bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provision of Microbiology, Infection Services and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Intensive Care: A Survey across the Critical Care Networks in England and Wales
Authors: Catton Tim , Umpleby Helen , Dushianthan Ahilanandan , Saeed Kordo
Published: April 2023

Infection rounds in Intensive Care Units (ICU) can impact antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). The aim of this survey was to assess the availability of microbiology, infection, AMS services, and antimicrobial prescribing practices in the UK ICUs. An online questionnaire was sent to clinical leads for ICUs in each region listed in the Critical Care Network for the UK. Out of 217 ICUs, 87 deduplicated responses from England and Wales were analyzed. Three-quarters of those who responded had a dedicated microbiologist, and 50% had a dedicated infection control prevention nurse. Infection rounds varied in their frequency, with 10% providing phone advice only. Antibiotic guidance was available in 99% of the units; only 8% of those were ICU-specific. There were variations in the availability of biomarkers & the duration of antibiotics prescribed for pneumonia (community, hospital, or ventilator), urinary, intra-abdominal, and line infections/sepsis. Antibiotic consumption data were not routinely discussed in a multi-disciplinary meeting. The electronic prescription was available in ~60% and local antibiotic surveillance data in only 47% of ICUs. The survey highlights variations in practice and AMS services and may offer the opportunity to further collaborations and share learnings to support the safe use of antimicrobials in the ICU.
Effect of Spatial Proximity and Human Thermal Plume on the Design of a DIY Human-Centered Thermohygrometric Monitoring System
Authors: Salamone Francesco , Danza Ludovico , Sibilio Sergio , Masullo Massimiliano
Published: April 2023

Wearable devices have been introduced for research purposes and especially for environmental monitoring, with the aim of collecting large amounts of data. In a previous study, we addressed the measurement reliability of low-cost thermohygrometers. In this study, we aim to find out how human thermal plume could affect the measurement performance of thermohygrometers. For this purpose, we used a Do-It-Yourself device that can be easily replicated. It consists of 10 iButtons with 3D-printed brackets to position them at different distances from the body. The device was attached to the user’s belt in a seated position. We considered two scenarios: a summer scenario with an air temperature of 28 °C and a clothing thermal resistance of 0.5 clo and an autumn scenario with an air temperature of 21 °C and a clothing thermal resistance of 1.0 clo. The results show that the proximity of the measurement station to the body significantly affects the accuracy of the measurements and should be considered when developing new wearable devices to assess thermal comfort. Therefore, we recommend that at least two thermohygrometers be considered in the development of a new wearable device if it is to be worn on a belt, with one positioned as close to the body as possible and the other at least 8 cm away, to determine if and how the standard thermal comfort assessment differs from the user’s personal perception and whether spatial proximity might also play a role.
A Traceable Spectral Radiation Model of Radiation Thermometry
Authors: Mlačnik Vid , Pušnik Igor
Published: April 2023

Despite great technical capabilities, the theory of non-contact temperature measurement is usually not fully applicable to the use of measuring instruments in practice. While black body calibrations and black body radiation thermometry (BBRT) are in practice well established and easy to accomplish, this calibration protocol is never fully applicable to measurements of real objects under real conditions. Currently, the best approximation to real-world radiation thermometry is grey body radiation thermometry (GBRT), which is supported by most measuring instruments to date. Nevertheless, the metrological requirements necessitate traceability; therefore, real body radiation thermometry (RBRT) method is required for temperature measurements of real bodies. This article documents the current state of temperature calculation algorithms for radiation thermometers and the creation of a traceable model for radiation thermometry of real bodies that uses an inverse model of the system of measurement to compensate for the loss of data caused by spectral integration, which occurs when thermal radiation is absorbed on the active surface of the sensor. To solve this problem, a hybrid model is proposed in which the spectral input parameters are converted to scalar inputs of a traditional scalar inverse model for GBRT. The method for calculating effective parameters, which corresponds to a system of measurement, is proposed and verified with the theoretical simulation model of non-contact thermometry. The sum of effective instrumental parameters is presented for different temperatures to show that the rule of GBRT, according to which the sum of instrumental emissivity and instrumental reflectivity is equal to 1, does not apply to RBRT. Using the derived models of radiation thermometry, the uncertainty of radiation thermometry due to the uncertainty of spectral emissivity was analysed by simulated worst-case measurements through temperature ranges of various radiation thermometers. This newly developed model for RBRT with known uncertainty of measurement enables traceable measurements using radiation thermometry under any conditions.
Toward Real-Time, Robust Wearable Sensor Fall Detection Using Deep Learning Methods: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Yhdego Haben , Paolini Christopher , Audette Michel
Published: April 2023

Real-time fall detection using a wearable sensor remains a challenging problem due to high gait variability. Furthermore, finding the type of sensor to use and the optimal location of the sensors are also essential factors for real-time fall-detection systems. This work presents real-time fall-detection methods using deep learning models. Early detection of falls, followed by pneumatic protection, is one of the most effective means of ensuring the safety of the elderly. First, we developed and compared different data-segmentation techniques for sliding windows. Next, we implemented various techniques to balance the datasets because collecting fall datasets in the real-time setting has an imbalanced nature. Moreover, we designed a deep learning model that combines a convolution-based feature extractor and deep neural network blocks, the LSTM block, and the transformer encoder block, followed by a position-wise feedforward layer. We found that combining the input sequence with the convolution-learned features of different kernels tends to increase the performance of the fall-detection model. Last, we analyzed that the sensor signals collected by both accelerometer and gyroscope sensors can be leveraged to develop an effective classifier that can accurately detect falls, especially differentiating falls from near-falls. Furthermore, we also used data from sixteen different body parts and compared them to determine the better sensor position for fall-detection methods. We found that the shank is the optimal position for placing our sensors, with an F1 score of 0.97, and this could help other researchers collect high-quality fall datasets.
Kinetics and Distribution of Zearalenone-14-Glucoside and Its Metabolite Zearalenone in Rat, Determined by a Reliable HPLC-MS/MS Method
Authors: Cai Yaling , Zhang Zhiqi , Dong Fang , Ma Zefeng , Fan Kai , Han Zheng , Li Zhizhong , Zhao Zhihui
Published: April 2023

A reliable high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the simultaneous detection of zearalenone-14-glucoside (ZEN-14G) and its metabolite, zearalenone (ZEN), in the plasma, urine, and various tissues of rats. The performance of the developed method was validated by determining the selectivity, linearity (R2 > 0.99), sensitivity (lower limit of quantification, 0.1–1 μg/L), recovery (80.7 ± 3.0–112.3 ± 3.1%), precision (0.6–16.5%), and stability (81.7 ± 1.7–104.1 ± 3.9%). Through use of the methodological advances, the subsequent kinetics and distribution after administration of ZEN-14G by gavage were thoroughly investigated. ZEN-14G and ZEN exhibited similar trends in the plasma, and reached their peak concentrations at 10 min and then rapidly decreased. ZEN-14G could be quantified in the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine 24 h after administration, while ZEN was detectable in all tested tissues. Interestingly, ZEN-14G (7.6 ± 3.0 μg/L) and ZEN (977.5 ± 98.0 μg/L) were also detected in the urine 24 h after administration, indicating that ZEN-14G was prone to be slowly and continuously hydrolyzed into ZEN to be absorbed into the plasma and distributed to various tissues, thus leading to a cumulative exposure. Continuous attention should be paid to the co-exposure of ZEN and ZEN-14G, which might pose additional health risks to humans and animals.
A 3-D Metal-Printed Dual-Polarized Ridged Waveguide Slot Array Antenna for X-Band Applications
Authors: Van Trinh Thai , Park Jinsu , Song Chan Mi , Song Sungchan , Hwang Keum Cheol
Published: April 2023

A compact three-dimensional (3-D) metal-printed ridged waveguide slot array antenna with wideband, dual linear polarization and low cross-polarization is presented for X-band applications. The proposed design achieves a compact structure due to the method of using a ridged waveguide (RWG). A vertically linear polarized (VP) array is realized through eight longitudinal shunt slots etched on the non-ridged broad wall of the RWG, while a horizontally linear polarized (HP) array is realized through eight V-shaped slots cut on the ridged broad wall of the RWG. To extend the operating bandwidth, each 1 × 8-element linear array is separated into two 1 × 4-element sub-arrays through a central feeding technique. The two sub-arrays of the VP array are excited with equal amplitude and are 180° out-of-phase through a T-junction power divider, which connects the coaxial feed and the radiated waveguide, while the two HP subarrays are directly excited by a coaxial feed with equal amplitude and remain in phase. The feed structure uses coaxial probes directly attached to the RWG to provide good mechanical stability and low voltage around the feed. An optimized 2 × 8-element dual-polarized array is fabricated using 3-D metal-printing technology for experimental verification. The measured −10 dB impedance bandwidth of the VP array is 1.2 GHz (12.2%) and, of the HP array, is 1.1 GHz (11.2%) with maximum gains of 14.6 and 15.5 dBi, respectively. There is good polarization purity over the entire operating bandwidth with a cross-polarization level better than −40 dB in the main beam direction. The isolation between two orthogonal polarized arrays is greater than 40 dB over the whole band.
Optimal Design of the Laparoscopic Grasper Mechanism with Low Friction and Backlash
Authors: Segla Stefan , Svoboda Martin
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, the remote technique of minimally invasive surgery is a popular surgical method due to its established benefits to patients compared with conventional open surgery. However, the surgeon’s only contact with the operated tissue or organ is through his instrument, so he feels less. This study focuses on the numerical optimization of the laparoscopic grasper mechanism designed at the TU Delft to achieve its best mechanical properties. The design of the laparoscopic grasper mechanism is based on the rolling kinematic pairs distinguished by minimum friction and backlash compared to the conventional revolute kinematic pairs. Optimization is aimed at the constant force transmission from the handle to the jaw of the laparoscopic grasper mechanism, independent of the position of the grasper jaw. Constraints on potential energy stored in the driving and compensation springs, their location, and axial force in the connecting rod of the laparoscopic grasper mechanism are taken into account. The outputs of the laparoscopic grasper mechanism optimization show that it is possible to achieve the force transmission from the handle to the jaw of the grasper close to 1, satisfying all constraints. The root mean square of the differences between the force acting on the grasper handle and the grasping force acting on the movable jaw in its whole angular position interval is 0.1112 N. The maximum difference between these two forces is less than 0.35 N (3.5 % of the 10 N grasping force) at the beginning and at the end of the jaw angular displacement interval. In 70% of the whole jaw angular displacement interval, except the 15% subintervals, with the lowest and highest angular displacements of the grasper jaw, the force difference is even less than 0.1 N.
A Segmentation Method Based on PDNet for Chest X-rays with Targets in Different Positions and Directions
Authors: Wu Xiaochang , Liang Jiarui , Zhang Yunxia , Tian Xiaolin
Published: April 2023

To assess the impact of the relative displacement between machines and subjects, the machine angle and the fine-tuning of the subject posture on the segmentation accuracy of chest X-rays, this paper proposes a Position and Direction Network (PDNet) for chest X-rays with different angles and positions that provides more comprehensive information for cardiac image diagnosis and guided surgery. The implementation of PDnet was as follows: First, the extended database image was sent to a traditional segmentation network for training to prove that the network does not have linear invariant characteristics. Then, we evaluated the performance of the mask in the middle layers of the network and added a weight mask that identifies the position and direction of the object in the middle layer, thus improving the accuracy of segmenting targets at different positions and angles. Finally, the active-shape model (ASM) was used to postprocess the network segmentation results, allowing the model to be effectively applied to 2014 × 2014 or higher definition chest X-rays. The experimental comparison of LinkNet, ResNet, U-Net, and DeepLap networks before and after the improvement shows that its segmentation accuracy (MIoU) are 5%, 6%, 20%, and 13% better. Their differences of losses are 11.24%, 21.96%, 18.53%, and 13.43% and F-scores also show the improved networks are more stable.
Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of a Rod Fastening Rotor System Considering Contact Roughness
Authors: Zhao Wei , Gao Yang , Ren Xiu , Lu Kuan , Yang Yang
Published: April 2023

A rod fastening rotor is the core component of gas turbines, which affects the working stability and service life of the whole machine. The characterization of the contact mechanism of a joint’s interface is a key problem in dynamic prediction. The aim of this paper is to gain insight into the influence of the joint’s interface on the dynamic characteristics of the rod fastening rotor system. According to the equivalent bending stiffness of the joint’s interface, the natural frequency of the system is obtained by the analytical method, where the normal contact stiffness of the joint’s interface related to the frequency index is established on the theory of fractal contact analysis. After that, the effects of key parameters on the contact stiffness are discussed in detail. Finally, the variations in the vibration frequency are further revealed as well.
AR Long-Term Tracking Combining Multi-Attention and Template Updating
Authors: Guo Mengru , Chen Qiang
Published: April 2023

Aiming at the problem that the augmented reality system is susceptible to complex scenes and easily leads to the failure of tracking registration, a long-term augmented reality tracking algorithm combining multi-attention and template updating is proposed. Firstly, we improved the ResNet-50 network to extract richer semantic features instead of AlexNet. Secondly, the attention-based feature fusion network effectively fuses the template and search area features through a combination of dual self-attention and cross attention. Dual self-attention effectively enhances the information in the context, whereas cross attention adaptively enhanced the features of both self-attention branches. Thirdly, the ORB feature-matching algorithm is utilized to match the template and search image features, with the template updated if more than 150 matching feature points are found. Lastly, the anchor frameless mechanism is adopted in the classification and regression network, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of parameters. The results of experiments conducted on various public datasets demonstrate the algorithm’s high success rate and accuracy, as well as its robustness in complex environments.
Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Cefepime Derivatives Suitable for Labeling with Gallium-68
Authors: Koźmiński Przemysław , Żelechowska-Matysiak Kinga , Gniazdowska Ewa
Published: April 2023

Bone and soft tissue infections are potentially life-threatening and require immediate and intensive treatment. However, there is still no single diagnostic method that can reliably confirm or rule out such conditions. Imaging with radiopharmaceuticals (i.e., scintigraphy) is a powerful diagnostic tool in the management of patients with infectious or inflammatory diseases. In this work, a new and efficient way to modify the thiazole ring of the cefepime molecule has been proposed and experimentally verified. The developed organic synthesis routes allow for the coupling of the appropriate complexing ligand of the gallium-68 radionuclide with cefepime. The new NODAGA-Glu-CFM conjugate was radiolabeled with gallium-68 with a high yield and showed full stability in human serum. In addition, the [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Glu-CFM radioconjugate was hydrophilic and positively charged. Therefore, on the basis of these results, the [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Glu-CFM radioconjugate might be considered as a new promising radioconjugate for the diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Detection and Identification of Potato-Typical Diseases Based on Multidimensional Fusion Atrous-CNN and Hyperspectral Data
Authors: Gao Wenqiang , Xiao Zhiyun , Bao Tengfei
Published: April 2023

As one of the world’s most crucial crops, the potato is an essential source of nutrition for human activities. However, several diseases pose a severe threat to the yield and quality of potatoes. Timely and accurate detection and identification of potato diseases are of great importance. Hyperspectral imaging has emerged as an essential tool that provides rich spectral and spatial distribution information and has been widely used in potato disease detection and identification. Nevertheless, the accuracy of prediction is often low when processing hyperspectral data using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN). Additionally, conventional three-dimensional convolutional neural networks (3D-CNN) often require high hardware consumption while processing hyperspectral data. In this paper, we propose an Atrous-CNN network structure that fuses multiple dimensions to address these problems. The proposed structure combines the spectral information extracted by 1D-CNN, the spatial information extracted by 2D-CNN, and the spatial spectrum information extracted by 3D-CNN. To enhance the perceptual field of the convolution kernel and reduce the loss of hyperspectral data, null convolution is utilized in 1D-CNN and 2D-CNN to extract data features. We tested the proposed structure on three real-world potato diseases and achieved recognition accuracy of up to 0.9987. The algorithm presented in this paper effectively extracts hyperspectral data feature information using three different dimensional CNNs, leading to higher recognition accuracy and reduced hardware consumption. Therefore, it is feasible to use the 1D-CNN network and hyperspectral image technology for potato plant disease identification.
A Note on Finite Coarse Shape Groups
Authors: Jelić Ivan , Koceić-Bilan Nikola
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we investigate properties concerning some recently introduced finite coarse shape invariants—the k-th finite coarse shape group of a pointed topological space and the k-th relative finite coarse shape group of a pointed topological pair. We define the notion of finite coarse shape group sequence of a pointed topological pair X,X0,x0 as an analogue of homotopy and (coarse) shape group sequences and show that for any pointed topological pair, the corresponding finite coarse shape group sequence is a chain. On the other hand, we construct an example of a pointed pair of metric continua whose finite coarse shape group sequence fails to be exact. Finally, using the aforementioned pair of metric continua together with a pointed dyadic solenoid, we show that finite coarse-shape groups, in general, differ from both shape and coarse-shape groups.
A New Extension of the Kumaraswamy Exponential Model with Modeling of Food Chain Data
Authors: Eldessouky Eman A. , Hassan Osama H. Mahmoud , Elgarhy Mohammed , Hassan Eid A. A. , Elbatal Ibrahim , Almetwally Ehab M.
Published: April 2023

Statistical models are useful in explaining and forecasting real-world occurrences. Various extended distributions have been widely employed for modeling data in a variety of fields throughout the last few decades. In this article we introduce a new extension of the Kumaraswamy exponential (KE) model called the Kavya–Manoharan KE (KMKE) distribution. Some statistical and computational features of the KMKE distribution including the quantile (QUA) function, moments (MOms), incomplete MOms (INMOms), conditional MOms (COMOms) and MOm generating functions are computed. Classical maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation approaches are employed to estimate the parameters of the KMKE model. The simulation experiment examines the accuracy of the model parameters by employing Bayesian and maximum likelihood estimation methods. We utilize two real datasets related to food chain data in this work to demonstrate the importance and flexibility of the proposed model. The new KMKE proposed distribution is very flexible, more so than numerous well-known distributions.
Pascu-Rønning Type Meromorphic Functions Based on Sălăgean-Erdély–Kober Operator
Authors: El-Deeb Sheza M. , Murugusundaramoorthy Gangadharan , Vijaya Kaliappan , Alburaikan Alhanouf
Published: April 2023

In the present investigation, we introduce a new class of meromorphic functions defined in the punctured unit disk Δ*:={ϑ∈C:0<|ϑ|<1} by making use of the Erdély–Kober operator Iς,ϱτ,κ which unifies well-known classes of the meromorphic uniformly convex function with positive coefficients. Coefficient inequalities, growth and distortion inequalities, in addition to closure properties are acquired. We also set up a few outcomes concerning convolution and the partial sums of meromorphic functions in this new class. We additionally state some new subclasses and its characteristic houses through specializing the parameters that are new and no longer studied in association with the Erdély–Kober operator thus far.
Vernacular Taxonomy, Cultural and Ethnopharmacological Applications of Avian and Mammalian Species in the Vicinity of Ayubia National Park, Himalayan Region
Authors: Bashir Sayda Maria , Altaf Muhammad , Hussain Tanveer , Umair Muhammad , Majeed Muhammad , Mangrio Wali Muhammad , Khan Arshad Mahmood , Gulshan Allah Bakhsh , Hamed M. Haroon , Ashraf Sana , Amjad Muhammad Shoaib , Bussmann Rainer W. , Abbasi Arshad Mehmood , Casini Ryan , Alataway Abed , Dewidar Ahmed Z. , Al-Yafrsi Mohamed , Amin Mahmed H. , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: April 2023

Numerous investigations on plant ethnomedicinal applications have been conducted; however, knowledge about the medicinal use of wild animals is still limited. This present study is the second on the medicinal and cultural meaning of avian and mammalian species used by the population in the surrounding area of the Ayubia National Park, KPK, Pakistan. Interviews and meetings were compiled from the participants (N = 182) of the study area. The relative frequency of citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority indices were applied to analyze the information. Overall, 137 species of wild avian and mammalian species were documented. Of these, 18 avian and 14 mammalian species were utilized to treat different diseases. The present research showed noteworthy ethno-ornithological and ethno-mammalogical knowledge of local people and their connection with fauna, which might be useful in the sustainable utilization of the biological diversity of the Ayubia National Park, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, in vivo and/or in vitro examination of the pharmacological activities of species with the highest fidelity level (FL%) as well as frequency of mention (FM) might be important for investigations on faunal-based new drugs.
Circular RNA Expression Profiling by Microarray—A Technical and Practical Perspective
Authors: Shi Yanggu , Shang Jindong
Published: April 2023

Circular RNAs, as covalently circularized RNA loops, have many unique biochemical properties. Many circRNA biological functions and clinical indications are being continually discovered. Increasingly, circRNAs are being used as a new class of biomarkers, which are potentially superior to linear RNAs due to the unusual cell/tissue/disease specificities and the exonuclease-resistant stabilized circular form in the biofluids. Profiling circRNA expression has been a common step in circRNA research to provide much needed insight into circRNA biology and to facilitate rapid advances in the circRNA field. We will review circRNA microarrays as a practical and effective circRNA profiling technology for regularly equipped biological or clinical research labs, share valuable experiences, and highlight the significant findings from the profiling studies.
Zebrafish as a Model to Study Retinoic Acid Signaling in Development and Disease
Authors: Hawkins Matthew R. , Wingert Rebecca A.
Published: April 2023

Retinoic acid (RA) is a metabolite of vitamin A (retinol) that plays various roles in development to influence differentiation, patterning, and organogenesis. RA also serves as a crucial homeostatic regulator in adult tissues. The role of RA and its associated pathways are well conserved from zebrafish to humans in both development and disease. This makes the zebrafish a natural model for further interrogation into the functions of RA and RA-associated maladies for the sake of basic research, as well as human health. In this review, we explore both foundational and recent studies using zebrafish as a translational model for investigating RA from the molecular to the organismal scale.
A Sensitive Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay for the Rapid Detection of Okadaic Acid in Environmental Waters
Authors: Hendrickson Olga D. , Mukhametova Liliya I. , Zvereva Elena A. , Zherdev Anatoly V. , Eremin Sergei A.
Published: April 2023

In this study, a homogeneous fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for the detection of hazardous aquatic toxin okadaic acid (OA) contaminating environmental waters was for the first time developed. A conjugate of the analyte with a fluorophore based on a fluorescein derivative (tracer) was synthesized, and its interaction with specific anti-OA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was tested. A MAbs–tracer pair demonstrated highly affine immune binding (KD = 0.8 nM). Under optimal conditions, the limit of OA detection in the FPIA was 0.08 ng/mL (0.1 nM), and the working range of detectable concentrations was 0.4–72.5 ng/mL (0.5–90 nM). The developed FPIA was approbated for the determination of OA in real matrices: river water and seawater samples. No matrix effect of water was observed; therefore, no sample preparation was required before analysis. Due to this factor, the entire analytical procedure took less than 10 min. Using a compact portable fluorescence polarization analyzer enables the on-site testing of water samples. The developed analysis is very fast, easy to operate, and sensitive and can be extended to the determination of other aquatic toxins or low-molecular-weight water or food contaminants.
Wearable Sensors to Evaluate Autonomic Response to Olfactory Stimulation: The Influence of Short, Intensive Sensory Training
Authors: Billeci Lucia , Sanmartin Chiara , Tonacci Alessandro , Taglieri Isabella , Bachi Lorenzo , Ferroni Giuseppe , Braceschi Gian Paolo , Odello Luigi , Venturi Francesca
Published: April 2023

In the last few decades, while the sensory evaluation of edible products has been leveraged to make strategic decisions about many domains, the traditional descriptive analysis performed by a skilled sensory panel has been seen to be too complex and time-consuming for the industry needs, making it largely unsustainable in most cases. In this context, the study of the effectiveness of different methods for sensory training on panel performances represents a new trend in research activity. With this purpose, wearable sensors are applied to study physiological signals (ECG and skin conductance) concerned with the emotions in a cohort of volunteers undergoing a short, two-day (16 h) sensory training period related to wine tasting. The results were compared with a previous study based on a conventional three-month (65 h) period of sensory training. According to what was previously reported for long panel training, it was seen that even short, intensive sensory training modulated the ANS activity toward a less sympathetically mediated response as soon as odorous compounds become familiar. A large-scale application of shorter formative courses in this domain appears possible without reducing the effectiveness of the training, thus leading to money saving for academia and scientific societies, and challenging dropout rates that might affect longer courses.
Machine Learning Assisted Wearable Wireless Device for Sleep Apnea Syndrome Diagnosis
Authors: Wang Shaokui , Xuan Weipeng , Chen Ding , Gu Yexin , Liu Fuhai , Chen Jinkai , Xia Shudong , Dong Shurong , Luo Jikui
Published: April 2023

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a common but underdiagnosed health problem related to impaired quality of life and increased cardiovascular risk. In order to solve the problem of complicated and expensive operation procedures for clinical diagnosis of sleep apnea, here we propose a small and low-cost wearable apnea diagnostic system. The system uses a photoplethysmography (PPG) optical sensor to collect human pulse wave signals and blood oxygen saturation synchronously. Then multiscale entropy and random forest algorithms are used to process the PPG signal for analysis and diagnosis of sleep apnea. The SAS determination is based on the comprehensive diagnosis of the PPG signal and blood oxygen saturation signal, and the blood oxygen is used to exclude the error induced by non-pathological factors. The performance of the system is compared with the Compumedics Grael PSG (Polysomnography) sleep monitoring system. This simple diagnostic system provides a feasible technical solution for portable and low-cost screening and diagnosis of SAS patients with a high accuracy of over 85%.
The Relationship between Trauma and Attachment in Burundi’s School-Aged Children
Authors: Ndayishimiye Jean Bosco , Schneider Barry H. , Simbananiye Léandre , Baubet Thierry
Published: April 2023

The exposure of children and adolescents to trauma is one of the most important public health challenges. These childhood experiences play a role in children’s attachment patterns with their parents and peers. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between exposure to trauma and the degree of attachment representations in school-aged children in Burundi. One hundred thirteen vulnerable children aged 7 to 12 years were recruited and referred by their teachers. We used an event list including the post-traumatic reaction index to measure their exposure to traumatic events and the People in My Life instrument to measure attachment representations. The results revealed that the children had experienced or witnessed at least one traumatic event. The results indicated that secure attachment representations were highest among children with their parents and lowest among children with their peers. The relationship between trauma experiences and children’s attachment representations was significant with their parents and with their peers. Children’s attachment representations with their parents and peers predicted their traumatic experiences. Future research should focus on how attachment relationships can facilitate counselors and clinicians in providing preventive psycho-education to adults and children to develop healthier functioning, through better knowledge of the complex interplay between traumas.
On the Influence of the University Tenure on the Digital Pandemic Stress in Higher Education Faculty
Authors: Antón-Sancho Álvaro , Vergara Diego , Sánchez-Calvo María , Fernández-Arias Pablo
Published: April 2023

This paper conducts quantitative research on the levels of stress generated in Latin American professors due to the abrupt digitalization of higher education resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the differences in this digital stress between professors from private and public universities are analyzed. For this purpose, a validated questionnaire has been used and passed to a sample of 750 professors from 20 different Latin American countries, whose responses have been statistically analyzed. As results, it has been obtained that there are no significant differences between the average levels of digital stress of professors of private and public universities due to the pandemic. However, the way in which this digital stress has affected Latin American professors according to gender and age is different depending on the university tenure. As a consequence, some implications and recommendations derived from the results are presented.
Industrial Heritage Rethinking: Flexibility Design for Eco-Friendly Environments
Authors: De Gregorio Stefania , De Vita Mariangela , Paris Anna
Published: April 2023

The conscious and efficient reuse of historic buildings has turned out to be a fundamental point of European programs for the management and conservation of the Architectural Heritage. In this context, the Industrial Heritage shows architectural and spatial peculiarities that facilitate its change of use and performance updating. In fact, the large internal spaces limit the issue of material compatibility to retrofit interventions on the casing. Often the interventions of reuse of the industrial heritage are solved with new architectures designed to be completely inserted inside the original envelope, remaining independent from it. This work presents the reuse project of an industrial building in the city of Sagunto, Spain, where the logic of the “box within the box” is re-proposed with the aim of spatial and constructive flexibility. The research shows a design methodology that allows the new functional modules inside the old building to be designed according to flexibility requirements and how flexibility design is a means for environmental sustainability in the occasion of disused industrial heritage reuse.
Macro-Seismic Assessment for Residential Buildings Constructed in the Soviet Union Era in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Authors: Rashid Muhammad Sajjad , Zhang Dichuan , Moon Sung-Woo , Sarkulova Dana , Shokbarov Yeraly , Kim Jong
Published: April 2023

Southern and southeastern Kazakhstan is a region of intraplate seismicity characterized by several destructive earthquakes. Almaty, the largest metropolis in this region, has many structures with different construction materials and seismic-resistant systems. Among them, residential buildings constructed in the Soviet Union era (before the 1990s) may possess low seismic resisting capacities due to limited seismic design and detailing provisions. Therefore, it is essential to assess seismic risks for these buildings. This paper collected information from a government agency (i.e., KazNIISA), including construction materials, lateral force-resisting systems, and structural ductility capacities for residential buildings constructed in this era. These buildings were then categorized in terms of their seismic vulnerabilities following the European Macro-seismic Scale (EMS-98). Vulnerability curves and probability of damages were developed under different earthquake intensities and peak ground accelerations. The likelihood of varying levels of damage was established for the design basis and maximum considered earthquakes in the Almaty region. It was found that unreinforced masonry and wood buildings tend to be very heavily damaged and even collapse under the maximum considered earthquake. The reinforced and precast concrete buildings have a high probability of heavy to very heavy damage, which may require further analytical assessment since the structure at this damage level will undergo a significant nonlinear response and has a high uncertainty in the seismic performance.
Organoids as an Enabler of Precision Immuno-Oncology
Authors: Zhao Junzhe , Fong Antoinette , Seow See Voon , Toh Han Chong
Published: April 2023

Since the dawn of the past century, landmark discoveries in cell-mediated immunity have led to a greater understanding of the innate and adaptive immune systems and revolutionised the treatment of countless diseases, including cancer. Today, precision immuno-oncology (I/O) involves not only targeting immune checkpoints that inhibit T-cell immunity but also harnessing immune cell therapies. The limited efficacy in some cancers results mainly from a complex tumour microenvironment (TME) that, in addition to adaptive immune cells, comprises innate myeloid and lymphoid cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and the tumour vasculature that contribute towards immune evasion. As the complexity of TME has called for more sophisticated human-based tumour models, organoids have allowed the dynamic study of spatiotemporal interactions between tumour cells and individual TME cell types. Here, we discuss how organoids can study the TME across cancers and how these features may improve precision I/O. We outline the approaches to preserve or recapitulate the TME in tumour organoids and discuss their potential, advantages, and limitations. We will discuss future directions of organoid research in understanding cancer immunology in-depth and identifying novel I/O targets and treatment strategies.
Prognostic Role of Circulating Tumor Cell Trajectories in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Magri Valentina , Marino Luca , Nicolazzo Chiara , Gradilone Angela , De Renzi Gianluigi , De Meo Michela , Gandini Orietta , Sabatini Arianna , Santini Daniele , Cortesi Enrico , Gazzaniga Paola
Published: April 2023

Background: A large amount of evidence from clinical studies has demonstrated that circulating tumor cells are strong predictors of outcomes in many cancers. However, the clinical significance of CTC enumeration in metastatic colorectal cancer is still questioned. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of CTC dynamics in mCRC patients receiving first-line treatments. Materials and methods: Serial CTC data from 218 patients were used to identify CTC trajectory patterns during the course of treatment. CTCs were evaluated at baseline, at a first-time point check and at the radiological progression of the disease. CTC dynamics were correlated with clinical endpoints. Results: Using a cut-off of ≥1 CTC/7.5 mL, four prognostic trajectories were outlined. The best prognosis was obtained for patients with no evidence of CTCs at any timepoints, with a significant difference compared to all other groups. Lower PFS and OS were recognized in group 4 (CTCs always positive) at 7 and 16 months, respectively. Conclusions: We confirmed the clinical value of CTC positivity, even with only one cell detected. CTC trajectories are better prognostic indicators than CTC enumeration at baseline. The reported prognostic groups might help to improve risk stratification, providing potential biomarkers to monitor first-line treatments.
Sensitive Evanescence-Field Waveguide Interferometer for Aqueous Nitro-Explosive Sensing
Authors: Wang Wen , Deng Guowei , Hu Zhanwei , Chen Kaixin , Wu Jieyun
Published: April 2023

The development of novel chemical nitro-explosive sensors with high sensitivity, low cost and a compact size is essential for homeland security, environmental protection and addressing military challenges. Polymeric optical waveguides based on refractive index sensing are widely used in biochemical detection due to their advantages of large-scale integration, low cost, high sensitivity and anti-electromagnetic interference. In this study, we designed and fabricated a polymer waveguide Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) sensor to detect 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) in water. One phase shifter of the MZI waveguide was functionalized by coating a thin cladding layer of polycarbonate with dipolar chromophores and used as the sensing arm; the other arm was coated with passive epoxy resin cladding and used as the reference arm. The phase difference between the two arms of the MZI was modulated using the refractive index (RI) change in the polycarbonate cladding when dipolar chromophores interacted with electro-deficient DNT. The theoretical sensitivity of the designed MZI can reach up to 24,696 nm/RIU. When used for explosive detection, our fabricated sensor had a maximum wavelength shift of 4.465 nm and good linear relation, with an R2 of 0.96 between the wavelength shift and a concentration ranging from 3.5 × 10−5 to 6.3 × 10−4 mol/L. The sensitivity of our device was 6821.6 nm/(mol/L). The design of an unbalanced MZI sensor, together with the sensing material, provides a new approach to using low-cost, compact and highly sensitive devices for in-field explosive detection.
Skeptical Look at the Clinical Implication of Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood Obesity
Authors: Wasniewska Malgorzata , Pepe Giorgia , Aversa Tommaso , Bellone Simonetta , de Sanctis Luisa , Di Bonito Procolo , Faienza Maria Felicia , Improda Nicola , Licenziati Maria Rosaria , Maffeis Claudio , Maguolo Alice , Patti Giuseppina , Predieri Barbara , Salerno Mariacarolina , Stagi Stefano , Street Maria Elisabeth , Valerio Giuliana , Corica Domenico , Calcaterra Valeria
Published: April 2023

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined by a cluster of several cardio-metabolic risk factors, specifically visceral obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose metabolism, which together increase risks of developing future cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). This article is a narrative review of the literature and a summary of the main observations, conclusions, and perspectives raised in the literature and the study projects of the Working Group of Childhood Obesity (WGChO) of the Italian Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (ISPED) on MetS in childhood obesity. Although there is an agreement on the distinctive features of MetS, no international diagnostic criteria in a pediatric population exist. Moreover, to date, the prevalence of MetS in childhood is not certain and thus the true value of diagnosis of MetS in youth as well as its clinical implications, is unclear. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the pathogenesis and current role of MetS in children and adolescents with particular reference to applicability in clinical practice in childhood obesity.
Outcomes of Window Therapy with Carboplatin and Ifosfamide for Pediatric Osteosarcoma: A Case Series
Authors: Aiba Hisaki , Kamei Michi , Ito Yasuhiko , Takeda Risa , Yamada Satoshi , Okamoto Hideki , Hayashi Katsuhiro , Miwa Shinji , Kawaguchi Yohei , Saito Shiro , Sakai Takao , Murakami Hideki , Kimura Hiroaki
Published: April 2023

For the treatment of osteosarcoma, cisplatin (CDDP) can be substituted by carboplatin (CBDCA) to reduce toxicity. We report a single institution experience of CBDCA-based regimen. Two to three cycles of CBDCA + ifosfamide (IFO) therapy (window therapy) were administered as neoadjuvant therapy for osteosarcoma. Depending on the response of window therapy, the subsequent protocols were determined; for good responders, surgery is performed, and postoperative therapies with CBDCA + IFO, adriamycin (ADM) and high-dose methotrexate (MTX) were administered; for stable disease, the postoperative regimens were advanced before surgery, and the remaining amount of postoperative chemotherapy is deduced; for progressive disease, CBDCA-based regimen is changed to CDDP-based regimen. From 2009 to 2019, seven patients were treated with this protocol. During the window therapy, two patients (28.6%) were assessed as good responders and completed the regimen as planned. Four patients (57.1%) had stable disease, and the chemotherapy schedules were modified. One patient (14.2%) with progressive disease was shifted to the CDDP-based regimen. At final follow-up, four patients showed no evidence of disease and three patients died of the disease. Since the efficacy during window therapy was limited, a CBDCA-based regimen in the neoadjuvant setting was considered insufficient for performing adequate surgery.
From Leather Wastes back to Leather Manufacturing: The Development of New Bio-Based Finishing Systems
Authors: Gargano Marika , Bacardit Anna , Sannia Giovanni , Lettera Vincenzo
Published: April 2023

The leather industry is currently between two opposing paths: on the one hand, recent legislative trends in terms of the eco-sustainability of industrial processes are leading leather manufacturing towards the development of cleaner production methods; on the other hand, the spread of new alternative materials to leather is driving the leather industry to improve its competitiveness by developing new innovative and high-quality products. Leather finishing is one of the most important phases of leather production, and is capable of improving its quality and organoleptic properties. However, this phase is characterized by the use of polluting chemical products, such as volatile organic compounds, potentially toxic crosslinking agents, and hardly biodegradable resins. In this context, this research work aims to develop a finishing formulation capable of giving leather the durability and quality properties required by the market, while at the same time, being eco-sustainable. Specifically, the aim of the present work is to suggest a new finishing formulation in terms not only of green technology but also of a circular production flow, by recovering solid leather wastes. The developed finishing system is based on the application of collagen, extracted from tanned wastes through an enzymatic treatment, to be cross-linked and bound to the leather surface. This new bio-based leather finish is compared to a resin-based leather finish, and shows the same quality standards as those requested by the market.
Bound the Parameters of Neural Networks Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Tsoulos Ioannis G. , Tzallas Alexandros , Karvounis Evangelos , Tsalikakis Dimitrios
Published: April 2023

Artificial neural networks are machine learning models widely used in many sciences as well as in practical applications. The basic element of these models is a vector of parameters; the values of these parameters should be estimated using some computational method, and this process is called training. For effective training of the network, computational methods from the field of global minimization are often used. However, for global minimization techniques to be effective, the bounds of the objective function should also be clearly defined. In this paper, a two-stage global optimization technique is presented for efficient training of artificial neural networks. In the first stage, the bounds for the neural network parameters are estimated using Particle Swarm Optimization and, in the following phase, the parameters of the network are optimized within the bounds of the first phase using global optimization techniques. The suggested method was used on a series of well-known problems in the literature and the experimental results were more than encouraging.