bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adoption mode of agricultural machinery and food productivity: evidence from China
Authors: Wei Suhao , Lu Yangxiao
Published: January 2024

Many researchers argue that the adoption of agricultural mechanization services (AMSs) is an important way for smallholder farmers in China to engage in modern agricultural production. However, the impact of the adoption mode of agricultural machinery on food productivity remains under-analyzed. We investigate the links between the adoption mode of agricultural machinery and food productivity using data on 795 grain farmers collected from the North China Plain. The results indicate that, compared with service outsourcing (SO), self-purchase (SP) improves the technical efficiency of farms; however, it reduces the input efficiency of agricultural machinery. The channel of the effect is that, although SO can reduce the redundancy of agricultural machinery's input, the opportunistic behavior of AMS suppliers and labor supervision problems lead to a decline in agricultural machinery's operation quality. The impact of the adoption mode of agricultural machinery on food productivity is asymmetrical among different types of farmers. Large-scale and professional farmers benefit more from SP, whereas small-scale and part-time farmers benefit more from SO. The AMS is not perfect, and the Chinese government should pay close attention to the loss of technical efficiency in agricultural production caused by the opportunistic behavior of AMS suppliers. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the agricultural machinery subsidy policy and reduce the transaction cost of AMS.
A call for collaboration among food systems programs in higher education to train the future workforce
Authors: Collier Sarah M. , Ismach Alan , Jansen Victoria , Kiser Aba , Henning Holly , Lewis Laura R. , Spiker Marie L. , Otten Jennifer J.
Published: January 2024

A well-trained food systems workforce is in high demand, and food systems education programs are proliferating in higher education. However, these programs often struggle to embody the full interdisciplinary scope of the field of food systems, in part due to the limitations of traditional academic structures. Here, we present an inventory of existing U.S. food systems educational programs which showcases the breadth of their geographic distribution and disciplinary contexts. We pair this with a case study of two geographically proximal, highly complementary programs, one at a land grant university and one within a school of public health. While the individual programs face challenges in achieving full interdisciplinarity, their pairing showcases that striking opportunities exist to augment interdisciplinarity through inter-institutional collaboration. More models of successful inter-institutional collaborative food systems education are needed. Growth in this area would be aided by external funding for proof-of-concept models, fostering learning networks across disciplinarily distinct programs, and fighting the mission creep of individual programs striving to “do it all” at the expense of quality, stability, or an appreciation for the value of diverse core strengths.
Retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large adrenal tumors—analysis of tumor size and adverse events: a retrospective single-center study
Authors: Tsai I-Chen , Hsieh Yu-Che , Tseng Wen-Hsin , Liu Chien-Liang , Ho Chung-Han , Li Chien-Feng , Chiu Allen W. , Huang Steven K.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Adrenal tumors are relatively common, and adrenalectomy is the third most common endocrine surgery. Patients with adrenal tumors were categorized into two groups for analysis: those with intermediate (4–6 cm, Group 1) and large (>6 cm, Group 2) tumors undergoing Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy (RLA). The primary outcome is to compare the surgical outcomes between these two groups. The secondary outcome involves analyzing the relationship between tumor characteristics and the incidence of adverse events.

Methods

Data from 76 patients who underwent RLA for tumors of size ≥4 cm between 2005 and 2022 at a single tertiary referral center were analyzed retrospectively. Variables, including patients' age, hormone function, operation time, conversion to open approach, perioperative complications, and adverse surgical events (blood loss >500 cc, conversion to open approach, and perioperative complications), were assessed.

Results

No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of functional and histopathologic analysis, gender distribution, functioning factors, perioperative complications, and estimated blood loss. However, patients in Group 2 were younger (median age 50, IQR: 40–57, P = 0.04), experienced longer operative times (median 175 min, IQR: 145–230 min, P = 0.005), and had a higher rate of conversion to open surgery (12%, P = 0.033). For every 1 cm increase in tumor size, the odds ratio for adverse surgical events increased by 1.58.

Conclusions

RLA is a safe and feasible procedure for adrenal tumors larger than 6 cm. While intraoperative and postoperative complications are not significantly increased in either group, larger tumors increase surgery times and are more likely to require conversion to open surgery. Therefore, caution and preparedness for potential adverse events are recommended when dealing with larger tumors. A tumor size of 5.3 cm may serve as a guide for risk stratification and surgical planning in large adrenal tumor management.
Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness
Authors: Jacklin Benjamin D. , Hanousek Katherine , Gillespie Sabrina , Liedtke Anna , Tucker Rachel , Fiske-Jackson Andrew , Smith Roger K.
Published: January 2024

Objective

To validate a novel technique to measure limb stiffness in a clinical setting.

Animals

Three horses and three ponies owned by the Royal Veterinary College.

Procedures

Limb stiffness indices for both forelimbs were first derived using the gold standard of kinematic analysis. Using the same animals, limb stiffness indices were then calculated using portable floor scales to record weight and an electrogoniometer to record changes in metacarpophalangeal joint angle. The two techniques were then assessed for correlation and repeatability.

Results

The repeatability of limb stiffness measurement using the novel clinical tool was considered to be good based on a small coefficient of variation (5.70%). The correlation of limb stiffness as derived by both methods was high (r = 0.78, p < 0.01). Limb stiffness was positively correlated with the mass of the subject (r = 0.85, p < 0.01), with heavier horses having greater limb stiffness.

Clinical relevance

This study has compared a novel method to measure distal forelimb stiffness non-invasively in a clinical setting to kinematic analysis in six equids. It has demonstrated that limb stiffness increases in a linear fashion with body mass consistent with the role of forelimbs providing energy storage. Because in vivo limb stiffness has been shown previously to alter with injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon, it is hypothesized that this technique will offer a practical technique for the clinician to assess limb stiffness in clinical cases. Further study will be necessary to determine its clinical usefulness in such cases.
The use of small diameter nozzles in temperature-controlled hemp oil extraction allows high oil yields and good quality residual hemp cake feed
Authors: Sannino Maura , Vastolo Alessandro , Faugno Salvatore , Masucci Felicia , Di Francia Antonio , Sarubbi Fiorella , Pelosi Maria Eleonora , Kiatti Dieu donnè , Serrapica Francesco
Published: January 2024

The use of two nozzle diameters (6 and 8 mm) in a cold (50°C) hemp seed oil extraction process was evaluated in terms of extraction efficiency, and chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics of the residual cake. Seeds of the varieties Futura 75 and Uso 31 were pressed using a mechanical press with a cooling device. Five pressings were carried out for each variety and nozzle size, the functional parameters of the extraction processes were recorded, and sample of the residual cakes (n = 20) were analyzed. The 6 mm nozzle determined a higher oil yield (+4%) with a limited increase in temperature in the pressing chamber and in the oil (on average + 3°C compared to the 8 mm nozzle). A lower oil yield and consequently a higher fat content in the corresponding cake was observed when using the 8 mm nozzle. Despite the similar fat content, the two varieties had different oil yields and different residual cake compositions. The gas production kinetic of cakes was influenced by variety but little by nozzle size. Overall, the use of a smaller nozzle in a temperature-controlled extraction process can be a useful option to increase hemp oil yield while maintaining good fermentation characteristics of the residual cakes as ruminant feed.
Effects of Loading Modes on Fatigue Limit Estimation in Terms of Rotating Bending Fatigue and Rate Process Theory
Authors: Fukami Mai , Oguma Noriyasu , Guennec Benjamin , Horikawa Noriyo , Sakai Tatsuo
Published: January 2024

In this study, the influence of loading modes on the fatigue limit estimation of low-to-medium-carbon steels was modeled in terms of the rate process theory proposed by Guennec et al. The axial loading model established in terms of the rate process theory has been shown to be effective for axial loading fatigue, but its applicability to rotating bending fatigue is uncertain. Therefore, low- and medium-carbon steels were tested for rotating bending fatigue, and the fatigue limits obtained were compared with those estimated by the axial loading model established in terms of the rate process theory. However, since the model could not be applied, we propose a new model in which the material parameters of an estimation equation established in terms of the rate process theory are expressed based on Vickers hardness, which was introduced to improve the usability of the model. It was found that there was a discrepancy between the axial load fatigue limit and the rotating bending fatigue limit due to the effect of the loading mode. To solve this discrepancy, the stress index was introduced into the model. The proposed model provides a method for estimating the frequency-dependent fatigue limits for different loading modes.
Enhanced Intrusion Detection with LSTM-Based Model, Feature Selection, and SMOTE for Imbalanced Data
Authors: Sayegh Hussein Ridha , Dong Wang , Al-madani Ali Mansour
Published: January 2024

This study introduces a sophisticated intrusion detection system (IDS) that has been specifically developed for internet of things (IoT) networks. By utilizing the capabilities of long short-term memory (LSTM), a deep learning model renowned for its proficiency in modeling sequential data, our intrusion detection system (IDS) effectively discerns between regular network traffic and potential malicious attacks. In order to tackle the issue of imbalanced data, which is a prevalent concern in the development of intrusion detection systems (IDSs), we have integrated the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) into our approach. This incorporation allows our model to accurately identify infrequent incursion patterns. The rebalancing of the dataset is accomplished by SMOTE through the generation of synthetic samples belonging to the minority class. Various strategies, such as the utilization of generative adversarial networks (GANs), have been put forth in order to tackle the issue of data imbalance. However, SMOTE (synthetic minority over-sampling technique) presents some distinct advantages when applied to intrusion detection. The SMOTE is characterized by its simplicity and proven efficacy across diverse areas, including in intrusion detection. The implementation of this approach is straightforward and does not necessitate intricate adversarial training techniques such as generative adversarial networks (GANs). The interpretability of SMOTE lies in its ability to generate synthetic samples that are aligned with the properties of the original data, rendering it well suited for security applications that prioritize transparency. The utilization of SMOTE has been widely embraced in the field of intrusion detection research, demonstrating its effectiveness in augmenting the detection capacities of intrusion detection systems (IDSs) in internet of things (IoT) networks and reducing the consequences of class imbalance. This study conducted a thorough assessment of three commonly utilized public datasets, namely, CICIDS2017, NSL-KDD, and UNSW-NB15. The findings indicate that our LSTM-based intrusion detection system (IDS), in conjunction with the implementation of SMOTE to address data imbalance, outperforms existing methodologies in accurately detecting network intrusions. The findings of this study provide significant contributions to the domain of internet of things (IoT) security, presenting a proactive and adaptable approach to safeguarding against advanced cyberattacks. Through the utilization of LSTM-based deep learning techniques and the mitigation of data imbalance using SMOTE, our AI-driven intrusion detection system (IDS) enhances the security of internet of things (IoT) networks, hence facilitating the wider implementation of IoT technologies across many industries.
Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis of the Volcanic Rock–Evaporite–Clastic Rock Symbiotic Zone in the Fourth Member of the Shahejie Formation in the South of Laizhou Bay
Authors: Zhao Chunhui , Wang Yaning , Zhang Shangfeng
Published: January 2024

Laizhou Bay Sag is a typical continental rift lake basin, which is affected by strike–slip activity, salt rock activity, volcanic activity, and paleoclimate change in the Tanlu fault zone, where three major lithologies—volcanic rock, clastic rock, and evaporite—mainly develop. In order to determine the sequence correspondence between the different lithologies in the study area based on drilling, logging data, and seismic data, it is determined that the fourth member of the Shahejie Formation in the southern Laizhou Bay mainly develops three types of sequences: clastic rock type sequences, salt lake type sequences, and volcanic rock/clastic rock type sequences. Two second-order sequence boundaries (SBs3L, SBs4L) and one third-order sequence boundary (SBs4U) were identified, and the principle of three divisions of system tracts (LST, TST, HST) and sedimentary processes in different types of sequences were determined by analyzing the stacking patterns of different sequences. Compared with the previous research results, this study provides a more detailed analysis of the sequence boundary definition of different blocks and different lithologic strata, and it improves the previous general sequence stratigraphic division method. Based on the study of distinct types of sequences, a unified stratigraphic framework is established in the whole zone, and the stratum thickness distribution of the fourth member of Shahejie Formation is smaller in the southwest and larger in the northeast. The study area is generally filled with pyroclastic rocks–evaporite–clastic rocks, changing from fan delta–saline lake filling to braided river delta–freshwater lake–fan delta filling from bottom to top. A sequence stratigraphic model for the comparison of steep slope–gentle slope differences is established to provide guidance for future oil and gas field exploration and development.
Electrospun Polyurethane Vascular Grafts for Cerebral Revascularization: A Pilot Study on Rats
Authors: Vergauwen Evelynn , Tubeeckx Michiel R. L. , Houben Annemie , Van Vlierberghe Sandra , Demolder Marc , De Meyer Guido R. Y. , Pauwels Patrick , Menovsky Tomas
Published: January 2024

The current standard technique for vascular grafting in cerebral revascularization surgery employs the interposition of an autologous blood vessel. Technical complications have necessitated the development of a synthetic alternative, but classical biomaterials are not suited for small caliber vascular grafting due to the resulting neointimal hyperplasia and thrombosis. The electrospinning of polymers is a promising technique for the development of small vascular grafts. The in vivo performance and efficacy of electrospun polyurethane (ePU) grafts with an internal diameter of <1.5 mm have thus far not been evaluated. We developed a novel ePU graft, with a diameter of 1.25 mm, for implantation into the infrarenal aorta of rats. The patency rates of grafts after a 4-month period were equal to those reported in other studies using larger ePU graft diameters and equal or higher than in studies employing other biomaterials. We observed some loss in flow velocity throughout the grafts, which suggests a decreased elasticity of the graft compared to that of the native rat aorta. However, the grafts demonstrated good neo-endothelialization and minimal neointimal hyperplasia. Their porosity promoted cellular infiltration, as observed under tissue slide examination. Our results show that ePU vascular grafts with an internal diameter of <1.5 mm are promising candidates for vascular grafting in cerebral revascularization surgery.
Enhancing Path Planning Capabilities of Automated Guided Vehicles in Dynamic Environments: Multi-Objective PSO and Dynamic-Window Approach
Authors: Dao Thi-Kien , Ngo Truong-Giang , Pan Jeng-Shyang , Nguyen Thi-Thanh-Tan , Nguyen Trong-The
Published: January 2024

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are vital for optimizing the transport of material in modern industry. AGVs have been widely used in production, logistics, transportation, and commerce, enhancing productivity, lowering labor costs, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring safety. However, path planning for AGVs in complex and dynamic environments remains challenging due to the computation of obstacle avoidance and efficient transport. This study proposes a novel approach that combines multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) and the dynamic-window approach (DWA) to enhance AGV path planning. Optimal AGV trajectories considering energy consumption, travel time, and collision avoidance were used to model the multi-objective functions for dealing with the outcome-feasible optimal solution. Empirical findings and results demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness and efficiency, highlighting its potential for improving AGV navigation in real-world scenarios.
Sequential Extraction of Carbohydrates and Lipids from Chlorella vulgaris Using Combined Physical and Chemical Pre-Treatments
Authors: Hammann William , Ross Andrew , Seames Wayne
Published: January 2024

A key focus of microalgae-based fuels/chemicals research and development has been on the lipids that many strains generate, but recent studies show that solely recovering these lipids may not be cost competitive with fossil-derived processes. However, if the carbohydrates can also be recovered and ultimately converted into useful chemical intermediates, this may improve the economics for microalgae-based sustainable product technologies. In the present work, physical and chemical pre-treatments were performed on the Chlorella vulgaris microalgae strain to recover the carbohydrates from the biomass primarily in the form of glucose and galactose. The effects of temperature, acid concentration, microalgae solid-to-liquid loading, and hydrolysis time on carbohydrate hydrolysis and recovery was explored to identify optimum conditions. The highest recovery of total carbohydrates, 90 ± 1.1 wt% at 95% confidence which represents 40 wt% of the initial biomass, was obtained using temperature-assisted weak-acid extraction. Sequential extraction of carbohydrates and lipids was then explored. The highest recovery of total lipids was 71 ± 1.8 wt%, which represents 22 ± 0.9 wt% of the initial biomass. The sequential extraction of carbohydrates followed by lipids resulted in an overall recovery of 60 ± 1.6 wt% of the initial biomass, which is higher than current single product recovery strategies. These results suggest that adding carbohydrate recovery may be a viable strategy for overcoming a major economic hurdle to microalgae-derived chemical and fuel production by significantly increasing the yield of usable materials from microalgae biomass.
Different Substrate Selectivity and Product Patterns of Immobilized Thermophilic Lipases from Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Anoxybacillus flavithermus, and Thermomyces lanuginosus for Glyceryl Decanoate Synthesis
Authors: Najm Teif A. , Walsh Marie K. , Park Namhyeon
Published: January 2024

Lipases can catalyze synthesis reactions in a micro aqueous system, producing useful partial glycerides (mono- and diglycerides), and these compounds are commonly utilized in different products as surfactants. Depending on the microbial sources for lipases, immobilization conditions, and starting substrates for synthesis reaction, the composition and yields of the resulting partial glycerides could be variable. These differences could lead to the final efficacy of partial glycerides as surfactants in targeted products. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a group of immobilized lipases from different microbial sources with information about substrate specificity to produce effective partial glycerides for various product types. Here, lipases from thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Anoxybacillus flavithermus were prepared with a simple partial purification method, and after immobilization, these lipases were tested to synthesize partial glycerides using different types of decanoic acids. The distinct product patterns were analyzed using HPLC. Both immobilized lipases showed the highest substrate selectivity to decanoic acids in common, producing mainly glyceryl monodecanoate. However, commercial immobilized lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus produced the largest glyceryl monodecanoate from methyl decanoate. These results indicate the importance of immobilization conditions like different microbial sources and substrates and the need for their optimal combination.
Production of Recombinant Single-Chain Eel Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Analogs in Chinese Hamster Ovary Suspension Cell Culture
Authors: Byambaragchaa Munkhzaya , Kim Sang-Gwon , Park Sei Hyun , Shin Min Gyu , Kim Shin-Kwon , Kang Myung-Hwa , Min Kwan-Sik
Published: January 2024

We produced rec-single chain eel luteinizing (rec-eel LH) and follicle-stimulating (rec- eel FSH) hormones displaying high biological activity in Chinese hamster ovary suspension (CHO-S) cells. We constructed several mutants, in which a linker, including an O-linked glycosylated carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of an equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) β-subunit, was attached between the β- and α-subunit (LH-M and FSH-M) or in the N-terminal (C-LH and C-FSH) or C-terminal (LH-C and FSH-C) regions. The plasmids were transfected into CHO-S cells, and culture supernatants were collected. The secretion of mutants from the CHO-S cells was faster than that of eel LHβ/α-wt and FSHβ/α-wt proteins. The molecular weight of eel LHβ/α-wt and eel FSHβ/α-wt was 32–34 and 34–36 kDa, respectively, and that of LH-M and FSH-M was 40–43 and 42–45 kDa, respectively. Peptide-N-glycanase F-treatment markedly decreased the molecular weight by approximately 8–10 kDa. The EC50 value and the maximal responsiveness of the eel LH-M and eel FSH-M increased compared with the wild-type proteins. These results show that the CTP region plays a pivotal role in early secretion and signal transduction. We suggest that novel rec-eel LH and FSH proteins, exhibiting potent activity, could be produced in large quantities using a stable CHO cell system.
Drugs and Drug Candidates: Year in Review
Authors: Vanden Eynde Jean Jacques
Published: January 2024

First of all, I would like to wish you, readers, authors, referees, Editorial Board Members, and colleagues of the editorial offices, a Happy New Year filled with plenty of familial joys and professional achievements [...]
The Effects of Particle LET and Fluence on the Complexity and Frequency of Clustered DNA Damage
Authors: Rezaee Mohammad , Adhikary Amitava
Published: January 2024

Motivation: Clustered DNA-lesions are predominantly induced by ionizing radiation, particularly by high-LET particles, and considered as lethal damage. Quantification of this specific type of damage as a function of radiation parameters such as LET, dose rate, dose, and particle type can be informative for the prediction of biological outcome in radiobiological studies. This study investigated the induction and complexity of clustered DNA damage for three different types of particles at an LET range of 0.5–250 keV/µm. Methods: Nanometric volumes (36.0 nm3) of 15 base-pair DNA with its hydration shell was modeled. Electron, proton, and alpha particles at various energies were simulated to irradiate the nanometric volumes. The number of ionization events, low-energy electron spectra, and chemical yields for the formation of °OH, H°, eaq−, and H2O2 were calculated for each particle as a function of LET. Single- and double-strand breaks (SSB and DSB), base release, and clustered DNA-lesions were computed from the Monte-Carlo based quantification of the reactive species and measured yields of the species responsible for the DNA lesion formation. Results: The total amount of DNA damage depends on particle type and LET. The number of ionization events underestimates the quantity of DNA damage at LETs higher than 10 keV/µm. Minimum LETs of 9.4 and 11.5 keV/µm are required to induce clustered damage by a single track of proton and alpha particles, respectively. For a given radiation dose, an increase in LET reduces the number of particle tracks, leading to more complex clustered DNA damage, but a smaller number of separated clustered damage sites. Conclusions: The dependency of the number and the complexity of clustered DNA damage on LET and fluence suggests that the quantification of this damage can be a useful method for the estimation of the biological effectiveness of radiation. These results also suggest that medium-LET particles are more appropriate for the treatment of bulk targets, whereas high-LET particles can be more effective for small targets.
Demonstration-Based and Attention-Enhanced Grid-Tagging Network for Mention Recognition
Authors: Jia Haitao , Huang Jing , Zhao Kang , Mao Yousi , Zhou Huanlai , Ren Li , Jia Yuming , Xu Wenbo
Published: January 2024

Concepts empower cognitive intelligence. Extracting flat, nested, and discontinuous name entities and concept mentions from natural language texts is significant for downstream tasks such as concept knowledge graphs. Among the algorithms that uniformly detect these types of name entities and concepts, Li et al. proposed a novel architecture by modeling the unified mention recognition as the classification of word–word relations, named W2NER, achieved state-of-the-art (SOTA) results in 2022. However, there is still room for improvement. This paper presents three improvements based on W2NER. We enhanced the grid-tagging network by demonstration learning and tag attention feature extraction, so our modified model is named DTaE. Firstly, addressing the issue of insufficient semantic information in short texts and the lack of annotated data, and inspired by the demonstration learning from GPT-3, a demonstration is searched during the training phase according to a certain strategy to enhance the input features and improve the model’s ability for few-shot learning. Secondly, to tackle the problem of W2NER’s subpar recognition accuracy problem for discontinuous entities and concepts, a multi-head attention mechanism is employed to capture attention scores for different positions based on grid tagging. Then, the tagging attention features are embedded into the model. Finally, to retain information about the sequence position, rotary position embedding is introduced to ensure robustness. We selected an authoritative Chinese dictionary and adopted a five-person annotation method to annotate multiple types of entities and concepts in the definitions. To validate the effectiveness of our enhanced model, experiments were conducted on the public dataset CADEC and our annotated Chinese dictionary dataset: on the CADEC dataset, with a slight decrease in recall rate, precision is improved by 2.78%, and the comprehensive metric F1 is increased by 0.89%; on the Chinese dictionary dataset, the precision is improved by 2.97%, the recall rate is increased by 2.35%, and the comprehensive metric F1 is improved by 2.66%.
Graphene Nanocomposite Materials for Supercapacitor Electrodes
Authors: Ul Hoque Md. Ikram , Donne Scott W. , Holze Rudolf
Published: January 2024

Graphene and related materials (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide) as a subclass of carbon materials and their composites have been examined in various functions as materials in supercapacitor electrodes. They have been suggested as active masses for electrodes in electrochemical double-layer capacitors, tested as conducting additives for redox-active materials showing only poor electronic conductivity, and their use as a coating of active materials for corrosion and dissolution protection has been suggested. They have also been examined as a corrosion-protection coating of metallic current collectors; paper-like materials prepared from them have been proposed as mechanical support and as a current collector of supercapacitor electrodes. This entry provides an overview with representative examples. It outlines advantages, challenges, and future directions.
Decoding Diabetes Nutritional Guidelines for Physicians in Underserved American Populations
Authors: Kelly Owen J. , Deya Edelen Elizabeth , Sharma Anika , Kashyap Karishma , Patel Radhika , Saiprakash Samyukthaa , Shah Ali , Konduri Sriya
Published: January 2024

Medical (healthcare) deserts and food deserts, either separate or combined, exist in rural areas, globally. The physicians and other healthcare professionals who serve rural and other underserved populations, to some extent, also experience life in these areas. Dietary guidelines, from expert societies, for people with diabetes, have been helpful in guiding healthcare professionals through nutritional interventions. However, these guidelines are not designed for rural areas where healthcare resources are scarce, and access to the built environment for a healthy lifestyle and affordable healthy foods are not available. Therefore, the guidelines were reviewed, with rural physicians and healthcare professionals who work in underserved areas in mind, to assess their appropriateness. Based on the guidelines and other literature, potential solutions to guideline gaps are proposed to aid in providing nutritional therapy for the underserved. The overall goals are to improve the nutritional component of healthcare for underserved people with diabetes, and to begin the conversation around creating specific guidelines for rural physicians and other healthcare professionals, where patients are at a higher risk for diabetes.
Lived Experiences of People with and without Disabilities across the Lifespan on Autonomous Shuttles
Authors: Hwangbo Seung Woo , Stetten Nichole E. , Wandenkolk Isabelle C. , Li Yuan , Classen Sherrilene
Published: January 2024

As an emerging, alternative mode of transportation, an in-depth understanding of autonomous shuttle (AS) experiences among all age groups, with and without disabilities, may impact acceptance and adoption of the AS, shape industry guidelines, and impact public policy. Therefore, this study analyzed qualitative data from older (n = 104), younger, and middle-aged (n = 106) adults and people with disabilities (n = 42). The data were obtained by asking participants four open-ended questions from an Autonomous Vehicle User Perception Survey. The result revealed seven themes (Safety, Ease of Use, Cost, Availability, Aging, AS Information, and Experience with AS) for older, younger, and middle-aged adults and six themes (all of the previously mentioned except for Aging) for people with disabilities. Frequency counts indicated priority attention, among all groups, to Safety and Ease of Use. This study provides valuable information pertaining to the experiences, concerns, and motivations of all potential users across age groups and disabilities—and may inform policymakers and industry partners to address their needs more adequately. These findings may contribute to improving and enhancing AS programming, design, and deployment in a safer, accessible, affordable, and tailored way.
Outcomes of COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations in Geriatric Patients with Dementia in the United States: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis
Authors: Escobar Gil Tomas , Quazi Mohammed A. , Verma Tushita , Sohail Amir H. , Ikram Hafiz Abdullah , Nasrullah Adeel , Gangu Karthik , Farooq Asif , Sheikh Abu Baker
Published: January 2024

Previous studies have convincingly demonstrated the negative impact of dementia on overall health outcomes. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is burgeoning evidence suggesting a possible association between dementia and adverse outcomes, however the relationship has not been conclusively established. We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 816,960 hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged 65 or older from the 2020 national inpatient sample. The cohort was bifurcated into patients with dementia (n = 180,845) and those without (n = 636,115). Multivariate regression and propensity score matched analyses (PSM) assessed in-hospital mortality and complications. We observed that COVID-19 patients with dementia had a notably higher risk of in-hospital mortality (23.1% vs. 18.6%; aOR = 1.2 [95% CI 1.1–1.2]). This elevated risk persisted even after PSM. Interestingly, dementia patients had a reduced risk of several acute in-hospital complications, including liver failure and sudden cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, they had longer hospital stays and lower total hospital charges. Our findings conclusively demonstrate that dementia patients face a heightened risk of mortality when hospitalized with COVID-19 but are less likely to experience certain complications. This complexity underscores the urgent need for individualized care strategies for this vulnerable group.
The Treatment Effects of Percutaneous Drainage with or without Sclerotherapy for Symptomatic Liver Cysts
Authors: Takakusagi Satoshi , Kakizaki Satoru , Saito Naoto , Kohga Tatsuya , Ueno Takashi , Hatanaka Takeshi , Namikawa Masashi , Tojima Hiroki , Naganuma Atsushi , Kosone Takashi , Uraoka Toshio , Takagi Hitoshi
Published: January 2024

Background: While the current guidelines recommend laparoscopic deroofing for symptomatic simple liver cysts, percutaneous drainage may serve as a less invasive alternative method. In this study, the treatment effects of percutaneous drainage with or without sclerotherapy for symptomatic simple liver cysts were evaluated. Methods: Between April 2016 and March 2021, 79 patients who initially required hospitalization due to symptomatic simple liver cysts were enrolled in this multicenter retrospective study. They were treated percutaneously with or without sclerotherapy. The factors associated with symptom recurrence, clinical course and prognosis were investigated. Results: Of the 79 patients treated percutaneously, 11 (13.9%) had symptom recurrence due to liver cysts during the observation period. The maximum diameter of liver cysts at baseline was the only significant factor for the recurrence of these symptoms (p = 0.004). In a receiver operating characteristics analysis, the cut-off of the diameter for symptom recurrence was 16.5 cm. No additional effect of sclerotherapy on drainage was demonstrated in patients with a cyst diameter of <16.5 cm, and in patients with a cyst diameter of ≥16.5 cm, the cumulative recurrence rates of symptoms were significantly lower in the patients treated via sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate or with minocycline hydrochloride than in those treated with drainage alone or via sclerotherapy with absolute ethanol. No problematic adverse effects were observed of sclerotherapy. Conclusions: Drainage with sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate or minocycline hydrochloride was an effective and safe treatment for patients whose liver cysts had a maximum diameter of ≥16.5 cm. Considering both its efficacy and safety, sclerotherapy with either of these agents is recommended for patients with a maximum liver cyst diameter of ≥16.5 cm.
An Ultra-Compact X-ray Regenerative Amplifier Free-Electron Laser
Authors: Singleton Madison , Rosenzweig James , Tang Jingyi , Huang Zhirong
Published: January 2024

There is a growing interest in designing and building compact X-ray Free Electron Lasers (FELs) for scientific and industry applications. In this paper, we report an X-ray Regenerative Amplifier FEL (XRAFEL) design based on a proposed Ultra Compact X-ray FEL configuration. Our results show that an XRAFEL can dramatically enhance the temporal coherence and increase the spectral brightness of the radiation in the hard X-ray regime without increasing the footprint of the FEL configuration. The proposed compact, fully coherent, and high-flux hard X-ray source holds promise as a valuable candidate for a wide range of high-impact applications in both academia and industry.
Didymella pinodella: An Important Pea Root Rot Pathogen in France to Watch Out For?
Authors: Šišić Adnan , Baćanović-Šišić Jelena , Gamba Fernanda M. , Finckh Maria R.
Published: January 2024

Root rot pathogens restrict pea and wheat production globally. In the EU, pea and pea-based cereal mixtures are being promoted; however, root rot pathogen dynamics in such mixtures are poorly understood. Winter pea and wheat were grown either in pure stands or in mixtures in the field in western France, and the severity of root rot in pea, wheat, and their mixtures, as well as the key pathogens associated with these crops, were assessed. Disease severity was moderate in pea and low in wheat, with no effect of sowing pattern. Didymella pinodella, a previously unreported pathogen in the pea–root rot complex in France, emerged as the most dominant pathogen in pea. It also occurred in low frequencies in wheat. Subsequent greenhouse aggressiveness tests showed that ten of the commonly grown pea cultivars in France lack resistance to D. pinodella. Among the Fusarium spp. isolated, F. avenaceum was the most frequent, occurring at similar frequencies in pea and wheat. In conclusion, D. pinodella may be an important pea root rot pathogen in France and there is a lack of resistance in the tested pea cultivars. In addition, F. avenaceum is a shared pathogen of wheat and pea.
Altered Splicing of LAMP2 in a Multigenerational Family from Latvia Affected by Danon Disease
Authors: Stavusis Janis , Micule Ieva , Grinfelde Ieva , Zdanovica Anna , Pudulis Janis , Valeina Sandra , Sepetiene Svetlana , Lace Baiba , Inashkina Inna
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Danon disease is a multisystemic disorder associated with variants in the LAMP2 gene, mainly affecting the cardiac muscle. Here, we report a multigenerational family from Latvia with two male patients, hemizygous for a novel splice-affecting variant c.928+3A>G. Affected patients exhibit a cardiac phenotype, moderate mental disability, and mild retinal changes. Materials and Methods: Both patients underwent either exome or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gene panel next-generation sequencing. The pathogenic variant effect was determined using reverse transcription, Sanger sequencing, and high-resolution electrophoresis. Results: Evaluation of the splicing process revealed that approximately 80% of the transcripts exhibited a lack of the entire exon 7. This alteration was predicted to cause a shift of the reading frame, consequently introducing a premature stop codon downstream in the sequence. Conclusions: Based on our data, we propose that c.928+3A>G is a pathogenic variant associated with Danon disease.
Prevention of Postoperative Urethral Strictures by Irrigation with 5-Fluorouracil via a Modified Urinary Catheter
Authors: Kairambayev Yerbol , Bulegenov Tolkyn , Omarov Nazarbek , Kuderbayev Muratkan , Syzdykbayev Marat , Glushkova Natalya , Akhmetzhanova Dinara , Kaskabayeva Alida , Muzdubayeva Zhanna , Akimzhanov Kuat , Pivina Lyudmila
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Urethral strictures are the most common complications after surgical treatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Despite various preventive measures, the search for medications with antiproliferative activity and the development of surgical procedures to prevent the development of urethral strictures are still relevant. We evaluated the preventive efficacy of 5-fluorouracil against urethral strictures in patients undergoing surgery for BPH. Materials and Methods: A non-randomized clinical trial including 246 male patients with an average age of 70.0 ± 8.0 years was conducted. The main study group included 124 patients who, in addition to the standard treatment, received lavage with a 5-fluorouracil solution (1000 mg/20 mL per 500 mL of 0.9% isotonic saline) using a modified three-way urethral catheter. The monitoring of clinical, laboratory, and instrumental parameters was carried out 10 days, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Results: The evaluation of severity for dysuria symptoms in patients using the IPSS scale throughout the entire follow-up period showed a statistically significant decrease in ischuria and stranguria, prolongation of the interval between urinations, a decrease in intermittent urination, urinary incontinence, and straining before urination in the main group in comparison with the control patients. The patients of both study groups noted an improvement in the quality of life. It was found statistically significant decrease in the maximum urinary flow rate in the main group (p < 0.001). In the control group, after three months, four cases of urethral strictures and stenosis were recorded; after six months, this rate reached nine cases (7.3%), while in the main group, only one patient with infravesical obstruction was found (0.8%) (χ2 = 3.855, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of our study could indicate the effectiveness of the antiproliferative drug 5-fluorouracil in combination with use of a modified catheter in relation to the development of postoperative urethral strictures.
Addition of Vitamin C Does Not Decrease Neuron-Specific Enolase Levels in Adult Survivors of Cardiac Arrest—Results of a Randomized Trial
Authors: Privšek Matevž , Strnad Matej , Markota Andrej
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Survival with favorable neurologic outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains elusive. Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) involves myocardial and neurological injury, ischemia-reperfusion response, and underlying pathology. Neurologic injury is a crucial determinant of survival and functional outcomes, with damage caused by free radicals among the responsible mechanisms. This study explores the feasibility of adding intravenous vitamin C to the treatment of OHCA survivors, aiming to mitigate PCAS. Vitamin C, a nutrient with antioxidative and free radical-scavenging properties, is often depleted in critically ill patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blinded trial was conducted at a tertiary-level university hospital with adult OHCA survivors. Participants received either standard care or the addition of 1.5 g of intravenous vitamin C every 12 h for eight consecutive doses. Neurologic injury was assessed using neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels, with additional clinical and laboratory outcomes, such as enhanced neuroprognostication factors, inflammatory markers, and cardiac parameters. Results: NSE levels were non-significantly higher in patients who received vitamin C compared to the placebo group (55.05 µg/L [95% confidence interval (CI) 26.7–124.0] vs. 39.4 µg/L [95% CI 22.6–61.9], p > 0.05). Similarly, a non-significantly greater proportion of patients in the vitamin C group developed myoclonus in the first 72 h. We also observed a non-significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, fewer arrhythmias, and reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit in the group of patients who received vitamin C (p = 0.031). However, caution is warranted in interpretation of our results due to the small number of participants. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that intravenous vitamin C should not be used outside of clinical trials for OHCA survivors. Due to the small sample size and conflicting results, further research is needed to determine the potential role of vitamin C in post-cardiac arrest care.
Minimally Invasive Peroneal Tenodesis Assisted by Peroneal Tendoscopy: Technique and Preliminary Results
Authors: Castilho Rodrigo Simões , Magalhães João Murilo Brandão , Veríssimo Bruno Peliz Machado , Perisano Carlo , Greco Tommaso , Zambelli Roberto
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Peroneal disorders are a common cause of ankle pain and lateral instability and have been described in as much as 77% of patients with lateral ankle instability. Clicking, swelling, pain, and tenderness in the peroneal tendons track are frequent symptoms, but they can be confused with other causes of lateral ankle pain. The management of peroneal disorders can be conservative or surgical. When the conservative treatment fails, surgery is indicated, and open or tendoscopic synovectomy, tubularization, tenodesis or tendon transfers can be performed. The authors present a surgical technique of tendoscopy associated to minimally invasive tenodesis for the treatment of peroneal tendon tears, as well as the preliminary results of patients submitted to this procedure. Methods: Four patients with chronic lateral ankle pain who were diagnosed with peroneal brevis pathology were treated between 2020 and 2022 with tendoscopic-assisted minimally invasive synovectomy and tenodesis. Using a 2.7 mm 30° arthroscope and a 3.0 mm shaver blade, the entire length of the peroneus brevis tendon and most parts of the peroneus longus tendon can be assessed within Sammarco’s zones 1 and 2. After the inspection and synovectomy, a minimally invasive tenodesis is performed. Results: All patients were evaluated at least six months after surgery. All of them reported improvement in daily activities and in the Foot Function Index (FFI) questionnaire (pre-surgery mean FFI = 23.86%; post-surgery mean FFI = 6.15%), with no soft tissue complications or sural nerve complaints. Conclusion: The tendoscopy of the peroneal tendons allows the surgeon to assess their integrity, confirm the extent of the lesion, perform synovectomy, prepare the tendon for tenodesis, and perform it in a safe and minimally invasive way, reducing the risks inherent to the open procedure.
Design of Experiments for Evaluating the Relevance of Change in Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Opaque Oils
Authors: de Camargo Mauro Alves Correa , Manea Gabriela Knippelberg Bifano , de Oliveira Elcio Cruz
Published: January 2024

Viscosity is a physicochemical property that evaluates the resistance that fuel offers to flow, influencing the engine’s operation and combustion process. Its control is aimed at good fuel atomization and the preservation of lubricating characteristics. Changes in viscosity can lead to wear on various parts of the engine. Viscometers typically measure the viscosity of fuels in the oil and gas industry. These instruments can measure the time it takes for a fluid to move a given distance through a pipe or the time it takes for an object of a given size and density to pass through the liquid. The traditional test method, ASTM D445, differentiates the procedure for opaque liquids from transparent ones; that is, it requires a warm-up of the sample between 60 °C and 65 °C for 1 h. This additional step can overload laboratory routines, although it is not guaranteed to have a metrologically significant effect on the final result. Thus, this study evaluated the relevance of complying with this step in the test method for the kinematic viscosity of opaque liquids using a 32 factorial experimental design. Based on the F test, p-value, confidence intervals, and percentage contribution of the sum of squares approaches concerning the regression analysis, one concluded that the warm-up time was not a relevant factor in the kinematic viscosity, specifically of very low sulphur fuel oil, Brazilian fuel oil, and atmospheric residue diluted with diesel oil, which are fluids at room temperature.