bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vibration Response Law of Aircraft Taxiing under Random Roughness Excitation
Authors: Hou Tianxin , Liu Shifu , Ling Jianming , Tian Yu , Li Peilin , Zhang Jie
Published: June 2023

Understanding the vibration response patterns of aircraft taxiing under runway roughness excitation is crucial for aircraft design and runway performance evaluation. In this paper, we establish pavement roughness models for both asphalt and concrete surfaces, taking into account their unique structural characteristics. We construct a six-degrees-of-freedom aircraft model using multi-rigid-body system dynamics theory and employ the pseudo-excitation method to examine the influence of pavement roughness types on the steady vibration response of aircraft taxiing at constant speeds. Furthermore, we analyze the non-stationary vibration response patterns of aircraft during takeoff and landing taxiing using the method of instantaneous frequency response function with space frequency. Lastly, we explore the effect of stochastic structural parameters on aircraft vibration response using the Monte Carlo method. Our findings reveal that the roughness power spectrum differs between asphalt and concrete pavements, and the established roughness models in this paper demonstrate a strong fit (R2 > 0.95). The type of pavement roughness has a relatively minor impact on the power spectral density distribution of the aircraft vibration response, suggesting that the same roughness model can be used for both asphalt and concrete pavements when high accuracy is not required. The power spectral density distribution of aircraft vibration response varies across different motion attitudes, with the vibration response during landing being significantly larger than that during takeoff. Among the aircraft structural parameters, the randomness of the sprung mass has the most substantial effect on the aircraft vibration response, potentially causing the variation coefficient of dynamic load on the front landing gear to exceed 0.11. Tire stiffness comes next, which can lead to the variation coefficient of dynamic load on the main landing gear reaching 0.07. The results have a guiding role in optimizing aircraft structure design and ensuring pavement performance.
Asteltoxins: Synthesis and Biological Studies
Authors: El-Sawy Eslam R. , Kirsch Gilbert , Abdel-Aziz Mohamed S.
Published: June 2023

Asteltoxins belong to a group of polyene pyrone mycotoxins that are known to be potent inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis. Asteltoxin A was first isolated from the toxic maize cultures of Aspergillus stellatus. Several attempts have been made to synthesize asteltoxin A, starting with the synthesis of a bis(tetrahydrofuran) moiety that has been demonstrated previously in biosynthetic studies. This review highlights the fungal sources of asteltoxins, similar asteltoxins, biosynthetic pathways, their synthetic trials, and their biological activities. This review is the first of its kind covering the periods from 1979 to 2023.
Racial Democracy, Visibility, and the History of Colonial Brazilian Art
Authors: Zimmerman Rachel A.
Published: June 2023

Since the nineteenth century, the history of colonial Brazilian art has highlighted the work of Afro-Brazilian men, specifically those with a white father and Black or parda mother. Antonio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, is the subject of countless books, exhibitions, television shows, and films. In addition to such famous men, dozens of other Afro-Brazilian artists are known and much scholarship has examined iconography and style with ties to African cultures. This extensive and important work has led to major exhibitions demonstrating Afro-Brazilian contributions as central to Brazil’s past and present. Although intended as celebratory, the language and framing structures scholars use to discuss Afro-Brazilian artists from the colonial period are founded in white supremacy. The conception of Brazil as a nation where everyone is of mixed race, and therefore devoid of racism, is partly responsible for Aleijadinho’s fame. This essay will clarify how this narrative of harmonious racial mixing and the focus on the visibly African perpetuates white supremacist interpretations of colonial Brazilian art and limits the study of Afro-Brazilian artists’ work. I will propose ways to reframe workshop practice and improve connoisseurship using, among other cases, the lawsuit directed toward the white painter Manoel da Costa Ataíde that named the Afro-Brazilian artists who created one of his commissions. The essay builds on existing scholarship, acknowledging the violence of enslaving artists and promoting lines of inquiry that consider the agency and cultural positioning of Afro-Brazilian artists and patrons as subtle, ubiquitous, and heterogeneous.
The Response of Southwest Atlantic Storm Tracks to Climate Change in the Brazilian Earth System Model
Authors: Dos Santos Juliana Damasceno , Machado Jeferson Prietsch , Saraiva Jaci Maria Bilhalva
Published: June 2023

The Earth’s weather and climate are strongly influenced by synoptic-scale systems such as extratropical cyclones. From this point of view, extratropical cyclones are very important for Equator–Pole heat exchange, and their positions are relevant to the understanding of the behavior of this system under current conditions and in the context of climate change. Baroclinic instability (BI), meridional heat flux (MHF), and kinetic energy (KE) are among the ways of calculating storm tracks (the regions in which extratropical cyclones most often occur). Forecasting is important for predicting the evolution of these phenomena and preparing future political decisions. In this study, we used ERA5 reanalysis data and BESM model forecasts to calculate BI, MHF, and KE. Overestimation of the BESM BI at lower and higher latitudes and underestimation of BI at medium latitudes were observed. In general, KE and MHF were underestimated and were displaced southward in the BESM. The analyses show a tendency towards poleward displacement of these tracks for all variables studied in in this paper. The scenarios show the same bias, with RCP8.5 having more extreme changes in all situations.
Total Electron Content PCA-NN Prediction Model for South-European Middle Latitudes
Authors: Morozova Anna , Barata Teresa , Barlyaeva Tatiana , Gafeira Ricardo
Published: June 2023

A regression-based model was previously developed to forecast total electron content (TEC) at middle latitudes. We present a more sophisticated model using neural networks (NN) instead of linear regression. This regional model prototype simulates and forecasts TEC variations in relation to space weather conditions. The development of a prototype consisted of the selection of the best set of predictors, NN architecture, and the length of the input series. Tests made using the data from December 2014 to June 2018 show that the PCA-NN model based on a simple feed-forward NN with a very limited number (up to six) of space weather predictors performs better than the PCA-MRM model that uses up to 27 space weather predictors. The prototype is developed on a TEC series obtained from a GNSS receiver at Lisbon airport and tested on TEC series from three other locations at middle latitudes of the Eastern North Atlantic. Conclusions on the dependence of the forecast quality on longitude and latitude are made.
Reliability Analysis and Applications of Generalized Type-II Progressively Hybrid Maxwell–Boltzmann Censored Data
Authors: Elshahhat Ahmed , Abo-Kasem Osama E. , Mohammed Heba S.
Published: June 2023

Today, the reliability or quality practitioner always aims to shorten testing duration and reduce testing costs without neglecting efficient statistical inference. So, a generalized progressively Type-II hybrid censored mechanism has been developed in which the experimenter prepays for usage of the testing facility for T units of time. This paper investigates the issue of estimating the model parameter, reliability, and hazard rate functions of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution in the presence of generalized progressive Type-II hybrid censored data by making use of the likelihood and Bayesian inferential methods. Using an inverse gamma prior distribution, the Bayes estimators of the same unknown parameters with respect to the most commonly squared-error loss are derived. Since the joint likelihood function is produced in complex form, following the Monte-Carlo Markov-chain idea, the Bayes’ point estimators as well as the Bayes credible and highest posterior density intervals cannot be derived analytically, but they may be examined numerically. Via the normal approximation of the acquired maximum likelihood and log-maximum-likelihood estimators, the approximate confidence interval bounds of the unknown quantities are derived. Via comprehensive numerical comparisons, with regard to simulated root mean squared-error, mean relative absolute bias, average confidence length, and coverage probability, the actual behavior of the proposed estimation methodologies is examined. To illustrate how the offered methodologies may be used in real circumstances, two different applications, representing the failure time points of aircraft windscreens as well as the daily average wind speed in Cairo during 2009, are explored. Numerical evaluations recommend utilizing a Bayes model via the Metropolis-Hastings technique to produce samples from the posterior distribution to estimate any parameter of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution when collecting data from a generalized progressively Type-II hybrid censored mechanism.
Performance Evaluation of a Scaled-Up Membraneless Organic-Based Hybrid Flow Battery
Authors: Yu Feilin , Zhao Wenbo , Leung Puiki , Mohamed Mohd , Wei Lei , Shah Akeel , Liao Qiang
Published: June 2023

This article presents an evaluation of the performance of a membrane-less organic-based flow battery using low-cost active materials, zinc and benzoquinone, which was scaled up to 1600 cm2, resulting in one of the largest of its type reported in the literature. The charge–discharge cycling of the battery was compared at different sizes and current densities, and its performance was evaluated under various mass transport and operating conditions. The results showed that the round-trip coulombic and voltage efficiencies were over 90% and 85%, respectively, for the laboratory-scale (1 cm2 electrode) cell, but these performances tended to deteriorate with the scaled-up (1600 cm2 electrode) cell due to inadequate mass transfer and sediment coverage of quinone, as well as the formation of a passivation film on the zinc anode. Despite this, the scaled-up batteries exhibited high coulombic and voltage efficiencies of up to 99% and 68.5%, respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. The capital cost of this system is also estimated to be several times lower than those of commercially available all-vanadium flow batteries and zinc bromide flow batteries for demand charge management applications.
Modeling of Lithium Plating and Stripping Dynamics during Fast Charging
Authors: Brodsky Ringler Polina , Wise Matthew , Ramesh Prashanth , Kim Jung Hyun , Canova Marcello , Bae Chulheung , Deng Jie , Park Heechan
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes a new model that predicts the cell voltage dynamics and capacity degradation induced by lithium plating and stripping. The proposed model uses a single equilibrium reaction to describe the deposition and dissolution of metallic lithium, predicting the partial reversibility of the plating/stripping reaction, the characteristic voltage plateau during relaxation, and the capacity loss due to the Loss of Cyclable Lithium (LCL). The model is integrated with a Doyle–Fuller–Newman (DFN) electrochemical model, calibrated and validated with experimental data. The model has the potential to improve the accuracy of predicting the effects of lithium plating in Li-ion cells and aid in the development of Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology for BEVs.
Evaluation of Whole-Tumor Texture Analysis Based on MRI Diffusion Kurtosis and Biparametric VI-RADS Model for Staging and Grading Bladder Cancer
Authors: Meng Xiaoyan , Li Shichao , He Kangwen , Hu Henglong , Feng Cui , Li Zhen , Wang Yanchun
Published: June 2023

Background: to evaluate the feasibility of texture analysis (TA) based on diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in staging and grading bladder cancer (BC) and to compare it with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and biparametric vesical imaging reporting and data system (VI-RADS). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 101 patients with pathologically confirmed BC underwent MRI with multiple-b values ranging from 0 to 2000 s/mm2. ADC- and DKI-derived parameters, including mean kurtosis (MK) and mean diffusivity (MD), were obtained. First-order texture histogram parameters of MK and MD, including the mean; 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles; inhomogeneity; skewness: kurtosis; and entropy; were extracted. The VI-RADS score was evaluated based on the T2WI and DWI. The Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare the texture parameters and ADC values between non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), as well as between low and high grades. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each significant parameter and their combinations. Results: The NMIBC and low-grade group had higher MDmean, MD5th, MD25th, MD50th, MD75th, MD90th, and ADC values than those of the MIBC and the high-grade group. The NMIBC and low-grade group yielded lower MKmean, MK25th, MK50th, MK75th, and MK90th than the MIBC and high-grade group. Among all histogram parameters, MD75th and MD90th yielded the highest AUC in differentiating MIBC from NMIBC (both AUCs were 0.87), while the AUC for ADC was 0.86. The MK75th and MK90th had the highest AUC (both 0.79) in differentiating low- from high-grade BC, while ADC had an AUC of 0.68. The AUC (0.92) of the combination of DKI histogram parameters (MD75th, MD90th, and MK90th) with biparametric VI-RADS in staging BC was higher than that of the biparametric VI-RADS (0.89). Conclusions: Texture-analysis-derived DKI is useful in evaluating both the staging and grading of bladder cancer; in addition, the histogram parameters of the DKI (MD75th, MD90th, and MK90th) can provide additional value to VI-RADS.
Prediction of Sleep Apnea Events Using a CNN–Transformer Network and Contactless Breathing Vibration Signals
Authors: Chen Yuhang , Yang Shuchen , Li Huan , Wang Lirong , Wang Bidou
Published: June 2023

It is estimated that globally 425 million subjects have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The accurate prediction of sleep apnea events can offer insight into the development of treatment therapies. However, research related to this prediction is currently limited. We developed a covert framework for the prediction of sleep apnea events based on low-frequency breathing-induced vibrations obtained from piezoelectric sensors. A CNN-transformer network was utilized to efficiently extract local and global features from respiratory vibration signals for accurate prediction. Our study involved overnight recordings of 105 subjects. In five-fold cross-validation, we achieved an accuracy of 85.9% and an F1 score of 85.8%, which are 3.5% and 5.3% higher than the best-performed classical model, respectively. Additionally, in leave-one-out cross-validation, 2.3% and 3.8% improvements are observed, respectively. Our proposed CNN-transformer model is effective in the prediction of sleep apnea events. Our framework can thus provide a new perspective for improving OSA treatment modes and clinical management.
An Explainable Radiogenomic Framework to Predict Mutational Status of KRAS and EGFR in Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Prencipe Berardino , Delprete Claudia , Garolla Emilio , Corallo Fabio , Gravina Matteo , Natalicchio Maria Iole , Buongiorno Domenico , Bevilacqua Vitoantonio , Altini Nicola , Brunetti Antonio
Published: June 2023

The complex pathobiology of lung cancer, and its spread worldwide, has prompted research studies that combine radiomic and genomic approaches. Indeed, the early identification of genetic alterations and driver mutations affecting the tumor is fundamental for correctly formulating the prognosis and therapeutic response. In this work, we propose a radiogenomic workflow to detect the presence of KRAS and EGFR mutations using radiomic features extracted from computed tomography images of patients affected by lung adenocarcinoma. To this aim, we investigated several feature selection algorithms to identify the most significant and uncorrelated sets of radiomic features and different classification models to reveal the mutational status. Then, we employed the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) technique to increase the understanding of the contribution given by specific radiomic features to the identification of the investigated mutations. Two cohorts of patients with lung adenocarcinoma were used for the study. The first one, obtained from the Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA), consisted of 60 cases (25% EGFR, 23% KRAS); the second one, provided by the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria ’Ospedali Riuniti’ of Foggia, was composed of 55 cases (16% EGFR, 28% KRAS). The best-performing models proposed in our study achieved an AUC of 0.69 and 0.82 on the validation set for predicting the mutational status of EGFR and KRAS, respectively. The Multi-layer Perceptron model emerged as the top-performing model for both oncogenes, in some cases outperforming the state of the art. This study showed that radiomic features can be associated with EGFR and KRAS mutational status in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
Eosinophils, Basophils, and Neutrophils in Bullous Pemphigoid
Authors: Limberg Maren M. , Weihrauch Tobias , Gray Natalie , Ernst Nancy , Hartmann Karin , Raap Ulrike
Published: June 2023

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering skin disease, of which the incidence has increased in recent years. BP is characterized by circulating IgG and IgE autoantibodies against the hemidesmosomal proteins BP180 and BP230. Although autoantibodies trigger inflammatory cascades that lead to blister formation, effector cells and cell-mediated autoimmunity must also be considered as important factors in the pathogenesis of BP. The aim of this review is to outline the current knowledge on the role of eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils in BP.
Applications of Programmable Endonucleases in Sequence- and Ligation-Independent Seamless DNA Assembly
Authors: Xiong Xingchen , Lu Zhiwen , Ma Lixin , Zhai Chao
Published: June 2023

Programmable endonucleases, such as Cas (Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Repeats-associated proteins) and prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo), depend on base pairing of the target DNA with the guide RNA or DNA to cleave DNA strands. Therefore, they are capable of recognizing and cleaving DNA sequences at virtually any arbitrary site. The present review focuses on the commonly used in vivo and in vitro recombination-based gene cloning methods and the application of programmable endonucleases in these sequence- and ligation-independent DNA assembly methods. The advantages and shortcomings of the programmable endonucleases utilized as tools for gene cloning are also discussed in this review.
Correlation of TIMP1-MMP2/MMP9 Gene Expression Axis Changes with Treatment Efficacy and Survival of NSCLC Patients
Authors: Pietrzak Jacek , Wosiak Agnieszka , Szmajda-Krygier Dagmara , Świechowski Rafał , Łochowski Mariusz , Pązik Milena , Balcerczak Ewa
Published: June 2023

In the course of lung cancer, normal cells are transformed into cancerous ones, and changes occur in the microenvironment, including the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is not only a scaffold for cells, but also a reservoir of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are among the elements that enable ECM remodeling. The publication focuses on the problem of changes in the gene expression of MMP2, MMP9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP1) in the blood of NSCLC patients during therapy (one year after surgical resection of the tumor). The paper also analyzes differences in the expression of the studied genes in the tumor tissue, as well as data collected in publicly available databases. The results of blood tests showed no differences in the expression of the tested genes during therapy; however, changes were observed in cancerous tissue, which was characterized by higher expression of MMP2 and MMP9, compared to non-cancerous tissue, and unchanged expression of TIMP1. Nevertheless, higher expression of each of the studied genes was associated with shorter patient survival. Interestingly, it was not only the increased expression of metalloproteinase genes, but also the increased expression of the metalloproteinase inhibitor (TIMP1) that was unfavorable for patients.
Evidence of Placental Aging in Late SGA, Fetal Growth Restriction and Stillbirth—A Systematic Review
Authors: Kajdy Anna , Sys Dorota , Modzelewski Jan , Bogusławska Joanna , Cymbaluk-Płoska Aneta , Kwiatkowska Ewa , Bednarek-Jędrzejek Magdalena , Borowski Dariusz , Stefańska Katarzyna , Rabijewski Michał , Baran Arkadiusz , Torbe Andrzej , Feduniw Stepan , Kwiatkowski Sebastian
Published: June 2023

During pregnancy, the placenta undergoes a natural aging process, which is considered normal. However, it has been hypothesized that an abnormally accelerated and premature aging of the placenta may contribute to placenta-related health issues. Placental senescence has been linked to several obstetric complications, including abnormal fetal growth, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, with stillbirth being the most challenging. A systematic search was conducted on Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Twenty-two full-text articles were identified for the final synthesis. Of these, 15 presented original research and 7 presented narrative reviews. There is a paucity of evidence in the literature on the role of placental aging in late small for gestational age (SGA), fetal growth restriction (FGR), and stillbirth. For future research, guidelines for both planning and reporting research must be implemented. The inclusion criteria should include clear differentiation between early and late SGA and FGR. As for stillbirths, only those with no other known cause of stillbirth should be included in the studies. This means excluding stillbirths due to congenital defects, infections, placental abruption, and maternal conditions affecting feto-maternal hemodynamics.
Alteration of Excitation/Inhibition Imbalance in the Hippocampus and Amygdala of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Patients Treated with Acute Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Ooi Qian Yi , Qin Xiaoya , Yuan Yuan , Zhang Xiaobin , Yao Yi , Hao Hongwei , Li Luming
Published: June 2023

An imbalance between excitation (E) and inhibition (I) in the brain has been identified as a key pathophysiology of epilepsy over the years. The hippocampus and amygdala in the limbic system play a crucial role in the initiation and conduction of epileptic seizures and are often referred to as the transfer station and amplifier of seizure activities. Existing animal and imaging studies reveal that the hippocampus and amygdala, which are significant parts of the vagal afferent network, can be modulated in order to generate an antiepileptic effect. Using stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) data, we examined the E/I imbalance in the hippocampus and amygdala of ten drug-resistant epilepsy children treated with acute vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) by estimating the 1/f power slope of hippocampal and amygdala signals in the range of 1–80 Hz. While the change in the 1/f power slope from VNS-BASE varied between different stimulation amplitudes and brain regions, it was more prominent in the hippocampal region. In the hippocampal region, we found a flatter 1/f power slope during VNS-ON in patients with good responsiveness to VNS under the optimal stimulation amplitude, indicating that the E/I imbalance in the region was improved. There was no obvious change in 1/f power slope for VNS poor responders. For VNS non-responders, the 1/f power slope slightly increased when the stimulation was applied. Overall, this study implies that the regulation of E/I imbalance in the epileptic brain, especially in the hippocampal region, may be an acute intracranial effect of VNS.
Subject-Independent EEG Emotion Recognition Based on Genetically Optimized Projection Dictionary Pair Learning
Authors: Su Jipu , Zhu Jie , Song Tiecheng , Chang Hongli
Published: June 2023

One of the primary challenges in Electroencephalogram (EEG) emotion recognition lies in developing models that can effectively generalize to new unseen subjects, considering the significant variability in EEG signals across individuals. To address the issue of subject-specific features, a suitable approach is to employ projection dictionary learning, which enables the identification of emotion-relevant features across different subjects. To accomplish the objective of pattern representation and discrimination for subject-independent EEG emotion recognition, we utilized the fast and efficient projection dictionary pair learning (PDPL) technique. PDPL involves the joint use of a synthesis dictionary and an analysis dictionary to enhance the representation of features. Additionally, to optimize the parameters of PDPL, which depend on experience, we applied the genetic algorithm (GA) to obtain the optimal solution for the model. We validated the effectiveness of our algorithm using leave-one-subject-out cross validation on three EEG emotion databases: SEED, MPED, and GAMEEMO. Our approach outperformed traditional machine learning methods, achieving an average accuracy of 69.89% on the SEED database, 24.11% on the MPED database, 64.34% for the two-class GAMEEMO, and 49.01% for the four-class GAMEEMO. These results highlight the potential of subject-independent EEG emotion recognition algorithms in the development of intelligent systems capable of recognizing and responding to human emotions in real-world scenarios.
The ‘Postural Rhythm’ of the Ground Reaction Force during Upright Stance and Its Conversion to Body Sway—The Effect of Vision, Support Surface and Adaptation to Repeated Trials
Authors: Sozzi Stefania , Ghai Shashank , Schieppati Marco
Published: June 2023

The ground reaction force (GRF) recorded by a platform when a person stands upright lies at the interface between the neural networks controlling stance and the body sway deduced from centre of pressure (CoP) displacement. It can be decomposed into vertical (VGRF) and horizontal (HGRF) vectors. Few studies have addressed the modulation of the GRFs by the sensory conditions and their relationship with body sway. We reconsidered the features of the GRFs oscillations in healthy young subjects (n = 24) standing for 90 s, with the aim of characterising the possible effects of vision, support surface and adaptation to repeated trials, and the correspondence between HGRF and CoP time-series. We compared the frequency spectra of these variables with eyes open or closed on solid support surface (EOS, ECS) and on foam (EOF, ECF). All stance trials were repeated in a sequence of eight. Conditions were randomised across different days. The oscillations of the VGRF, HGRF and CoP differed between each other, as per the dominant frequency of their spectra (around 4 Hz, 0.8 Hz and <0.4 Hz, respectively) featuring a low-pass filter effect from VGRF to HGRF to CoP. GRF frequencies hardly changed as a function of the experimental conditions, including adaptation. CoP frequencies diminished to <0.2 Hz when vision was available on hard support surface. Amplitudes of both GRFs and CoP oscillations decreased in the order ECF > EOF > ECS ≈ EOS. Adaptation had no effect except in ECF condition. Specific rhythms of the GRFs do not transfer to the CoP frequency, whereas the magnitude of the forces acting on the ground ultimately determines body sway. The discrepancies in the time-series of the HGRF and CoP oscillations confirm that the body’s oscillation mode cannot be dictated by the inverted pendulum model in any experimental conditions. The findings emphasise the robustness of the VGRF “postural rhythm” and its correspondence with the cortical theta rhythm, shed new insight on current principles of balance control and on understanding of upright stance in healthy and elderly people as well as on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Generalizable Thermal Performance of Ventilated Block Walls and Energy Implication of Substitution for Wood-Frame Walls in Cold-Climate Buildings
Authors: Rezvanpour Mohammad , Cruz-Noguez Carlos , Chen Yuxiang
Published: June 2023

Space heating and cooling of buildings is a major contributor to the ascending trend of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A potential solution to reduce the space heating and cooling is to use buildings’ mass for active thermal energy storage (TES). Having air circulation between an active TES and its associated zones can significantly enhance their thermal coupling; however, reported research studies have not focused on this kind of active TES. To that end, this study aimed to evaluate the thermal performance of a ventilated block wall (VBW) in reducing space heating and cooling loads in cold-climate buildings. In this system, air is circulated between a zone and the voided cores of a VBW, where the air exchanges heat with the wall before returning to the zone. To have a generalizable assessment of the system’s performance, typical-day and annual energy analyses were conducted under various boundary conditions and air circulation speeds. The study found that for a typical day with significant temperature fluctuation, a VBW with a 2 m/s air circulation speed throughout the day can lead to 67% more net energy exchange (the sum of thermal energy storage and release) when compared to having no air circulation. The annual analysis compared the energy performance between a VBW and a traditional wood-frame wall in three different cold climates. The results showed that substituting a wood-frame wall with a VBW can reduce space heating and cooling loads by 35.1 kWh/m2 (wall surface area) for a mixed dry–cold climate throughout the year. Having cement plaster as interior finishing can lead to 9% more net energy exchange than having drywall, on average, for all zone air temperature profiles.
A Dual Strategy in the Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage Buildings: The Shanghai West Bund Waterfront Refurbishment
Authors: Ma Pengfei , Li Xiangning , Lan Di
Published: June 2023

Waterfront intervention, as one of the post-industrial reuse paradigms, has flourished around the world and been studied as a global phenomenon. This paper investigates the application of a dual adaptive reuse strategy to industrial heritage waterfront buildings and explores its social significance. The case study is of the West Bund, a waterfront renovation in Shanghai, China. Insights are drawn from the qualitative research approach of triangulation, with evidence derived from document sources, archival records, direct participants and semi-structured interviews. This paper examines a series of galleries and landscapes created from former industrial buildings and facilities along the Huangpu River. It concludes that the West Bund exemplifies a dual strategy of adaptive reuse: art-led and landscape-led building reuse. This dual strategy can be viewed as an endeavour to balance urban gentrification and publicness in the megalopolis. It can also be argued, however, that the dual approach to adaptive reuse is unsustainable within the framework of an entrepreneurial state, and significantly so in the post-epidemic era when economic growth pressure increases. This study contributes to our understanding of the complex nature of industrial heritage in the rapidly shifting landscape of contemporary China.
Single-Bilayer Graphene Test Structures for Kelvin Probe Microscopy
Authors: Lebedev Sergey P. , Eliseyev Ilya A. , Dunaevskiy Mikhail S. , Gushchina Ekaterina V. , Lebedev Alexander A.
Published: June 2023

A new technique for determining the point spread function, which is required for measuring the surface potential using Kelvin probe microscopy (KPM), is presented. The method involves using a silicon carbide substrate coated with single-layer and bilayer graphene as a test structure and obtaining KPM potential profiles in different directions on the surface. This makes it possible to determine the KPM point spread function, which can be used to perform deconvolution and accurately recover the surface potential.
Assessing the Performance of a Novel Stool-Based Microbiome Test That Predicts Response to First Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Multiple Cancer Types
Authors: Robinson Irina , Hochmair Maximilian Johannes , Schmidinger Manuela , Absenger Gudrun , Pichler Martin , Nguyen Van Anh , Richtig Erika , Rainer Barbara Margaretha , Ay Leyla , Jansen Christian , Pacífico Cátia , Knabl Alexander , Sladek Barbara , Gasche Nikolaus , Valipour Arschang
Published: June 2023

The intestinal microbiome is by now an undebatable key player in the clinical outcome of ICI therapies. However, no microbiome profiling method to aid therapy decision is yet validated. We conducted a multi-centric study in patients with stage III/IV melanoma, NSCLC, or RCC receiving ICI treatment. The stool microbiome profile of 63 patients was analyzed with BiomeOne®, a microbiome-based algorithm that anticipates whether a patient will achieve clinical benefit with ICIs prior to therapy initiation. Classification of patient samples as Rs and NRs was achieved with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 50% in this validation cohort. An ICI-favorable response was characterized by an intestinal microbiome rich in bacteria such as Oscillospira sp., Clostridia UCG-014, Lachnospiraceae UCG-010 sp., Prevotella copri, and a decrease in Sutterella sp., Lactobacillales, and Streptococcus sp. Patients who developed immune-related adverse events (irAEs) had an overall increased microbial diversity and richness, and a stool microbiome depleted in Agathobacter. When compared with the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression test in the subcohort of NSCLC patients (n = 38), BiomeOne® exhibited a numerically higher sensitivity (78.6%) in identifying responders when compared with the PD-L1 test (67.9%). This study provides an evaluation of BiomeOne®, the first microbiome-based test for prediction of ICI response, to achieve market authorization. Validation with further indications and expansion to other microbiome-based interventions will be essential to bring microbiome-based diagnostics into standard clinical practice.
Risk of Treatment Failure and Death after Ablation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients—A Multiparametric Prediction
Authors: Muñoz-Martínez Sergio , Sapena Victor , García-Criado Ángeles , Darnell Anna , Forner Alejandro , Belmonte Ernest , Sanduzzi-Zamparelli Marco , Rimola Jordi , Soler Alexandre , Llarch Neus , Iserte Gemma , Mauro Ezequiel , Ayuso Carmen , Rios Jose , Bruix Jordi , Vilana Ramon , Reig María
Published: June 2023

Background: Ablation is a first-line treatment for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-0/A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there are scarce data about patients’ outcomes after recurrence. The present study evaluates the impact of patient and tumor characteristics at baseline and at recurrence on the Clinical Decision-Making process. Methods: We evaluated BCLC-0/A patients treated with percutaneous ablation from January 2010 to November 2018. Clinical and radiological data such as age, tumor location at ablation, pattern of recurrence/progression, and comorbidities during follow-up were registered. Tumor location was divided into ‘suboptimal’ vs. ‘optimal’ locations for ablation. The Clinical Decision-Making was based on tumor burden, liver dysfunction, or comorbidities. The statistical analysis included the time-to-recurrence/progression, censoring at time of death, date of last follow-up or liver transplantation, and time-to-event was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression models to evaluate the risk of an event of death and change of treatment strategy. Results: A total of 225 patients [39.1% BCLC-0 and 60.9% BCLC-A] were included, 190 had unifocal HCC and 82.6% were ≤3 cm. The complete response rate and median overall survival were 96% and 60.7 months. The HCC nodules number (Hazard Ratio—HR 3.1), Child-Pugh (HR 2.4), and Albumin-Bilirubin score (HR 3.2) were associated with increased risk of death during follow-up. HCC in ‘suboptimal location’ presented a shorter time to recurrence. When comorbidities prevented further loco-regional or systemic treatment, the risk of death was significantly increased (HR 2.0, p = 0.0369) in comparison to those who received treatment. Conclusions: These results expose the impact of non-liver comorbidities when considering treatment for recurrence after ablation in the real-world setting and in research trials. Ultimately, we identified an orphan population for which effective interventions are needed.
Early Diagnosis of Oral Cancer: A Complex Polyhedral Problem with a Difficult Solution
Authors: González-Ruiz Isabel , Ramos-García Pablo , Ruiz-Ávila Isabel , González-Moles Miguel Ángel
Published: June 2023

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are a growing problem, accounting for 377,713 and 98,412 new cases per year all over the world and 177,757 and 48,143 deaths annually, respectively. Despite the substantial improvement in diagnostic procedures and treatment techniques in recent years, the mortality rate has not decreased substantially in the last 40 years, which is still close to 50% of cases. The major cause responsible for this high mortality is associated with the high percentage of oral cancers diagnosed in advanced stages (stages III and IV) where the treatment harbors poor efficacy, resulting in challenges, mutilations, or disability. The main reason for cancer to be diagnosed at an advanced stage is a diagnostic delay, so it is critical to reduce this delay in order to improve the prognosis of patients suffering from oral cancer. The causes of oral cancer diagnostic delay are complex and concern patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare services. In this manuscript, oral cancer diagnostic delay is critically reviewed based on current evidence, as well as their major causes, main problems, and potential improvement strategies.
Caspase-8 and Tyrosine Kinases: A Dangerous Liaison in Cancer
Authors: Contadini Claudia , Ferri Alessandra , Cirotti Claudia , Stupack Dwayne , Barilà Daniela
Published: June 2023

Caspase-8 is a cysteine-aspartic acid protease that has been identified as an initiator caspase that plays an essential role in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Evasion of apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer and Caspase-8 expression is silenced in some tumors, consistent with its central role in apoptosis. However, in the past years, several studies reported an increased expression of Caspase-8 levels in many tumors and consistently identified novel “non-canonical” non-apoptotic functions of Caspase-8 that overall promote cancer progression and sustain therapy resistance. These reports point to the ability of cancer cells to rewire Caspase-8 function in cancer and raise the question of which are the signaling pathways aberrantly activated in cancer that may contribute to the hijack of Caspase-8 activity. In this regard, tyrosine kinases are among the first oncogenes ever identified and genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies indeed show that they represent a class of signaling molecules constitutively activated in most of the tumors. Here, we aim to review and discuss the role of Caspase-8 in cancer and its interplay with Src and other tyrosine kinases.
Predictive Roles of Baseline Stromal Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Ki-67 in Pathologic Complete Response in an Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Prospective Trial
Authors: Abuhadra Nour , Sun Ryan , Yam Clinton , Rauch Gaiane M. , Ding Qingqing , Lim Bora , Thompson Alastair M. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , Adrada Beatriz E. , Damodaran Senthil , Virani Kiran , White Jason , Ravenberg Elizabeth , Sun Jia , Choi Jaihee , Candelaria Rosalind , Arun Banu , Ueno Naoto T. , Santiago Lumarie , Saleem Sadia , Abouharb Sausan , Murthy Rashmi K. , Ibrahim Nuhad , Sahin Aysegul , Valero Vicente , Symmans William Fraser , Litton Jennifer K. , Tripathy Debu , Moulder Stacy , Huo Lei
Published: June 2023

High stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) are associated with improved pathologic complete response (pCR) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We hypothesize that integrating high sTILs and additional clinicopathologic features associated with pCR could enhance our ability to predict the group of patients on whom treatment de-escalation strategies could be tested. In this prospective early-stage TNBC neoadjuvant chemotherapy study, pretreatment biopsies from 408 patients were evaluated for their clinical and demographic features, as well as biomarkers including sTILs, Ki-67, PD-L1 and androgen receptor. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to generate a computed response score to predict pCR. The pCR rate for the entire cohort was 41%. Recursive partitioning analysis identified ≥20% as the optimal cutoff for sTILs to denote 35% (143/408) of patients as having high sTILs, with a pCR rate of 59%, and 65% (265/408) of patients as having low sTILs, with a pCR rate of 31%. High Ki-67 (cutoff > 35%) was identified as the only predictor of pCR in addition to sTILs in the training set. This finding was verified in the testing set, where the highest computed response score encompassing both high sTILa and high Ki-67 predicted a pCR rate of 65%. Integrating Ki67 and sTIL may refine the selection of early stage TNBC patients for neoadjuvant clinical trials evaluating de-escalation strategies.
Chemoradiation with Cisplatin vs. Carboplatin for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
Authors: Rades Dirk , Zwaan Inga , Soror Tamer , Idel Christian , Pries Ralph , Bruchhage Karl L. , Hakim Samer G. , Yu Nathan Y.
Published: June 2023

Cisplatin is the standard for the chemoradiation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Many patients cannot receive cisplatin due to impaired renal function. This study investigated carboplatin as an alternative option. In total, 131 patients assigned to two courses of cisplatin (20 mg/m2/d1-–5 or 25 mg/m2/d1–4) were matched to 45 patients not suitable for cisplatin and receiving carboplatin (AUC 1.0/d1–5 or AUC 1.5/d1–4). The endpoints included loco-regional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS), overall survival (OS), toxicities, and the completion of chemotherapy. The patients in the carboplatin group were significantly older and had more G3 tumors. Otherwise, the baseline characteristics were balanced. The LRC rates at 2 and 3 years were 77% and 76% in the cisplatin group vs. 69% and 65% in the carboplatin group (p = 0.21). The MFS rates were 83% and 78% vs. 78% and 74% (p = 0.34) and the OS rates 83% and 79% vs. 83% and 75% (p = 0.64), respectively. The outcomes were not significantly different in the subgroups receiving definitive or adjuvant chemoradiation. No significant differences were found regarding toxicities. Non-significantly more patients in the carboplatin group completed their chemotherapy (78% vs. 66%, p = 0.15). Carboplatin was associated with similar outcomes and toxicities as cisplatin, although these patients had worse renal function, more aggressive tumors, and were older. Given the limitations of this study, carboplatin appears an option for patients not suitable for cisplatin.
Galanin System in the Human Bile Duct and Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Huber Sara , Fitzner Theresia , Feichtinger René G. , Hochmann Sarah , Kraus Theo , Sotlar Karl , Kofler Barbara , Varga Martin
Published: June 2023

Background: Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is characterised by poor outcomes. Early diagnosis is essential for patient survival. The peptide galanin (GAL) and its receptors GAL1–3 are expressed in various tumours. Detailed characterisation of the GAL system in pCCA is lacking. Our study sought to characterise GAL and GAL1–3 receptor (GAL1–3–R) expression in the healthy human bile duct, in cholestasis and pCCA. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed in healthy controls (n = 5) and in the peritumoural tissues (with and without cholestasis) (n = 20) and tumour tissues of pCCA patients (n = 33) using validated antibodies. The score values of GAL and GAL1–3–R expression were calculated and statistically evaluated. Results: GAL and GAL1–R were expressed in various bile duct cell types. GAL2–R was only slightly but still expressed in almost all the examined tissues, and GAL3–R specifically in cholangiocytes and capillaries. In a small pCCA patient cohort (n = 18), high GAL expression correlated with good survival, whereas high GAL3–R correlated with poor survival. Conclusions: Our in-depth characterisation of the GAL system in the healthy human biliary duct and pCCA in a small patient cohort revealed that GAL and GAL3–R expression in tumour cells of pCCA patients could potentially represent suitable biomarkers for survival.
Statins in Chronic Kidney Disease—Effects on Atherosclerosis and Cellular Senescence
Authors: Fularski Piotr , Krzemińska Julia , Lewandowska Natalia , Młynarska Ewelina , Saar Maciej , Wronka Magdalena , Rysz Jacek , Franczyk Beata
Published: June 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious health problem that can affect various systems in the human body. Renal failure promotes mechanisms of premature cellular aging and also features of generalized inflammation in the body, which translates into a close relationship between kidney dysfunction and cardiovascular disease (CVD). As kidney function deteriorates, cardiovascular risk and mortality increase in this group of patients. Oxidative stress and inflammation are two closely related processes that initiate a vicious cycle by activating each other. Together with aging, they represent the key factors that cause and exacerbate CVD in CKD. Patients with CKD are particularly vulnerable to the accumulation of aging endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle and macrophages, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. Several mechanisms are known that can lead to the progression of the aforementioned problems, such as the accumulation of uremic toxins, persistent inflammation, impaired lipid and electrolyte metabolism, nitric oxide (NO) deficiency, the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and mitochondria. According to research, we can distinguish a group of drugs that effectively counteract the negative effects of CKD—statins. This is a group of drugs that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase and affect a number of cellular processes and pathways, resulting in the overall slowing of atherosclerosis and cellular aging.