bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maritime Delimitations in the Mediterranean: Current Challenges
Authors: Oanta Gabriela A. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
The Mediterranean Sea has always been a reflection of scenarios of cooperation and conflict. In the last decade, the discovery of hydrocarbons, especially large gas deposits, has activated some of the latent legal and political conflicts in this region, transferring to the sea the problems that already existed on land. This is most visible in the case of the delimitation of maritime zones of the 23 States and State-like entities, whose coasts in the Mediterranean are adjacent or opposite each other. This article focuses on the maritime delimitations made conventionally or unilaterally in the Meditarranean Sea since 2010 as well as on the current implications of such delimitations. Therefore, it will be divided into three main parts, dealing with the Eastern Mediterranean, the Central Mediterranean and the Western Mediterranean. Each main part first addresses the maritime delimitations since 2010 in each of these three areas, and then the legal, economic and political challenges that each area is facing as a consequence of these maritime delimitations.
Tensions and Cooperation in Realizing Maritime Security in the Mediterranean Sea: The Examples of Maritime Terrorism and Irregular Migration
Authors: Galani Sofia 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Maritime security is of vital importance to all coastal States in the Mediterranean. Whereas States in the region continue to understand maritime security differently, this article will show that there is a strong security interconnectedness in the Mediterranean Sea. Threats and criminality in one country often spill over across the Mediterranean affecting all other coastal States. Accordingly, this article will emphasise the importance of interstate cooperation in achieving maritime security in the Mediterranean. In doing so, it will focus on two ongoing threats – maritime terrorism and irregular migration – that originate from only a handful of littoral States but have been affecting maritime security across the Mediterranean. The discussion will show that in spite of the common threats, the unique landscape and jurisdictional framework in the Mediterranean have caused tensions between the coastal States, hindering the interstate cooperation required to achieve maritime security in the region.
Sustainable Management of Fisheries Resources in a Time of Climate Change: An Overview of Initiatives in the Mediterranean Region
Authors: Fornalé Elisa , Cristani Federica , Sales Vilane Gonçalves 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Global fish and seafood production has more than doubled in the last fifty years, with Europe accounting for 16% of the worldwide capture production. Fishing has not only contributed to a worldwide decrease in biodiversity, but it has also had a significant impact on marine ecosystems. And in this regard, as highlighted by the 2020 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, the Mediterranean Sea has showed the highest percentage of stocks fished at unsustainable levels out of all the FAO’s Major Fishing Areas. In the related scenario, climate change may worsen the problem and offer a new threat to the long-term survival of the fishing sector. Within this framework, a number of key questions arise: how can fisheries governance react (or not react) to the new challenges of climate change? What international and European policies are currently in place for dealing with this problem? And, lastly, are they adequate for the new climate change challenges? This article aims to raise the attention on these crucial issues by providing a preliminary overview of the major challenges that affect the resilience of fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea and of the relevant international and European policies that have been developed so far.
The Biophysical Impacts of Idealized Afforestation on Surface Temperature in China: Local and Nonlocal Effects
Authors: Chen Chaorong , Ge Jun , Guo Weidong , Cao Yipeng , Liu Yu , Luo Xing , Yang Limei 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Afforestation can impact surface temperature through local and nonlocal biophysical effects. However, the local and nonlocal effects of afforestation in China have rarely been explicitly investigated. In this study, we separate the local and nonlocal effects of idealized afforestation in China based on a checkerboard method and the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Two checkerboard pattern–like afforestation simulations (AFF1/4 and AFF3/4) with regularly spaced afforested and unaltered grid cells are performed; afforestation is implemented in one out of every four grid cells in AFF1/4 and in three out of every four grid cells in AFF3/4. The mechanisms for the local and nonlocal effects are examined through the decomposition of the surface energy balance. The results show that the local effects dominate surface temperature responses to afforestation in China, with a cooling effect of approximately −1.00°C for AFF1/4 and AFF3/4. In contrast, the nonlocal effects warm the land surface by 0.14°C for AFF1/4 and 0.41°C for AFF3/4. The local cooling effects mainly result from 1) enhanced sensible and latent heat fluxes and 2) decreases in downward shortwave radiation due to increased low cloud cover fractions. The nonlocal warming effects mainly result from atmospheric feedbacks, including 1) increases in downward shortwave radiation due to decreased low cloud cover fractions and 2) increases in downward longwave radiation due to increased middle and high cloud cover fractions. This study highlights that, despite the unexpected nonlocal warming effect, afforestation in China still has great potential in mitigating climate warming through biophysical processes.
Effect of load, sliding frequency, and temperature on tribological properties of graphene nanoplatelets coated carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Singh Mayank , Dodla Srihari , Gautam Rakesh K , Srivastava Vijay Kumar 
Published: November 2022

The present work primarily focuses on the thermo-mechanical and physical properties of polymer composites. The effects of normal load, sliding frequency, and temperature on the reciprocating sliding performance of Carbon fiber (CF) segments are evaluated. These CF segments are coated with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (epoxy) composites (CFRPs). Experiments are carried out at three different normal loads (55 N, 75 N, and 95 N), sliding frequency (8 Hz, 12 Hz, and 16 Hz), and temperature (25°C, 40°C, and 60°C). The experiments are conducted for 20 min with a constant stroke length of 1.5 mm against a 62 HRC hardened chrome steel ball as a counter surface material. Optical microscopy and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) have been used to examine the worn surfaces. In addition, an artificial neural network (ANN) is applied to model the coefficient of friction on the basis of different parameters. It has been observed that adding GNPs to carbon fiber strands improves the strand’s bonding tendency with the matrix, resulting in an increase in wear resistance. With the addition of GNPs on carbon fiber strands, the specific wear rate decreased by 32.39%, respectively, while the thermal conductivity increased by 47.95%. The coefficient of friction increases with the normal load up to 75 N and then drops. This is due to fiber fragments and friction film at high loads. As the sliding frequency and temperature increase, the friction coefficient gets reduced. It has been found that the ANN model is able to predict the coefficient of friction with high accuracy.
Intersectoral collaboration in home-based end-of-life pediatric cancer care: A qualitative multiple-case study integrating families’ and professionals’ experiences
Authors: Hammer Nanna Maria , Hansson Helena , Pedersen Line Hjøllund , Abitz Maja , Sjøgren Per , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Bidstrup Pernille Envold , Larsen Hanne Bækgaard , Olsen Marianne 
Published: November 2022

Background: Many children and adolescents with incurable cancer and their families prefer to receive end-of-life care and to die at home. This implies a transition of care from hospital to home and presupposes the establishment of a well-functioning collaboration between the family and professionals across health care sectors. Aim: To identify and explore key elements of home-based end-of-life care collaboration for children with cancer, as experienced by their parents and grandparents and the hospital- and community-based professionals involved. Design: Descriptive qualitative multiple-case study. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and written responses to open-ended questions, and analyzed inductively across cases using qualitative content analysis. Setting/participants: Cases comprised a criterion sample of five children (aged <18 years), who died of cancer at home. Cases were represented by the children’s bereaved parents ( n = 8) and grandparents ( n = 7), and community-based professionals ( n = 16). Also, hospital-based professionals ( n = 10) were interviewed about the children’s end-of-life care through group interviews. Results: We identified five main themes, describing key elements of the end-of-life collaboration: Establishing the collaboration, Bolstering family life, Elucidating organization and integration, Managing challenges, and Closing the collaboration. These themes all came under the overarching theme: A mutual trust-based collaboration. On this basis, we developed the “Home-Based Pediatric End-of-Life Care Model for Children with Cancer.” Conclusions: By highlighting key elements in the family-centered, intersectoral and interprofessional end-of-life care collaboration, our “Home-Based Pediatric End-of-Life Care Model for Children with Cancer” offers a framework for further optimization of home-based end-of-life care services for children with cancer and their families.
Influence of jumping-droplet condensation on the properties of separated flow in an air-cooled condenser tube: An Euler-Lagrange approach
Authors: Chakraborty Soumik , Kar Uttam Kumar , Sengupta Sayantan , Pramanik Shantanu 
Published: November 2022

An Air-cooled condenser (ACC), which finds popularity in a steam power plant in arid areas, is usually less efficient as film condensation occurs inside the condenser tube. Recent research is directed towards eliminating the thermally insulating liquid film with the application of novel superhydrophobic surfaces. The self-cleaning property of such surfaces facilitates easy condensate drainage in the form of jumping droplets exposing favourable nucleation sites, thereby significantly promoting dropwise condensation. The present study explores the characteristics of jumping droplet condensation in finite condenser tubes using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The wall-heat-flux for condensation is modelled here by a uniform suction boundary condition. The strength of suction is quantified by a suction Reynolds number Re s. We mainly focus on the zone corresponding to 2.3 < Re s < 10, where no previous solution exists. In a long horizontal tube, the progressive realization of a self-similar region starting from the developing regions is demonstrated. We examine the characteristics of the developing region based on the sign of the pressure gradient. The results of three-dimensional CFD simulations illustrate the variations of droplet trajectories with the inception size and coordinates of jumping droplets determined locally by the relative contributions of various force components, viz. gravity, axial drag in the vapour core, suction induced radial drag and Saffman lift. The present study also predicts the effect of pipeline inclination on condensate drainage. Ultimately, considering multiple jumps, we found that the maximum condensate emission can be obtained for small droplets (5−15 μm), while medium-sized droplets (20−50 μm) are most advantageous for isolated jumps.
Alexithymia in systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross sectional study in a Brazilian sample
Authors: Faidiga Matheus Rinaldi , Judeikis Guilherme Alexandre , Nisihara Renato , Skare Thelma Larocca 
Published: November 2022

Background Alexithymia is considered as a reduced capacity to be aware of, to clearly recognize, and to define one’s feelings with a limited fantasy and a concrete, externally oriented cognitive style. Some studies have stated that alexithymia is more common in systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE) than in general population but there is a paucity of studies in such context. Aim To study the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of SLE patients looking for associated epidemiological and clinical findings and its relationship to quality of life. Methods Cross-sectional study in 93 SLE patients collecting clinical, epidemiological, and serological data, data on quality of life by 12 item short health survey (SF-12), and alexithymia by Toronto scale (TAS-26). Disease’s cumulative damage was measured by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage index. Results In this sample (90.3% females and median age of 46 years), 55.9% had alexithymia; 22/92 (23.9%) did not and 19/93 (20.4%) had inconclusive results. Alexithymia presence had a positive association with age ( p = 0.01) and a negative association with presence of glomerulonephritis (25% vs 59%; p = 0.005) and glucocorticoid use (19.2% vs 59.0%; p = 0.0007). A negative correlation of TAS-26 was observed with mental domain of ( r = −0.46; p < 0.0001) and physical domain ( r = −0.32; p = 0.004) of SF-12, but not with cumulative damage index. Conclusion We found a high prevalence of alexithymia in this sample of SLE patients that negatively associated with quality of life, but not with cumulative damage index.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria peri-prosthetic joint infection: An outcome analysis for two stage revision arthroplasty
Authors: Peng Shih-Hui , Lee Sheng-Hsun , Chen Chun-Chieh , Lin Yu-Chih , Chang Yuhan , Hsieh Pang-Hsin , Shih Hsin-Nung , Ueng Steve W N , Chang Chih-Hsiang 
Published: November 2022

Purpose Nontuberculous mycobacteria periprosthetic joint infection (NTMPJI) is a rare complication of hip or knee joint arthroplasty. The experience for outcomes of NTMPJI treatment is still limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of hip or knee nontuberculous mycobacteria periprosthetic joint infection following treatment with two-stage exchange arthroplasty. Material and Methods From 1995 to 2020, 12 patients with NTMPJI were treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty at our institution. We collected and analyzed variables including demographic data, comorbidity, microbiological data, treatment outcome and antibiotic formula in bone cement. Results Mycobacterium abcessus ( n = 6) and Mycobacterium chelonae ( n = 2) constitute the majority of the cases. Five patients had early-onset PJIs and the other seven patients were late onset. The success rate of two-stage exchange arthroplasty was 66.7% (8 of 12). Three patients experienced infection relapse, and one patient had soft tissue compromise complication. Post-operative antibiotic therapy may not improve the success rate (4 of 6 cases, 66.7%). Based on in vitro study, the most commonly used effective antibiotic in bone cement spacer for nontuberculous mycobacteria was amikacin. Conclusions nontuberculous mycobacteria is a rare cause of PJIs and should be suspected especially in relatively immunocompromised patients. Resection arthroplasty with staged reimplantation is the preferred approach. Prolonged post-operative antibiotic therapy before reimplantation may not improve the success rate. Delayed revision surgery may not be needed and can be performed once C-reactive protein level is normal after a drug holiday.
Achieving a Representative Sample of Asian Americans in Biomedical Research Through Community-Based Approaches: Comparing Demographic Data in the All of Us Research Program With the American Community Survey
Authors: Randal Fornessa T. , Lozano Paula , Qi Siya , Maene Chieko , Shah Sameep , Mo Yicklun , Ratsimbazafy Francis , Boerwinkle Eric , Cicek Mine , Clark Cheryl R. , Cohn Elizabeth , Gebo Kelly , Loperena Roxana , Mayo Kelsey , Mockrin Stephen , Ohno-Machado Lucila , Schully Sheri , Ramirez Andrea H. , Aschebrook-Kilfoy Briseis , Ahsan Habibul , Lam Helen , Kim Karen E. 
Published: November 2022

Background: Underrepresented persons are often not included in biomedical research. It is unknown if the general Asian American population is being represented in All of Us. The purpose of this study was to compare the Asian demographic data in the All of Us cohort with the Asian nationally representative data from the American Community Survey. Method: Demographic characteristics and health literacy of Asians in All of Us were examined. Findings were qualitatively compared with the Asian data in the 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimate. Results: Compared with the national composition of Asians, less All of Us participants were born outside the United States (64% vs 79%), were younger, and had higher levels of education (76% vs 52%). Over 60% of All of Us participants reported high levels of health literacy. Conclusion: This study had implications for the development of strategies that ensure diverse populations are represented in biomedical research.
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model to predict drug concentrations and intraocular pressure lowering effect for a bimatoprost six-month slow-release system
Authors: Kompella Rohini , Patil Madhoosudan 
Published: November 2022

Introduction Ophthalmic drug product development and dosing regimen selection depend on animal eye drug concentration-effect relationships since human eye tissues cannot be sampled for drug quantification. This study hypothesized that a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) mathematical model developed based on dog studies can be applied to the human eye of different ages, based on physiological parameter adjustment, to predict drug concentrations and effects in response to a new 6-month slow-release, intracameral, intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering, anti-glaucoma bimatoprost implant. Methods Using previously reported dog concentration-effect relationship data at various doses, and the physiological parameters of dog eye, a PK-PD model was designed to predict dog aqueous humor drug concentrations and IOP lowering effects simultaneously for a given dose. After validating the model using the dog IOP data, it was applied to the human eye. Results Using a drug release rate constant of 0.0002 h−1, the model predicted the dog IOP lowering effect with an error less than 6% or less at various doses (Observed = 0.91*Predicted + 2.35; R2 = 0.98). Considering literature reported aqueous humor volumes and flow rates in old (over 60 years) and young (20 to 30 years) humans, aqueous humor elimination rate constant was estimated to be 0.9 and 0.68 h−1, respectively. The model when modified using the older human eye parameters, predicted the IOP lowering effects reported in a clinical trial with 63-year-old adults, with an error of 6.2% or less. The model, when used for young adult eye not previously tested in clinical trials, predicted lower drug concentrations and effects, possibly due to 54% higher aqueous humor volume relative to older adults. The model predicted an IOP reduction of 26.3 and 30.6%, at 10 and 15 microgram doses, respectively, in young adults. Conclusions The PK-PD model developed is useful for product design and patient dosing by predicting eye drug concentration and effect time-courses in response to implant administration at various doses, frequencies, and release rates.
Endovascular Treatment of Abdominal Aorta Floating Thrombus in a Patient with Recurrent Peripheral Embolization and COVID-19
Authors: Giannetta Matteo , Mazzaccaro Daniela , Righini Paolo , Nano Giovanni 
Published: November 2022

Purpose To present stent-graft treatment of floating thrombus in the abdominal aorta. A review of the literature about aortic floating thrombus (AFT) was also performed. Case report A 56-year-old female with no risk factors for vascular disease but with history of a mild COVID-19 infection in the previous month, for which she had started anticoagulant therapy at a prophylactic dosage, developed an acute ischemia of the lower limbs and was diagnosed with floating thrombosis of the abdominal aorta. The thrombus was excluded from the aortic blood flow by deployment of a stent-graft in the abdominal aorta. At 12 months, the patient was well, and the thrombus in the abdominal aorta appears to be completely excluded by the stent-graft. A review of the available literature from 1980 to 2022 showed 74 cases of AFT located in the aortic arch, in the descending thoracic and in the abdominal aorta. In most cases the AFT involved the aortic arch (38/74, 51.3%) and/or the descending thoracic aorta (30/74, 40.5%), while the abdominal aorta was involved in 6 cases. In 2 of these 6 cases, the patients had a COVID-19 infection. The AFT was mostly approached either medically with anticoagulation/systemic thrombolysis (32/74, 43.2%) or with surgical removal (31/74, 41.9%), while endovascular coverage of the thrombus with an endograft was performed in 6 cases of AFT located in the aortic arch and in the descending thoracic aorta (3 cases each). Conclusion There is no consensus about the optimal treatment of AFT. In selected cases, abdominal stent-grafts may be used for stabilization and exclusion of symptomatic abdominal aorta floating thrombosis to prevent progression and recurrent embolization.
A Pilot Machine Learning Study Using Trauma Admission Data to Identify Risk for High Length of Stay
Authors: Stonko David P. , Weller Jennine H. , Gonzalez Salazar Andres J. , Abdou Hossam , Edwards Joseph , Hinson Jeremiah , Levin Scott , Byrne James P. , Sakran Joseph V. , Hicks Caitlin W. , Haut Elliott R. , Morrison Jonathan J , Kent Alistair J. 
Published: November 2022

Introduction Trauma patients have diverse resource needs due to variable mechanisms and injury patterns. The aim of this study was to build a tool that uses only data available at time of admission to predict prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS). Methods Data was collected from the trauma registry at an urban level one adult trauma center and included patients from 1/1/2014 to 3/31/2019. Trauma patients with one or fewer days LOS were excluded. Single layer and deep artificial neural networks were trained to identify patients in the top quartile of LOS and optimized on area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC). The predictive performance of the model was assessed on a separate test set using binary classification measures of accuracy, precision, and error. Results 2953 admitted trauma patients with more than one-day LOS were included in this study. They were 70% male, 60% white, and averaged 47 years-old (SD: 21). 28% were penetrating trauma. Median length of stay was 5 days (IQR 3-9). For prediction of prolonged LOS, the deep neural network achieved an AUROC of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.786-0.814) specificity was 0.95, sensitivity was 0.32, with an overall accuracy of 0.79. Conclusion Machine learning can predict, with excellent specificity, trauma patients who will have prolonged length of stay with only physiologic and demographic data available at the time of admission. These patients may benefit from additional resources with respect to disposition planning at the time of admission.