bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adsorption Removal of Mo(VI) from an Aqueous Solution by Alumina with the Subsequent Regeneration of the Adsorbent
Authors: Kurmysheva Alexandra Yu. , Vedenyapina Marina D. , Kulaishin Stanislav A. , Podrabinnik Pavel , Pinargote Nestor Washington Solís , Smirnov Anton , Metel Alexander S. , Bartolomé José F. , Grigoriev Sergey N.
Published: May 2023

Industrial wastewater is the main source of an excessive amount of molybdenum (Mo) in natural ecosystems. It is necessary to remove Mo from wastewater before it is discharged into the environment. Molybdate ion(VI) is the most common form of Mo in natural reservoirs and industrial wastewater. In this work, the sorption removal of Mo(VI) from an aqueous medium was evaluated using aluminum oxide. The influence of such factors as the pH of the solution and the temperature was evaluated. Three adsorption isotherms, namely, Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin, were used to describe the experimental results. It was found that the pseudo-first order kinetic model better fits the kinetic data of the adsorption process, and the maximum Mo(VI) adsorption capacity was 31 mg/g at 25 °C and pH 4. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the process of Mo(VI) adsorption on Al2O3 was exothermic and spontaneous. It was shown that the adsorption of Mo strongly depends on pH. The most effective adsorption was observed at pH values below 7. Experiments on adsorbent regeneration showed that Mo(VI) can be effectively desorbed from the aluminum oxide surface into a phosphate solution in a wide range of pH values. After the desorption of Mo(VI) in a phosphate solution, alumina was found to be suitable for repeating the procedure at least five times.
The Role of IL-33/ST2 in COPD and Its Future as an Antibody Therapy
Authors: Riera-Martínez Lluc , Cànaves-Gómez Laura , Iglesias Amanda , Martin-Medina Aina , Cosío Borja G.
Published: May 2023

COPD is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and is associated with a high socioeconomic burden. Current treatment includes the use of inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators, which can help to improve symptoms and reduce exacerbations; however, there is no solution for restoring lung function and the emphysema caused by loss of the alveolar tissue. Moreover, exacerbations accelerate progression and challenge even more the management of COPD. Mechanisms of inflammation in COPD have been investigated over the past years, thus opening new avenues to develop novel targeted-directed therapies. Special attention has been paid to IL-33 and its receptor ST2, as they have been found to mediate immune responses and alveolar damage, and their expression is upregulated in COPD patients, which correlates with disease progression. Here we summarize the current knowledge on the IL-33/ST2 pathway and its involvement in COPD, with a special focus on developed antibodies and the ongoing clinical trials using anti-IL-33 and anti-ST2 strategies in COPD patients.
Genealogical Data Mining from Historical Archives: The Case of the Jewish Community in Pisa
Authors: Lo Duca Angelica , Marchetti Andrea , Moretti Manuela , Diana Francesca , Toniazzi Mafalda , D’Errico Andrea
Published: May 2023

The Jewish community archive in Pisa owns a vast collection of documents and manuscripts that date back centuries. These documents contain valuable genealogical information, including birth, marriage, and death records. This paper aims to describe the preliminary results of the Archivio Storico della Comunita Ebraica di Pisa (ASCEPI) project, with a focus on the extraction of data from the Nati, Morti e Ballottati (NMB) Registry document in the archive. The NMB Registry contains about 1900 records of births, deaths, and balloted individuals within the Jewish community in Pisa. The study uses a semiautomatic pipeline of digitization, transcription, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to extract personal data such as names, surnames, birth and death dates, and parental names from each record. The extracted data are then used to build a knowledge base and a genealogical tree for a representative family, Supino. This study demonstrates the potential of using NLP and rule-based techniques to extract valuable information from historical documents and to construct genealogical trees.
Integrated Plan of Insecticide Resistance Surveillance in Mosquito Vectors in France
Authors: Devillers James , David Jean-Philippe , Barrès Benoit , Alout Haoues , Lapied Bruno , Chouin Sébastien , Dusfour Isabelle , Billault Catherine , Mekki Farida , Attig Isabelle , Corbel Vincent
Published: May 2023

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, or chikungunya have been re-emerging all over the world, including in Europe. Managing resistance to public health pesticides in mosquitoes is essential and requires global, integrated, and coordinated actions and strong engagement of decision-makers, scientists, and public health operators. In this context, the present work aims at proposing an integrated plan of resistance surveillance in France and in the French Overseas territories in order to provide graduated and appropriate responses according to the situation. Briefly, the plan relies on periodic monitoring of insecticide resistance at the population level in predefined sites using adequate biological, molecular, and/or biochemical approaches and a stratification of the level of resistance risk at the scale of territory to adjust surveillance and vector control actions. The plan relies on the latest methods and indicators used for resistance monitoring as recommended by the World Health Organization in order to prevent or slow down its extension in space and time. The plan has been developed for France but can be easily adapted to other countries in order to provide a coordinated response to the growing problem of mosquito resistance in Europe.
Theoretical Impact of Intraocular Lens Design Variations on the Accuracy of IOL Power Calculations
Authors: Gatinel Damien , Debellemanière Guillaume , Saad Alain , Rampat Radhika , Malet Jacques
Published: May 2023

To ascertain the theoretical impact of optical design variations of the intraocular lens (IOL) on the accuracy of IOL power formulas based on a single lens constant using a thick lens eye model. This impact was also simulated before and after optimization. We modeled 70 thick-lens pseudophakic eyes implanted with IOLs of symmetrical optical design and power comprised between 0.50 D and 35 D in 0.5-step increments. Modifications of the shape factor resulting in variations in the anterior and posterior radii of an IOL were made, keeping the central thickness and paraxial powers static. Geometry data from three IOL models were also used. Corresponding postoperative spherical equivalent (SE) were computed for different IOL powers and assimilated to a prediction error of the formula due to the sole change in optical design alone. Formula accuracy was studied before and after zeroization on a uniform and non-uniform realistic IOL power distribution. The impact of the incremental change in optic design variability depended on the IOL power. Design modifications theoretically induce an increase in the standard deviation (SD), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Root Mean Square (RMS) of the error. The values of these parameters reduce dramatically after zeroization. While the variations in optical design can affect refractive outcomes, especially in short eyes, the zeroization of the mean error theoretically reduces the impact of the IOL’s design and power on the accuracy of IOL power calculation.
Treatment of Chiari Malformation and Concomitant Paediatric Scoliosis Long-Term Follow-Up in One Major Referral Centre in the UK
Authors: Hershkovich Oded , Lotan Raphael , Steinberg Netanel , Katzouraki Galateia , D’Aquino Daniel , Tsegaye Magnum
Published: May 2023

Objective: Paediatric scoliosis (PS) and Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) have been reported to be associated with each other. Scoliosis curvature is a common finding among patients operated for CM-1, and curve development has been related to it. We report a cohort of PS and CM-1 patients managed with posterior fossa and upper cervical decompression (PFUCD) by a single surgeon, with an average of two years of follow-up. Methods: We present a retrospective cohort in a single referral centre for patients with CM-1 and PS. Results: From 2011 to 2018, we identified fifteen patients with CM-1 and PS; eleven underwent PFUCD, ten had symptomatic CM-1, and one had asymptomatic CM-1 but showed curve progression. The remaining four CM-1 patients were asymptomatic and were hence treated conservatively. The average follow-up post-PFUCD was 26.2 months. Scoliosis surgery was performed in seven cases; six patients underwent PFUCD prior to the scoliosis correction. One scoliosis case underwent surgery in the presence of mild CM-1 treated conservatively. The remaining four cases were scheduled for scoliosis correction surgery, while three were managed conservatively, with one case lost to follow-up. The average time between PFUCD and scoliosis surgery was 11 months. None of the cases had intraoperative neuromonitoring alerts or perioperative neurological complications. Conclusion: CM-1 with concomitant scoliosis can be found. Symptomatic CM-1 might require surgery, but as we discovered, PFUCD had negligible effect on curve progression and the future need for scoliosis surgery.
Treatment of Trochanteric Hip Fractures with Cephalomedullary Nails: Single Head Screw vs. Dual Integrated Compression Screw Systems
Authors: Méndez-Ojeda Marye M. , Herrera-Rodríguez Alejandro , Álvarez-Benito Nuria , González-Pacheco Himar , García-Bello Miguel A. , Álvarez-de la Cruz Javier , Pais-Brito José L.
Published: May 2023

Extracapsular hip fractures are very common in the elderly. They are mainly treated surgically with an intramedullary nail. Nowadays, both endomedullary hip nails with single cephalic screw systems and interlocking double screw systems are available on the market. The latter are supposed to increase rotational stability and therefore decrease the risk of collapse and cut-out. A retrospective cohort study was carried out, in which 387 patients with extracapsular hip fracture undergoing internal fixation with an intramedullary nail were included to study the occurrence of complications and reoperations. Of the 387 patients, 69% received a single head screw nail and 31% received a dual integrated compression screw nail. The median follow-up was 1.1 years, and in that time, a total of 17 reoperations were performed (4.2%; 2.1% for single head screw nails vs. 8.7% for double head screws). According to the multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex and basicervical fracture, the adjusted hazard risk of reoperation required was 3.6 times greater when using double interlocking screw systems (p = 0.017). A propensity scores analysis confirmed this finding. In conclusion, despite the potential benefits of using two interlocking head screw systems and the increased risk of reoperation in our single center, we encourage to other researchers to explore this question in a wider multicenter study.
A Paradoxical Clinical Coincidence: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Bilateral Vestibulopathy
Authors: Pérez-Fernández Nicolás , Saez Coronado Sara , Zulueta-Santos Cristina , Neria Serrano Fernando , Rey-Martinez Jorge , Blanco Melisa , Manrique-Huarte Raquel
Published: May 2023

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and bilateral vestibulopathy (BVL) are two completely different forms of vestibular disorder that occasionally occur in the same patient. We conducted a retrospective review searching for that coincidence in our database of the patients seen over a 15-year period and found this disorder in 23 patients, that is 0.4%. More frequently they occurred sequentially (10/23) and BPPV was diagnosed first. Simultaneous presentation occurred in 9/23 patients. It was subsequently studied, but in a prospective manner, in patients with BPPV on all of whom a video head impulse test was performed to search for bilateral vestibular loss; we found it was slightly more frequent (6/405). Both disorders were treated accordingly, and it was found that the results follow the general trend in patients with only one of those disorders.
Lipid-Lowering Nutraceuticals for an Integrative Approach to Dyslipidemia
Authors: Cheung Brian , Sikand Geeta , Dineen Elizabeth H. , Malik Shaista , Barseghian El-Farra Ailin
Published: May 2023

Dyslipidemia is a treatable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease that can be addressed through lifestyle changes and/or lipid-lowering therapies. Adherence to statins can be a clinical challenge in some patients due to statin-associated muscle symptoms and other side effects. There is a growing interest in integrative cardiology and nutraceuticals in the management of dyslipidemia, as some patients desire or are actively seeking a more natural approach. These agents have been used in patients with and without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We provide an updated review of the evidence on many new and emerging nutraceuticals. We describe the mechanism of action, lipid-lowering effects, and side effects of many nutraceuticals, including red yeast rice, bergamot and others.
COVID-19-Associated Disease Course Is Shortened in Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis Patients Receiving Dupilumab Treatment: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ma Dongxia , Wang Yin , Huang Nan , Li Wenjing , Chen Hao , Yang Yaqi , Zhu Rongfei
Published: May 2023

Previous studies suggest that allergic diseases may be a protective factor in SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, data regarding the impact of dupilumab, a widely used immunomodulatory medication, on COVID-19 in an allergic population are very limited. To investigate the incidence and severity of COVID-19 among moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) patients treated with dupilumab, a retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with moderate-to-severe AD who presented at the Department of Allergy of Tongji Hospital from 15 January 2023 to 31 January 2023. Healthy individuals matched for gender and age were also enrolled as a control. All subjects were asked about their demographic characteristics, past medical history, COVID-19 vaccination history, and medications, as well as the presence and duration of individual COVID-19-related symptoms. A total of 159 moderate-to-severe AD patients and 198 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Among the AD patients, 97 patients were treated with dupilumab, and 62 patients did not receive any biologicals or systemic treatments (topical treatment group). The proportions of people who were not infected with COVID in the dupilumab treatment group, topical treatment group and healthy control group were 10.31%, 9.68% and 19.19%, respectively (p = 0.057). There was no significant difference in COVID-19-related symptom scores among all groups (p = 0.059). The hospitalization rates were 3.58% in the topical treatment group and 1.25% in the healthy control group, and no patient was hospitalized in the dupilumab treatment group (p = 0.163). Compared with healthy control group and topical treatment group, the dupilumab treatment group had the shortest COVID-19-associated disease duration (dupilumab treatment group, 4.15 ± 2.85 d vs. topical treatment group, 5.43 ± 3.15 d vs. healthy control group, 6.09 ± 4.29 d; p = 0.001). Among the AD patients treated with dupilumab for different times, there was no appreciable difference (<0.5 year group, 5 ± 3.62 d vs. 0.5–1 year group, 4.84 ± 2.58 d vs. >1 year group, 2.8 ± 1.32 d; p = 0.183). Dupilumab treatment shortened the duration of COVID-19 in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. AD patients can continue their dupilumab treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent Advances and Potential Multi-Omics Approaches in the Early Phases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Rodríguez-Lago Iago , Blackwell Jonathan , Mateos Beatriz , Marigorta Urko M. , Barreiro-de Acosta Manuel , Pollok Richard
Published: May 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease leads to debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms and reduced quality of life, resulting in a significant burden on healthcare utilization and costs. Despite substantial advancements in diagnosis and treatment, there may still be considerable delays in diagnosing some patients. To reduce disease progression before the full disease spectrum appears and improve prognostic outcomes, several strategies have concentrated on early intervention and prevention. Recent evidence shows that initial immune response changes and endoscopic lesions may exist for years before diagnosis, implying the existence of a preclinical phase of inflammatory bowel disease comparable to findings in other immune-mediated disorders. In this review, we highlight the most relevant findings regarding preclinical inflammatory bowel disease and the prospective role of novel omics techniques in this field.
Septic History Limits the Outcome of Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis
Authors: Meinert Magalie , Colcuc Christian , Herrmann Eva , Harbering Johannes , Gramlich Yves , Blank Marc , Hoffmann Reinhard , Fischer Sebastian
Published: May 2023

Joint destruction necessitates tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) in cases of clinical deficits that cannot be controlled conservatively, possibly leading to sepsis. We aimed to compare the underlying etiology of posttraumatic joint destruction and the outcomes after TTCA in patients with a septic or aseptic history. Between 2010 and 2022, 216 patients with TTCA were retrospectively enrolled (septic TTCA (S-TTCA) = 129; aseptic TTCA (A-TTCA) = 87). Patient demographics, etiology, Olerud and Molander Ankle Scores (OMASs), Foot Function Index (FFI-D) scores, and Short Form-12 Questionnaire (SF-12) scores were recorded. The mean follow-up period was 6.5 years. Tibial plafond and ankle fractures were the most common causes of sepsis. The mean OMAS was 43.0; the mean FFI-D was 76.7; and the mean SF-12 physical component summary score was 35.5. All the scores differed significantly between the groups (p < 0.001). With an average of 11 operations until the arthrodesis was achieved, the S-TTCA patients underwent about three times as many operations as the A-TTCA patients (p < 0.001), and 41% of S-TTCA patients remained permanently unable to work (p < 0.001). The significantly worse results of S-TTCA compared to A-TTCA show the long and stressful ordeal that patients with a septic history suffer. Further attention must be paid to infection prophylaxis and, if necessary, early infection revision.
Do Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Polytrauma Continue to Have Worse Outcomes?
Authors: Tebby James , Giannoudis Vasileios P. , Wakefield Sophia M. , Lecky Fiona , Bouamra Omar , Giannoudis Peter V.
Published: May 2023

The management of patients with multiple injuries remains challenging. Patients presenting with comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, may have additional unpredictable outcomes with increased mortality. Therefore, we aim to investigate the impact of major trauma centres in the UK on the outcomes of polytrauma patients with diabetes. The Trauma Audit and Research Network was used to identify polytrauma patients presenting to centres in England and Wales between 2012 and 2019. In total, 32,345 patients were thereby included and divided into three groups: 2271 with diabetes, 16,319 with comorbidities other than diabetes and 13,755 who had no comorbidities. Despite an overall increase in diabetic prevalence compared to previously published data, mortality was reduced in all groups, but diabetic patient mortality remained higher than in the other groups. Interestingly, increasing Injury Severity Score (ISS) and age were associated with increasing mortality, whereas the presence of diabetes, even when taking into consideration age, ISS and Glasgow Coma Score, led to an increase in the prediction of mortality with an odds ratio of 1.36 (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in polytrauma patients has increased, and diabetes remains an independent risk factor for mortality following polytrauma.
Minimally Invasive Harvesting Technique for Costal Cartilage Graft: Donor Site, Morbidity and Aesthetic Outcomes
Authors: Committeri Umberto , Arena Antonio , Carraturo Emanuele , Barone Simona , Salzano Giovanni , Mariniello Domenico , De Riu Giacomo , Vaira Luigi Angelo , Giovacchini Francesco , Califano Luigi , Piombino Pasquale
Published: May 2023

Cartilage grafts are well-known as being reliable in reconstructive surgery for craniofacial pathologies. The aim of this study is to describe a new technique which requires an incision smaller than 1.5 cm but is still effective for harvesting cartilage graft. Thirty-six patients who underwent costal cartilage harvesting for septorhinoplasty have been included in this study, admitted from January 2018 to December 2021. Out of 36 patients, 34 have not reported any major complications, and two cases were followed up for pneumothorax. There were no infections and no chest wall deformities. All patients reported minimal pain at the donor site. The Vancouver Scar Scale was used to evaluate the entity of the postoperative scarring phenomena. This scale total ranges from 0 (representing normal skin) to a maximum score of 13 (representing worst scar imaginable). The results were 1.53 SD ± 0.64 (on average) 1 week after the surgical procedure and 1.28 SD ± 0.45 (on average) at the 6 months follow-up. This minimally invasive method provided a valid and effective surgical technique for cartilage graft. Despite the limitations of the case series, it seems that this procedure might be comparable to other and well-established traditional procedures and could be even preferred when the minimal invasiveness is mandatory.
Is the Pre-Shaping of an Orbital Implant on a Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Model Advantageous Compared to Conventional Free-Hand Shaping? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Singh Ashutosh , Khanal Nikita , Chaulagain Rajib , Sharma Neha , Thieringer Florian
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare pre-shaped implants on a patient-specific 3D-printed (3DP) model to manual free-hand shaping (MFS) for orbital wall reconstruction. The PRISMA protocol was followed in this study, and the review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021261594). A search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, Google Scholar, and the grey literature. Ten articles were included, and six outcomes were analyzed. In total, 281 patients were in the 3DP group and 283 were in the MFS group. The studies had an overall high risk of bias. 3DP models resulted in a better accuracy of fit, anatomical angle reproduction, and defect area coverage. The correction of orbital volume was also superior with statistical significance. There was a higher percentage of the correction of enophthalmos and diplopia in the 3DP group. Intraoperative bleeding and hospital stay were reduced in the 3DP group. The meta-analysis of operative time showed a reduction in the average operative time by 23.58 min (95% CI: −43.98 to −3.19), which was statistically significant (t(6) = −2.8299, p = 0.0300). The 3DP models appear advantageous for an accurate orbital wall reconstruction, with fewer complications than those for conventional free-hand-shaped implants.
Echocardiographic Findings in Asymptomatic Mediastinal Lymphoma Survivors Years after Treatment Termination
Authors: Nabiałek-Trojanowska Izabela , Jankowska Hanna , Sławiński Grzegorz , Dąbrowska-Kugacka Alicja , Lewicka Ewa
Published: May 2023

Patients treated due to mediastinal lymphomas are at risk of cardiovascular complications, as they receive chemotherapy, usually containing anthracyclines, often combined with thoracic radiotherapy. The aim of this prospective study was to assess early asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction using resting and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) at least 3 years after the end of mediastinal lymphoma treatment. Two groups of patients were compared: those treated with chemoradiotherapy and those exclusively treated with chemotherapy. Left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR) during DSE was assessed using changes in LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS), and a novel parameter—Force, which is the ratio of the systolic blood pressure to the LV end-systolic volume. The study included 60 patients examined at a median of 89 months after the end of treatment. Resting echocardiography showed normal LVEF of 58.9 ± 9.6%, borderline LV GLS of −17.7 ± 3%, decreased mean stroke volume (SV) of 51.4 ± 17 mL, and indexed SV of 27.3 ± 8 mL/m2, and the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (LS) was impaired in some patients but not in all. There were no significant differences between the groups, with the exception of arterial hypertension, which was more common in the chemotherapy group (32% vs. 62.5%, p = 0.04). In resting echocardiography, only LV posterior wall LS differed significantly and was impaired in patients treated with chemotherapy (−19.1 ± 3.1% vs. −16.5 ± 5.1%, p = 0.04). DSE, performed in 21 patients after a median of 166 months from the end of cancer treatment, detected new contractility disorders in 1 patient (4.8%) and decreased LVCR in the majority of patients when determined using changes in LVEF or LV GLS, and in all patients when assessed with changes in Force. Conclusions: Most asymptomatic mediastinal lymphoma survivors showed preserved ventricular function on resting echocardiography. However, all of them showed impaired LV contractile reserve on DSE, as assessed with a simple parameter—Force. This may indicate subtle LV dysfunction and confirms the need for long-term monitoring of patients with potentially cardiotoxic cancer treatment.
Primary-Sjögren’s-Syndrome-Related Interstitial Lung Disease: A Clinical Review Discussing Current Controversies
Authors: La Rocca Gaetano , Ferro Francesco , Sambataro Gianluca , Elefante Elena , Fonzetti Silvia , Fulvio Giovanni , Navarro Inmaculada C. , Mosca Marta , Baldini Chiara
Published: May 2023

Lung involvement, especially interstitial lung disease, is a potentially severe extra-glandular manifestation of Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome (pSS-ILD). ILD can manifest either as a late complication of pSS or anticipate sicca symptoms, likely reflecting two different patho-physiological entities. Presence of lung involvement in pSS subjects can remain subclinical for a long time; therefore, patients should be actively screened, and lung ultrasound is currently being investigated as a potential low cost, radiation-free, easily repeatable screening tool for detection of ILD. In contrast, rheumatologic evaluation, serology testing, and minor salivary gland biopsy are crucial for the recognition of pSS in apparently idiopathic ILD patients. Whether the HRCT pattern influences prognosis and treatment response in pSS-ILD is not clear; a UIP pattern associated with a worse prognosis in some studies, but not in others. Many aspects of pSS-ILD, including its actual prevalence, association with specific clinical–serological characteristics, and prognosis, are still debated by the current literature, likely due to poor phenotypic stratification of patients in clinical studies. In the present review, we critically discuss these and other clinically relevant “hot topics” in pSS-ILD. More specifically, after a focused discussion, we compiled a list of questions regarding pSS-ILD that, in our opinion, are not easily answered by the available literature. We subsequently tried to formulate adequate answers on the basis of an extensive literature search and our clinical experience. At the same, we highlighted different issues that require further investigation.
One-Year and Five-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in a Taiwanese Elderly Population
Authors: Lin Po-Han , Wei Hao-Ji , Hsieh Shih-Rong , Tsai Hung-Wen , Yu Chu-Leng , Lee Wen-Lieng , Wu Yung-Szu
Published: May 2023

Background: The aim of our study was to provide real-world data on outcomes for elderly Taiwanese patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement or surgical aortic valve replacement in different risk groups. Methods: From March 2011 through December 2021, 177 patients with severe aortic stenosis who were ≥70 years old and had undergone TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) or SAVR (surgical aortic valve replacement) in a single center were divided by STS score (<4%, 4–8% and >8%) into three different groups. Then, we compared their clinical characteristics, operative complications, and all-cause mortality. Results: In all risk groups, there were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality, or 1-year and 5-year mortality between patients in the TAVI and SAVR groups. In all risk groups, patients in the TAVI group had shorter hospital stay and higher rate of paravalvular leakage than the SAVR group. After univariate analysis, BMI (body mass index) < 20 was a risk factor for higher 1-year and 5-year mortality. In the multivariate analysis, acute kidney injury was an independent factor for predicting worse outcomes in terms of 1-year and 5-year mortality. Conclusions: Taiwan elderly patients in all risk groups did not have significant differences in mortality rates between the TAVI and the SAVR group. However, the TAVI group had shorter hospital stay and higher rate of paravalvular leakage in all risk groups.
Nasendoscopy to Predict Difficult Videolaryngoscopy: A Multivariable Model Development Study
Authors: Sasu Phillip Brenya , Pansa Jennifer-Isabel , Stadlhofer Rupert , Wünsch Viktor Alexander , Loock Karolina , Buscher Eva Katharina , Dankert André , Ozga Ann-Kathrin , Zöllner Christian , Petzoldt Martin
Published: May 2023

Background: Transnasal videoendoscopy (TVE) is the standard of care when staging pharyngolaryngeal lesions. This prospective study determined if preoperative TVE improves the prediction of difficult videolaryngoscopic intubation in adults with expected difficult airway management in addition to the Simplified Airway Risk Index (SARI). Methods: 374 anesthetics were included (252 with preoperative TVE). The primary outcome was a difficult airway alert issued by the anesthetist after Macintosh videolaryngoscopy. SARI, clinical factors (dysphagia, dysphonia, cough, stridor, sex, age and height) and TVE findings were used to fit three multivariable mixed logistic regression models; least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select co-variables. Results: SARI predicted the primary outcome (odds ratio [OR] 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.58). The Akaike information criterion for SARI (327.1) improved when TVE parameters were added (311.0). The Likelihood ratio test for SARI plus TVE parameters was better than for SARI plus clinical factors (p < 0.001). Vestibular fold lesions (OR 1.82; 95% CI 0.40–8.29), epiglottic lesions (OR 3.37; 0.73–15.54), pharyngeal secretion retention (OR 3.01; 1.05–8.63), restricted view on rima glottidis <50% (OR 2.13; 0.51–8.89) and ≥50% (OR 2.52; 0.44–14.56) were concerning. Conclusion: TVE improved prediction of difficult videolaryngoscopy in addition to traditional bedside airway examinations.
Clinical Features and Risk Factors of Uveitis in Korean Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Jinsoo , Park Min Seon , Kwon Soonil , Kim Kwang Nam , Kim Han Wool , Cho Bum-Joo
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and risk factors of uveitis in Korean children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The medical records of JIA patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2019 and followed up for ≥1 year were retrospectively reviewed, and various factors including laboratory findings were analyzed for the risk of developing uveitis. JIA-associated uveitis (JIA-U) developed in 30 (9.8%) of 306 JIA patients. The mean age at the first uveitis development was 12.4 ± 5.7 years, which was 5.6 ± 3.7 years after the JIA diagnosis. The common JIA subtypes in the uveitis group were oligoarthritis-persistent (33.3%) and enthesitis-related arthritis (30.0%). The uveitis group had more baseline knee joint involvement (76.7% vs. 51.4%), which increased the risk of JIA-U during follow-up (p = 0.008). Patients with the oligoarthritis-persistent subtype developed JIA-U more frequently than those without it (20.0% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.016). The final visual acuity of JIA-U was tolerable (0.041 ± 0.103 logMAR). In Korean children with JIA, JIA-U may be associated with the oligoarthritis-persistent subtype and knee joint involvement.
Future Prediction of Shuttlecock Trajectory in Badminton Using Player’s Information
Authors: Nokihara Yuka , Hachiuma Ryo , Hori Ryosuke , Saito Hideo
Published: May 2023

Video analysis has become an essential aspect of net sports, such as badminton. Accurately predicting the future trajectory of balls and shuttlecocks can significantly benefit players by enhancing their performance and enabling them to devise effective game strategies. This paper aims to analyze data to provide players with an advantage in the fast-paced rallies of badminton matches. The paper delves into the innovative task of predicting future shuttlecock trajectories in badminton match videos and presents a method that takes into account both the shuttlecock position and the positions and postures of the players. In the experiments, players were extracted from the match video, their postures were analyzed, and a time-series model was trained. The results indicate that the proposed method improved accuracy by 13% compared to methods that solely used shuttlecock position information as input, and by 8.4% compared to methods that employed both shuttlecock and player position information as input.
Optimizing Berth Allocation in Maritime Transportation with Quay Crane Setup Times Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Dai Yonggai , Li Zongchen , Wang Boyu
Published: May 2023

Maritime transportation plays a critical role in global trade as it accounts for over 80% of all merchandise movement. Given the growing volume of maritime freight, it is vital to have an efficient system for handling ships and cargos at ports. The current first-come-first-serve method is insufficient in maintaining operational efficiency, especially under complicated conditions such as parallel scheduling with different cargo setups. In addition, in the face of rising demand, data-driven strategies are necessary. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes a mixed-integer model for allocating quay cranes, terminals, and berths. It considers not only cargo types, but also the time required for a quay crane setup. The proposed model features a greedy-insert-based offline algorithm that optimizes berth allocation when vessel information is available. In situations where vessel information is uncertain, the model utilizes an online optimization strategy based on a reinforcement-learning algorithm that is capable of learning from feedback and of adapting quickly in real time. The results of the numerical experiments demonstrate that both the offline and online algorithms can significantly enhance cargo handling efficiency and overall harbor operation. Furthermore, they have the potential to be extended to other complex settings.
The Oscillating Behavior of Trawl Codends Including Various Geometric Configurations of Simulated Catch
Authors: Zhang Feng , Tang Hao , Thierry Nyatchouba Nsangue Bruno , Liu Wei , Sun Qiuyang , Zhu Meixi , Zhang Can , Guo Xuhao , Shan Chenxu , Xu Liuxiong , Hu Fuxiang
Published: May 2023

Codends are the posterior components of trawl nets that collect the catch and play a crucial role in the selectivity process. Due to the accumulation of catch and the variety of catch types, the quality of catch and trawl selectivity can be negatively impacted. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of various catch configurations on the hydrodynamic characteristics, geometrical profile, and fluttering motions of the codend in a flume tank. A codend structure was designed and tested using various catch configurations, including grooved-type configurations (canvas, green canvas, basketballs) and spherical configurations (table tennis balls filled with water, balloons filled with water, and balls made of twine) in the flume tank. The sea trial data were compared with the flume tank data. The results indicate that there were no significant differences in the codend profiles between the different catch configurations. The drag of the codend with a grooved-type configuration was 13.63% greater than that obtained using a spherical configuration as the catch. The wavelet coefficient obtained from the codend drag revealed that the oscillations of the codend with a grooved-type catch configuration began at a periodicity of 0.07 s and were more intense than that of the codend with the spherical catch configuration. Moreover, these amplitudes increased as the codend flow velocity increased. The wavelet analysis results showed that the dominant frequency of the periodic high-energy coherent structures for the codend drag and codend displacements was detected at a low-frequency. In terms of displacement oscillation characteristics, the table tennis ball filled with water was an approximate substitute for real catch during the sea trial because the difference in wavelet coefficients for the codend displacements in amplitude and the period between the model codend with the table tennis ball filled with water and the full-scale codend was 91% and 89%, respectively. The findings of this study confirm the feasibility of replacing real catch with simulated catch configurations with similar shapes in model testing. They can provide basic scientific data for improving the hydrodynamic characteristics and selectivity of the codend structure.
R&D of an Innovative OFDM Communication Payload for Small-Size AUV
Authors: Li Bin , Tong Feng , Gao Xiujing , Yao Junhui , Zhou Yuehai , Huang Hongwu
Published: May 2023

With its superiorities of low cost, high flexibility and deployment convenience, small-size autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been extensively applied to perform a variety of undersea missions. While underwater acoustic (UWA) communication provides a practical way to establish a wireless link, it still poses a significant challenge due to the strict limitations of a small-size AUV platform in terms of load capacity, energy supply and cost. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has drawn extensive attention due to its high data rate capability and relative robustness to multipath, the performance of which is unfortunately sensitive to the widespread Doppler effect. While efficient Doppler compensation is significantly crucial for UWA OFDM mobile communication, most of the conventional approaches are conducted using software resampling, thus rendering a huge burden on memory and calculation capability as well as a considerable processing delay. In this paper, from the perspective of hardware completion an UWA OFDM communication payload based on STM32F407 processor is designed and implemented to facilitate agile Doppler compensation with low computational overhead. In particular, after estimating Doppler by calculating the time compression or extension of the preamble signal, Doppler compensation is performed by directly adjusting the direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDS)-driven sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC). As the Doppler is compensated parallel to the ADC acquisition, processing delay and memory requirement can be avoided. Finally, hardware-in-loop (HIP) simulation is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed system. The results show that the designed system has the potential to achieve an effective communication rate of 3.19 kbps with the admissible implementation overhead. Future work will entail the integration and performance evaluation of the proposed UWA OFDM communication payload on a practical small-size AUV platform.
Reconstructing Ocean Subsurface Temperature and Salinity from Sea Surface Information Based on Dual Path Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Mao Kai , Liu Chang , Zhang Shaoqing , Gao Feng
Published: May 2023

Satellite remote sensing can provide observation information of the sea surface, and using the sea surface information to reconstruct the subsurface temperature (ST) and subsurface salinity (SS) information has significant application values. This study proposes an intelligent algorithm based on Dual Path Convolutional Neural Networks (DP-CNNs) to reconstruct the ST and SS. The DP-CNN can integrate known information including sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface salinity (SSS), and sea surface height (SSH) to reconstruct the ST and SS. The reconstruction model based on DP-CNN can solve the problem of detail information loss in traditional CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) models. This study performs experiments for the South China Sea under different seasons using reanalysis data. The experimental results show that the DP-CNN models have higher reconstruction accuracy than the CNN models, and this proves that DP-CNNs effectively mitigate the loss of detailed information in the CNN models. Compared with the ground truth data, the ST/SS reconstruction results of the DP-CNN model exhibited a high coefficient of determination (0.93/0.86) and a low root mean square error (around 0.31 °C/0.05 PSU). Therefore, the DP-CNN models can be used as an effective approach to reconstruct ST and SS using sea surface information.
On Solitary Wave Breaking and Impact on a Horizontal Deck
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Hayatdavoodi Masoud
Published: May 2023

The impact of waves and bores generated by broken solitary waves on horizontal decks of coastal structures was studied by solving the Navier–Stokes equations. Solitary waves of different amplitudes were considered, and submerged ramps were used to bring the waves to the breaking point. The horizontal fixed deck was located downwave of the ramp and placed at various elevations above and below the still-water level. The results include the surface elevation of the wave and the bore-induced horizontal and vertical forces on the deck. The results were compared with laboratory measurements and those due to the bore generated by breaking a reservoir, and a discussion is provided on the relative magnitude of the loads. It is found that breaking solitary waves and dam-break provide reasonable loading conclusions for tsunamis events.
Design and Analysis of a Sub-Surface Longline Marine Aquaculture Farm for Co-Existence with Offshore Wind Farm
Authors: Boo Sung Youn , Shelley Steffen Allan , Shin Seung-Ho , Park Jiyong , Ha Yoon-Jin
Published: May 2023

There has been growing interest recently in hybrid installations integrating the offshore wind farm and aquaculture farm as co-existence while optimizing ocean space use. The offshore marine farms beyond coastal or sheltered areas will require mooring to ensure the station-keeping of the farm system during the storms. In the present work, a sub-surface longline farm is installed in a fixed offshore wind farm at a distance from the wind foundations. The farm is designed to cultivate oysters in multi-compartment bags attached to the longlines vertically. The farm with a cultivating area of 200 m × 200 m is supported by the various farm lines made of polypropylene and buoys that is moored with catenary mooring arrangements. Drag coefficients of a full-scale oyster bag in wave and current are determined using the results of wave basin tests. A lumped model is developed and validated with a complete model for a partial farm. The lumped model is used to simulate the coupled responses of the whole farm in the site extreme waves and currents of a 50-year return period. The strength and fatigue designs of the mooring and farm lines are evaluated against the industry standards and confirmed to comply with the design requirements.
Impact of Super Typhoon ‘Hinnamnor’ on Density of Kelp Forest and Associated Benthic Communities in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea
Authors: Lee Kyeong-Tae , Perrois Garance , Yang Hyun-Sung , Kim Taeho , Choi Sun Kyeong , Kang Do-Hyung , Kim Taihun
Published: May 2023

This study was carried out to determine the levels of resistance and resilience of kelp forests to large-scale physical disturbances. Our study site, Seongsan, Jeju Island, was impacted by super typhoon ‘Hinnamnor’. Before the typhoon, Seongsan had shown high ecosystem stability. Our results indicated that the ecological stability of a kelp forest facing a severe typhoon is strongly linked to the prevailing environmental conditions. Although typhoon impact resulted in a significant loss of brown macroalgae canopy, Ecklonia cava remained dominant within the kelp forest community. Resistance and resilience levels strongly depended on water temperature and movement and presence of turf-forming algae. Hence, hydrodynamic and biological factors strongly influence the overall stability of a kelp forest. We also report the first occurrences of a scleractinian coral species (i.e., Montipora millepora) at Seongsan, which became visible after canopy loss following the typhoon. Our findings provide valuable ecological information about the benthic community of kelp-dominated ecosystems and are essential to mitigate the impacts of expected climate change-driven rises in seawater temperature and the frequency of super typhoons.
Aggregation of Italian Lichen Data in ITALIC 7.0
Authors: Martellos Stefano , Conti Matteo , Nimis Pier Luigi
Published: May 2023

The creation of a coordinated publishing and aggregation system of biodiversity data is a challenging task, which calls for the adoption of open data standards. ITALIC, the information system on Italian lichens, originated from the conversion of the first Italian checklist into a database. While the first version was “frozen”, the present version is continuously updated and provides access to several other data sources and services, such as ecological indicator values, ecological notes and information, traits, images, digital identification keys, etc. The identification keys especially are an ongoing work that will lead to a complete national flora by 2026. Last year, new services were added, one for aligning lists of names with the national checklist, the other for aggregating occurrence data deriving from the digitization of 13 Italian herbaria, forming a total of ca. 88,000 records, which are distributed under a CC BY license and can be exported as CSV files in the Darwin Core format. An aggregator for lichen data will encourage the national community of lichenologists to produce and aggregate further data sets, and it will stimulate data reuse according to the paradigms of open science.
Indigenous Yeasts for the Biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea on Table Grapes in Chile
Authors: Sepúlveda Ximena , Vargas Marisol , Vero Silvana , Zapata Nelson
Published: May 2023

One hundred twenty-five yeast strains isolated from table grapes and apples were evaluated for the control Botrytis cinerea of in vitro and in vivo. Ten strains were selected for their ability to inhibit mycelial growth of B. cinerea in vitro. In the in vivo assays, these yeasts were tested at 20 °C on ‘Thompson Seedless’ berries for 7 days; only three were selected (m11, me99 and ca80) because they significantly reduced the incidence of gray mold. These three yeast strains were then evaluated at different concentrations (1 × 107, 1 × 108 and 1 × 109 cells mL−1) on ‘Thompson Seedless’ grape berries at 20 °C. The strains m11, me99 and ca80 reduced the incidence of B. cinerea to 11.9, 26.1 and 32.1%, respectively, when the berries were submerged in a yeast suspension at a concentration of 1 × 109 cells mL−1 24 h before inoculation with B. cinerea. The most favorable pH for antifungal activity was 4.6 in the three isolates. The three yeast strains secreted the hydrolytic enzymes chitinase and β-1-glucanase, and two strains (me99 and ca80) produced siderophores. The three yeast strains exhibited low oxidative stress tolerance and only strain m11 had the ability to produce biofilms. The strains were identified using 5.8S-ITS rDNA PCR-RFLP and correspond to the Meyerozyma guilliermondii (m11) and Aureobasidium pullulans (me99 and ca80) species.