bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of vessel deformation using deep learning-based semantic segmentation algorithm during needle manipulation in microvascular anastomosis: A pilot study
Authors: Tang Minghui , Sugiyama Taku , Takahari Ren , Sugimori Hiroyuki , Yoshimura Takaaki , Ogasawara Katsuhiko , Kudo Kohsuke , Fujimura Miki
Published: July 2023

Appropriate needle manipulation to avoid abrupt deformation of fragile vessels is a critical determinant of the success of microvascular anastomosis. However, no studies have evaluated the shape and area of the surgical objects. The present study aimed to develop a deep learning-based semantic segmentation algorithm and to assess vessel deformation in microvascular anastomosis for objective surgical skill assessment of "respect for tissue.” Semantic segmentation algorithm was trained based on a ResNet-50 network using microvascular end-to-side anastomosis training videos with artificial blood vessels. Using the created model, tissue deformation was analyzed, and the threshold violation error numbers were compared between expert and novice surgeons during the completion task of one stitch. High validation accuracy (99.1%) and Intersection over Union (0.93) were obtained for the auto-segmentation model. While completing the one-stitch task, experts showed significantly fewer errors than novices (p < 0.001), with a shorter completion time (p < 0.001). Significant differences were also observed in the phase of needle insertion (p = 0.04) and needle extraction (p < 0.001) between experts and novices. In conclusion, the assessment of vessel deformation during microvascular anastomosis using a deep-learning-based semantic segmentation algorithm is presented as a novel concept for evaluating microsurgical performance. This will be useful for future computer-aided devices to enhance surgical education and patient safety.
In-situ pixel wise emissivity measurement using a multispectral infrared camera
Authors: Poissenot-Arrigoni Corentin , Marcon Bertrand , Rossi Frederic , Fromentin Guillaume
Published: July 2023

In the thermography process, accurately determining emissivity is crucial for obtaining precise temperature measurements as it enables the conversion of radiometric values to absolute temperatures. However, assessing emissivity is not a straightforward task as it depends on various other parameters. Traditional methods for measuring emissivity often involve costly materials and cannot be carried out simultaneously with infrared image acquisition. This article presents a method for obtaining pixel-wise emissivity using data from a multispectral infrared camera. Consequently, this method allows for direct emissivity measurement during infrared camera acquisition without the need for additional materials or experiments.
Multi-objective Optimization of a Cast-preform Shape for a Magnesium Alloy Forging Application
Authors: Kodippili Tharindu , Azqadan Erfan , Jahed Hamid , Lambert Stephan , Arami Arash
Published: July 2023

Careful consideration of the preform shape is essential when designing a forging process. A high-quality forging process must promote process-related grain refinement, and an unbroken grain flow devoid of cavities or folding besides minimizing the amount of generated flash while achieving a complete die fill. The desired forged part properties can be obtained by optimizing the preform shape. However, three-dimensional shape optimization presents challenges in design generation and design evaluation due to the resource-intensive demands of each task. To address these challenges, we propose a multi-objective optimization framework consisting of a parametric computer-aided design (CAD) model for shape generation, data-driven models for shape evaluation, and a multi-objective evolutionary optimization algorithm to search the design space effectively. This computational framework is used to evolve an optimal preform shape which was ultimately cast using permanent mould casting (PMC) and then hot forged under elevated temperature conditions. We compared the forging outcome of the optimal preform with a baseline cylindrical billet which was produced according to the same sequence of manufacturing steps. Comparative analysis of the laboratory-scale forging results revealed that the cast-preform and cast-billet produced about 6% and 12% flash material, respectively. Quasi-static tensile and stress-controlled cyclic tests were also conducted to evaluate mechanical properties. While comparable yield and ultimate tensile strengths were observed in both forgings, a significant increase in fracture strain was observed in the preform forging, suggesting improved toughness. In general, the forging outcome of the optimized preform proved to be superior to the billet forging.
A Nationwide Analysis of the Impact of Vasculopathies on COVID-19 Hospitalization Outcomes
Authors: Na Sean A. , Sangari Ayush , Pellegrini James R. , Guo William , Guiveses Zyrille , Lozeau Daniel
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims: The study investigated the short-term outcomes of COVID-19 in conjunction with vasculopathies, including vasculitides, for inpatient hospitalization encounters.
Methods: The 2020 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify hospitalizations presenting with a primary admitting diagnosis of COVID-19 with and without a secondary diagnosis of vasculopathy, including vasculitides. The primary outcomes of interest were mortality and mechanical ventilation use in COVID-19 hospitalizations with and without vasculopathies. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital length of stay and hospital charges.
Results: A total of 1,050,040 weighted hospitalizations were included in this study with a principal diagnosis of COVID-19. Among this population, 1,440 weighted hospitalizations had a concurrent diagnosis of vasculopathy, and 1,048,600 weighted hospitalizations had COVID-19 without a concurrent diagnosis of vasculopathy. Positive associations regarding mortality were found in Kawasaki disease (aOR 7.9115, 95% CI [1.4612 - 42.8362]; p = 0.0164), microscopic polyangiitis (aOR 3.5589, 95% CI [1.1356 - 11.1529]; p = 0.0295), thrombotic microangiopathy (aOR 3.9213, 95% CI [2.1959 - 7.0027]; p = 4.00E-06), other specified necrotizing vasculitis (aOR 20.9423, 95% CI [4.5566 - 96.2510]; p = 9.44E-05), unspecified necrotizing vasculopathy (aOR 16.6108 , 95% CI [2.0106 - 137.2299]; p = 0.0091), and cryoglobulinemia (aOR 8.5863 , 95% CI [2.2848 - 32.2669]; p = 0.0015). Positive associations regarding mechanical ventilation were found in microscopic polyangiitis (aOR 7.4010, 95% CI [2.9088 - 18.8311]; p = 2.72E-05), thrombotic microangiopathy (aOR 3.5112, 95% CI [2.1457 - 5.7459]; p = 6.06E-07), other specified necrotizing vasculitis (aOR 34.9851, 95% CI [6.5912 - 185.6968]; p = 3.06E-05), and unspecified necrotizing vasculopathy (aOR 18.3357, 95% CI [2.2010 - 152.7467]; p = 0.0072). Additionally, the relative difference in length of stay was 53% higher in COVID-19 hospitalizations with vasculopathies than those without (RD 1.53, 95% CI [1.35 - 1.74]; p = 6.18E-11); similarly, the relative difference in total hospital charges was 97% higher (RD 1.97, 95% CI [1.58 - 2.46]; p = 2.18E-09).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates significantly higher odds of morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 hospitalizations with vasculopathies substantiating previous claims in the literature.
A Certified Access Control Policy Language: TEpla
Authors: Eaman Amir , Felty Amy
Published: July 2023

Access control is an information security process which guards protected resources against unauthorized access, as specified by restrictions in security policies. A variety of policy languages have been designed to specify security policies of systems. In this paper, we introduce a certified policy language, called TEpla, with formal semantics and simple language constructs, which we have leveraged to express and formally verify properties about complex security goals. In developing TEpla, we focus on security in operating systems and exploit security contexts used in the Type Enforcement mechanism of the SELinux security module. TEpla is certified in the sense that we have encoded the formal semantics and machine-checked the proofs of its properties using the Coq Proof Assistant. In order to express the desired properties, we first analyze the behavior of the language by defining different ordering relations on policies, queries, and decisions. These ordering relations enable us to evaluate how algorithms for deciding whether or not requests are granted by policies will react to changes in policies and queries. The machine-checked mathematical proofs guarantee that TEpla behaves as prescribed by the semantics. TEpla is a crucial step toward developing certifiably correct policy-related tools for Type Enforcement policies.
Channel Precoding for Compute and Forward relaying in Two way Relay Network model
Authors: Jeyalakshmi V , S Tamil Selvi
Published: July 2023

Physical layer network coding (PNC) is a promising strategy that aims to improve the spectral efficiency in relay based wireless transmission. In this paper, lattice based channel coding is employed at the source nodes for better performance during Multiple Access Channel (MAC) phase transmission. The achievable transmission rate in various PNC relaying such as Decode and Forward (DF), Amplify and Forward (AF) and Compute and Forward (CF) for the Two Way Relay Network model (TWRN) is derived and simulated through MATLAB software and analyzed. The analysis shows that rate performance of CF relaying outperforms other relaying techniques in Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel, but it degrades for Rayleigh fading channel. To mitigate the effects of fading, channel aware precoding technique is employed at source nodes and Bit Error Rate (BER), symbol error rate performance are analyzed for CF relaying and Monte Carlo simulations are used to demonstrate the theoretical results. Channel precoding performance of CF relaying is compared with DF relaying.
Effect of running-in conditions on the super low EHD sliding friction of Si 3 N 4 ball and WC plate in glycerol-water solution
Authors: Cao Renshui , Liu Chenxu , Cao Hui , Li Yuanzhe , Khan Zulfiqar , Meng Yonggang
Published: July 2023

In water-based ultralow or super low friction experiments, a running-in period before achieving the ultralow or super low friction is necessary and important. However, the effect of the change in contact geometry has not been fully realised. In this paper, a series of running-in tests on a Si3N4 ball and a WC plate have been performed in glycerol-water mixtures with different concentrations. The shape of the wear scars and the chemical compositions of the worn surfaces were characterised in detail. A numerical EHD and mixed lubrication model was established to comprehensively analyze the effects of geometric profiles, surface roughness, and working / lubrication conditions on ultralow or super low sliding friction. The experiment and simulation results of the study have provided an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of super low friction of liquid lubricated sliding point contacts.
Player Performance Prediction in Football Game
Authors: Jha Rajiv , Rani Richa
Published: July 2023

In the game of football (soccer), evaluation of players for transfers, scouting, team building, and strategic planning are essential. Due to the huge pool of grassroots players, brief career span, varying performance over the course of a person's career, various play circumstances, positions, and variable club resources, it is difficult to determine a player's total performance worth. In order to approach this difficult topic analytically, our Player Performance Prediction System draws knowledge from a range of football player abilities and traits. It takes into account the football player's skill set values and forecasts a performance value that shows the player's potential for progress as well as his or her capacity. The objective of this system is to help team managers and coaches both at the amateur and professional levels find the football players who have the best chance of succeeding in the future without being influenced by arbitrary variables like club finances, league competition, or player importance
Analyzing Risk Factors for Second Malignancies in Early Gastric Carcinoma from the SEER Database
Authors: Song Lei , Jin Long , Zhang Lijing , Zhao Zhifang , Zhao Yu , Wang Lu , Zhao Jin
Published: July 2023

A retrospective study was conducted based on a large population analyzing GC patients treated between 2010 and 2015 to elucidate the clinical features and predictive risk factors for developing secondary primary malignancies (SPMs). The cumulative incidence of SPM in patients was determined using Kaplan‒Meier analysis. Competing risk analyses adjusted for mortality were used after stratified Cox proportional hazard regression models and multivariate analyses to identify independent SPM predictors. A total of 3,289 of 167,747 GC sufferers were included in our analytic cohort. Of these, 155 patients were diagnosed with SPM. Histologic types other than adenocarcinoma (AC) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) were independent risk factors for developing SPM (hazard ratio [HR] of 2.262, 95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.146–4.465, P = 0.019) in multivariate Cox regression analysis. The surgical method, including both biopsy/local excision (HR of 2.3, CI of 1.291–4.095, P = 0.005) and subtotal/total resection (HR of 1.947, CI of 1.028–3.687, P = 0.041), chemotherapy (HR of 1.527, CI of 1.006–2.316, P = 0.047 and histologic type (HR of 2.318, CI of 1.193–4.504, P = 0.013)), were independent risk factors in the competitive risk model. Meanwhile, in subgroup analyses stratified by chemotherapy, an increased risk of developing SPM was associated with older age. Furthermore, we developed and internally validated a nomogram for predicting the cumulative incidence of SPM in GC patients (C-index = 0.73 for 72 months). These findings suggested that in specific histologic types of GC, the lymph node infiltration region missed after local surgical resection and concomitant chemotherapy would have an increased risk of SPM.
Integrated lipid metabolomics and proteomics analysis reveal the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Yu Qian , Zeng Yaqiong , Huang Jingyu , Liu Kailu , Xie Ying , Chen Juan , Gao Mengya , Liu Li , Zhao Juan , Hong Yanli , Nie Xiaowei
Published: July 2023

Background
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological and metabolic disorder that can lead to female infertility. Lipid metabolomics and proteomics are the new disciplines in systems biology aimed to discover metabolic pathway changes in diseases and diagnosis of biomarkers. This study aims to reveal the features of PCOS to explore its pathogenesis at the protein and metabolic level.
Methods
We collected follicular fluid samples and granulosa cells of women with PCOS and normal women who underwent in vitro fertilization(IVF) and embryo transfer were recruited. The samples were for the lipidomic study and the proteomic study based on the latest metabolomics and proteomics research platform.
Results
Lipid metabolomic analysis revealed abnormal metabolism of glycerides, glycerophospholipids, and sphingomyelin in the FF of PCOS. Differential lipids were strongly linked with the rate of high-quality embryos. In total, 144 differentially expressed proteins were screened in ovarian granulosa cells in women with PCOS compared to controls. Go functional enrichment analysis showed that differential proteins were associated with blood coagulation and lead to follicular development disorders.
Conclusion
The results of lipid metabolomics and proteomics showed that the differential lipid metabolites and proteins in PCOS were closely related to follicle quality.
Numerical Investigation of Scour Around Monopile Foundation of Offshore Wind Farm
Authors: Otoo Ebenezer , Asumadu Richard , Boadii Gideon Kwabena , Zhang Jisheng , Boadu Solomon , Mattah Precious
Published: July 2023

Local scour has been a major challenge facing stability of offshore wind farm foundations for years. This study uses a 3D numerical model to study the formation and development of scour at the foot of monopile foundations. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) with RNG k − ε turbulence model equations were used to study the interaction mechanism of the scour around the structure. The influence of flow velocity and particle size on the maximum scour depth and the extent of the scour footprint were examined. The results indicated that the diameter of the sediment also influences its susceptibility to scour. The finer the sediment, the more susceptible the bed is to scour, and the coarser the sediments are, the less susceptible they are to scour.
COX Inhibitor Use During Definitive Radiotherapy is Associated with Worse Hearing Preservation in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Huerter Benjamin G , Johnson Kurtis C , Coutu Brendan G , Thedinger Britt , Bennion Nathan R , Zhang Chi
Published: July 2023

Purpose
Patients with vestibular schwannoma undergoing definitive radiotherapy commonly experience hearing loss due to tumor and treatment effects; however, there is limited data evaluating concurrent medication use and other clinicopathologic factors associated with hearing preservation during and after radiotherapy. We performed a retrospective cohort study reviewing consecutive patients from 2004 to 2019 treated with radiotherapy for vestibular schwannoma at our institution.
Methods
94 patients with concurrent medications, baseline audiograms, and post-radiotherapy audiograms available were evaluable. We performed chi-squared analyses of the frequency of various clinicopathologic factors and t-tests evaluating the degree of hearing loss based on audiograms.
Results
At a median follow-up of 35.7 months, the baseline pure-tone average (PTA) of the ipsilateral ear worsened from 34.3 dB to 55.3 dB following completion of radiotherapy (difference: 21.0, 95% CI: 15.8 – 26.1 dB, p<0.001). 36 patients (38.3%) reported use of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors (including acetaminophen and NSAIDs) during radiotherapy. The mean increase in PTA was significantly higher for patients taking COX inhibitors (25.7 dB vs 18.2 dB, p=0.030) in the ipsilateral ear but not for the contralateral side. COX inhibitor use remained independently associated with worse PTA along with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusion
COX inhibitor use during definitive radiotherapy is associated with worse hearing loss in the affected ear but not for the contralateral side. This suggests the ototoxic effects of COX inhibitors may be synergistic to the effects of radiotherapy. These results could have clinical implications and warrant further investigation.
Experimental and numerical analysis of the insulation performance in buildings using moisture control material including phase change materials
Authors: Hachemi Houssem , Seladji Chakib , Fraine Youssouf , Houti Brahim Farid
Published: July 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
On Novel Molecular Topological Characteristics of Polyphenylene Dendrimers
Authors: Ediz Süleyman
Published: July 2023

Hyperbranched monodisperse macromolecules with persistent shape and constrained size are called dendrimers. Topological indices are numerical parameters that relate the molecular structure's chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. We calculated the novel R, S, and Van molecular topological indices of polyphenylene dendrimer, which are degree-based molecular descriptors. Our findings contribute to a deeper comprehension of the characteristics of polyphenylene dendrimer that can be employed in medication development.
Comparitive Study Between Different Frequency Analysis Methods Over Tidal Data
Authors: Kumar Tanmay
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we compare the efficiency of three frequency analysis methods applied to tidal data from port 8443970 in Boston, Massachusetts1, USA. The effect of the Earth's rotation was evident through a RFFT2,3 frequency decomposition, revealing the highest contributing frequency of 2.0 times per day, which aligns with the sublunar/antipodal nature of tides. To assess the impact of lunar phase on the magnitude of tides, a lowpass Butterworth filter4,5 was applied to the mean normalized tidal data. Subsequently, the output data underwent RFFT analysis, uncovering the highest contributing frequency of 0.06896 times per day, approximately equivalent to twice a month. This aligns with the occurrence of two sets of neap and spring tides during a lunar cycle. We repeated the above process using Welch's Method6 and the Lomb-Scargle method. A comparative analysis of the computational efficiency of these three methods was performed utilizing a profiler.
Nomogram for Predicting Lateral Lymph Node Metastasis in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Single Clinical Center
Authors: Xu Jiankun , Li Rui , Zhang Wenjing , Zhou Luting , Wang Chaofu
Published: July 2023

Background
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor originating from parafollicular C cells of the thyroid, accounting for only 5% of all thyroid carcinomas. Lateral lymph nodes metastasis (LLNM) are the most important indicator of distant metastasis and clinical outcomes. Surgery is the only curative treatment for MTC, which is recommended to remove all lesions in the neck. We aim to establish a nomogram assessing risk factors of LLNM in MTC patients, and help surgeons make preoperative therapeutic decisions.
Materials and Methods
Totally 63 patients of a single clinical center between January 2013 and December 2020 were studied. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to examine risk factors associated with central lymph node metastasis (CNM) and LLNM. A nomogram for predicting LLNM was established.
Results
Several preoperative clinical features were found to be significantly associated with LLNM and were used to construct the model, including diameter > 1.6cm, calcitonin (CT) > 658.87 pg/mL, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) > 60 ng/ml. The nomogram had good discrimination with a concordance index of 0.961 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.916 to 1). A decision curve analysis was made to evaluate the nomogram.
Conclusions
A nomogram was made to predict the probability of LLNM in patients presenting with MTC, which would help surgeons make appropriate therapeutic decisions.
Urban flooding risk assessment from an categorical regression-analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Ren Dong-Feng , Wei Xin , Wang Fei-Yue , Wang Jia-Long
Published: July 2023

The rapid development of urbanization and the impact of human activities have increased the impermeability of urban underlying surfaces, and the drainage capacity of urban drainage systems cannot meet the needs of cities, leading to frequent urban waterlogging. Taking the main urban area of Fuxin City in Liaoning Province as an example, this paper establishes a coupled hydrodynamic model based on Infoworks ICM model to simulate urban waterlogging. Six index factors are chosen for categorical regression(CATREG) and the analytic hierarchy process(AHP) to establish a model for waterlogging risk assessment by analyzing the three components of the urban waterlogging disaster system, the hazard-causing factors, the hazard-forming environment, and the disaster-affected body. The scenario simulation results and the index system technique are used to develop an urban waterlogging risk assessment model, and GIS spatial analysis technology is used to create an intuitive risk assessment map. The findings reveal that: (1) the optimal coupling of several risk assessment models for urban flooding risk assessment improves the assessment results' comprehensiveness and integration, and can provide a stable foundation for urban flooding management. (2) The dense distribution of pipelines in the study area's city center and the distribution of water outlets in the city's southern part have resulted in the distribution of flood-prone spots in the city's southern part, and reconstruction of underground pipeline networks and the construction of drainage pumping stations should be completed around it to reduce the risk level of this area.
Dual hollow-core anti-resonant fiber polarization beam splitter with excellent single-mode characteristics for ultra-broadband
Authors: Zhou Jingkai , Lu Yan , Jiang Anying , Chen Yu , Xu Jian Jie , Su Wei , Zou Hui
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we propose an ultra-wideband polarization beam splitter for a dual hollow-core anti-resonant fiber. We use a finite element algorithm to analyze the effects of each parameter of the dual hollow-core anti-resonant fiber on the coupling length, coupling length ratio and higher-order mode extinction ratio for x-polarized and y-polarized modes in detail. The final simulation structure shows that the designed dual hollow-core anti-resonant fiber polarization beam splitter possesses an ultra-wide bandwidth of up to 510 nm in the range of 1430–1940 nm and also exhibits outstanding single-mode characteristics in the corresponding range. We believe that the proposed dual hollow-core anti-resonant fiber polarization beam splitter has broad development and application prospects in fiber optic communication, fiber optic gyroscope, fiber optic sensing, etc.
Residual bioefficacy of Attractive Targeted Sugar Bait stations targeting malaria vectors during seasonal deployment in Western Province of Zambia
Authors: Mwaanga Gift , Ford Jacob , Yukich Joshua , Chanda Benjamin , Ashton Ruth A. , Chanda Javan , Munsanje Buster , Muntanga Emliny , Mulota Malon , Simuyandi Christine , Mulala Boyd , Simubali Limonty , Saili Kochelani , Simulundu Edgar , Miller John , Hamainza Busiku , Orange Erica , Wagman Joseph , Mburu Monicah M. , Harris Angela F. , Entwistle Julian , Littrell Megan
Published: July 2023

Background
The primary vector control interventions in Zambia are long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. Challenges with these interventions include insecticide resistance and the outdoor biting and resting behaviors of many Anopheles mosquitoes. Therefore, new vector control tools targeting additional mosquito behaviors are needed to interrupt transmission. Attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) stations, which exploit the sugar feeding behaviors of mosquitoes, may help in this role. This study evaluated the residual laboratory bioefficacy of Westham prototype ATSB® Sarabi v.1.2.1 Bait Station (Westham Ltd., Hod-Hasharon, Israel) in killing malaria vectors in Western Province, Zambia, during the first year of a large cluster randomized phase-III trial (Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT04800055).
Methods
This was a repeat cross-sectional study conducted within three districts, Nkeyema, Kaoma, and Luampa, in Western Province, Zambia. The study was conducted in 12 intervention clusters among the 70 trial clusters (35 interventions, 35 controls) between December 2021 and June 2022. Twelve undamaged bait stations installed on the outer walls of households were collected monthly (one per cluster per month) for bioassays utilizing adult female and male An. gambiae sensu stricto (Kisumu strain) mosquitoes from a laboratory colony.
Results
A total of 84 field-deployed ATSB stations were collected, and 71 ultimately met the study inclusion criteria for remaining in good condition. Field-deployed stations that remained in good condition (intact, non-depleted of bait, and free of dirt as well as mold) retained high levels of bioefficacy (mean induced mortality of 83.8%) after seven months in the field but did induce lower mortality rates than non-deployed ATSB stations (91.4% mean mortality). There was relatively little variation in corrected mortality rates between monthly rounds for those ATSB stations that had been deployed to the field.
Conclusion
While field-deployed ATSB stations induced lower mortality rates than non-deployed ATSB stations, these stations nonetheless retained high levels of bioefficacy with mean mortality rates of over 80% during seven months of operation in the field. The duration of deployment was not associated with lower bioefficacy. Westham prototype ATSB stations can still retain bioefficacy even after deployment in the field for 7 months, provided they do not meet predetermined criteria for replacement.
Improving hole injection with the polarization effect for AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes
Authors: Xing Zhongqiu , Zhang Aoxiang , Qu Yipu , Wang Fang , Liou Juin J. , Liu Yuhuai
Published: July 2023

The low hole injection efficiency in the active region of AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is attributed to the high ionization energy of acceptor magnesium, which has been widely acknowledged. In this paper, the hole injection efficiency of AlGaN-based DUV LEDs is effectively enhanced by utilizing the polarization effect in quantum wells. By appropriately increasing the thickness of the quantum well, the polarization electric field can be utilized to increase the mean free path of holes and enhance hole concentration in the active region. This approach effectively boosts hole concentration and promotes a more uniform distribution of holes in the quantum wells. Therefore, the DUV LED had a high internal quantum efficiency of 70.3% and optical power of 56.02 W/cm2 when the quantum well thickness is 5 nm. It is noteworthy that the strong quantum confined stark effect can cause electron and hole wave functions to separate, leading to a decrease in LED performance when quantum wells exceed a certain thickness.
Single-Position Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Prone: Single-Centric Case-Series
Authors: Amaral Rodrigo , Pokorny Gabriel , Marcelino Fernando , Pokorny Jullyene , Moriguchi Rafael , Barreira Igor , Arnoni Daniel , Mizael Weby , Pimenta Luiz
Published: July 2023

Background
The main difference between prone and lateral surgery is that the patient's position is changed from lateral decubitus to prone, which may work around the three principal difficulties of the standard lateral approach. The prone transpsoas (PTP) technique enables single-position surgery with more familiar patient positioning, which improves lumbar lordosis and lengthens the psoas muscle, pushing it posteriorly. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the clinical and surgical outcomes of the prone transpsoas procedure.
Methods
This was a retrospective case series in which patients with up to two levels of lateral lumbar interbody fusion in the prone decubitus position for degenerative diseases were included. The outcomes of interest were classified as surgical or clinical. According to the variable distribution, Kruskal-Wallis or one-way ANOVA was used to assess variance across all groups, and the t-test or Wilcoxon test was used to examine intragroup variances. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.
Results
Thirty-nine patients participated in the trial. The average operating time was 166 min (± 79 min) and the average blood loss was 182 mL (± 151 mL). The median length of hospital stay was one day, with an interquartile range of 1.25 days. All clinical outcomes significantly improved at 1–3, 6–12, and 24–36 months compared to baseline. There was one intraoperative (2,5%) and two postoperative complications (5,1%).
Conclusion
According to the authors’ case experience, PTP is a safe, practical, and reproducible procedure capable of treating a wide spectrum of degenerative disorders.
Level of Evidence: III
Dual Catalysis of Gold Nanoclusters:Photocatalytic Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling by Cooperation of Superatomic Core and Molecularly Modified Staples
Authors: Isozaki Katsuhiro , Iseri Kenta , Saito Ryohei , Ueda Kyosuke , Nakamura Masaharu
Published: July 2023

Thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have attracted significant attention as nano-catalysts, revealing a superatomic core and gold-thiolate staples as distinct structural units. Here, we demonstrate the unprecedented dual catalytic activity of thiolate-protected [Au25SR18]−nanoclusters, involving both photosensitized1O2generation by the Au13superatomic core and catalytic carbon–carbon bond formation facilitated by Au2(SR)3staples. This synergistic combination of two different catalytic units enables efficient cross-dehydrogenative coupling of terminal alkynes and tertiary aliphatic amines to afford propargylamines in high yields of up to 93%. Mixed-ligand AuNCs bearing both thiolate and alkynyl ligands revealed the intermediacy of the alkynyl-exchanged AuNCs toward both photosensitization and C–C bond-forming catalytic cycles. Density functional theory calculations also supported the intermediacy of the alkynyl-exchanged AuNCs. Thus, the use of ligand-protected metal nanoclusters has enabled the development of an exceptional multifunctional catalyst, wherein distinct nanocluster components facilitate cooperative photo- and chemo-catalysis.
Insilico discovering of STRA6 as a Novel Binding Receptor of Human Immunodeficiency (HIV)
Authors: Elkazzaz Mahmoud , Ahmed Amr , Haikal Abdullah , Jabbar Basit , Shamkh Israa M.
Published: July 2023

The progressive loss of CD4+ T cell population and thymic dysfunction is the hallmark of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-1) infection but the mechanism underlying the slow T cell decline and thymic involution remains elusive. Although the chemokine receptor CCR5 (cysteine-cysteine chemokine receptor 5) is the predominant co-receptor exploited for transmission and replication of HIV in vivo but the previous mechanism described via CCR5, based on single-receptor tropism, was insufficient to elucidate the thymic dysfunction and progressive loss of CD4+ T cells caused by HIV infection. It has been demonstrated that acute HIV infection causes retinoic acid (RA) levels to drop quickly and immune cell populations, whose identities and functions are largely regulated by RA. Through this study, we predicted and discovered human STRA6 as a novel binding receptor of HIV that may play a critical role in the pathogenicity of HIV and its immune suppression. Binding between human STRA6 (signaling receptor and transporter of retinol 6) receptor and HIV glycoprotein 120 (GP120) was studied through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis. The results showed that the HIV surface glycoprotein (GP120) binds strongly and efficiently to the chain B of the STRA6 receptor at proximity to the RBP (retinol binding protein)- binding motif located in the receptor(ZDOCK score: 1924). From the MD simulation analysis, the binding energies were determined using MM/GBSA (Molecular mechanics with generalised Born and surface area solvation) and was found to be -841.2 kcal/mol signifying a high stability of the complex. It might be possible that HIV infects the thymus gland by binding of the surface glycoprotein (GP120) to the chain B of the membrane STRA6 receptor- a receptor of retinol /Vitamin A (VitA)- which is highly expressed on thymic gland and T cells, leading to retinol signaling disorder or retinol insufficiency which may lead to thymus gland damage and thymic dysfunction resulting in low CD4+ T cells in HIV patients. This study paves the way towards understanding the complex mechanism of HIV infection and its immune dysregulation and may lead to the discovery of new drug targets for management of HIV. More research is needed to fully understand the link between STRA6 receptor and HIV, and it is possible that future studies using animal models, including genetically modified animals, will provide further insights into the mechanisms by which STRA6 receptor play a role in HIV pathogenesis and progression.
Study on the dielectric property, ac conductivity and electric modulus of pristine and green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Sarkar Toton , Kundu Sani , Bhattacharjee Ashis
Published: July 2023

We report the results obtained on the studies made for temperature and frequency dependence of the dielectric constant, loss and ac conductivity for pristine and green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles as well as investigations of their electric modulus. Frequency-dependent dielectric studies are carried out with the pelletized samples of ZnO at different temperatures. At lower frequencies (< 1 kHz) and at higher temperatures the ZnO nanoparticles have giant dielectric constant values (~ 4x104), and such a temperature-dependent giant dielectric constant has not been seen earlier, to our knowledge, in any pristine ZnO nanoparticle. In the lower frequency region and below 100○C the nature of temperature dependence of the dielectric constant for pristine ZnO is in contrast with that observed for the green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. This anomalous temperature dependence of dielectric constant may be correlated with combined effect of the in-plane and out of plane thermal-expansion coefficients of ZnO. A temperature-dependent poly-dispersive relaxation mechanism in these materials have been observed. The electrical conduction mechanism is found to be significantly modulated by the use of the extract. Electric modulus study reveals that the electrical conduction and dielectric polarization follow the same mechanism in these ZnO nanoparticles. The dependences of the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, conductivity and polarization mechanisms observed in the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles are envisaged as the signatures of the effective control of the flour extract on the crystal growth and formation of grain boundaries. A plausible growth mechanism of the ZnO nanoparticles in presence of the flower extract containing phytochemicals is also provided.
A Promising Start and Not a Panacea: ChatGPT's Early Impact and Potential in Medical Science and Biomedical Engineering Research
Authors: sohail shahab saquib
Published: July 2023

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has catalyzed a revolutionary transformation across various industries, including healthcare. Medical applications of ChatGPT, a powerful language model based on the generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) architecture, encompass the creation of conversational agents capable of accessing and generating medical information from multiple sources and formats. This study investigates the research trends of large language models such as ChatGPT, GPT 4, and Google Bard, comparing their publication trends with early COVID-19 research. The findings underscore the current prominence of AI research and its potential implications in biomedical engineering. A search of the Scopus database on July 23, 2023, yielded 1,096 articles related to ChatGPT, with approximately 26% being medical science-related. Keywords related to artificial intelligence, natural language processing (NLP), LLM, and generative AI dominate ChatGPT research, while a focused representation of medical science research emerges, with emphasis on biomedical research and engineering. This analysis serves as a call to action for researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to recognize and harness AI's potential in healthcare, particularly in the realm of biomedical research.
Quercetin Modulates the Signalling Pathways and Therapeutic Targets in the Pathophysiology of Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jasemi Seyed Vahid , Khazaei Hosna , Fakhri Sajad , Samimi Zeinab , Aneva Ina Yosifova , Farzaei Mohammad Hosein
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

Lung cancer is a progressive disease with the highest incidence and mortality
rate of other cancer types. Besides, the low efficacy of current treatments used against lung cancer urges
the need for novel alternative treatments.

Methods:

Accordingly, quercetin (a flavonoid) has shown a mechanistic-based potential in preventing the
progression of lung cancer. So, this study was designed to systematically review quercetin's therapeutic
effects on the improvement of lung cancer. For this purpose, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane library databases
were searched based on the keywords lung cancer, lung carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma and quercetin
from 1997 to November 2021. We removed Non-English, repetitive, review and irrelevant articles
according to title and abstract in the first step. After that, full-text screening was used to include the final
studies.

Results:

From a total of 4341 results, finally 36 articles were included in the study, which the whole confirmed
the therapeutic effects of quercetin on the improvement of lung malignancy. They also proved that
quercetin has a synergic effect with chemical drugs used for lung cancer treatment. From the mechanical
point of view, quercetin has employed several signaling mediators for lung therapeutic applications. This
systematic review summarizes the modulatory effects of quercetin on several dysregulated pathways, including
growth/proliferation, viability, migration/invasion, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Conclusion:

Prevailing studies show that quercetin interferes with molecular targets and mechanisms
underlying lung cancer to prevent the development of such diseases in clinical applications.
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Dye Compounds
Authors: Hoepfner Alize , Bezuidenhout Johannes Jacobus , Petzer Anél , Petzer Jacobus Petrus , Cloete Theunis Theodorus
Published: July 2023

Background:

Methylene blue and some of its analogues have known antibacterial activity,
however their exact mechanism of action is unknown

Objective:

In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of several methylene blue analogues were determined against five bacterial strains, whereafter the data were used to create and validate a pharmacophore model.

Methods:

The agar dilution method was used to screen the analogues for antibacterial activity, while the
broth microdilution method was used to determine their MIC and MBC. A pharmacophore model was
constructed and validated using the rank score, fit value, enrichment factor (EF10%), hit rate (HR10%) and
receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) as metrics.

Results:

Against Staphylococcus aureus, pyronin B (0.125 µg/ml) was more active than tetracycline (1
µg/ml) and pyronin Y (0.5 µg/ml), 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (2 µg/ml), basic blue 3 (2 µg/ml), new
methylene blue (2 µg/ml) and Nile blue (2 µg/ml) had similar activity compared to tetracycline. Pyronin
B, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue and new methylene blue were bactericidal. A pharmacophore model was
created (rank score: 36.55, max. fit value: 3), which was able to identify active analogues out of the test
set (EF10%: 2.83, HR10%: 28.57%, ROC-AUC: 0.84 ± 0.04). The pharmacophore model highlighted that a
positive ionisable, aromatic ring as well as a hydrophobic moiety are important for antibacterial activity.

Conclusion:

Methylene blue analogues were found to have potent antibacterial activity and a pharmacophore model was created to understand the structural requirements for activity.
A New Approach based on Fuzzy Clustering and Enhancement Operator for
Medical Image Contrast Enhancement
Authors: Trung Nguyen Tu
Published: July 2023

Background:

Image enhancement is a very significant topic in image processing that improves the quality of the images. The methods of image enhancement are classified into 3 categories. They include histogram method, fuzzy logic method and optimal method. Studies on image enhancement are often based on rules: if it's bright then it's brighter, if it's dark then it's darker and using the global approach. So, it's hard to enhance objects in all dark and light areas, as in the medical images.

Objective:

Input data is downloaded from the link: http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB.

Methods:

This paper introduces a new algorithm for enhancing medical images that is called the medical image enhancement based on cluster enhancement (MIECE). Firstly, the input image is clustered by the algorithm of fuzzy clustering. Then, the upper bound, and lower bound are calculated according to cluster. Next, the sub-algorithm is implemented for clustering enhancement using an enhancement operator. For each pixel, the gray levels for each channel (R, G, B) are transformed with this sub-algorithm to generate new corresponding gray levels. Because after clustering, each pixel belongs to each cluster with the corresponding membership value. Therefore, the output gray level value will be aggregated from the enhanced gray levels by the sub-algorithm with the weight of the corresponding cluster membership value.

Results:

This paper experiences the method MIECE with input data downloaded from the link: http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB. The experimental results are compared with some recent methods that include: SGHIE (2017), Ying (2017) and KinD++ (2021).

Conclusion:

This paper introduces the new algorithm which is based on cluster enhancement (MIECE) to enhance the medical image contrast. The experimental results show that the output images of the proposed algorithm are better than some other recent methods for enhancing dark objects.
MRI Imaging Appearance of Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna (HFI): A Case
Report of Focal Benign Enhancement
Authors: Bhandari Anish , Greenhill Mark , Anthony Mayra , Sharma Sorabh , Mushtaq Raza
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

Hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) is a common and often incidental finding seen on imaging. There is a significant paucity of radiology
literature, particularly regarding the MRI imaging appearance of HFI.

Case Presentation:

We reported two cases of HFI on MRI, which showed focal enhancement. These were stable on long-term follow-up studies and thought to be
most consistent with benign enhancement.

Conclusion:

Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying pathogenesis; however, it is important to be aware that regions of HFI may demonstrate
variable enhancement and are sometimes mistaken for osseous metastatic disease.
Bioinformatic Resources for Plant Genomic Research
Authors: Valsala Sudarsanan Suvanish Kumar , Sreekumar Nidhin
Published: July 2023

Genome assembly and annotation are crucial steps in plant genomics research as they provide
valuable insights into plant genetic makeup, gene regulation, evolutionary history, and biological processes.
In the emergence of high-throughput sequencing technologies, a plethora of genome assembly
tools have been developed to meet the diverse needs of plant genome researchers. Choosing the most
suitable tool to suit a specific research need can be daunting due to the complex and varied nature of
plant genomes and reads from the sequencers. To assist informed decision-making in selecting the appropriate
genome assembly and annotation tool(s), this review offers an extensive overview of the most
widely used genome and transcriptome assembly tools. The review covers the specific information on
each tool in tabular data, and the data types it can process. In addition, the review delves into transcriptome
assembly tools, plant resource databases, and repositories (12 for Arabidopsis, 9 for Rice, 5 for
Tomato, and 8 general use resources), which are vital for gene expression profiling and functional annotation
and ontology tools that facilitate data integration and analysis.