bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate Data to Support the Adaptation of Buildings to Climate Change in Canada
Authors: Gaur Abhishek , Lacasse Michael
Published: April 2022

Climate change will continue to bring about unprecedented climate extremes in the future, and buildings and infrastructure will be exposed to such conditions. To ensure that new and existing buildings deliver satisfactory performance over their design lives, their performance under current and future projected climates needs to be assessed by undertaking building simulations. This study prepares climate data needed for building simulations for 564 locations by bias-correcting the Canadian Regional Climate Model version 4 (CanRCM4) large ensemble (LE) simulations with reference to observations. Technical validation results show that bias-correction effectively reduces the bias associated with CanRCM4-LE simulations in terms of their marginal distributions and the inter-relationship between climate variables. To ensure that the range of projected climate change impacts are encompassed within these data sets, and to furthermore provide building moisture and energy reference years, the reference year files were prepared from bias-corrected CanRCM4-LE simulations and are comprised of a typical meteorological year for building energy applications, a typical and extreme moisture reference year, a typical downscaled year, an extreme warm year, and an extreme cold year.
Differential Diagnosis of Rare Diseases Involving Bilateral Lower Extremities with Similar 99mTc-MDP Bone Scan Patterns: Analysis of a Case Series
Authors: Sun Zhenkui , Shen Chentian
Published: April 2022

Here, we reported a panel of rare diseases involving bilateral lower extremities with similar imaging patterns on 99mTc-MDP bone scans. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G-6PD deficiency), Gaucher disease (GD), steroid-induced osteonecrosis, progressive diaphyseal dysplasia (PDD), Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) and Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) were included and imaging characteristics were analyzed. The rare properties of these diseases and mimicking features on 99mTc-MDP bone scans rendered differential diagnosis difficult but necessary. We believe that the rarely known imaging features of the reported diseases will undoubtedly help nuclear medicine physicians make differential diagnoses in clinical practice.
Deep Learning in Multi-Class Lung Diseases’ Classification on Chest X-ray Images
Authors: Kim Sungyeup , Rim Beanbonyka , Choi Seongjun , Lee Ahyoung , Min Sedong , Hong Min
Published: April 2022

Chest X-ray radiographic (CXR) imagery enables earlier and easier lung disease diagnosis. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a deep learning method using a transfer learning technique to classify lung diseases on CXR images to improve the efficiency and accuracy of computer-aided diagnostic systems’ (CADs’) diagnostic performance. Our proposed method is a one-step, end-to-end learning, which means that raw CXR images are directly inputted into a deep learning model (EfficientNet v2-M) to extract their meaningful features in identifying disease categories. We experimented using our proposed method on three classes of normal, pneumonia, and pneumothorax of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) data set, and achieved validation performances of loss = 0.6933, accuracy = 82.15%, sensitivity = 81.40%, and specificity = 91.65%. We also experimented on the Cheonan Soonchunhyang University Hospital (SCH) data set on four classes of normal, pneumonia, pneumothorax, and tuberculosis, and achieved validation performances of loss = 0.7658, accuracy = 82.20%, sensitivity = 81.40%, and specificity = 94.48%; testing accuracy of normal, pneumonia, pneumothorax, and tuberculosis classes was 63.60%, 82.30%, 82.80%, and 89.90%, respectively.
Stress Concentration of Hybrid Occlusal Splint-Mouthguard during a Simulated Maxillofacial Traumatic Impact: 3D-FEA
Authors: Tribst João , Dal Piva Amanda , Kalman Les
Published: April 2022

Mouthguards (MG) are protective devices that can reduce the risks of facial trauma. However, many athletes do not use them. Additionally, MG wear with coincidental parafunctional activity has not been considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution as a consequence of a direct impact comparing a conventional MG with a novel hybrid appliance (HMG). Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, a human skull was modeled with the teeth inserted into their respective alveolus. The models were divided according to the MG type (conventional or hybrid). The geometries were exported to the computer-aided engineering (CAE) software and the materials were considered isotropic. Fixation was defined at the base of the maxilla. The load was applied using a hockey puck. The total deformation (mm) and the von Mises stress (MPa) results were obtained for the MGs (conventional and hybrid), upper teeth, lower teeth, and maxillary bone. Despite the presence of an MG, it is still possible to observe generated stress in all structures. However, the hybrid design was more efficient than the conventional design in reducing the displacement during the impact and consequently the stress on the upper teeth, lower teeth, and maxillary bone. Higher stress magnitude was more concentrated at the inner portion of the hybrid design than the conventional device. The HMG appliance decreased the stress concentration in the teeth and in the bone, limiting the areas susceptible to injuries to the regions directly impacted by the hockey puck. Although the novel HMG may mitigate injury, some stress will still result, and any possible injury should be evaluated by a dental professional.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of the Social Media Technology on Higher Education
Authors: Papademetriou Christos , Anastasiadou Sofia , Konteos George , Papalexandris Stylianos
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic led universities to transform the traditional teaching methodologies into distance education. Therefore, social media has become progressively prominent as teaching and learning resources in universities. Several studies have been conducted for the development of social media as a learning tool. However, there is limited empirical evidence supporting this claim. The present study bridges the gap in the literature concerning the value of the use of social media in higher education. This research seeks to examine the impact of the use of social media in (a) enhancing teaching and learning in universities, (b) motivating and supporting students and (c) developing community connection. A qualitative methodology was adopted. Specifically, in-depth interviews were conducted to assess the effectiveness of social media on students learning in higher education. The results showed that the use of social media by higher educational institutions positively impacts the educational process by (a) promoting teaching and learning, (b) motivating students to be active participants, and (c) establishing connections in the university community. Some obstacles in the teaching and learning process were also identified. Future areas of research are proposed.
M-Emu: A Platform for Multicast Emulation
Authors: Tian Zhenyu , You Jiali , Ni Hong
Published: April 2022

Network layer multicast research is an important field of network research that requires simulators or emulators to support Software-Defined Networking (SDN) as well as to provide a specific structure at the network layer to facilitate packet forwarding, such as a multicast tree. The existing emulation platforms cannot effectively support the emulation of certain key multicast technologies, such as the Grafting Point (GP)-selection method and Rendezvous Point (RP)-selection method, for the following reasons: First, the programmable data plane of the existing emulation platform has many defects, such as the inability to process packet scheduling tasks, the prohibition of dynamic memory allocation and loops with unknown iteration counts, which make it difficult to deploy complex multicast protocols and algorithms. Secondly, at present, no emulation platform integrates network layer multicast emulation functions. As a result, users need to develop the multicast tree construction and maintenance mechanism in advance, which makes experiments laborious. To solve the above problems, based on NS4, we designed a multicast emulation platform, M-Emu. M-Emu presents a Service-Forwarding Architecture, which enables the data plane to deploy arbitrary complex protocols and algorithms. Based on the Service-Forwarding Architecture, M-Emu integrates a Multicast-Emulation Framework, which has a complete multicast tree construction and maintenance mechanism. We explain in detail how the various parts of M-Emu cooperate to complete the multicast emulation with an example and prove that M-Emu is efficient in CPU and memory consumption, etc., through a large number of experiments.
Research and Application of Capacitive Power Transfer System: A Review
Authors: Wang Zhulin , Zhang Yiming , He Xinghong , Luo Bo , Mai Ruikun
Published: April 2022

Capacitive power transfer (CPT) uses an electric field as the transfer medium to achieve wireless power transfer (WPT). Benefitting from the low eddy current loss, simple system structure and strong plasticity of the coupling coupler, the CPT system has recently gained much attention. The CPT system has significantly improved transfer power, system efficiency, and transfer distance due to continuous research and discussion worldwide. This review briefly presents the basic working principle of the CPT system and summarizes the theoretical research in four aspects, including coupling coupler and high-frequency power converter. Following this, the review focuses on research in six key directions, including system modelling and efficiency optimization. The application of CPT technology in five fields, including medical devices and transportation, is also discussed. This review introduces the progress of CPT research in recent years, hoping to serve as a reference for researchers, to promote the further research and application of the CPT system.
Reducing Redundant Test Executions in Software Product Line Testing—A Case Study
Authors: Jung Pilsu , Kang Sungwon , Lee Jihyun
Published: April 2022

In the context of software product line (SPL) engineering, test cases can be reused for testing a family of products that share common parts of source code. An approach to test the products of a product family is to exhaustively execute each test case on all the products. However, such an approach would be very inefficient because the common parts of source code will be tested multiple times unnecessarily. To reduce unnecessary repetition of testing, we previously proposed a method to avoid equivalent test executions of a product line in the context of regression testing. However, it turns out that the same approach can be used in a broader context than just regression testing of product families. In this paper, we argue the generality of the method in the sense that it can be used for testing of the first version of a product family as well as regression testing of its subsequent versions. In addition, in this paper, in order to make the method practically usable for users, we propose a process for applying it to SPL testing. We demonstrate the generality of our method and the practical applicability of the proposed process for the method by conducting a case study.
Prevention and Control Strategies for Non-Communicable Disease: Goldberger, Pellagra and Rose Revisited
Authors: Frank John W.
Published: April 2022

This paper argues that the public health conceptual framework of epidemiologist Geoffrey Rose, first published as “Sick Individuals and Sick Populations” in 1985, provides a useful way to critically analyze prevention and control options for modern non-communicable diseases (NCD) and their forerunner, obesity, a pandemic now engulfing Lower-and-Middle-Income-Countries. That framework is based on the notions of primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention—the full spectrum of “more upstream and more downstream” approaches, each with its pros and cons. These are illustrated using the pellagra epidemic in the southeastern USA from 1900 to the 1940s, which still has much to teach us about these same basic policy options for controlling the modern NCD pandemic. In particular, Rose’s dictum, “Seek the causes of (population) incidence, not of (individual) cases”, points up the compelling advantages of upstream prevention for controlling both epidemics.
Social Acceptability of a Sustainable Forestry Industry in Puerto Rico: Views of Private, Public, and Non-Profit Sectors
Authors: Santiago Luis E. , Forero-Montaña Jimena , Melendez-Ackerman Elvia J. , Gould William A. , Zimmerman Jess K.
Published: April 2022

Sustainable forestry is key to increase the adaptive capacity and resilience of regions exposed to extreme atmospheric events. Understanding social acceptability of forest management practices through a public dialogue that involves a diversity of stakeholders is important to define management policies and strategies. Here, we inquire about social acceptability of a sustainable forestry industry in Puerto Rico by convening a set of local experts from private, non-profit, and public sectors through focus group discussions. We presented three scenarios characterized by different elements of sustainability. Discussions included organizational and management considerations, potential products and markets, and the impact of extreme weather events. The results show that greater agreement was observed within groups than across groups. Most of the private sector participants valued mainly financial viability, while the public and the non-profit sectors gave more importance to social equity and environmental protection. This suggests that there is no single ideal model; thus, participation from all sectors in subsequent conversations would be worthwhile to seek a model that would work for most of the stakeholders. As a next step, we suggest expanding the stakeholder consultation effort to delineate a clear road map that can inform sustainable forestry planning at the local level.
Effects of Moisture and Temperature on Soil Organic Carbon Decomposition along a Vegetation Restoration Gradient of Subtropical China
Authors: Fang Xiong , Zhu Yu-Lin , Liu Jun-Di , Lin Xue-Ping , Sun Hao-Zhao , Tang Xing-Hao , Hu Ya-Lin , Huang Yun-Peng , Yi Zhi-Gang
Published: April 2022

Vegetation restoration can affect the process of soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition, but how this effect is related to soil moisture and temperature remains uncertain. Thus, we performed an incubation of 120 days using soils of degraded land, plantation forest, and secondary natural forest, at two levels of temperature under two moisture levels. We found that the amount of cumulative SOC decomposition in the plantation and secondary natural forest soil was ca. 11.7 times higher than that in the soil from degraded land. Higher soil moisture and temperature treatment increased SOC decomposition in the plantation and secondary natural forest soils. However, in the soil from degraded land, higher soil moisture did not increase SOC decomposition, and higher temperature only increased SOC decomposition in the 60%WHC treatment. The amount of cumulative SOC decomposition was positively correlated with soil MBC and DOC content. The responses of SOC decomposition and the decomposability of DOC to moisture and temperature along the vegetation restoration gradient were highly consistent. Furthermore, in the 60%WHC treatment group, the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SOC decomposition declined with vegetation restoration age increase. Higher soil moisture did not affect Q10 in the plantation and secondary natural forest soil, but increased Q10 in the soil from degraded land. Our results indicate that higher soil temperature and moisture would stimulate SOC decomposition, but it is highly dependent on labile carbon supply and microbial metabolic activity along the vegetation restoration gradient.
Enhancing the Productivity and Stability of Superoxide Dismutase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae TBRC657 and Its Application as a Free Radical Scavenger
Authors: Pinmanee Phitsanu , Sompinit Kamonwan , Arnthong Jantima , Suwannarangsee Surisa , Jantimaporn Angkana , Khongkow Mattaka , Nimchua Thidarat , Sukyai Prakit
Published: April 2022

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is crucial antioxidant enzyme that plays a role in protecting cells against harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are generated inside cells. Due to its functionality, SOD is used in many applications. In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae TBRC657 was selected as the SOD producer due to its high SOD production. After investigating an optimized medium, the major components were found to be molasses and yeast extract, which improved SOD production up to 3.97-fold compared to a synthetic medium. In addition, the optimized medium did not require any induction, which makes it suitable for applications in large-scale production. The SOD formulation was found to increase the stability of the conformational structure and prolong shelf-life. The results show that 1.0% (w/w) trehalose was the best additive, in giving the highest melting temperature by the DSF method and maintaining its activity at more than 80% after storage for 6 months. The obtained SOD was investigated for its cytotoxicity and ROS elimination against fibroblast cells. The results indicate that the SOD enhanced the proliferation and controlled ROS level inside the cells. Thus, the SOD obtained from S. cerevisiae TBRC657 cultured in the optimized medium could be a candidate for use as a ROS scavenger, which can be applied in many industries.
Multi-Layer Feature Fusion-Based Community Evolution Prediction
Authors: Wang Zhao , Xu Qingguo , Li Weimin
Published: April 2022

Analyzing and predicting community evolution has many important applications in criminology, sociology, and other fields. In community evolution prediction, most of the existing research is simply calculating the features of the community, and then predicting the evolution event through the classifier. However, these methods do not consider the complex characteristics of community evolution, and only predict the community’s evolution from a single level. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an algorithm called multi-layer feature fusion-based community evolution prediction, which obtains features from the community layer and node layer. The final community feature is the fusion of the two layer features. At the node layer, this paper proposes a global and local-based role-extraction algorithm. This algorithm can effectively discover different roles in the community. In this way, we can distinguish the influence of nodes with different characteristics on the community evolution. At the community layer, this paper proposes to use the community hypergraph to obtain the inter-community interaction relationship. After all the features are obtained, this paper trains a classifier through these features and uses them in community evolution prediction. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper is better than other algorithms in terms of prediction effect.
Aeroelastic Response of Wind Turbine Rotors under Rapid Actuation of Flap-Based Flow Control Devices
Authors: Menon Muraleekrishnan , Ponta Fernando
Published: April 2022

The largest commercial wind turbines today are rated at powers between 12 MW to 16 MW, with rotor diameters between 220 m to 242 m, which are expected to grow beyond 250 m in the near future. Economies-of-scale factors suggest the advantages of upscaling in rotor size to effectively harvest the wind potential. An increased emphasis on studies related to improvements and innovations in aerodynamic load-control methodologies has led researchers to focus on overcoming the bottlenecks in size upscaling. Though conventional pitch control is an effective approach for long-term load variations, their application to mitigate short-term fluctuations has limitations. This is directly associated with the cubical dependence on the weight of the rotor with increasing diameter. Alternatively, active flow-control devices (FCDs) have the potential to alleviate load fluctuations through rapid aerodynamic trimming. Fractional light-weight attachments such as trailing-edge flaps promise the swift response of such rapid fluctuations and require low power of actuation. The current study investigates the performance of active in dynamic load control for utility-scale wind turbines through an aeroelastic evaluation of the turbine response to control actions in short time-scales relevant to rapid load fluctuations. The numerical platform used in the analysis is designed to consider the complex multi-physics dynamics of the wind turbine through a self-adaptive Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) algorithm that integrates the dynamics presented by control system in to the coupled response of aerodynamics and structural deformations of the rotor. The benchmark case in consideration is the use of fractional trailing-edge flaps used on blades designed for the NREL-5MW Reference Wind Turbine, originally designed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Advanced Strategies to Preserve Quality and Extend Shelf Life of Foods
Authors: Conte Amalia , Del Nobile Matteo A.
Published: April 2022

We are pleased to present this Special Issue, which includes 13 papers that highlight the most important research activities in the field of food quality assurance and shelf-life extension [...]
Green Extraction-Assisted Pseudo-Targeted Profile of Alkaloids in Lotus Seed Epicarp Based on UPLC-QTOF MS with IDA
Authors: Cao Xiaoji , Lin Xupin , Wu Congcong , Zhang Minghua , Wang Mingwei
Published: April 2022

Lotus seed epicarp, a byproduct of lotus, is commonly discarded directly or burned in the cropland, resulting in waste of resources and environmental pollution. In this work, a green ultrasonic-assisted extraction method with ethyl lactate as the extraction solvent was established to extract alkaloids from lotus seed epicarp. The extraction conditions were optimized by response surface methodology. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the extraction of alkaloids from 1 g lotus seed epicarp was accomplished with only 10 mL of extraction solvent within 15 min. Combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry with information-dependent acquisition mode, a total of 42 alkaloids were annotated in the lotus seed epicarp extracts. Among them, 39 alkaloids were reported in lotus seed epicarp for the first time. According to quantitative analysis, the distributions and trends of alkaloids in the lotus seed epicarp were found to be similar to those of lotus leaves. The five growth stages of lotus seed epicarp could be successfully distinguished based on the ten representative alkaloids. This study demonstrates that ultrasonic-assisted extraction with ethyl lactate as extractant solvent was efficient in the extraction of alkaloids from lotus seed epicarp, which is a potential renewable resource of bioactive ingredients.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Phenotypes: From Agroindustry to Health Effects
Authors: Escobar-Puentes Alberto A. , Palomo Iván , Rodríguez Lyanne , Fuentes Eduardo , Villegas-Ochoa Mónica A. , González-Aguilar Gustavo A. , Olivas-Aguirre Francisco J. , Wall-Medrano Abraham
Published: April 2022

Sweet potato (SP; Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an edible tuber native to America and the sixth most important food crop worldwide. China leads its production in a global market of USD 45 trillion. SP domesticated varieties differ in specific phenotypic/genotypic traits, yet all of them are rich in sugars, slow digestible/resistant starch, vitamins, minerals, bioactive proteins and lipids, carotenoids, polyphenols, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, coumarins, and saponins, in a genotype-dependent manner. Individually or synergistically, SP’s phytochemicals help to prevent many illnesses, including certain types of cancers and cardiovascular disorders. These and other topics, including the production and market diversification of raw SP and its products, and SP’s starch as a functional ingredient, are briefly discussed in this review.
Towards a Sensitive Urban Wind Representation in Virtual Reality
Authors: Giraldo Gabriel , Servières Myriam , Moreau Guillaume
Published: April 2022

Wind can influence people’s behavior and their way of inhabiting an architectural or urban space. Furthermore, virtual reality (VR) enables the simulation of different physical and sensitive phenomena such as the wind. We aim to analyze the effects of different wind representations in terms of perception of its properties and sense of presence in VR. We carry out two within-subject studies aiming at evaluating different wind representation suggestions (including audiovisual and tactile stimuli) to identify their effects on wind properties’ perception and sense of presence in the VR scene. Our analysis showed significant effects of tactile restitution over the visual effects used in the study, both for understanding wind properties and for increasing the sense of presence in the VR scene. The tactile condition (T) reduced the estimation error of wind direction by 27% compared to the visual condition (V). The wind force error was reduced by 9.8% using (T) with (V). (T) increased the sense of presence by 12.2% compared to (V). Our second experiment showed an overestimation of the wind force perceived compared to the reference value of the Beaufort scale. For the maximum force value evaluated, the average result was 91% higher than the reference value, while for the lower, the average answer was 77% higher than the reference value. Previous studies have evaluated wind rendering in virtual reality, and others have studied the visualization of wind simulation results. To our knowledge, our study is the first to compare the perception of these two types of representations as well as the effects of wind on elements of the context. We also compared the wind perception to a reference-based method, the Beaufort scale.
Remote Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure Based on TomoSAR
Authors: Budillon Alessandra , Schirinzi Gilda
Published: April 2022

Structural health monitoring and damage detection tools are extremely important topics nowadays with the civil infrastructure aging and deteriorating problems observed in urban areas. These tasks can be done by visual inspection and by using traditional in situ methods, such as leveling or using traditional mechanical and electrical sensors, but these approaches are costly, labor-intensive and cannot be performed with a high temporal frequency. In recent years, remote sensing has proved to be a very promising methodology in evaluating the health of a structure by assessing its deformation and thermal dilation. The satellite-based Synthetic Aperture Radar Tomography (TomoSAR) technique, based on the exploitation of a stack of multi-temporal SAR images, allows to remotely sense the movement and the thermal dilation of individual structures with a centimeter- to millimeter-level accuracy, thanks to new generation high-resolution satellite-borne sensors. In this paper, the effectiveness of a recently developed TomoSAR technique in assessing both possible deformations and the thermal dilation evolution of man-made structures is shown. The results obtained using X-band SAR data in two case studies, concerning two urban structures in the city of Naples (Italy), are presented.
The Symbiotic Fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Möller) Singer (Agaricales, Agaricaceae) as a Target Organism to Control Leaf-Cutting Ants
Authors: Araújo Sean , Seibert Janaína , Ruani Ana , Alcántara-de la Cruz Ricardo , Cruz Artur , Pereira Alana , Zandonai Doraí , Forim Moacir , Silva Maria Fátima , Bueno Odair , Fernandes João
Published: April 2022

Atta and Acromyrmex are the main genera of leaf-cutting ants present in North and South America, causing extensive damage to agroforestry. Control of the ants requires high handling costs with few effective methods available to decrease the losses. The symbiosis between the leaf-cutting ants and the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus is essential for ant nest survival. Therefore, L. gongylophorus may be a key target in controlling leaf-cutting ants, since its reduction may cause an imbalance in the symbiosis necessary to maintain the nest. Among the options for natural fungal control, plant species are considered important sources of compounds belonging to several classes of natural products that show potential as antifungal agents. This review also presents studies that establish that the antagonist fungi from the Escovopsis and Trichoderma genera effectively reduce the development of L. gongylophorus. The development of nanostructured delivery systems, which have shown advantages over conventional formulations, is suggested for ant control; no commercial nanotechnology-based product has yet been developed, and this appears to be a new approach for future studies.
Pediatric Left Posteroseptal Accessory Pathway Ablation from Giant Coronary Sinus with Persistent Left Superior Cava
Authors: Cruzalegui José , Cesar Sergi , Campuzano Oscar , Fiol Victoria , Brugada Josep , Sarquella-Brugada Georgia
Published: April 2022

We report a pediatric patient with persistent left superior vena cava and a D-transposition of great arteries, which is an uncommon relation. It is crucial to know the anatomy of the persistent left superior vena cava and the dilated coronary sinus to plan the mapping techniques in cases of posterior accessory pathways.
Evaluation of the Fitting Accuracy of CAD/CAM-Manufactured Patient-Specific Implants for the Reconstruction of Cranial Defects—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Moellmann Henriette L. , Mehr Vanessa N. , Karnatz Nadia , Wilkat Max , Riedel Erik , Rana Majeed
Published: April 2022

Cranioplasties show overall high complication rates of up to 45.3%. Risk factors potentially associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications are frequently discussed in existing research. The present study examines the positioning of 39 patient-specific implants (PSI) made from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and retrospectively investigates the relationship between the fitting accuracy and incidence of postoperative complications. To analyze the fitting accuracy of the implants pre- and post-operatively, STL files were created and superimposed in a 3D coordinate system, and the deviations were graphically displayed and evaluated along with the postoperative complications. On average, 95.17% (SD = 9.42) of the measurements between planned and surgically achieved implant position were within the defined tolerance range. In cases with lower accordance, an increased occurrence of complications could not be demonstrated. The overall postoperative complication rate was 64.1%. The fitting of the PEEK-PSI was highly satisfactory. There were predominantly minor deviations of the achieved compared to the planned implant positions; however, estimations were within the defined tolerance range. Despite the overall high accuracy of fitting, a considerable complication rate was found. To optimize the surgical outcome, the focus should instead be directed towards the investigation of other risk factors.
Reply to de Reuver et al. Comment on “Grivas et al. Morphology, Development and Deformation of the Spine in Mild and Moderate Scoliosis: Are Changes in the Spine Primary or Secondary? J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 5901”
Authors: Grivas Theodoros , Vynichakis George , Chandrinos Michail , Mazioti Christina , Papagianni Despina , Mamzeri Aristea , Mihas Constantinos
Published: April 2022

With great interest we have read the [...]
Diagnosis and Intervention in Early Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Hioki Tomoyuki , Komine Mayumi , Ohtsuki Mamitaro
Published: April 2022

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects approximately 20–30% of patients with psoriasis. PsA causes deformities and joint damage, impairing quality of life and causing long-term functional disability. Several recent studies demonstrated that early diagnosis and intervention for PsA prevents permanent invalidity. However, the clinical features of PsA vary and are shared with other differential diseases, such as reactive arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The common and overlapping features among these diseases complicate the accurate early diagnosis and intervention of PsA. Therefore, this review focuses on the current knowledge of the diagnosis of early PsA and discusses the meaning of early intervention for early PsA.
The State of Health and the Quality of Life in Women Suffering from Endometriosis
Authors: Ruszała Monika , Dłuski Dominik Franciszek , Winkler Izabela , Kotarski Jan , Rechberger Tomasz , Gogacz Marek
Published: April 2022

Quality of life is related to good health, family relations, feeling of self-esteem, and ability to cope with difficult situations. Endometriosis is a chronic condition which affects different areas of life. The lack of satisfaction in everyday life is mainly due to constant pain. The process of adjusting to a life with illness is associated with negative emotions. The aim of the article is to review the current state of knowledge concerning the impact of social and medical factors on a population of women affected by endometriosis. Women with endometriosis have an impaired quality of life compared to the general female population. Psychological consequences of endometriosis include: depression, anxiety, powerlessness, guilt, self-directed violence, and deterioration of interpersonal relations. It may contribute to lower productivity at work and less satisfying intimate life. A multi-disciplinary, evidence-based care is needed. The disease can take away the ability to be physically active, obtain an education, work continuously, and interact with friends. Social support and cognitive-behavioral therapy are extremely important for healing.
Characterizing Rogue Waves at the Entrance of Tampa Bay (Florida, USA)
Authors: Azevedo Laura , Meyers Steven , Pleskachevsky Andrey , Pereira Henrique P. P. , Luther Mark
Published: April 2022

Rogue waves are a recognized but not fully comprehended hazard of major concern to the maritime industry. There is not one agreed-upon unified model that explains the formation of such waves and little is known about their frequency of occurrence. This study used in situ data from a wave buoy located at the entrance of Tampa Bay, Florida, to assess conditions that could lead to the development of these potentially destructive waves. Tampa Bay is a major commercial and transportation hub on the east coast of the United States. Wave buoy data from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed in this study. While more than 7000 individual waves that significantly exceeded median values were recorded, only 32 exceeded 4 m, thereby imposing risks to local navigation. The largest rogue wave that was recorded was 8.46 m high. Parameters in the time and frequency domains were calculated, local wind and surface current data were correlated, satellite synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) and vessel traffic data were analyzed, and the local bathymetry was considered. Based on our results, the narrow directional wave spreading that was found on the selected rogue waves was recognized as an important indicator of extreme waves. The parameters: surface elevation kurtosis, Benjamin–Feir Index (BFI), wave steepness, broadness, and narrowness factors, wind speed and direction, can be considered together, as a part of a local extreme-wave warning package. The selected individual rogue waves could not be identified using SAR imagery. Regional disturbances from ship wakes were analyzed but yielded no connections to the local formation of rogue waves.
An Integrative View of the Phyllosphere Mycobiome of Native Rubber Trees in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Fonseca Paula Luize Camargos , Skaltsas Demetra , da Silva Felipe Ferreira , Kato Rodrigo Bentes , de Castro Giovanni Marques , García Glen Jasper Yupanqui , Quintanilha-Peixoto Gabriel , Mendes-Pereira Thairine , do Carmo Anderson Oliveira , Aguiar Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha , de Carvalho Daniel Santana , Costa-Rezende Diogo Henrique , Drechsler-Santos Elisandro Ricardo , Badotti Fernanda , Ferreira-Silva Alice , Oliveira Guilherme , Chaverri Priscila , Vaz Aline Bruna Martins , Góes-Neto Aristóteles
Published: April 2022

The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is a neotropical Amazonian species. Despite its high economic value and fungi associated with native individuals, in its original area in Brazil, it has been scarcely investigated and only using culture-dependent methods. Herein, we integrated in silico approaches with novel field/experimental approaches and a case study of shotgun metagenomics and small RNA metatranscriptomics of an adult individual. Scientific literature, host fungus, and DNA databases are biased to fungal taxa, and are mainly related to rubber tree diseases and in non-native ecosystems. Metabarcoding retrieved specific phyllospheric core fungal communities of all individuals, adults, plantlets, and leaves of the same plant, unravelling hierarchical structured core mycobiomes. Basidiomycotan yeast-like fungi that display the potential to produce antifungal compounds and a complex of non-invasive ectophytic parasites (Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck fungi) co-occurred in all samples, encompassing the strictest core mycobiome. The case study of the same adult tree (previously studied using culture-dependent approach) analyzed by amplicon, shotgun metagenomics, and small RNA transcriptomics revealed a high relative abundance of insect parasite-pathogens, anaerobic fungi and a high expression of Trichoderma (a fungal genus long reported as dominant in healthy wild rubber trees), respectively. Altogether, our study unravels new and intriguing information/hypotheses of the foliar mycobiome of native H. brasiliensis, which may also occur in other native Amazonian trees.
The Many Faces of Huntington’s Chorea Treatment: The Impact of Sudden Withdrawal of Tiapride after 40 Years of Use and a Systematic Review
Authors: Feleus Stephanie , van Schaijk Malu , Roos Raymund , de Bot Susanne
Published: April 2022

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a rare, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chorea, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. Despite wide clinical use since the mid-1980s, tiapride was recently withdrawn from the Dutch market without rationale. Although alternatives are available, many patients experienced dysregulation after this unwanted change. We provide insight into the impact of sudden tiapride withdrawal by reviewing medical records of HD patients who were using tiapride at the time of withdrawal. In addition, we performed a systematic search in five databases on tiapride efficacy and its safety profile in HD. Original research and expert opinions were included. In our patient group on tiapride, 50% required tiapride import from abroad. Regarding the review, 12 articles on original datasets and three expert opinions were included. The majority of studies showed an improvement in chorea while patients were on tiapride. Due to limited sample sizes, not all studies performed statistical tests on their results. Fifty percent of clinical experts prefer tiapride as initial chorea monotherapy, especially when comorbid behavioral symptoms are present. Side effects are often rare and mild. No safety concerns were reported. In conclusion, tiapride is almost irreplaceable for some patients and is an effective and safe chorea treatment in HD.
In Between Description and Prescription: Analysing Metalanguage in Normative Works on Dutch 1550–1650
Authors: de Vos Machteld
Published: April 2022

This paper is the first to perform a systematic quantitative analysis of the arguments used to motivate selections in grammatical entries from normative works on Standard Dutch written between ca. 1550 and 1650. Thus, it aims to obtain insight into what language ideologies were characteristic of this early modern period, what these reveal about how Standard Dutch took shape in its initiating phase, and what the differences are between the codification of Dutch in the early modern period (16th/17th century) and the (post)modern period (20th/21st century; analysed in earlier studies). Although certain issues within the annotation method need to be addressed in future research, the results indicate that the following principles were particularly characteristic of the early modern period: for Dutch to be a good language in terms of its grammar, it ought to differentiate, display consistency, mirror Latin and Greek, and reflect the use of certain authorities. These linguistic principles form the roots of the part of the Dutch standard language ideology (SLI; which, as previous research has shown, came into existence in the decades around 1800) that connects ‘language’ with ‘norm’ and that bestows value on the language’s regularity. However, the additional connection to social identity, that forms a second and crucial part of the SLI, played no major part in the arguments used in this time period yet. Moreover, two important differences between the early modern period and the (post)modern period were found: (1) the latter period showed a higher degree of consensus and therefore of canonisation of the normative discourse than the former period; (2) the nature of the metalanguage used in normative publications was explicitly prescriptive in the later period but mostly ostensibly descriptive/implicitly prescriptive in the earlier period. This indicates that, in terms of the metalanguage used, the normative discourse in the formative period of Standard Dutch was in between description and prescription.
The Judicial Assessment of ‘Expert Evidence’ in the United Kingdom’s Immigration and Asylum Chamber
Authors: Campbell John R.
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the role of cultural evidence submitted by anthropologists and social scientists to assist individuals seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. Expert evidence is an essential element in the way that Immigration Judges decide asylum claims. The paper begins by looking at the role of experts and the limits of scientific evidence in the legal process. I set out the context in which expert evidence features in the First-Tier Tribunal of United Kingdom’s Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC). I then show how Immigration Judges in the Upper Tribunal of the IAC assess expert evidence in ‘country guidance’ cases decided between 2015 and 2019. Analysis reveals that experts submit a range of different types of evidence, that judges problematically assess this evidence and that there are serious defects in the judicial process. I conclude by suggesting ways to mediate between the very different roles, perceptions and training of experts, lawyers and judges.
Developing Community Resources for Nucleic Acid Structures
Authors: Berman Helen M. , Lawson Catherine L. , Schneider Bohdan
Published: April 2022

In this review, we describe the creation of the Nucleic Acid Database (NDB) at Rutgers University and how it became a testbed for the current infrastructure of the RCSB Protein Data Bank. We describe some of the special features of the NDB and how it has been used to enable research. Plans for the next phase as the Nucleic Acid Knowledgebase (NAKB) are summarized.
Long-Term Progression and Rapid Decline in Hearing Loss in Patients with a Point Mutation at Nucleotide 3243 of the Mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Sakata Aki , Kashio Akinori , Koyama Hajime , Uranaka Tsukasa , Iwasaki Shinichi , Fujimoto Chisato , Kinoshita Makoto , Yamasoba Tatsuya
Published: April 2022

Patients with m.3243A>G mutation of mitochondrial DNA develop bilaterally symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. However, it is unclear how fast their hearing loss progresses over time, and whether they experience rapid progression of hearing loss. In the present study, we conducted a long-term hearing evaluation in patients with MELAS or MIDD who harbored the m.3243A>G mutation of mitochondrial DNA. A retrospective chart review was performed on 15 patients with this mutation who underwent pure-tone audiometry at least once a year for more than two years. The mean follow-up period was 12.8 years. The mean progression rate of hearing loss was 5.5 dB per year. Hearing loss progressed rapidly to be profoundly deaf in seven patients during the observation period. Heteroplasmy and age-corrected heteroplasmy levels correlated with the age of onset of hearing loss. These results indicate that patients with m.3243A>G mutation have a gradual progression of hearing loss in the early stages and rapid decline in hearing to be profoundly deaf in approximately half of the patients. Although it is possible to predict the age of onset of hearing loss from heteroplasmy and age-corrected heteroplasmy levels, it is difficult to predict whether and when the rapid hearing loss will occur.
Action Mechanisms of Small Extracellular Vesicles in Inflammaging
Authors: Mato-Basalo Rocío , Lucio-Gallego Sergio , Alarcón-Veleiro Carmen , Sacristán-Santos Marta , Quintana María del Pilar Miranda , Morente-López Miriam , de Toro Francisco Javier , Silva-Fernández Lucía , González-Rodríguez Alba , Arufe María C. , Labora Juan Antonio Fafián
Published: April 2022

The accumulation process of proinflammatory components in the body due to aging influences intercellular communication and is known as inflammaging. This biological mechanism relates the development of inflammation to the aging process. Recently, it has been reported that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are mediators in the transmission of paracrine senescence involved in inflammatory aging. For this reason, their components, as well as mechanisms of action of sEVs, are relevant to develop a new therapy called senodrugs (senolytics and senomorphic) that regulates the intercellular communication of inflammaging. In this review, we include the most recent and relevant studies on the role of sEVs in the inflammatory aging process and in age-related diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Random Forest Slurry Pressure Loss Model Based on Loop Experiment
Authors: Wang Zengjia , Kou Yunpeng , Wang Zengbin , Wu Zaihai , Guo Jiaren
Published: April 2022

A reasonable arrangement of filling pipelines can solve the problems of low line magnification, a high flow rate, large pipe pressure, etc., in deep well filling slurry transportation. The transportation pressure loss value of filling slurry is the main parameter for the layout design of filling pipelines. At present, pressure loss data are mainly obtained through the loop pipe experiment, which has problems such as a large amount of labor, high cost, low efficiency, and a limited amount of experimental data. In this paper, combined with a new generation of artificial intelligence technology, the random forest machine learning algorithm is used to analyze and model the experimental data of a loop pipe to predict the pressure loss of slurry transportation. The degree of precision reaches 0.9747, which meets the design accuracy requirements, and it can replace the loop pipe experiment to assist with the filling design.