bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Interaction between DNA Aptamers and Cytochrome C on the Surface of Lipid Films and on the MUA Monolayer: A QCM-D Study
Authors: Tatarko Marek , Spagnolo Sandro , Csiba Martin , Šubjaková Veronika , Hianik Tibor
Published: February 2023

We analyzed the possibility of the detection of cytochrome c (cyt c) being physically adsorbed on lipid films or covalently bounded to 11-mercapto-1-undecanoic acid (MUA) chemisorbed on the gold layer using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The negatively charged lipid film composed of a mixture of zwitterionic DMPC and negatively charged DMPG phospholipids at a molar ratio of 1:1 allowed the formation of a stable cyt c layer. Addition of DNA aptamers specific to cyt c, however, resulted in removal of cyt c from the surface. The interaction of cyt c with the lipid film and its removal by DNA aptamers were accompanied by changes in viscoelastic properties evaluated using the Kelvin–Voigt model. Cyt c covalently bound to MUA also provided a stable protein layer already at its relatively low concentrations (0.5 μM). A decrease in the resonant frequency following the addition of gold nanowires (AuNWs) modified by DNA aptamers was observed. The interaction of aptamers with cyt c on the surface can be a combination of specific and non-specific interactions due to electrostatic forces between negatively charged DNA aptamers and positively charged cyt c.
Hyperpalatable Foods Consumption in a Representative Sample of the General Population in Brazil: Differences of Binge and Non-Binge Eating Meals
Authors: Moraes Carlos Eduardo Ferreira de , Hay Phillipa , Sichieri Rosely , Fazzino Tera L. , Mourilhe Carla , Appolinario José Carlos
Published: February 2023

The availability of hyper-palatable foods (HPF) increased over the past three decades worldwide, a period when eating disorders (ED) and obesity have become global public health concerns. The present study aimed to assess HPF consumption during binge and non-binge meals in a representative sample of adults with and without ED from a metropolitan city in Brazil. A total of 2297 individuals were interviewed in their homes by trained lay interviewers to assess the presence of binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN), and recurrent binge eating (RBE). Information on their food consumption in objective and subjective binge eating episodes (OBE and SBE, respectively), as well as in the 24 h food recall were obtained. Individuals from the general population consumed 56% of their total calories from HPF. In non-binge meals, people with BN consumed substantially fewer calories from HPF than BED (63% vs. 48%) and RBE (63% vs. 48%) groups. During OBE, participants consumed an average of 70% of the calories from HPF, with no between-group differences. During SBE, subjects with BN consumed substantially fewer calories from HPF than those with BED (76% vs. 50%). In conclusion, HPF were highly consumed by the Brazilian population. However, there was a greater impact on BED and RBE subjects and during binge eating episodes.
Helping Others Results in Helping Yourself: How Well-Being Is Shaped by Agreeableness and Perceived Team Cohesion
Authors: Reizer Abira , Harel Tal , Ben-Shalom Uzi
Published: February 2023

This longitudinal research explores team cohesion as a potential mediator explaining the associations between agreeableness as a personality trait and well-being. Additionally, the study examines whether the leader offering support moderates the mediating role of perceived group cohesion. The sample consists of male military personnel (N = 648) from six different units. The longitudinal design examined two time points, T1 and T2, during the soldiers’ training period. The PROCESS macro for SPSS was utilized to determine the significance of the moderator and the mediation effect. The results indicate that an agreeable personality and team cohesion at T1 predicted increased well-being at T2 (two months later). In addition, the moderated mediation hypothesis was significant, indicating that when leaders offered more support, the indirect link between an agreeable personality and well-being via team cohesion was stronger than when they offered less. The findings suggest that an agreeable personality and leader support are important in the organizational domain, and these variables promote well-being. By understanding the contribution of both external and internal sources of support to soldiers’ well-being, intervention plans can be developed to lessen the stressors of their mental well-being and help them reach their maximum potential.
Academic Performance according to School Coexistence Indices in Students from Public Schools in the South of Chile
Authors: Diaz-Vargas Caterin , Tapia-Figueroa Andrea , Valdebenito-Villalobos Jacqueline , Gutiérrez-Echavarria María Aurora , Acuña-Zuñiga Carmen Claudia , Parra Jeanette , Arias Ana María , Castro-Durán Lilian , Chávez-Castillo Yasna , Cristi-Montero Carlos , Zapata-Lamana Rafael , Parra-Rizo María Antonia , Cigarroa Igor
Published: February 2023

School coexistence is a fundamental aspect for good academic performance. The objective of the study was to identify school coexistence indices, and to analyze differences in academic performance according to these indices in students from public schools in the province of Biobío, Chile. This cross-sectional study involved 730 children (53.8% boys; 12 ± 1.2 years). School coexistence indices as a quality of interpersonal relationships between school bodies, the perception of violence and aggressiveness from a gender perspective, and the perception of levels of safety and unsafety in different school areas as well as academic performance through accumulated final grades (AFG) and grade point averages (GPA) were measured. A total of 40.9% and 41.3% of schoolchildren agreed or strongly agreed that stronger students are violent toward weaker students and boys are violent toward one another, respectively. The school areas most classified as unsafe or very unsafe were the restrooms (20.4%), followed by the playgrounds (10%), and the gym and fields (9.5%). Schoolchildren who classified the relationships within the school bodies as bad, or very bad, presented significantly lower AFG in subjects such as math, language (Spanish), and physical education and health as well as GPA. In the same line, those who perceived greater violence and aggressiveness among peers and higher insecurity in different school areas presented significantly poorer academic performance. In conclusion, students perceived violence and aggressiveness among themselves, and the school areas perceived as unsafe were identified. Furthermore, students who perceived poorer school coexistence indices presented a weaker academic performance.
Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Behavior of Corroded Q345 and Q420 Structural Steels
Authors: Zhao Nan , Zhang Chuntao
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the residual mechanical behavior of Q345 and Q420 structural steels after corrosion. Firstly, the tensile specimens were corroded in an acid solution until the weight loss rate reached 20%, 30%, and 40%. The corroded specimens were then subjected to axial tensile experiments to observe the tensile fracture behavior and obtain the engineering stress–strain curves. The effects of corrosion on stress–strain curves, failure modes, tensile strength, and ductility were analyzed and discussed. The strength and ductility of Q345 and Q420 structural steel dropped sharply after corrosion. In addition, a constitutive model of Q345 and Q420 structural steels with different mass loss rates was established. Based on the test data, empirical equations were proposed to predict the residual strength and ductility of corroded Q345 and Q420 structural steels.
Multi-Role Collaborative Behavior in the Construction Industry through Training Strategies
Authors: Yan Xue , Yang Ruisi , Chong Heap-Yih , Feng Minyu
Published: February 2023

From a stakeholder perspective, the personal growth of industrial personnel is important for the promotion of the sustainable development of the construction industry. As an important part of knowledge management, training is a common way to improve the personal knowledge and skills of construction practitioners. Group role assignment with a training plan is thought to optimize group performance and the assignment of personnel with collaborative behaviors. However, existing mathematical models or approaches have mainly considered the loss of downtime caused by training while ignoring the different costs of training programs and personal capabilities, which affect the overall benefits. Hence, to solve the training-related role assignment problem, the intention of this study is to formulate a new model that integrates comprehensive training costs with various personal capabilities. After training, all roles need to be reassigned to maximize the overall benefit. Four experiments were conducted. The results show that training strategies can increase the total benefit, but also weaken it when the training costs are too high. Training strategies have a cumulative effect, i.e., training performance is positively related to the knowledge and skill levels of construction practitioners. Finally, training performance varies with the industrial role.
Efficient Pyrolysis of Low-Density Polyethylene for Regulatable Oil and Gas Products by ZSM-5, HY and MCM-41 Catalysts
Authors: Liu Ting , Li Yincui , Zhou Yifan , Deng Shengnan , Zhang Huawei
Published: February 2023

In this research, catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has been carried out in the presence of three kinds of typical molecular sieves, including ZSM-5, HY and MCM-41, respectively. The effects of different catalysts on the composition and quantity of pyrolysis products consisting of gas, oil and solid material were systematically investigated and summarized. Specially, the three kinds of catalysts were added into LDPE for pyrolysis to obtain regulatable oil and gas products (H2, CH4 and a mixture of C2–C4+ gaseous hydrocarbons). These catalysts were characterized with BET, NH3-TPD, SEM and TEM. The results show that the addition of MCM-41 improved the oil yield, indicating that the secondary cracking of intermediate species in primary pyrolysis decreased with the case of the catalyst. The highest selectivity of MCM-41 to liquid oil (78.4% at 650 °C) may be attributed to its moderate total acidity and relatively high BET surface area. The ZSM-5 and HY were found to produce a great amount of gas products (61.4% and 67.1% at 650 °C). In particular, the aromatic yield of oil production reached the maximum (65.9% at 500 °C) when the ZSM-5 was used. Accordingly, with the three kinds of catalysts, a new environment-friendly and efficient recovery approach may be developed to obtain regulatable and valuable products by pyrolysis of LDPE-type plastic wastes.
Carotid Artery Disease in the Era of Biomarkers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Dinoto Ettore , Mirabella Domenico , Ferlito Francesca , Tortomasi Graziella , Turchino Davide , Evola Salvatore , Zingales Massimiliano , Bologna Emanuela , Pecoraro Felice
Published: February 2023

The intima-media thickness (IMT) and its irregularities or ulcerations in the common carotid artery (CCA) are useful tools as sentinel biomarkers for the integrity of the cardiovascular system. Total homocysteine and lipoprotein levels are the most commonly used elements in cardiovascular risk stratification. Duplex ultrasound (DUS), associated with serum biomarkers, can be used simply to assess the degree of atherosclerotic disease and cardiovascular risk. This study highlights the role of different kinds of biomarkers, showing their usefulness and potentiality in multi-district atherosclerotic patients, especially for early diagnosis and therapy effectiveness monitoring. A retrospective analysis performed from September 2021 to August 2022, of patients with carotid artery disease, was performed. A total of 341 patients with a mean age of 53.8 years were included in the study. The outcomes showed an increased risk of stroke in patients with significative carotid artery disease, nonresponsive to therapy, monitored through a series of serum biomarkers (homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and oxidized LDL). In this reported experience, the systematic use of DUS in association with the multiple biomarkers approach was effective for the early identification of patients at higher risk of disease progression or inefficient therapy.
Tumor Stroma Area and Other Prognostic Factors in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients Submitted to Surgery
Authors: Amaral Maria João , Amaral Mariana , Freitas João , Oliveira Rui Caetano , Serôdio Marco , Cipriano Maria Augusta , Tralhão José Guilherme
Published: February 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dense stroma, responsible for up to 80% of its volume. The amount of stroma can be associated with prognosis, although there are discrepancies regarding its concrete impact. The aim of this work was to study prognostic factors for PDAC patients submitted to surgery, including the prognostic impact of the tumor stroma area (TSA). A retrospective study with PDAC patients submitted for surgical resection was conducted. The TSA was calculated using QuPath-0.2.3 software. Arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and surgical complications Clavien–Dindo>IIIa are independent risk factors for mortality in PDAC patients submitted to surgery. Regarding TSA, using >1.9 × 1011 µ2 as cut-off value for all stages, patients seem to have longer overall survival (OS) (31 vs. 21 months, p = 0.495). For stage II, a TSA > 2 × 1011 µ2 was significantly associated with an R0 resection (p = 0.037). For stage III patients, a TSA > 1.9 × 1011 µ2 was significantly associated with a lower histological grade (p = 0.031), and a TSA > 2E + 11 µ2 was significantly associated with a preoperative AP ≥ 120 U/L (p = 0.009) and a lower preoperative AST (≤35 U/L) (p = 0.004). Patients with PDAC undergoing surgical resection with preoperative CA19.9 > 500 U/L and AST ≥ 100 U/L have an independent higher risk of recurrence. Tumor stroma could have a protective effect in these patients. A larger TSA is associated with an R0 resection in stage II patients and a lower histological grade in stage III patients, which may contribute to a longer OS.
Development and Integration of DOPS as Formative Tests in Head and Neck Ultrasound Education: Proof of Concept Study for Exploration of Perceptions
Authors: Weimer Johannes Matthias , Rink Maximilian , Müller Lukas , Dirks Klaus , Ille Carlotta , Bozzato Alessandro , Sproll Christoph , Weimer Andreas Michael , Neubert Christian , Buggenhagen Holger , Ernst Benjamin Philipp , Symeou Luisa , Lorenz Liv Annebritt , Hollinderbäumer Anke , Künzel Julian
Published: February 2023

In Germany, progress assessments in head and neck ultrasonography training have been carried out mainly theoretically and lack standardisation. Thus, quality assurance and comparisons between certified courses from various course providers are difficult. This study aimed to develop and integrate a direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) in head and neck ultrasound education and explore the perceptions of both participants and examiners. Five DOPS tests oriented towards assessing basic skills were developed for certified head and neck ultrasound courses on national standards. DOPS tests were completed by 76 participants from basic and advanced ultrasound courses (n = 168 documented DOPS tests) and evaluated using a 7-point Likert scale. Ten examiners performed and evaluated the DOPS after detailed training. The variables of “general aspects” (6.0 Scale Points (SP) vs. 5.9 SP; p = 0.71), “test atmosphere” (6.3 SP vs. 6.4 SP; p = 0.92), and “test task setting” (6.2 SP vs. 5.9 SP; p = 0.12) were positively evaluated by all participants and examiners. There were no significant differences between a basic and advanced course in relation to the overall results of DOPS tests (p = 0.81). Regardless of the courses, there were significant differences in the total number of points achieved between individual DOPS tests. DOPS tests are accepted by participants and examiners as an assessment tool in head and neck ultrasound education. In view of the trend toward “competence-based” teaching, this type of test format should be applied and validated in the future.
Effects of Deadwood on Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Three Sand-Type Lowland Streams
Authors: Zigann Julia Marie , Gersberg Richard M. , Lüderitz Volker
Published: February 2023

The objective of the manuscript was to study the effects of dead wood on macroinvertebrates (MI) assemblages occupying different habitat patches. Three streams were studied, with control and wooded sections in each stream from which MI were sampled for all substrate types (wood, fine detritus, gravel, sand). This contribution deals with three German streams Ihle, Nieplitz, and Verlorenwasser, which belong to the stream type 14 (sand-dominated lowland stream) and are located in the landscape unit Fläming. This type of stream, where large wood could be most influential, has been relatively understudied. This study focused on quantifying substrate distribution and macroinvertebrate taxonomy and performing statistical analysis of MI densities with regard to substrate type. The area-specific invertebrate assemblages were differentiated for MI density, dry matter density and taxonomic richness of invertebrates. In addition to macroinvertebrates, a special focus was on aquatic and semi-aquatic insects. There were significant differences between the control and wooden sections. The macroinvertebrate assemblages (individual density, dry matter density and species richness) of the detritus of the wood sections only in the Verlorenwasser was significantly and positively affected (two or three times) by the deadwood. Detritus in the wood sections of the Nieplitz and Verlorenwasser contained more sensitive species like EPT than detritus from the control sections. On the other hand, no significant difference in MI populations were determined for the sand of the wood sections compared to the sand of the control sections. In all water bodies, the wood substrate promoted all investigated indicators of macrozoobenthos as compared to sand of the wood sections. Detritus significantly promoted macrozoobenthos colonization in the wood sections as compared to sand of the Nieplitz and the Verlorenwasser. The MI density and dry matter density in the Ihle was also significantly promoted by detritus, although not significantly with regard species richness. Two significant correlations were also identified. The more sand that was present in the Ihle and the Verlorenwasser, the more the macroinvertebrate assemblages were inhibited. Additionally, the larger the area of detritus in the Ihle and the area of wood in the Nieplitz, the more MI populations were encouraged. The influence of the deadwood position on MI was also investigated, but there was no significant difference. Incline bridges, flow guides and parallel wood position types were settled in similar quality and quantity.
Machine Learning-Inspired Hybrid Precoding for HAP Massive MIMO Systems with Limited RF Chains
Authors: Hassan Shabih ul , Mir Talha , Alamri Sultan , Khan Naseer Ahmed , Mir Usama
Published: February 2023

Energy efficiency (EE) is the main target of wireless communication nowadays. In this paper, we investigate hybrid precoding (HP) and massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems for a high-altitude platform (HAP). The HAP is an emerging solution operating in the stratosphere at an amplitude of up to 20–40 km to provide communication facilities that can achieve the best features of both terrestrial and satellite systems. The existing hybrid beamforming solution on a HAP requires a large number of high-resolution phase shifters (PSs) to realize analog beamforming and radio frequency (RF) chains associated with each antenna and achieve better performance. This leads to enormous power consumption, high costs, and high hardware complexity. To address such issues, one possible solution that has to be tweaked is to minimize the number of PSs and RFs or reduce their power consumption. This study proposes an HP sub-connected low-resolution bit PSs to address these challenges while lowering overall power consumption and achieving EE. To significantly reduce the RF chain in a massive MIMO system, HP is a suitable solution. This study further examined adaptive cross-entropy (ACE), a machine learning-based optimization that optimizes the achievable sum rate and energy efficiency in the Rician fading channel for HAP massive MIMO systems. ACE randomly generates several candidate solutions according to the probability distribution (PD) of the elements in HP. According to their sum rate, it adaptively weights these candidates’ HP and improves the PD in HP systems by minimizing the cross-entropy. Furthermore, this work suggests energy consumption analysis performance evaluation to unveil the fact that the proposed technique based on a sub-connected low-bit PS architecture can achieve near-optimum EE and sum rates compared with the previously reported methods.
Investigations of the Wireless M-Bus System Resilience under Challenging Propagation Conditions
Authors: Kowal Michal , Staniec Kamil
Published: February 2023

Wireless M-Bus is a short-range wireless telemetry system that plays a vital role in the capillary sector of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Similar to any other IoT technology, it is meant to operate in harsh environmental conditions such as production plants, cellars, or other under-ground or indoor metering installations. This paper describes the methodology and outcomes of a carefully designed measurement campaign targeted at investigating this system’s immunity to jamming and extremely fading channels. The former was carried out in an anechoic chamber and the latter in a reverberation chamber, both specifically adapted for these types of measurements. The presented methodology allows for reproducible research. The article demonstrates PER measurements results as a function of CNIR for all throughput modes offered by the tested devices (ranging from 4.8 kb/s to 100 kb/s). The threshold CNIR values are universal and may prove useful in an IoT network design that is based on the Wireless M-Bus technology.
Antimicrobial Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaves Extract on Foodborne Pathogens in Ground Beef
Authors: Abdallah Reda , Mostafa Nader Y. , Kirrella Ghada A. K. , Gaballah Ibrahim , Imre Kálmán , Morar Adriana , Herman Viorel , Sallam Khalid Ibrahim , Elshebrawy Hend Ali
Published: February 2023

Consumers nowadays are becoming more aware of the importance of using only meat products containing safe and natural additives. Hence, using natural food additives for extending the shelf life of meat along with delaying microbial growth has become an urgent issue. Given the increasingly popular view of Moringa oleifera leaves as a traditional remedy and also the scarcity of published data concerning its antimicrobial effect against foodborne pathogens in meat and meat products, we designed the present study to investigate the antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera leaves aqueous extract (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) on ground beef during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 18 days. MLE revealed potent antimicrobial properties against spoilage bacteria, such as aerobic plate count and Enterobacteriaceae count. MLE 2% showed a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the counts of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus artificially inoculated to ground beef by 6.54, 5.35, and 5.40 log10 CFU/g, respectively, compared to control, by the 18th day of storage. Moringa leaves extract (MLE) had no adverse effect on the overall acceptability and other sensory attributes; moreover, it induced a slight improvement in the tenderness and juiciness of treated ground beef, compared to the control. Therefore, MLE can be used as a healthy, natural, and safe preservative to increase meat products’ safety, quality, and shelf stability during cold storage. A promising approach for using natural food additives rather than chemical preservatives could begin new frontiers in the food industry, as they are more safe and do not constitute health risks to consumers.
Enabling Transformational ngEHT Science via the Inclusion of 86 GHz Capabilities
Authors: Issaoun Sara , Pesce Dominic W. , Roelofs Freek , Chael Andrew , Dodson Richard , Rioja María J. , Akiyama Kazunori , Aran Romy , Blackburn Lindy , Doeleman Sheperd S. , Fish Vincent L. , Fitzpatrick Garret , Johnson Michael D. , Narayanan Gopal , Raymond Alexander W. , Tilanus Remo P. J.
Published: February 2023

We present a case for significantly enhancing the utility and efficiency of the ngEHT by incorporating an additional 86 GHz observing band. In contrast to 230 or 345 GHz, weather conditions at the ngEHT sites are reliably good enough for 86 GHz to enable year-round observations. Multi-frequency imaging that incorporates 86 GHz observations would sufficiently augment the (u,v) coverage at 230 and 345 GHz to permit detection of the M87 jet structure without requiring EHT stations to join the array. The general calibration and sensitivity of the ngEHT would also be enhanced by leveraging frequency phase transfer techniques, whereby simultaneous observations at 86 GHz and higher-frequency bands have the potential to increase the effective coherence times from a few seconds to tens of minutes. When observation at the higher frequencies is not possible, there are opportunities for standalone 86 GHz science, such as studies of black hole jets and spectral lines. Finally, the addition of 86 GHz capabilities to the ngEHT would enable it to integrate into a community of other VLBI facilities—such as the GMVA and ngVLA—that are expected to operate at 86 GHz but not at the higher ngEHT observing frequencies.
Cause-Based Participative Relationships in Heritage Management
Authors: Miklošević Željka
Published: February 2023

A shift from activities under the exclusive responsibility of institutions and experts to those organized and carried out by a growing number of civil society organizations and heritage communities has been seen as a means of democratizing heritage practice. This paper explores an NGO-run project of the Trešnjevka Neighborhood Museum in Zagreb, Croatia in order to expound characteristics of its participative management model, which includes other NGOs, representatives of a museum institution, and neighborhood residents. The museum’s activities published on the official website and social media platforms were thematically analyzed according to layers of cultural participation. The results show a formation of a community of interests within a place-based community whose purpose is to represent heritage values alternative to those of the mainstream institutions. The TNM can therefore be described as a territorialized cause-based project whose management is predicated on value-based participation of different stockholders, while its heritage governance approach resembles both corporatist and service-led approaches.
Using HyperLogLog to Prevent Data Retention in Social Media Streaming Data Analytics
Authors: Löchner Marc , Burghardt Dirk
Published: February 2023

Social media data are widely used to gain insights about social incidents, whether on a local or global scale. Within the process of analyzing and evaluating the data, it is common practice to download and store it locally. Considerations about privacy protection of social media users are often neglected thereby. However, protecting privacy when dealing with personal data is demanded by laws and ethics. In this paper, we introduce a method to store social media data using the cardinality estimator HyperLogLog. Based on an exemplary disaster management scenario, we show that social media data can be analyzed by counting occurrences of posts, without becoming in possession of the actual raw data. For social media data analyses like these, that are based on counting occurrences, cardinality estimation suffices the task. Thus, the risk of abuse, loss, or public exposure of the data can be mitigated and privacy of social media users can be preserved. The ability to do unions and intersections on multiple datasets further encourages the use of this technology. We provide a proof-of-concept implementation for our introduced method, using data provided by the Twitter API.
BiodivAR: A Cartographic Authoring Tool for the Visualization of Geolocated Media in Augmented Reality
Authors: Mercier Julien , Chabloz Nicolas , Dozot Gregory , Ertz Olivier , Bocher Erwan , Rappo Daniel
Published: February 2023

Location-based augmented reality technology for real-world, outdoor experiences is rapidly gaining in popularity in a variety of fields such as engineering, education, and gaming. By anchoring medias to geographic coordinates, it is possible to design immersive experiences remotely, without necessitating an in-depth knowledge of the context. However, the creation of such experiences typically requires complex programming tools that are beyond the reach of mainstream users. We introduce BiodivAR, a web cartographic tool for the authoring of location-based AR experiences. Developed using a user-centered design methodology and open-source interoperable web technologies, it is the second iteration of an effort that started in 2016. It is designed to meet needs defined through use cases co-designed with end users and enables the creation of custom geolocated points of interest. This approach enabled substantial progress over the previous iteration. Its reliance on geolocation data to anchor augmented objects relative to the user’s position poses a set of challenges: On mobile devices, GNSS accuracy typically lies between 1 m and 30 m. Due to its impact on the anchoring, this lack of accuracy can have deleterious effects on usability. We conducted a comparative user test using the application in combination with two different geolocation data types (GNSS versus RTK). While the test’s results are undergoing analysis, we hereby present a methodology for the assessment of our system’s usability based on the use of eye-tracking devices, geolocated traces and events, and usability questionnaires.
Soft- and Hard-Tissue Thicknesses in Patients with Different Vertical Facial Patterns and the Transverse Deficiencies, An Integrated CBCT-3D Digital Model Analysis
Authors: Zaragoza Ballester Alejandro , Ferrando Cascales Álvaro , Barrera Mora José , Friedlander Itamar , Agustín-Panadero Rubén , Ferrando Cascales Raúl
Published: February 2023

Different vertical facial patterns may present different bone and gingival thicknesses at the molar level and can be influenced by the dental compensations that manifest in the presence of transverse bone discrepancies. A retrospective analysis was made of 120 patients divided into three groups according to their vertical facial patterns (mesofacial, dolichofacial or brachyfacial). Each group in turn was divided into two subgroups according to the presence or absence of transverse discrepancies assessed by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The bone and gingival measurements were made integrating a CBCT-3D digital model of the patient dentition. In the brachyfacial patients, the distance from the palatine root to the cortical bone corresponding to the right upper first molar was significantly greater (1.27 mm) than in the dolichofacial (1.06 mm) and mesofacial (1.03 mm) (p < 0.05) patients. The brachyfacial and mesofacial patients with transverse discrepancies presented a greater distance from the mesiobuccal root of the left upper first molar and from the palatine root to the cortical bone, while in the dolichofacial individuals the distances were shorter (p < 0.05); The presence of transverse bone discrepancies in brachyfacial and mesofacial patients without posterior cross-bite implies a better dentoalveolar expansion prognosis than in dolichofacial individuals.
Special Issue “Recent Advances in Neonatal Sepsis”
Authors: Sarafidis Kosmas
Published: February 2023

Perinatal medicine and neonatology have seen significant advancements in recent decades [...]
Characteristics, Outcomes, and Factors Affecting Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with CAP Due to Different Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and Non-COVID-19 CAP
Authors: Tongsengkee Nonthanat , Surasombatpattana Smonrapat , Tanomkiat Wiwatana , Siripaitoon Pisud , Kositpantawong Narongdet , Kanchanasuwan Siripen , Navasakulpong Asma , Pinpathomrat Nawamin , Dechaphunkul Arunee , Phongphithakchai Atthaphong , Hortiwakul Thanaporn , Charoenmak Boonsri , Chusri Sarunyou
Published: February 2023

The study was conducted from October 2020 to March 2022 in a province in southern Thailand. The inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and more than 18 years old were enrolled. Of the 1511 inpatients with CAP, COVID-19 was the leading cause, accounting for 27%. Among the patients with COVID-19 CAP, mortalities, mechanical ventilators, ICU admissions, ICU stay, and hospital costs were significantly higher than of those with non-COVID-19 CAP. Household and workplace contact with COVID-19, co-morbidities, lymphocytopenia and peripheral infiltration in chest imaging were associated with CAP due to COVID-19. The delta variant yielded the most unfavorable clinical and non-clinical outcomes. While COVID-19 CAP due to B.1.113, Alpha and Omicron variants had relatively similar outcomes. Among those with CAP, COVID-19 infection as well as obesity, a higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and APACHE II score were associated with in-hospital mortality. Among those with COVID-19 CAP, obesity, infection due to the Delta variant, a higher CCI and higher APACHE II score were associated with in-hospital mortality. COVID-19 had a great impact on the epidemiology and outcomes of CAP.
Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Cyclosporine Relative to Immunomodulatory Drugs Used in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Kyunghoon , Kim Mina , Rhee EunHee , Lee Mi-Hee , Yang Hyeon-Jong , Park Suyeon , Kim Hwan Soo
Published: February 2023

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is effective in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effectiveness and safety of low-dose (<4 mg/kg) versus high-dose (≥4 mg/kg) CsA and other systemic immunomodulatory agents in patients with AD. Five randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis included 159 patients with moderate-to-severe AD who were randomized to receive low-dose CsA, and 165 patients randomized to receive high-dose CsA and other systemic immunomodulatory agents. We found that low-dose CsA was not inferior to high-dose CsA and other systemic immunomodulatory agents in reducing AD symptoms [standard mean difference (SMD) −1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) −6.47; 3.23]. High-dose CsA and other systemic immunomodulatory agents showed a significantly lower incidence of adverse events [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.72, 95% CI 0.56; 0.93], however, after sensitivity analysis, there was no difference between the two groups except for one study (IRR 0.76, 95% CI 0.54; 1.07). Regarding serious adverse events requiring discontinuation of treatment, we observed no significant differences between low-dose CsA and other systemic immunomodulatory agents (IRR 1.83, 95% CI 0.62; 5.41). Our study may justify the use of low-dose CsA rather than high-dose CsA and other systemic immunomodulatory agents in moderate-to-severe AD.
Percutaneous Drainage vs. Surgery as Definitive Treatment for Anastomotic Leak after Intestinal Resection in Patients with Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Belvedere Angela , Dajti Gerti , Larotonda Cristina , Angelicchio Laura , Rizzello Fernando , Gionchetti Paolo , Poggioli Gilberto , Rottoli Matteo
Published: February 2023

Background: Anastomotic leak (AL) remains one of the most relevant complications after intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease (CD). While surgery has always been considered the standard treatment for perianastomotic collection, percutaneous drainage (PD) has been proposed as a potential alternative. Methods: Retrospective study in consecutive patients treated with either PD or surgery for AL after intestinal resection for CD between 2004 and 2022. AL was defined as a perianastomotic fluid collection confirmed by radiological findings. Patients with generalized peritonitis or clinical instability were excluded. Primary aim: To compare the success rate of PD vs. surgery. Secondary aims: To compare the outcomes at 90 days after the procedures; to identify the variables associated with the indication for PD. Results: A total of 47 patients were included, of which 25 (53%) underwent PD and 22 (47%) surgery. The success rate was 84% in the PD and 95% in the surgery group (p = 0.20). There were no significant differences between the PD and surgery group in postoperative medical and surgical complications, discharge, readmission or reoperation rates at 90 days. PD was more likely to be performed in patients with later diagnosis of AL (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.53, p = 0.027), undergoing ileo-colic anastomosis alone (OR 3.72, 95% CI 2.29–12.45, p = 0.034) and treated after 2016 (OR 6.36, 95% CI 1.04–39.03, p = 0.046). Conclusion: The present study suggests that PD is a safe and effective procedure to treat anastomotic leak and perianastomotic collection in CD patients. PD should be indicated in all eligible patients as an effective alternative to surgery.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone agonist (GnRH-a) Pretreatment before Hormone Replacement Therapy Does Not Improve Reproductive Outcomes of Frozen–Thawed Embryo Transfer Cycle in Older Patients with Intrauterine Fibroid: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sun Ping , Dong Yanlei , Yu Yi , Xu Hui , Zhu Lin , Zhang Ping , Yan Lei
Published: February 2023

Background: Surgery in elder patients with intermural fibroids delays pregnancy, and GnRH-a can shrink uterine fibroids to a certain extent; therefore, for geriatric patients with fibroids, determining whether GnRH-a pretreatment before frozen–thawed embryo transfer (FET) can improve its success rate remains to be studied. We conducted this study to research whether GnRH-a pretreatment before hormone replacement treatment (HRT) could optimize the reproductive outcomes compared with others preparations in geriatric patients with intramural fibroids. Methods: According to the endometrial preparation, patients were divided into a GnRH-a–HRT group, a HRT group and a natural cycle (NC) group. The live birth rate (LBR) was the first outcome, and the clinical pregnancy outcome (CPR), the miscarriage rate, the first trimester abortion rate and the ectopic pregnancy rate were the secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 769 patients (aged 35 years or older) were included in this study. No significant difference was observed in the live birth rate (25.3% vs. 17.4% vs. 23.5%, p = 0.200) and the clinical pregnancy rate (46.3% vs. 46.1% vs. 55.4%, p = 0.052) among the three endometrial preparation regimens. Conclusion: In this study, for the geriatric patient with the intramural myoma, the pretreatment with GnRH-a did not show any advantage over the NC and HRT preparation groups before the FET, and the LBR was not significantly increased.
Association between Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio and Prognosis in Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Kim Keun-Soo , Oh Ah-Ran , Park Jungchan , Ryu Jeong-Am
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) as a prognostic marker in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) compared with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, a widely used prognostic scoring system. An inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to control for selection bias and confounding factors. After IPW adjustment, the high FAR group showed significantly higher risk of 1-year compared with low FAR group (36.4% vs. 12.4%, adjust hazard ratio = 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59–1.86; p < 0.001). In the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis associated with the prediction of 1-year mortality, there was no significant difference between the area under the curve of FAR on ICU admission (C-statistic: 0.684, 95% CI: 0.673–0.694) and that of SOFA score on ICU admission (C-statistic: 0.679, 95% CI: 0.669–0.688) (p = 0.532). In this study, FAR and SOFA score at ICU admission were associated with 1-year mortality in patients admitted to an ICU. Especially, FAR was easier to obtain in critically ill patients than SOFA score. Therefore, FAR is feasible and might help predict long-term mortality in these patients.
Medical Expulsive Therapy for Pediatric Ureteral Stones: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Ziaeefar Pardis , Basiri Abbas , Zangiabadian Moein , de la Rosette Jean , Zargar Homayoun , Taheri Maryam , Kashi Amir H.
Published: February 2023

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones in pediatric patients, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the reference list of retrieved studies were searched up to September 2022 to identify RCTs on the efficacy of MET. The protocol was prospectively registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022339093). Articles were reviewed, data were extracted by two reviewers, and the differences were resolved by the third reviewer. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB2. The outcomes, including the stone expulsion rate (SER), stone expulsion time (SET), episode of pain, analgesic consumption, and adverse effects, were evaluated. Six RCTs enrolling 415 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The duration of MET ranged from 19 to 28 days. The investigated medications included tamsulosin, silodosin, and doxazosin. The stone-free rate after 4 weeks in the MET group was 1.42 times that of the control group (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.26–1.61, p < 0.001). The stone expulsion time also decreased by an average of 5.18 days (95% CI: −8.46/−1.89, p = 0.002). Adverse effects were more commonly observed in the MET group (RR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.28–3.69, p = 0.004). The subgroup analysis evaluating the influence of the type of medication, the stone size, and the age of patients failed to reveal any impact of the aforementioned factors on the stone expulsion rate or stone expulsion time. Alpha-blockers as medical expulsive therapy among pediatric patients are efficient and safe. They increase the stone expulsion rate and decrease the stone expulsion time; however, this included a higher rate of adverse effects, which include headache, dizziness, or nasal congestion.
The Distribution of Autoantibodies by Age Group in Children with Type 1 Diabetes versus Type 2 Diabetes in Southern Vietnam
Authors: Huynh Quynh Thi Vu , Trinh Minh Thi Tuyet , Doan Khang Kim , Ho Ban Tran , Shen Szu-Chuan , Trinh Tung Huu , Vo Thanh Hoa , Le Nguyen Quoc Khanh , Nguyen Ngan Thi Kim
Published: February 2023

Asian children are increasingly being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the presence of coexisting islet autoimmune antibodies complicate diagnosis. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence of islet cell autoantibodies (ICAs) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 autoantibodies (GADAs) in children with T1D versus T2D living in Vietnam. This cross-sectional study included 145 pediatric patients aged 10.3 ± 3.6 years, with 53.1% and 46.9% having T1D and T2D, respectively. ICAs were reported in only 3.9% of pediatric T1Ds, which was not significantly different from the 1.5% of those with T2D. Older children with T1D were positive for either ICAs, or ICAs and GADAs (5–9 and 10–15 years), whereas only a small proportion of children aged 0–4 years were positive for GADAs (18%). Notably, 27.9% of children with T2D aged 10–15 were positive for GADAs, and all were classified as overweight (n = 9) or obese (n = 10). GADAs were more commonly observed in T1D patients younger than four years than ICAs, which were more prevalent in older children (5–15 years). Even though few children with T2D carried ICAs and GADAs, finding a better biomarker or an appropriate time to confirm diabetes type may require further investigation.
Pulmonary Histoplasmosis: A Clinical Update
Authors: Barros Nicolas , Wheat Joseph L. , Hage Chadi
Published: February 2023

Histoplasma capsulatum, the etiological agent for histoplasmosis, is a dimorphic fungus that grows as a mold in the environment and as a yeast in human tissues. The areas of highest endemicity lie within the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys of North America and parts of Central and South America. The most common clinical presentations include pulmonary histoplasmosis, which can resemble community-acquired pneumonia, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, or malignancy; however, certain patients can develop mediastinal involvement or progression to disseminated disease. Understanding the epidemiology, pathology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic testing performance is pivotal for a successful diagnosis. While most immunocompetent patients with mild acute or subacute pulmonary histoplasmosis should receive therapy, all immunocompromised patients and those with chronic pulmonary disease or progressive disseminated disease should also receive therapy. Liposomal amphotericin B is the agent of choice for severe or disseminated disease, and itraconazole is recommended in milder cases or as “step-down” therapy after initial improvement with amphotericin B. In this review, we discuss the current epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, clinical presentations, and management of pulmonary histoplasmosis.
Understanding Cognitive Deficits in People with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Authors: Kang Weixi , Malvaso Antonio
Published: February 2023

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the main cardiovascular diseases that can cause disability and death across the globe. Although previous research explored the links between CHD and cognitive deficits, only a subset of cognitive abilities was analyzed and a small clinical sample size was used. Thus, the aim of the current study is to assess how CHD can affect the cognitive domains of episodic memory, semantic verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, and numerical ability in a large cohort of participants from the United Kingdom. Results revealed that episodic memory, semantic verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, and numerical ability are negatively affected by CHD. Prevention and intervention should be developed to preserve cognitive abilities in people with CHD, but more studies should explore specific ways of doing so.