bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of 2D CuxAl(100−x) electrodes on the CuxAl(100−x)/Cu21(SiO2)79/W memristive device
Authors: Gu Bin , Wen Guangyu , Zhang Bo , Rodriguez-Pereira Jhonatan , Wagner Tomas
Published: February 2024

In recent years, 2D metal nanomaterials have emerged as a novel class of 2D materials owing to their unique physiochemical properties. In this paper, memristive devices ([Formula: see text](BE)/[Formula: see text]/W(TE)) were fabricated utilizing 2D [Formula: see text] materials with different compositions as electrodes. After exfoliation by sonication, the minimum thickness of the freestanding single layer of 2D [Formula: see text] was only 1.5 nm. Furthermore, the distribution of SET thresholds was determined by the composition of the 2D [Formula: see text] materials. The results suggest that the SET and RESET thresholds can be adjusted according to the composition of the 2D [Formula: see text] materials. The application of 2D metals as electrodes is promising for miniature memristive devices.
Geometric mechanics of the vertical slice model
Authors: Holm Darryl D. , Hu Ruiao , Street Oliver D.
Published: February 2024

The goals of this work are to: (i) investigate the dynamics of oceanic frontogenesis by taking advantage of the geometric mechanics underlying the class of Vertical Slice Models (VSMs) of ocean dynamics and (ii) illustrate the versatility and utility of deterministic and stochastic variational approaches by deriving several variants of wave–current interaction models which describe the effects of internal waves propagating within a vertical planar slice embedded in a 3D region of constant horizontal gradient of buoyancy in the direction transverse to the vertical plane.
The resilience of Tethyan planktonic and benthic calcifying algae to Early Cretaceous perturbations: comparison between the Valanginian Weissert Event and the Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a
Authors: Erba Elisabetta , Parente Mariano
Published: February 2024

During the Cretaceous, the Berriasian–Aptian interval witnessed a transition from a relatively cool climate with intermittent polar ice to a greenhouse state that persisted throughout the Late Cretaceous. These palaeoclimatic changes were associated with the construction of large igneous provinces (LIPs), which significantly perturbed the ocean–atmosphere system by introducing large amounts of CO
2
, trace metals and micronutrients, thereby impacting the biosphere. Our study focused on the Tethyan Ocean during the Early Cretaceous, examining the resilience of planktonic and shallow-water benthic calcifying algae to environmental changes. We observed their adaptation, recovery dynamics and the influence of palaeoCO
2
levels on their resilience. Calcification patterns of calcareous nannoplankton served as a proxy for ecological and engineering resilience. While calcareous nannoplankton as a whole showed high resistance, individual taxa exhibited varying levels of resilience. Nannoconids, particularly narrow-canal ones, were highly sensitive and had low resistance. In contrast,
Watznaueria barnesiae
showed the least sensitivity and highest resistance, likely due to its adaptive strategies and long lifespan. Nannoplankton calcification recovery (engineering resilience) from the Weissert Event took
c.
3 million years. After the Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a), instead, nannoplankton did not return to pre-perturbation conditions. In shallow-water platforms, Dasycladales, aragonitic benthic calcifiers, exhibited lower resilience compared to nannofossils. They experienced a decline in species diversity across both the Weissert Event and the OAE 1a, which could indicate higher sensitivity to reduced carbonate saturation under high atmospheric
p
CO
2
conditions. After the Valanginian Weissert Event, Dasycladales were able to recover, albeit they show a much lower engineering resilience compared to nannoconids, as it took nearly 10 million years to revert to pre-disturbance diversity. The OAE 1a represented a more intense perturbation: the decrease of species diversity was much more drastic and permanent, and Dasycladales were unable to recover, losing their dominant role as carbonate platform biocalcifiers for the remainder of the Cretaceous. Our study provides an assessment of the resilience of Tethyan phytoplanktonic and shallow-water benthic calcifying algae to disturbances during the Early Cretaceous, with implications for tipping points associated with palaeoCO
2
levels. The differential responses in terms of timing and magnitude and the recovery dynamics contribute to the understanding of the potential impacts of current and future global changes on the resilience of marine ecosystems and the thresholds that may lead to ecological crises.
Image analysis of acoustic data and interpretation of rock stress orientations for geothermal exploration in Gothenburg borehole GE-1, SW Sweden
Authors: Ask Maria , Pierdominici Simona , Rosberg Jan-Erik
Published: February 2024

This study contributes to geothermal exploration in 1660–1520 Ma old, reworked bedrock in Sweden. Our primary objectives are to constrain the orientation of horizontal stresses, and to discuss implications for geothermal exploration. High-resolution acoustic televiewer image data reveal the downhole distribution of stress indicators (borehole breakouts, drilling-induced fractures and petal centreline fractures) and pre-existing structures (natural fractures, foliation). About 135 m of stress indicators are measured from 0.2–1.0 km. The results suggest a uniform NNW–SSE mean maximum horizontal stress orientation. A total of 1525 pre-existing structures (natural fractures, foliation) are mapped in borehole GE-1. The prevailing stress regime controls whether natural fractures and foliation are well-oriented for stimulation. For strike-slip and normal faulting stress regimes, well-oriented fractures steeply dip towards the WSW. For a reverse faulting stress regime, shallow dipping fractures are well-oriented for stimulation. The downhole distribution of stress indicators and other stress measurements in the region and other parts of Fennoscandia tentatively suggest a strike-slip stress regime, but additional studies are needed to constrain the complete stress field at study depth and towards engineered geothermal systems reservoir target depths.

Our secondary objective is to highlight that interpretation of high-resolution acoustic data, particularly in metamorphic crystalline rocks, is subjective and that more guidelines for data interpretation are needed. The interactive interpretation of the images is based on visual analyses of complex pre-existing structures and stress indicators with highly variable shapes. The application of three methods for data analyses in the GE-1 borehole proposes that drilling-induced fractures are little influenced by the method applied. Interpretations on individual borehole breakout azimuths may, however, result in over 10° differences in orientation.
VertexShuffle-Based Spherical Super-Resolution for 360-Degree Videos
Authors: Li Na , Liu Yao
Published: February 2024

360-degree video is an emerging form of media that encodes information about all directions surrounding a camera, offering an immersive experience to the users. Unlike traditional 2D videos, visual information in 360-degree videos can be naturally represented as pixels on a sphere. Inspired by state-of-the-art deep-learning-based 2D image super-resolution models and spherical CNNs, in this article, we design a novel spherical super-resolution (SSR) approach for 360-degree videos. To support viewport-adaptive and bandwidth-efficient transmission/streaming of 360-degree video data and save computation, we propose the Focused Icosahedral Mesh to represent a small area on the sphere. We further construct matrices to rotate spherical content over the entire sphere to the focused mesh area, allowing us to use the focused mesh to represent any area on the sphere. Motivated by the PixelShuffle operation for 2D super-resolution, we also propose a novel VertexShuffle operation on the mesh and an improved version VertexShuffle_V2. We compare our SSR approach with state-of-the-art 2D super-resolution models and show that SSR has the potential to achieve significant benefits when applied to spherical signals.
Online Convex Optimization with Switching Cost and Delayed Gradients
Authors: Senapati Spandan , Vaze Rahul
Published: February 2024

We consider the online convex optimization (OCO) problem with quadratic and linear switching cost when at time t only gradient information for functions f
T
, T < t is available. For L-smooth and µ-strongly convex objective functions, we propose an algorithm (OMGD) with a competitive ratio of at most 4(L+5)+ 16(L+5)/µ for the quadratic switching cost, and also show the bound to be order-wise tight in terms of L, µ. In addition, we show that the competitive ratio of any online algorithm is at least maxΩ(L),Ω( L/√µ ) when the switching cost is quadratic. For the linear switching cost, the competitive ratio of the OMGD algorithm is shown to depend on both the path length and the squared path length of the problem instance, in addition to L, µ, and is shown to be order-wise, the best competitive ratio any online algorithm can achieve.
Simple Fabrication of Mesoporous Praseodymium Cerate via an Eco-Friendly Route for Development of Carbendazim Electrochemical Sensor
Authors: Hamzeh Sanaz , Mahmoudi-Moghaddam Hadi , Zinatloo-Ajabshir Sahar , Amiri Mahnaz , Azari Ali
Published: February 2024

This study introduces an easy and efficient ultrasonic-assisted approach for the preparation of mesoporous praseodymium cerate (MS-Pr2Ce2O7) by employing maltose as a novel and eco-friendly capping agent. Some techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for the characterization of nanoparticles. For the detection of carbendazim (CBZ), a new electrochemical sensor based on the modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) has been presented. The modification of the electrode surface was made using praseodymium cerate. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) has been utilized to study the electrochemical behavior of the MS-Pr2Ce2O7/SPE and better electrochemical performance was observed compared to bare SPE for the oxidation of CBZ. The optimization of pH and accumulation time was done. Under optimized conditions (pH = 7 and accumulation time:160 s), the oxidation peak currents that responded to CBZ concentration between 0.01 and 175.0 μM exhibited a linear relationship (R2 = 0.9977), and the detection limit was calculated 4.6 nM. In addition, MS-Pr2Ce2O7/SPE showed high stability and repeatability. At last, real sample tests of the MS-Pr2Ce2O7/SPE were validated by applying them to the detection of CBZ in vegetable samples, which were promising in our preliminary experiments.
An Electrochemical Sensor Based on Simple Nano-Modification for Sensitive Detection of Ofloxacin Residue in Animal Derived Food
Authors: Chen Xueqiang , Yang Fan , Zhao Shiwei , Wei Xinran , Xu Jiameng , Li Yunzhe , Nan Guanjun , Luo Zhimin , Zeng Aiguo
Published: February 2024

The residue of ofloxacin in animal derived food would seriously affect human health. This study reports an inexpensive, fast, and simple electrochemical sensor for the sensitive detection of OFL in animal derived food samples. A poly-L-glutamic acid/poly(sulfobutyl-β-cyclodextrin) CdTe quantum dot-modified electrode P(L-Glu)/SEB-β-CD@CdTeQDs/GCE was prepared by an electrochemical polymerization reaction. We investigated the electrochemical behavior of OFL on the sensing electrode by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. The results showed that the sensitivity of the sensor was significantly improved under the synergistic effect of L-glutamic acid, sulfobutyl-β-cyclodextrin, and CdTe quantum dots. In addition, the electrochemical reaction process of OFL on the sensing electrode was investigated and the results showed that the transfers of two protons and two electrons were involved in the reaction. Subsequently, the electrochemical sensing method based on P(L-Glu)/SEB-β-CD@CdTeQDs/GCE was developed and validated for the determination of OFL, showing a good linear response in the range of 0.07 ∼ 1 μg·ml−1 with a detection limit of 3.4 ng·ml−1, and the precision and accuracy were high enough. Compared with the conventional HPLC method, the established electrochemical sensing method shows the merits of being eco-friendly, shorter detection time and being much more simple, sensitive, and convenient.
Intellectual Structure of Global Value Chain Research: Visualization and Bibliometric Analysis Based on VOSviewer
Authors: Dai Jianhua , Xu Shuanglei
Published: February 2024

Over the past few decades, numerous scholars have conducted research on global value chains, and the amount of literature in this field has grown rapidly to become “big data.” In order to deeply analyze and explore the current research status and development trends in the field of global value chains, this article conducted a systematic and quantitative study on the global value chain. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection SCIE and SSCI databases, this article searched 8273 articles published between 2001 and 2021 with the theme of “Global Value Chain” and used visualization and bibliometric analysis methods. The research field was analyzed using VOSviewer software. Research has shown that the number of papers published in the global value chain field has been continuously increasing over time and has entered a period of rapid development since 2016. The main disciplines are economics and management. A few researchers and research institutions have a strong influence, but the cooperation between scholars and institutions is relatively weak. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China dominate the research field. The complex impact of the natural environment and public health on the global value chain, and the impact of big data and artificial intelligence on the global value chain, has become a new direction for future research. Countries should actively promote the development of the digital economy and green economy, promote the effective allocation of global value chain resources by enterprises, and adhere to the development of good bilateral political relations to reduce the uncertainty of enterprise participation in the global value chain caused by political risks.
Vehicle–Bridge Interaction Dynamic Analysis of Continuous Rigid Frame Composite Box Girder Bridge with Corrugated Steel Webs under Seismic Excitation
Authors: Qiao Peng , Ma Chen , Duan Chang-Jiang , Lei Hao , Zhao Heng , He Jun
Published: February 2024

To study the vehicle–bridge interaction (VBI) of highway bridges under seismic excitation, a vehicle–bridge couple analysis method based on Ansys is proposed. The 1/2 vehicle model and space beam element model were established to analyze the VBI response of Lanzhou Xiaoshagou bridge. The self‐excited excitation of the system is represented by road surface irregularity randomness, while the external excitation is represented by an earthquake. The impact of seismic types, seismic direction, seismic intensity, vehicle speed, and road surface irregularity on the bridge vibration under the vehicle–bridge coupling during an earthquake is thoroughly analyzed. The results reveal that the type of earthquake significantly influences the dynamic response of the bridge, showing a minimum difference of 31.4%. The intensity of the earthquake is positively correlated with the dynamic response of the bridge. Longitudinal and vertical earthquakes have a more noticeable effect on the bridge’s vertical vibration compared to lateral earthquakes. The ratio of the bridge response under vertical or longitudinal seismic excitation to the response of lateral earthquakes ranges from 1.50 to 26.61. Vehicle speed, road irregularity grade, and randomness have a negligible impact on the dynamic response of vehicle–bridge interaction under an earthquake, accounting for less than 3%. These findings indicate that the analysis of earthquake‐bridge vibration can simplify the VBI analysis for continuous rigid frame composite box girder bridges with corrugated steel webs under seismic conditions.
Nonlinear Response Characterization of Post‐Tensioned R.C. Bridges through Hilbert–Huang Transform Analysis
Authors: Scozzese Fabrizio , Dall’Asta Andrea
Published: February 2024

A novel methodology for the characterisation of the nonlinear behaviour of post‐tensioned r.c. bridges, which exploits the response to heavy traffic travelling during operational conditions, is presented. This type of bridges shows a nonlinear elastic behaviour due to the partial opening of cracks under heavy loads whose entity is related to the intensity of the prestressing force. The properties of this response vary because of material relaxation or damage of the prestressing system. The study exploits the abilities of the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) to extract the instantaneous properties of the dynamic response, and a novel procedure to characterise the nonlinear elastic response is presented and investigated through theoretical applications on simplified dynamic systems. A frequency‐amplitude correlation chart is proposed as a visual tool to retrieve useful information on the nonlinear response related to the instantaneous variation of the natural frequency with the response amplitude. With the aim of denoising and eliminating spurious contributions introduced by the local nature of the information extracted through the Hilbert spectral analysis, a probabilistic model is proposed for the result interpretation, through which the probability distribution of the instantaneous natural frequencies conditional to different levels of the response amplitude is provided and potential bridge’s response modifications and anomalous behaviours of the prestressing system can be detected. An extensive parametric analysis is performed to assess the influence of the most relevant parameters governing the problem and verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Toward a Real-Time TCP SYN Flood DDoS Mitigation Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Classifier and SDN Assistance in Fog Computing
Authors: Bensaid Radjaa , Labraoui Nabila , Abba Ari Ado Adamou , Maglaras Leandros , Saidi Hafida , Abdu Lwahhab Ahmed Mahmoud , Benfriha Sihem
Published: February 2024

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has recently impacted our daily lives in many ways. As a result, a massive volume of data are generated and need to be processed in a short period of time. Therefore, a combination of computing models such as cloud computing is necessary. The main disadvantage of the cloud platform is its high latency due to the centralized mainframe. Fortunately, a distributed paradigm known as fog computing has emerged to overcome this problem, offering cloud services with low latency and high-access bandwidth to support many IoT application scenarios. However, attacks against fog servers can take many forms, such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks that severely affect the reliability and availability of fog services. To address these challenges, we propose mitigation of fog computing-based SYN Flood DDoS attacks using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and software defined networking (SDN) assistance (FASA). The simulation results show that the FASA system outperforms other algorithms in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. This shows how crucial our system is for detecting and mitigating TCP-SYN floods and DDoS attacks.
MnOx-Coffea arabica Husk and Catha edulis Leftover Biochar Nanocomposites for Removal of Methylene Blue from Wastewater
Authors: Kochito Jemere , Gure Abera , Abdissa Negera , Beyene Tamene Tadesse , Femi Olu Emmanuel
Published: February 2024

In this study, we investigated the use of manganese oxide-biochar nanocomposites (MnOx-BNC), synthesized from coffee husk (CH) and khat leftover (KL) for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from wastewater. Pristine biochars of each biomass (CH and KL) as well as their corresponding biochar-based nanocomposites were synthesized by pyrolyzing at 300°C for 1 h. The biochar-based nanocomposites were synthesized by pretreating 25 g of each biomass with 12.5 mmol of KMnO4. To assess the MB removal efficiency, we conducted preliminary tests using 0.2 g of each adsorbent, 20 mL of 20 mg·L−1 MB, pH 7.5, and shaking the mixture at 200 rpm and for 2 h at 25°C. The results showed that the pristine biochar of CH and KL removed 39.08% and 75.26% of MB from aqueous solutions, respectively. However, the MnOx-BNCs removed 99.27% with manganese oxide-coffee husk biochar nanocomposite (MnOx-CHBNC) and 98.20% with manganese oxide-khat leftover biochar nanocomposite (MnOx-KLBNC) of the MB, which are significantly higher than their corresponding pristine biochars. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm and a pseudo-second-order model, indicating favorable monolayer adsorption. The MnOx-CHBNC and MnOx-KLBNC demonstrated satisfactory removal efficiencies even after three and six cycles of reuse, respectively, indicating their potential effectiveness for alternative use in removing MB from wastewater.
Determining the Appropriateness and Acceptability of a Reduced Postradiotherapy Surveillance Practice in Breast Cancer Patients: Results of a Longitudinal Observational Study
Authors: Holtgrave Greta-Henrike , Knöchelmann Anne Caroline , Christiansen Hans , Bruns Frank
Published: February 2024

Postradiotherapy surveillance, which aims to detect and treat radiation injury, is important from the patient’s perspective, but also from the radiation oncologist’s perspective. Unfortunately, patient nonattendance increases over the course of five years. The aim of the study was to investigate the appropriateness and acceptability of reduced versus usual (conventional) postradiotherapy surveillance in breast cancer patients. A total of 192 consecutive patients with curatively irradiated breast cancer from two selected treatment years were included in our study, of whom 65 were offered six (after three months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, and 60 months) and 127 were offered four follow-up appointments (after three months, 12 months, 36 months, and 60 months). Their patient-, tumour- and treatment-related characteristics were analysed, as well as follow-up events and attendance rates. The reduced four-meeting surveillance practice shows similar results to the traditional six-meeting practice in terms of appropriateness and acceptability, with significantly higher attendance rates at 36 and 60 months (p=0.014 and 0.013, respectively) when the individual moments are compared on a one-to-one basis. The patient-, tumour-, and treatment-related variables examined did not show an effect on the attendance rate. There was also no significant difference between the two cohorts in the detection of follow-up events (such as recurrence) and late radiation effects. In conclusion, this retrospective study provides scientific support for the trend towards a risk-adjusted, reduced surveillance practice in radiation oncology. In particular, four postradiotherapy follow-up visits seem to be appropriate and accepted in breast cancer patients after curative postoperative breast irradiation. This reduced postradiotherapy surveillance practice has the advantage of saving time for the patient and resources for the healthcare system without compromising quality; it could also improve patient participation. We, therefore, recommend it as an appropriate standard for breast cancer patients.
Use of Analgesic and Anti‐Inflammatory Medicines before and after Initiation of Biological Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Gadzhanova Svetla , Roughead Elizabeth
Published: February 2024

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition that causes joint damage and is associated with pain. The biological disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) for RA are linked to additional therapeutic benefits as they suppress the inflammatory process, which in turn prevents joint erosion and reduces pain. Thus, the use of bDMARDs has the potential to reduce the need for other analgesic and anti‐inflammatory therapies for RA. The aim of this study was to examine the analgesic and anti‐inflammatory use around the initiation of bDMARDs. Methods. A cohort study was conducted using a 10% random sample of the population dispensing medicines under the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. People who initiated the first bDMARD for RA between 2014 and 2018 were included. The proportion who received any analgesic or anti‐inflammatory, including nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, opioids, or glucocorticoids, in the twelve months prior to and post‐bDMARD initiation was determined and compared using regression models. Results. There were 18,360 persons in the cohort, with a mean age of 55 years, and 69% were women. The use of any analgesic or anti‐inflammatory in both tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and non‐TNF initiators increased prior to initiation of bDMARD–from 43% to 52% in TNFi and from 52% to 63% in non‐TNF initiators. In both groups, overall use decreased significantly post initiation to 37% and 42% in TNFi and non‐TNF initiators, respectively (p < 0.0001). bDMARD initiation was associated with lower use of glucocorticoid therapy, but there was no decreasing effect on opioid use. Conclusion. While the use of any analgesic or anti‐inflammatories decreased post‐initiation of bDMARDs for RA, more than one‐third of people were dispensed analgesic or anti‐inflammatory agents twelve months post initiation. Ongoing review of the need for analgesic and glucocorticoids appears warranted, with assessment of nonpharmacological approaches to support pain management.
Design, Multiperspective Investigations, and Performance Analysis of Multirotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Precision Farming
Authors: Jayaram Darshan Kumar , Raja Vijayanandh , Stanislaus Arputharaj Beena , AL-bonsrulah Hussein A. Z.
Published: February 2024

Farming and agriculture are the oldest professions, but they are adapting to the technology revolution to accommodate the world’s growing population. UAV technology is part of the agriculture revolution, which aims to boost crop yields, properly monitor fields, and handle manpower shortages and resource efficiency. Rural India’s tiny farmers cannot afford UAV technology; therefore, it has not yet spread. Payload capacity, endurance, and selective spraying are other considerations. Thus, a low-cost, long-lasting UAV is necessary. This study modified the arm assembly to create a cheap hexacopter UAV. The endurance increased by 10% when 1.5 kg was lost. ABS plastic was used to make the modular arm. For working loads of 9 kg and 10 kg, pesticide/fertilizer spraying saves time, money, and manpower. Thus, a pressure-area coverage-cone angle connection is needed. This study examined spray patterns at different pressures and heights by varying flat fan nozzle and complete cone nozzle orifice diameters. These factors were linked, helping farmers choose the right nozzle. This nozzle was installed in the UAV and field-tested for paddy crops, showing a significant production improvement and lower operational cost. Chemical use pollutes and leaves traces in produce. Precision farming with artificial intelligence (AI) has solved this problem. In this experiment, AI algorithms were used to lemon leaves. Three AI systems were tested on different datasets to forecast plant stress by analyzing leaves due to technical constraints. CNN’s accuracy and computing speed make it ideal for precision farming. This work’s UAV was 30% cheaper than commercial UAVs and had more durability. Farmers will also benefit from the flat fan and complete cone nozzles’ pressure-area coverage connection.
Long‐Term Characterization of Indoor Air Quality at a Research Area Building: Comparing Reference Instruments and Low‐Cost Sensors
Authors: Calvello Mariarosaria , Agresti Francesca , Esposito Francesco , Pavese Giulia
Published: February 2024

Indoor particle number size distribution (0.3‐10 μm), equivalent black carbon (eBC), and Ångström absorption exponent (AAE) data were collected in real conditions, over a ten‐month period at a research area building, in a semirural site, to characterize indoor aerosol loading. Additionally, during the campaign, emissions from four indoor sources commonly used at the site (incense, traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and heat‐not‐burn products) were studied during short‐term experiments with the support of ultrafine particle (UFP) monitoring. Two particle low‐cost sensors (PM LCS), Sensirion SPS30 (0.3‐10 μm), were evaluated in the long‐term campaign and during fast emission processes, to assess their accuracy and reliability. Penetration and infiltration of both fine and coarse particles from outdoor traffic, domestic heating, and dust resuspension were inferred as the main sources of indoor aerosols on a long‐term basis. Moreover, long‐range transported dust aerosols were found to influence indoor coarse number concentration. Among the source events, heat‐not‐burn (HNB) product resulted in the lowest effect on indoor air quality, whereas the highest AAE values from incense and traditional cigarettes suggest the brown carbon (BrC) production. The highest emission of UFP was caused by electronic cigarettes (e‐cig), which spanned particles from the ultrafine to the coarse fractions. This was likely due to the release of metal and silicate from the coil. Analysis of number size distributions of the four experiments revealed the emission of fine particles (0.3‐1 μm) and super micron particles. SPS30s performance was satisfactory in terms of accuracy, precision, and durability, indicating that these devices are suitable for monitoring indoor air quality. Additionally, the two PM LCS were able to detect all simulated fast emission sources.
Primary Cervical Extraosseous Ewing’s Sarcoma Originated from the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Jakovljevic Sasa , Arsovic Nenad , Dudvarski Zoran , Radivojevic Nemanja , Jovanovic Katarina , Mladenovic Neda , Babac Snezana
Published: February 2024

Extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma is extremely rare in the soft tissues of the neck, especially in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It usually manifests clinically as a rapidly growing mass that shows great potential for local spread. The aim of this paper is to present a rare case of еxtraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma at this location. The patient was admitted to our clinic because of a neck tumefaction. The computerized tomography finding showed a tumor mass, most of which was in the V region of the neck, measuring 40 × 27 × 35 mm. Pathohistological and immunohistochemical findings showed that it was Ewing’s sarcoma. Unfortunately, the patient passed away nine months after the initial diagnosis. Extraosseous Ewing sarcoma is a rare, fast-growing malignant tumor manifesting histomorphological similarities to bone Ewing’s sarcoma. Most reports state that extraosseous Ewing sarcoma has a worse prognosis than skeletal. Extraosseous Ewing sarcoma should be borne in mind in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors of the neck.
Agronomic and Economic Performance of Rain-Fed Maize (Zea mays L.) Production under Varying Sowing Dates and Multinutrient Fertilizer Levels in Shire Area, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfay Teklay , Tesfahunegn Gebreyesus Brhane , Girmay Selemawit , Girmay Berhe
Published: February 2024

The present study was carried out to examine the combined effects of varying seed sowing and multinutrient fertilizer levels on maize yield in Shire area, Northern Ethiopia, in two consecutive cropping seasons (2018-2019). The experimental plots were designed in a split plot design with three replications. Sowing dates were determined based on the rainfall criteria of the AquaCrop model. Accordingly, the sowing date treatments were set as June 1, June 7, June 12, and June 16 for the 2018 cropping season, and the corresponding sowing dates for the 2019 cropping season were May 26, June 3, June 8, and June 12. The multinutrient fertilizer levels included 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg·ha−1. Agronomic related data were subjected to the analysis of variance, and partial budget analysis was applied for the economic performance evaluation. Maize yield was agronomically and economically influenced by sowing dates and multinutrient levels. Relative yield superiority that varies between 48.9 and 87.7% was found for each 100 kg·ha−1 multinutrient applied. On the other hand, with 4–6 days shifted towards earlier sowing resulted in an average yield increase by 4.9–66.9%. Application of 300 kg·ha−1 multinutrient for the early sown maize seems agronomically the superior treatment. However, from the economic analysis perspective, early maize sowing combined with the application of 200 kg·ha−1 multinutrient fertilizer was reported as the most profitable treatment. Late sowing of maize with the application of multinutrient fertilizer beyond 200 kg·ha−1 resulted in negative economic returns. The regression analysis results also indicated that maize grain yield tends to increase with the level of multinutrient fertilizer application (R2 = 0.841–0.864), whereas yield decreased with the delay in sowing dates (R2 = 0.927–0.995). Hence, this study concluded that the treatments with the best agronomic performance are not necessarily the best in terms of profitability.
Systematic Characterization of p53-Regulated Long Noncoding RNAs across Human Cancers Reveals Remarkable Heterogeneity among Different Tumor Types
Authors: Regunath Kausik , Fomin Vitalay , Liu Zhaoqi , Wang Pingzhang , Hoque Mainul , Tian Bin , Rabadan Raul , Prives Carol
Published: February 2024

The p53 tumor suppressor protein, a sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor, regulates the expression of a large number of genes, in response to various forms of cellular stress. Although the protein coding target genes of p53 have been well studied, less is known about its role in regulating long noncoding genes and their functional relevance to cancer. Here we report the genome-wide identification of a large set (>1,000) of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA), which are putative p53 targets in a colon cancer cell line and in human patient datasets from five different common types of cancer. These lncRNAs have not been annotated by other studies of normal unstressed systems. In the colon cancer cell line, a high proportion of these lncRNAs are uniquely induced by different chemotherapeutic agents that activate p53, whereas others are induced by more than one agent tested. Further, subsets of these lncRNAs independently predict overall and disease-free survival of patients across the five different common cancer types. Interestingly, both genetic alterations and patient survival associated with different lncRNAs are unique to each cancer tested, indicating extraordinary tissue-specific variability in the p53 noncoding response. The newly identified noncoding p53 target genes have allowed us to construct a classifier for tumor diagnosis and prognosis.

Implications:

Our results not only identify myriad p53-regulated long noncoding (lncRNA), they also reveal marked drug-induced, as well as tissue- and tumor-specific heterogeneity in these putative p53 targets and our findings have enabled the construction of robust classifiers for diagnosis and prognosis.
Early Changes in Tumor-Naive Cell-Free Methylomes and Fragmentomes Predict Outcomes in Pembrolizumab-Treated Solid Tumors
Authors: Stutheit-Zhao Eric Y. , Sanz-Garcia Enrique , Liu Zhihui (Amy) , Wong Derek , Marsh Kayla , Abdul Razak Albiruni R. , Spreafico Anna , Bedard Philippe L. , Hansen Aaron R. , Lheureux Stephanie , Torti Dax , Lam Bernard , Yang Shih Yu Cindy , Burgener Justin , Luo Ping , Zeng Yong , Cheng Nicholas , Awadalla Philip , Bratman Scott V. , Ohashi Pamela S. , Pugh Trevor J. , Siu Lillian L.
Published: February 2024

Early kinetics of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in plasma predict response to pembrolizumab but typically requires sequencing of matched tumor tissue or fixed gene panels. We analyzed genome-wide methylation and fragment-length profiles using cell-free methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing (cfMeDIP-seq) in 204 plasma samples from 87 patients before and during treatment with pembrolizumab from a pan-cancer phase II investigator-initiated trial (INSPIRE). We trained a pan-cancer methylation signature using independent methylation array data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to quantify cancer-specific methylation (CSM) and fragment-length score (FLS) for each sample. CSM and FLS are strongly correlated with tumor-informed ctDNA levels. Early kinetics of CSM predict overall survival and progression-free survival, independently of tumor type, PD-L1, and tumor mutation burden. Early kinetics of FLS are associated with overall survival independently of CSM. Our tumor-naïve mutation-agnostic ctDNA approach integrating methylomics and fragmentomics could predict outcomes in patients treated with pembrolizumab.

Significance:

Analysis of methylation and fragment length in plasma using cfMeDIP-seq provides a tumor-naive approach to measure ctDNA with results comparable with a tumor-informed bespoke ctDNA. Early kinetics within the first weeks of treatment in methylation and fragment quantity can predict outcomes with pembrolizumab in patients with various advanced solid tumors.

This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 897
ILT2 and ILT4 Drive Myeloid Suppression via Both Overlapping and Distinct Mechanisms
Authors: Tian Jane , Ashique Amir M. , Weeks Sabrina , Lan Tian , Yang Hong , Chen Hung-I Harry , Song Christina , Koyano Kikuye , Mondal Kalyani , Tsai Daniel , Cheung Isla , Moshrefi Mehrdad , Kekatpure Avantika , Fan Bin , Li Betty , Qurashi Samir , Rocha Lauren , Aguayo Jonathan , Rodgers Col , Meza Marchelle , Heeke Darren , Medfisch Sara M. , Chu Chun , Starck Shelley , Basak Nandini Pal , Sankaran Satish , Malhotra Mohit , Crawley Suzanne , Tran Thomas-Toan , Duey Dana Y. , Ho Carmence , Mikaelian Igor , Liu Wenhui , Rivera Lee B. , Huang Jiawei , Paavola Kevin J. , O'Hollaren Kyle , Blum Lisa K. , Lin Vicky Y. , Chen Peirong , Iyer Anjushree , He Sisi , Roda Julie M. , Wang Yan , Sissons James , Kutach Alan K. , Kaplan Daniel D. , Stone Geoffrey W.
Published: February 2024

Solid tumors are dense three-dimensional (3D) multicellular structures that enable efficient receptor–ligand trans interactions via close cell–cell contact. Immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT)2 and ILT4 are related immune-suppressive receptors that play a role in the inhibition of myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment. The relative contribution of ILT2 and ILT4 to immune inhibition in the context of solid tumor tissue has not been fully explored. We present evidence that both ILT2 and ILT4 contribute to myeloid inhibition. We found that although ILT2 inhibits myeloid cell activation in the context of trans-engagement by MHC-I, ILT4 efficiently inhibits myeloid cells in the presence of either cis- or trans-engagement. In a 3D spheroid tumor model, dual ILT2/ILT4 blockade was required for the optimal activation of myeloid cells, including the secretion of CXCL9 and CCL5, upregulation of CD86 on dendritic cells, and downregulation of CD163 on macrophages. Humanized mouse tumor models showed increased immune activation and cytolytic T-cell activity with combined ILT2 and ILT4 blockade, including evidence of the generation of immune niches, which have been shown to correlate with clinical response to immune-checkpoint blockade. In a human tumor explant histoculture system, dual ILT2/ILT4 blockade increased CXCL9 secretion, downregulated CD163 expression, and increased the expression of M1 macrophage, IFNγ, and cytolytic T-cell gene signatures. Thus, we have revealed distinct contributions of ILT2 and ILT4 to myeloid cell biology and provide proof-of-concept data supporting the combined blockade of ILT2 and ILT4 to therapeutically induce optimal myeloid cell reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment.
Netherton Syndrome with a Novel Likely Pathogenic Variant c.420del (p.Ser141ProfsTer5) in SPINK5 Gene: A Case Report
Authors: Kovacheva Katya , Kamburova Zornitza , Vasilev Preslav , Yordanova Ivelina
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Netherton syndrome (NS) is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis in the group of congenital ichthyosis. The clinical manifestations of the syndrome vary from a very mild clinical manifestation occurring with the picture of ichthyosis linearis circumflexa to exfoliative erythroderma. It can be fatal in the first days of a newborn’s life due to dehydration, hypothermia, weight loss, respiratory infections, and sepsis. A specific anomaly of the hair trichorrexis invaginata is considered pathognomonic for the syndrome. Genetic testing of SPINK5 gene is key to confirming the diagnosis and starting early treatment. Case Presentation: We present a case report of NS in a 6-year-old boy who suffered from generalized erythroderma and desquamation of the skin from birth. The patient has atopic diathesis, recurrent skin infections, increased levels of IgE, and delayed physical development. Two genetic variants in SPINK5 gene with clinical significance were identified. The first detected variant is a nonsense mutation, predicted to cause loss of normal protein function either by protein truncation or by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. The second variant is a likely pathogenic frameshift mutation that truncates the protein in 5 amino acids. The child was treated with acitretin, without satisfactory effect. Conclusion: The genetic variant we have described correlates with a severe clinical phenotype of NS. The second genetic variant of the SPINK5 gene, inherited from the father in our case, is novel and has never been published in the literature.
Two Sibling Cases of Spastic Paraplegia-45 with a Novel Pathogenic Variant in NT5C2 Gene: Concomitant RYR1 Gene in One Sibling
Authors: İpek Rojan , Kömür Mustafa , Direk Meltem Çobanoğulları , Bozdoğan Sevcan Tuğ , Okuyaz Çetin
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare neurodegenerative disorders. SPG45 is the AR inherited type of complicated SPG, which is due to a mutation in the NT5C2 gene. Case Presentation: Two sisters, aged 8 and 4, exhibited delayed motor development since early childhood. They also experienced learning difficulties, dysarthric speech, ataxia, nystagmus, strabismus, and spasticity in their extremities. Additionally, brisk deep tendon reflexes were observed in their upper and lower limbs, and they exhibited positive pathological reflexes. Whole-exome sequencing identified a previously unidentified homozygous mutation in the NT5C2 gene, leading to the diagnosis of SPG45 in both siblings. A mutation in the RYR1 gene associated with malignant hyperthermia was also detected in one of the siblings, necessitating ongoing monitoring. Discussion/Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of a patient with coexistence of the NT5C2 gene and the RYR1 gene.
Monthly Variation in Bell’s Palsy Based on Population Data of Korea
Authors: Jeong Junhui , Chung Jae Ho , Ryu Soorack , Lee Jong Dae , Kim Jin , Lee Ho Yun , Song Chan Il , Cho Young Sang , Lee Se A , Jun Beomcho
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Several studies have reported that the number of patients with Bell’s palsy varied significantly by month and season. However, few studies have reported the monthly variation in Bell’s palsy based on the whole population. We investigated the monthly variation in Bell’s palsy in Korea during a long-term period based on whole population data. Methods: This retrospective study used the data of the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, which included the entire Korean population from 2008 to 2020. The monthly incidence of Bell’s palsy per 100,000 was evaluated in total and according to sex, age, and residence. Results: The total average monthly incidence differed significantly by month, with the highest observed in January (9.1 per 100,000) and the lowest in June (7.7 per 100,000) (p < 0.001). The average monthly incidence according to sex, age, and residence also varied significantly by month, with most of the highest values noted in January and the lowest in June. Conclusion: There was significant monthly variation in the incidence of Bell’s palsy, with the highest in January during the winter and the lowest in June during the summer, based on whole population data over a long-term period in Korea.
Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal Tumor in Adults: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: de los Reyes-Nabhan Nova Kristine , Scheil-Bertram Stefanie , Boppudi Sangamitra , Carl Barbara , Jussen Daniel
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT), a new addition to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification, is a rare childhood neoplasm presenting with disseminated leptomeningeal enhancement and an occasional intraparenchymal mass. Diagnosis is often impeded by infectious/immunological differentials, necessitating a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. We report an adult male with DLGNT without hydrocephalus, which is rare in patients with cerebellar masses. Case Presentation: A 56-year-old man presented with headaches, vertigo, diplopia, impaired hearing, and gait imbalance over 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic right cerebellar mass with its leptomeningeal dissemination but without hydrocephalus. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed elevated proteins with CD56-positive tumor cells. Cerebellar lesion biopsy verified the diagnosis of DLGNT (WHO Grade 3) with KIAA1549::BRAF fusion and 1p deletion. Radiotherapy was prematurely aborted due to clinical deterioration. The patient was subsequently discharged to palliative home care and lost to follow-up. Conclusion: We conducted the first review of all 34 adult DLGNT cases, including ours (one of the oldest), hitherto published in the literature. The majority presented with signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. 52.0% of adult DLGNT patients were alive at follow-up. DLGNT should be considered in the differential diagnoses of diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement in imaging. Further studies comparing pediatric and adult subgroups of DLGNT are needed to evaluate histopathological prognosticators and standardize therapy for both subpopulations.