bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A thrombosed left ventricular aneurysm simulating an intra -myocardial dissection hematoma: a diagnostic dilemma
Authors: Sun Zhenxing , Cai Yu , Zhang Ziming , Zhang Li , Xie Mingxing
Published: January 2024

A thrombosed LV aneurysm simulating an Intra-myocardial dissection hematoma (IDH) is a rarely reported condition. We describe a rare case of a 52-year-old man suffering from a thrombosed LV aneurysm, who was initially diagnosed as an IDH by conventional echocardiography. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with thrombosed LV aneurysm through multimodal imaging. We discuss the diagnostic process and surgery of the thrombosed LV aneurysm.
Extrachromosomal DNA Couples with ATM-mediated DNA Damage Response for Genome Instability in Tumors
Authors: Gan Haiyun , Kang Xing , Li Xinran , Zhou Jiaqi , Zhang Yang , Hu Suili , Deng Zhiwen , Wu Yuchun , Wang Nan , Xu Yajing , Chen Liangming , Chen Jinyi , Yue Zhen , Yao Yuan , Yang Xinran , Yao Sitong , Tian Congcong , Wen Qing , Liang Xiaoyan , Yan Lixia , Depies Olivia M , Chan Kui ming , Liang Xiaohuan , Dai Junbiao , Wang Zhiquan , Yu Chuanhe , Li Gang , Liu Xiangyu
Published: January 2024

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) drives the evolution of cancer cells by conferring survival advantages over normal cells. However, the functional importance of ecDNA replication and maintenance is yet to be evaluated, and the molecular components that contributed to these processes remain largely unknown. Here, using CRISPR-C (circularization of genes and chromosomes by CRISPR) technology and synthetic circular DNA mimicking ecDNA identified in tumors, we generated ecDNA-positive (ecDNA+) cell models. Using these models, we identified the proteins involved in ecDNA replication and maintenance and found DNA damage response (DDR)-related pathways were significantly enriched. We further demonstrated that ecDNA replication led to increased DDR and genome instability and DDR was also essential for ecDNA maintenance, consistent with observations that ecDNA+ tumors exhibited higher DDR scores than ecDNA-negative (ecDNA–) tumors in patients. ATM, MDC1, and CHK2, but not ATR, were activated in ecDNA+ cells compared to ecDNA– cells. Moreover, ecDNA+ cells were more sensitive to ATM and CHK2 inhibition. We further found that type II topoisomerase TOP2B and DNA ligase III (LIG3) were critical regulators for ecDNA replication and maintenance and related DDR. In summary, our findings of the reciprocal interactions between ecDNA and DDR provide new insights into detection and therapy for ecDNA+ tumors.
Carbon Pricing Drives Critical Transition to Green Growth
Authors: Mengesha Isaak , Akkerman Joos , Roy Debraj
Published: January 2024

Carbon pricing is a crucial tool in the efforts to address and mitigate climate change. In 2014, only 12% of carbon emissions fell under carbon pricing at USD7 per tonne; now, about 23% of greenhouse gas emissions are priced at USD32 per tonne. However, the regressive nature of carbon pricing can disproportionately affect low-income populations and potentially reduce political support and public awareness. This raises questions about the dynamics of increasing carbon pricing rates and the optimal balance between inequality, emissions, and economic growth. We find that a critical level of carbon pricing can induce tipping points; incentivizing technological adoption and fuel-switching behavior of energy producers. By combining carbon pricing with redistributive measures at these tipping points, we demonstrate that emissions can be rapidly reduced while maintaining economic growth and decreasing inequality. We also introduce real-time metrics for detecting sector-specific tipping points, without requiring counterfactual analysis. Our research has important implications for the ongoing debate around the relationship between economic growth, inequality, and environmental sustainability.
Parametric study on the decarbonization potential of structural system and concrete mix design choices for mid-rise concrete buildings
Authors: Hafez Hisham , Bajić Petar , Aidarov Stanislav , Malija Xhemsi , Drewniok Michal , Purnell Phil , Tošić Nikola
Published: January 2024

Mid-rise reinforced concrete buildings are projected to continue being the predominant typology for urban development. Thus, reducing the carbon footprint of such buildings is critical for achieving a sustainable built environment. Reducing the amount of concrete and steel in a building through structural and mix design optimization is identified as a primary resource efficiency strategy. This paper is among the first to present evidence of the decarbonization potential of these dematerialization strategies on a building level. The study combines structural design choices such as slab system design, steel reinforcement optimization and span width with materials-based strategies, such as low binder concrete and low-carbon binders. For each scenario, material quantities are calculated following design prescriptions by EN1992-1-1 while state-of-the art life cycle inventory data are adopted to calculate the carbon footprint. Results show that shifting towards more efficient structural systems (i.e., waffle slab system) could save up to 20% of the carbon footprint on the building level compared to more traditional systems, such as slab on beams and flat slabs. In addition, reducing the spans from 7.5 to 5 m can save up to 20% more. Finally, the use of low-clinker cement in low-binder concrete can save another 50% in terms of CO2 impact per built-up area. Realistically, results of the case study concluded that implementing these three strategies could reduce the typical 232 kg CO2e/m2 value of the carbon footprint of structural elements of a mid-rise building up to only 58 kg CO2e/m2, i.e., a four-fold reduction.
Adjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in locally advanced colorectal cancer: A propensity score matched cohort study
Authors: Yang Junbo , Sun Kai , Mou Tingyu , Liu Hao , Chen Xinhua , Deng Haijun
Published: January 2024

Background
The benefit of the application of adjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to the prognosis of locally advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is unclear.
Methods
In total, 3008 consecutive CRC patients who underwent resection at Nanfang Hospital from September 2013 to May 2018 were analyzed. After Propensity score matching (PSM), the HIPEC group (n = 188) and control group (n = 188) were compared by surgical outcomes, complications, and long-term survival. Uni- and multivariate analyses were conducted to confirm the role of HIPEC in the prognosis.
Results
After PSM, there were no statistically significant differences in all the baseline parameters between two groups. However, the operation time in the HIPEC group was longer. Regarding recovery courses, the HIPEC group takes more time. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding intra-abdominal infection, ileus, intestinal fistula, anastomotic leakage, lymphatic leakage, pancreatic fistula, uroschesis, pulmonary infection, urinary infection, and cerebrovascular events. However, wound infection was more severe in the HIPEC group than in the control group. The 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates, respectively, were 87.2% and 81.7% in the HIPEC group, and 80.5% and 75.2% in the control group. Multivariate analyses revealed that HIPEC, ASA score > II, laparoscopic approach and advanced tumor T and N stages were independent predictive factors for superior OS and DFS.
Conclusions
Adjuvant HIPEC with more reasonable regimens, cycles, and duration could independently improve the prognosis in patients with locally advanced CRC.
Valence-engineered catalysis-selectivity regulation of molybdenum oxide nanozyme for acute kidney injury therapy and post-cure assessment
Authors: Wang Leyu , Li Liangyu , Liu Xiaotong , Liu Guanghe , Xu Suying , Hu Gaofei
Published: January 2024

The optimization of the enzyme-like catalytic selectivity of nanozymes for specific reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related applications is significant, and meanwhile the real-time monitoring of ROS is really crucial for tracking the therapeutic process. Herein, we present a mild oxidation valence-engineering strategy to modulate the valence states of Mo in Pluronic F127-coated MoO3 − x nanozymes (denoted as MF-x, x: oxidation time) in a controlled manner aiming to improve their specificity of H2O2-associated catalytic reactions for specific therapy and monitoring of ROS-related diseases. Experimentally, MF-0 (Mo average valence 4.64) and MF-10 (Mo average valence 5.68) exhibit exclusively optimal catalase (CAT)- or peroxidase (POD)-like activity, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations verify that the energy barriers from H2O2 to O2 and ·OH for MF-0 are 1.84 eV and 2.24 eV, while for MF-10 showing as 2.13 eV and 1.00 eV, disclosing the mechanism of the H2O2 activation pathway on the Mo-based nanozymes. Furthermore, MF-0 poses a strong potential in acute kidney injury (AKI) treatment, achieving excellent therapeutic outcomes in vitro and in vivo. Notably, the ROS-responsive photoacoustic imaging (PAI) signal of MF-0 during treatment guarantees real-time monitoring of the therapeutic effect and post-cure assessment in vivo, providing a highly desirable non-invasive diagnostic approach for ROS-related diseases.
Pipeline Multi-type High Consequence Area Identification Based on Mask R-CNN with Fused Attention Mechanisms
Authors: dai xiaojun , huang weiyi , xiao jianghong , wei peng , ming xi
Published: January 2024

High-consequence Area identification is a fundamental work and the first link in pipeline integrity management, but the current traditional identification technologies and methods generally have low efficiency, high cost, poor timeliness, low accuracy and other problems. For this reason, this paper proposes an all-type identification method of pipeline high consequence area based on the improved algorithm Mask R-CNN. Firstly, the pixel-level instance segmentation of remote sensing images using annotation tools generates masks for high recognition accuracy, and combines the training and validation datasets according to the type of high-consequence areas to realize the multi-type recognition of high-consequence areas. Secondly, in the algorithm, the algorithm is improved by adding the CA attention mechanism module to reduce the training time and improve the feature representation ability, and the pipeline division is performed by superimposing vector data and pipeline staking numbers on the image to reduce the interference of terrain and vegetation. Finally, the algorithm is used for automatic identification and extraction of various types of elements, and high consequence zones are established along both sides of the pipeline, and the grade and scope of the high consequence zones are determined according to the relevant specifications. Using this method to identify high consequence zones of branch pipelines in Jieyang-Meizhou section of Guangdong Province, the results show that: 1, the improved algorithm in the identification of densely populated, geologic hazards, flammable and explosive high consequence zones of the average accuracy of the identification of 1.7%, 3.4%, 3.9%, respectively, and the average accuracy of the average category of the average value of the increase of 3%. 2, the experiments have identified a total of 1 geologic hazards of high consequence zones, flammable and explosive high Consequence Area 1, Flammable and Explosive High Consequence Area 5, compared with the traditional identification method building elements increased by 8 buildings, pipeline mileage increased by 0.311 kilometers. This method improves the accuracy and timeliness of the identification of high-consequence zones, and the research results can help the pipeline integrity management intelligently.
Extreme wind speed modeling across Garoua city and Implications assessing for the flight activities
Authors: Daïka Augustin , Etoundi Honoré Messanga , Biouele Cesar Mbane
Published: January 2024

Extreme wind speed characteristics in Garoua city are not well understood. Hence, the paper analyses the directions, intensities, spatial and temporal distributions, variability, and trends of extreme wind events using wind speed data that span between the 2012–2017 period and measured at a height of 10 m, using the R and MATLAB programs. The results obtained show that the wind blows a little almost from all directions and the dominant direction is from the North-West with more than 40% of winds in this direction, the dominant axis is SE-NW with more than 55% of winds in this axis and the annual mean wind speed at a height of 10 m is 5 m/s in 2014. It was further shown that it decreased until it was canceled in 2017 characteristic of the calm wind. In addition, based on the hydrodynamic model, the results displayed that the trajectory presents significant curvature of extreme wind speeds with the hydrodynamic characteristics of the wind flow, and the extreme velocities were distributed according to Weibull's law. This fact denote a problem for lighter aircrafts, whose crosswind rates are lower. In this context, the forecast of high wind speed intensities and directions becomes very central.
A Simple Processed Waste Composite Board Product with Superior Properties than The Market Wood Board
Authors: Surtiyeni Neni , Fadhillah Zahra Muthi , Salim Allamah , Khairurrijal Khairurrijal , Rusydi Andrivo
Published: January 2024

Municipal waste as a renewable resource has been processed into biocomposite boards as a substitute for wood to reduce environmental pollution. The biocomposite performance is governed through the interface between the fibers and the polymer matrix. However, the manufacture of biocomposites is often limited to the use of homogeneous types and sizes of fibers, with complex chemical or biological treatment of fibers to improve interfacial compatibility. Herewith, we report success in increasing compatibility through simple mechanical and physical treatment. The increase in the mechanical properties of biocomposites is influenced by variations in filler fiber sizes, the maximum polymer coating on the filler surface, and the addition of reinforcing elements to the biocomposite board structure. Variations in size of plant fiber can be obtained through mechanical treatment with single milling process, while physical treatment of repeated hot-press processes ensure that polymer coats the entire fiber surface. Furthermore, glass fiber laminate is added to the middle of the board as a structural reinforcement. Our result shows that the properties of the simple processed biocomposite have strength equivalent to commercial particle board and Albasia wood, as well as better fire resistance properties than Albasia wood. This makes waste composite boards suitable as a new substitutes for wood boards.
RETRACTED: Forecasting the Future Tsunami Potential of the Indo-Pacific Region Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Sabah Nazeel , Shanker Daya
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Extensive thigh pyomyositis secondary to cystic fistulae due to anaerobic-bacterial infection in a kidney transplant recipient
Authors: Hamine Salma , Derbel Haytham , Melica Giovanna , Kodjo-Awiti Edem , Matignon Marie , Morel Antoine
Published: January 2024

Background
Management of infectious complications following kidney transplantation (KT) remains a major challenge. Infectious events appear to be the most common non-cardiovascular causes of death in kidney transplant recipients. The urinary tract is the site most frequently affected by infections in this population, resulting in a high level of morbidity and mortality and significant economic costs.
Case presentation
This case report highlights an extensive thigh pyomyositis secondary to cystic fistulae, which is an extremely rare complication of urinary tract infection in a kidney transplant recipient of 84-year-old, who was referred to our hospital for acute onset fever pain in inner thighs and pyuria. CT-scan depicted bilateral thighs pyomyositis with multiple abscessed collections of the soft parts of adductor with hydroaerobic levels. Cystic fistulae complicated with pubic symphysis osteitis were also discovered.
Conclusion
In kidney transplant recipients, lower limb pyomyositis is an extremely rare condition that should be systematically investigated in case of urinary tract infection, given the high prevalence of such affliction in this population.
Vector Projection of a Construction Made with a Rule and Compass to Understand Squaring the Circle
Authors: Diaz José Rodrigo Alejandro Martinez
Published: January 2024

The conditions of the problem establish the definition of a right triangle whose angle subtends the opposite cathetus with a value equal to alpha = arctan (1/ sqrt{pi}). Starting from this main condition, a series of steps are proposed to compare the precision between two idealized methods that describe the construction of a circle and a square linked to the triangle mentioned above. The first approximation is made taking into account "valid" compass and ruler constructions to obtain such geometric figures. The second construction is based on the lengths obtained by intersecting the previously mentioned geometric figures by performing the vector analysis. In both cases, the areas of the circle and square obtained are compared to find out if they are equal.
HN1-mediated Activation of Lipogenesis Through AKT-SREBP Signaling Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Metastasis
Authors: Kim Soo Mi , Jin Hua , Meng Ruoyu , Li Cong Shan , kim Seong Hun , CHAI OK HEE , Lee Young Hun , Park Byung-Hyun , Lee Ju-Seog
Published: January 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with more than 800,000 deaths each year, and its five-year survival rate is less than 12%. The role of the HN1 gene in HCC has remained elusive, despite its upregulation in various cancer types. In our investigation, we identified HN1’s heightened expression in HCC tissues, which, upon overexpression, fosters cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, unveiling its role as an oncogene in HCC. In addition, silencing HN1 diminished the viability and metastasis of HCC cells, whereas HN1 overexpression stimulated their growth and invasion. Gene expression profiling revealed HN1 silencing downregulated 379 genes and upregulated 130 genes, and suppressive proteins associated with the lipogenic signaling pathway networks. Notably, suppressing HN1 markedly decreased the expression levels of SREBP1 and SREBP2, whereas elevating HN1 had the converse effect. This dual modulation of HN1 affected lipid formation, hindering it upon HN1 silencing and promoting it upon HN1 overexpression. Moreover, HN1 triggers the Akt pathway, fostering tumorigenesis via SREBP1-mediated lipogenesis and silencing HN1 effectively curbed HCC tumor growth in mouse xenograft models by deactivating SREBP-1, emphasizing the potential of HN1 as a therapeutic target, impacting both external and internal factors, it holds promise as an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC.
Wear simulation analysis and prediction of cast aluminum alloy material based on ring and block geometric model
Authors: Qin Gan Lin , Wang Hongding , Ma Zhonglei , Liu Hong , Li Zhengning , Yao Yacheng
Published: January 2024

Cast aluminium alloy pistons are widely used in engines, and their wear significantly affects their service life. The finite element simulation analysis approach can accurately predict the amount of wear, reducing product development and production time. This study investigated the wear resistance by incorporating alumina reinforcing particles into the cast aluminium alloy matrix. The friction coefficient was measured using the MM-200 friction and wear testing equipment, and the wear rate was estimated after introducing alumina particles with varying contents into the aluminium alloy matrix. It was found that the cast aluminium alloy with a particle concentration of 2 wt% exhibited the lowest wear rate. A realistic finite element model of ring block friction and wear was developed based on Archard's theory, and wear simulations were conducted for cast aluminium alloys with different particle concentrations. By comparing the experimental and simulated wear scar widths, it was observed that the simulation findings closely matched the experimental data, demonstrating the accuracy of the finite element model. Additionally, the long-term wear behavior of various particle reinforced cast aluminium alloys was predicted by extending the wear simulation duration, revealing the wear characteristics of these alloys with different particle concentrations.
Sub-Nyquist SAR Imaging And Error Correction Via Optimization-based Algorithm
Authors: Chen Wenjiao , Zhang Li
Published: January 2024

Sub-Nyquist synthetic aperture radar (SAR) based on pseudo-random time-space modulation has been proposed to increase swath width while preserving the azimuthal resolution. Due to the sub-Nyquist sampling, the scene can be recovered by the optimization-based algorithm. However, these methods suffer from some issues, e.g., manually tuning difficulty and pre-definition of optimization parameters, and low signal-noise-ratio (SNR) resistance. To address these issues, a reweighted optimization algorithm named pseudo-Λ0-norm optimization algorithm is proposed for the sub-Nyquist SAR system in this paper. A modified regularization model is first built by applying the scene prior information to nearly acquire the number of non-zero elements based on Bayesian estimation, and then this model is solved by the Cauchy-Newton method. Additionally, an error correction method combined with our proposed pseudo-Λ0-norm optimization algorithm is also present to eliminate defocusing for the motion-induced model. Finally, experiments with simulated signals and strip-map TerraSAR-X images are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our proposed algorithm.
Uncertainty analysis of point cloud registration for gap measurement in aircraft assembly
Authors: Yang Ye , Price Mark , Abdelal Gasser , Higgins Colm , Rutherford Glenn , Maropoulos Paul , Jin Yan
Published: January 2024

Point cloud registration is often required in processing measurement data and uncertainty is inevitably brought into this process. However, the effects of registration uncertainties have not been well studied in the literature, especially for high precision applications such as aircraft assembly. Take gap measurement in aircraft wing assembly as an example, using laser scanners and commercial software PolyWorks, this study investigates the registration uncertainty between part-level and assembly-level point cloud data, as well as related factors including system errors, sphere targets, and parameter settings. Results show that: (1) Use of sphere targets cannot improve registration accuracy in PolyWorks but can improve efficiency by reducing 41.94% of iteration times for small-scale point cloud data. (2) The registration process can bring errors and these errors can be affected by the parameter settings during data processing. (3) Systematic errors can be associated with both part-level and assembly-level measurements, these errors will be propagated during the registration process, and their effects on the gap measurement are dependent on the geometrical relationship of the two mating surfaces. A calibration method is proposed to mitigate the effects of systematic errors, and experiments were conducted to validate these methods. It is concluded that laser scanners and computational software can be used for high-precision assembly, and evaluating registration uncertainty is a crucial step for improving assembly accuracy.
Exposure to abuse and changes in cardiometabolic risk profiles over 3 years in young South African women
Authors: Nguyen Kim Anh , Kengne Andre Pascal , Nqebelele Unati , Peer Nasheeta
Published: January 2024

Background: South African women experience high rates of abuse and cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), but research on their relationship is less investigated. This study examined the associations of exposure to abuse in childhood and adulthood with CMD risk factors [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), HbA1c] over three years among baseline rape-exposed and rape-unexposed women aged 18-40 years.
Methods: In longitudinal analyses of baseline-rape-exposed and rape-unexposed women from the Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation (RICE) study; the associations of CMD risk factors with self-reported exposures to childhood abuse (CA) (any, sexual, physical, emotional CA and parental neglect), intimate partner violence (IPV) (any, sexual, physical, emotional and economic IPV), non-partner sexual violence (NPSV) were explored using linear mixed-effects models, with the inclusion of the interaction term, ‘abuse/trauma*rape-exposed’.
Results: CMD data were collected at baseline (N=1617; mean age 25.3 years), 12 (N=1178), 24 (N=925) and 36 months (N=571). Any CA and greater frequency of physical CA were associated with rising BMI over 3 years of follow-up, with no evidence of an interaction effect of baseline rape exposure (p≥0.057 for all interaction tests). Exposure to more than one episode of NPSV was associated with lower WC and BMI, but not other CMD risk variables. Exposures to IPV were not associated with changes in the variables investigated. There was no evidence of a significant interaction effect between baseline rape exposure and lifetime abuse exposure for any of the associations examined (p≥0.095 for all interaction tests), except for WC-sexual CA (p=0.010 for interaction test).
Conclusions: This prospective analysis demonstrated that CA experiences were associated with increased BMI levels over 3 years of follow-up in young South African women. Further research over a longer period is required to clearly delineate the effect of rape exposure on CMDs.
Football prediction model based on the teams' Elo ratings and scoring indicators
Authors: Saribekyan Gor , Yarovoy Nikolay
Published: January 2024

The study focuses on proposing a solution for the 2023 Soccer Prediction Challenge organized in conjunction with the Machine Learning Journal's special issue on Machine Learning for Soccer. The challenge aimed to predict the outcomes of future matches from various leagues worldwide within a specific timeframe. In this paper, we examine the solution provided by our team "Friends of Elo" in detail. We experimented experimented with using Elo ratings and scoring indicators (goals) as arguments for the linear regression method. Poisson distribution was employed to predict the match results. The performance was evaluated based on the root mean squared error and the ranked probability score. Submitted predictions (714 matches) ranked 7th among 11 contestants in Task 1 and 5th among 13 contestants in Task 2, respectively. Futhermore, we conducted additional tests, where our model performed even greater on the expanded dataset of over 6800 matches to predict. The most significant advantage of our approach is that it does not require advanced match data, making it applicable worldwide. Overall, our study provides an in-depth analysis of the solution proposed by the "Friends of Elo" team, and we offer a superior alternative that performs well and is highly practical.
Anionic aggregates induced interphase chemistry regulation toward wide-temperature silicon-based batteries
Authors: Lu Yingying , Mao Shulan , Zhang Jiahui , Mao Jiale , Shen Zeyu , Long Ziren , Zhang Shichao , Wu Qian , Cheng Hao
Published: January 2024

Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) show great promise as high-capacity anodes owing to their ability to mitigate mechanical failure. However, the substantial surface area of SiNPs triggers interfacial side reactions and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) permeation during volume fluctuations. The slow kinetics at low temperatures and the degradation of SEI at high temperatures further hinder the practical application of SiNPs in real-world environments. Here, we address these challenges by manipulating the solvation structure through molecular space hindrance. This manipulation enables anions to aggregate in the outer Helmholtz layer under an electric field, leading to rapid desolvation capabilities and the formation of anion-derived SEI. The resulting double-layer SEI, where nano-clusters are uniformly dispersed in the amorphous structure, completely encapsulates the particles in the first cycle. The ultra-high modulus of this structure can withstand stress accumulation, preventing electrolyte penetration during repeated expansion and contraction. As a result, SiNPs-based batteries demonstrate exceptional electrochemical performance across a wide temperature range from − 20 to 60°C. The assembled 80 mAh SiNPs/LiFePO4 pouch cell maintains a cycling retention of 85.6% after 150 cycles. This study elucidates the intricate relationship between interface solvation, SEI chemistry, and bulk stability, offering new insights for the development of wide-temperature Si-based batteries.
Efficacy of Acid-Fast Staining, Real-Time Fluorescent PCR, and Immunohistochemical Staining in Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Sun jie , Yu jiang , Chen xueqian , Fang shiyu , Duan shaoqi , Liu fengjun
Published: January 2024

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of acid-fast staining, real-time fluorescent PCR, and immunohistochemical staining in identifying pulmonary tuberculosis.
Methods: Acid fast staining, real-time fluorescence PCR, and immunohistochemical staining were performed on lung tissue samples from 69 tuberculosis patients and 67 non tuberculosis patients to detect Ag85B, ESAT-6, and CFP10.The detection efficiency of each method was compared.
Results: Acid-fast staining and real-time fluorescent PCR demonstrated sensitivities of 26.09%,49.28%, both with a specificity of 100%. The sensitivities for Ag85B, ESAT-6,CFP10 were 62.32%, 78.26%,69.57%,while their specificities were 86.57%, 85.07%, 91.04%. The AUC was highest for ESAT-6 (AUC=0.817). Joint antigen analysis revealed that simultaneous positivity for two or three of Ag85B, ESAT-6, CFP10 increased specificity (95.52% to 100%) but decreased sensitivity (49.28% to 62.31%). The presence of any one of the three antigens elevated sensitivity (81.16% to 88.41%) but lowered specificity (68.66% to 77.61%). Specificity reached 100% for concurrent positivity of all three antigens, while a sensitivity of 88.41% was observed for positivity of any one antigen.
Conclusion: 1. Real-time fluorescent PCR exhibits higher sensitivity compared to acid-fast staining, though both methods have very high specificity. 2. Immunohistochemical staining for Ag85B, ESAT-6, and CFP10 in lung tissue shows higher sensitivity than real-time fluorescent PCR and provides valuable diagnostic support, particularly in cases where acid-fast staining and PCR are negative. 3. Combined antigen testing enhances the diagnostic accuracy for pulmonary tuberculosis, with simultaneous positivity of all three antigens being crucial for confirming tuberculosis, while their collective negativity is significant in ruling out the disease.
The Use of AI For Hallux Valgus Assessment via Mobile Phone-Based 3D Camera Scan
Authors: Ghandour Samir , Lebedev Anton , Tung Wei Shao , Semianov Konstantin , Semyanov Artem , DiGiovanni Christopher , Bejarano-Pineda Lorena , Ashkani-Esfahani Soheil
Published: January 2024

Hallux valgus (HV) is a common foot deformity. Traditional detection methods include clinical examination and radiographic imaging, which, although reliable, often remain inaccessible to many due to existing care barriers. This study introduces an innovative approach to computer vision analysis and phone camera-based 3D scanning technology to detect and assess HV severity. We evaluated the accuracy of this method against routine clinical examination as the currently accepted assessment standard. Our study included 120 participants, resulting in 240 foot scans, with a diverse demographic representation. The computer vision algorithm utilized a surrogate angle, automatically derived from the 3D scans, to identify the severity of HV, and its correlation with traditional radiographic measurements for HV. Our findings reveal that computer vision-based detections offer high accuracy, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) score of 0.947, presenting a promising alternative to conventional methods. This technology offers promise for increasing access to HV detection, potentially aiding in earlier diagnosis as well as non-operative treatment options that may ultimately reduce the need for surgical intervention. Its ease of use and application in telemedicine contexts has the potential, moreover, to significantly benefit patients in remote or underserved areas and expand capacity to promote similar care improvement in other areas of musculoskeletal disease.
Removal of natural organic matter and Trihalomethanes from drinking water plants using modified polymer
Authors: rezoka shalaby , MELEGY GAMAL , ELGAMMAL MAI , ADEL GHADA
Published: January 2024

A composite Hydrogel of carboxymethyl cellulose/acrylamide/powdered activated carbon (CMC/AM/PAC) were prepared by ɣ-irradiation and characterized by spectroscopic and electron microscopic techniques. The effect of monomer concentration on the percentage of composite hydrogel formation was studied. The composite hydrogel content reached the maximum gel percentage at radiation dose of 25 kGy, the formed composite was used for removal of natural organic matter (NOM) from raw water. The (NOM) uptake increased by increasing the pH of the medium until reached a maximum value at (pH5).The increase in contact time led to increase of the amount of (NOM) adsorbed until the equilibrium was reached within for (CMC/AM/PAC) composite Hydrogel.The optimum adsorbent dose of 0.4 g/L for (CMC/AM/PAC) composite Hydrogel. The potential applications of the newly sorbents is extraction (NOM) from real samples from raw water from Nile Rosetta branch. Also, Trihalomehanes (THM's) produced as disinfection by-products (DBPs) formed from the reaction between chlorine and (NOM) were removed using the composite Hydrogel by a 1 minute rapid mix stage at 150 rpm followed by a 20 min flocculation stage at 40 rpm and a 30 min settlement period. Also, it is noticed that the prepared composite Hydrogel has the ability to remove NOM up to 66.8%.
Signal, detection and estimation using a hybrid quantum circuit
Authors: Neto O. P. de Sá , de Oliveira M. C.
Published: January 2024

We investigate a hybrid device allowing a photon-phonon coupling of a transmission line radiation (TLR) and a nanoeletrome-chanical system (NEMS), mediated by a superconducting qubit population imbalance. We demonstrate the derivation of an effective Hamiltonian for the strongly dispersive regime for this system. The qubit works as a quantum switch, allowing a conditioned transfer of excitations between the TLR and NEMS. We show that this regime allows the system to be employed for signal processing and force estimation. Additionally, we explore the ability of the quantum switch to generate non-classical states.
Cerebral Infarction with Haemorrhagic Transformation and Cortical Laminar Necrosis Induced by Inhalation of Nitrous Oxide: A Case Report
Authors: Wang Weisen , Li Shuai , Zhao Xiangxiang , Li Binghan , Bi Xiaoying , Zhang Sheqing , Peng Wenjia
Published: January 2024

Background: The abuse of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, has emerged as a significant social and public dilemma. Nitrous oxide abuse can induce anaemia, pneumothorax, thrombosis, and various neurological complications. Haemorrhagic transformation is a common occurrence in the natural progression of cerebral infarction and represents a significant adverse effect of treatments such as thrombolysis. This is strongly linked to the poor prognosis of cerebral infarction. Cortical laminar necrosis is a type of ischaemic necrosis with a laminar pattern in the cortex resulting from hypoperfusion caused by different aetiologies. Instances of cerebral infarction caused by N2O abuse are rare, and cerebral infarction accompanied by haemorrhagic transformation and cortical laminar necrosis has not been reported.
Case presentation: We present the case of a 27-year-old man who experienced syncope, hemiparesis, and aphasia as a direct result of excessive N2O inhalation. A sizeable cerebral infarction with haemorrhagic transformation in the left frontoparietotemporal insula and basal ganglia, along with laminar necrotic changes in the cortex, was found.
Conclusions: Attention should be paid to the unique complications resulting from N2O abuse while enhancing our understanding of the causes and imaging features of cortical laminar necrosis.
Association between parenting styles and dyslexia in primary school students: the mediating role of home literacy environment
Authors: Wen Wanyi , Zhang Xuanzhi , Wu Kusheng , Guan Liwen , Huang Anyan , Liang Zhiya , Yu Xinle , Gu Qianfei , Huang Yanhong
Published: January 2024

Background: Despite an increasing amount of research on the relationship between parenting styles and neurodevelopmental disorders, there has been minimal focus on how parenting styles impact children's reading abilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mediating role of the home literacy environment in the connection between parenting styles and dyslexia.
Methods: A total of 212 primary school students from grade 2 to 5 were recruited in this study. The Chinese Reading Ability Test was used to screen children with dyslexia. Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran questionnaire was used to assess the parenting style (emotional warmth, rejection, overprotecting and anxious rearing). The structural equation modelling was carried out to evaluate the direct, indirect, and total effects of parenting styles on dyslexia.
Results: Dyslexic children had lower scores for emotional warmth, overprotecting and anxious rearing compared to normal children, especially among male dyslexic children (all P<0.01). Dyslexic children were lack of regular reading time (OR=2.69, 95%CI:1.04-6.97, P<0.05), and have higher homework pressure compared to normal children (OR=7.41, 95%CI:1.45-37.82, P<0.05). Additionally, emotional warmth, paternal overprotection and anxious rearing were negatively associated with dyslexia in children (all P<0.05). Our findings indicate a strong correlation between dyslexia, home literacy environment, and parenting styles. In a structural equation model, an indirect effect was found showing that the home literacy environment independently mediated the effect of parenting styles on dyslexia. The total indirect effect is 0.55 and 0.68, respectively.
Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that home literacy environment serves as a mediato between parenting styles and dyslexia in children. This study offers fresh insights into the intricate connections between parenting styles and dyslexia, offering significantly important theoretical and practical implications.
Advanced ML for Predictive Maintenance: Case Study on Remaining Useful Life Prediction and Reliability Enhancement
Authors: Meddaoui Anwar , Hachmoud Adil , Hain Mustapha
Published: January 2024

In order to achieve an optimal system performance, decision makers are continually faced with the responsibility of making choices that will enhance availability and reduce failures cost. To realize this goal, it is crucial to ensure the timely maintenance of equipment, which often poses a significant challenge. However, the adoption of Predictive Maintenance (PdM) technology can offer a solution by enabling real-time maintenance, resulting in various benefits such as reduced downtime, cost savings, and enhanced production quality. Machine learning (ML) techniques are increasingly being used in the field of predictive maintenance to predict failures and calculate estimated remaining useful life (RUL) of equipment. A case study is proposed in this research paper based on a maintenance dataset from the aerospace industry. It experiments and compare multiple combination of feature engineering techniques and advanced ML models with the aim to propose the most efficient techniques for prediction. Moreover, future research papers can focus on the challenge of validating this proposed model in different industrial environments.
Molecular alterations and prognosis of breast cancer with cutaneous metastasis
Authors: Xu Yan , Ding Li , Li Chao , Hua Bin , Wang Sha , Zhang Junli , Liu Cuicui , Guo Rongyun , Zhang YongQiang
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Cutaneous metastasis (CM) accounts for 5–30% of patients with breast cancer (BC) and presents unfavorable response to treatment and poor prognosis. A better understanding of the molecular alterations involved in metastasis is essential, which would help identify diagnostic and efficacy biomarkers for CM.
Materials
: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 13 patients with histological or cytological diagnosis of breast cancer and CM. Of those 13 patients, 8 patients had matched primary tumors and CM. Clinical information was extracted from the medical records. All of the samples were subjected to DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Results
More than half of the patients were Ki67 low (< 50%, 53.7%). Most patients (12, 92.3%) had other metastasis sites other than skin. The median time from diagnosis to the presentation of CM (T1) was 15 months (range: 0–94 months) and the median time from CM to death (T2) was 13 months (range 1–78). The most frequently altered genes across the three types of tissues were TP53 (69.6%, 16/23), PIK3CA (34.8%, 8/23), and MYC (26.1%). The number of alterations in CM tends to be higher than in primary tumors (median 8 vs. 6, P = 0.077). Copy number loss in STK11, copy number gain in FGFR4, TERT, AR, FLT4 and VEGFA and mutations in ATRX, SRC, AMER1 and RAD51C were significantly enriched in CM (all P < 0.05). Ki67 high group (> 50%) showed significantly shorter T1 than the Ki67 low group (≤ 50%) (median 12.5 vs. 50.0 months, P = 0.036). TP53, PIK3CA mutations, and TERT amplification group were associated with inferior T2 (median 11 vs. 36 months, P = 0.065; 8 vs. 36 months, P = 0.013, 7 vs. 36 months, P = 0.003, respectively).
Conclusion
The number of alterations in CM tends to be higher than in primary tumors. Some mutations and the copy number variation were significantly enriched in CM. TP53, PIK3CA mutant, and TERT amplification might be biomarkers for poor prognosis for CM patients.
Biomarkers of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome development and dialysis requirement in children with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection.
Authors: Toledano Analia , Caratozzolo Ana M , Lanfranchi Romina , Martinez Mayra , Chacoff Marian , Carballo Carolina , Talarico Laura , Contrini Maria Marta , Lopez Eduardo Luis
Published: January 2024

Background Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a disease characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and acute kidney Injury. We aimed to dose serum concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-8, Tumor Necrosis Factor- α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1β and human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (N-gal) in children with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection (STEC) to determine the inflammatory cytokine profile and the role of these molecules as biomarkers of HUS development and dialysis requirement.Methods Three groups of patients with evidence of STEC were incorporated: those with bloody diarrhea (BD), HUS patients requiring dialysis (HUSD) and HUS patients with no dialysis requirement (HUSND). Serum samples were assayed for cytokines and N-gal using immunoassays.Results Thirty-six children were enrolled (median age: 30.5 (IQR 20–75) months; Female/Male 21/15). Thirteen BD children, ten HUSND children and 13 patients with HUSD were incorporated. We found significantly higher levels of IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α in HUSD patients compared to BD patients. By contrast, only TNF-α levels were significantly higher in HUSND than in BD patients. Higher IL-8 and N-gal levels were evidenced in HUSD than in HUSND. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct cytokine profiles among the study groups.Conclusions These results suggest that TNF-α could be a risk biomarker for HUS development. We can postulate N-gal and IL-8 as possible biomarkers of dialysis requirement in patients with STEC associated HUS as these molecules were increased at the initial stages of the disease in patients requiring dialysis. Children with HUSD exhibited an immune profile different from the other study groups.
Visual tracking of a moving target in 360-degree virtual reality: Analysis of the effects on attention and mood
Authors: Sellner Tabea , Ehmann Paul , Spielmann Jan , Gogolla Falk , Rösgen Ann-Kathrin , Meyer Jan , Schönfeld Mircea Ariel , Flor Herta
Published: January 2024

The training of attentional capacities is an important part of many rehabilitative efforts, for example, in the treatment of stroke. Considerable research is currently focusing on virtual reality applications. The Helix-Arena is an innovative training device, which enables a multimodal training in to a 360-degree virtual environment. A pursuit training that is suited for rehabilitation purposes was developed for the Helix-Arena. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the pursuit training in the Helix-Arena in 34 healthy participants. The experimental group (EG, N=19) participated in four training sessions in the Helix-Arena over a period of two weeks, the control group (CG, N=15) completed similar training sessions in a non-VR environment on a PC. During each training session, changes in attention (Test of Attentional Performance battery, TAP) and general mood (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS) were assessed pre and post training. In the EG compared to the CG, a significantly higher pre to post improvement was observed for the TAP subtest attention shift as well as for the positive subscale of the PANAS. These results suggest advantages of the virtual reality environment for attentional and affective processes. The VR training can thus improve not only cognitive abilities but also training motivation. In a next step, the training can be used with patients in a rehabilitation context.
Integrating Optical and Electrical Sensing with Machine Learning for Advanced Particle Characterization
Authors: Kokabi Mahtab , Tayyab Muhammad , Rather Gulam M. , Khamseh Arastou Pournadali , Cheng Daniel , DeMauro Edward P. , Javanmard Mehdi
Published: January 2024

Particle classification plays a crucial role in various scientific and technological applications, such as differentiating between bacteria and viruses in healthcare applications or identifying and classifying cancer cells. This technique requires accurate and efficient analysis of particle properties. In this study, we investigated the integration of electrical and optical features through a multimodal approach for particle classification. Machine learning classifier algorithms were applied to evaluate the impact of combining these measurements. Our results demonstrate the superiority of the multimodal approach over analyzing electrical or optical features independently. We achieved an average test accuracy of 94.9% by integrating both modalities, compared to 66.4% for electrical features alone and 90.7% for optical features alone. This highlights the complementary nature of electrical and optical information and its potential for enhancing classification performance. By leveraging electrical sensing and optical imaging techniques, our multimodal approach provides deeper insights into particle properties and offers a more comprehensive understanding of complex biological systems.