bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of wear rate of Al-12 wt%Si alloy based MMC reinforced with ZrO2 particulates
Authors: M Nataraja , Balakumar G , Santhosh N , Rudra Naik M
Published: March 2024

The primary objective of this study is to fabricate an Al-12 wt% Si Alloy/ZrO2 composite using the Stir Casting technique, with a specific focus on assessing its performance, particularly in terms of wear characteristics. This research presents a unique approach by utilizing Al-12 wt% Si Alloy as the matrix material, aiming to develop tailored Al Alloy matrix composites suitable for applications requiring enhanced tribological properties. The composites are systematically manufactured with varying percentages of micro-sized ZrO2 reinforcements, specifically 0.5, 1, and 3 wt%. The incorporation of ZrO2 results in significant improvements in wear resistance, a critical attribute for Al-12 wt% Si Alloy-based composites. These composites find extensive utility across industries such as marine, aerospace, automotive, and the power sector, where they are indispensable for producing vital components like electrical sliding contacts, gears, bearings, bushes, pistons, piston rings, and clutches. Despite the availability of various promising reinforcement materials, researchers persistently explore novel combinations of matrices and reinforcements to tailor properties and enhance cost-effectiveness. ZrO2 has emerged as a notable reinforcement material in metal matrix composites, as evidenced by numerous research endeavours. The composites fabricated with ceramic reinforcement’s exhibit enhanced tribological characteristics. The study observes that the wear rate decreases up to 3 wt% of reinforcements, beyond which it increases due to reinforcement agglomeration. The optimal wear-resistant combination is found at 3 wt% of ZrO2, attributed to robust micro-coring and interstitial metal-oxygen bonding facilitated by the Si content in the Al-12%Si matrix. The results are further optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) techniques and validated using the ANOVA table to elucidate the behaviour of the composites under different operational conditions. The hardness results further ascertain the decrease in the wear rate due to the inclusion of ZrO2 reinforcements owing to micro coring and strengthening.
Comparison of single action die and floating die for compaction of aluminum alloy AA7075 using simulation and experimental study
Authors: Al Njjar Ameen , Mazloum Kamar , Sata Amit
Published: March 2024

Compaction in powder metallurgy is considered to be one of the most critical steps in achieving the desired properties of green (before sintering) and final (after sintering) compacts that further play a very important role in final products manufactured using powder metallurgy. In this work, compaction was carried out using a single-action die and floating die (necessary pressure is applied from either the upper or lower punch). Simulations have been conducted with considering various loading conditions (20 to 200 kN) and friction coefficient (0 to 0.5 in the steps of 0.1) using both types of dies for manufacturing compacts of Aluminum alloy AA7075 as its demand in aerospace applications has been increased drastically in recent times. It was found from the simulated results that, to ensure satisfactory compaction using a single action die, the compaction load must be ≥100 kN, and the friction coefficient < 0.3. While, for a floating die, load ≥50 kN, and friction coefficient as zero. It was also found, that a single action die is not advisable to manufacture compact of especially Aluminum alloy AA7075 with a high aspect ratio (H/d > 1.5) in comparison with a floating die. It was also validated by experimental results. It was also observed that floating die compaction results in homogeneous physical, and mechanical properties as well as better microstructure. The compressive strength of the sintered compact is observed to be as high as 60% greater for the floating die compared to the single-action die. Moreover, it was improved by 94.14% compared to previous studies. Additionally, it was found that the effectiveness of the floating pressing die lies in its ability to achieve compaction without the complexity of a double-action system, offering practical implications for optimizing powder metallurgy processes and reducing costs.
Enhancing battery cell safety and lifespan through strategic application of insulating and phase change materials utilizing critical thickness for enhanced heat transfer
Authors: Kadam Sanjay , Gunjavate Prashant , Bhise Shubham
Published: March 2024

Efficient and secure operation of electric vehicles relies significantly on the cooling system for lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, a key component in electric vehicle technology. One of the critical challenges faced by electric vehicle is battery cooling to ensure optimal performance, extended battery life, and enhanced safety. The excessive heat generated during battery operation can lead to decrease in performance and potential safety hazards. Conventional cooling systems, such as air or liquid cooling, have limitations in terms of their cooling capacity, weight, and complexity. Therefore, there is a need to explore innovative cooling techniques that can effectively reduce the thermal issues associated with Electric Vehicles LiFePO4 batteries. Employing a thermal insulating coating and phase change material at the critical thickness emerges as an innovative approach to mitigate the surface temperature of battery cells. This is evident during the charging phase, where the bare cell, Teflon-insulated, and paraffin wax-coated cells reached respective peak temperatures of 69 °C, 57 °C, and 53.3 °C. Notably, the Teflon-coated cell exhibited a 17.39% reduction in peak temperature compared to the bare cell, while the paraffin wax-coated cell displayed a more substantial 23.18% reduction. A similar temperature reduction trend is observed during the discharging phase of the battery cell. Utilizing insulating materials or phase change materials with a critical thickness significantly lowers surface temperatures, enhancing the safety of the battery cell and ensuring prolonged life.
‘Away to Egypt!’
Authors: Herold-Zanker Katharina
Published: March 2024

This chapter explores Oscar Wilde’s interest in Eastern material culture and ancient archaeology, especially his fascination with Egypt. It argues that Wilde’s readiness to appropriate Eastern images was not exclusively Orientalist when decadence is considered as a transnational network. Paying special attention to Wilde’s arguably most decadent texts, his drama Salome (1894) and his poem The Sphinx (1894), the chapter argues that these works textually mirror processes of objectification which occurred in the annexation and exhibition of foreign material goods such as statues, pyramids, and archaeological artefacts. It argues that Wilde’s lectures on interior design and his activities as an editor of The Women’s World, influenced by his father William Wilde’s excursions in the Middle East and through his participation in the Orientalist scene of London via his friendship with Charles Ricketts and demonstrate Wilde’s close interest in Eastern crafts and the development of Egyptology as an institutionalized science. These disciplines inform his writing in which Eastern peoples and customs are fragmented, literally objectified, and often fetishized to suit his universal cosmopolitan ideal which promotes the supremacy of a ‘beauty beyond the nation’.
‘Ex septentrione lux’
Authors: Herold-Zanker Katharina
Published: March 2024

This chapter traces the development from the cosmopolitan decadence of the 1890s to a nationalist poetry negotiated through the inclusion and exclusion of the East, evident in the works of poet Stefan George. It compares unpublished archival material from the Stefan George Archiv in Stuttgart to George’s later poetry symptomatically referred to as ‘aesthetic fascism’ and situates his work in the larger context of international conservative modernism. As evident from his early letters to his London friend, George stylized himself as the cosmopolitan decadent dandy, embracing symbolist and Orientalist trends from France, Italy, Belgium, and England, which he gathered in his publication of his Blätter für die Kunst and his translation of Baudelaire, Ernest Dowson, and D’Annunzio. The chapter reads his early poetic masterwork Algabal (1892), dedicated to and modelled on King Ludwig II, as a companion piece to Wilde’s Salome in which George celebrates attributes of decadent Orientalism in the poem’s Byzantine splendour. Similar to the influence of ancient architecture on Wilde’s Orientalist writing, George imported pieces of ‘exotic’ architecture into his cycle of poetry. At the end of the 1900s, his ideology gravitated towards a purified poetry acting as a self-critique of his own former attachment to decadent literature. Exclusive of foreign influences and expressive of a messianic vision to reform German culture through a Nietzschean vitalist rather than decadent programme, his later poetic cycles are in dialogue with cultural anxieties of a decline of the West as expressed by contemporary authors Theodor Lessing and Oswald Spengler.
Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 using K2YTa5O15 photocatalyst in the presence of silver-iron dual cocatalyst
Authors: Iguchi Shoji , Ikeda Yuki , Naniwa Shimpei , Tanaka Tsunehiro , Teramura Kentaro
Published: March 2024

Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 is a promising technique for realising a carbon neutral society based on the use of renewable energy sources. The application of dual cocatalysts consisting of silver-cobalt or silver-iron significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of an Al−SrTiO3 photocatalyst for the conversion of CO2 to CO in water. In this work, the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 using Ga2O3 and K2YTa5O15 photocatalysts was successfully performed in the presence of a silver-iron dual cocatalyst loaded via a photodeposition method, and the formation rate of CO and selectivity toward CO production were simultaneously increased by the addition of Fe species. The promotion of the H2O oxidation reaction through Fe addition ensures superior activity for the CO2 conversion into CO.
[18F] AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT for non-invasive assessment of tubular injury in kidney diseases
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhang Ping , Wang Wei , He Limeng , Liu Nan , Yang Juan , Tang Deying , Li Guisen , Feng Yunlin , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2024

Background

[18F] AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 is a novel positron emission tomography (PET) ligand, which specifically targets fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression as a FAP inhibitor (FAPI). We analysed the diagnostic value of [18F] AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT for the non-invasive assessment of kidney interstitial inflammation and fibrosis in different renal pathologies.

Methods

Twenty-six patients (14 males and 12 females; mean age, 50.5 ± 16.5 years) with a wide range of kidney diseases and 10 patients (six males and four females; mean age, 55.4 ± 8.6 years) without known evidence of renal disease as disease controls underwent [18F] AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging. Kidney tissues obtained from kidney biopsies were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, Masson's trichome, and periodic acid–silver methenamine. Immunohistochemical staining was also performed to assess the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and FAP. Renal parenchymal FAPI uptake reflected by maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) measurements on PET/CT was analysed against pathohistological findings.

Results

We found that renal parenchymal FAPI uptake was significantly higher in patients with various kidney diseases than in control patients in this study (SUVmax = 4.3 ± 1.8 vs 1.9 ± 0.4, SUVmean=3.9 ± 1.7 vs 1.5 ± 0.4, respectively; all P < 0.001). All kidney diseases, both in acute and chronic kidney disease, had increased renal parenchymal uptake to varying degrees. The correlation analysis indicated a positive association between the SUVmax and the tubulointerstitial inflammation (TII), interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA), and TII + IF/TA scores (r = 0.612, 0.681, and 0.754, all P < 0.05), and between the SUVmean and the TII, IF/TA, and TII + IF/TA scores (r = 0.603, 0.700, and 0.748, all P < 0.05). Furthermore, we found significant positive correlations between both SUVmax and the SUVmean with SMA and FAP staining scores (r = 0.686 and 0.732, r = 0.667 and 0.739, respectively; both P < 0.001).

Conclusions

[18F] AlF-NOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT is clinically available for the comprehensive and non-invasive assessment of tubular injury in various kidney diseases.
MdbZIP44–MdCPRF2-like–Mdα-GP2 regulate starch and sugar metabolism in apple under nitrogen supply
Authors: Cao Xuejing , Guo Zhigang , Wang Ping , Lu Shixiong , Li Wenfang , Ma Zonghuan , Mao Juan , Chen Baihong
Published: March 2024

Nitrogen (N) is regarded as an essential macronutrient and is tightly associated with carbon (C) metabolism in plants. The transcriptome data obtained from this study showed that the expression level of the apple basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) MdbZIP44 was up-regulated in ‘Oregon Spur Delicious’ (Malus domestica Borkh.) apple fruits under nitrogen supply. MdbZIP44 bound to the promoter of Mdα-GP2 gene and inhibited its expression, thereby promoting starch accumulation and decreasing glucose content in apple and tomato fruits. Besides, overexpression of MdbZIP44 promoted sucrose accumulation by regulating the activities of sucrose metabolism-related enzymes and the expression of sugar metabolism-related genes in apple callus and tomato fruits. Furthermore, biochemical assays indicated that MdbZIP44 directly interacted with MdCPRF2-like, another bZIP gene in apple. Meanwhile, this study found that MdCPRF2-like, along with the MdbZIP44 and MdCPRF2-like complex, could activate the expression of Mdα-GP2, respectively. In conclusion, this study provides a new reference for potential mechanisms underlying that MdbZIP44–MdCPRF2-like–Mdα-GP2 regulates starch and sugar metabolism under nitrogen supply.
Stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka: development of a conceptual framework
Authors: Nuwangi Hasara , Dikomitis Lisa , Weerakoon Kosala G , Liyanage Chandani , Agampodi Thilini C , Agampodi Suneth B
Published: March 2024

Background

There is limited knowledge about the stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Sri Lanka. To ensure that leishmaniasis researchers focus on CL-associated stigma, we provide an evidence-based framework that can be used in future research.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review on CL-associated stigma using international evidence and carried out a multimethod qualitative study in the Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka. Based on that, we identified manifestations of stigma, drivers and facilitators that we synthesised to develop a conceptual framework on CL-associated stigma.

Results

Our framework consists of drivers, facilitators and self-stigma experienced by people with CL. Stigma drivers included fear, misbeliefs and misconceptions about CL; the belief that wounds are disfiguring; the treatment burden and implied blame. Facilitators that reduced stigma included knowledge of the curability of CL and awareness that CL is not contagious. The nature of social interactions in rural communities enhanced stigma formation. We identified various enacted, felt and internalised stigma experiences of people with CL.

Conclusions

We developed a conceptual framework of the stigma associated with CL that can be used to develop targeted interventions to increase CL awareness, address stigma and improve the quality of life for CL patients.
Above the Color Line: W. E. B. Du Bois’s Otherworldly Perspective and a New Racial Order
Authors: White Christopher , Hughey Matthew W
Published: March 2024

Though W. E. B. Du Bois was critical of traditional religion, he understood the power of religious orientations to the world, including religious attitudes of faith and hope. Although many scholars have commented on Du Bois’s secular faith, few have understood the secular, scientific sources that he used to develop it. In this article, we examine how Du Bois built a post-Christian otherworldly perspective in part by drawing from popular science writers who examined the possibilities, both real and imagined, of higher-dimensional spaces and planes of existence. We analyze Du Bois’s scholarship, visionary fiction, prayers, and poems to better understand how he repurposed higher-dimensional concepts to envision a post-racial God, reimagine the social order, and develop key ideas that informed his life’s work, including the concept of the “color line.”
Empire, Mission, and Messianism: Franz Rosenzweig’s Understanding of the Relation between Judaism and Christianity
Authors: Herskowitz Daniel M
Published: March 2024

This study contributes to contemporary discussions about the entanglement, cross-fertilization, and co-implicatedness of religion and empire by adding a voice from the still underexamined field of Jewish thought. It claims that the European imperial project is inherent to the vision of Judaism, Jewish-Christian relations, and global redemption offered in Franz Rosenzweig’s The Star of Redemption, and that its proper conceptual background is the fin de siècle Protestant discourse offering justifications for empire by wedding territorial expansion, mission, and messianism. By examining the appropriate passages from The Star in light of his early wartime geopolitical writings, it demonstrates that Christian proselytization is essential to Rosenzweig’s vision of redemption and that his contribution to the religious discourse justifying empire resides in his conceptualization of the Jews, subtracted from history and politics, as not targets of mission but as prefiguring the empire-like, borderless, and redeemed existence toward which the Christians, always on “the way,” strive. It concludes by calling for an 'imperial turn' in the study of modern Jewish thought.
Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate: a novel approach to treatment—case report and review of the literature
Authors: Arham Abdul Baseet , Robinson Robert A , Chakra Mohammed Abou , O’Donnell Michael A
Published: March 2024

Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate is a rare and aggressive tumor, with a quarter of the patients harboring metastatic disease, commonly in the lung. It usually presents with urinary obstruction in a relatively younger patient group. A 29-year-old male presented with lower urinary tract symptoms to the urologist. Computed tomography scan revealed a large pelvic mass involving the prostate. Biopsy on two occasions yielded leiomyoma. Instead of conventional radical surgery, en-bloc resection of the mass was done while preserving the remaining portion of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and ejaculatory duct. Histopathology revealed a high-grade leiomyosarcoma with negative margins. The patient had excellent recovery of defecation, erectile, and ejaculatory functions within 2 months after adjuvant radiotherapy. At the 24-month follow-up there was no evidence of disease. En-bloc resection of the tumor can be considered in select cases to improve functional outcomes and sustain a higher quality of life in patients.
Combined skin dilator and titanium mesh application to repair scalp and skull defects: a case report
Authors: Li Chao , Nie Wen , Wang Fujun
Published: March 2024

We report a case of skin dilator combined with titanium mesh to repair scalp and skull defects. An 18-year-old male with a scalp defect and skull necrosis due to high-voltage electrical burns was admitted to our hospital. In the first stage, the wound was debrided, antibiotics were applied to control the infection, and two skin dilators were embedded under the scalp after debridement. In the second stage, necrotic skull material was removed, the skull defect was repaired using titanium mesh, and the scalp defect was repaired by transferring expanded flaps. The patient was followed up for 6 months, recovering well and achieving a satisfactory head shape.
Osteochondroma of the superomedial scapula managed with a novel muscle sparing approach: case report and review of literature
Authors: Shafer Dylan H , Robles Emilio L , Linsley Catherine M , Lamb Ashley N
Published: March 2024

Osteochondromas are a common type of benign primary bone tumor rarely occurring in the scapula. When it is symptomatic, surgical removal is recommended. There are multiple approaches for surgical excision that can be used depending on the location and size of the tumor. We present a case of a 14-year-old female who was seen in the orthopedic clinic with right shoulder pain, mechanical symptoms and medial scapular winging due to a superomedial osteochondroma of the scapula. A novel superior approach to the superomedial ventral surface of the scapula was utilized to excise the tumor with good clinical results.
An S-locus F-box protein as pollen S determinant targets non-self S-RNase underlying self-incompatibility in Citrus
Authors: Cao Zong-Hong , Song Dan , Hu Yu , Liang Mei , Xu Qiang , Wang Shao-Hua , Ye Jun-Li , Xie Zong-Zhou , Deng Xiu-Xin , Chai Li-Jun
Published: March 2024

Self-incompatibility (SI) is a crucial mechanism that prevents self-fertilization and inbreeding in flowering plants. Citrus exhibits SI regulated by a polymorphic S-locus containing an S-RNase gene and multiple S-locus F-box (SLF) genes. It has been documented that S-RNase functions as the pistil S determinant, but there is no direct evidence that the SLF genes closely linked with S-RNase function as pollen S determinants in Citrus. This study assembled the genomes of two pummelo (Citrus grandis) plants, obtained three novel complete and well-annotated S-haplotypes, and isolated 36 SLF or SLF-like alleles on the S-loci. Phylogenetic analysis of 138 SLFs revealed that the SLF genes were classified into 12 types, including six types with divergent or missing alleles. Furthermore, transformation experiments verified that the conserved S6-SLF7a protein can lead to the transition of SI to self-compatibility by recognizing non-self S8-RNase in ‘Mini-Citrus’ plants (S7S8 and S8S29, Fortunella hindsii), a model plant for citrus gene function studies. In vitro assays demonstrated interactions between SLFs of different S haplotypes and the Skp1–Cullin1–F-box subunit CgSSK1 protein. This study provides direct evidence that SLF controls the pollen function in Citrus, demonstrating its role in the ‘non-self recognition’ SI system.
Apoptotic Cell–Based Therapy for the Modification of the Inflammatory Response to Hemorrhagic Shock
Authors: Kenig Ariel , Nachman Dean , Aliev Emil , Wagnert-Avraham Linn , Kolben Yotam , Kessler Asa , Lutsker Maya , Mevorach Dror
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Many trauma patients die from hemorrhagic shock in the military and civilian settings. Although two-thirds of hemorrhagic shock victims die of reasons other than exsanguination, such as the consequent cytokine storm, anti-inflammatory therapies failed to be utilized. Apoptotic cell–based treatments enhance innate ability to exert systemic immunomodulation as demonstrated in several clinical applications and hence might present a novel approach in hemorrhagic shock treatment.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-two rats underwent a pressure-controlled hemorrhagic shock model and followed up for 24 hours. An infusion of apoptotic cells (Allocetra-OTS, Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd, Nes Ziona, Israel) was administered to the treatment group. Hemodynamics, blood counts, biochemistry findings, and cytokine profile were compared to a saline-resuscitated control group.

Results

The treatment group’s mean arterial pressure decreased from 94.8 mmHg to 28.2 mmHg, resulting in an 8.13 mg/dL increase in lactate and a 1.9 g/L decrease in hemoglobin, similar to the control group. White blood cells and platelets decreased more profoundly in the treatment group. A similar cytokine profile after 24 hours was markedly attenuated in the treatment group 2 hours after bleeding. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1a (28.4 pg/mL vs. 179.1 pg/mL), IL-1b (47.4 pg/mL vs. 103.9 pg/mL), IL-6 (526.2 pg/mL vs. 3492 pg/mL), interferon γ (11.4 pg/mL vs. 427.9 pg/mL), and tumor necrosis factor α (19.0 pg/mL vs. 31.7 pg/mL) were profoundly lower in the treatment group.

Conclusion

In a pressure-control hemorrhagic shock model in rats, apoptotic cell infusion showed preliminary signs of a uniform attenuated cytokine response. Apoptotic cell–based therapies might serve as a novel immunomodulatory therapy for hemorrhagic shock.
Challenges in Managing Treatment-Resistant Mpox Complicated by Severe Superinfection
Authors: Fortier Julia C , Marsalisi Christopher , Cordova Elian , Guo Hui Jun , Verdecia Jorge
Published: March 2024

Though typically self-limiting, severe mpox infections have been treated with antiviral medications, most notably tecovirimat. Various reports exist of mpox progression despite tecovirimat treatment. Treatment resistance can be due to acquired mpox strain mutations, most often occurring in an immunocompromised host. We present the case of a male with AIDS who developed disseminated treatment-resistant mpox infection complicated by superimposed bacterial and fungal infections. His orthopoxvirus polymerase chain reaction result remained positive despite treatment with 4 weeks of oral tecovirimat and 3 doses of intravenous cidofovir. Poor response to antiviral therapy was likely due to his underlying immunocompromised state; however, strain resistance cannot be ruled out given that the patient had started but not completed a 14-day course of tecovirimat 8 months prior, at the time of initial mpox diagnosis. Patients with mpox who are immunocompromised may require extended and additional treatment beyond the standard 14 days of tecovirimat, such as cidofovir, brincidofovir, or intravenous vaccina immune globulin.
Management and Outcomes of Patients at a Specialty Clinic for Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Hunt Aaron , Danziger Larry H , Johnson Stuart , Skinner Andrew M
Published: March 2024

Vancomycin and fidaxomicin taper regimens were the most common treatment strategies employed but nearly half of patients (40/83) referred to our Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) clinic did not require further treatment. The overall 60-day CDI recurrence rate was 16.9% (11/65). CDI management at a dedicated clinic may improve clinical outcomes.
Eschar in a Belgian traveler returning from Central Europe
Authors: Costescu Strachinaru Diana Isabela , Henckaerts Liesbet , Depypere Melissa , Vanbrabant Peter
Published: March 2024

Background: Tularemia is a zoonotic infection caused by Francisella tularensis, an aerobic, facultative intracellular coccobacillus, encountered especially in the Northern hemisphere. F. tularensis is a pathogen of humans and hundreds of animal species. Patients and methods: A Belgian traveler returning from an adventurous vacation in Central Europe presents fever, flu-like symptoms, a skin ulcer with a necrotic center resembling an eschar on the left thigh and painful left inguinal lymphadenopathy. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay developed by the National Reference Laboratory for Tularemia, Sciensano, Belgium, detected elevated Ig G antibodies against F. tularensis, while the rest of the serologies were negative. Results: A highly likely case of ulceroglandular tularemia is described and the differential diagnosis is discussed. Conclusion: The incidence of tularemia has been increasing throughout Europe in recent years. Physicians should be aware of this disease, its diversity of reservoirs, transmission routes and clinical presentations.
Tank-level robust control of LNG carrier based on hyperbolic tangent function nonlinear modification
Authors: Li Zongkuo , Zhang Xianku , Huang Junpeng
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study was to achieve a better control effect of the controller on the liquid level of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier and to achieve the goal of energy saving and carbon reduction. This paper took the loaded square tank of an S175 high-speed container ship as the research plant, combined with the closed-loop gain-shaping algorithm (CGSA) and nonlinear modification technology to further optimize the controller. We initially employed a third-order CGSA approach in formulating the foundation of our linear controller. Subsequently, we introduced a non-linear modification to this controller by harnessing the power of the hyperbolic tangent function, and the control effect is verified by the MATLAB simulation experiment. Based on the outcomes of MATLAB simulations, by integrating the third-order CGSA technique and introducing non-linear modification through the hyperbolic tangent function, we observed a significant enhancement in the controller's performance. Specifically, it outperformed the traditional PID controller by a substantial margin, demonstrating a remarkable 19% boost in control efficacy. Additionally, it provides better energy savings than the non-linear controller. The controller designed in this paper has a better control effect on the liquid tank-level control of LNG ships, the control process is more energy-saving and the purpose of carbon reduction is realized.
Analyses of Fungal Communities from Culture-Dependent and -Independent Studies Reveal Novel Mycobiomes Associated with Globodera and Heterodera Species
Authors: Jumbam Blaise , Amiri Zahra-Bita , Dandurand Louise-Marie , Zasada Inga A. , Aime M. Catherine
Published: March 2024

Plant-parasitic nematodes are important pathogens of agricultural crops. Of particular importance are cyst nematode species of Globodera and Heterodera, which remain a major constraint to global production of crops such as potato, soybean, and wheat. Recent restrictions on the use of some synthetic nematicides has created an urgent need for alternative methods of controlling cyst nematodes. This project aimed to (i) document fungi found associated with cyst nematodes, (ii) determine if the fungi associated with cyst nematodes are dependent on growth conditions or nematode species, (iii) identify core mycobiomes for each of the eight cyst nematode species, (iv) identify the core mycobiome across all cyst nematode species studied, and (v) determine if the fungi associated with Globodera species are structured geographically. Sixty cyst nematode populations from eight species— Globodera sp., G. ellingtonae, G. pallida, G. rostochiensis, H. avenae, H. carotae, H. glycines, and H. schachtii—were collected from several geographic locations globally and screened for fungi using both culture-dependent and -independent methods. The core mycobiome was determined for each species. In total, 744 species of fungi were found to be associated with cyst nematodes. Fungal species shared across all cyst nematode species included Pochonia sp., Sporothrix sp., Neocosmospora solani, Exophiala equina, Mortierella sp., and Sarocladium kiliense. The core mycobiomes were conserved between cyst nematode species irrespective of their geographic origin. Cyst nematodes collected from the field or from greenhouse cultures also recruited similar core mycobiomes. These findings could be relevant when choosing fungi to evaluate as biocontrol agents against cyst nematodes.
Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Delirium in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials*
Authors: Carayannopoulos Kallirroi Laiya , Alshamsi Fayez , Chaudhuri Dipayan , Spatafora Laura , Piticaru Joshua , Campbell Kaitryn , Alhazzani Waleed , Lewis Kimberley
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES:

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing whether the use of antipsychotic medications in critically ill adult patients with delirium impacts patient-important outcomes.

DATA SOURCES:

A medical librarian searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, and Wiley’s Cochrane Library as well as clinicaltrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform up to November 2023.

STUDY SELECTION:

Independently and in duplicate, reviewers screened abstracts and titles for eligibility, then full text of qualifying studies. We included parallel-group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included critically ill adult patients with delirium. The intervention group was required to receive antipsychotic medications at any dose, whereas the control group received usual care or placebo.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Reviewers extracted data independently and in duplicate using a piloted abstraction form. Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan software (version 5.4).

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Five RCTs (n = 1750) met eligibility criteria. The use of antipsychotic medications compared with placebo did not increase the number of delirium- or coma-free days (mean difference 0.90 d; 95% CI, –0.32 to 2.12; moderate certainty), nor did it result in a difference in mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU, or hospital length of stay. The use of antipsychotics did not result in an increased risk of adverse events (risk ratio 1.27; 95% CI, 0.71–2.30; high certainty). Subgroup analysis of typical versus atypical antipsychotics did not identify any subgroup effect for any outcome.

CONCLUSIONS:

In conclusion, our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated with moderate certainty that there is no difference in delirium- or coma-free days when delirious critically ill adults are treated with antipsychotic medications. Further studies in the subset of patients with hyperactive delirium may be of benefit.
Nomogram Predicting Grade ≥2 Acute Radiation Enteritis in Patients With Cervical Cancer Receiving Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Chen Fei , Gong Xiaoqin , Zhang Kaijun , Yu Yunpeng , You Tao , Hua Ye , Dai Chunhua , Hu Jing
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To analyze the risk factors for grade ≥2 ARE in patients with cervical cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Methods:

A total of 273 patients with cervical cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy at our hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into training and validation groups. Clinical parameters were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram model was established based on the independent risk factors selected using multivariate logistic regression. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the nomogram. The patients were divided into low-score and high-score groups based on the scores calculated using the nomogram model and compared.

Results:

Malnutrition, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio ≥0.82 after radiotherapy, platelet-lymphocyte ratio <307.50 after radiotherapy, and bowelbag volume receiving at least 5 and 40 Gy were independent risk factors for grade ≥2 ARE and were incorporated into the nomogram (P<0.05). The ROC curve, calibration curve, and DCA suggested that the nomogram had good discrimination, concordance, and net benefit in the clinical. A medium nomogram score of 146.50 points was used as the cutoff point, and the incidence of grade ≥2 ARE in the high-score group was higher than that in the low-score group (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

The nomogram model for grade ≥2 ARE has good predictive ability and clinical utility, and is convenient for clinicians to identify high-risk groups and develop early prevention and treatment strategies.
Factors of Influence on Diabetes Awareness in Older People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Comorbid With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: LIAO Lin-Yu , CHEN Kuei-Min , CHENG Hsiu-Rong , HSU Hui-Fen
Published: March 2024

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been associated with an increased risk of mortality in this population.

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the predictive factors of diabetes awareness (DA), including diabetes knowledge (DK), and diabetes care behaviors (DCB) among older people with both COPD and T2DM.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. One hundred thirty-three older-age patients with COPD comorbid with T2DM receiving treatment at a chest hospital were enrolled as participants. Both DK and DCB were utilized to measure DA. The Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire was utilized to measure DK, and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities was used to evaluate DCB.

Results

The average glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.68% (SD = 1.55%), with 74 (55.6%) participants having a level > 7%. The average DA was 46.46% (SD = 13.34%), the average DK was 53.42% (SD = 18.91%), and the average DCB was 39.50% (SD = 16.66%). In terms of demographic variables, age, diabetes education, diabetes shared care, and HbA1c were all significantly associated with DA, DK, and DCB (all ps < .05). The overall variance in DA was significantly explained by diabetes education and HbA1c (all ps < .05). The overall variance in DK was significantly explained by age, diabetes education, and HbA1c. The overall variance in DCB was significantly explained by diabetes education and HbA1c (all ps < .05).

Conclusions/Implications for Practice

Our study findings indicate that older adult patients with COPD comorbid with T2DM are at elevated risks of poor glycemic control and low DA. Healthcare professionals should be aware of these issues and develop appropriate DA plans to prevent poor glycemic control in this population. Providing accurate information on diabetes to older adults with COPD comorbid with T2DM is important to improving their DK and promoting better DCB.
Geriatric Nursing: Relationship Among Death Attitude, Meaning in Life, and Career Choice Motivation
Authors: LIU Qiushi , YIH Bongsook
Published: March 2024

Background

Aging populations require higher quality care. However, few undergraduate nursing students choose careers in aged care. Negative death attitudes and loss of meaning in life may reduce motivation to choose geriatric nursing (GN) as a career. The relationships among these variables have yet to be clarified in the literature.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among death attitude, meaning in life, and motivation to choose a career in GN among undergraduate nursing students in China.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. Five hundred ninety-five final-year undergraduate nursing students in four nursing schools completed the Career Choice Motivation Questionnaire for Geriatric Nursing, Death Attitude Profile-Revised, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Attest, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression model were used to analyze the data using SPSS Version 22.0.

Results

The mean Career Choice Motivation Questionnaire for Geriatric Nursing item score was 3.15 (SD= 0.49; 1–5 points), indicating the participants were moderately motivated to choose GN as a career. The multiple linear regression revealed statistically significant associations among death attitude, meaning in life, and motivation to care for older adults, explaining 14.5% of the total variance (R2= .15,F= 9.01,p< .001). Perceiving meaning in life, having escape acceptance, and having approach acceptance were each shown to be positively associated with choosing a career in GN. Conversely, fear of death and death avoidance were found to be negatively associated with choosing this career path.

Conclusions

Death attitude and perceptions regarding the meaning of life are associated with the motivation of nursing students to care for older adults.
Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths in Maryland (2018), by Industry and Occupation
Authors: Frey Jodi J. , Unick George “Jay” , Phillips Danielle R. , Imboden Rachel , Mosby Amanda , Ware Orrin D. , Mitchell Clifford S. , Cloeren Marianne
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Opioid-related overdose deaths (OROD) increase annually, yet little is known about workplace risk factors. This study assessed differences in OROD rates across industry and occupation in Maryland, in addition to demographic differences within industry and occupation.

Methods

The 2018 State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System was used to compare OROD between industries and occupations.

Results

The leading industries in OROD included the following: construction, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. Occupational groups were similar: construction and extraction, production, and transportation and material moving. There were also differences by sex (greater rates in men), age (greater rates in older workers), and race/ethnicity (varied patterns in rates).

Conclusions

Employers and state leaders should work collaboratively to target prevention and intervention for workplaces at highest risk for OROD. Construction was highest and needs supports that respond to the workplace culture.
Single Dual-specific Anti-PD-L1/TGF-β Antibody Synergizes with Chemotherapy as Neoadjuvant Treatment for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: a Preclinical Experimental Study
Authors: Zhang Haoxiang , Chen Jiaoshun , Bai Jianwei , Zhang Jing , Huang Shaoyi , Zeng Liang , Zhou Pengfei , Shen Qiang , Yin Tao
Published: March 2024

Aims:

Chemotherapy resistance is an important cause of neoadjuvant therapy failure in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). BiTP is a single antibody that can simultaneously and dually target transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1). We attempted in this study to investigate the efficacy of BiTP in combination with first-line chemotherapy in PDAC.

Methods:

Preclinical assessments of BiTP plus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel were completed through a resectable KPC mouse model (C57BL/6J). Spectral flow cytometry, tissue section staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Counting Kit-8, transwell, and Western blot assays were used to investigate the synergistic effects.

Results:

BiTP combinatorial chemotherapy in neoadjuvant setting significantly downstaged PDAC tumors, enhanced survival and had a higher resectability for mice with PDAC. BiTP was high affinity binding to targets and reverse chemotherapy resistance of PDAC cells. The combination overcame immune evasion through reprogramming TME via increasing penetration and function of T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells, and decreasing the function of immunosuppression-related cells as regulatory T cells, M2 macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that the BiTP combinatorial chemotherapy is a promising neoadjuvant therapy for PDAC.
Dynamic insights into infection risk over time in two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ha Jeong Hyun , Ahn Seoin , Kim Hong-Kyu , Lee Han-Byoel , Moon Hyeong-Gon , Han Wonshik , Hong Ki Yong , Chang Hak , Lee Gordon K. , Choi Jinwook , Jin Ung Sik
Published: March 2024

Background

Infections following postmastectomy implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) can compromise surgical outcomes and lead to significant morbidity. This study aimed to discern the timing of infections in two-stage IBR and associated risk factors.

Method

A review of electronic health records was conducted on 1096 breasts in 1058 patients undergoing two-stage IBR at Seoul National University Hospital (2015–2020). Infections following the first-stage tissue expander (TE) insertion and second-stage TE exchange were analyzed separately, considering associated risk factors.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 53.5 months, infections occurred in 2.9% (32/1096) after the first stage and 4.1% (44/1070) after the second stage. Infections following the first-stage procedure exhibited a bimodal distribution across time, while those after the second-stage procedure showed a unimodal pattern. When analyzing risk factors for infection after the first-stage procedure, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was associated with early (≤7 weeks) infection, while both ALND and obesity were independent predictors of late (>7 weeks) infection. For infections following the second-stage procedure, obesity, postmastectomy radiotherapy, a history of expander infection, ALND, and the use of textured implants were identified as independent risk factors. Postmastectomy radiotherapy was related to non-salvaged outcomes after infection following both stages.

Conclusion

Infections following first and second-stage IBR exhibit distinct timelines reflecting different pathophysiology. Understanding these timelines and associated risk factors will inform patient selection for IBR and aid in tailored postoperative surveillance planning. These findings contribute to refining patient suitability for IBR and optimizing personalized postoperative care strategies.
Deep learning-assisted detection and segmentation of intracranial hemorrhage in noncontrast computed tomography scans of acute stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hu Ping , Yan Tengfeng , Xiao Bing , Shu Hongxin , Sheng Yilei , Wu Yanze , Shu Lei , Lv Shigang , Ye Minhua , Gong Yanyan , Wu Miaojing , Zhu Xingen
Published: March 2024

Background:

Deep learning (DL)-assisted detection and segmentation of intracranial hemorrhage stroke in noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) scans are well-established, but evidence on this topic is lacking.

Materials and methods:

PubMed and Embase databases were searched from their inception to November 2023 to identify related studies. The primary outcomes included sensitivity, specificity, and the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC); while the secondary outcomes were positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), precision, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), processing time, and volume of bleeding. Random-effect model and bivariate model were used to pooled independent effect size and diagnostic meta-analysis data, respectively.

Results:

A total of 36 original studies were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results indicated that DL technologies have a comparable performance in intracranial hemorrhage detection and segmentation with high values of sensitivity (0.89, 95% CI: 0.88–0.90), specificity (0.91, 95% CI: 0.89–0.93), AUROC (0.94, 95% CI: 0.93–0.95), PPV (0.92, 95% CI: 0.91–0.93), NPV (0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.96), precision (0.83, 95% CI: 0.77–0.90), DSC (0.84, 95% CI: 0.82–0.87). There is no significant difference between manual labeling and DL technologies in hemorrhage quantification (MD 0.08, 95% CI: −5.45–5.60, P=0.98), but the latter takes less process time than manual labeling (WMD 2.26, 95% CI: 1.96–2.56, P=0.001).

Conclusion:

This systematic review has identified a range of DL algorithms that the performance was comparable to experienced clinicians in hemorrhage lesions identification, segmentation, and quantification but with greater efficiency and reduced cost. It is highly emphasized that multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials will be needed to validate the performance of these tools in the future, paving the way for fast and efficient decision-making during clinical procedure in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke.