bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface Motion for P-Wave Scattering by an Arbitrary-Shaped Canyon in Saturated Half-Space
Authors: Duan Xueliang , Jin Liguo , Zhou Zhenghua
Published: August 2023

This paper obtained a semianalytical solution for the P-wave scattering problem by an arbitrary-shaped canyon in a saturated half-space by using Biot’s theory, the wave function expansion method, and the moments method. Firstly, based on the Biot fluid-saturated porous media theory and the wave function expansion method, the wave potentials which automatically satisfy the zero-stress boundary condition on the surface of the half-space are obtained. Then, the boundary value problem is transformed into an algebraic problem by the method of moments according to the boundary conditions, and then solved numerically by truncation. By adjusting the parameters, the saturated medium in the original model approximately degenerates into a single-phase elastic medium, and the correctness of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with published results. Finally, the effects of the canyon shape, the porosity of the soil, and the incidence angle and frequency of the incident wave on the amplitude of ground surface motion are investigated. The results show that the incidence angle has a significant effect on the ground surface motion, while the porosity of the soil has little influence on the amplitude of surface motion. The influence of canyon shape on surface motion is mainly reflected in the shielding effect on the incident wave. Although P-wave scattering by a canyon is a traditional problem, most of the analytical solutions are limited to solving the scattering of seismic waves in geometric regular canyons. However, the actual shape of the canyon is not regular, which limits the application of closed analytical solutions in practical engineering. In this paper, the scattering of P-waves in arbitrary-shaped canyons is successfully solved by using a semianalytical method combined with a numerical method-moments method, which provides a possibility for engineering application.
Noble Nanofluids and Their Hybrids for Heat Transfer Enrichment: A Review and Future Prospects Coverage
Authors: Pereira José , Moita Ana , Moreira António
Published: August 2023

The novel class of fluids known by nanofluids is composed of colloidal suspensions of solid nanoparticles dispersed in a base fluid. When the solid nanoparticles are made of noble metals they can be named as noble metals nanofluids or noble nanofluids for short. This review attempts to offer a comprehensive survey along with a critical analysis of the noble metals nanofluids and their hybrids. Hence, the nanofluids having gold, silver, palladium, platinum, iridium, among others, nanoparticles are overviewed, giving emphasis to their superior thermophysical characteristics, stability, synthesis easiness, and potential applications. This work summarizes the published research findings about the noble metal nanofluids including the synthesis methods, heat transfer underlying mechanisms, and their performance evaluation in heat transfer and thermal energy storage purposes. This work intends also to provide practical insights in applications like Concentrated Solar Power systems, transformers, heat exchangers and heat pipes, cooling of electronics, among others. Also, it is highlighted the impact of the different formulations, temperature and pH values, and surfactants in the thermal conductivity, specific heat, and viscosity of these nanofluids. Besides, the interactions between the metal nanostructures and the base fluid molecules as viscosity and thermal conductivity determiners are discussed. Finally, the limitations, challenges, and prospects of the noble nanofluids are addressed such as their scalability and investment cost in large-scale applications.
Study on Earthquake Failure Mechanism and Failure Mode of Cable-Stayed Pipeline Bridge Considering Fluid–Structure Coupling
Authors: Zhu Xiyu , Weng Guangyuan
Published: August 2023

To investigate the failure mode of the cable-stayed pipeline bridge under seismic loading, this study focuses on an oil and gas cable-stayed pipeline bridge as the research subject. A full-scale finite element calculation model of the structural system is established using ANSYS Workbench 14.0 software, considering the stress characteristics and structural properties of the oil and gas pipeline. Additionally, a fluid–structure coupling effect finite element model is developed to account for the influence of medium within the pipeline. The analysis includes evaluating deformation, stress, strain, and other responses of the oil and gas pipeline subjected to seismic waves from different directions. The results indicate that the overall damage in the pipeline is consistent with maximum deformation, stress, and strain, concentrated at both the inlet/outlet ends and side spans; however, variations exist in terms of seismic damage depending on wave directionality. Furthermore, by considering interactions between various components within the oil and gas cable-stayed pipeline bridge’s structural system during strong earthquakes, this study analyzes failure mechanisms caused by the support–pipeline interaction as well as excessive displacement-induced failure patterns in bridge towers. Finally, a proposed failure mode for pipe bridge systems resulting from longitudinal slip between supports and pipelines, along with excessive displacement of bridge towers, is presented.
Intelligent Information System for Product Promotion in Internet Market
Authors: Lipianina-Honcharenko Khrystyna , Wolff Carsten , Sachenko Anatoliy , Desyatnyuk Oksana , Sachenko Svitlana , Kit Ivan
Published: August 2023

The influence of Internet marketing has grown so much that producers must now reconfigure their businesses from offline operation to online presence simply to meet user expectations. Thus, the development of an intelligent information system for product promotion online is quite relevant. It may lead to automatized selection of competing products and advertising content, a subsequent increase in the effectiveness of advertisements, and a decrease in costs for Internet ad placements. The paper presents the approach for creating an intelligent information system for product promotion in online spaces that makes it possible to reduce advertising costs. A methodology is based on outcomes of own previous studies as well as the flow nature and semantics of data streams. The framework of the proposed intelligent system includes the four key procedures and functions: intelligent formation of keywords for advertising content based on feedback, intelligent formation of product catalogs of online stores, generation of advertising content, and generation of improved advertising content and its targeting generation of text based on keywords. An experimental study confirmed that the effectiveness of posts on social media increased by at least 125%, while the price decreased by 87%.
Towards an Intelligent Intrusion Detection System to Detect Malicious Activities in Cloud Computing
Authors: Attou Hanaa , Mohy-eddine Mouaad , Guezzaz Azidine , Benkirane Said , Azrour Mourade , Alabdultif Abdulatif , Almusallam Naif
Published: August 2023

Several sectors have embraced Cloud Computing (CC) due to its inherent characteristics, such as scalability and flexibility. However, despite these advantages, security concerns remain a significant challenge for cloud providers. CC introduces new vulnerabilities, including unauthorized access, data breaches, and insider threats. The shared infrastructure of cloud systems makes them attractive targets for attackers. The integration of robust security mechanisms becomes crucial to address these security challenges. One such mechanism is an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which is fundamental in safeguarding networks and cloud environments. An IDS monitors network traffic and system activities. In recent years, researchers have explored the use of Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) approaches to enhance the performance of IDS. ML and DL algorithms have demonstrated their ability to analyze large volumes of data and make accurate predictions. By leveraging these techniques, IDSs can adapt to evolving threats, detect previous attacks, and reduce false positives. This article proposes a novel IDS model based on DL algorithms like the Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) and Random Forest (RF). The RF classifier is used for feature selection, and the RBFNN algorithm is used to detect intrusion in CC environments. Moreover, the datasets Bot-IoT and NSL-KDD have been utilized to validate our suggested approach. To evaluate the impact of our approach on an imbalanced dataset, we relied on Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient (MCC) as a normalized measure. Our method achieves accuracy (ACC) higher than 92% using the minimum features, and we managed to increase the MCC from 28% to 93%. The contributions of this study are twofold. Firstly, it presents a novel IDS model that leverages DL algorithms, demonstrating an improved ACC higher than 92% using minimal features and a substantial increase in MCC from 28% to 93%. Secondly, it addresses the security challenges specific to CC environments, offering a promising solution to enhance security in cloud systems. By integrating the proposed IDS model into cloud environments, cloud providers can benefit from enhanced security measures, effectively mitigating unauthorized access and potential data breaches. The utilization of DL algorithms, RBFNN, and RF has shown remarkable potential in detecting intrusions and strengthening the overall security posture of CC.
Consumers’ Experience and Satisfaction Using Augmented Reality Apps in E-Shopping: New Empirical Evidence
Authors: Voicu Mirela-Catrinel , Sîrghi Nicoleta , Toth Daniela Maria-Magdalena
Published: August 2023

As more consumers adopt virtual try-on apps, shops can offer their goods at any time. Optimizing the online presence of e-tailers is based on technological advances, especially in mobile networks and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps. This paper examines the factors influencing consumers’ experience and satisfaction using AR apps in makeup e-shopping. We employed constructs from models based on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) paradigm as a starting point for our research. We added fit confidence, social value, and innovativeness, used in similar research on AR apps, to the continued usage intention, perceived utilitarian value, immersion, and perceived hedonistic value. Our research used the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach from SmartPLS 4 for an online questionnaire. We obtained that all parameters impact consumers’ intention to utilize AR applications. Considering the total effect (direct and indirect), the order of influence is as follows: fit confidence, innovativeness, immersion, social value, perceived hedonistic value, and perceived utilitarian value. This paper’s key findings demonstrate that social value, fit assurance, perceived utilitarian value, and immersion are the most significant direct influences on customer behavior using AR apps in makeup e-shopping.
Improved Pulsed-Jet Cleaning of Cone Filter Cartridges Using an Annular-Slit Nozzle
Authors: Xing Zhenqiang , Wang Gang , Guo Jiace , Lu Wenyong , Zhao Yi , Wu Quanquan , Li Jianlong
Published: August 2023

There is a problem with the insufficient cleaning of the dust filter cartridge by the pulsed-jet cleaning method. This paper examines the improvement in the pulse-jet performance of cone filter cartridges achieved by using an annular-slit nozzle. Off-line pulse jet experiments were conducted to study the influence of initial compressed air pressure, jet distance, and Venturi tube on injection pressure. This paper compared the filtration performance of conventional nozzles versus slit nozzles by conducting an online dust filtration-cleaning experiment and investigating the effect of a Venturi tube. The results demonstrated that the jet produced by the slit nozzle had a bigger surface area in contact with the surrounding air, enhancing the entrainment effect, boosting the overall pulsed-jet pressure, and significantly elevating the pressure in the upper and middle section of the cartridge, particularly in the upper section. In both common nozzle and slit nozzle cases, the pulsed-jet intensity initially increased and then decreased with the jet distance. The corresponding optimal jet distances were 500 mm and 400 mm, respectively. The slit nozzle provoked an increment of 16% and 44% in the pulsed-jet intensity and uniformity (to 619 Pa and 0.19), respectively. And there was an 8% reduction in residual pressure drop, a 6% improvement in fallen dust mass, and a 7% improvement in comprehensive filtration performance. The fallen dust mass produced by a single cleaning of the slit nozzle was 0.64 kg and the comprehensive filtration performance was 0.18. While the addition of a Venturi tube improved the cleaning of the filter cartridge, it also led to a higher filtration pressure drop in the dust collector and reduced comprehensive filtration performance.
Inter-Comparison of Radon Measurements from a Commercial Beta-Attenuation Monitor and ANSTO Dual Flow Loop Monitor
Authors: Riley Matthew L. , Chambers Scott D. , Williams Alastair G.
Published: August 2023

Radon (Rn) is a radioactive, colourless, odourless, noble gas that decays rapidly. It’s most stable isotope, 222Rn, has a half-life of around 3.8 days. Atmospheric radon measurements play an important role in understanding our atmospheric environments. Naturally occurring radon can be used as an atmospheric tracer for airmass tracking, to assist in modelling boundary layer development, and is important for understanding background radiation levels and personal exposure to natural radiation. The daughter products from radon decay also play an important role when measuring fine particle pollution using beta-attenuation monitors (BAM). Beta radiation from the 222Rn decay chain interferes with BAM measurements of fine particles; thus, some BAMs incorporate radon measurements into their sampling systems. BAMs are ubiquitous in air quality monitoring networks globally and present a hitherto unexplored source of dense, continuous radon measurements. In this paper, we compare in situ real world 222Rn measurements from a high quality ANSTO dual flow loop, dual filter radon detector, and the radon measurements made by a commercial BAM instrument (Thermo 5014i). We find strong correlations between systems for hourly measurements (R2 = 0.91), daily means (R2 = 0.95), hour of day (R2 = 0.72–0.94), and by month (R2 = 0.83–0.94). The BAM underestimates radon by 22–39%; however, the linear response of the BAM measurements implies that they could be corrected to reflect the ANSTO standard measurements. Regardless, the radon measurements from BAMs could be used with correction to estimate local mixed layer development. Though only a 12-month study at a single location, our results suggest that radon measurements from BAMs can complement more robust measurements from standard monitors, augment radon measurements across broad regions of the world, and provide useful information for studies using radon as a tracer, particularly for boundary layer development and airmass identification.
Characteristics of Biometeorological Conditions in Poland during the Long May Weekend Based on the Universal Thermal Climate Index
Authors: Tomczyk Arkadiusz Marek , Mendel Karolina
Published: August 2023

The study objective was to characterise biometeorological conditions during the long May weekend (1–3 May) in Poland in the period 1966–2020 and determine baric conditions causing their variability. The conducted research employed data such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and total cloudiness. The aforementioned data were collected at 12:00 UTC. In the first year of the conducted study, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was calculated for the period of 1–3 May in the years 1966–2020. Next, circulation conditions were analysed in the designated groups based on daily sea level atmospheric pressure values and isobaric surface height of 500 hPa. This study evidenced the occurrence of variable biometeorological conditions during the long May weekend in Poland. The lowest index values were recorded at the coast of the Baltic Sea and in Northeast Poland, and the highest in the southern and western regions. On the analysed days of May in the years 1966–2020, days classified as days with no thermal stress were recorded the most frequently, followed by days with cold stress, and days with warm stress that occurred sporadically. People planning tourist activity on the analysed days should be prepared for diverse biometeorological conditions, from those causing cold stress to those causing heat stress.
Fast Models for Predicting Pollutant Dispersion inside Urban Canopies
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Furtak-Cole Eden , Ngan Keith
Published: August 2023

A fast pollutant dispersion model for urban canopies is developed by coupling mean wind profiles to a parameterisation of turbulent diffusion and solving the time-dependent advection–diffusion equation. The performance of a simplified, coarse-grained representation of the velocity field is investigated. Spatially averaged mean wind profiles within local averaging regions or repeating units are predicted by solving the three-dimensional Poisson equation for a set of discrete vortex sheets. For each averaging region, the turbulent diffusion is parameterised in terms of the mean wind profile using empirical constants derived from large-eddy simulation (LES). Nearly identical results are obtained whether the turbulent fluctuations are specified explicitly or an effective diffusivity is used in their place: either version of the fast dispersion model shows much better agreement with LES than does the Gaussian plume model (e.g., the normalized mean square error inside the canopy is several times smaller). Passive scalar statistics for a regular cubic building array show improved agreement with LES when wind profiles vary in the horizontal. The current implementation is around 50 times faster than LES. With its combination of computational efficiency and moderate accuracy, the fast model may be suitable for time-critical applications such as emergency dispersion modelling.
A Sketch-Based Fine-Grained Proportional Integral Queue Management Method
Authors: Zhu Haiting , Sun Hu , Jiang Yixin , He Gaofeng , Zhang Lu , Lu Yin
Published: August 2023

The phenomenon “bufferbloat” occurs when the buffers of the network intermediary nodes fill up, causing long queuing delays. This has a significant negative impact on the quality of service of network applications, particularly those that are sensitive to time delay. Many active queue management (AQM) algorithms have been proposed to overcome this problem. Those AQMs attempt to maintain minimal queuing delays and good throughput by purposefully dropping packets at network intermediary nodes. However, the existing AQM algorithms mostly drop packets randomly based on a certain metric such as queue length or queuing delay, which fails to achieve fine-grained differentiation of data streams. In this paper, we propose a fine-grained sketch-based proportional integral queue management algorithm S-PIE, which uses an additional measurement structure Sketch for packet frequency share judgment based on the existing PIE algorithm for the fine-grained differentiation between data streams and adjust the drop policy for a differentiated packet drop. Experimental results on the NS-3 simulation platform show that the S-PIE algorithm achieves lower average queue length and RTT and higher fairness than PIE, RED, and CoDel algorithms while maintaining a similar throughput performance, maintaining network availability and stability, and improving network quality of service.
Cerianthus lloydii (Ceriantharia: Anthozoa: Cnidaria): New Status and New Perspectives
Authors: Molodtsova Tina N. , Moskalenko Viktoria N. , Lipukhin Elizabeth V. , Antokhina Tatiana I. , Ananeva Marina S. , Simakova Ulyana V.
Published: August 2023

Subclass Ceriantharia is a well-defined and probably ancient group of marine benthic organisms renowned for their bilateral symmetry, which is reflected in the arrangement of tentacles and mesenteries. Four species of Ceriantharia have been reported in the Arctic, including Cerianthus lloydii Gosse, 1859, also known from the Northern Atlantic and Northern Pacific. The integrity of this species was questioned in the literature, so we performed a molecular study of C. lloydii from several geographically distant locations using 18S and COI genes. The phylogenetic reconstructions show that specimens of C. lloydii form a single group with high support (>0.98), subdivided into distinctive clades: (1) specimens from Northern Europe, the Black and Barents seas, and (2) specimens from the White, Kara, Laptev, and Bering seas and also the Canadian Arctic and the Labrador Sea available via the BOLD database. There are several BOLD COI sequences of Pachycerianthus borealis (Verrill, 1873), which form a third clade of the C. lloydii group, sister to the European and Arctic clades. Based on low similarity (COI 86–87%) between C. lloydii and the type species of the genus Cerianthus Delle Chiaje, 1841—C. membranaceus (Gmelin, 1791), we propose a new status for the genus Synarachnactis Carlgren, 1924, and a new family Synarachnactidae to accommodate C. lloydii.
Persistent Hypoxia with Intermittent Aggravation Causes Imbalance in Smad3/Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor Signaling with Consequent Endothelial Senescence and Pulmonary Arterial Remodeling
Authors: Hu Jiaxin , Singh Prachi , Li Jingrui , Zhang Jing , Li Fei , Zhang Hehe , Xie Jiang
Published: August 2023

Loss of Smad3 and the consequent activation of myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) are associated with vascular pathologies. This study aimed to examine the impact of persistent hypoxia with intermittent aggravation (PI hypoxia) on cellular senescence and pulmonary arterial remodeling mediated by the Smad3/MRTF imbalance. We examined the effects of PI hypoxia on the Smad3/MRTF pathway and cellular senescence using human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) and in vivo studies in rats. The senescent degree was evaluated using β-galactosidase staining, p16 quantitation and the measurement of senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Structural data in the pathological analysis of pulmonary artery remodeling were collected. Compared to the control, HPAECs and pulmonary tissue from rats exposed to PI hypoxia showed a significantly higher senescent degree, lower expression of Smad3, and higher MRTF levels. The overexpression of Smad3 significantly mitigated HPAECs senescence in vitro. Further, treatment with CCG-203971, which inhibits MRTF, increased Smad3 levels and reduced β-galactosidase positive cells in rat lung tissue. This intervention also alleviated PI hypoxia-induced pathological changes, including remodeling indices of pulmonary arterial thickening, muscularization, and collagen formation. In conclusion, imbalanced Smad3/MRTF signaling is linked to PI hypoxia-induced senescence and pulmonary arterial remodeling, making it a potential therapeutic target for patients with sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of the Tumor Stroma in Colorectal Cancer: Insights into Disease Progression and Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Shakhpazyan Nikolay , Mikhaleva Liudmila , Bedzhanyan Arkady , Gioeva Zarina , Sadykhov Nikolay , Mikhalev Alexander , Atiakshin Dmitri , Buchwalow Igor , Tiemann Markus , Orekhov Alexander
Published: August 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health burden worldwide and is the third most common type of cancer. The early detection and diagnosis of CRC is critical to improve patient outcomes. This review explores the intricate interplay between the tumor microenvironment, stromal interactions, and the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer. The review begins by assessing the gut microbiome’s influence on CRC development, emphasizing its association with gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The role of the Wnt signaling pathway in CRC tumor stroma is scrutinized, elucidating its impact on disease progression. Tumor budding, its effect on tumor stroma, and the implications for patient prognosis are investigated. The review also identifies conserved oncogenic signatures (COS) within CRC stroma and explores their potential as therapeutic targets. Lastly, the seed and soil hypothesis is employed to contextualize metastasis, accentuating the significance of both tumor cells and the surrounding stroma in metastatic propensity. This review highlights the intricate interdependence between CRC cells and their microenvironment, providing valuable insights into prospective therapeutic approaches targeting tumor–stroma interactions.
Cell-Based Therapy for Urethral Regeneration: A Narrative Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Jin Yangwang , Zhao Weixin , Yang Ming , Fang Wenzhuo , Gao Guo , Wang Ying , Fu Qiang
Published: August 2023

Urethral stricture is a common urological disease that seriously affects quality of life. Urethroplasty with grafts is the primary treatment, but the autografts used in clinical practice have unavoidable disadvantages, which have contributed to the development of urethral tissue engineering. Using various types of seed cells in combination with biomaterials to construct a tissue-engineered urethra provides a new treatment method to repair long-segment urethral strictures. To date, various cell types have been explored and applied in the field of urethral regeneration. However, no optimal strategy for the source, selection, and application conditions of the cells is available. This review systematically summarizes the use of various cell types in urethral regeneration and their characteristics in recent years and discusses possible future directions of cell-based therapies.
Identification of CD44 as a Reliable Biomarker for Glioblastoma Invasion: Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopic Analysis of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Fluorescence
Authors: Inoue Akihiro , Ohnishi Takanori , Nishikawa Masahiro , Watanabe Hideaki , Kusakabe Kosuke , Taniwaki Mashio , Yano Hajime , Ohtsuka Yoshihiro , Matsumoto Shirabe , Suehiro Satoshi , Yamashita Daisuke , Shigekawa Seiji , Takahashi Hisaaki , Kitazawa Riko , Tanaka Junya , Kunieda Takeharu
Published: August 2023

Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is largely attributed to peritumoral infiltration of tumor cells. As higher CD44 expression in the tumor periphery correlates with higher risk of GBM invasion, the present study analyzed the relationship between CD44 expression and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based invasiveness of GBM on a large scale. We also quantitatively evaluated GBM invasion using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) spectroscopy to investigate the relationship between CD44 expression and tumor invasiveness as evaluated by intraoperative 5-ALA intensity. Based on MRI, GBM was classified as high-invasive type in 28 patients and low-invasive type in 22 patients. High-invasive type expressed CD44 at a significantly higher level than low-invasive type and was associated with worse survival. To quantitatively analyze GBM invasiveness, the relationship between tumor density in the peritumoral area and the spectroscopic intensity of 5-ALA was investigated. Spectroscopy showed that the 5-ALA intensity of infiltrating tumor cells correlated with tumor density as represented by the Ki-67 staining index. No significant correlation between CD44 and degree of 5-ALA-based invasiveness of GBM was found, but invasiveness of GBM as evaluated by 5-ALA matched the classification from MRI in all except one case, indicating that CD44 expression at the GBM periphery could provide a reliable biomarker for invasiveness in GBM.
Advances on Liquid Biopsy Analysis for Glioma Diagnosis
Authors: Skouras Panagiotis , Markouli Mariam , Kalamatianos Theodosis , Stranjalis George , Korkolopoulou Penelope , Piperi Christina
Published: August 2023

Gliomas comprise the most frequent primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, characterized by remarkable genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity, difficulty in monitoring, and increased relapse and mortality rates. Tissue biopsy is an established method of tumor cell collection and analysis that enables diagnosis, classification of different tumor types, and prediction of prognosis upon confirmation of tumor’s location for surgical removal. However, it is an invasive and often challenging procedure that cannot be used for frequent patient screening, detection of mutations, disease monitoring, or resistance to therapy. To this end, the minimally invasive procedure of liquid biopsy has emerged, allowing effortless tumor sampling and enabling continuous monitoring. It is considered a novel preferable way to obtain faster data on potential tumor risk, personalized diagnosis, prognosis, and recurrence evaluation. The purpose of this review is to describe the advances on liquid biopsy for glioma diagnosis and management, indicating several biomarkers that can be utilized to analyze tumor characteristics, such as cell-free DNA (cfDNA), cell-free RNA (cfRNA), circulating proteins, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and exosomes. It further addresses the benefit of combining liquid biopsy with radiogenomics to facilitate early and accurate diagnoses, enable precise prognostic assessments, and facilitate real-time disease monitoring, aiming towards more optimal treatment decisions.
The Relationship between Age, Gender, BMI, Diet, Salivary pH and Periodontal Pathogenic Bacteria in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Motoc Georgiana Veronica , Juncar Raluca Iulia , Moca Abel Emanuel , Motoc Ovidiu , Vaida Luminița Ligia , Juncar Mihai
Published: August 2023

The oral microbiome can be influenced by many factors and its dysbiosis can have negative effects on oral and general health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the intensity of 11 periodontal pathogenic microorganisms identified in the oral cavity of a sample of children and adolescents from Oradea, Romania and to investigate the association of some variables (age, gender, body mass index, diet, and salivary pH) with the identified microorganisms. The cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of clinically healthy patients under the age of 18 years from Oradea, Romania. For the analysis of the periodontal pathogens, the micro-IDent kit was used, which determines 11 bacterial markers for periodontitis and peri-implantitis. The kit is based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Bacterial sampling was carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A total of 60 children (23 male, 37 female) were included in this study, and were divided into three different age categories. No statistically significant results were identified for gender. However statistically significant results were obtained for other variables. Positive results for Prevotella intermedia and Bacteroides forsythus were associated with ages between 13 and 18 years, while positive results for Capnocytophaga spp. were associated with ages between 2 and 5 years. Positive results for Prevotella intermedia, Bacteroides forsythus, Peptostreptococcus micros, Campylobacter rectus and Eikenella corodens were associated with an overweight BMI. Negative results for Prevotella intermedia and Eikenella corodens were associated with a natural diet in the first 6 months of life. Positive results for Fusobacterium nucleatum and Campylobacter rectus were associated with an acidic salivary pH. In this study, the identified periodontal pathogens were associated with age, body mass index, diet in the first 6 months of life, and salivary pH.
Tall Cell Carcinoma with Reversed Polarity: Case Report of a Rare Special Type of Breast Cancer and Review of the Literature
Authors: Elghobashy Maiar , Jenkins Stephanie , Shulman Zachary , O’Neil Anne , Kouneli Sofia , Shaaban Abeer M.
Published: August 2023

Background: Tall cell carcinoma of the breast with reversed polarity (TCCRP) is a rare type of invasive breast cancer with overlapping features with papillary thyroid carcinoma and a characteristic molecular profile. Few cases have been reported in the literature since the first case was described in 2003. Case presentation: We present the case of a 41-year-old female with a symptomatic left breast lump. Image-guided core biopsy was diagnosed as triple-negative apocrine carcinoma. Surgical excision revealed an invasive carcinoma with solid papillary pattern, nuclei arranged away from the basement membrane (reversed polarity) and luminal eosinophilic colloid-like material. The tumour was GATA3-, CK5-, CK14- and CK7-positive and TTF1-negative. Specialist opinion and the identification of hotspot mutations in the IDH2 p.Arg172 gene via PCR confirmed the diagnosis of TCCRP. Conclusions: TCCRP is a relatively recently recognised papillary epithelial neoplasm with characteristic morphological features and molecular profile. Due to its rarity, TCCRP can be diagnostically challenging, and features can be mistaken for benign and malignant lesions. Accurate diagnosis is important in effective treatment of this indolent malignant triple-negative breast cancer, which carries an excellent prognosis.
At the Crossroads between Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorders—The Case of Bigorexia Nervosa
Authors: Vasiliu Octavian
Published: August 2023

Bigorexia nervosa (BN) is a controversial nosological entity, considered either a feeding/eating disorder (FED) or a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This rapid review aims to explore the characteristic features of BN and identify evidence-based therapeutic interventions for this condition. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar) were searched for relevant information about BN, and 26 reports were reviewed in detail. The results showed that bodybuilders, weightlifters, and other populations involved in athletic activities are the most vulnerable to the onset of this disorder. Patients with BN should also be screened for physical and psychiatric comorbidities and complications, such as anabolic steroid use disorder, physical exercise addiction, and depressive or anxiety disorders. The main differential diagnoses for BN are schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bodily distress disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorders. Using validated screening instruments is considered very important from a clinical perspective, with the aim of providing early identification of this disorder. Therapeutic interventions for patients with BN are still in the early phases of development, and no specific pharmacological treatment has yet been identified. Since it is similar to the obsessive–compulsive spectrum, cognitive behavioral therapy has been suggested as a useful intervention; however, it has not yet been validated in large-scale clinical trials. In conclusion, based on the reviewed data, clarifying the concept of BN is of practical importance for constructing adequate prevention strategies and validating proper therapeutic interventions.
Neural Differences in Relation to Risk Preferences during Reward Processing: An Event-Related Potential Study
Authors: Naghel Sedigheh , Vallesi Antonino , Sabouri Moghadam Hassan , Nazari Mohammad Ali
Published: August 2023

Inter-individual variability in risk preferences can be reflected in reward processing differences, making people risk-seekers or risk-averse. However, the neural correlates of reward processing in individuals with risk preferences remain unknown. Consequently, this event-related potential (ERP) study examined and compared electrophysiological correlates associated with different stages of reward processing in risk-seeking and risk-averse groups. Individuals scoring in the bottom and top 20% on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) were deemed risk-averse and risk-seeking, respectively. Participants engaged in a gambling task while their electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. Risk-seekers tended to choose high-risk options significantly more frequently than low-risk options, whereas risk-averse individuals chose low-risk options significantly more frequently than high-risk ones. All participants selected the low-risk alternative more slowly than the high-risk option. During the anticipation stage, the low-risk option elicited a relatively attenuated stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN) response from risk-seekers compared to risk-averse participants. During the outcome stage, feedback-related negativity (FRN) increased in risk-seekers responding to greater losses but not in risk-averse participants. These results indicate that ERP components can detect differences in reward processing during risky situations. In addition, these results suggest that motivation and cognitive control, along with their associated neural processes, may play a central role in differences in reward-based behavior between the two groups.
Exergy Analysis of Transcritical CO2 Air-Source Heat Pump with Honeycomb Gas Cooler
Authors: Zhang Yujia , Wang Zhihua , Zhang Pengfei , Jiang Xin , Wang Fenghao , Huan Chao , Ma Zhenjun
Published: August 2023

In order to build an efficient and energy-saving CO2 heat pump system and to improve the heat transfer efficiency of the gas cooler, a novel honeycomb gas cooler with a compact structure, high heat transfer efficiency, and high pressure-bearing capacity was proposed in our previous work. To clarify the components in the system that need further optimization and to improve its performance, an exergy analysis of a transcritical CO2 air-source heat pump system with the novel honeycomb gas cooler is studied in this paper. Based on the second law of thermodynamics, the exergy model of each component in the heat pump system is established, and the irreversible loss of each component is analyzed. In addition, the degree of energy loss of the honeycomb gas cooler is clarified, and the possibility and direction of system optimization are pointed out. The results show that the exergy efficiency of the system is 35.33% under nominal operating conditions, and there is a lot of room for improvement in its energy utilization. The three components with the largest exergy destruction percentage are the compressor, throttle valve, and evaporator in the order of 36.13%, 22.90%, and 19.51%, respectively. These components with high exergy destruction percentages are the main reasons for the large irreversible losses of the system.
A Novel Approach to Discovering Hygrothermal Transfer Patterns in Wooden Building Exterior Walls
Authors: Zhu Yurong , Song Wei , Wang Xiaohuan , Rybarczyk Yves , Nyberg Roger G. , Fei Benhua
Published: August 2023

To maintain the life of building materials, it is critical to understand the hygrothermal transfer mechanisms (HTM) between the walls and the layers inside the walls. Due to the extreme instability of weather data, the actual data models of the HTM—the data being collected for actual buildings using modern sensor technologies—would appear to be a great difference from any theoretical models, in particular, for wood building materials. In this paper, we aim to consider a variety of data analysis tools for hygrothermal transfer features. A novel approach for peak and valley detection is proposed based on the discrete differentiation of the original data. Not to be limited to the measure of peak and valley delays for HTM, we propose a cross-correlation analysis to obtain the general delay between two daily time series, which seems to be representative of the delay in the daily time series. Furthermore, the seasonal pattern of the hygrothermal transfer combined with the correlation analysis reveals a reasonable relationship between the delays and the indoor and outdoor climates.
Deep-Learning-Based Dose Predictor for Glioblastoma–Assessing the Sensitivity and Robustness for Dose Awareness in Contouring
Authors: Poel Robert , Kamath Amith J. , Willmann Jonas , Andratschke Nicolaus , Ermiş Ekin , Aebersold Daniel M. , Manser Peter , Reyes Mauricio
Published: August 2023

External beam radiation therapy requires a sophisticated and laborious planning procedure. To improve the efficiency and quality of this procedure, machine-learning models that predict these dose distributions were introduced. The most recent dose prediction models are based on deep-learning architectures called 3D U-Nets that give good approximations of the dose in 3D almost instantly. Our purpose was to train such a 3D dose prediction model for glioblastoma VMAT treatment and test its robustness and sensitivity for the purpose of quality assurance of automatic contouring. From a cohort of 125 glioblastoma (GBM) patients, VMAT plans were created according to a clinical protocol. The initial model was trained on a cascaded 3D U-Net. A total of 60 cases were used for training, 15 for validation and 20 for testing. The prediction model was tested for sensitivity to dose changes when subject to realistic contour variations. Additionally, the model was tested for robustness by exposing it to a worst-case test set containing out-of-distribution cases. The initially trained prediction model had a dose score of 0.94 Gy and a mean DVH (dose volume histograms) score for all structures of 1.95 Gy. In terms of sensitivity, the model was able to predict the dose changes that occurred due to the contour variations with a mean error of 1.38 Gy. We obtained a 3D VMAT dose prediction model for GBM with limited data, providing good sensitivity to realistic contour variations. We tested and improved the model’s robustness by targeted updates to the training set, making it a useful technique for introducing dose awareness in the contouring evaluation and quality assurance process.
Adversarial Attacks on Medical Image Classification
Authors: Tsai Min-Jen , Lin Ping-Yi , Lee Ming-En
Published: August 2023

Due to the growing number of medical images being produced by diverse radiological imaging techniques, radiography examinations with computer-aided diagnoses could greatly assist clinical applications. However, an imaging facility with just a one-pixel inaccuracy will lead to the inaccurate prediction of medical images. Misclassification may lead to the wrong clinical decision. This scenario is similar to the adversarial attacks on deep learning models. Therefore, one-pixel and multi-pixel level attacks on a Deep Neural Network (DNN) model trained on various medical image datasets are investigated in this study. Common multiclass and multi-label datasets are examined for one-pixel type attacks. Moreover, different experiments are conducted in order to determine how changing the number of pixels in the image may affect the classification performance and robustness of diverse DNN models. The experimental results show that it was difficult for the medical images to survive the pixel attacks, raising the issue of the accuracy of medical image classification and the importance of the model’s ability to resist these attacks for a computer-aided diagnosis.
Comparative Analysis of Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter, Propensity Score Study
Authors: Kim Ji , Nam Hee-Chul , Kim Chang-Wook , Cho Hee , Yoo Jae-Sung , Han Ji , Jang Jeong , Choi Jong , Yoon Seung , Yang Hyun , Bae Si , Kim Suho , Oh Jung , Chun Ho , Jeon Chang , Ahn Jaegyoon , Sung Pil
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to compare the prognosis and characteristics of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) combination therapy and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). We retrospectively assessed 193 and 114 patients treated with HAIC and AB combination therapy, respectively, between January 2018 and May 2023. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients treated with AB combination therapy was significantly superior to that of patients treated with HAIC (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in overall survival (OS). After propensity score matching, our data revealed no significant differences in OS and PFS between patients who received AB combination therapy and those who received HAIC therapy (p = 0.5617 and 0.3522, respectively). In conclusion, our propensity score study reveals no significant differences in OS and PFS between patients treated with AB combination therapy and those treated with HAIC.
Whole Exome-Wide Association Identifies Rare Variants in GALNT9 Associated with Middle Eastern Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Risk
Authors: Bu Rong , Siraj Abdul K. , Azam Saud , Iqbal Kaleem , Qadri Zeeshan , Al-Rasheed Maha , Al-Sobhi Saif S. , Al-Dayel Fouad , Al-Kuraya Khawla S.
Published: August 2023

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the commonest thyroid cancer. The majority of inherited causes of PTC remain elusive. However, understanding the genetic underpinnings and origins remains a challenging endeavor. An exome-wide association study was performed to identify rare germline variants in coding regions associated with PTC risk in the Middle Eastern population. By analyzing exome-sequencing data from 249 PTC patients (cases) and 1395 individuals without any known cancer (controls), GALNT9 emerged as being strongly associated with rare inactivating variants (RIVs) (4/249 cases vs. 1/1395 controls, OR = 22.75, p = 5.09 × 10−5). Furthermore, three genes, TRIM40, ARHGAP23, and SOX4, were enriched for rare damaging variants (RDVs) at the exome-wide threshold (p < 2.5 × 10−6). An additional seven genes (VARS1, ZBED9, PRRC2A, VWA7, TRIM31, TRIM40, and COL8A2) were associated with a Middle Eastern PTC risk based on the sequence kernel association test (SKAT). This study underscores the potential of GALNT9 and other implicated genes in PTC predisposition, illuminating the need for large collaborations and innovative approaches to understand the genetic heterogeneity of PTC predisposition.
Genetics of ABCB1 in Cancer
Authors: Skinner Katie T. , Palkar Antara M. , Hong Andrew L.
Published: August 2023

ABCB1, also known as MDR1, is a gene that encodes P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a membrane-associated ATP-dependent transporter. P-gp is widely expressed in many healthy tissues—in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, and at the blood–brain barrier. P-gp works to pump xenobiotics such as toxins and drugs out of cells. P-gp is also commonly upregulated across multiple cancer types such as ovarian, breast, and lung. Overexpression of ABCB1 has been linked to the development of chemotherapy resistance across these cancers. In vitro work across a wide range of drug-sensitive and -resistant cancer cell lines has shown that upon treatment with chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel, ABCB1 is upregulated. This upregulation is caused in part by a variety of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. This includes single-nucleotide variants that lead to enhanced P-gp ATPase activity without increasing ABCB1 RNA and protein levels. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms leading to ABCB1 upregulation and P-gp-enhanced ATPase activity in the setting of chemotherapy resistance across a variety of cancers.