bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endovascular embolisation of a complex mandibular AVM: a hybrid transarterial and transvenous approach
Authors: Israrahmed Amrin , Agarwal Rohit , Chauhan Gaurav
Published: January 2023

Mandibular arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare lesions which can present with life-threatening haemorrhage. Endovascular embolisation can be life saving for these patients. We discuss a patient of mandibular AVM, who initially presented with reports of massive oral bleeding. The lesion was only partially embolised via transarterial route, as the nidus could not be penetrated completely. In view of rebleeding within 72 hours from the same site, a second embolisation procedure was done via combined, transarterial and transvenous approaches. Coils and onyx were used as embolising agents. Complete embolisation was achieved via combined approach. No further bleeding episodes were seen at 1-year follow-up. Endovascular embolisation of mandibular AVMs can be technically challenging and, hence, a sound knowledge of the anatomy as well as the possible modification of technique is essential to achieve complete obliteration of the lesion and to maximise the benefit of embolisation and to avoid major radical surgery.
Papillomatous breast lesions with atypical columnar cell features
Authors: de Boer Mirthe , Verschuur-Maes Anoek H J , Moelans Cathy , van Diest Paul J
Published: January 2023

Aims

Columnar cell lesions (CCLs) are recognised breast cancer precursor lesions. Intraductal papillomas are usually lined by benign (polyclonal) cells. Although papillomas with monoclonal lesions (atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)/ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)) have been described, CCLs have not been described in papillomas.

Methods

We present two papillary breast lesions lined by a single layer of luminal cells resembling atypical CCL/flat epithelial atypia (FEA). We compared these two lesions with 13 benign intraductal papillomas, and 2 papillomas with ADH/DCIS grade 1 features as controls were immunohistochemically stained for the oestrogen receptor alpha (oestrogen receptor) and progesterone receptors (PR), cytokeratin 5 (CK5) and cyclin D1.

Results

Oestrogen receptor/PR expression was variable, with areas with ≥85% hormone receptor positivity in both morphologically normal papillomas and papillomas with ADH. In ADH areas, CK5 expression was seen in ≤5% of cells while cyclin D1 expression was high (>60%). The two papillary lesions with FEA were 100% oestrogen receptor and 90% cyclin D1 positive, and low on PR/CK5. There was only one morphologically normal papilloma with similar areas of low CK5 (5%) and high cyclin D1 expression; in all other morphologically benign papillomas CK5 expression varied between 10% and 50% and cyclin D1 expression was ≤50%. The papillary lesion with FEA that could be tested showed 16q losses, the hallmark genetic change in low nuclear grade breast neoplasias, in contrast to nine morphologically benign papillomas that could be tested.

Conclusion

We present two papillomatous breast lesions with atypical CCL morphology and 16q loss, for which we propose the term papillary FEA.
Austerity, economic hardship and access to medications: a repeated cross-sectional population survey study, 2013–2020
Authors: Aaltonen Katri
Published: January 2023

Background

In Finland, austerity measures included an increase in medication and healthcare copayments and a decrease in many social security allowances. This study examines whether austerity coincided with an increase in socioeconomic inequality in access to medications (going short of medications because of lack of money) and whether medication access problems increased more than other forms of economic hardship (going short of food or physician visits).

Methods

Pooled cross-sectional population surveys collected in 2013–2015, 2018 and 2020 (n=139 324) and multinomial logistic regression, with interaction between study year and economic activity (EA) (full-time work vs part-time work/retirement; old age retirement; unemployment; disability/illness; family; student), were used to estimate the effect of EA on the probability of experiencing economic hardship (no hardship/hardship including medication problems/hardship excluding medication problems) and how it varies across years.

Results

Working-age adults outside full-time employment have a higher risk of economic hardship than full-time workers, and old age retirees have a lower risk. In 2018, when austerity was most pronounced, economic hardship including medication problems increased for the disabled/ill (women and men), unemployed (women) and part-time workers/retirees (men), significantly more than for full-time workers. Hardship excluding medication access problems either decreased or remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Austerity coincided with increasing economic hardship among vulnerable groups, thus exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities. Strengthening the role for medication access problems suggests that medication copayment increases contributed to this accumulating disadvantage.
Exploring the associations of daily movement behaviours and mid-life cognition: a compositional analysis of the 1970 British Cohort Study
Authors: Mitchell John J , Blodgett Joanna M , Chastin Sebastien FM , Jefferis Barbara J , Wannamethee S Goya , Hamer Mark
Published: January 2023

Background

Movement behaviours (eg, sedentary behaviour (SB), moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light intensity physical activity (LIPA) and sleep) are linked to cognition, yet the relative importance of each component is unclear, and not yet explored with compositional methodologies.

Objective

To (i) assess the associations of different components of daily movement and participant’s overall cognition, memory and executive function, and (ii) understand the relative importance of each individual component for cognition.

Methods

The 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is a prospective birth cohort study of UK-born adults. At age 46, participants consented to wear an accelerometer device and complete tests of verbal memory and executive function. Compositional linear regression was used to examine cross-sectional associations between 24-hour movement behaviours and standardised cognition scores. Isotemporal substitution was performed to model the effect of reallocating time between components of daily movement on cognition.

Results

The sample comprised 4481 participants (52% female). Time in MVPA relative to SB, LIPA and sleep was positively associated with cognition after adjustments for education and occupational physical activity, but additional adjustment for health status attenuated associations. SB relative to all other movements was robustly positively associated with cognition. Modelling time reallocation between components revealed an increase in cognition centile after MVPA theoretically replaced 9 min of SB (OR=1.31; 95% CI 0.09 to 2.50), 7 min of LIPA (1.27; 0.07 to 2.46) or 7 min of sleep (1.20; 0.01 to 2.39).

Conclusions

Relative to time spent in other behaviours, greater MVPA and SB was associated with higher cognitive scores. Loss of MVPA time, given its smaller relative amount, appears most deleterious. Efforts should be made to preserve MVPA time, or reinforce it in place of other behaviours.
Deception in medicine: acupuncturist cases
Authors: Simkulet William
Published: January 2023

Colgrove challenges Doug Hardman’s account of deception in medicine. Hardman contends physicians can unintentionally deceive their patients, illustrating this by way of an acupuncturist who believes what she says despite insufficient medical evidence, falling short of what Hardman believes adequate disclosure requires. Colgrove argues deception requires intent but constructs an alternative case in which an acupuncturist does not believe what he tells the patient, but purportedly lacks an intent to deceive. Here, I argue that both acupuncturists deceive, and both can be said to do so intentionally. Neither lies, but rather they seem to engage another deceptive form of speech, what Frankfurt calls bullshit. Building on Colgrove’s case, I argue cases where a physician’s disclosure includes reading a script they do not believe, this is both deceptive and contrary to professional medical ethics.
Cognitive performance is associated with glomerular filtration rate in patients with chronic kidney disease: results from the CKD-REIN cohort
Authors: Pépin Marion , Levassort Hélène , Boucquemont Julie , Lambert Oriane , Alencar de Pinho Natalia , Turinici Monica , Helmer Catherine , Metzger Marie , Cheddani Lynda , Frimat Luc , Combe Christian , Fouque Denis , Laville Maurice , Ayav Carole , Liabeuf Sophie , Jacquelinet Christian , Teillet Laurent , Stengel Bénédicte , Massy Ziad A
Published: January 2023

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cognitive impairment in general population. We assessed the association between kidney and cognitive functions in patients with CKD and the influence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and depression on this association.

Methods

The CKD-Renal Epidemiology and Information Network cohort included 3033 patients with CKD stages 3–4, followed for 5 years. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with the CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration equation-creatinin formula. Evolution of the MMSE score over time and its association with baseline eGFR were investigated with linear mixed models. We assessed the risk of incident cognitive outcome (hospitalisation or death with relevant International Classification of Disease-10 codes), with a Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

The mean age was 66.8, the mean eGFR was 33 mL/min/1.73 m2and 387 patients (13.0%) had an MMSE score below 24 at baseline. A 10 mL/min/1.73 m2decrement of baseline eGFR was associated with a mean MMSE decrease of 0.12 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.19) after adjustment for demographic characteristics, depression, CV risk factors and disease; but baseline eGFR was not associated with MMSE temporal evolution. HR for cognitive outcome during follow-up (median 2.01 years) associated with a 10 mL/min/1.73 m2decrement of baseline eGFR was 1.35 (1.07, 1.70) (p=0.01) after adjustment.

Conclusions

In patients with CKD, lower eGFR was associated with worse cognitive performance and incident cognitive events, independently of demographics, CV risk factors and depression.

Trial registration number

NCT03381950.
Analytical prediction of ground movements due to circular shaft construction in clayey soils
Authors: Zheng Chen , Franza Andrea , Jimenez Rafael
Published: January 2023

With the rapid expansion of urbanization, shafts are needed to provide access to tunnelling projects or be utilized for permanent works. Their construction causes ground movements, affecting nearby foundations and buried infrastructure. This study presents an analytical equivalent volume loss approach for predicting three-dimensional ground movements resulting from a circular shaft construction: namely, ground losses in the elastic isotropic half space as a sequence of cavity contractions around the shaft are employed. First, the applicability and accuracy of proposed solutions are evaluated with published case studies and centrifuge tests. Thereafter, the method is employed to investigate the influence of the circular shaft construction on the surface and subsurface soil displacements. Considering design ground losses, this method allows for quick estimations of ground deformations and associated risk of serviceability losses.
Charming penguins and lepton universality violation in $$\varvec{b \rightarrow s \ell ^+ \ell ^-}$$ decays
Authors: Ciuchini Marco , Fedele Marco , Franco Enrico , Paul Ayan , Silvestrini Luca , Valli Mauro
Published: January 2023

The LHCb experiment has recently presented new results on Lepton Universality Violation (LUV) in $$B \rightarrow K^{(*)} \ell ^+ \ell ^-$$

B
→

K

(

∗
)

ℓ
+

ℓ
-

decays involving $$K_S$$

K
S

in the final state, which strengthen the recent evidence of LUV obtained in $$B^+ \rightarrow K^{+} \ell ^+ \ell ^-$$

B
+

→

K
+

ℓ
+

ℓ
-

decays and the previous measurements of $$B \rightarrow K^{*0} \ell ^+ \ell ^-$$

B
→

K

∗
0

ℓ
+

ℓ
-

. While LUV observables in the Standard Model are theoretically clean, their predictions in New Physics scenarios are sensitive to the details of the hadronic dynamics, and in particular of the charming penguin contribution. In this work, we show how a conservative treatment of hadronic uncertainties is crucial not only to assess the significance of deviations from the Standard Model but also to obtain a conservative picture of the New Physics responsible for LUV. Adopting a very general parameterization of charming penguins, we find that: (i) current data hint at a sizable $$q^2$$

q
2

and helicity dependence of charm loop amplitudes; (ii) conservative NP solutions to B anomalies favour a left-handed or an axial lepton coupling rather than a vector one.
Probing phase structure of strongly coupled matter with holographic entanglement measures
Authors: Asadi M. , Amrahi B. , Eshaghi-Kenari H.
Published: January 2023

We study the holographic entanglement measures such as the holographic mutual information, HMI, and the holographic entanglement of purification, EoP, in a holographic QCD model at finite temperature and zero chemical potential. This model can realize various types of phase transitions including crossover, first order and second order phase transitions. We use the HMI and EoP to probe the phase structure of this model and we find that at the critical temperature they can characterize the phase structure of the model. Moreover we obtain the critical exponent using the HMI and EoP.
Bound-preserving finite element approximations of the Keller–Segel equations
Authors: Badia Santiago , Bonilla Jesús , Gutiérrez-Santacreu Juan Vicente
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to develop numerical approximations of the Keller–Segel equations that mimic at the discrete level the lower bounds and the energy law of the continuous problem. We solve these equations for two unknowns: the organism (or cell) density, which is a positive variable, and the chemoattractant density, which is a non-negative variable. We propose two algorithms, which combine a stabilized finite element method and a semi-implicit time integration. The stabilization consists of a nonlinear artificial diffusion that employs a graph-Laplacian operator and a shock detector that localizes local extrema. As a result, both algorithms turn out to be nonlinear and can generate cell and chemoattractant numerical densities fulfilling lower bounds. However, the first algorithm requires a suitable constraint between the space and time discrete parameters, whereas the second one does not. We design the latter to attain a discrete energy law on acute meshes. We report some numerical experiments to validate the theoretical results on blowup and nonblowup phenomena. In the blowup setting, we identify a locking phenomenon that relates the [Formula: see text]-norm to the [Formula: see text]-norm limiting the growth of the singularity when supported on a macroelement.
Modeling, Replicating, and Predicting Human Behavior: A Survey
Authors: Fuchs Andrew , Passarella Andrea , Conti Marco
Published: January 2023

Given the popular presupposition of human reasoning as the standard for learning and decision making, there have been significant efforts and a growing trend in research to replicate these innate human abilities in artificial systems. As such, topics including Game Theory, Theory of Mind, and Machine Learning, among others, integrate concepts that are assumed components of human reasoning. These serve as techniques to replicate and understand the behaviors of humans. In addition, next-generation autonomous and adaptive systems will largely include AI agents and humans working together as teams. To make this possible, autonomous agents will require the ability to embed practical models of human behavior, allowing them not only to replicate human models as a technique to “learn” but also to understand the actions of users and anticipate their behavior, so as to truly operate in symbiosis with them. The main objective of this article is to provide a succinct yet systematic review of important approaches in two areas dealing with quantitative models of human behaviors. Specifically, we focus on (i) techniques that learn a model or policy of behavior through exploration and feedback, such as Reinforcement Learning, and (ii) directly model mechanisms of human reasoning, such as beliefs and bias, without necessarily learning via trial and error.
GroupAligner
: A Deep Reinforcement Learning with Domain Adaptation for Social Group Alignment
Authors: Sun Li , Du Yang , Gao Shuai , Ye Junda , Wang Feiyang , Ren Fuxin , Liang Mingchen , Wang Yue , Wang Shuhai
Published: January 2023

Social network alignment, which aims to uncover the correspondence across different social networks, shows fundamental importance in a wide spectrum of applications such as cross-domain recommendation and information propagation. In the literature, the vast majority of the existing studies focus on the social network alignment at user level. In practice, the user-level alignment usually relies on abundant personal information and high-quality supervision, which is expensive and even impossible in the real-world scenario. Alternatively, we propose to study the problem of social group alignment across different social networks, focusing on the interests of social groups rather than personal information. However, social group alignment is non-trivial and faces significant challenges in both (i) feature inconsistency across different social networks and (ii) group discovery within a social network. To bridge this gap, we present a novel
GroupAligner
, a deep reinforcement learning with domain adaptation for social group alignment. In
GroupAligner
, to address the first issue, we propose the cycle domain adaptation approach with the Wasserstein distance to transfer the knowledge from the source social network, aligning the feature space of social networks in the distribution level. To address the second issue, we model the group discovery as a sequential decision process with reinforcement learning in which the policy is parameterized by a proposed

p
roximity-enhanced
G
raph
N
eural
N
etwork (pGNN)

and a GNN-based discriminator to score the reward. Finally, we utilize pre-training and teacher forcing to stabilize the learning process of
GroupAligner
. Extensive experiments on several real-world datasets are conducted to evaluate
GroupAligner
, and experimental results show that
GroupAligner
outperforms the alternative methods for social group alignment.
Computational Challenges and Approaches for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Kalakanti Arun Kumar , Rao Shrisha
Published: January 2023

Researchers worldwide have become increasingly interested in developing computational approaches to handle challenges facing electric vehicles (EVs) in recent years. This article examines the challenges and future potential of computational approaches for problems such as EV routing, EV charging scheduling (EVCS), EV charging station (CS) placement, CS sizing, and energy or load management. In addition, a summary of the fundamental mathematical models employed to solve the EV computational problems is presented. We cover recent work on computational solutions for various EV problems utilizing single and coupled mathematical models. Finally, we also examine potential research avenues that researchers could pursue to realize the objective of environment-friendly transportation and smart grids (SGs).
Paper to HTML
Authors: Wang Lucy Lu , Bragg Jonathan , Weld Daniel S.
Published: January 2023

Most scientific papers are distributed in PDF format, which is by default inaccessible to blind and low vision audiences and people who use assistive reading technology. These access barriers hinder and may even deter members of these groups from pursuing careers or opportunities that necessitate the reading of technical documents. In cases where no accessible versions of papers are made available by publishers or authors, the gold standard for PDF document accessibility is PDF remediation. Remediation is the process by which a PDF is made accessible by fixing accessibility errors, for example, tagging headings, specifying reading order, adding alt text to images, and so on, such that a reader can navigate and engage with the resulting content using assistive reading technology such as screen readers.
Researching Pedagogy in Digital Accessibility Education
Authors: Lewthwaite Sarah , Horton Sarah , Coverdale Andy
Published: January 2023

Teaching Accessibility in the Digital Skill Set
is a 5-year study researching the pedagogy of digital accessibility. Digital disability rights legislation and the digital transformation spurred by COVID-19 expose a lack of accessibility capability in the workforce that indicate major gaps in graduate education and other programs. This pedagogic research responds by examining how accessibility is taught across a range of contexts, working with educators to provide an evidence base and enrich pedagogic culture. This paper describes the study's rationale, methodology, focus and activities. We also reflect on how pedagogic research methods can make a sustained contribution to computing education practice through research outputs, and a methodological process designed to stimulate dialogue, networks, reflexive teaching and learning development.
Spectroscopic Studies of Clusters of Atmospheric Relevance
Authors: Frederiks Nicoline C. , Hariharan Annapoorani , Johnson Christopher J.
Published: January 2023

Atmospheric aerosols exert a significant but highly uncertain effect on the global climate, and roughly half of these particles originate as small clusters formed by collisions between atmospheric trace vapors. These particles typically consist of acids, bases, and water, stabilized by salt bridge formation and a network of strong hydrogen bonds. We review spectroscopic studies of this process, focusing on the clusters likely to be involved in the first steps of particle formation and the intermolecular interactions governing their stability. These studies typically focus on determining structure and stability and have shown that acid-base chemistry in the cluster may violate chemical intuition derived from solution-phase behavior and that hydration of these clusters is likely to be complex to describe. We also suggest fruitful areas for extension of these studies and alternative spectroscopic techniques that have not yet been applied to this problem.
Menthol flavoring in e-cigarette condensate causes pulmonary dysfunction and cytotoxicity in precision cut lung slices
Authors: Herbert Julia , Kelty Jacklyn S. , Laskin Jeffrey D. , Laskin Debra L. , Gow Andrew J.
Published: January 2023

E-cigarette consumption is under scrutiny by regulatory authorities due to concerns about product toxicity, lack of manufacturing standards, and increasing reports of e-cigarette- or vaping-associated acute lung injury. In vitro studies have demonstrated cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress induced by unflavored e-cigarette aerosols and flavoring additives. However, e-cigarette effects on the complex lung parenchyma remain unclear. Herein, the impact of e-cigarette condensates with or without menthol flavoring on functional, structural, and cellular responses was investigated using mouse precision cut lung slices (PCLS). PCLS were exposed to e-cigarette condensates prepared from aerosolized vehicle, nicotine, nicotine + menthol, and menthol e-fluids at doses from 50 to 500 mM. Doses were normalized to the glycerin content of vehicle. Video-microscopy of PCLS revealed impaired contractile responsiveness of airways to methacholine and dampened ciliary beating following exposure to menthol-containing condensates at concentrations greater than 300 mM. Following 500 mM menthol-containing condensate exposure, epithelial exfoliation in intrabronchial airways was identified in histological sections of PCLS. Measurement of lactate dehydrogenase release, mitochondrial water-soluble-tetrazolium salt-1 conversion, and glutathione content supported earlier findings of nicotine or nicotine + menthol e-cigarette-induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity and oxidative stress responses. Evaluation of PCLS metabolic activity revealed dose-related impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis after exposure to menthol-containing condensates. Taken together, these data demonstrate prominent menthol-induced pulmonary toxicity and impairment of essential physiological functions in the lung, which warrants concerns about e-cigarette consumer safety and emphasizes the need for further investigations of molecular mechanisms of toxicity and menthol effects in an experimental model of disease.
Adverse childhood experiences are associated with altered cardiovascular reactivity to head-up tilt in young adults
Authors: Dempster Kylie S. , Wade Terrane J. , MacNeil Adam J. , O’Leary Deborah D.
Published: January 2023

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with greater prevalence of cardiovascular disease and altered acute stress reactivity. The current study investigated the effect of ACEs on hemodynamic and autonomic responses to orthostatic stress imposed by 60° head-up tilt (HUT) in young adults. Two-hundred twenty-six healthy young adults (age = 22.6 ± 1.5 yr; n = 116 females) without cardiovascular disease participated and had complete data. Participants underwent supine blood pressure (BP), R-R interval (RRI), cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cvBRS) testing followed by a transition to 60° HUT where measures were reassessed. Childhood adversity exposures were assessed based on categorical exposure and nonexposure to childhood household dysfunction and maltreatment, and <4 and ≥4 types of ACEs. Significantly greater increases in SBP ( P < 0.05), DBP, MAP, and TPR ( P < 0.01; all) following 60° HUT were observed in individuals with ≥4 compared with those with <4 types of ACEs. Attenuated decreases in RRI and cvBRS were observed in those with ≥4 types of ACEs ( P < 0.05). Experiencing ≥4 types of ACEs was associated with augmented BP and TPR reactivity and a blunted decrease in cvBRS in response to 60° HUT in young adults. Results suggest that a reduced vagal response to orthostatic stress is present in those who have experienced ≥4 types of ACEs that may promote autonomic dysfunction. Future research examining the sympathetic and vagal baroreflex branches is warranted.
Association of RNA m7G Modification Gene Polymorphisms with Pediatric Glioma Risk
Authors: Zhu Jinhong , Liu Xiaoping , Chen Wei , Liao Yuxiang , Liu Jiabin , Yuan Li , Ruan Jichen , He Jing
Published: January 2023

Glioma stemming from glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in childhood. The genetic predisposition of glioma is not fully understood. METTL1‐WDR4 methyltransferase complex is implicated in tumorigenesis by catalyzing N7‐methylguanosine (m7G) modification of RNA. This study is aimed at determining the association of glioma risk with three polymorphisms (rs2291617, rs10877013, and rs10877012) in METTL1 and five polymorphisms (rs2156315 rs2156316, rs6586250, rs15736, and rs2248490) in WDR4 gene in children of Chinese Han. We enrolled 314 cases and 380 controls from three independent hospitals. Genotypes of these polymorphisms were determined using the TaqMan assay. We found the WDR4 gene rs15736 was significantly associated with reduced glioma risk (GA/AA vs. GG: adjusted odds ratio = 0.63, 95%confidence interval = 0.42 − 0.94, P = 0.023) out of the eight studied polymorphisms. Stratified analyses showed that the association of rs15736 with the risk of glioma remained significant in children aged 60 months or older, girls, the subgroups with astrocytic tumors, or grade I + II glioma. We also found the combined effects of five WDR4 gene polymorphisms on glioma risk. Finally, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses elucidated that the rs15736 polymorphism was related to the expression level of WDR4 and neighboring gene cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS). Our finding provided evidence of a causal association between WDR4 gene polymorphisms and glioma susceptibility in Chinese Han children.
Analysis of Anisotropic Steady and Dynamic Seepage of Subsea Tunnels
Authors: Zhang Tianjiao
Published: January 2023

Although the underwater tunnel is under a rapid development nowadays, the theoretical research methods, including reflection and angle transformation, are still in their infancy. At present, almost all the studies are based on the hypothesis that soil layers are homogeneous, but most of the soil layers are anisotropic in actual soil engineering. Therefore, an analytical derivation method of flow field in heterogeneous media based on the traditional equiangular transformation method is presented. Numerical simulation shows that with the increase of the anisotropic permeability coefficient ratio, the contour line of approximate ellipse becomes flat. On the contrary, the lateral permeability is proportional to the upgrade of the anisotropic permeability coefficient ratio and the permeability appears the same trend.
Effects of Waste Cooking Oil on the Antiageing Ability of Bitumen
Authors: Jain Shobhit , Dabbiru Sairam , Chandrappa Anush K.
Published: January 2023

Ageing is considered one of the significant issues faced by bituminous mixtures. The short-term ageing phase involves a significant rise in the bitumen’s viscosity, which may lead to early raveling and cracking. Antiageing additives are prescribed to reduce the effects of short-term ageing. However, most antiageing additives have detrimental health effects and also affect water quality. In recent times, waste cooking oil (WCO) has gained attention as a potential antiageing additive considering its peptizing ability. In this study, the antiageing ability of WCO is investigated considering the rheological and chemical parameters of the bitumen (binder). The rheological test included oscillation, frequency sweep, and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR). The chemical test included the extraction of asphaltene from the bitumen. PG 64-10 and VG30 binders were short-term aged and modified with 3.0 and 5.0% WCO, respectively. The master curves indicated the presence of optimum WCO content for the binders, where the WCO short-term aged modified binders overlapped with that of unaged binders. The Burger model fitted for the creep phase of the bitumen indicated a significant increase in the viscous strain when the WCO addition exceeded the optimum value. The ageing indices based on rheological and chemical parameters depicted an excellent correlation. The optimum values of WCO based on rheological, chemical, and ageing indices were found to be in tandem. Overall, WCO has the potential to function as an antiageing additive, and the optimum value should be identified meticulously, as adding beyond the optimum may lead to permanent deformation.
Identification of the Hub Genes Involved in Stem Cell Treatment for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Conjoint Analysis of Single-Cell and Machine Learning
Authors: Chen Jianfeng , Qi Fuwei , Li Guanshen , Deng Qiaosong , Zhang Chenlin , Li Xiaojun , Zhang Yafeng
Published: January 2023

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), which is distinguished by a variety of pathologic alterations, is the major cause of low back pain (LBP). Nonetheless, preventative measures or therapies that may delay IDD are scarcely available. In this study, we sought to identify new diagnostic biological markers for IDD. In this first-of-a-kind study combining machine learning, stem cell treatment samples and single-cell sequencing data were collected. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected from the treatment group and clusters. To filter potential markers, support vector machine analysis and LASSO were performed. LAPTM5 was found to be the hub gene for IDD. In addition, the results of single-cell sequencing demonstrated the critical function of stem cells in IDD. Finally, we found that aging is significantly associated with the rate of stem cells. In general, our results may offer fresh insights that may be used in the investigation of innovative markers for diagnosing IDD. The critical genes identified by the machine learning algorithm could provide new perspectives on IDD.
Magnetic Resonance Visibility, Artifacts, and Overall Safety of the Self-Locating Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter with a Tungsten Tip
Authors: Gallieni Maurizio , Rossi Umberto G. , Tonolini Massimo , Ianniello Andrea , Miglio Roberta , Sabiu Gianmarco , Cariati Maurizio
Published: January 2023

Background. The self-locating peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter, contains a tungsten tip. The effects of magnetic resonance (MR) on the catheter were evaluated, emphasizing its MR signal, artifacts, ferromagnetism, and possible heating production during the MR sequences. Methods. The catheter was studied in an ex vivo model using a 1.5T MR system and placed into a plastic box containing saline solution. Acquisitions on coronal and axial planes were obtained on fast gradient-echo T1-weighted and fast spin-echo T2-weighted. In vivo abdominal MR exams were also carried out. Results. Overall, the catheter had good visibility. In all sequences, an extensive paramagnetic blooming artifact was detected at the level of the tip tungsten ballast, with a circular artifact of 5 cm in diameter. The catheter showed no magnetic deflection, rotation, or movements during all MR sequences. After imaging, the temperature of the saline solution did not change compared to the basal measurement. Patients safely underwent abdominal MR. Conclusions. The results point to the possibility of safely performing MR in PD patients carrying the self-locating catheter. The self-locating PD catheter is stable when subjected to a 1.5T MR system. However, it creates some visual interference, preventing an accurate study of the tissues surrounding the tungsten tip.
The Interaction between Four Polymorphisms and Haplotype of ABCB1, the Risk of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, and the Disease Phenotype
Authors: Jeleń Agnieszka , Żebrowska-Nawrocka Marta , Sałagacka-Kubiak Aleksandra , Zawadzka Izabela , Łochowski Mariusz , Balcerczak Ewa
Published: January 2023

P-glycoprotein, product of the ABCB1 (ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1) gene, has been reported to play an important role in multiple drug resistance during cancer therapy. However, its influence on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk has not been clearly defined. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between clinicopathological factors and SNPs T-129C, C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T, as well as its haplotype, and to investigate the role of ABCB1 polymorphisms in NSCLC development. The study included 80 patients who suffered from NSCLC and underwent surgery to remove the tumour and 96 healthy controls. The tissues were genotyped by PCR-RFLP and sequencing methods, and the haplotype frequencies in both groups were estimated. The SNP C3435T was identified as a NSCLC risk factor. The presence of mutated allelic variant T (

p
=
0.0103

) or homozygote TT (

p
=
0.0099

) was observed significantly more often in cancer patients than in healthy controls. The two groups also demonstrated a highly significant difference in common haplotype frequency (

p
=
0.01

). The T−129-T1236-T2677-T3435 haplotype was found to be most closely associated with NSCLC risk. Although the investigated polymorphisms were not related to demographic features, clinicopathological lung tumour characteristics, or blood morphology indices, marginally significant correlations were found with some variables: C1236T with age of disease onset (

p
=
0.0410

); C3435T with smoking status (

p
=
0.0561

). As the findings indicate, lung cancer and control groups demonstrate significantly different patterns of −129/1236/2677/3435 haplotype distribution; T-T-T-T haplotype contributes to NSCLC susceptibility, and this effect is probably mainly dependent on C3435T. So far, similar studies were published in other populations.
Head Lice Infestation in Pre-High School Girls, Lak Hok Suburban Area, Pathum Thani Province, in Central Thailand
Authors: Kitvatanachai Sirima , Kritsiriwutthinan Kanyanan , Taylor Aree , Rhongbutsri Pochong
Published: January 2023

This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey to determine the prevalence of lice infestation in a pre-high school, Lak Hok subdistrict, Pathum Thani Province, in central part of Thailand. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of parents/guardians toward head lice in female children during February–April 2020 were evaluated. A total of 83 out of 111 parents (74.8%) agreed to complete consent forms and questionnaires. The prevalence of pediculosis found in this study was 68.7%. The infestation was found in the primary school level (87.5%), which was significantly higher than pre-primary school (29.6%;

p
<
0.05

). Itching scalp was revealed in 93.0% of pediculosis. The results showed that occupation, religion, education, and income showed no significant difference between lice infested and non-infested students (

p
>
0.05

). There was no significant association between sex, occupation, religion, education, income, status of parents, and family size among lice infested and non-infested students (

p
>
0.05

). The parents/guardians showed the middle level of knowledge concerning with pediculosis capitis (66.8%). The lack of knowledge leading, first, to the belief that pediculosis does not need any treatment (89.2%), followed by boys getting head lice more frequently than girls (85.5%), and the belief that sharing infested combs, brushes, or hair ribbons does not result in lice transmission (79.9%). More than 75% of the parents/guardians had experienced infestation of head lice and showed themselves willing and able to diagnose and treat their family. However, 50.6% of them did not feel shame when their children were infested with head lice. Children washing their hair by themselves were found to be a significant factor in infestation (88.5%). High rate of pediculosis in this suburban school needs more intensive care by parents/guardians and teachers. Furthermore, improvement strategies to prevent and control lice in the school need to be more specifically planned and scheduled by teachers and health administrators.
Efficient Analytical Model for Long‐Term Performance of Laminated Tube with Viscoelastic Interlayer by Quasi‐Elastic Approximation
Authors: Qin Yubing , Yue Kong , Wu Peng
Published: January 2023

An efficient analytical method is proposed so as to study the long‐term performance of laminated tubes with neighboring layers glued by viscoelastic interlayers bearing inhomogeneous long‐duration loads. In the analysis, the formulations for describing the mechanical performance of each tube layer are based on the elasticity theory, while the viscoelastic behavior of the glue interlayer is modeled by the generalized Maxwell model. Making use of the quasielastic approximation and the recursive matrix method, the analytical solution for the long‐term performance of the laminated tube is solved efficiently. The present analytical solution is verified by comparing it with other solutions. The influences of the interlayer thickness, the material property, as well as the load distribution on the long‐term performance of the laminated tube are discussed.
Experimental Analysis for Nitrogen Oxide Reduction in a Diesel Engine by the Hydrogen-Assisted Selective Catalytic Reduction Technique
Authors: Mathavan S. , Nagarajan G. , Murugan Sivaraj
Published: January 2023

Diesel engine emissions pose a serious threat to the environment and cause inevitable hazards to the atmosphere. The technique that is used to control and combat nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions is selective catalytic reduction. However, the various experimental conditions in the SCR technique will reduce NOX emissions. Former studies experimentally discovered the decrease of NOx discharges at a higher temperature. In this study, a two-cylinder diesel engine with a 34 kW rated power at 3750 rpm under low-temperature operating conditions underwent hydrogen-assisted selective catalytic reduction of NOx. The experiment was performed by differing the hydrogen injection duration (0–40°CA) and NOX emissions were studied. Variation in emissions with H2 injection was investigated. On varying the hydrogen injection duration, NOX, HC, CO2, CO, and smoke emissions are reduced (mention the % of reduction) and it can be applied in real time to reduce global warming.
Efficacy of Small versus Large-Bore Chest Drain in Pleural Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mei Federico , Rota Matteo , Bonifazi Martina , Zuccatosta Lina , Porcarelli Francesco M. , Sediari Michele , Bedawi Eihab O. , Sundaralingam Anand , Addala Dinesh , Gasparini Stefano , Rahman Najib M.
Published: January 2023

Background: Pleural infection represents a significant clinical challenge worldwide. Although prompt drainage of pleural fluid is thought to play a key role in pleural infection management, the optimal size of intrapleural catheter has yet to be defined. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize data on efficacy and complications of small-bore drain (SBD), defined as ≤14F, in comparison to large-bore drain (LBD) in patients with pleural infection. Method: We searched MEDLINE and Embase for all studies reporting outcomes of interest published up to October 2021. Two authors reviewed selected full text to identify studies according to predefined eligibility criteria. Summary estimates were derived using the random-effects model. Results: Twelve original studies were included for qualitative analysis and 7 of these for quantitative analysis. The surgical referral rate of SBD and LBD were, respectively, 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12–0.21) and 0.20 (95% CI, 0.10–0.32), the pooled mortality were 0.12 (95% CI, 0.05–0.21) and 0.20 (95% CI, 0.10–0.32), and the length of hospital stay was 24 days in both groups. Data on complications suggest similar proportions of tube dislodgement. Intensity of pain was evaluated in one study only, reporting higher scores for LBD. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis provide the first synthesis of data on performance of SBD and LBD in management of pleural infection, and, overall, clinical outcomes and complications did not substantially differ, although the limited number of studies and the absence of dedicated randomized trials does limit the reliability of results.
Cross-Lingual Dialogue Dataset Creation via Outline-Based Generation
Authors: Majewska Olga , Razumovskaia Evgeniia , Ponti Edoardo M. , Vulić Ivan , Korhonen Anna
Published: January 2023

Multilingual task-oriented dialogue (ToD) facilitates access to services and information for many (communities of) speakers. Nevertheless, its potential is not fully realized, as current multilingual ToD datasets—both for modular and end-to-end modeling—suffer from severe limitations. 1) When created from scratch, they are usually small in scale and fail to cover many possible dialogue flows. 2) Translation-based ToD datasets might lack naturalness and cultural specificity in the target language. In this work, to tackle these limitations we propose a novel outline-based annotation process for multilingual ToD datasets, where domain-specific abstract schemata of dialogue are mapped into natural language outlines. These in turn guide the target language annotators in writing dialogues by providing instructions about each turn’s intents and slots. Through this process we annotate a new large-scale dataset for evaluation of multilingual and cross-lingual ToD systems. Our Cross-lingual Outline-based Dialogue dataset (cod) enables natural language understanding, dialogue state tracking, and end-to-end dialogue evaluation in 4 diverse languages: Arabic, Indonesian, Russian, and Kiswahili. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of cod versus an equivalent translation-based dataset demonstrate improvements in data quality, unlocked by the outline-based approach. Finally, we benchmark a series of state-of-the-art systems for cross-lingual ToD, setting reference scores for future work and demonstrating that cod prevents over-inflated performance, typically met with prior translation-based ToD datasets.
Trajectory tracking control of upper limb rehabilitation robot based on optimal discrete sliding mode control
Authors: Li Luyun , Zhang Ruijun , Cheng Gang , Zhang Po , Jia Xiucheng
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an optimal sliding mode control method for trajectory tracking of discrete-time systems based on linear quadratic regulator is proposed to improve the trajectory tracking control accuracy and robustness of upper limb rehabilitation robot under the condition of highly nonlinearities, external disturbances, and unmodeled dynamics. Firstly, considering the uncertainty of the mass and moment of inertia of the connecting rod arm of the upper limb rehabilitation robot and the uncertainty of external interference, the dynamic model of the upper limb rehabilitation robot is established by using the Euler Lagrange method, and the linear time-varying state equation of the rehabilitation robot system under the influence of both nonlinear and uncertain factors is derived. Secondly, directing at the chattering problem in sliding mode control, a sliding mode control method based on a new discrete time reaching law is designed to reduce the amplitude of chattering in the control input signal of the upper limb rehabilitation robot system and improve the tracking speed. Furthermore, combined with linear quadratic optimal control, the optimal discrete integral sliding mode control law (LQRSMC) is finally obtained. Meanwhile, for the sake of reducing the influence of the uncertain signal on the system, a robust control law is adopted to estimate and compensate the uncertain interference. The stability of the upper limb rehabilitation robot system is verified by the sliding mode approach condition of the discrete system. Finally, the genetic algorithm is used to further optimize the weighted value, and MATLAB/Simulink is used to simulate the state trajectory of the upper limb rehabilitation robot under various weighted values. The control strategy can not only effectively weaken the trajectory tracking oscillation problem of the upper limb rehabilitation robot, but also overcome the external disturbance and modeling uncertainty, while ensuring the robustness of the rehabilitation robot system.