bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Aluminum Alloy Formwork Geometry Parameters Based on a PSO-BP Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yingjie , Qian Zhenxiao , Kang Chaofeng , Wu Yunfeng , Dong Qun , Sun Chao
Published: May 2023

To assist in addressing the problem where an aluminum alloy formwork (AAF) deforms more greatly under the action of lateral pressure and therefore does not meet the requirements of plaster-free engineering, we propose a method for determining the geometric parameters of this formwork based on a PSO algorithm and BP neural network with ABAQUS as the platform. The influence of six geometric parameters of the formwork on the maximum deflection value of the panel under the action of lateral pressure is studied using finite element analysis. The maximum deflection value of the panel is used as the index, and the influence of each factor is analyzed with an orthogonal test, and a set of optimal geometric parameters is obtained via extreme difference analysis and analysis of variance. The sample data are obtained via finite element simulation, and the PSO-BP neural network model is established using the six factors of the orthogonal test as input values and the maximum deflection of the panel as the output value, and the optimal geometric parameters are optimized using the PSO algorithm. The results indicate that the maximum deflection for the panel in the orthogonal scheme is 1.446 mm. The PSO-BP neural network prediction model demonstrates greater accuracy and a 31.74% reduction in running time compared to the BP neural network prediction model. The optimized PSO-BP neural network prediction model scheme reveals a maximum panel deflection of 1.296 mm, a 10.37% decrease compared to the orthogonal solution. These findings offer technical guidance and a foundation for optimizing AAF designs, presenting practical applications.
Design Structure Matrix Approach Applied to Lunar Habitat Design
Authors: Li Shuqi
Published: May 2023

Lunar habitat design is a complex endeavor characterized by complicated task-composition, numerous internal iterations, and intense task-coupling. The design process of assembled building in terrestrial construction and the system composition of lunar habitats have been constructed. However, there is insufficient experience to fully understand lunar habitat design missions and likewise there is insufficient coordination between architects and various disciplines. The task flow for sequencing optimization can be determined using a design structure matrix (DSM), which is widely used in engineering. The DSM can reveal necessary interfaces within the lunar habitat system as per relevant interface variables and processes. By decomposing the lunar habitat design process, an initial activity-based DSM is established in the present study. Informational interactions between each design task and its respective intensity are statistically investigated to clarify them across the four dimensions of energy, space, materials, and information. A sequencing algorithm is applied to optimize the design process. Finally, 20 design tasks of lunar habitat design are clarified among four phases: Pre-planning, spatial design, environmental design, and optimization. Related disciplines should coordinate in the design process according to the optimization results, and use the optimized task coupling relationship to build the requirement model and design model in an orderly manner to improve the design efficiency.
Associated Effects of Sodium Chloride and Dihydrate Gypsum on the Mechanical Performance and Hydration Properties of Slag-Based Geopolymer
Authors: Shen Quan , Li Benxiao , He Wei , Meng Xia , Shen Yinlan
Published: May 2023

The associated effect of sodium chloride and dihydrate gypsum on the mechanical performance of a slag-based geopolymer activated by quicklime was investigated by compressive strength, shrinkage, and square circle anti-cracking tests of mortar with a 0.5 water–binder ratio and a 1:3 binder–sand ratio, as well as paste soundness, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) of the paste. The results indicate that (1) when dihydrate gypsum is used alone, it combines with calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-H) to form calcium sulfoaluminate hydrate (AFt), which encourages the hydration process of slag. A 7.5% addition can result in an increase of 97.33% and 36.92% in 3-day and 28-day compressive strengths, respectively. When NaCl is used by itself, it facilitates the condensation of the aluminum silicate tetrahedron unit and generates zeolite. A 2% dosage can lead to a 66.67% increase in the 3-day compressive strength, while causing a 15.89% reduction in the 28-day compressive strength. (2) The combined effect of 2% NaCl and 7.5% gypsum results in the formation of needle-like and rod-shaped AFt, Friedel’s salt, and plate-like Kuzel’s salt in the geopolymer. This leads to an increase in 3-day and 28-day compressive strengths by 148% and 37.85%, respectively. Furthermore, it reduces the porosity by 18.7%. (3) Both NaCl and gypsum enhance the paste soundness of the slag-based geopolymer, and they do no harm to the crack resistance of the geopolymer. The drying shrinkage of the geopolymer at 28 days is just 0.48 × 10−3, which is only 66.7% of OPC. This slag-based geopolymer has a simple preparation process, good volume stability, low raw material cost, low energy consumption, and low carbon emissions. It can be used instead of 32.5 slag Portland cement in plain concrete applications, and has high engineering, economic, and environmental values.
Thermal-Electric Modeling: A New Approach for Evaluating the Impact of Conservation Voltage Reduction on Cooling Equipment
Authors: Varshney Harshit , Jain Himanshu , Tiwari Ravi
Published: May 2023

It has been suggested in the literature that by reducing the incoming voltage at a distribution feeder head or at the supply side of buildings, significant electricity savings can be achieved. This technique is called Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR). Data-based analysis with and without CVR is primarily used to support such assertions, which does not explain the physics behind reduction in energy consumption with CVR. This paper presents a new approach for evaluating the impact of CVR on cooling equipment. In this approach, a thermal-electric model of the cooling process is developed in MATLAB’s SIMSCAPE toolbox that can be used to explain the physics behind energy reduction with CVR. This model includes an accurate model of a compressor coupled to an induction motor whose supply voltage can be varied to simulate CVR. Simulations performed using this model show that the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of cooling equipment improves with a reduction in supply voltage. However, the energy lost in the motor windings may nullify the impact of the improvement in the COP and render the CVR programs ineffective if the range of speed change is small over the allowable voltage change. The simulation results show an increase in energy consumption of 4% at 90% rated voltage compared to the energy consumed at the rated voltage. However, if variable frequency drives-based cooling equipment is appropriately controlled, it is possible to reduce their net energy consumption using CVR. Simulations performed keeping the ratio of the supply voltage and the frequency constant showed a reduction in energy consumption of 2.5% at 90% rated voltage compared to the energy consumed at the rated voltage. Thermal-electric modeling of building cooling equipment is, therefore, vital to accurately evaluating the benefits of CVR as smart, power electronics-based end-use equipment is globally adopted.
Long-Term Urban Epidemic and Disaster Resilience: The Planning and Assessment of a Comprehensive Underground Resilience Core
Authors: Qiu Tong , Chen Xiangsheng , Su Dong , Lin Xingtao
Published: May 2023

This study utilizes the enclosed and stable environment of underground space for long-term sustainable planning for urban epidemics and disasters. Owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, cities require long-term epidemic–disaster management. Therefore, this study proposed a strategy for integrating multiple functions to plan a comprehensive Underground Resilience Core (URC). A planning and assessment methods of URC were proposed. With this methodology, epidemic- and disaster- URCs were integrated to construct a comprehensive-URC in underground spaces. The results show: (1) Epidemic-resilient URCs adopting a joint progressive approach with designated hospitals can rapidly suppress an epidemic outbreak. (2) The regularity of the morphology of underground spaces determines the area of the URC. Bar-shaped underground spaces have the potential for planning disaster-URCs. (3) The URC planning efficiency ranking is as follows: Bar shapes lead overall, T shapes are second under seismic resilience, and Cross shapes are second under epidemic resilience. (4) The potential analysis of planning a comprehensive-URC in the underground parking in Chinese cities showed that the recovery time can be advanced from 29% to 39% and the comprehensive resilience can be improved by 37.63%. The results of this study can serve as sustainable urban planning strategies and assessment tools for long-term epidemic–disaster management.
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Followed by Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Phase I/II Trial
Authors: Wang Ling-Wei , Liu Yen-Wan Hsueh , Chu Pen-Yuan , Liu Hong-Ming , Peir Jinn-Jer , Lin Ko-Han , Huang Wen-Sheng , Lo Wen-Liang , Lee Jia-Cheng , Lin Tzung-Yi , Liu Yu-Ming , Yen Sang-Hue
Published: May 2023

Background: This trial investigated the efficacy and safety of salvage boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) combined with image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) for recurrent head and neck cancer after prior radiotherapy (RT). Methods: BNCT was administered using an intravenous boronophenylalanine–fructose complex (500 mg/kg) in a single fraction; multifractionated IG-IMRT was administered 28 days after BNCT. For BNCT, the mucosa served as the dose-limiting organ. For IG-IMRT, the clinical target volume (CTV) and the planning target volume (PTV) were generated according to the post-BNCT gross tumor volume (GTV) with chosen margins. Results: This trial enrolled 14 patients, and 12 patients received combined treatment. The median BNCT average dose for the GTV was 21.6 Gy-Eq, and the median IG-IMRT dose for the PTV was 46.8 Gy/26 fractions. After a median (range) follow-up period of 11.8 (3.6 to 53.2) months, five patients had a complete response and four had a partial response. One patient had grade 4 laryngeal edema; another patient had a grade 4 hemorrhage. Most tumor progression occurred within or adjacent to the CTV. The 1-year overall survival and local progression-free survival rates were 56% and 21%, respectively. Conclusion: Despite the high response rate (64%) of this trial, there was a high incidence of in-field and marginal failure with this approach. Future studies combining BNCT with modalities other than radiation may be tried.
WNT-Conditioned Mechanism of Exit from Postchemotherapy Shock of Differentiated Tumour Cells
Authors: Tsydenova Irina A. , Dolgasheva Daria S. , Gaptulbarova Ksenia A. , Ibragimova Marina K. , Tsyganov Matvei M. , Kravtsova Ekaterina A. , Nushtaeva Anna A. , Litviakov Nikolai V.
Published: May 2023

Background: the present study aims to prove or disprove the hypothesis that the state of copy number aberration (CNA) activation of WNT signalling pathway genes accounts for the ability of differentiated tumour cells to emerge from postchemotherapy shock. Methods: In the first step, the CNA genetic landscape of breast cancer cell lines BT-474, BT-549, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MD-468, MCF7, SK-BR-3 and T47D, which were obtained from ATCC, was examined to rank cell cultures according to the degree of ectopic activation of the WNT signalling pathway. Then two lines of T47D with ectopic activation and BT-474 without activation were selected. The differentiated EpCAM+CD44-CD24-/+ cells of these lines were subjected to IL6 de-differentiation with formation of mammospheres on the background of cisplatin and WNT signalling inhibitor ICG-001. Results: it was found that T47D cells with ectopic WNT signalling activation after cisplatin exposure were dedifferentiated to form mammospheres while BT-474 cells without ectopic WNT-signalling activation did not form mammospheres. The dedifferentiation of T47D cells after cisplatin exposure was completely suppressed by the WNT signalling inhibitor ICG-001. Separately, ICG-001 reduced, but did not abolish, the ability to dedifferentiate in both cell lines. Conclusions: these data support the hypothesis that the emergence of differentiated tumour cells from postchemotherapy shock after chemotherapy is due to ectopic activation of WNT signalling pathway genes.
Optimising Outcomes and Surveillance Strategies of Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Srirajaskanthan Rajaventhan , Clement Dominique , Brown Sarah , Howard Mark R. , Ramage John K.
Published: May 2023

Rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms are increasing in incidence, in part due to increased endoscopic procedures being performed for bowel cancer screening. Whilst most of these lesions are low-grade well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours, they can have a varied clinical behaviour. Frequently, these lesions are incorrectly characterised at endoscopy and, therefore, incompletely excised using standard polypectomy techniques. Furthermore, some cases are not fully staged prior to or post resection. In this article we discuss the endoscopic and surgical options available to improve the likelihood of achieving an R0 resection and the staging procedures that should be used in these NETs. We also review factors that may suggest a higher risk of nodal involvement or recurrence. This information may help determine whether endoscopic or surgical resection techniques should be considered. In cases of R1 resection we discuss the management options available and the long-term surveillance options and when these should be offered to patients.
Difference in Efficacy and Safety of Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Containing 4-1BB and CD28 Co-Stimulatory Domains for B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Wu Lijuan , Chen Junchao , Cai Ruifen , Wang Xinrui , Liu Yixiao , Zheng Qingshan , Li Lujin
Published: May 2023

This study quantified the differences in the efficacy and safety of different stimulation domains of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Clinical trials related to anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for B-ALL were searched in public databases from database inception to 13 November 2021. The differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of B-ALL patients treated with anti-CAR T-cell therapy containing 4-1BB and CD28 co-stimulatory domains were compared by establishing a parametric survival function. The overall remission rate (ORR), the proportion of people with minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative complete remission (CR), the incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and the neurotoxicity across different co-stimulatory domains was assessed using a random-effects model. The correlation between the ORR, MRD-negative CR, PFS, and OS was tested. The results showed that the median OS of anti-CAR T-cell treatment containing 4-1BB and CD28 co-stimulatory domains was 15.0 months (95% CI: 11.0–20.0) and 8.5 months (95% CI: 5.0–14.0), and the median PFS was 7.0 months (95% CI: 4.0–11.5) and 3.0 months (95% CI: 1.5–7.0), respectively. Anti-CD19 CAR T-cells in the 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain showed superior benefits in patients who achieved ORR. The incidence of neurotoxicity was significantly higher in the CD28 co-stimulatory domain of anti-CD19 CAR T-cells than in the 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain. In addition, the ORR and MRD-negative CR were strongly correlated with OS and PFS, and PFS and OS were strongly correlated. The 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain suggested a better benefit–risk ratio than the CD28 co-stimulatory domain in B-ALL.
Development of a Machine Learning Model to Predict Recurrence of Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Fatapour Yasaman , Abiri Arash , Kuan Edward C. , Brody James P.
Published: May 2023

Despite diagnostic advancements, the development of reliable prognostic systems for assessing the risk of cancer recurrence still remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a novel framework to generate highly representative machine-learning prediction models for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) cancer recurrence. We identified cases of 5- and 10-year OTSCC recurrence from the SEER database. Four classification models were trained using the H2O ai platform, whose performances were assessed according to their accuracy, recall, precision, and the area under the curve (AUC) of their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. By evaluating Shapley additive explanation contribution plots, feature importance was studied. Of the 130,979 patients studied, 36,042 (27.5%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 58.2 (13.7) years. The Gradient Boosting Machine model performed the best, achieving 81.8% accuracy and 97.7% precision for 5-year prediction. Moreover, 10-year predictions demonstrated 80.0% accuracy and 94.0% precision. The number of prior tumors, patient age, the site of cancer recurrence, and tumor histology were the most significant predictors. The implementation of our novel SEER framework enabled the successful identification of patients with OTSCC recurrence, with which highly accurate and sensitive prediction models were generated. Thus, we demonstrate our framework’s potential for application in various cancers to build generalizable screening tools to predict tumor recurrence.
Dermatologic Manifestations of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Emerging Treatments
Authors: Poplausky Dina , Young Jade N. , Tai Hansen , Rivera-Oyola Ryan , Gulati Nicholas , Brown Rebecca M.
Published: May 2023

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndrome that increases one’s risk for both benign and malignant tumors. NF1 affects every organ in the body, but the most distinctive symptoms that are often the most bothersome to patients are the cutaneous manifestations, which can be unsightly, cause pain or pruritus, and have limited therapeutic options. In an effort to increase awareness of lesser-known dermatologic associations and to promote multidisciplinary care, we conducted a narrative review to shed light on dermatologic associations of NF1 as well as emerging treatment options. Topics covered include cutaneous neurofibromas, plexiform neurofibromas, diffuse neurofibromas, distinct nodular lesions, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, glomus tumors, juvenile xanthogranulomas, skin cancer, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Post-Operative Medium- and Long-Term Endocrine Outcomes in Patients with Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas—Machine Learning Analysis
Authors: Hussein Ziad , Slack Robert W. , Marcus Hani J. , Mazomenos Evangelos B. , Baldeweg Stephanie E.
Published: May 2023

Post-operative endocrine outcomes in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) are variable. The aim of this study was to use machine learning (ML) models to better predict medium- and long-term post-operative hypopituitarism in patients with NFPAs. We included data from 383 patients who underwent surgery with or without radiotherapy for NFPAs, with a follow-up period between 6 months and 15 years. ML models, including k-nearest neighbour (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and decision tree models, showed a superior ability to predict panhypopituitarism compared with non-parametric statistical modelling (mean accuracy: 0.89; mean AUC-ROC: 0.79), with SVM achieving the highest performance (mean accuracy: 0.94; mean AUC-ROC: 0.88). Pre-operative endocrine function was the strongest feature for predicting panhypopituitarism within 1 year post-operatively, while endocrine outcomes at 1 year post-operatively supported strong predictions of panhypopituitarism at 5 and 10 years post-operatively. Other features found to contribute to panhypopituitarism prediction were age, volume of tumour, and the use of radiotherapy. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that ML models show potential in predicting post-operative panhypopituitarism in the medium and long term in patients with NFPM. Future work will include incorporating additional, more granular data, including imaging and operative video data, across multiple centres.
Targeting and Sensitization of Breast Cancer Cells to Killing with a Novel Interleukin-13 Receptor α2-Specific Hybrid Cytolytic Peptide
Authors: Jannoo Riaz , Walker William , Kanamarlapudi Venkateswarlu
Published: May 2023

Highly metastatic breast cancers, such as triple-negative subtypes (TNBC), require the most effective treatments. Since interleukin-13 receptor (IL-13R)α2 is reportedly over-expressed in some cancers, we investigated here its expression and the feasibility of therapeutically targeting this receptor in breast cancer using a novel hybrid cytolytic peptide (Pep-1-Phor21) consisting of IL-13Rα2-binding (Pep-1) and cytolytic (Phor21) domains. This study demonstrates that particularly TNBC tissues and cells display the prominent expression of IL-13Rα2. Furthermore, Pep-1-Phor21 induced the rapid necrosis of tumor cells expressing cell-surface IL-13Rα2. Notably, IL-13Rα2 expression was found to be epigenetically regulated in breast cancer cells in that the inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) or DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) upregulated IL-13Rα2 expression, thereby sensitizing them to Pep-1-Phor21. IL-13Rα2-negative non-malignant cells were refractory to these epigenetic effects. Consistent with its cytolytic activity, Pep-1-Phor21 readily destroyed IL-13Rα2-expressing breast cancer spheroids with HDAC or DNMT inhibition, further enhancing cytolytic activity. Therefore, the Pep-1-Phor21-mediated targeting of IL-13Rα2 is a potentially novel therapeutic strategy for TNBC. Given that tumor cells can be selectively sensitized to Pep-1-Phor21 via the epigenetic up-regulation of IL-13Rα2, a combined adjuvant approach involving Pep-1-Phor21 and epigenetic inhibitors may be an effective strategy.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Todde Gaetano , Canciello Grazia , Borrelli Felice , Perillo Errico , Esposito Giovanni , Lombardi Raffaella , Losi Maria
Published: May 2023

Left ventricular outflow obstruction (LVOTO) and diastolic dysfunction are the main pathophysiological characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)LVOTO, may be identified in more than half of HCM patients and represents an important determinant of symptoms and a predictor of worse prognosis. This review aims to clarify the LVOTO mechanism in, diagnosis of, and therapeutic strategies for patients with obstructive HCM.
Revisiting Isothermal Effectiveness Factor Equations for Reversible Reactions
Authors: Rios William Q. , Antunes Bruno , Rodrigues Alírio E. , Portugal Inês , Silva Carlos M.
Published: May 2023

Ion exchange resins have many industrial applications, namely as sorbents and catalysts. In solid-catalyzed reactions, intraparticle reaction-diffusion competition is generally described by effectiveness factors calculated numerically or analytically in the case of isothermal particles and simple rate laws. Although robust, numerical calculations can be time-consuming, and convergence is not always guaranteed and lacks the flexibility of user-friendly equations. In this work, analytical equations for effectiveness factors of reversible reactions derived from the general scheme A+B⇌C+D are developed and numerically validated. These effectiveness factors are analytically expressed in terms of an irreversible nth order Thiele modulus (specifically written for the  nth order forward reaction), the thermodynamic equilibrium constant, the ratios of effective diffusivities, and the ratios of surface concentrations. The application of such analytical equations is illustrated for two liquid phase reactions catalyzed by Amberlyst-15, specifically the synthesis of ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde dimethyl acetal. For both reactions, the prediction of the concentration profiles in isothermal batch reactors achieved errors between 1.13% and 3.38% for six distinct experimental conditions. Finally, the impact of non-ideal behavior upon the multicomponent effective diffusivities, subsequently conveyed to the effectiveness factors, is enlightened.
Tailoring CoNi Alloy-Embedded Carbon Nanofibers by Coaxial Electrospinning for an Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Ouyang Haibo , Bao Leer , Liu Jinfan , Li Cuiyan , Gao Ru
Published: May 2023

A flexible CoNi@CNF electrochemical catalyst was developed using coaxial electrostatic spinning technology. The distribution and content of CoNi alloy nanoparticles on the surface of carbon fibers were adjusted by regulating the feed speed ratio of the outer and inner axes of coaxial electrostatic spinning. The results indicate that the content of the CoNi alloy distributed on the carbon fiber surface increased from 26.7 wt.% to 38.4 wt.% with an increase in the feed speed of the inner axis. However, the excessive precipitation of the CoNi alloy on the carbon fiber surface leads to the segregation of the internal CoNi alloy, which is unfavorable for the exposure of active sites during the electrolytic reaction. The best electrocatalytic performance of the composite was achieved when the rate of the outer axis feed speed was constant (3 mm/h) and the rate of the inner axis was 1.5 mm/h. The initial oxygen reduction potential and half-slope potential were 0.99 V and 0.92 V (VS RHE), respectively. The diffusion-limited current density was 6.31 mA/cm−2 and the current strength retention was 95.2% after the 20,000 s timed current test.
Bio-Fabrication of Cu/Ag/Zn Nanoparticles and Their Antioxidant and Dye Degradation Activities
Authors: Kunwar Srijal , Roy Arpita , Bhusal Utsav , Gacem Amel , Abdullah Mahmood M. S. , Sharma Promila , Yadav Krishna Kumar , Rustagi Sarvesh , Chatterjee Nidhi , Deshwal Vishal Kumar , Park Hyun-Kyung , Jeon Byong-Hun
Published: May 2023

The biological synthesis of nanoparticles with copper, silver, and zinc (Cu, Ag, Zn) is reported in this study, adopting a greener, safe, reliable, and eco-friendly approach by using an aqueous leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus. The synthesised trimetallic nanoparticles were characterised using different characterisation techniques. The UV–visible spectroscopic technique was initially used to assess nanoparticle formation, in which absorption bands were observed at 220, 270, and 370 nm for Cu, Zn, and Ag nanocomposites, respectively. XRD revealed that the average crystalline size of the nanocomposites was 34.67 nm. The roles of reducing and capping/stabilising agents in the synthesis of Cu/Ag/Zn nanoparticles were confirmed by FTIR analysis, and the successful biosynthesis of the same was also confirmed by X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Potential applications of these synthesised trimetallic nanoparticles were evaluated by assessing their antioxidant and catalytic dye degradation activities. The antioxidant activity of the synthesised nanomaterial was studied using the DPPH assay. The catalytic breakdown of the harmful dyes phenol red and eosin yellow was examined using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The results showed that the nanomaterial’s radical scavenging capacity at 1000 ug/mL was 75.76% and the degradation of these dyes was up to 78% in the presence of NaBH4. Furthermore, the biogenic trimetallic nanomaterial exhibited effective catalytic degradation activity against methyl red and phenol red dyes.
Hydrothermally Derived Mg-Doped TiO2 Nanostructures for Enhanced H2 Evolution Using Photo- and Electro-Catalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Fazil Mohd , Alshehri Saad M. , Mao Yuanbing , Ahmad Tokeer
Published: May 2023

Mg-doped TiO2 nano-structures in different compositions (1, 2.5 and 5%) were successfully synthesized by low-temperature hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopic studies were used to investigate the crystal structure, surface morphology and particle size of the as-synthesized materials. Raman studies were carried out to elucidate the phase identification and the modes of vibrations to determine the impact of dopant ion on the crystal structures. The band gap was estimated using UV-DRS studies whereas, BET surface area analysis revealed an increase in the surface area of increasing Mg2+ ions concentration in TiO2 nanostructures. Among the synthesized various composition of nano-structures, 5% Mg-doped TiO2 photocatalyst showed maximum hydrogen evolution activity (38.96 mmol gcat−1) in an 8-hour (h) analysis cycle. Moreover, the 2.5% Mg-doped TiO2 nanocatalyst with tafel slopes of 123.5 and 126.7 mV/dec showed strong activity for both HER in 0.5N H2SO4 and 0.1N KOH, with an onset potential of 0.96 V (at 10 mA/cm2) and −1.38 V (at 1 mA/cm2) for HER, respectively. Experimental investigations deduced that the incorporation of Mg2+ ions in the TiO2 resulted in the increase of hydrogen generation catalytic activity of titanium dioxide owing to the synergistic effect provided by the remarkable surface area and the presence of defects introduced by doping.
NO Oxidation on Lanthanum-Doped Ceria Nanoparticles with Controlled Morphology
Authors: Fernández-García Susana , Tinoco Miguel , Hungría Ana Belén , Chen Xiaowei , Calvino José Juan , Martínez-Munuera Juan Carlos , Giménez-Mañogil Javier , García-García Avelina
Published: May 2023

The present work aims to assess the impact of morphology and reducibility on lanthanum-doped ceria nanocatalysts with controlled morphology on the NO oxidation reaction. Specifically, samples were prepared using a hydrothermal method incorporating lanthanum at varying molar concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 15 mol.%) into ceria with a controlled morphology (nanocubes and nanorods). The structural, compositional, and redox characterization of these catalysts has been performed via scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (X-EDS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and oxygen storage capacity (OSC). NO oxidation catalytic tests were conducted, and the results were compared with estimated curves (obtained by considering the proportions of the corresponding components), which revealed the presence of a synergistic effect between lanthanum and ceria. The degree of enhancement was found to depend on both the morphology and the amount of lanthanum incorporated into CeO2. These findings may facilitate the optimization of features concerning ceria-based nanocatalysts for the removal of NOx emissions from exhaust gases.
Ordered Mesoporous TiO2: The Effect of Structure, Residual Template and Metal Doping on Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Mohammed Ahmed M. , Becerikli Ahmet E. , Ristig Simon , Steinfeldt Norbert , Strunk Jennifer
Published: May 2023

Using a series of ordered mesoporous TiO2 (om-TiO2) with and without Ce or Cu doping, the effects of structure, metal doping and residual template species in the structure are systematically evaluated in terms of products formed during a CO2 photoreduction process. It is found that the ordered mesoporous structure contributes significantly in the hydrogen evolution reaction from the splitting of gaseous water. No cocatalyst was needed to achieve high hydrogen yields. While carbon-containing products are also observed, the presence of remainders of the organic template used in the synthesis process does not allow an unambiguous identification of the source of products. Small amounts of metal doping do not majorly influence the hydrogen evolution, thus the mesoporous structure can eventually be identified as the main cause for the improved performance.
Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Opioid Peptide-Receptor Expression in the Endometriosis-Associated Nerve Fibers—Possible Treatment Option?
Authors: Guan Qihui , Velho Renata Voltolini , Jordan Alice , Pommer Sabrina , Radde Irene , Sehouli Jalid , Mechsner Sylvia
Published: May 2023

Endometriosis (EM) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting millions of women worldwide. Chronic pelvic pain is one of the main problems of this condition, leading to quality-of-life impairment. Currently, available treatment options are not able to treat these women accurately. A better understanding of the pain mechanisms would be beneficial to integrate additional therapeutic management strategies, especially specific analgesic options. To understand pain in more detail, nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor expression was analyzed in EM-associated nerve fibers (NFs) for the first time. Laparoscopically excised peritoneal samples from 94 symptomatic women (73 with EM and 21 controls) were immunohistochemically stained for NOP, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Peritoneal NFs of EM patients and healthy controls were positive for NOP and often colocalized with SP-, CGRP-, TH-, and VIP-positive nerve fibers, suggesting that NOP is expressed in sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. In addition, NOP expression was increased in EM associate NF. Our findings highlight the potential of NOP agonists, particularly in chronic EM-associated pain syndromes and deserve further study, as the efficacy of NOP-selective agonists in clinical trials.
Exogenous Melatonin Enhances the Low Phosphorus Tolerance of Barley Roots of Different Genotypes
Authors: Ma Zengke , Yang Ke , Wang Juncheng , Ma Jingwei , Yao Lirong , Si Erjing , Li Baochun , Ma Xiaole , Shang Xunwu , Meng Yaxiong , Wang Huajun
Published: May 2023

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) plays an important role in plant growth and development, and in the response to various abiotic stresses. However, its role in the responses of barley to low phosphorus (LP) stress remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the root phenotypes and metabolic patterns of LP-tolerant (GN121) and LP-sensitive (GN42) barley genotypes under normal P, LP, and LP with exogenous melatonin (30 μM) conditions. We found that melatonin improved barley tolerance to LP mainly by increasing root length. Untargeted metabolomic analysis showed that metabolites such as carboxylic acids and derivatives, fatty acyls, organooxygen compounds, benzene and substituted derivatives were involved in the LP stress response of barley roots, while melatonin mainly regulated indoles and derivatives, organooxygen compounds, and glycerophospholipids to alleviate LP stress. Interestingly, exogenous melatonin showed different metabolic patterns in different genotypes of barley in response to LP stress. In GN42, exogenous melatonin mainly promotes hormone-mediated root growth and increases antioxidant capacity to cope with LP damage, while in GN121, it mainly promotes the P remobilization to supplement phosphate in roots. Our study revealed the protective mechanisms of exogenous MT in alleviating LP stress of different genotypes of barley, which can be used in the production of phosphorus-deficient crops.
Facile Preparation of Durable Superhydrophobic Coating by Liquid-Phase Deposition for Versatile Oil/Water Separation
Authors: Fan Shumin , Tang Lulu , Zhao Xin , Xu Guangri , Fan Wenxiu
Published: May 2023

Serious damage caused by oily wastewater makes the development of efficient superhydrophobic and superoleophilic materials for oil/water separation processes critical and urgent. Herein, durable superhydrophobic nanometer-scale TiO2 grains with low-surface-energy substance composite-modified materials were fabricated by using a cost-effective and facile synthesis method for the gravity-driven separation of oil/water mixtures under harsh conditions. Different substrates, such as sawdust, wheat straw, cotton, sponge and fabric, were applied for superhydrophobic surface preparation, and various low-surface-energy reagents could interact with deposited TiO2 nanoparticles, including cetylamine, dodecanethiol, stearic acid and HDTMS. The resultant materials showed superhydrophobic properties with a water contact angle (WCA) higher than 150.8°. The separation of various oil/water mixtures with high efficiency and purity was acquired by using the as-prepared sponge. More importantly, the coated sponge exhibited good resistance to various harsh environmental solutions. Moreover, its superhydrophobicity also remained even after 12 months of storage in air or 10 cycles of abrasion. The durable superhydrophobic coating prepared in this work could be practically used for the highly efficient separation of oil/water mixtures under various harsh conditions.
Enhancing the Thermal Stability and Reducing the Resistance Drift of Sb Phase Change Films by Adding In2Se3 Interlayers
Authors: Su Feng , Hu Yifeng , Zhu Xiaoqin , Lai Tianshu
Published: May 2023

In this paper, pure Sb and composite multilayer In2Se3/Sb thin films were prepared on a SiO2/Si substrate. The effects of the addition of In2Se3 interlayers on the physical and electrical properties of phase change thin films were investigated. Compared with pure Sb film, the composite multilayer In2Se3/Sb film had a higher crystallization temperature (~145 °C), larger crystallization activation energy (~2.48 eV), less resistance drift (~0.0238) and better thermal stability. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the In-Sb bond was formed in the multilayer In2Se3/Sb film. The near infrared spectrophotometer showed that the band gap changed at different annealing temperatures. Changing the annealing temperature of the film allowed for the phase structure of the film to be studied by using X-ray diffractometer. The surface morphology and electrostatic potential at different annealing temperatures were using atomic force microscope. It was found that the flat film had a smoother surface. Phase-change memory devices based on [In2Se3(4 nm)/Sb(6 nm)]8 film reduced power consumption by approximately 74% compared to pure Sb film. In conclusion, the In2Se3 interlayers effectively inhibited the resistance drift of the phase change thin film and enhanced its thermal stability.
Enhancing Coating Adhesion on Fibre-Reinforced Composite by Femtosecond Laser Texturing
Authors: Piscitelli Filomena , De Palo Raffaele , Volpe Annalisa
Published: May 2023

Carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP), thanks to their properties such as lightness, resistance to corrosion and fatigue, are emerging composite materials in the aeronautic fields, guaranteeing to reduce weight and costs by maintaining high performances in terms of strength and security. For preventing fluid damage and freezing, in aeronautic applications, CFRP parts need to be coated by painting. However, the paint/coating adhesion on CFRP composites is generally poor and affected by surface conditions. In this work, femtosecond laser texturing was investigated as an approach to improve adhesion of superhydrophobic coatings (SHC) to CFRP substrates. The laser textured surfaces show, after coating, a more lasting superhydrophobic behaviour compared to the as received sample, even after several cleaning cycles, demonstrating that the laser pre-treatment is a reliable and green method to enhance the adhesion of the SHC to the composite substrate.
A Definition Rule for Defect Classification and Grading of Solar Cells Photoluminescence Feature Images and Estimation of CNN-Based Automatic Defect Detection Method
Authors: Gao Mingyu , Xie Yunji , Song Peng , Qian Jiahong , Sun Xiaogang , Liu Junyan
Published: May 2023

A nondestructive detection method that combines convolutional neural network (CNN) and photoluminescence (PL) imaging was proposed for the multi-classification and multi-grading of defects during the fabrication process of silicon solar cells. In this paper, the PL was applied to collect the images of the defects of solar cells, and an image pre-processing method was introduced for enhancing the features of the defect images. Simultaneously, the defects were defined by 13 categories and three divided grades of each under the definition rules of defects that were proposed in accordance with distribution and characteristics of each defect category, and expand data were processed by various data augmentation. The model was therefore improved and optimized based on the YOLOv5 as the feature extractor and classifier. The capability of the model on distinguishing categories and grades of solar cell defects was improved via parameter tuning and image pre-processing. Through experimental analysis, the optimal combination of hyperparameters and the actual effect of data sample pre-processing on the training results of the neural network were determined. Conclusively, the reasons for the poor recognition results of the small target defects and complex feature defects by the current model were found and further work was confirmed under the foundation of the differences in recognition results between different categories and grades.
Spatial and Temporal Variations in Autumn Fish Assemblages in the Offshore Waters of the Yangtze Estuary
Authors: Chen Zhaomin , Liang Cui , Xian Weiwei
Published: May 2023

The offshore waters of the Yangtze Estuary are an important fish habitat, and the large gradient of environmental conditions leads to different fish assemblages. We studied the spatial and temporal variations in fish assemblages and their relationships with environmental factors in the offshore waters of the Yangtze Estuary during the autumns of 2012–2016. The fish assemblage consisted of 64 fish species from 39 families, of which 6 species were dominant. There were significant interannual differences in fish abundance, biomass, and species composition, with the highest abundance and biomass in 2013, the lowest abundance in 2016, and the lowest biomass in 2015. Redundancy analysis revealed that total suspended particles and dissolved oxygen drove interannual variation in fish abundance, biomass, and species composition, and depth drove spatial variation in the fish assemblage. According to the depth, the fish were classified as shallow assemblage and deep assemblage. Understanding the spatial and temporal patterns of fish assemblage in the offshore waters of the Yangtze Estuary is beneficial to the conservation of fish and the sustainable use of fishery resources in the offshore waters of the Yangtze Estuary.
Principles and Applications of Dual-Layer Spectral CT in Gastrointestinal Imaging
Authors: Franco Paolo Niccolò , Spasiano Chiara Maria , Maino Cesare , De Ponti Elena , Ragusi Maria , Giandola Teresa , Terrani Simone , Peroni Marta , Corso Rocco , Ippolito Davide
Published: May 2023

The advance in technology allows for the development of different CT scanners in the field of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). In particular, a recently developed detector-based technology can collect data from different energy levels, thanks to its layers. The use of this system is suited for material decomposition with perfect spatial and temporal registration. Thanks to post-processing techniques, these scanners can generate conventional, material decomposition (including virtual non-contrast (VNC), iodine maps, Z-effective imaging, and uric acid pair images) and virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs). In recent years, different studies have been published regarding the use of DECT in clinical practice. On these bases, considering that different papers have been published using the DECT technology, a review regarding its clinical application can be useful. We focused on the usefulness of DECT technology in gastrointestinal imaging, where DECT plays an important role.
Association and Interaction between Heavy Metals and Hyperuricemia in a Taiwanese Population
Authors: Lu Lu-Heng , Tsai Chun-Chi , Lin Chih-Yi , Wang Chih-Wen , Wu Pei-Yu , Huang Jiun-Chi , Chen Szu-Chia , Chang Jer-Ming
Published: May 2023

The prevalence of hyperuricemia in Taiwan is high, and hyperuricemia has been associated with a risk of developing several diseases. Although the traditional risk factors for hyperuricemia are well known, the relationship between heavy metals and hyperuricemia is still undefined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia and heavy metals. A total of 2447 participants (977 males and 1470 females) residing in southern Taiwan were enrolled, and levels of the following heavy metals were measured: lead in blood, and nickel, chromium, manganese, arsenic (As), copper, and cadmium in urine. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid level greater than 7.0 mg/dL (416.5 μmol/L) in men and 6.0 mg/dL (357 μmol/L) in women. The participants were divided into two groups: those without hyperuricemia (n = 1821; 74.4%) and those with hyperuricemia (n = 626; 25.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that only high urine As (log per 1 μg/g creatinine; odds ratio, 1.965; 95% confidence interval, 1.449 to 2.664; p < 0.001), young age, male sex, high body mass index, high hemoglobin, high triglycerides, and low estimated glomerular filtration rate were significantly associated with hyperuricemia. In addition, the interactions between Pb × Cd (p = 0.010), Ni × Cu (p = 0.002), and Cr × Cd (p = 0.001) on hyperuricemia were statistically significant. Increasing levels of Pb and Cr yielded an increased prevalence of hyperuricemia, and the effect was progressively greater for increasing Cd. Moreover, increasing levels of Ni yielded an increased prevalence of hyperuricemia, and the effect was progressively greater for increasing Cu. In conclusion, our results show that high urine As is associated with hyperuricemia, and some interactions of heavy metals on hyperuricemia are noted. We also found that young age, male sex, high BMI, high hemoglobin, high triglycerides, and low eGFR were significantly associated with hyperuricemia.
Minimal Fat Content in Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosed with Dual-Layer Dual-Energy CT
Authors: Ascenti Velio , Arico Francesco M. , Trimarchi Renato , Cicero Giuseppe , Ieni Antonio , Rossanese Marta , Ascenti Giorgio
Published: May 2023

A 56-year-old man with a previous right nephrectomy for multiple papillary renal cell carcinomas (pRCC) underwent a follow-up CT scan. Using a dual-layer dual-energy CT (dlDECT), we demonstrated the presence of a small amount of fat in a 2.5 cm pRCC that mimicked the diagnosis of angiomyolipoma (AML). Histological examination demonstrated the absence of macroscopic intratumoral adipose tissue, showing a fair amount of enlarged foam macrophages loaded with intracytoplasmic lipids. The presence of fat density in an RCC is an extremely rare occurrence in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first description using dlDECT of a minimal amount of fat tissue in a small RCC due to the presence of tumor-associated foam macrophages. Radiologists should be aware of this possibility when characterizing a renal mass with DECT. The option of RCCs must be considered, especially in the case of masses with an aggressive character or a positive history of RCC.