bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Three-Dimensional Morphological Characteristics Evaluation Method and Processing Quality of Coarse Aggregate
Authors: Li Weixiong , Wang Duanyi , Chen Bo , Hua Kaihui , Su Wenzheng , Xiong Chunlong , Zhang Xiaoning
Published: March 2022

The size, shape, gradation and appearance of aggregate have a significant impact on the road performance of asphalt mixtures, which is directly related to the deformation characteristics and fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures. In order to be able to design a long-life asphalt pavement, the aggregate must have reasonable morphology and morphological characteristics. In order to quantitatively analyze the shape characteristics of the road coarse aggregate, a high-precision three-dimensional scanner is used to obtain the characteristic lattice of the aggregate surface, and the solid model of the coarse aggregate particles is established. The two-dimensional and three-dimensional morphological indicators of the aggregate are analyzed and discussed. Meanwhile, aggregates processed by typical quarries in Guangdong Province are collected, and the influence of different processing techniques on the morphology of aggregates are analyzed. The results show that the difference between the perimeter and projected area of the aggregate contour under different viewing angles is relatively large, which is closely related to the flatness index of the aggregate. It can better characterize the three-dimensional shape of the aggregate. The closer the aggregate is to the cubic state, the greater the sphericity value; the ellipsoid index calculated based on the three-dimensional circumscribed ellipsoid can better characterize the angularity of the aggregate. The worse the angularity of the aggregate, the larger the corresponding ellipsoid value. The sphericity of the aggregate processed by counter-breaking is lower, and the angularity is better. The sphericity of the aggregate processed by the shaping process is the best, but the angularity is lower. According to actual needs, different processing techniques can be combined and blended to obtain aggregate finished products with a more balanced grain shape and angularity. The richer the angularity of the coarse aggregate, the better the high-temperature stability and fatigue resistance of the asphalt mixture. However, the stability of performance indicators will become worse. In practical engineering applications, it is recommended to further combine the screening efficiency of the hot material screen of the mixing plant with the stability of the hot material gradation and the uniformity of construction quality to select a suitable aggregate processing technology.
Organizational Complexity as a Contributing Factor to Underperformance
Authors: Beyer Uwe , Ullrich Oliver
Published: March 2022

A high organizational complexity above the cognitive limits of employees and management can contribute to a business performing sub-standardly in comparison to its competitors. As businesses can grow over time into a state of high complexity, an active approach to complexity management has to be taken. This paper presents the NES classification method, aimed at facilitating the modeling and assessment of organizational complexity. Here, any system is classified as belonging to one of three classes: class N natural, class E engineered, or class S slipped systems. Operationalizing NES by applying the Tree Attribute Matrix modeling method, this paper describes exemplary observations made as part of consulting projects that demonstrated typical underperformance situations resulting from their organizations “slipping” into structures of high complexity, and includes management measures to reduce complexity and thereby improve performance.
Factors Associated with Nodal Upstaging in Clinical T1a-bN0M0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers
Authors: Tsai Tung-Ming , Liu Chao-Yu , Lin Mong-Wei , Hsu Hsao-Hsun , Chen Jin-Shing
Published: March 2022

Nodal upstaging of lung adenocarcinoma occurs when unexpected pathological lymph node metastasis is found after surgical intervention, and may be associated with a worse prognosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the predictive factors of nodal upstaging in cT1a-bN0M0 primary lung adenocarcinoma. We retrospectively reviewed a prospective database (January 2011 to May 2017) at National Taiwan University Hospital and identified patients with cT1a-bN0M0 (solid part tumor diameter ≤ 2 cm) lung adenocarcinoma who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Logistic regression models and survival analysis were used to examine and compare the predictive factors of nodal upstaging. A total of 352 patients were included. Among them, 28 (7.8%) patients had nodal upstaging. Abnormal preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, solid part tumor diameter ≥ 1.3 cm, and consolidation–tumor (C/T) ratio ≥ 0.50 on chest computed tomography (CT) were significant predictive factors associated with nodal upstaging, and patients with nodal upstaging tended to have worse survival. Standard lobectomy is recommended for patients with these predictive factors. If neither of the predictive factors are positive, a less invasive procedure may be a reasonable alternative. Further studies are needed to verify these data.
Evaluation of Microscopic Tumour Extension in Localized Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer for Stereotactic Radiotherapy Planning
Authors: Schmitt Martin , Aussenac Lucie , Seitlinger Joseph , Lindner Véronique , Noël Georges , Antoni Delphine
Published: March 2022

Background: Stereotactic radiotherapy for localised stage non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is an alternative indication for patients who are inoperable or refuse surgery. A study showed that the microscopic tumour extension (ME) of NSCLC varied according to the histological type, which allowed us to deduce adapted margins for the clinical target volume (CTV). However, to date, no study has been able to define the most relevant margins for patients with stage 1 tumours. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis including patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of localised stage T1N0 or T2aN0 who underwent surgery. The ME was measured from this boundary. The profile of the type of tumour spread was also evaluated. Results: The margin required to cover the ME of a localised NSCLC with a 95% probability is 4.4 mm and 2.9 mm for SCC and ADC, respectively. A significant difference in the maximum distance of the ME between the tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), 0–10% and 50–90% (p < 0.05), was noted for SCC. There was a significant difference in the maximum ME distance based on whether the patient had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (p = 0.011) for ADC. Multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the maximum microextension distance and size with the shrinkage coefficient. Conclusion: This study definitively demonstrated that the ME depends on the pathology subtype of NSCLC. According to International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) reports, 50, 62 and 83 CTV margins, proposed by these results, should be added to the GTV (Gross tumour volume). When stereotactic body radiation therapy is used, this approach should be considered in conjunction with the dataset and other margins to be applied.
Immunologic Gene Signature Analysis Correlates Myeloid Cells and M2 Macrophages with Time to Trabectedin Failure in Sarcoma Patients
Authors: Schroeder Brett A. , Zhang Yuzheng , Smythe Kimberly S. , Desai Parth , Thomas Anish , Viveiros Pedro , Alexiev Borislav A. , Obeidin Farres , Chen Eleanor Y. , Cranmer Lee D. , Wagner Michael J. , Jones Robin L. , Campbell Jean S. , Pierce Robert H. , He Qianchuan , Pollack Seth M.
Published: March 2022

Patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) have a poor prognosis and few available systemic treatment options. Trabectedin is currently being investigated as a potential adjunct to immunotherapy as it has been previously shown to kill tumor-associated macrophages. In this retrospective study, we sought to identify biomarkers that would be relevant to trials combining trabectedin with immunotherapy. We performed a single-center retrospective study of sarcoma patients treated with trabectedin with long-term follow-up. Multiplex gene expression analysis using the NanoString platform was assessed, and an exploratory analysis using the lasso-penalized Cox regression and kernel association test for survival (MiRKAT-S) methods investigated tumor-associated immune cells and correlated their gene signatures to patient survival. In total, 147 sarcoma patients treated with trabectedin were analyzed, with a mean follow-up time of 5 years. Patients with fewer prior chemotherapy regimens were more likely to stay on trabectedin longer (pairwise correlation = −0.17, p = 0.04). At 5 years, increased PD-L1 expression corresponded to worse outcomes (HR = 1.87, p = 0.04, q = 0.199). Additionally, six immunologic gene signatures were associated with up to 7-year survival by MiRKAT-S, notably myeloid-derived suppressor cells (p = 0.023, q = 0.058) and M2 macrophages (p = 0.03, q = 0.058). We found that the number of chemotherapy regimens prior to trabectedin negatively correlated with the number of trabectedin cycles received, suggesting that patients may benefit from receiving trabectedin earlier in their therapy course. The correlation of trabectedin outcomes with immune cell infiltrates supports the hypothesis that trabectedin may function as an immune modulator and supports ongoing efforts to study trabectedin in combination with immunotherapy. Furthermore, tumors with an immunosuppressive microenvironment characterized by macrophage infiltration and high PD-L1 expression were less likely to benefit from trabectedin, which could guide clinicians in future treatment decisions.
Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Care in 2021
Authors: Schmitz Erika , Nessim Carolyn
Published: March 2022

Soft-tissue sarcomas are biologically heterogenous tumors arising from connective tissues with over 100 subtypes. Although sarcomas account for <1% of all adult malignancies, retroperitoneal sarcomas are a distinct subgroup accounting for <10% of all sarcomatous tumors. There have been considerable advancements in the understanding and treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma in the last decade, with standard treatment consisting of upfront primary surgical resection. The evidence surrounding the addition of radiation therapy remains controversial. There remains no standard with regards to systemic therapy, including immunotherapy. Adjunctive therapy remains largely dictated by expert consensus and preferences at individual centers or participation in clinical trials. In this 2021 review, we detail the anatomical boundaries of the retroperitoneum, clinical characteristics, contemporary standard of care and well as recent advancements in retroperitoneal sarcoma care. Ongoing international collaborations are encouraged to advance our understanding of this complex disease.
Is Timing of Steroid Exposure Prior to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Initiation Associated with Treatment Outcomes in Melanoma? A Population-Based Study
Authors: Nikita Nikita , Banks Joshua , Keith Scott W. , Song Andrew , Johnson Jennifer M. , Wilson Melissa , Sharma Swapnil , Lu-Yao Grace
Published: March 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) harness the immune system and are the therapy of choice for multiple cancers. Although immunosuppressive agents such as steroids are also used in many cancers, it is unknown how their timing affects treatment outcomes. Thus, we investigated the relationship between the timing of steroid exposure preceding ICI administration and subsequent treatment outcomes in melanoma. This population-based study utilized the SEER-Medicare-linked database to identify patients diagnosed with melanoma between 1991 and 2015 and receiving ICIs between 2010 and 2016, examining last steroid exposure in the 12 months preceding ICI. The main outcome was all-cause mortality (ACM) after ICIs. Modifications of the Cox proportional hazards model were used to calculate time-dependent hazards. Of 1671 patients with melanoma receiving ICIs, 907 received steroids. Compared with no steroids, last steroid exposures ≤1 month and 1–3 months prior to ICIs were associated with a 126% and 51% higher ACM within 3 months post ICI initiation, respectively (hazard ratio (HR): 2.26, 95% CI: 1.65–3.08; and HR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.01–2.27). Steroid exposure within 3 months of initiating ICIs was associated with increased mortality up to 6 months after ICI. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate mechanisms affecting outcomes due to steroids.
Visible-Light Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol Using Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Akintunde Olufemi Oluseun , Yu Linlong , Hu Jinguang , Kibria Md Golam , Achari Gopal
Published: March 2022

4-chlorophenol (4-CP), a hydroxylated aromatic compound (HAC), is a recalcitrant and toxic organic pollutant found in industrial wastewater and various environmental media. In this paper, visible-light-activated photocatalysis using graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) was used to treat 4-CP in an aqueous media. Graphitic carbon nitride from different precursors (dicyanamide, urea, and melamine), as well as GCN/silver nanocomposites (AgBr, Ag3PO4, Ag2CrO4, and Ag), were successfully synthesized and characterized by BET, XRD, SEM, EDS, and UV-Vis DRS. The band gaps of the photocatalysts were estimated using the UV-Vis DRS characterization results and Tauc plots. The evaluation of the efficacy of the GCN-based catalysts in degrading 4-CP was conducted with different photoreactors such as a royal blue light-emitting diode (LED), a UV-A LED, LUZCHEM cool white lamps, and a solar simulator. The results showed that GCNs with royal blue LED can effectively degrade 4-CP from aqueous media. Among the different precursors, urea-derived GCN showed the best performance in degrading 4-CP due to its large surface area. GCN/0.3Ag2CrO4 nanocomposite showed a synergistic effect for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of 4-CP. The degradation of 4-CP with a rate constant of 2.64 × 10−2 min−1 was achieved with a GCN/0.3Ag2CrO4 nanocomposite under royal blue LED irradiation.
Physical Activity, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Abdominal Obesity of Pre-Adolescent Children in the Region of Thrace, NE Greece, in Relation to Socio-Demographic Characteristics
Authors: Dampoudani Niki , Giakouvaki Athanasia , Diamantoudi Despoina , Skoufi Georgia , Kontogiorgis Christos A. , Constantinidis Theodoros C. , Nena Evangelia
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, and define predictive factors of their occurrence among pre-adolescents in the region of Thrace, NE Greece. A secondary aim was to record physical activity at different times (schooldays, weekends, holidays) and explore associations with characteristics such as gender, overweight and obesity, and socio-demographic conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving children aged 11–12 years. Participating children were measured for height, weight, and waist circumference, and their parents answered a questionnaire. In total, 1929 children were included. Prevalence of overweight was 31.5%, prevalence of obesity 17%, and only 1% of children were underweight. Abdominal obesity was detected in 20.3% of the sample. Overweight and obesity were more frequent in males, who also had higher mean values of Body Mass Index-for-age z-scores (BMIaz) and Waist-to-Height ratio (WtHR). Obesity rates were higher among those not participating in physical activities; however, no significant difference was observed between normal-weight, overweight and obese children in the time spent for organized athletic activities or free play. Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability for overweight/obesity was higher in boys (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.16–1.66) and lower in children whose fathers had a higher educational level (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60–0.93). The probability for abdominal obesity was also higher in boys (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.10–1.72) and lower in children participating at least one hour/day in an organized physical activity (compared to those with no physical activity (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.51–0.85), and whose father was exercising at least 1–2 times/week (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.591–0.98). In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among pre-adolescents in NE Greece was estimated at 48.5%. This is associated with the male gender and not participating in physical activities. The educational level and exercise habits of the father (but not of the mother) affect the probability of obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively.
Salivary Enzymatic Activity and Carious Experience in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Vacaru Raluca-Paula , Didilescu Andreea Cristiana , Constantinescu Ileana , Mărunțelu Ion , Tănase Mihaela , Stanciu Ioana Andreea , Kaman Wendy Esmeralda , Brand Hendrik Simon
Published: March 2022

Salivary biomolecules are considered important modulators of the oral microflora, with a potential subsequent impact on dental health. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between salivary enzymatic activity and carious experience in children. The carious experience of a sample of 22 school children was evaluated by calculating dmf/DMF indices, following WHO recommendations. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected, and salivary alpha-amylase levels, total protease activity, and matrix metalloproteinase levels (MMP-8 and MMP-9) were measured. The data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests. Our findings revealed no significant relationship between the investigated salivary parameters and the carious experience in permanent teeth (DMFT/DMFS scores). Carious indices scores for primary teeth (dmft and dmfs) were positively associated with MMP-8 levels (r = 0.62, p = 0.004 and rs = 0.61, p = 0.006, respectively) and MMP-9 levels (r = 0.45, p = 0.05 and rs = 0.48, p = 0.039, respectively) and negatively associated with alpha-amylase levels (rs = −0.54, p = 0.017 and rs = −0.59, p = 0.006, respectively). Although with a marginal significance, PEK−054 levels positively correlated with dental caries, while for PFU−089, a negative correlation was observed. These results suggest that salivary alpha-amylase and MMP-8 and MMP-9 levels may be considered potential indicators of carious experience in children. Further studies with a prospective design are needed in order to elucidate the role of these biomolecules in caries development.
The Energy Efficiency Post-COVID-19 in China’s Office Buildings
Authors: Duarte Carlos C. , Cortiços Nuno D.
Published: March 2022

China promptly took the leading step to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, producing the first scientific guidelines assuming health above energy consumption and significantly changing HVAC/AHU operation. The research intended to fulfill the gap by measuring the impact of the guidelines on energy use intensity, CO2 emissions, and energy operation costs related to workplaces. The guidelines are long-term sector and industry trends following occupants’ health and safety concerns, and today they are applied to nursing homes. The research extended the study to post-COVID-19 scenarios by crossing those settings with published reports on telework predictions. The methodology resorts to Building Energy Simulation software to assess the Chinese standard large office building on 8 climate zones and 17 subzones between pre- and post-COVID-19 scenarios under those guidelines. The outcomes suggest an upward trend in energy use intensity (11.70–12.46%), CO2 emissions (11.13–11.76%), and costs (9.37–9.89%) for buildings located in “warm/mixed” to “subarctic” climates, especially in colder regions with high heating demands. On the other hand, the figures for “very hot” to “hot/warm” climates lower the energy use intensity (14.76–15.47%), CO2 emissions (9%), and costs (9.64–9.77%).
Spectroscopic Characterization, Thermogravimetry and Biological Studies of Ru(III), Pt(IV), Au(III) Complexes with Sulfamethoxazole Drug Ligand
Authors: Alosaimi Eid H.
Published: March 2022

Complexes of Ru(III), Pt(IV), and Au(III) with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) were experimentally produced. The resulted formations of novel metal complexes were discussed using several techniques, such as effective magnetic moment molar conductivity, IR, UV, and 1H NMR spectra, elemental analyses, thermal analysis, microscopic and XRD analyses. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the solid powders of the synthesized sulfamethoxazole complexes indicated their identical formulation. The surface uniformity of the complexes’ samples was confirmed by SEM images. These complexes appear as spots, dark in appearance, with particle sizes of 100–200 nanometers in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) pictures. The sulfamethoxazole ligand was shown to be bidentate coordinated to the metallic ions with sulfonyle oxygen and amido nitrogen groups, according to IR spectral data. Both Ru(III) and Au(III) complexes have an electrolytic nature, but the Pt(IV) complex has non-electrolytic properties. TG and DTG experiments proved the assigned composition and provided information regarding the thermal stability of complexes in a dynamic air atmosphere, according to the thermal analysis. The effect of the novel prepared complexes was examined for antibacterial and antifungal activity in vitro against a variety of pathogens, and they exceeded the sulfamethoxazole ligand in antibacterial activity. It was observed that the Pt(IV) complex has the ultimate activity versus all the assessed organisms relative to all compounds.
Health Technology Assessment Process for Oncology Drugs: Impact of CADTH Changes on Public Payer Reimbursement Recommendations
Authors: Binder Louise , Ghadban Majd , Sit Christina , Barnard Kathleen
Published: March 2022

Public reimbursement systems face the challenge of balancing provision of needed treatments and the reality of limited resources. Canada has a complex system for drug approval and public reimbursement, with jurisdiction divided between the federal government and the provinces/territories. A pivotal role is that of health technology assessment (HTA), which relies primarily on health economic principles to analyze the value of drugs on a population health basis and make recommendations about public reimbursement. The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) provides recommendations to all provinces but Quebec. This article provides an overview of Canada’s approval and public reimbursement pathway, including the role of HTA and the economic principles on which it relies. Starting in late 2020, CADTH reduced the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) threshold, the metric relied upon in making recommendations to public payers. An analysis of all 56 oncology drug final recommendations issued from January 2020 to January 2022 was conducted and confirms this reduction in the cost per QALY threshold. As a result of this threshold reduction, recommendations to the provinces include, in a number of cases, substantially greater price reductions. The potential implications for successful price negotiation with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA), the public negotiating body for the provinces, are discussed.
Osteo-Proliferative Lesions of the Phalanges on Radiography: Associations with Sex, Age, and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Hermann Sandra , Eshed Iris , Sáenz Iván , Doepner Niclas , Ziegeler Katharina , Hermann Kay Geert A.
Published: March 2022

Objectives: The effects of aging such as osteophyte formation, acral shape changes, cortical tunneling, and bone porosity as well as enthesophytes can be studied in the X-rays of hands. However, during the interpretation of radiographs of the hands, misinterpretation and false-positive findings for psoriatic arthritis often occur because periosteal proliferations of the phalanges are overinterpreted and too little is known about enthesophytes of the phalanges in this area. Method: It included a total of 1153 patients (577 men, 576 women) who presented themselves to the emergency department and received a radiography of their right hand to exclude fractures. The Osseographic Scoring System was used in a modified form to record osteophytes and enthesophytes. A linear regression model for periosteal lesions was computed with age, sex, osteophytes, and global diagnosis as covariables. The inter-reader agreement was assessed using ICC (two-way mixed model) on the sum scores of osteophytes and periosteal lesions. Results: Overall, men exhibited more periosteal lesions, demonstrated by a higher mean sum score of 4.14 vs. 3.21 in women (p = 0.008). In both sexes, the second and third proximal phalanx were most frequently affected by periosteal lesions, but the frequencies were significantly higher in men. The female sex was negatively associated with an extent of periosteal lesions with a standardized beta of −0.082 (p = 0.003), while age and osteophytes were positively associated with betas of 0.347 (p < 0.001) and 0.156 (p < 0.001), respectively. The distribution of osteophytes per location did not differ between men and women (p > 0.05). The inter-reader agreement was excellent for periosteal lesions with ICC of 0.982 (95%CI 0.973–0.989, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Special care should be taken not to confuse normal periosteal changes in aging with periosteal apposition in psoriatic arthritis.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Bovine Aortic Arch Anatomic Variant
Authors: Pleș Liana , Cîrstoveanu Cătălin , Sima Romina-Marina , Gorecki Gabriel-Petre , Chicea Radu , Haj Hamoud Bashar
Published: March 2022

Fetal aortic arch development is an early and complex process that depends on many genetic and environmental factors. The final aortic arch varies greatly; it may take the form of a normal arch, anatomic variant (AAAV) with a common origin to that of the innominate artery and left common carotid artery (formerly known as “bovine aortic arch” (with an incidence of up to 27%)) or one of multiple pathological conditions. The present study aimed to establish the feasibility and impact of prenatal anatomic arch variants’ diagnosis. A retrospective study of 271 fetal second- and third-trimester anomaly scans was performed in our tertiary center. Examinations that evaluated the sagittal aortic arch were included and the branching pattern was assessed. Additionally, a literature data search based on the terms “common origin of innominate artery and left common carotid artery”, “bovine arch”, “bovine aortic” and “aortic arch anomalies” was performed. Results that referred to prenatal AAAV were retained and the papers evaluated. In our study, the AAA incidence was 1.93%, with 4 out of 5 cases being arch type B. All cases had minor associated conditions but a good postnatal outcome. An anatomic aortic variant with a common IA and LCCa prenatal diagnosis was found in a small number of studies; most of the cases described in pediatric and adult series were related to cardiac surgery for stenting, aneurysm or thoracic-associated diseases. The incidence of AAAV varied from 6 to 27% depending on the population studied (highest incidence in African individuals). The variant was highly associated with aortic dissection, pulmonary and cerebral embolism and increased risks of incidents during surgery. Diagnosing AAAV during a routine anatomic scan is feasible and diagnoses can be made when anomaly scans are performed. Awareness of the condition is important for postnatal surgery when other cardiac anomalies are found; this can prevent accidents with simple changes to the patient’s lifestyle, and, in the case of surgery, means we can adopt the correct surgical approach.
The Impact of the Multicultural Education on Students’ Attitudes in Business Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Karacsony Peter , Pásztóová Vivien , Vinichenko Mikhail , Huszka Peter
Published: March 2022

The research aims to assess the cultural diversity of international students studying in higher education institutions. The results of the research provide an overview of the attitude of students studying in institutions of higher education to learning, the factors influencing their studies, and their expectations for their studies abroad. One type of quantitative research method, the questionnaire, was chosen for the primary research. The research results reflect the perspectives of students from different cultural backgrounds in institutions of higher education and focus on the phenomena and situations they experience. Following the hypothesis test results, an outcome can be seen that students believe that their studies in higher education provide a good foundation for their personal development. The results also confirmed that learning in a multicultural environment could positively affect students’ working abilities.
How to Assess the Measurement Performance of Mobile/Wearable Point-of-Care Testing Devices? A Systematic Review Addressing Sweat Analysis
Authors: Tonello Sarah , Abate Giulia , Borghetti Michela , Lopomo Nicola Francesco , Serpelloni Mauro , Sardini Emilio
Published: March 2022

Recent advances in technologies for biosensor integration in mobile or wearable devices have highlighted the need for the definition of proper validation procedures and technical standards that enable testing, verification and validation of the overall performance of these solutions. Thus, reliable assessment—in terms of limits of detection/quantitation, linearity, range, analytical and diagnostic sensitivity/specificity, accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility, cross-reactivity, diagnostic efficiency, and positive/negative prediction—still represents the most critical and challenging aspect required to progress beyond the status of feasibility studies. Considering this picture, this work aims to review and discuss the literature referring to the available methods and criteria reported in the assessment of the performance of point-of-care testing (PoCT) devices within their specific applications. In particular, without losing generality, we focused on mobile or wearable systems able to analyze human sweat. In performing this review, the focus was on the main challenges and trends underlined in the literature, in order to provide specific hints that can be used to set shared procedures and improve the overall reliability of the identified solutions, addressing the importance of sample management, the sensing components, and the electronics. This review can contribute to supporting an effective validation of mobile or wearable PoCT devices and thus to spreading the use of reliable approaches outside hospitals and clinical laboratories.
A Hybrid Method for the Fault Diagnosis of Onboard Traction Transformers
Authors: Zhu Junmin , Li Shuaibing , Liu Yang , Dong Haiying
Published: March 2022

As vital equipment in high-speed train power supply systems, the failure of onboard traction transformers affect the safe and stable operation of the trains. To diagnose faults in onboard traction transformers, this paper proposes a hybrid optimization method based on quickly and accurately using support vector machines (SVMs) as fault diagnosis systems for onboard traction transformers, which can accurately locate and analyze faults. Considering the limitations of traditional transformers for identifying faults, this study used kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) to analyze the feature quantity of dissolved gas analysis (DGA) data, electrical test data, and oil quality test data. The improved seagull optimization algorithm (ISOA) was used to optimize the SVM, and a Henon chaotic map was introduced to initialize the population. Combined with differential evolution (DE) based on the adaptive formula, the foraging formula of the seagull optimization algorithm (SOA) was improved to increase the diversity of the algorithm and enhance its ability to find the optimal parameters of SVM, which made the simulation results more accurate. Finally, the KPCA–ADESOA–SVM model was constructed and applied to fault diagnosis for the traction transformer. The example analysis compared the diagnosis results of the proposed diagnosis model with those of the traditional diagnosis model, showing further optimization of the feature quantity and improvements in the diagnosis accuracy. This proves that the proposed diagnosis model has high generalization performance and can effectively increase the fault diagnosis accuracy and speed of traction transformers.
Microphone Array for Speaker Localization and Identification in Shared Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Marques Ivo , Sousa João , Sá Bruno , Costa Diogo , Sousa Pedro , Pereira Samuel , Santos Afonso , Lima Carlos , Hammerschmidt Niklas , Pinto Sandro , Gomes Tiago
Published: March 2022

With the current technological transformation in the automotive industry, autonomous vehicles are getting closer to the Society of Automative Engineers (SAE) automation level 5. This level corresponds to the full vehicle automation, where the driving system autonomously monitors and navigates the environment. With SAE-level 5, the concept of a Shared Autonomous Vehicle (SAV) will soon become a reality and mainstream. The main purpose of an SAV is to allow unrelated passengers to share an autonomous vehicle without a driver/moderator inside the shared space. However, to ensure their safety and well-being until they reach their final destination, active monitoring of all passengers is required. In this context, this article presents a microphone-based sensor system that is able to localize sound events inside an SAV. The solution is composed of a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) microphone array with a circular geometry connected to an embedded processing platform that resorts to Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology to successfully process in the hardware the sound localization algorithms.
Multiservice Loss Models in C-RAN Supporting Compound Poisson Traffic
Authors: Chousainov Iskanter-Alexandros , Moscholios Ioannis , Sarigiannidis Panagiotis , Logothetis Michael
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a cloud radio access network (C-RAN) is considered where the baseband units form a pool of computational resource units (RUs) and are separated from the remote radio heads (RRHs). The RRHs are grouped into clusters based on their capacity in radio RUs. Each RRH serves different service-classes whose calls have different requirements in terms of radio and computational RUs and follow a compound Poisson process. This means that calls arrive in batches while each batch of calls follows a Poisson process. If the RUs’ requirements of an arriving call are met, then the call is accepted in the serving RRH for an exponentially distributed service time. Otherwise, call blocking occurs. We initially start our analysis with a single-cluster C-RAN and model it as a multiservice loss system, prove that the model has a product form solution, and determine time and call congestion probabilities via a convolution algorithm. Furthermore, the previous model is extended to include the more complex case of many clusters of RRHs.
A Modulated Wideband Converter Calibration Technique Based on a Single Measurement of a White Noise Signal with Advanced Resynchronization Preprocessing
Authors: Burel Gilles , Fiche Anthony , Gautier Roland , Martin-Guennou Annaig
Published: March 2022

The Modulated Wideband Converter (MWC) is a blind sub-Nyquist sampling system used especially to monitor wideband spectrum. This system can be realized by existing analog components. From a theoretical point of view, all analog components are assumed ideal. However, this hypothesis is false in practice. Indeed, some imperfections are introduced by analog components such as nonlinearities of mixers, phase/attenuation/selectivity of low-pass filters and desynchronization between modulating waveforms. Consequently, it is necessary to correctly estimate the sensing matrix to ensure correct spectrum reconstruction performance. Conventional calibration methods are based on the measurements of different single tones. However, these approaches need to record several measurements with single-tone inputs. To avoid this problem, this paper presents a new hardware calibration method of MWC by using a single measurement of a white noise signal for radio frequency spectrum monitoring. A preprocessing method is performed to resynchronize input, output and modulating waveforms signals with each other. Our hardware calibration method is applied to our prototype of Compressed Sensing (CS) scheme in order to estimate the corrected sensing matrix. To prove the efficiency of our hardware calibration, reconstruction performances were evaluated with respect to the probability of correct reconstruction and false alarm criteria. These results are compared with those obtained with the theoretical MWC scheme, with our prototype without calibration and with reference calibration.
Recent Advances in Microbial Synthesis of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid: A Review
Authors: Li Danfeng , Hou Lizhen , Gao Yaxin , Tian Zhiliang , Fan Bei , Wang Fengzhong , Li Shuying
Published: March 2022

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a natural, safe, non-immunogenic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly glutamic biopolymer. γ-PGA has been regarded as a promising bio-based materials in the food field, medical field, even in environmental engineering field, and other industrial fields. Microbial synthesis is an economical and effective way to synthesize γ-PGA. Bacillus species are the most widely studied producing strains. γ-PGA biosynthesis involves metabolic pathway of racemization, polymerization, transfer, and catabolism. Although microbial synthesis of γ-PGA has already been used extensively, productivity and yield remain the major constraints for its industrial application. Metabolic regulation is an attempt to solve the above bottleneck problems and meet the demands of commercialization. Therefore, it is important to understand critical factors that influence γ-PGA microbial synthesis in depth. This review focuses on production strains, biosynthetic pathway, and metabolic regulation. Moreover, it systematically summarizes the functional properties, purification procedure, and industrial application of γ-PGA.
The Identified Osteological Collections of South America and Their Ethical Dimensions
Authors: Plens Cláudia R. , Górka Katarzyna , Lopez Quintero Yuli Andrea
Published: March 2022

Recent years have brought an important increase in the interest in identified human osteological collections in South America. Their number has been systematically growing and their sizes have been expanding, allowing the development of the field of forensic anthropology, among other disciplines, in this region. These collections are used mainly for the validation of international forensic anthropology methods for national and local populations, as well as for the training of professionals and researchers. Despite their growth, important limitation related to the lack of variability in the representativeness of individuals within these collections represents a significant drawback. Likewise, their concentration in only a few countries constitutes a noteworthy concern. This article aims at mapping the existing identified human osteological collections in South America, discussing the advances in the area of forensic anthropology that they have allowed, and reflecting upon their ethical dimensions in the South American context.
Foreign Banks of Issue in Prewar China: The Notes of the Netherlands Trading Society, Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the International Banking Corporation
Authors: Horesh Niv
Published: March 2022

To date, much of the scholarly literature on anti-foreign boycotts in prewar China focused on cigarettes. However, foreign banks were also targeted, particularly regarding their most visible infringement of Chinese sovereignty: banknotes. Piecing together note circulation data on the smaller European and American banks operating in Shanghai is a work in progress. In this research note, I present provisional data about three of the most important second-tier foreign banks in Shanghai: the Netherlands Trading Society, the German Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the International Banking Corporation. Tentative conclusions can already be drawn. These banks by and large lost traction in the 1930s insofar as banknote circulation volumes were concerned. On the other hand, the political vacuum that befell the Chinese market following the downfall of the Qing was the single biggest boon of the banks under review. The redemption freeze on Chinese bank notes of 1916 seems to have had a partial effect in terms of regaining Chinese trust in Chinese banknotes at the expense of foreign ones. Unlike British banks, Netherlands Trading Society circulation figures never recovered in the early 1920s. Needless to say, much more work can be carried out in that regard as the pertinent archives are situated right around the world.
Effects of Hazelnut Consumption on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Acceptance: A Systematic Review
Authors: Brown Rachel , Ware Lara , Tey Siew Ling
Published: March 2022

Despite being rich sources of monounsaturated fat and a number of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, hazelnuts have received less attention than some other nut types. A qualitative systematic review was carried out to determine the effects of hazelnut consumption on acceptance and markers of cardiometabolic health, including blood lipids and lipoproteins, apolipoproteins A1 and B100, body weight and composition, blood pressure, glycemia, antioxidant status, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function. In total, 22 intervention studies (25 publications) met our inclusion criteria. The findings indicate some improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors; however, limitations in study design mean interpretation is problematic. The inclusion of hazelnuts in the diet did not adversely affect body weight and composition. Acceptance of hazelnuts remained stable over time confirming nut consumption guidelines are feasible and sustainable. Future studies using more robust study designs in a variety of populations are required to draw more definitive conclusions on the health benefits of hazelnut consumption.
Validation of the English Version of the General Dietary Behavior Inventory (GDBI-E)
Authors: Marsall Matthias , Engelmann Gerrit , Skoda Eva-Maria , Stroebele-Benschop Nanette , Teufel Martin , Bäuerle Alexander
Published: March 2022

In medical science and practice, dietary behavior is mostly assessed by item-extensive questionnaires (e.g., food-frequency-questionnaires) or by questionnaires focusing on psychological aspects of dietary behavior neglecting dietary quality or quantity. In consequence, these questionnaires do not capture the full bandwidth of dietary behavior or are less effective in the assessment of dietary behavior because of the large item pools. Therefore, the aim of this validation study was to translate the existing General Dietary Behavior Inventory (GDBI), which was constructed as a behavior-related, as well as effective, instrument, and verifying its construct and criterion validity. This inventory is based on the general nutrition recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Our English-speaking convenience sample consisted of 263 participants. The study results confirmed convergent, as well as criterion validity of the English version of the GDBI (GDBI-E). Discriminant validity of the GDBI-E could mainly be verified. Different dietary behavior clusters were identified in a cluster analysis. The found clusters represented a rather healthy and a rather unhealthy dietary behavior in the sample according to the recommendations of the WHO. The results underpinned the validity of the GDBI-E. The GDBI-E is applicable in research and clinical practice to assess dietary behavior in the English-speaking population.
Association between Oral Frailty and Physical Frailty among Rural Middle-Old Community-Dwelling People with Cognitive Decline in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kuo Ya-Wen , Lee Jiann-Der
Published: March 2022

This cross-sectional study was conducted to clarify the association between oral frailty (OF) and physical frailty (PF). In total, 308 Taiwanese middle-old (75–84 years) community-dwelling people with cognitive decline were recruited from random rural community health care centers. Eight items were considered for the evaluation of their OF status. The Study of Osteoporotic Fracture index was used for frailty assessment, which revealed that 22% of the participants had PF. In an adjusted model, PF was significantly associated with the OF subdomains of difficult to eat hard food (p = 0.009), choking (p = 0.008), denture use (p = 0.008), and inability to chew hard food (p = 0.001); and high risk of OF (OR = 3.03; p = 0.002). After eight steps with elimination of the least significant independent variable, age (p= 0.008), self-reported health status of fair (p = 0.000) and poor (p = 0.000), mild cognitive impairment (p < 0.001) and denture use (p = 0.011) were found to be the indispensable predictors for PF. The logistic regression model with 5 indispensable variables had a predictive value of 78.2%. Longitudinal analyses are needed to examine whether OF is a risk factor for PF onset.
The Relation between Neuroticism and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behavior among College Students: Multiple Mediating Effects of Emotion Regulation and Depression
Authors: Liao Chengju , Gu Xingmei , Wang Jie , Li Kuiliang , Wang Xiaoxia , Zhao Mengxue , Feng Zhengzhi
Published: March 2022

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior among college students is a focus of attention in current society. In the information era, the Internet serves as a public health concern and as an effective pathway for prevention. In order to reduce NSSI behavior, we explore its influence factors, especially the relations between neuroticism, emotion regulation (ER), depression, and NSSI behavior. Methods: A total of 450 college students were surveyed with the Big Five Inventory-2, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire. Results: Regression analysis showed that neuroticism significantly negatively predicted emotion regulation, while it positively predicted depression and NSSI. Multiple mediation modeling demonstrated that neuroticism and emotion regulation had no significant direct effects on NSSI. However, neuroticism could indirectly affect NSSI through four pathways of multiple mediating effects, including depression, cognitive reappraisal-depression, expressive suppression-depression, and cognitive reappraisal-expressive suppression-depression. Conclusions: Neuroticism positively predicts depression and NSSI behavior, and affects NSSI through the mediating effect of ER and depression. Therefore, amelioration of neuroticism from the perspectives of emotion regulation and depression is recommended, so as to reduce NSSI behavior among college students with highly neurotic personalities.