eld «human being in a society», and
primarily to the following sub-fi elds: ‹interpersonal relationships› and ‹social
relationships›.
Tematyczny podział zapożyczeń leksykalnych występujących w artykułach prasowych poświęconych zmianom klimatu
Authors: Wojtyńska-Nowotka Milena
Published: August 2022

This paper presents an analysis of the borrowed lexis used in press articles
concerned with climate change. The aim of the research was to describe the
thematic structure of foreign words, which refl ects the way in which global
warming is perceived by the contemporary human being. The results of the
conducted analysis have demonstrated that the greatest share belonged to the
vocabulary related to the functioning of the human being in the society. The
sphere related to the world of animate and inanimate nature was ranked second.
O jeszcze i już w tekstach podręczników do nauczania języka polskiego jako obcego na poziomach A1 i A2.
Authors: Piasecka Marta
Published: August 2022

This paper presents an analysis of sentences with language units jeszcze
(yet, still) and już (already, yet), contained in textbooks for teaching Polish as
a foreign language at levels A1 and A2. The aim of the analysis was to distinguish
the meanings of these units. At the lowest levels of command of Polish, analogy
particles jeszcze and już and temporal exponents jeszcze and już are the most
common units. This paper also proposes preliminary forms of defi nitions adapted
to the pre-intermediate level of command of Polish.
The Use of Agro-Industrial Waste Rich in Omega-3 PUFA during the Weaning Stress Improves the Gut Health of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Marin Daniela Eliza , Anghel Andrei Cristian , Bulgaru Cristina Valeria , Grosu Iulian , Pistol Gina Cecilia , Cismileanu Ana Elena , Taranu Ionelia
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: The weaning period is a very important stage in the pig life, as during weaning, the animals are very susceptible to pathogens and develop postweaning diarrhoea. The aim of our study was to counteract weaning stress and to improve piglets’ gut health by using a nutritional intervention consisting of a mix of agro-industrial wastes (grapeseed, flaxseed and sea blackthorn meals) rich in omega-3 PUFA. (2) Methods: Twelve cross-bred TOPIG hybrid piglets with an average body weight of 11.25 kg were randomly distributed to one of the two experimental groups: a control group fed basic corn soybean diet (control diet) and an experimental group fed a diet with a 10% mixture of grapeseed, flaxseed and sea buckthorn meals in a ratio of 3:4:1 (GFS diet). (3) Results: the GFS diet had no effect on the performance, biochemical parameters or the total antibody synthesis. GFS diet was able to significantly reduce the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha and to significantly increases the expression of junction proteins (occludin, claudin 4, claudin 7 and extracellular protein matrix) at the gene or protein level as compared with control. The presence of GFS in the diet increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species in the colonic content as well as the concentration of propionic and butyric acids. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, our results showed that agro-industrial wastes rich in omega-3 PUFA can be used as an ecological, environmentally friendly nutritional intervention for improving the negative effects associated with the weaning stress.
Non-Cognitive Skills and Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Performance: Evidence from Chinese Family Panel Studies
Authors: Zhang Shasha , Zhang Huaquan , Sargani Ghulam Raza , Liu Qian , Tang Jin , Zheng Xungang
Published: August 2022

Improving the entrepreneurial performance of farmers is conducive to increasing their income, reducing poverty, and securing livelihoods. In the quest for sustainable livelihoods, non-cognitive skills are becoming increasingly significant. Based on data from the 2018 Chinese Family Panel Study, this paper uses the ‘Big Five’ personality traits and a cross-sectional regression model to construct an indicator system to analyze farmers’ non-cognitive skills empirically and determine how these skills affect entrepreneurial performance. The results are as follows: (1) non-cognitive skills that significantly affect farmers’ entrepreneurial performance are, in order of influence, openness, extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. After considering endogeneity and substitution-explained variables, the above conclusions are still robust. (2) Heterogeneity analysis finds that farmers over 40 and those who start their businesses in cities have higher returns on non-cognitive entrepreneurship. (3) The paper confirms that non-cognitive skills improve farmers’ entrepreneurial performance through human and social capital effects. Therefore, entrepreneurs should consciously improve their non-cognitive skills by cultivating an enterprising and innovative spirit and social skills. The government’s entrepreneurship training for farmers should also focus on setting up courses in non-cognitive skills development to enhance farmers’ entrepreneurial literacy and skills.
Evaluation of High Doses of Phytase in a Low-Phosphorus Diet in Comparison to a Phytate-Free Diet on Performance, Apparent Ileal Digestibility of Nutrients, Bone Mineralization, Intestinal Morphology, and Immune Traits in 21-Day-Old Broiler Chickens
Authors: Martínez-Vallespín Beatriz , Männer Klaus , Ader Peter , Zentek Jürgen
Published: August 2022

The supplementation of feed with phytases enables broilers to utilize more efficiently phosphorus (P) from phytic acid (IP6), the main storage form of P in plants. The current study evaluated the addition of 500, 1000, and 3000 FTU of phytase per kg to a phytate-containing diet with low P level (LP) fed to broilers from 1 to 21 days of age and compared it to a hypoallergenic phytate-free diet (HPF). There was a linear improvement in performance parameters with increasing levels of phytase in the LP diet (p < 0.001). Apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein, P, and some amino acids, increased with phytase. Crude ash, P, and the calcium content of tibia bones linearly increased with increasing levels of phytase (p < 0.001). Crypt depth (related to body weight) in the jejunum epithelium linearly decreased with phytase addition (p < 0.001). Cecal crypt depth decreased with phytase supplementation (p = 0.002). Cecum tissue showed lower counts of CD3-positive intraepithelial lymphocytes in broilers receiving the phytase in comparison to LP (p < 0.001), achieving similar counts to HPF-fed broilers. Although results from the current study seem to point out some mechanisms related to the immune response and mucosal morphology contributing to those overall beneficial effects, no clear differences between different phytase doses could be demonstrated in these specific parameters.
Immunohistochemical Expression of p62 in Feline Mammary Carcinoma and Non-Neoplastic Mammary Tissue
Authors: Magi Gian Enrico , Mariotti Francesca , Pallotta Lorenzo , Di Cerbo Alessandro , Venanzi Franco Maria
Published: August 2022

The p62 protein, also called sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), is a ubiquitin-binding scaffold protein. In human oncology, although the interest in the function of this protein is recent, the knowledge is now numerous, but its role in tumorigenesis is not yet clear. This preliminary study aims to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of p62 in 38 cases of feline mammary carcinoma with different grades of differentiation and in 12 non-neoplastic mammary gland tissues, to assess the expression level and a possible correlation with malignancy. The expression of p62 was statistically higher in carcinoma compared to non-neoplastic mammary glands: 28 feline mammary carcinomas (73.7%) had a high p62 expression score, three (7.9%) had a moderate expression, while seven cases (18.4%) had a low expression. The grade of the differentiation of the carcinoma was not correlated with the p62 expression. This study represents the first approach in feline oncology that correlates p62 expression in feline mammary carcinoma. Our results, although preliminary, are similar to the results of human breast cancer, therefore, also in the cat, p62 could be considered a possible oncotarget.
Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of the Frozen Red Sandstone under Coupling of Saturation and Impact Loading
Authors: Xu Junce , Pu Hai , Sha Ziheng
Published: August 2022

Saturation is one of the critical factors causing frost damage to rock masses in alpine regions, and dynamic stress perturbations further complicate the damage process. Therefore, the effects of water content and loadings should be considered in the construction and maintenance of rock structures during winter in cold regions. In this study, the effects of saturation and impact loading on the dynamic mechanical behavior of frozen red sandstone were investigated using a low-temperature split Hopkinson pressure bar system (LT-SHPB). By combining low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the dynamic evolution of the microstructure of the frozen sandstone due to changes in saturation was investigated. The results indicated that the increase of saturation reshapes the pore structure of the frozen sandstone and promotes the expansion of pores of different sizes during freezing, while at complete saturation the frozen samples are mainly developed with meso- and macropores. The dynamic strength, elastic modulus, and brittleness index of the frozen sandstone under impact loading, which are limited by the critical saturation Src, tend to increase and then decrease with saturation. For the four impact loads, the dynamic strength of the samples increased by 21.2%, 27.1%, 32.5%, and 34.3% when the saturation was increased from 0 to 50%, corresponding to 1.38, 1.43, 1.51, and 1.56 times the dynamic strength of the fully saturated samples, respectively. In contrast, the ultimate deformation capacity of the frozen sandstone showed an opposite trend with saturation. As the impact load increases, the dynamic strength, elastic modulus, and peak strain of the frozen sandstone show a significant strengthening effect due to the increase in strain rate, while its brittleness index gradually decreases, dropping by 11.2% at full saturation. In addition, the energy dissipation capacity of the frozen sample first increases and then decreases with increasing saturation, with the enhancement effect of saturation on energy dissipation smaller than the weakening effect.
Perception of Professionals from Different Healthcare Units Regarding the Use of Spray Technology for the Instantaneous Decontamination of Personal Protective Equipment during the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic: A Short Analysis
Authors: Mascarenhas Luís Alberto Brêda , Machado Bruna Aparecida Souza , Rodrigues Leticia de Alencar Pereira , Hodel Katharine Valéria Saraiva , Santos Alex Álisson Bandeira , Andrade Leone Peter Correia da Silva , Badaró Roberto
Published: August 2022

Within the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, different disinfection technologies have been developed to efficiently exercise microbial control, especially to minimize the potential risks that are associated with transmission and infection among healthcare professionals. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the perception of professionals regarding the use of a new technology (chamber) for the instantaneous decontamination of personal protective equipment before the doffing stage. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study where the study data were obtained by using a questionnaire with qualitative questions. In total, 245 professionals participated in the study in three hospitals. Healthcare professionals represented 72.24% (n = 177) of the investigated sample. Approximately 69% of the professionals considered the disinfection chamber as a safe technology, and 75.10% considered it as an important and effective protective barrier for healthcare professionals in view of its application before the doffing process. The results found in this study demonstrate that the use of spray technology in the stage prior to the doffing process is acceptable to professionals, and that it can be an important tool for ensuring the additional protection of the professionals who work directly with patients who are diagnosed with COVID-19.
Soil Erosion Assessment Using the RUSLE Model, Remote Sensing, and GIS in the Shatt Al-Arab Basin (Iraq-Iran)
Authors: Allafta Hadi , Opp Christian
Published: August 2022

In the Shatt Al-Arab basin, soil erosion is a major problem due to the steepness of the terrain and the significant difference in altitude between the upstream and downstream parts of the basin. Vast quantities of soil are moved annually, resulting in massive repercussions including soil degradation, structural damage, biodiversity loss, and productivity reduction in the catchment area, huge sediment load, and the pollution of streams and rivers. Consequently, the assessment of soil erosion risk and geographical distribution is essential for constructing a database for developing effective control strategies. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was combined with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in the current work to define the soil erosion hazard map in the Shatt Al-Arab basin. The RUSLE model included various characteristics for soil erosion zonation including rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, land cover and management, and conservation support practices. Annual erosion rates in this study in tons per hectare were: extremely high (more than 50); very high (50 to 16.5); high (16.5 to 2.2); medium (2.2 to 1); and low (1 to 0) ton ha−1year−1 representing 16, 4, 13, 7, and 60 % of the basin’s area, respectively. The high soil loss rates are associated with heavy rainfall, loamy soil predominance, elevated terrains/plateau borders with a steep side slope, and intensive farming. Managers and policymakers may use the results of this study to implement adequate conservation programs to prevent soil erosion or recommend soil conservation acts if development projects are to proceed in places with a high soil erosion risk.
Design of Test Equipment for Hydrostatic Transducers and Hydraulic Fluids
Authors: Hujo Ľubomír , Jablonický Juraj , Tkáč Zdenko , Tulík Juraj
Published: August 2022

The article refers to the proposed test equipment used to monitor the service life of hydrostatic transducers and fluids under constant or dynamic operating pressure loading. The proposed laboratory test equipment enables simultaneous testing of hydrostatic transducers and energy carriers in two hydraulic circuits and is designed to measure the flow characteristics and technical life of hydrostatic transducers with different energy carriers. The benefit of the proposed device is the possibility of simultaneous testing of the transducers as well as the performance of verification measurements of individual circuits, which was preceded by the development of a theoretical design. This includes the calculations necessary to determine the power of the drive, the cooling power as well as the definition of other parameters and elements of the hydraulic system. The design of the device was based on technical characteristics, load characteristics obtained by own measurements, and characteristics of individual hydraulic and electrohydraulic elements. On the basis of the prepared laboratory test equipment, it is possible to significantly shorten the time of operational tests and perform repeated tests under the same operational load with different types of energy carriers. The hydraulic circuit (primary or secondary) can be loaded through a proportional electrohydraulic pressure valve, which is able to simulate the load with the operational pressure curve obtained by measurement, as well as the cyclic stress, the frequency, amplitude, and rate of increase of which can be defined according to the selected methodology. A verification measurement of the flow characteristics of the used transducers was also carried out, which confirmed the correct function and design of the test laboratory equipment. The achieved results can be used in mechanical engineering for the accelerated life test of hydrostatic transducers, which are often used in mobile energy devices working in environmentally sensitive areas. The proposed laboratory test equipment will be used for testing ecological energy carriers, increasing the efficiency of energy conversion in agricultural facilities using biomass.
Complementary Segmentation of Primary Video Objects with Reversible Flows
Authors: Wu Junjie , Li Jia , Xu Long
Published: August 2022

Segmenting primary objects in a video is an important yet challenging problem in intelligent video surveillance, as it exhibits various levels of foreground/background ambiguities. To reduce such ambiguities, we propose a novel formulation via exploiting foreground and background context as well as their complementary constraint. Under this formulation, a unified objective function is further defined to encode each cue. For implementation, we design a complementary segmentation network (CSNet) with two separate branches, which can simultaneously encode the foreground and background information along with joint spatial constraints. The CSNet is trained on massive images with manually annotated salient objects in an end-to-end manner. By applying CSNet on each video frame, the spatial foreground and background maps can be initialized. To enforce temporal consistency effectively and efficiently, we divide each frame into superpixels and construct a neighborhood reversible flow that reflects the most reliable temporal correspondences between superpixels in far-away frames. With such a flow, the initialized foregroundness and backgroundness can be propagated along the temporal dimension so that primary video objects gradually pop out and distractors are well suppressed. Extensive experimental results on three video datasets show that the proposed approach achieves impressive performance in comparisons with 22 state-of-the-art models.
Event-Related Potentials during Verbal Recognition of Naturalistic Neutral-to-Emotional Dynamic Facial Expressions
Authors: Kosonogov Vladimir , Kovsh Ekaterina , Vorobyeva Elena
Published: August 2022

Event-related potentials during facial emotion recognition have been studied for more than twenty years. Nowadays, there has been a growing interest in the use of naturalistic stimuli. This research was aimed, therefore, at studying event-related potentials (ERP) during recognition of dynamic facial neutral-to-emotional expressions, more ecologically valid than static faces. We recorded the ERP of 112 participants who watched 144 dynamic morphs depicting a gradual change from a neutral expression to a basic emotional expression (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise) and labelled those emotions verbally. We revealed some typical ERP, like N170, P2, EPN and LPP. Participants with lower accuracy exhibited a larger posterior P2. Participants with faster correct responses exhibited a larger amplitude of P2 and LPP. We also conducted a classification analysis that yielded the accuracy of 76% for prediction of participants who recognise emotions quickly on the basis of the amplitude of posterior P2 and LPP. These results extend data from previous research about the electroencephalographic correlates of facial emotion recognition.
Discriminating and Clustering Ordered Permutations Using Artificial Neural Networks: A Potential Application in ANN-Guided Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Tahsien Syeda M. , Defersha Fantahun M.
Published: August 2022

Traveling salesman, linear ordering, quadratic assignment, and flow shop scheduling are typical examples of permutation-based combinatorial optimization problems with real-life applications. These problems naturally represent solutions as an ordered permutation of objects. However, as the number of objects increases, finding optimal permutations is extremely difficult when using exact optimization methods. In those circumstances, approximate algorithms such as metaheuristics are a plausible way of finding acceptable solutions within a reasonable computational time. In this paper, we present a technique for clustering and discriminating ordered permutations with potential applications in developing neural network-guided metaheuristics to solve this class of problems. In this endeavor, we developed two different techniques to convert ordered permutations to binary-vectors and considered Adaptive Resonate Theory (ART) neural networks for clustering the resulting binary vectors. The proposed binary conversion techniques and two neural networks (ART-1 and Improved ART-1) are examined under various performance indicators. Numerical examples show that one of the binary conversion methods provides better results than the other, and Improved ART-1 is superior to ART-1. Additionally, we apply the proposed clustering and discriminating technique to develop a neural-network-guided Genetic Algorithm (GA) to solve a flow-shop scheduling problem. The investigation shows that the neural network-guided GA outperforms pure GA.
Semantic Segmentation of Agricultural Images Based on Style Transfer Using Conditional and Unconditional Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Madokoro Hirokazu , Takahashi Kota , Yamamoto Satoshi , Nix Stephanie , Chiyonobu Shun , Saruta Kazuki , Saito Takashi K. , Nishimura Yo , Sato Kazuhito
Published: August 2022

Classification, segmentation, and recognition techniques based on deep-learning algorithms are used for smart farming. It is an important and challenging task to reduce the time, burden, and cost of annotation procedures for collected datasets from fields and crops that are changing in a wide variety of ways according to growing, weather patterns, and seasons. This study was conducted to generate crop image datasets for semantic segmentation based on an image style transfer using generative adversarial networks (GANs). To assess data-augmented performance and calculation burdens, our proposed framework comprises contrastive unpaired translation (CUT) for a conditional GAN, pix2pixHD for an unconditional GAN, and DeepLabV3+ for semantic segmentation. Using these networks, the proposed framework provides not only image generation for data augmentation, but also automatic labeling based on distinctive feature learning among domains. The Fréchet inception distance (FID) and mean intersection over union (mIoU) were used, respectively, as evaluation metrics for GANs and semantic segmentation. We used a public benchmark dataset and two original benchmark datasets to evaluate our framework of four image-augmentation types compared with the baseline without using GANs. The experimentally obtained results showed the efficacy of using augmented images, which we evaluated using FID and mIoU. The mIoU scores for the public benchmark dataset improved by 0.03 for the training subset, while remaining similar on the test subset. For the first original benchmark dataset, the mIoU scores improved by 0.01 for the test subset, while they dropped by 0.03 for the training subset. Finally, the mIoU scores for the second original benchmark dataset improved by 0.18 for the training subset and 0.03 for the test subset.
Kalman Filter-Based Differential Privacy Federated Learning Method
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Dong Zijian
Published: August 2022

The data privacy leakage problem of federated learning has attracted widespread attention. Using differential privacy can protect the data privacy of each node in the federated learning, but adding noise to the model parameters will reduce the accuracy and convergence efficiency of the model. A Kalman Filter-based Differential Privacy Federated Learning Method (KDP-FL) has been proposed to solve this problem, which reduces the impact of the noise added on the model by Kalman filtering. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in the case of both Non-IID and IID data distributions. The experiments show that the accuracy of the proposed method is improved by 0.3–4.5% compared to differential privacy federated learning.
Investigation of Quadrate Fresnel Zone Plates Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing
Authors: Sun Xiaoyan , Zhou Fang , Duan Lian , Duan Ji-an
Published: August 2022

The circular Fresnel zone plate (FZP) has been extensively used in micro-optics due to its outstanding focusing performance. Despite that, the curved edge of the circular zone has drawbacks limiting its use in terahertz imaging, array generator, and micro/nano-manufacturing. Therefore, a circular structure is not very practical to use. In this paper, Quadrate FZPs were proposed, and diffraction properties of the linear FZP (L-FZP), orthogonal FZP (O-FZP), and square FZP (S-FZP) were studied. Theoretically, the relationship between half side length of S-FZP and the radius of circular FZP is established, and the focal length formula of the S-FZP is derived. The linear and crossline focusing properties of quadrate FZPs were studied experimentally along with simulations. With the addition of blockers and phase shifting, the square and rectangular diffraction patterns were successfully obtained.
IBA myQA SRS Detector for CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery Quality Assurance
Authors: Padelli Francesco , Aquino Domenico , Fariselli Laura , De Martin Elena
Published: August 2022

The IBA myQA® SRS high-resolution solid-state detector was evaluated in the context of robotic radiosurgery delivered using CyberKnife®. The performance was investigated for periodic machine delivery quality assurance (DQA) and patient-specific treatment verification. myQA® SRS is a 140 × 120 mm CMOS matrix with 400 µm resolution, allocated in a cylindrical ABS phantom topped by a hemispheric cap. Evaluations included: periodic DQA tests, angular response, dose-rate dependence and Iris variable aperture collimator field size measurements. For patient-specific QA various intracranial targets were studied (Gamma Index, 3%/1 mm agreement criteria), taking into account also the detector’s angular response. Results for periodic DQA were in accordance with the machine commissioning data. Dose-rate dependence was confirmed, and angular response tests resulted in a signal decay >5% when beams were delivered outside a ±50° amplitude cone with respect to the vertical direction. Concerning patient-specific QA, >50° angled beams elimination led to a Gamma Index passing rates improvement ranging between +3% and +115%. IBA myQA® SRS proved to be a suitable device for many CyberKnife® constancy DQA checks, providing high-resolution real-time results. Patient-specific Gamma tests showed high passing rates once angular dependence corrections were performed, even in high complexity treatments such as those for trigeminal neuralgia targets.
In Silico Ligand Docking Approaches to Characterise the Binding of Known Allosteric Modulators to the Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor and Prediction of ADME/Tox Properties
Authors: Odoemelam Chiemela S. , Hunter Elena , Simms John , Ahmad Zeeshan , Chang Ming-Wei , Percival Benita , Williams Ian H. , Molinari Marco , Kamerlin Shina Caroline Lynn , Wilson Philippe B.
Published: August 2022

The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a member of the family (or class) B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). The receptor is a regulator of insulin and a key target in treating Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this investigation, computational chemistry techniques such as molecular docking were combined with in silico ADME/Tox predictions to determine the position and structure of the allosteric binding site, as well as to examine how the allosteric modulators bind to the binding site. In silico evaluation was used to evaluate the ADME/Tox properties of the allosteric modulators. The findings of the ligand docking studies suggest that the allosteric binding site is situated around the transmembrane (TM) domain TM 6 of the receptor in the active state. ADME/Tox characterisation of the allosteric modulators demonstrate that compounds 1–3 (2,6,7-trichloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)quinoxaline, 1-(5-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-6,6-dimethyl-3-(methylsulfonyl)-6,7-dihydrobenzo[c]thiophen-4(5H)-one, 2-((4-chlorophenyl)thio)-3-(trifluoromethyl)quinoxaline, respectively) complied with the traditional method of evaluating drug-likeness; Lipinski’s rule of 5. The allosteric modulator compound 4 (3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl cyclohexanecarboxylate) failed to comply with Lipinski’s rule of five as a result of having a logP value of over 5.6. Moreover, molecular docking studies provide insights into potential allosteric binding sites and possible interactions. Finally, the in silico ADME/Tox study results are described as relevant to developing a viable drug candidate.
Development of Disposables and Accessories for ROSES and Their In Vitro Experimentation
Authors: Danieli Guido , Greco Pasquale F. , Larocca Gabriele , De Rosa Salvatore , Indolfi Ciro , Polimeni Alberto , Massetti Massimo , Tinelli Giovanni , Tshomba Yamume , Venturini Luigi
Published: August 2022

This paper describes the development of the disposables and accessories for ROSES (Robotic System for Endovascular Surgery). Initially developed exclusively for transcatheter percutaneous coronary angioplasty, it was later modified, initially leaving the components for angioplasty substantially unchanged to extend its use to endovascular transcatheter surgery. These disposables are used to translate gear rotations into catheter or guide wire advancement or retraction and rotation of their body through friction wheels. The use of a new cart was necessary for endovascular surgery, to which a system to measure forces opposed by the patient’s body to catheter advancement was added. Moreover, since some endovascular catheters present with large diameters, minor mechanical modifications were also performed on the robot actuator (RA), previously defined as a slave, in order to allow large catheters to be pushed, such as those needed for the repair of some big aneurysms or for TAVI. However, in doing this, the possibility of separating the disposables into two components, upper and lower, was found, which allows the extraction of the disposable without having to remove the catheter or guide wire already positioned. Finally, the disposables, whose development is illustrated here, were subjected to various versions and tests and the results are reported.
Stochastic Static Analysis of Planar Elastic Structures with Multiple Spatially Uncertain Material Parameters
Authors: Hakula Harri
Published: August 2022

Engineering structures are often assembled from parts with different materials. When uncertainty quantification techniques are applied, the curse of dimensionality increases the computational complexity. Here, a stochastic Galerkin method for planar elasticity allowing for multiple regions with independent uncertain materials is introduced. The method allows for efficient solution of linear systems both in fully assembled and matrix-free formulations. The selection of the stochastic basis polynomials is performed using a priori knowledge of the decay of the random fields. The statistical quantities of interest are the expected solution and variance, both of which can be computed efficiently after the Galerkin system has been solved. Analysis of the results indicates that the proposed method is highly efficient in terms of both computational resource requirements and discretization of the stochastic dimensions. The results were verified with Monte Carlo and quasi-Monte Carlo methods.
Synergistic Effect of Dual-Ceramics for Improving the Dispersion Stability and Coating Quality of Aqueous Ceramic Coating Slurries for Polyethylene Separators in Li Secondary Batteries
Authors: Kennedy Ssendagire , Kim Jeong-Tae , Kim Jungmin , Lee Yong Min , Phiri Isheunesu , Ryou Sun-Yul
Published: August 2022

We demonstrate that dispersion stability and excellent coating quality are achieved in polyethylene (PE) separators by premixing heterogeneous ceramics such as silica (SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) in an aqueous solution, without the need for functional additives such as dispersing agents and surfactants. Due to the opposite polarities of the zeta potentials of SiO2 and Al2O3, SiO2 forms a sheath around the Al2O3 surface. Electrostatic repulsion occurs between the Al2O3 particles encapsulated in SiO2 to improve the dispersion stability of the slurry. The CCSs fabricated using a dual ceramic (SiO2 and Al2O3)-containing aqueous coating slurry, denoted as DC-CCSs, exhibit improved physical properties, such as a wetting property, electrolyte uptake, and ionic conductivity, compared to bare PE separators and CCSs coated with a single ceramic of Al2O3 (SC-CCSs). Consequently, DC-CCSs exhibit an improved electrochemical performance, in terms of rate capability and cycle performance. The half cells consisting of DC-CCSs retain 93.8% (97.12 mAh g−1) of the initial discharge capacity after 80 cycles, while the bare PE and SC-CCSs exhibit 22.5% and 26.6% capacity retention, respectively. The full cells consisting of DC-CCSs retain 90.9% (102.9 mAh g−1) of the initial discharge capacity after 400 cycles, while the bare PE and SC-CCS exhibit 64.7% and 73.4% capacity retention, respectively.