bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Treatment for Rectocele by Posterior Colporrhaphy Compared to Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection
Authors: Gluck Ohad , Matani Doraid , Rosen Ada , Barber Elad , Weiner Eran , Ginath Shimon
Published: January 2023

Background: Rectocele is defined as a defect in the rectovaginal septum, causing symptoms like obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), vaginal bulging, etc. Once the rectocele is larger than 3 cm and/or symptomatic, surgery should be considered. The surgical approach can be either transvaginal, transanal or transperineal. Two of the most common procedures in treating rectocele are posterior colporrhaphy (PC) and stapled trans anal rectal resection (STARR). The purpose of this study was to compare surgical outcomes of both procedures. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Included were patients of the age of 18–85 years that underwent either STARR (n = 49 patients) or PC (n = 24 patients) procedures after a full clinical (defecography and physical exam before and after the surgery) and physiologic (a detailed questionnaire before and after the surgery) surveys. Symptoms of ODS before and after surgery were evaluated by questioners. Results: Preoperatively, the patients in the STARR group had significantly higher rates of ODS: straining (90.9% vs. 65.2%), incomplete evacuation (100% vs. 69.6%), hard stool (57.8% vs. 43.5%), sense of obstruction (76.1% vs. 56.5%), and use of digitation (64.4% vs. 47.8%), or laxatives (70% vs. 47.8%), p < 0.001. Anatomically, the mean rectocele size was smaller for the STARR group, compared to the PC group (3.8 ± 1.4 vs. 5.3 ± 2.2 cm, respectively, p < 0.001). Postoperatively, in the STARR group, higher rates of patients complained about straining (36.4% vs. 21.7%, p < 0.001) and use of digitation (64.4% vs. 26.1%, p < 0.001), whereas lower rates of patients complained about incomplete evacuation (41.2% vs. 56.5%, p = 0.05) and sense of obstruction (17.6%, vs. 34.8%, p = 0.03), compared to the PC group. Among patients who underwent the STARR procedure, a decrease in rates of all symptoms was noted (straining 54.5%, incomplete evacuation 58.8%, hard stool 29.2%, sense of obstruction 58.5%, use of digitation 0.1%, and use of laxatives 31.5%). Both procedures are effective in reducing rectocele size (STARR- 1.9 ± 1 cm, PC- 3.1 ± 1). Conclusions: Both STARR and PC are effective in treating rectocele. It seems that the STARR procedure is superior to the PC procedure in treating symptoms of ODS.
A New Approach to Detecting Atrial Fibrillation Using Count Statistics of Relative Changes between Consecutive RR Intervals
Authors: Buś Szymon , Jędrzejewski Konrad , Guzik Przemysław
Published: January 2023

Background: The ratio of the difference between neighboring RR intervals to the length of the preceding RR interval (x%) represents the relative change in the duration between two cardiac cycles. We investigated the diagnostic properties of the percentage of relative RR interval differences equal to or greater than x% (pRRx%) with x% in a range between 0.25% and 25% for the distinction of atrial fibrillation (AF) from sinus rhythm (SR). Methods: We used 1-min ECG segments with RR intervals with either AF (32,141 segments) or SR (32,769 segments) from the publicly available Physionet Long-Term Atrial Fibrillation Database (LTAFDB). The properties of pRRx% for different x% were analyzed using the statistical procedures and metrics commonly used to characterize diagnostic methods. Results: The distributions of pRRx% for AF and SR differ significantly over the whole studied range of x% from 0.25% to 25%, with particularly outstanding diagnostic properties for the x% range of 1.5% to 6%. However, pRR3.25% outperformed other pRRx%. Firstly, it had one of the highest and closest to perfect areas under the curve (0.971). For pRR3.25%, the optimal threshold for distinction AF from SR was set at 75.32%. Then, the accuracy was 95.44%, sensitivity was 97.16%, specificity was 93.76%, the positive predictive value was 93.85%, the negative predictive value was 97.11%, and the diagnostic odds ratio was 514. The excellent diagnostic properties of pRR3.25% were confirmed in the publicly available MIT–BIH Atrial Fibrillation Database. In a direct comparison, pRR3.25% outperformed the diagnostic properties of pRR31 (the percentage of successive RR intervals differing by at least 31 ms), i.e., so far, the best single parameter differentiating AF from SR. Conclusions: A family of pRRx% parameters has excellent diagnostic properties for AF detection in a range of x% between 1.5% and 6%. However, pRR3.25% outperforms other pRRx% parameters and pRR31 (until now, probably the most robust single heart rate variability parameter for AF diagnosis). The exquisite pRRx% diagnostic properties for AF and its simple computation make it well-suited for AF detection in modern ECG technologies (mobile/wearable devices, biopatches) in long-term monitoring. The diagnostic properties of pRRx% deserve further exploration in other databases with AF.
Comprehensive Assessment of Corvis ST Biomechanical Indices in Normal and Keratoconus Corneas with Reference to Corneal Enantiomorphism
Authors: Borderie Vincent , Beauruel Juliette , Cuyaubère Roxane , Georgeon Cristina , Memmi Benjamin , Sandali Otman
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to assess Corvis ST biomechanical indices in reference to corneal enantiomorphism. In a prospective observational cohort study, 117 eyes from 63 patients with normal or keratoconus corneas were assessed by three independent observers. In the control group (n = 62), no significant differences were observed between the three observers for all indices. The best reproducibility was obtained with pachymetry and the weakest with CBI. All indices but CBI and arc length featured COV < 10%. All indices except the PD and SSI correlated with pachymetry; all but Rad correlated with IOP. The comparison of the thinnest with the thickest corneas showed no significant differences for any index except pachymetry. In the keratoconus group (n = 55), loss of corneal enantiomorphism was confirmed for all indices except the arc length, velocity, and PD. Significant differences between both groups were found for all indices, even after adjustment for pachymetry and intraocular pressure. The CBI featured the best accuracy (92%), sensitivity (91%), and graphical relevance for keratoconus diagnosis. However, its reproducibility was weak in normal corneas and was strongly dependent on corneal thickness. The SSI was independent of corneal thickness, highly reproducible, and provided the expected enantiomorphism characteristics in both groups, making it a relevant biomarker of biomechanical corneal behavior.
Clinical Outcomes for Total Hip Arthroplasty with and without Previous Curved Periacetabular Osteotomy
Authors: Kinoshita Koichi , Seo Hajime , Matsunaga Taiki , Doi Kenichiro , Yamamoto Takuaki
Published: January 2023

There are currently no reports on the clinical outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with previous curved periacetabular osteotomy (CPO), although the outcomes after THA with non-CPO types of periacetabular osteotomy have been reported. This study aimed to clarify the differences in clinical outcomes and radiographic features after THA with or without previous CPO. We performed a retrospective case–control with individual matching study. The participants were 10 patients with 11 hips that underwent cementless THA between October 1998 and October 2018 with previous CPO (osteotomy group). For the control group, we matched age, sex, and follow-up period, and included 32 patients with 33 hips that underwent cementless THA without previous CPO at a 1:3 ratio. The Harris Hip Score (HHS), cup size, position, and alignment, global offset (GO), operative time, perioperative blood loss, frequency of osteophyte removal, and major complications were compared between the two groups. The osteotomy group had no cases with revision surgery and dislocation. No significant differences were found between the two groups as follows: mean HHS, 94.9 points in the osteotomy group versus 92.7 points in the control group at the final follow-up; mean GO, 70.1 mm in the osteotomy group versus 71.4 mm in the control group; cup size, position, and alignment after THA; operative time; and perioperative blood loss. The frequency of osteophyte removal was higher in the osteotomy group. The take-home messages were that the clinical outcomes, including HHS, and radiographic features, including GO, after THA were equivalent in the two groups.
Sacubitril/Valsartan in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Real-World Experience from Italy (the REAL.IT Study)
Authors: Di Lenarda Andrea , Di Gesaro Gabriele , Sarullo Filippo Maria , Miani Daniela , Driussi Mauro , Correale Michele , Bilato Claudio , Passantino Andrea , Carluccio Erberto , Villani Alessandra , degli Esposti Luca , d’Agostino Chiara , Peruzzi Elena , Poli Simone , Iacoviello Massimo
Published: January 2023

Sacubitril/valsartan reduces heart failure (HF)-related hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality in PARADIGM-HF and has become a foundational treatment for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, data of its routine real-world use are limited, and evidence from Italian settings is lacking. The REAL.IT study aimed to characterize the demographics, pharmacotherapy, clinical characteristics and outcomes of sacubitril/valsartan-treated Italian patients with HFrEF. Electronic medical records of patients initiating sacubitril/valsartan from October 2016 to June 2019 at nine specialized hospital outpatient HF centers across Italy were reviewed. Overall, 924 adults (mean age 64.5 years, 84.6% male) were included. At baseline, 38.7% had an ischemic HF etiology, 45.9% hypertension, 23.2% atrial fibrillation, 25.4% diabetes mellitus, 26.1% an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and 31.9% coronary artery bypass grafting. There were no clear patterns of patient selection over time. During follow-up, NYHA class improved in 37.5% of patients after a mean of 5.3 ± 3.8 months; 36.1% and 16.7% of patients were in NYHA class III during characterization and after one year of follow-up, respectively. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved ≥5% in 56.3% of patients at one year; 39.7% had ≥30% reduction of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; 2.2% had hyperkalemia during characterization and 2.6% during follow-up; and 3.8% had hypotension during characterization and 12% during follow-up. A total of 50 (5.8%) of patients had device implantation (ICD/CRT) during follow-up. HF-related hospitalization was recorded in 19.6% of patients during follow-up; 3.8% of patients died, approximately 1.3% from cardiovascular causes. Our real-world data confirm the favorable effectiveness and tolerability of sacubitril/valsartan observed in pivotal randomized controlled trials.
In-Hospital Predictors of Need for Ventilatory Support and Mortality in Chest Trauma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Reitano Elisa , Gavelli Francesco , Iannantuoni Giacomo , Fattori Silvia , Airoldi Chiara , Matranga Simone , Cioffi Stefano Piero Bernardo , Ingala Silvia , Virdis Francesco , Rizzo Martina , Marcomini Nicole , Motta Alberto , Spota Andrea , Maestrone Matteo , Ragozzino Roberta , Altomare Michele , Castello Luigi Mario , Della Corte Francesco , Vaschetto Rosanna , Avanzi Gian Carlo , Chiara Osvaldo , Cimbanassi Stefania
Published: January 2023

Chest trauma management often requires the use of invasive and non-invasive ventilation. To date, only a few studies investigated the predictors of the need for ventilatory support. Data on 1080 patients with chest trauma managed in two different centers were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the predictors of tracheal intubation (TI), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV), and mortality. Rib fractures (p = 0.0001) fracture of the scapula, clavicle, or sternum (p = 0.045), hemothorax (p = 0.0035) pulmonary contusion (p = 0.0241), and a high Injury Severity Score (ISS) (p ≤ 0001) emerged as independent predictors of the need of TI. Rib fractures (p = 0.0009) hemothorax (p = 0.0027), pulmonary contusion (p = 0.0160) and a high ISS (p = 0.0001) were independent predictors of NIMV. The center of trauma care (p = 0.0279), age (p < 0.0001) peripheral oxygen saturation in the emergency department (p = 0.0010), ISS (p < 0.0001), and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) (p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of outcome. In conclusion, patients who do not require TI, while mandating ventilatory support with selected types of injuries and severity scores, are more likely to be subjected to NIMV. Trauma team expertise and the level of the trauma center could influence patient outcomes.
Dynamics of Peripheral Blood Immune Cells during the Perioperative Period after Digestive System Resections: A Systematic Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Schoenberg Markus Bo , Han Yongsheng , Li Xiaokang , Li Xinyu , Bucher Julian Nikolaus , Börner Nikolaus , Koch Dominik , Guba Markus Otto , Werner Jens , Bazhin Alexandr V.
Published: January 2023

An operation in itself is a kind of trauma and may lead to immunosuppression followed by a bounce back. Not many studies exist that describe dynamics of the distribution of peripheral blood (PB) immune cells during the perioperative period. Considering this scarcity, we aggregated the data on the dynamics of immune cells in patients with digestive system resections during the perioperative period and the relationship with short- and long-term prognoses. By the systematic retrieval of documents, we collected perioperative period data on white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, helper T cells (Th), B cells, natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory B cells (Bregs), and Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). The frequency and distribution of these immune cells and the relationship with the patient’s prognosis were summarized. A total of 1916 patients’ data were included. Compared with before surgery, WBC, lymphocytes, CD4+ cells, CD8+ T cells, MDSC, and NK cells decreased after surgery, and then returned to preoperative levels. After operation DCs increased, then gradually recovered to the preoperative level. No significant changes were found in B cell levels during the perioperative period. Compared with the preoperative time-point, Tregs and Bregs both increased postoperatively. Only high levels of the preoperative and/or postoperative NLR were found to be related to the patient’s prognosis. In summary, the surgery itself can cause changes in peripheral blood immune cells, which might change the immunogenicity. Therefore, the immunosuppression caused by the surgical trauma should be minimized. In oncological patients this might even influence long-term results.
Efficacy and Safety of Pulsed Field Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shtembari Jurgen , Shrestha Dhan Bahadur , Pathak Bishnu Deep , Dhakal Bishal , Upadhaya Regmi Binit , Patel Nimesh K. , Shantha Ghanshyam Palamaner Subash , Kalahasty Gautham , Kaszala Karoly , Koneru Jayanthi N.
Published: January 2023

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia associated with high morbidity and mortality. AF treatment is guided by a patient–provider risk–benefit discussion regarding drug versus ablation or combination. Thermal ablation has a high rate of adverse events compared to pulsed field ablation (PFA). In this systematic review, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of PFA. Methods: The electronic search for relevant articles in English was completed in PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane library, Scopus, and Embase databases till July 2022. The screening was completed via the use of Covidence software. The risk of bias assessment and data extraction from the included studies was performed, and the narrative synthesis was performed accordingly. Results: A total of six studies were selected for review and 1897 patients receiving PFA were involved in these studies. Our review was focused on pulmonary vein isolation success, major adverse events, and arrhythmia recurrence. Successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was completed in 100% of cases except in two studies. In one of them, six out of seven patients (86%) in the epicardial cohort had successful PVI. In the MANIFEST-PF survey, the acute PVI success rate was 99.9%. The major complications were rare and included pericardial tamponade, vascular complications requiring surgery, and stroke. The atrial arrhythmia recurrence was higher in the thermal group than in the PFA group (39% vs. 11%). Conclusions: The success rate of PVI by PFA is high, and major adverse events are low. PFA is found to decrease the recurrence of atrial arrhythmia compared to thermal ablation. Substantial randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to validate the efficacy and safety of PFA over conventional methods.
Resin Infiltration of Non-Cavitated Proximal Caries Lesions in Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Systematic Review and Scenario Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Cebula Marcus , Göstemeyer Gerd , Krois Joachim , Pitchika Vinay , Paris Sebastian , Schwendicke Falk , Effenberger Susanne
Published: January 2023

The present study aimed to meta-analyze and evaluate the certainty of evidence for resin infiltration of proximal carious lesions in primary and permanent teeth. While resin infiltration has been shown efficacious for caries management, the certainty of evidence remains unclear. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018080895), and PRISMA guidelines have been followed. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were systematically screened, complemented by hand searches and cross-referencing. Eleven relevant articles were identified and included, i.e., randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the progression of resin infiltrated proximal caries lesions (combined with non-invasive measures) in primary or permanent teeth with non-invasive measures. Random-effects meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (TSA) were performed for per-protocol (PP), intention-to-treat (ITT), and best/worst case (BC/WC) scenarios. Six included trials assessed lesions in permanent teeth and five trails assessed lesions in primary teeth. The trials had a high or unclear risk of bias. Risk of caries progression was significantly reduced for infiltrated lesions in the PP, ITT, and BC scenarios in both permanent teeth and primary teeth, but not in the WC scenario. According to the TSA, firm evidence was reached for all of the scenarios except the WC. In conclusion, there is firm evidence for resin infiltration arresting proximal caries lesions in permanent and primary teeth.
Assessing Metacognitive Regulation during Problem Solving: A Comparison of Three Measures
Authors: Zepeda Cristina D. , Nokes-Malach Timothy J.
Published: January 2023

Metacognition is hypothesized to play a central role in problem solving and self-regulated learning. Various measures have been developed to assess metacognitive regulation, including survey items in questionnaires, verbal protocols, and metacognitive judgments. However, few studies have examined whether these measures assess the same metacognitive skills or are related to the same learning outcomes. To explore these questions, we investigated the relations between three metacognitive regulation measures given at various points during a learning activity and subsequent test. Verbal protocols were collected during the learning activity, questionnaire responses were collected after the learning tasks but before the test, and judgments of knowing (JOKs) were collected during the test. We found that the number of evaluation statements as measured via verbal protocols was positively associated with students’ responses on the control/debugging and evaluation components of the questionnaire. There were also two other positive trends. However, the number of monitoring statements was negatively associated with students’ responses on the monitoring component of the questionnaire and their JOKs on the later test. Each measure was also related to some aspect of performance, but the particular metacognitive skill, the direction of the effect, and the type of learning outcome differed across the measures. These results highlight the heterogeneity of outcomes across the measures, with each having different affordances and constraints for use in research and educational practice.
Ability and Nonability Predictors of Real-World Skill Acquisition: The Case of Rubik’s Cube Solving
Authors: Meinz Elizabeth J. , Hambrick David Z. , Leach James J. , Boschulte Prairie J.
Published: January 2023

Most research on skilled performance is correlational, with skill and predictors measured at a single point in time, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the acquisition of skill. By contrast, in this study, we trained novice participants (N = 79) to solve Rubik’s Cubes using a 7-step solution method. Participants also completed measures of fluid intelligence (Gf), working memory capacity (WMC), and nonability factors (grit, growth mindset, NFC, and the “big five”). Overall, higher Gf (but not WMC) was predictive of efficient and accurate Rubik’s cube skill. No nonability variables were associated with skill. Our results provide compelling evidence for the importance of intellectual talent (cognitive ability) in developing expertise in a complex task.
Progress of Combined Wind and Wave Energy Harvesting Devices and Related Coupling Simulation Techniques
Authors: Cao Feifei , Yu Mingqi , Liu Bing , Wei Zhiwen , Xue Lei , Han Meng , Shi Hongda
Published: January 2023

The use of combined wind and wave energy harvesting devices (CWWHDs) is an effective way to synergistically capture offshore wind and wave energy. However, the form of combined energy harvesting and coupled simulation techniques limit the development of CWWHDs. This paper classifies the existing CWWHDs based on wave energy converters and offshore wind turbines, summarizes the theoretical background and implementation forms of the numerical simulation of CWWHDs, and focuses on the technical details of wind-wave coupling and multi-body coupling simulation, which fills the gap in the research of the wind-wave coupling and multi-body coupling numerical simulation of CWWHDs. Finally, the current research focus and development direction of CWWHDs and their numerical simulation technology are summarized to provide a reference for the future development and application of CWWHDs and numerical simulation technology.
Assessing Efficacy of “Eco-Friendly” and Traditional Copper-Based Antifouling Materials in a Highly Wave-Exposed Environment
Authors: Arboleda-Baena Clara , Osiadacz Nicole , Parragué Mirtala , González Andrés E. , Fernández Miriam , Finke Gerhard R. , Navarrete Sergio A.
Published: January 2023

Biofouling control on human-made structures and seagoing technologies that minimize environmental impacts is a major focus of research in marine industries. However, the most widely used antifouling (AF) method is still copper-based coatings. Some “eco-friendly” approaches are commercially available but have been scarcely tested in natural conditions, especially high-energy environments. We conducted a replicated long-term field experiment in a highly wave-exposed, high productivity coastal environment to test three untreated materials used in maritime industries, two traditional copper-based AF coatings, and two materials offered as “eco-friendly” AF in the market (i.e., a slow-copper release and a self-adhesive, fiber-covered, skin-like coating). We showed that biofouling cover and biomass increased at similar rates over time among all untreated materials, including the skin-like AF. The two traditional copper-based AF coatings and the slow-release AF paint both showed similarly low biofouling biomass and richness, demonstrating their efficacy after 12 months in the field. Although the “eco-friendly” slow-release technologies are not completely innocuous to the environment, we suggest this approach over the more environmentally aggressive traditional copper paints, which are the most widely used in aquaculture and shipping industries today. However, further research is needed to test whether their environmental impact is significantly lower in the long-term than traditional AF paints, and therefore the search for non-toxic coating must continue. The fortuitous settlement and growth of sea urchins in our experiments also suggest that a combination of “eco-friendly” AF and biological control would be possible and should be further investigated. The skin-like coatings must be tested under different environmental conditions, and they are not recommended in wave-exposed coastal habitats.
Dynamic Responses of the Cylindrical Floating Drilling Production Storage and Offloading System with Annular Anti-Motion Structures under the Survival Sea Scenario
Authors: Li Yan , Li Yaolong , Zhao Zhimin , Tang Yougang , Li Haoran , Zhang Yijian , Hu Yinan
Published: January 2023

At present, dry wellheads are usually adopted on small-storage TLP and SPAR platforms to develop offshore oil and gas because of the robust hydrodynamic performance under severe-wind seas. On the other hand, FPSO and FDPSO platforms that have a larger storage capacity can hardly use this cost-saving facility due to their relatively poor vertical motion performance. Cylindrical FPSOs are proposed to improve the heave performance of ship-type FPSOs, but their behaviors are still too large to adopt the dry wellheads. In the present work, a cylindrical FDPSO platform is proposed based on the FWPSO platform, adding an extension cylinder and a new damping structure at the bottom. Their hydrodynamic performances are calculated by the potential theory and compared in the frequency domain. Taking two particular mooring systems, including both catenary and ‘chain-polyester-chain’ types, and the survival sea scenario in the South China Sea into account, a time-domain coupling analysis was adopted to simulate the dynamic performance of the platform-mooring system. The feasibility of dry wellhead adoption on the FDPSO is discussed by investigating the platform motion and the mooring tension. The results show that the FCDS platform with the ‘chain-polyester-chain’-type mooring system can meet the motion response requirements, and the mooring system can also meet the requirements of the specification.
Study of Safety Auxiliary Facilities to Prevent the Start-Up Failure of Large Axial Flow Pump Systems under Gate Failure Working Conditions
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Yang Chenglin , Song Xijie , Tang Fangping , Hu Chongyang , Yang Fan , Shi Lijian
Published: January 2023

Large axial flow pump systems are used in coastal pump stations. It is common and very dangerous for large axial flow pump systems to encounter the failure of the fast hydraulic gate during start-up operations. Methods for equipping LAPS with reasonable safety aids for start-up operations in order to deal with the unexpected situation that the quick gate cannot be opened, limiting the safety and stability of LAPS, have become a key focus of research. We aim to investigate the effect of safety aids on the LAPS’s start-up characteristics under gate rejection conditions and to find the best safety aid allocation method to solve the LAPS’s start-up failure problem. Based on the verification of the model test, a numerical simulation of the start-up process of the large axial flow pump system equipped with auxiliary safety features was carried out under the condition of gate rejection. The results show that under the condition of gate rejection, the auxiliary FLVA or OVHO can help LAPS reduce the risk of start-up failure to a certain extent. The FLVA will play the main protective role during the start-up operations of the LAPS if the LAPS is equipped with both the OVHO and FLVA of unrestricted size under the gate rejection condition. LAPS equipped with OVHO (1.27 Hm) and FLVA (49.1% Ag) and LAPS equipped with FLVA (49.1% Ag) have comparable start-up safety. The latter has an His of 1.783 Hr and a Pis of 1.30 Pr. The former has an instantaneous shock head of 1.772 Hr and a Pis of 1.30 Pr, which exhibit a decrease of 0.38% and 0 %, respectively. The research results will provide an important reference value for the prevention of pump station start-up failures under gate rejection conditions.
A Marine Hydrographic Station Networks Intrusion Detection Method Based on LCVAE and CNN-BiLSTM
Authors: Hou Tianhao , Xing Hongyan , Liang Xinyi , Su Xin , Wang Zenghui
Published: January 2023

Marine sensors are highly vulnerable to illegal access network attacks. Moreover, the nation’s meteorological and hydrological information is at ever-increasing risk, which calls for a prompt and in depth analysis of the network behavior and traffic to detect network attacks. Network attacks are becoming more diverse, with a large number of rare and even unknown types of attacks appearing. This results in traditional-machine-learning (ML)-based network intrusion detection (NID) methods performing weakly due to the lack of training samples. This paper proposes an NID method combining the log-cosh conditional variational autoencoder (LCVAE) with convolutional the bi-directional long short-term memory neural network (LCVAE-CBiLSTM) based on deep learning (DL). It can generate virtual samples with specific labels and extract more significant attack features from the monitored traffic data. A reconstructed loss term based on the log-cosh model is introduced into the conditional autoencoder. From it, the virtual samples are able to inherit the discrete attack data and enhance the potential features of the imbalance attack type. Then, a hybrid feature extraction model is proposed by combining the CNN and BiLSTM to tackle the attack’s spatial and temporal features. The following experiments evaluated the proposed method’s performance on the NSL-KDD dataset. The results demonstrated that the LCVAE-CBiLSTM obtained better results than state-of-the-art works, where the accuracy, F1-score, recall, and FAR were 87.30%, 87.89%, 80.89%, and 4.36%. The LCVAE-CBiLSTM effectively improves the detection rate of a few classes of samples and enhances the NID performance.
Experimental Investigation on the Cyclic Shear Mechanical Characteristics and Dynamic Response of a Steel–Silt Interface in the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Yu Peng , Dong Jie , Guan Yong , Wang Qing , Jia Shixiang , Xu Meijun , Liu Hongjun , Yang Qi
Published: January 2023

The shear behavior and dynamic response of a steel–silt interface are significant for the safety and stability of offshore structures in the Yellow River Delta. A series of steel–silt interface cyclic shear tests under constant normal load conditions (CNL) were carried out to explore the effects of normal stress, shear amplitude, roughness, and water content on the interface shear strength, shear stiffness, and damping ratio using a large interface shear apparatus. The preliminary results showed that the amplitude of normal stress and shear amplitude affected the interface’s shear strength, stiffness, and damping ratio in a dominant manner. The roughness and water content were also crucial factors impacting the rule of shear strength, shear stiffness, and damping ratio, changing with the number of cycles. Under various scenarios, the steel–silt interface weakened distinctively, and the energy dissipation tended to be asymptotic with the cyclic shear.
Analytical Eddy Viscosity Model for Turbulent Wave Boundary Layers: Application to Suspended Sediment Concentrations over Wave Ripples
Authors: Absi Rafik , Tanaka Hitoshi
Published: January 2023

Turbulence related to flow oscillations near the seabed, in the wave bottom boundary layer (WBBL), is the phenomenon responsible for the suspension and transport of sediments. The vertical distribution of turbulent eddy viscosity within the WBBL is a key parameter that determines the vertical distribution of suspended sediments. For practical coastal engineering applications, the most used method to parameterize turbulence consists in specifying the shape of the one-dimensional-vertical (1DV) profile of eddy viscosity. Different empirical models have been proposed for the vertical variation of eddy viscosity in the WBBL. In this study, we consider the exponential-type profile, which was validated and calibrated by direct numerical simulation (DNS) and experimental data for turbulent channel and open-channel flows, respectively. This model is generalized to the WBBL, and the period-averaged eddy viscosity is calibrated by a two-equation baseline (BSL) k-ω model for different conditions. This model, together with a β-function (where β is the inverse of the turbulent Schmidt number), is used in modeling suspended sediment concentration (SSC) profiles over wave ripples, where field and laboratory measurements of SSC show two kinds of concentration profiles depending on grain particles size. Our study shows that the convection–diffusion equation, for SSC in WBBLs over sand ripples with an upward convection term, reverts to the classical advection–diffusion equation (ADE) with an “apparent” sediment diffusivity εs*=α εs related to the sediment diffusivity εs by an additional parameter α associated with the convective sediment entrainment process over sand ripples, which is defined by two equations. In the first, α depends on the relative importance of upward convection related to coherent vortex shedding and downward settling of sediments. When the convective transfer is very small, above low-steepness ripples, α≈1. In the second, α depends on the relative importance of coherent vortex shedding and random turbulence. When random turbulence is more important than coherent vortex shedding, α≈1, and “apparent” sediment diffusivity reverts to the classical sediment diffusivity εs*≈ εs. Comparisons with experimental data show that the proposed method allows a good description of both SSC for fine and coarse sand and “apparent” sediment diffusivity εs*.
Exploring Genetic and Neural Risk of Specific Reading Disability within a Nuclear Twin Family Case Study: A Translational Clinical Application
Authors: Thomas Tina , Litwin Griffin , Francis David J. , Grigorenko Elena L.
Published: January 2023

Imaging and genetic studies have characterized biological risk factors contributing to specific reading disability (SRD). The current study aimed to apply this literature to a family of twins discordant for SRD and an older sibling with reading difficulty. Intraclass correlations were used to understand the similarity of imaging phenotypes between pairs. Reading-related genes and brain region phenotypes, including asymmetry indices representing the relative size of left compared to right hemispheric structures, were descriptively examined. SNPs that corresponded between the SRD siblings and not the typically developing (TD) siblings were in genes ZNF385D, LPHN3, CNTNAP2, FGF18, NOP9, CMIP, MYO18B, and RBFOX2. Imaging phenotypes were similar among all sibling pairs for grey matter volume and surface area, but cortical thickness in reading-related regions of interest (ROIs) was more similar among the siblings with SRD, followed by the twins, and then the TD twin and older siblings, suggesting cortical thickness may differentiate risk for this family. The siblings with SRD had more symmetry of cortical thickness in the transverse temporal and superior temporal gyri, while the TD sibling had greater rightward asymmetry. The TD sibling had a greater leftward asymmetry of grey matter volume and cortical surface area in the fusiform, supramarginal, and transverse temporal gyrus. This exploratory study demonstrated that reading-related risk factors appeared to correspond with SRD within this family, suggesting that early examination of biological factors may benefit early identification. Future studies may benefit from the use of polygenic risk scores or machine learning to better understand SRD risk.
Nexus between Intellectual Capital and Bank Productivity in India
Authors: Tiwari Ranjit , Vidyarthi Harishankar , Kumar Anand
Published: January 2023

This paper empirically investigates the influence of intellectual capital on changes in total factor productivity of 36 BSE-listed banks in India from 2005 to 2019. This study employs a two-stage analysis that begins by investigating changes in total factor productivity using the Malmquist Productivity Index estimated through Data Envelopment Analysis, and then computes intellectual capital and its sub-components within the Value Added Intellectual Coefficients model framework. Then, using the System Generalised Method of Moments, we investigate the impact of intellectual capital on changes in total factor productivity. According to our findings, productivity growth is primarily driven by efficiency changes rather than technological changes. Furthermore, regression results show that the intellectual capital index and its two sub-components, human capital and capital employed, have a strong positive impact on bank productivity. This research could help bank senior executives measure their productivity and intellectual capital, identify relevant intellectual capital elements that contribute to productivity and develop future policies to encourage and improve their intellectual potential. Furthermore, this is one of the few studies in the Indian context that examines the nexus between intellectual capital and productivity using the Malmquist Productivity Index.
Meeting Human and Biodiversity Needs for 30 × 30 and beyond with an Iterative Land Allocation Framework and Tool
Authors: Gallo John A. , Lombard Amanda T. , Cowling Richard M. , Greene Randal , Davis Frank W.
Published: January 2023

Spatial conservation prioritization does not necessarily lead to effective conservation plans, and good plans do not necessarily lead to action. These “science-action” gaps are pernicious and need to be narrowed, especially if the international goal of conserving 30% of the planet by 2030 is to be realized. We present the Earthwise Framework, a flexible and customizable spatial decision support system (SDSS) architecture and social process to address the challenges of these science-action gaps. Utilizing case study experience from regions within California, South Africa, and British Columbia, we outline the framework and provide the Little Karoo, South Africa SDSS data, code and results to illustrate five design strategies of the framework. The first is to employ an “open science” strategy for collaborative conservation planning and action. Another is that marginal value functions allow for the continuous accounting of element (e.g., habitat) representation in prioritization algorithms, allowing for an SDSS that is more automated and saves valuable time for stakeholders and scientists. Thirdly, we program connectivity modeling integrated within the SDSS, with an algorithm that not only automatically calculates all the least cost corridors of a region, but prioritizes among them and removes the ones that do not make ecological sense. Fourth, we highlight innovations in multi-criteria decision analysis that allow for both cost-efficient plan development, like representative solution sets, but also land-use planning requirements, like site specific valuation, in what appears to be a more transparent, understandable, and usable manner than traditional approaches. Finally, strategic attention to communicating uncertainty is also advocated. The Earthwise Framework is an open science endeavor that can be implemented via a variety of software tools and languages, has several frontiers for further research and development, and shows promise in finding a better way to meet the needs of both humans and biodiversity.
Land Use Quality Assessment and Exploration of the Driving Forces Based on Location: A Case Study in Luohe City, China
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Yao Xinzhi , Shao Huamei , Bai Tian , Xu Yaqiong , Tian Guohang , Fekete Albert , Kollányi László
Published: January 2023

With rapid urban population growth and industrial agglomeration, the urban land supply is becoming gradually tight. Improving land use quality (LUQ) is becoming increasingly critical. This study was carried out in the Luohe built-up zones between 2013 and 2021. The aim is to explore the growth characteristics of LUQ and determine the association between the inner urban location and the growth rate from the perspective of spatial heterogeneity. Therefore, based on a socio-economic-environmental framework, we selected an integration/GDP/population/artificial-surface Rate, and a remote-sensing-based ecological index to construct a LUQ assessment framework that is more stable and applicable for developing urban areas. Additionally, then, multiscale geographical weighted regression is adopted, which can better help us explore the scale of the location factors. The results show that: (1) The LUQ overall growth is gradually slowing. High-quality areas clustered in the urban center and subsystem elements spread outward along the national and provincial highways to drive boundary expansion; (2) In the W/E/SE direction, land use tends more towards physical sprawl than usual development and expansion; (3) Location factors were distinguished as global, semi-global, and local. The global factors constitute the homogenized locational space. Semi-global and local factors constitute a heterogeneous locational space. The latter is critical to guide LUQ growth. LUQ assessment can promote intensive land use. Exploring location factors can further guide the LUQ spatial growth and provide data in support of urban planning.
The Smart Village Concept and Transport Exclusion of Rural Areas—A Case Study of a Village in Northern Poland
Authors: Żukowska Sandra , Chmiel Beata , Połom Marcin
Published: January 2023

The aim of the article is to present transport accessibility in rural areas in Poland, with a particular emphasis on the problem of transport exclusion. The following research methods were used in the study: literature review, statistical data analysis and GIS analysis. The article presents a transportation picture of rural areas and identifies the main problem issues related to the insufficient accessibility of public transport. The conducted analyses show a significant alienation of the study area which results from underdeveloped public transport and road infrastructure, including pedestrian and bicycle routes. Measures taken by local authorities in this regard show awareness of the problems of the local community, but those authorities do not take sufficient action. The transport exclusion of inhabitants of the analyzed area can be reduced by developing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure connecting villages with the existing railway network, characterized by a high frequency of trains.
Differences between Maximum Tongue Force in Women Suffering from Chronic and Asymptomatic Temporomandibular Disorders—An Observational Study
Authors: Diaz-Saez Marta Carlota , Beltran-Alacreu Hector , Gil-Castillo Javier , Gil-Martínez Alfonso
Published: January 2023

Background: Temporomandibular disorders are craniofacial disorders characterized by the presence of chronic pain in masticatory muscles, with higher incidence in the women population. There is little research that has studied tongue force related to temporomandibular disorders, but there are a lot of studies that have demonstrated the impact of tongue force in vital functions, such as chewing, swallowing, phonation, or breathing. According to this, the aim of this study was to compare the maximum force of the tongue between females with chronic temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic females. We also wanted to establish whether any relationship existed between the pain and fatigue versus the maximum force developed in females with chronic temporomandibular disorders. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study of 67 women between the ages of 18 and 65 years old was performed. The included women were assigned to one of two groups, according to whether they had chronic temporomandibular disorders or not. The procedure was the same for both groups. Outcome measures included the maximum tongue force, intensity of perceived orofacial pain, and intensity of perceived orofacial fatigue. Results: The results showed significant statistical differences for the maximum tongue force measurement between the chronic temporomandibular disorders group and the control group (p < 0.05) for all the movements, except the lip pressure measurement. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significant statistical differences between the intensity of perceived orofacial fatigue between the groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the data showed no significant correlations between variables. Conclusion: The study found significant differences in maximum tongue force when comparing women with chronic temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic women (being superior in these). Likewise, we found that the intensity of perceived orofacial fatigue after tongue exercises showed significant differences between groups. However, this study reveals no correlations between the intensity of perceived orofacial pain and fatigue and the maximum tongue force.
Potential of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Padina boergesenii as a Natural UV Filter in Sunscreen Cream Formulation
Authors: Soleimani Soolmaz , Yousefzadi Morteza , Babaei Mahani Nezhad Sepideh , Pozharitskaya Olga N. , Shikov Alexander N.
Published: January 2023

Brown seaweeds, due to their wide range of bioactive compounds, have a high ability to inhibit free radicals and protect against ultraviolet rays. In the present study, the ethyl acetate fraction (EF) was isolated from the Padina boergesenii brown seaweed. Antioxidant activity (by the DPPH scavenging activity method) and cytotoxicity against UVB-induced cytotoxicity in HaCaT human keratinocytes were evaluated. Then, this fraction was used as a bio-filter in the formulation of sunscreen, and the physical properties and stability were investigated. The results showed that the EF could inhibit DPPH radical scavenging (54 ± 1%) and cell viability of HaCaT keratinocytes exposed to UVB irradiation (81.2 ± 0.1%). The results of the stability study of the cream formulated with EF showed that at temperatures 4 °C and 25 °C it has high stability; and at 40 °C on the 28th day, a slight decrease in its stability was observed. The pH and Sun Protection Factor of the cream formulated with EF were reported at 5.8 and 20.55, respectively. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the cream was not altered for 28 days of storage at temperatures of 4–40 °C. According to our results, it was proved that the sunscreen formulated with EF of P. boergesenii brown seaweed has promising properties and characteristics that can create a new opportunity for the development of cosmetics and skin care products.