bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Relevant Is the Parallax Effect on Low Centered Pelvic Radiographs in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Weber Markus , Meyer Matthias , Von Kunow Frederik , Füchtmeier Bernd , Hillmann Axel , Wulbrand Christian
Published: May 2023

The correct cup position in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is usually assessed on anteroposterior low centered pelvic radiographs, harboring the risk of misinterpretation due to projection of a three-dimensional geometry on a two-dimensional plane. In the current study, we evaluate the effect of this parallax effect on the cup inclination and anteversion in THA. In the course of a prospective clinical trial, 116 standardized low centered pelvic radiographs, as routinely obtained after THA, were evaluated regarding the impact of central beam deviation on the cup inclination and anteversion angles. Measurements of the horizontal and vertical beam offset with two different methods of parallax correction were compared with each other. Furthermore, the effect of parallax correction on the accuracy ofmeasuring the cup position was investigated. The mean difference between the two parallax correction methods was 0.2° ± 0.1° (from 0° to 0.4°) for the cup inclination and 0.1° ± 0.1° (from −0.1° to 0.2°) for the anteversion. For a typically intended cup position of a 45° inclination and 15° anteversion, the parallax effect led to a mean error of −1.5° ± 0.3° for the inclination and 0.6° ± 1.0° for the anteversion. Central beam deviation resulted in a projected higher cup inclination up to 3.7°, and this effect was more prominent in cups with higher anteversion. In contrast, the projected inclination decreased due to the parallax effect up to 3.2°, especially in cups with high inclination. The parallax effect on routinely obtained low centered pelvic radiographs is low and not clinically relevant due to the compensating effect of simultaneous medial and caudal central beam deviation.
The Relationship of Fiscal Policy and Economic Cycle: Is Vietnam Different?
Authors: Nguyen Dung Xuan , Nguyen Trung Duc
Published: May 2023

Fiscal policy is one of the most crucial areas of government economic policy, and it has the potential to influence the economic growth of any nation. According to traditional Keynesian and Ricardian theories, fiscal policy should not be pro-cyclical, and counter-cyclical fiscal policy is the most effective alternative. Furthermore, the periodicity of fiscal policy is also heavily influenced by the quality of political institutions and democracies. Thus, this paper examines the relationship between fiscal policy and economic cycle in Vietnam, a developing economy with dramatic change since 2000. The results support the causal relationship between the set of fiscal policy factors, such as public debt, government tax revenues, and government expenditures, by analyzing quarterly data over a twenty-year period beginning in 2000 by using the Vector Error-Correction Model (VECM). Therefore, the adaptation of fiscal policy to the phases of the economic cycle and the effective deployment of fiscal policy tools help the sustainability of public finances and stimulate economic growth.
Responses of Vegetation Phenology to Urbanisation and Natural Factors along an Urban-Rural Gradient: A Case Study of an Urban Agglomeration on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains
Authors: Ahmed Gulbakram , Zan Mei , Helili Pariha , Kasimu Alimujiang
Published: May 2023

Understanding the responses of vegetation phenology to natural and human disturbances is essential for better understanding ecosystems. In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data and products were used together with other relevant data to analyse vegetation phenological responses to urbanisation and natural factors in the major urban agglomerations of the Urumqi-Changji, Shihezi-Manasi, and Wusu-Kuidun-Dushanzi regions on the Urban Agglomeration on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM). Vegetation phenology distributed along an urban-rural gradient showed distinct variability, with start of growing season (SOS), end of growing season (EOS), and growing season length (GSL) occurring earlier, later, and longer, respectively, in urban areas than those in suburban and rural areas. In the Urumqi-Changji region, the earliest SOS, the later EOS, and the longest GSL occurred. Surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) was most pronounced in the Urumqi-Changji region, with a heat island intensity of 1.77–3.34 °C. Vegetation phenology was influenced by both urbanisation and natural factors, whose contributions were 44.2% to EOS and 61.8% to SOS, respectively. The results of this study emphasise the importance of quantifying the vegetation phenological responses to human disturbances, including climate change, along the urban-rural gradient on the UANSTM.
Historical Political Ecology in the Former Lake Texcoco: Hydrological Regulation
Authors: Montero-Rosado Carolina , Ojeda-Trejo Enrique , Espinosa-Hernández Vicente , Fernández-Reynoso Demetrio , Caballero Deloya Miguel , Benedicto Valdés Gerardo
Published: May 2023

Lake Texcoco in Mexico is a remarkable place for observing how human and natural relationships evolve through time in a landscape. Since the opening of the watershed and the draining of the lake, there have been various attempts to exploit the area, although few have succeeded. This study highlights the importance of historical analysis in identifying socio-natural processes that have historically influenced lake use, degradation, management, and conservation. The novelty of this study lies in its application of a historical political ecology approach to understand the evolving dynamics between power relations and the ecology of the former Lake Texcoco in Mexico Valley. By examining both the ecological and political-economic history of the lake, this study reveals how conflicts related to natural resource management in the past have influenced the ecological dynamics of the present. Overall, this study presents a unique perspective on the socio-natural history of Lake Texcoco, demonstrating the potential of using historical political ecology to understand the long-term effects of environmental change.
Evaluation of Intra-Abdominal Hypertension Parameters in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Stojanović Maja , Đurić Marko , Nenadić Irina , Dimić Nemanja , Bojić Suzana , Stevanović Predrag
Published: May 2023

Background: Patients with acute pancreatitis develop numerous complications and organ damage due to increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). These extrapancreatic complications determine the clinical outcome of the disease. Materials and methods: A total of 100 patients with acute pancreatitis were included in the prospective cohort study. Observed patients were divided into two groups according to their mean values of IAP (normal IAP values and elevated IAP values), which were compared with examined variables. Patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) were divided into four groups by IAP values, and those groups of patients were also compared with the examined variables. Results: Differences between body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001), lactates (p = 0.006), and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (p = 0.001) were statistically significant within all examined IAH groups. Differences between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) (p = 0.012) and filtration gradient (FG) (p < 0.001) were statistically significant between the first and second IAH groups in relation to the fourth. Differences in diuresis per hour (p = 0.022) showed statistical significance in relation to the first and third groups of IAH patients. Conclusions: Changes in IAP values lead to changes in basic vital parameters MAP, APP, FG, diuresis per hour, and lactate levels in patients with acute pancreatitis. Early recognition of changes in the SOFA score accompanying an increase in the IAP value is essential.
Venomous Bites, Stings and Poisoning by European Vertebrates as an Overlooked and Emerging Medical Problem: Recognition, Clinical Aspects and Therapeutic Management
Authors: Paolino Giovanni , Di Nicola Matteo Riccardo , Avella Ignazio , Mercuri Santo Raffaele
Published: May 2023

Europe presents a high number of venomous and poisonous animals able to elicit medically relevant symptoms in humans. However, since most of the accidents involving venomous or poisonous animals in Europe are unreported, their incidence and morbidity are severely overlooked. Here we provide an overview of the European vertebrate species of greatest toxicological interest, the clinical manifestations their toxins can cause, and their treatment. We report the clinical symptoms induced by envenomations and poisoning caused by reptiles, fishes, amphibians and mammals in Europe, ranging from mild, local symptoms (e.g., erythema, edema) to systemic and potentially deadly. The present work constitutes a tool for physicians to recognize envenomation/poisoning symptoms caused by the most medically relevant European vertebrates and to decide which approach is the most appropriate to treat them.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Povidone-Iodine and Chlorhexidine Fail to Eradicate Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm from Infected Implant Materials
Authors: Parker Dana M. , Koch John A. , Gish Charles G. , Brothers Kimberly M. , Li William , Gilbertie Jessica , Rowe Sarah E. , Conlon Brian P. , Byrapogu Venkata K. C. , Urish Kenneth L.
Published: May 2023

Hydrogen peroxide, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine are antiseptics that are commonly added to irrigants to either prevent or treat infection. There are little clinical data available that demonstrate efficacy of adding antiseptics to irrigants in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection after biofilm establishment. The objective of the study was to assess the bactericidal activity of the antiseptics on S. aureus planktonic and biofilm. For planktonic irrigation, S. aureus was exposed to different concentrations of antiseptics. S. aureus biofilm was developed by submerging a Kirschner wire into normalized bacteria and allowing it to grow for forty-eight hours. The Kirschner wire was then treated with irrigation solutions and plated for CFU analysis. Hydrogen peroxide, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine were bactericidal against planktonic bacteria with over a 3 log reduction (p < 0.0001). Unlike cefazolin, the antiseptics were not bactericidal (less than 3 log reduction) against biofilm bacteria but did have a statistical reduction in biofilm as compared to the initial time point (p < 0.0001). As compared to cefazolin treatment alone, the addition of hydrogen peroxide or povidone-iodine to cefazolin treatment only additionally reduced the biofilm burden by less than 1 log. The antiseptics demonstrated bactericidal properties with planktonic S. aureus; however, when used to irrigate S. aureus biofilms, these antiseptics were unable to decrease biofilm mass below a 3 log reduction, suggesting that S. aureus biofilm has a tolerance to antiseptics. This information should be considered when considering antibiotic tolerance in established S. aureus biofilm treatment.
A Study of the Literature on Intrauterine Treatment Options for Chronic Placental Insufficiency with Intrauterine Growth Restriction Using Intrauterine Intravascular Amino Acid Supplementation
Authors: van Uden Lisa , Tchirikov Michael
Published: May 2023

Background: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a very serious prenatal condition with 3–5% incidence of all pregnancies. It results from numerous factors, including chronic placental insufficiency. IUGR is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity and is considered a major cause of fetal mortality. Currently, treatment options are significantly limited and often result in preterm delivery. Postpartum, IUGR infants also have higher risks of disease and neurological abnormalities. Methods: The PubMed database was searched using the keywords “IUGR”, “fetal growth restriction”, “treatment”, “management” and “placental insufficiency” for the period between 1975 and 2023. These terms were also combined together. Results: There were 4160 papers, reviews and articles dealing with the topic of IUGR. In total, only 15 papers directly dealt with a prepartum therapy of IUGR; 10 of these were based on an animal model. Overall, the main focus was on maternal intravenous therapy with amino acids or intraamniotic infusion. Treatment methods have been tested since the 1970s to supplement the fetuses with nutrients lacking due to chronic placental insufficiency in various ways. In some studies, pregnant women were implanted with a subcutaneous intravascular perinatal port system, thus infusing the fetuses with a continuous amino acid solution. Prolongation of pregnancy was achieved, as well as improvement in fetal growth. However, insufficient benefit was observed in infusion with commercial amino acid solution in fetuses below 28 weeks’ gestation. The authors attribute this primarily to the enormous variation in amino acid concentrations of the commercially available solutions compared with those observed in the plasma of preterm infants. These different concentrations are particularly important because differences in the fetal brain caused by metabolic changes have been demonstrated in the rabbit model. Several brain metabolites and amino acids were significantly decreased in IUGR brain tissue samples, resulting in abnormal neurodevelopment with decreased brain volume. Discussion: There are currently only a few studies and case reports with correspondingly low case numbers. Most of the studies refer to prenatal treatment by supplementation of amino acids and nutrients to prolong pregnancy and support fetal growth. However, there is no infusion solution that matches the amino acid concentrations found in fetal plasma. The commercially available solutions have mismatched amino acid concentrations and have not shown sufficient benefit in fetuses below 28 weeks’ gestation. More treatment avenues need to be explored and existing ones improved to better treat multifactorial IUGR fetuses.
Diabetes Mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An Epidemiological Review
Authors: Ilic Irena , Ilic Milena
Published: May 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the major global public health issues. According to recent projections, a continued rise in DM prevalence is expected in the following decades. The research has shown that DM is associated with poorer outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is growing evidence suggesting that COVID-19 is associated with new-onset DM type 1 and type 2. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the new onset of DM following COVID-19. All identified studies were longitudinal, and they have predominantly shown a significantly increased risk for new-onset DM (both type 1 and type 2) following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Increased risk of poorer COVID-19 outcomes (mechanical ventilation, death) was noted in persons with new-onset DM following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Studies investigating risk factors for new-onset DM in COVID-19 patients showed that severe disease, age, ethnicity, ventilation, and smoking habits were associated with DM occurrence. The information summarized in this review presents a valuable source of evidence for healthcare policymakers and healthcare workers in the effort of planning prevention measures for new-onset DM after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the timely identification and appropriate treatment of patients with COVID-19 who could be at greater risk for new-onset DM.
Rotor Speed and Position Estimation Analysis of Interior PMSM Machines in Low and Medium-High Speed Regions Adopting an Improved Flux Observer for Electric Vehicle Applications
Authors: Rahman Sadiq Ur , Xia Chaoying
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes a nonlinear flux linkage observer for the PMSM speed controls without motion sensors, introducing the deviation among the real stator flux linkage and an estimated stator flux linkage to suppress feedback and integral flux drift. In the position detection of an interior PMSM without a speed sensor, the traditional back EMF integration method uses a pure integrator, or LPF, to estimate the stator flux. Its inherent defects inevitably lead to inaccurate flux estimation, which directly affects the estimation of the motor mover position, resulting in the decline in motor control operation and the distortion of phase current. This paper uses an improved integrator with adaptive compensation. The projected value of the stator flux linkage has been derived from the estimated value of the rotor permanent magnetic flux linkage position angle and the algebraic model (m-model) of the stator flux linkage, along with a synchronous coordinate system. The IPMSM stator coil flux linkage obtained from the stator coil current and integral voltage models in the static coordinate system is compared to form a feedback closed-loop to suppress the integral drift, and using the cross-product approach of the actual and estimated flux linkage yields the projected value of the IPMSM rotor speed and position through a PLL. Compared with the existing motion-sensorless observers, the methodology proposed in this article is simple and exhibits better dynamic and static estimation performance. Extensive and comprehensive MATLAB computer simulation and experimental findings validate the proposed motion-sensorless control mechanism.
Yard Crane Rescheduling under the Influence of Random Fault
Authors: Yao Lin , Zheng Hongxing , Liu Yiran , Li Danmeng , Zhao Yilan
Published: May 2023

In the operation of the imported container area of the container yard, the fault of the yard crane often occurs, and the fault is random and unpredictable, which greatly affects the operational efficiency of the container yard. To improve the operation efficiency of the container yard, this paper studies the rescheduling optimization problem of the multi-container area and multi-yard crane when random faults occur in container lifting operations in the container import area. Considering the different impacts of different fault conditions on the container yard operation, the fault impact judgment mechanism is established. The waiting time of external container trucks and customer satisfaction is considered for yard crane rescheduling. Yard crane rescheduling model after the fault is constructed, aiming at the minimum deviation from the original scheduling scheme. And the AEA (annealing evolution algorithm) algorithm is used to solve it. The effectiveness of magic and the specificity of the algorithm are verified by the analysis of numerical examples in different scales. The research data of Dalian Port is used to carry out experiments, and the experimental analysis of examples in different scales verifies the effectiveness of the model and the scientific nature of the algorithm. Compared with the existing scheme, this scheme is more practical, which can not only give the treatment scheme immediately when the fault occurs but also effectively improve the working efficiency of the container yard and provide a reference for the port to enhance customer satisfaction.
Cutting Process Consideration in Dynamic Models of Machine Tool Spindle Units
Authors: Danylchenko Yurii , Storchak Michael , Danylchenko Mariia , Petryshyn Andrii
Published: May 2023

Reducing the deviation effect from the specified machining conditions on the quality of the process in real time is the desired result of the intelligent spindle control system. To implement such a control system, a dynamic interaction model of the technological machining system with the cutting process was developed. The transfer matrix method of a multibody system was used in the development of the dynamic model. The physical closure condition of the technological machining system for using the transient matrix method is implemented in the developed model by introducing into this model an additional elastic coupling of the contact between the tool and the machined workpiece. The model is presented as a dynamic model of the elastic system “spindle unit–workpiece/tool–cutting process–tool/workpiece”. To develop the dynamic model, the system decomposition was performed with an analytical description of the joint deformation conditions of the subsystems and the use of the transient matrix method to calculate the harmonic influence coefficients of these subsystems. The proposed approach is used to calculate the native vibration frequencies of the spindle with the workpiece fixed in the chuck and supported with the tool. The calculation results correspond to the experimental ones and quite accurately represent their trends for different contact interaction conditions.
Influence of Mn Doping on Local Spin Moments and Stacking Fault Energies in Co(Mn) Alloys
Authors: Cole-Piepke Kayla , Nakarmi Prabandha , Koenig Alicia , Thompson Gregory B. , Mewes Tim , Mewes Claudia , Noebe Ronald , Leary Alex
Published: May 2023

We report on the results of first principles calculations investigating the influences of Mn doping on the local moments and stacking fault energies (SFEs) in the Co95.8Mn4.2 and Co91.6Mn8.4 systems as compared to pure face-centered cubic Co. A supercell was developed to maintain periodicity in calculations, provide a simple relaxation mechanism, and allow for easy expansion to accommodate different concentrations of Mn. Calculations to determine the generalized SFE were performed on relaxed and non-relaxed systems in both ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic states. Analysis revealed fluctuations in the magnetic moments that are closely tied to the relaxation state and faulting state of the system. In the case of systems containing Mn, we observed a dependence of the SFE on the location of the Mn atom(s) within the supercell relative to the stacking fault interface and a strong induced magnetic moment for these atoms.
Stochastic Levenberg–Marquardt Neural Network Implementation for Analyzing the Convective Heat Transfer in a Wavy Fin
Authors: Kumar R. S. Varun , Alsulami M. D. , Sarris I. E. , Sowmya G. , Gamaoun Fehmi
Published: May 2023

The present research examines the steady, one-dimensional thermal distribution and heat transfer of a wavy fin. This heat transfer analysis considers convective effects as well as temperature-dependent thermal conductivity. Furthermore, a novel implementation of a neural network with backpropagated Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (NN-BLMA)-based machine learning intelligent strategies is provided to interpret the heat transfer analysis of a convective wavy fin. The non-linear ordinary differential equation (ODE) of the study problem is converted into its non-dimensional form using the similarity transformation technique. The dimensionless equation obtained is then numerically explored via the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg scheme. A data set for varying the pertinent parameters is generated, and an artificial neural network model is designed to estimate the heat transfer behavior of the wavy fin. The effectiveness of the proposed NN-BLMA is subsequently endorsed by analyses using a regression model, mean square error, and histograms. The findings of comprehensive computational parametric studies illustrate that the presented technique, NN-BLMA is an effective convergent stochastic numerical solver employed for the heat transfer model of the convective wavy fin. The wavy fin’s temperature dispersion optimizes as the thermal conductivity parameter rises. Heat transfer rate is higher in wavy fin compared to rectangular fin.
Mathematical Physics of Time Dilation through Curved Trajectories with Applications
Authors: Kamel Ayman , Ebaid Abdelhalim , El-Zahar Essam R. , Chteoui Riadh , Seddek Laila F.
Published: May 2023

In special relativity, the time dilation formula has been obtained by particles propagation in a straight line trajectory relative to an observer in motion. Up to now, there are no available formulas for other possible trajectories of particles. However, this paper obtains formulas of time dilation for several trajectories of particle such as parabolic, elliptic, and circular and finds a relatively accurate trajectory. The obtained formulas are employed in order to analyze the time dilation of the muon particles decay. In this paper, it is found that the time dilation of the parabolic and the elliptical trajectories exceed the corresponding results utilizing the standard Lorentz-Einstein time dilation formula. Consequently, if we are able to control the trajectory of unstable particles by some external forces, then their life-times might be increased. Probably, the increase in lifetime via a curved trajectory occurs at lower relative velocity & acceleration energy if compared to the straight line trajectory. In addition, the circular trajectory leads to multiple values of time dilation at certain velocities of an observer in motion, which may give an interpretation of fluctuations of time dilation in quantum mechanics. The result arises from the present relatively accurate formula of time dilation that is very close to the experimental data of muon decay (CERN experiment) when it is compared to the result obtained by the Lorentz-Einstein formula. Finally, it may be concluded that the time dilation not only depends on relative velocity and acceleration energy of particles but also on curved trajectories. The present work may attract other researchers to study different trajectories.
Uniting Multi-Scale Local Feature Awareness and the Self-Attention Mechanism for Named Entity Recognition
Authors: Shi Lin , Zou Xianming , Dai Chenxu , Ji Zhanlin
Published: May 2023

In recent years, a huge amount of text information requires processing to support the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in the medical field; therefore, the named entity recognition of diabetes (DNER) is giving rise to the popularity of this research topic within this particular field. Although the mainstream methods for Chinese medical named entity recognition can effectively capture global context information, they ignore the potential local information in sentences, and hence cannot extract the local context features through an efficient framework. To overcome these challenges, this paper constructs a diabetes corpus and proposes the RMBC (RoBERTa Multi-scale CNN BiGRU Self-attention CRF) model. This model is a named entity recognition model that unites multi-scale local feature awareness and the self-attention mechanism. This paper first utilizes RoBERTa-wwm to encode the characters; then, it designs a local context-wise module, which captures the context information containing locally important features by fusing multi-window attention with residual convolution at the multi-scale and adds a self-attention mechanism to address the restriction of the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) capturing long-distance dependencies and to obtain global semantic information. Finally, conditional random fields (CRF) are relied on to learn of the dependency between adjacent tags and to obtain the optimal tag sequence. The experimental results on our constructed private dataset, termed DNER, along with two benchmark datasets, demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in this paper.
Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization 2021
Authors: Quiroz-Castellanos Marcela , de la Fraga Luis Gerardo , Lara Adriana , Trujillo Leonardo , Schütze Oliver
Published: May 2023

This Special Issue was inspired by the 9th International Workshop on Numerical and Evolutionary Optimization (NEO 2021) held—due to the COVID-19 pandemic—as an online-only event from 8 to 10 September 2021 [...]
Chronic Periodontal Infection and Not Iatrogenic Interference Is the Trigger of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: Insights from a Large Animal Study (PerioBRONJ Pig Model)
Authors: Troeltzsch Matthias , Zeiter Stephan , Arens Daniel , Nehrbass Dirk , Probst Florian A. , Liokatis Paris , Ehrenfeld Michael , Otto Sven
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: Antiresorptive drugs are widely used in osteology and oncology. An important adverse effect of these drugs is medication-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). There is scientific uncertainty about the underlying pathomechanism of MRONJ. A promising theory suspects infectious stimuli and local acidification with adverse effects on osteoclastic activity as crucial steps of MRONJ etiology. Clinical evidence showing a direct association between MRONJ and oral infections, such as periodontitis, without preceding surgical interventions is limited. Large animal models investigating the relationship between periodontitis and MRONJ have not been implemented. It is unclear whether the presence of infectious processes without surgical manipulation can trigger MRONJ. The following research question was formulated: is there a link between chronic oral infectious processes (periodontitis) and the occurrence of MRONJ in the absence of oral surgical procedures? Materials and Methods: A minipig large animal model for bisphosphonate-related ONJ (BRONJ) using 16 Göttingen minipigs divided into 2 groups (intervention/control) was designed and implemented. The intervention group included animals receiving i.v. bisphosphonates (zoledronate, n = 8, 0.05 mg/kg/week: ZOL group). The control group received no antiresorptive drug (n = 8: NON-ZOL group). Periodontitis lesions were induced by established procedures after 3 months of pretreatment (for the maxilla: the creation of an artificial gingival crevice and placement of a periodontal silk suture; for the mandible: the placement of a periodontal silk suture only). The outcomes were evaluated clinically and radiologically for 3 months postoperatively. After euthanasia a detailed histological evaluation was performed. Results: Periodontitis lesions could be induced successfully in all animals (both ZOL and NON-ZOL animals). MRONJ lesions of various stages developed around all periodontitis induction sites in the ZOL animals. The presence of MRONJ and periodontitis was proven clinically, radiologically and histologically. Conclusions: The results of this study provide further evidence that the infectious processes without prior dentoalveolar surgical interventions can trigger MRONJ. Therefore, iatrogenic disruption of the oral mucosa cannot be the decisive step in the pathogenesis of MRONJ.
Comparison of Type I and Type III Collagen Concentration between Oreochromis mossambicus and Oreochromis niloticus in Relation to Skin Scaffolding
Authors: Ciornei Bogdan , Vaduva Adrian , David Vlad Laurentiu , Popescu Diana , Vulcanescu Dan Dumitru , Adam Ovidiu , Avram Cecilia Roberta , Pacurari Alina Cornelia , Boia Eugen Sorin
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: Skin scaffolding can be done using allografts and autografts. As a biological allograft, the skin of Oreochromis niloticus (ON) has been used due to its high type I and III collagen content. Oreochromis mossambicus (OM) is also a member of the Oreochromis family, but not much is known regarding its collagen content. As such, this study aimed to assess and compare the collagen content of the two fish species. Materials and Methods: This is a crossover study comparing the skin collagen contents of the two fish. Young fish were chosen, as they tend to have higher collagen concentrations. The skin samples were sterilized in chlorhexidine and increasing glycerol solutions and analyzed histochemically with Sirius red picrate under polarized light microscopy. Results: 6 young ON and 4 OM specimens were used. Baseline type I collagen was higher for OM, but at maximum sterilization it was higher for ON, with no differences in between Type III collagen was higher for OM across all comparisons with the exception of the last stage of sterilization. Generally, collagen concentrations were higher in highly sterilized samples. Conclusions: OM skin harvested from young fish, with its greater collagen III content may be a better candidate for use as a biological skin scaffold in the treatment of burn wounds, compared to ON.
Membrane Order Effect on the Photoresponse of an Organic Transducer
Authors: Vurro Vito , Moschetta Matteo , Bondelli Gaia , Sardar Samim , Magni Arianna , Sesti Valentina , Paternò Giuseppe Maria , Bertarelli Chiara , D’Andrea Cosimo , Lanzani Guglielmo
Published: May 2023

Non-genetic photostimulation, which allows for control over cellular activity via the use of cell-targeting phototransducers, is widely used nowadays to study and modulate/restore biological functions. This approach relies on non-covalent interactions between the phototransducer and the cell membrane, thus implying that cell conditions and membrane status can dictate the effectiveness of the method. For instance, although immortalized cell lines are traditionally used in photostimulation experiments, it has been demonstrated that the number of passages they undergo is correlated to the worsening of cell conditions. In principle, this could impact cell responsivity against exogenous stressors, including photostimulation. However, these aspects have usually been neglected in previous experiments. In this work, we investigated whether cell passages could affect membrane properties (such as polarity and fluidity). We applied optical spectroscopy and electrophysiological measurements in two different biological models: (i) an epithelial immortalized cell line (HEK-293T cells) and (ii) liposomes. Different numbers of cell passages were compared to a different morphology in the liposome membrane. We demonstrated that cell membranes show a significant decrease in ordered domains upon increasing the passage number. Furthermore, we observed that cell responsivity against external stressors is markedly different between aged and non-aged cells. Firstly, we noted that the thermal-disordering effect that is usually observed in membranes is more evident in aged cells than in non-aged ones. We then set up a photostimulation experiment by using a membrane-targeted azobenzene as a phototransducer (Ziapin2). As an example of a functional consequence of such a condition, we showed that the rate of isomerization of an intramembrane molecular transducer is significantly impaired in aged cells. The reduction in the photoisomerization rate translates in cells with a sustained reduction of the Ziapin2-related hyperpolarization of the membrane potential and an overall increase in the molecule fluorescence. Overall, our results suggest that membrane stimulation strongly depends on membrane order, highlighting the importance of cell passage during the characterization of the stimulation tools. This study can shine light on the correlation between aging and the development of diseases driven by membrane degradation as well as on the different cell responsivities against external stressors, such as temperature and photostimulation.
Education, Off-the-Job Vocational Training, and Early Employment Outcomes: Evidence from Italy
Authors: Casalone Giorgia , Baici Eliana
Published: May 2023

Education and training are primary sources of individual human capital. We explored the relationship between education and off-the-job vocational training and the impact of training programmes on youth employment in Italy. We focused on three outcomes: employment probability, use of formal/informal job search channels, and skill matching. We identified programme effects by comparing the outcomes of treatment and control groups using propensity score matching with a robustness check to assess the potential bias due to unobservable characteristics. Individuals with vocational high school degrees are more likely to participate in vocational training programmes, but in southern regions, individuals with technical or generalist high school degrees also attend vocational training programmes. Vocational training programmes have positive effects on youth employment outcomes, reduce the use of informal job search channels, and improve skill matching, especially in the centre-northern regions.
Thermo-Mechanical Study of TIG Welding of Ti-6Al-4V for Residual Stresses Considering Solid State Phase Transformation
Authors: Liu Jingang , Zheng Jianyun , Fu Bing , Bu Lei , Li Ruiqi , Liu Songye
Published: May 2023

To overcome the detrimental effect of residual stress in welded joints, which affects the overall performance of the welded structure, this paper studies the magnitude and distribution of residual stress after welding and local post-weld heat treatment (PWHT). The coupled thermo-metallurgical-mechanical model for welding 6 mm thick Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) titanium alloy plates was established, the evolution of the SSPT and its effect on the residual stress were quantitatively analyzed, and a parametric analysis of local PWHT was performed. The results demonstrated that there was good agreement between the numerical results and the experimental data. Due to the cooling rate reaching 327 °C/s, the volume fraction of α、 in the fusion zone (FZ) reached 0.218 after welding and decreased by 90.83% after PWHT when the heating temperature was 700 °C. The peak value of the longitudinal residual stress can reach 686.4 MPa after welding with SSPT, which was 11.38% lower than that without SSPT, and it decreased by 65.6% after PWHT when the heating temperature was 900 °C. The research results demonstrate that SSPT has a significant effect on residual stress, and PWHT can obviously reduce the residual stress, which provides a certain reference for welding TC4 titanium alloy plates.
Ranking of Injection Biochar for Slag Foaming Applications in Steelmaking
Authors: DiGiovanni Christopher , Li Delin , Ng Ka Wing , Huang Xianai
Published: May 2023

The electric arc furnace (EAF) has the potential to significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the iron and steel industry. However, during EAF steelmaking, carbon still needs to be injected into the molten slag to initiate slag foaming, which is beneficial to the energy efficiency and protection of the furnace. To move away from fossil carbon, biocarbon has gained attention as an injection carbon agent. In this study, two biochar candidates were added to the molten slag layer of an induction furnace for steel melting, to simulate EAF steelmaking conditions. The resultant slag foaming height was measured, and a ranking in comparison to two fossil carbon candidates was developed. The results indicate that the injection biochar sample, in the form of a bio-briquette, has a considerable degree of slag foaming capacity. More work is ongoing to develop a standardized testing methodology of ranking various injection biochar candidates for their suitability and qualification for use on a larger scale.
Detection of Phase Transformation during Plastic Deformation of Metastable Austenitic Steel AISI 304L by Means of X-ray Diffraction Pattern Analysis
Authors: Rozo Vasquez Julian , Arian Bahman , Kersting Lukas , Homberg Werner , Trächtler Ansgar , Walther Frank
Published: May 2023

This paper evaluates the suitability of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique to characterize the phase transformation during the metal forming of the metastable austenitic steel AISI 304L. Due to plastic deformation, phase transformation from γ-austenite into α′-martensite occurs. The XRD peaks at specific 2θ diffraction angles give information about the phase amount. Analyses of the results with different characterization techniques such as microscopic analysis, including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), macro- and microhardness tests and magneto-inductive measurements of α′-martensite, were carried out. A qualitative and quantitative correlation to compute the amount of α′-martensite from the XRD measurements was deduced. XRD was validated as a suitable technique to characterize the phase transformation of metastable austenites. Additional data could provide necessary information to develop a more reliable model to perform a quantitative analysis of the phases from XRD measurements.
Biomarkers to Be Used for Decision of Treatment of Hypogonadal Men with or without Insulin Resistance
Authors: Zolla Lello
Published: May 2023

Male hypogonadism is a result of low testosterone levels, but patients could be insulin-sensitive (IS) or insulin-resistant (IR), showing different impaired metabolic pathways. Thus, testosterone coadministration, which is commonly used to reestablish testosterone levels in hypogonadism, must take into account whether or not insulin is still active. By comparing metabolic cycles recorded in IS and IR plasma before and after testosterone therapy (TRT), it is possible to know what metabolic pathways can be reactivated in the two different groups upon testosterone recovery, and it is possible to understand if antagonism or synergy exists between these two hormones. IS hypogonadism uses glycolysis, while IR hypogonadism activates gluconeogenesis through the degradation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Upon administration of testosterone, acceptable improvements are observed in IS patients, wherein many metabolic pathways are restored, while in IR patients, a reprogramming of metabolic cycles is observed. However, in both subgroups, lactate and acetyl-CoA increases significantly. In IS patients, lactate is used through the glucose–lactate cycle to produce energy, while in IR patients, both lactate and acetyl-CoA are metabolized into ketone bodies, which are used to produce energy. Thus, in IR patients, an ancestral molecular mechanism is activated to produce energy, mimicking insulin effects. Regarding lipids, in both groups, the utilization of fatty acids for energy (β-oxidation) is blocked, even after TRT; free fatty acids (FFAs) increase in the blood in IS patients, while they are incorporated into triglycerides in those with IR. In both subgroups of hypogonadism, supplementation of useful chemicals is recommended during and after TRT when metabolites are not restored; they are listed in this review.
Bacterial Bioprotectants: Biocontrol Traits and Induced Resistance to Phytopathogens
Authors: Egamberdieva Dilfuza , Eshboev Farkhod , Shukurov Oybek , Alaylar Burak , Arora Naveen Kumar
Published: May 2023

Plant growth and nutrition are adversely affected by various factors such as water stress, high temperature, and plant pathogens. Plant-associated microbes play a vital role in the growth and development of their hosts under biotic and abiotic stresses. The use of a rhizosphere microbiome for plant growth stimulation and the biological control of fungal disease can lead to improved crop productivity. Mechanisms used by plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to protect plants from soilborne pathogens include antibiosis, the production of lytic enzymes, indole-3 acetic acid production, decreasing ethylene levels by secreting 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, competition for nutrients and niches, parasitism and induced systemic resistance. In this review, we emphasize the biological control of plant pathogens by root-associated microbes and discuss traits involved in pathogen reduction. Future research should focus on the effect of root exudation on plant–pathogen interactions under various abiotic factors. Moreover, the development of microbial fungicides with longer shelf lives will help farmers to opt for organic agriculture, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. This trend is expected to drive the adoption of biological control methods in agriculture. The future prospects for the biological control of plant diseases are bright and are expected to play an increasingly important role in sustainable agriculture.
Chitinolytic Enzymes of the Hyperparasite Fungus Aphanocladium album: Genome-Wide Survey and Characterization of A Selected Enzyme
Authors: Leoni Claudia , Manzari Caterina , Chiara Matteo , Veronico Pasqua , Bruno Giovanni Luigi , Pesole Graziano , Ceci Luigi R. , Volpicella Mariateresa
Published: May 2023

The filamentous fungus Aphanocladium album is known as a hyperparasite of plant pathogenic fungi; hence, it has been studied as a possible agent for plant protection. Chitinases secreted by A. album have proven to be essential for its fungicidal activity. However, no complete analysis of the A. album chitinase assortment has been carried out, nor have any of its chitinases been characterized yet. In this study, we report the first draft assembly of the genome sequence of A. album (strain MX-95). The in silico functional annotation of the genome allowed the identification of 46 genes encoding chitinolytic enzymes of the GH18 (26 genes), GH20 (8 genes), GH75 (8 genes), and GH3 (4 genes) families. The encoded proteins were investigated by comparative and phylogenetic analysis, allowing clustering in different subgroups. A. album chitinases were also characterized according to the presence of different functional protein domains (carbohydrate-binding modules and catalytic domains) providing the first complete description of the chitinase repertoire of A. album. A single chitinase gene was then selected for complete functional characterization. The encoded protein was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris, and its activity was assayed under different conditions of temperature and pH and with different substrates. It was found that the enzyme acts mainly as a chitobiosidase, with higher activity in the 37–50 °C range.
Clinical, Laboratory, and Radiographic Features Can Help Predict Mycoplasma pneumoniae Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Children
Authors: Rodman Berlot Jasna , Dolenc Špela , Krivec Uroš , Keše Darja
Published: May 2023

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children that is difficult to distinguish from LRTI of other etiologies. We aimed to determine if a combination of clinical, laboratory, and chest radiographic features can help identify patients at higher risk of Mp LRTI. We reviewed medical charts of children referred to our tertiary hospital with suspected acute mycoplasmal LRTI. Pharyngeal swabs obtained from patients were tested by Mp PCR. We compared epidemiological and clinical data of children with positive and negative Mp PCR results. In addition, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to predict Mp LRTI based on the patient’s age, duration of symptoms, presence of extrapulmonary manifestations, laboratory findings, and chest radiographic findings. We included 65 children with Mp PCR-negative and 49 with Mp PCR-positive LRTI and no viral co-detection. Children with Mp LRTI were older (median age 5.8 vs. 2.2 years, p < 0.001), had a longer duration of symptoms on referral (median 7 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001), and lower median WBC (9.9 vs. 12.7 × 109/L, p < 0.001). On chest radiograph, unilateral infiltrates were more frequently observed in the Mp PCR-positive group (57.5% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.001). Age, duration of symptoms, and chest radiographic findings had the highest predictive value for Mp LRTI in a multivariable logistic regression model. Our analysis suggests that a combination of clinical, laboratory, and chest radiographic features can be used to assess the likelihood of Mp LRTI and assist in decision-making for which children need further tests or macrolide antibiotic treatment.