bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water-Soluble Photoluminescent Ag Nanoclusters Stabilized by Amphiphilic Copolymers as Nanoprobe for Hypochlorite Detection
Authors: Lin Xiangfang , Dong Qinhui , Chang Yalin , Zhang Shusheng , Shi Pengfei
Published: August 2024

Luminescent Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs) are a promising probe material for sensing and bioimaging applications. However, the intrinsic obstacle of poor water stability and photostability greatly restrict their practical application in biological systems. Herein, we report the intracellular hypochlorite (ClO−) detection with amphiphilic copolymer-modified luminescent Ag NCs with good biocompatibility and photostability. The Ag NCs were synthesized by using chemically inert hydrophobic ligands and then modified with an amphiphilic (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))-2000]) (DSPE-PEG-2000) and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) for phase transfer. It was found that the approach of the removal of organic solvents during the phase transfer has remarkable influences on the properties of the Ag NCs, including their size, luminescence property, and aqueous stability. Furthermore, the silver core of Ag NCs could be oxidatively damaged by ClO−, thereby causing photoluminescence (PL) quenching. The ClO−-induced PL quenching was specific over the other common reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as some common interferences. Finally, they have been successfully applied as a fluorescent nanoprobe for detecting exogenous and endogenous ClO− in living cells.
Simethicone Medication Should Be Avoided in Infants Receiving Oral Lactase Treatment
Authors: Yildirim Ekin Say , Aydin Adem , Ince Tolga , Varol Zeynep , Ünal Belgin , Demir And
Published: August 2024

Objective: In this retrospective study, we assessed the efficacy of oral lactase in infants with lactose intolerance in terms of sex, birth weight, and interference by other medications. Methods: The study was conducted on patients aged 0–6 months who had been diagnosed with lactose intolerance on admission to the Department of Social Pediatrics at Dokuz Eylul University. Demographic data, the onset of symptoms, and medications used were recorded. Results: We found that 86.7% of the infants responded to lactase, with no significant differences based on sex, birth weight, or age at symptom presentation. We observed, however, that the efficacy of treatment did improve over time, thereby deriving benefits from intestinal development and adaptation. Interestingly, the response to lactase was reduced in infants receiving concomitant simethicone for colic symptoms, suggesting a potential drug interaction, while probiotics had no impact on treatment outcomes. Conclusions: We advise against using additional medications with oral lactase, pointing out a possible interaction with simethicone that might decrease the effectiveness of treatment.
The Role of Alarmins in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Kiełbowski Kajetan , Skórka Patryk , Plewa Paulina , Bakinowska Estera , Pawlik Andrzej
Published: August 2024

Atherosclerosis is a condition that is associated with lipid accumulation in the arterial intima. Consequently, the enlarging lesion, which is also known as an atherosclerotic plaque, may close the blood vessel lumen, thus leading to organ ischaemia. Furthermore, the plaque may rupture and initiate the formation of a thrombus, which can cause acute ischaemia. Atherosclerosis is a background pathological condition that can eventually lead to major cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndrome or ischaemic stroke. The disorder is associated with an altered profile of alarmins, stress response molecules that are secreted due to cell injury or death and that induce inflammatory responses. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), S100 proteins, interleukin-33, and heat shock proteins (HSPs) also affect the behaviour of endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Thus, alarmins control the inflammatory responses of endothelial cells and proliferation of VSMCs, two important processes implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this review, we will discuss the role of alarmins in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative Review
Authors: Sharma Pallavi , Nelson Randy J.
Published: August 2024

Substance use disorder is a major global health concern, with a high prevalence among adolescents and young adults. The most common substances of abuse include alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, nicotine, and opiates. Evidence suggests that a mismatch between contemporary lifestyle and environmental demands leads to disrupted circadian rhythms that impair optimal physiological and behavioral function, which can increase the vulnerability to develop substance use disorder and related problems. The circadian system plays an important role in regulating the sleep–wake cycle and reward processing, both of which directly affect substance abuse. Distorted substance use can have a reciprocal effect on the circadian system by influencing circadian clock gene expression. Considering the detrimental health consequences and profound societal impact of substance use disorder, it is crucial to comprehend its complex association with circadian rhythms, which can pave the way for the generation of novel chronotherapeutic treatment approaches. In this narrative review, we have explored the potential contributions of disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep on use and relapse of different substances of abuse. The involvement of circadian clock genes with drug reward pathways is discussed, along with the potential research areas that can be explored to minimize disordered substance use by improving circadian hygiene.
Comparison of Corrosion Behavior of a-C Coatings Deposited by Cathode Vacuum Arc and Filter Cathode Vacuum Arc Techniques
Authors: Feng Zhiqing , Zhou Zhetong , Zeng Junhao , Chen Ding , Luo Fengying , Wang Qimin , Dai Wei , Zhang Ruiming
Published: August 2024

This study explores the utilization of cathodic vacuum arc (CVA) technology to address the limitations of magnetron sputtering technology in preparing amorphous carbon (a-C) coatings, such as having a low ionization rate, low deposition rate, and insufficiently dense structure. Specifically, a-C coatings were prepared by the cathodic vacuum arc (CVA)and the filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) technology,, one with embedded carbon particles and one without, both having closely related carbon structures. Research is currently underway on bipolar plate coatings for fuel cells. The corrosion behavior of the prepared a-C coatings was examined through Tafel polarization analysis under simulated fuel cell operating conditions as well as potentiostatic analysis at 0.6 V under normal conditions and 1.6 V under start–stop conditions for 7200 s. The coatings before and after corrosion are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The results reveal that the incorporation of conductive graphite-like particles in the coatings reduces their contact resistance. However, the gaps between these particles and the coatings act as pathways for corrosive solution, exacerbating the corrosion of the coatings. After corrosion at 0.6 V, both sets of coatings with sp2-hybridized carbon structures are contaminated by elements such as hydrogen and oxygen, leading to an increase in their contact resistance. Under high potential conditions (1.6 V), large corrosion pits and defects appear at the locations of graphite-like carbon particles. Furthermore, both sets of samples exhibit more severe oxygen contamination and a transformation of broken carbon bonds from sp3- to sp2-hybridized forms, irrespective of whether embedded graphite particles are present.
Mechanism of Ag-SiO2-TiO2 Nanocomposite Coating Formation on NiTi Substrate for Enhanced Functionalization
Authors: Dudek Karolina , Dulski Mateusz , Podwórny Jacek , Kujawa Magdalena , Rawicka Patrycja
Published: August 2024

The functionality of the NiTi shape memory alloy was improved through engineering Ag-SiO2-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings. For this purpose, an anaphoretic deposition process, conducted at a constant voltage of 40 V and deposition times ranging from 1 to 10 min, was used. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that the deposition parameters significantly impacted the morphology of the coatings. Complementary Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the successful formation of distinct nanocomposite layers, and revealed the details of their crystalline structure and chemical composition. After that, the adhesion between the NiTi substrate and the electrophoretically deposited ceramic coatings was improved through a post-deposition heat treatment. To prevent excessive shrinkage and cracking of the coating, tests were carried out to characterize the behavior of the coating material at elevated temperatures. The nanocomposite coatings were exposed to a temperature of 800 °C for 2 h. The annealing induced significant structural and morphological transformations, resulting in layers that were distinctly different from both the original materials and those produced solely through electrophoretic deposition. The thermal treatment resulted in the formation of a new kind of nanocomposite structure with enhanced reactivity.
Semantic-Aware Adaptive Binary Search for Hard-Label Black-Box Attack
Authors: Ma Yiqing , Lucke Kyle , Xian Min , Vakanski Aleksandar
Published: August 2024

Despite the widely reported potential of deep neural networks for automated breast tumor classification and detection, these models are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, which leads to significant performance degradation on different datasets. In this paper, we introduce a novel adversarial attack approach under the decision-based black-box setting, where the attack does not have access to the model parameters, and the returned information from querying the target model consists of only the final class label prediction (i.e., hard-label attack). The proposed attack approach has two major components: adaptive binary search and semantic-aware search. The adaptive binary search utilizes a coarse-to-fine strategy that applies adaptive tolerance values in different searching stages to reduce unnecessary queries. The proposed semantic mask-aware search crops the search space by using breast anatomy, which significantly avoids invalid searches. We validate the proposed approach using a dataset of 3378 breast ultrasound images and compare it with another state-of-the-art method by attacking five deep learning models. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach generates imperceptible adversarial samples at a high success rate (between 99.52% and 100%), and dramatically reduces the average and median queries by 23.96% and 31.79%, respectively, compared with the state-of-the-art approach.
Proposed Supercluster-Based UMBBFS Routing Protocol for Emergency Message Dissemination in Edge-RSU for 5G VANET
Authors: Albeyar Maath A. , Smaoui Ikram , Mnif Hassene , Alani Sameer
Published: August 2024

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) can bolster road safety through the proactive dissemination of emergency messages (EMs) among vehicles, effectively reducing the occurrence of traffic-related accidents. It is difficult to transmit EMs quickly and reliably due to the high-speed mobility of VANET and the attenuation of the wireless signal. However, poor network design and high vehicle mobility are the two most difficult problems that affect VANET’s network performance. The real-time traffic situation and network dependability will also be significantly impacted by route selection and message delivery. Many of the current works have undergone studies focused on forwarder selection and message transmission to address these problems. However, these earlier approaches, while effective in forwarder selection and routing, have overlooked the critical aspects of communication overhead and excessive energy consumption, resulting in transmission delays. To address the prevailing challenges, the proposed solutions use edge computing to process and analyze data locally from surrounding cars and infrastructure. EDGE-RSUs are positioned by the side of the road. In intelligent transportation systems, this lowers latency and enhances real-time decision-making by employing proficient forwarder selection techniques and optimizing the dissemination of EMs. In the context of 5G-enabled VANET, this paper introduces a novel routing protocol, namely, the supercluster-based urban multi-hop broadcast and best forwarder selection protocol (UMB-BFS). The improved twin delay deep deterministic policy gradient (IT3DPG) method is used to select the target region for emergency message distribution after route selection. Clustering is conducted using modified density peak clustering (MDPC). Improved firefly optimization (IFO) is used for optimal path selection. In this way, all emergency messages are quickly disseminated to multiple directions and also manage the traffic in VANET. Finally, we plotted graphs for the following metrics: throughput (3.9 kbps), end-to-end delay (70), coverage (90%), packet delivery ratio (98%), packet received (12.75 k), and transmission delay (57 ms). Our approach’s performance is examined using numerical analysis, demonstrating that it performs better than the current methodologies across all measures.
The Thermal Stability and Photoluminescence of ZnSeO3 Nanocrystals Chemically Synthesized into SiO2/Si Track Templates
Authors: Aralbayeva Gulnara , Sarsekhan Gulnaz , Akylbekova Aiman , Vlasukova Liudmila A. , Baimukhanov Zein , Yuvchenko Vera , Bazarbek Assyl-Dastan , Dauletbekova Alma , Kabdrakhimova Gaukhar , Akilbekov Abdirash T.
Published: August 2024

We report the effect of high-temperature treatment on the structure and photoluminescence of zinc selenite nanocrystals (ZnSeO3) deposited into SiO2/Si track templates. The templates were formed via irradiation with Xe ions (200 MeV, 108 ions/cm2) followed by etching in HF solution. ZnSeO3 nanocrystals were obtained via chemical deposition from the aqueous solution of ZnCl2 and SeO2 as Zn-, Se- and O-precursors. To estimate the thermal stability of the deposited precipitates, heat treatment was carried out at 800 and 1000 °C for 60 min in a vacuum environment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and electrical measurements were used for the characterization of ZnSeO3/SiO2nanoporous/Si nanocomposites. Thermal treatment of the synthesized nanocomposites resulted in structural transformations with the formation of ZnSe and ZnO phases while the content of the ZnSeO3 phase decreased. For the as-deposited and annealed precipitates, an emission in the range of (400 to 600) nm was observed. PL spectra were approximated by four Gaussian curves with maxima at ~550 nm (2.2 eV), 488 nm (2.54 eV), ~440 nm (2.82 eV), and 410 nm (3.03 eV). Annealing resulted in a decrease in PL intensity that was possibly due to the weight loss of the deposited substance during high-temperature treatment. The redistribution of maxima intensities after annealing was also observed with an increase in blue and violet emissions. The origin of the observed PL is discussed. The I–V curve analysis revealed an electronic type of conductivity for the ZnSeO3(NCs)/SiO2nanoporous/Si structure. The values of the specific conductivity were calculated within the percolation model. The sample annealed at 800 °C showed the highest specific conductivity of 8.5 × 10−6 Ohm−1·cm−1.
First Examples of Metal-Organic Frameworks with Pore-Encapsulated [Co(CO)4]− Anions: Facile Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Stability Studies
Authors: Xiao Caihong , Du Shaowu
Published: August 2024

Three ionic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with pore-capsulated Co(CO)4− anions, formulated as [Co(bix)3][Co(CO)4]2 (1), [Co(bibp)3][Co(CO)4]2 (2), and [Co(bmibp)2][Co(CO)4]2 (3); (bix = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl-methyl)-benzene); bibp = 4,4′-bis(imidazolyl)biphenyl); bmibp = 4,4′-bis(2-methyl-imidazolyl)biphenyl), have been facilely synthesized for the first time through direct reactions of Co2(CO)8 with the respective bis(imidazole) ligands under mild hydro(solvo)thermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals distinct structural motifs among the frameworks: MOF 1 exhibits a single pcu net, MOF 2 features a 3-fold interpenetrating pcu net, both based on 6-connected Co2+ centers and ditopic bix or bibp ligands, while MOF 3 forms a 2-fold interpenetrating sql layer constructed by 4-connected Co2+ ions and bmibp linkers. The [Co(CO)4]− anions reside within the channels of the cationic frameworks. Moreover, these MOFs, characterized by periodically ordered tetracarbonylcobaltate arrays, demonstrate notable thermal stability and maintain structural integrity in air, water, and alkaline solutions for several days.
High Energy Storage Performance in Pb1−xLax(Hf0.45Sn0.55)0.995O3 Antiferroelectric Ceramics
Authors: Wang Erping , Yue Liqin , Chu Yuanhong , Sun Caixia , Zhao Jinyu , Zhang Siyu , Liu Jiale , Zhang Yangyang , Zhang Ling
Published: August 2024

Energy storage efficiency (η) and large recoverable energy density (Wre) are necessary for antiferroelectric materials in order to develop antiferroelectric-based dielectric capacitors with exceptional energy storage capacity. In the present paper, the effect of doping La3+ on the energy storage capacity of Pb1−xLax(Hf0.45Sn0.55)0.995O3 antiferroelectric ceramics was studied. Adjusting the content of La and changing the phase structure of PLHS from antiferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric gradually, which narrowed its hysteresis loop, yielded a high energy storage efficiency of 81.9% and the maximum breakdown field strength of 200 kV/cm when x = 2 mol%. In addition, the recoverable energy density and energy storage efficiency both showed excellent temperature stability and frequency stability in the temperature range of 10–110 °C and the frequency range of 10–100 Hz, suggesting that Pb0.98La0.02(Hf0.45Sn0.55)0.995O3 are favorable materials candidates for the preparation of pulsed-power capacitors that can be used in a wide range of conditions.
Development of Reconfigurable High-Frequency Devices Using Liquid Crystal in Substrate-Integrated Gap Waveguide Technology
Authors: Voronov Aleksandr Andreyevich , Bachiller Carmen , Villacampa Belén , Boria Vicente E.
Published: August 2024

This article presents the theoretical study, numerical simulation and fabrication of a phase shifter and a stub resonator for use in microstrip ridge gap waveguide (MRGW) technology, using a liquid crystal (LC) in the substrate as a reconfigurable material. The phase shifter and the stub resonator are filled with LC, and thanks to the LC’s dielectric anisotropy properties, the phase shift and the resonance response can be easily controlled using an external electric or magnetic bias field. The phase shifter was designed to operate in the range of 10 to 20 GHz, and the resonator was designed to operate in the range of 7.8 to 8.8 GHz. The phase shifter’s responses (including both phase shift and insertion losses), associated with both the parallel and perpendicular permittivity values of the LC, were computed and measured, and then the corresponding figure of merit (FoM) was extracted. The resonator’s frequency responses, associated with both the LC’s parallel and perpendicular permittivity, were computed. The resonator’s frequency responses, which provided different polarization voltages, were measured and compared to the simulation results. All technological issues related to both prototypes are also discussed here. The good agreement between the simulation and measurement results confirm this technology as a viable approach to the practical implementation of these microwave reconfigurable devices.
Effect of Ceria Doping on the Mechanical Properties and Phase Stability of Partially Samaria-Stabilized Zirconia Crystals
Authors: Borik Mikhail , Chislov Artem , Kulebyakin Alexej , Lomonova Elena , Milovich Filipp , Myzina Valentina , Pankratov Vladimir , Poselennov Alexandr , Ryabochkina Polina , Sidorova Natalia , Tabachkova Nataliya , Zakharov Denis , Kiselev Dmitry
Published: August 2024

The effect of ceria doping of (ZrO2)1−x(Sm2O3)x crystals on their phase composition, microhardness and fracture toughness was studied. The (ZrO2)0.995−x(Sm2O3)x(CeO2)0.005 crystals (where x = 0.032, 0.037 and 0.04) were grown using directional melt crystallization in a cold crucible. The mechanical properties, such as microhardness and fracture toughness, were explored using Vickers indentation. It was shown that the (ZrO2)0.995−x(Sm2O3)x(CeO2)0.005 solid-solution crystals contained both Ce4+ and Ce3+ ions. Phase analysis data suggested that CeO2 doping increased the tetragonality degree of the transformable t phase and reduced the tetragonality degree of the non-transformable t’ phase as compared to the (ZrO2)1−x(Sm2O3)x crystals. As a result, the t→m phase transition triggered by the indentation-induced stress in the CeO2-doped crystals was more intense and covered greater regions. CeO2 doping of the solid solutions increased the fracture toughness of all the crystals studied, whereas the microhardness of the crystals changed only slightly. CeO2 doping of the (ZrO2)1−x(Sm2O3)x solid solutions in the experimental concentration range did not improve the high-temperature phase stability of the crystals and did not prevent high-temperature degradation of their fracture toughness.
Sydney Reporting System for Lymph Node Fine-Needle Aspiration and Malignancy Risk Stratification: Is It of Clinical Value?
Authors: Alqaidy Doaa , Althomali Hind , Almaghrabi Amal
Published: August 2024

Lymphadenopathy is a common presentation of both reactive and malignant diseases, and lymph node fine-needle aspiration cytology (LN-FNAC) is an effective and inexpensive screening method. It can prevent unnecessary invasive surgery and excisional biopsy, especially in benign cases. Unfortunately, the lack of universally accepted terminology for reporting results has hindered its widespread support. The Sydney system proposal for lymph node cytopathology categorization and reporting introduced five diagnostic categories to address the lack of universally accepted terminology for reporting results in lymphadenopathy. Our study analyzed 188 lymph node fine-needle cytology (FNC) samples from King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia, examining clinical follow-up data, pathology records, patient information, and final diagnosis from January 2019 to December 2022. Most specimens were from axillary lymph nodes, with 99.5% tissue correlation. The Sydney system category classification identified 56.9% of cases as malignant, while 26.1% were benign. The final surgical specimen diagnosis revealed a higher percentage of malignant diagnoses, with the highest risk of malignancy (ROM) in malignant/category V. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that LN-FNAC offers high diagnostic accuracy for lymph node (LN) aspirates, with the Sydney approach potentially aiding risk stratification and achieving consistency in cytologic diagnosis, but further multi-centric research is needed.
Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of the Volar Cortical Shape of the Lunate Facet of the Distal Radius
Authors: Eda Yusuke , Asai Reo , Kohyama Sho , Ikumi Akira , Totoki Yasukazu , Yoshii Yuichi
Published: August 2024

In cases of distal radius fractures, the fixation of the volar lunate facet fragment is crucial for preventing volar subluxation of the carpal bones. This study aims to clarify the sex differences in the volar morphology of the lunate facet of the distal radius and its relationship with the transverse diameter of the distal radius. Sixty-four CT scans of healthy wrists (30 males and 34 females) were evaluated. Three-dimensional (3D) images of the distal radius were reconstructed from the CT data. We defined reference point 1 as the starting point of the inclination toward the distal volar edge, reference point 2 as the volar edge of the joint on the bone axis, and reference point 3 as the volar edge of the distal radius lunate facet. From the 3D coordinates of reference points 1 to 3, the bone axis distance, volar−dorsal distance, radial−ulnar distance, 3D straight-line distance, and inclination angle were measured. The transverse diameter of the radius was measured, and its correlations with the parameters were evaluated. It was found that in males, compared to females, the transverse diameter of the radius is larger and the protrusion of the volar lunate facet is greater. This suggests that the inclination of the volar surface is steeper in males and that the volar locking plate may not fit properly with the volar cortical bone of the lunate facet, necessitating additional fixation.
Classification of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy: A Literature Review and Proposal for Revision
Authors: Ahn Seong Joon
Published: August 2024

Establishing universal standards for the nomenclature and classification of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy is essential. This review summarizes the classifications used for categorizing the patterns of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy and grading its severity in the literature, highlighting the limitations of these classifications based on recent findings. To overcome these limitations, I propose categorizing hydroxychloroquine retinopathy into four categories based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings: parafoveal (parafoveal damage only), pericentral (pericentral damage only), combined parafoveal and pericentral (both parafoveal and pericentral damage), and posterior polar (widespread damage over parafoveal, pericentral, and more peripheral areas), with or without foveal involvement. Alternatively, eyes can be categorized simply into parafoveal and pericentral retinopathy based on the most dominant area of damage, rather than the topographic distribution of overall retinal damage. Furthermore, I suggest a five-stage modified version of the current three-stage grading system of disease severity based on fundus autofluorescence (FAF) as follows: 0, no hyperautofluorescence (normal); 1, localized parafoveal or pericentral hyperautofluorescence on FAF; 2, hyperautofluorescence extending greater than 180° around the fovea; 3, combined retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) defects (hypoautofluorescence on FAF) without foveal involvement; and 4, fovea-involving hypoautofluorescence. These classification systems can better address the topographic characteristics of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy using disease patterns and assess the risk of vision-threatening retinopathy by stage, particularly with foveal involvement.
COVID-19-Related Cholangiopathy: Histological Findings
Authors: Borges Valéria , Cotrim Helma , Andrade Antônio , Mendes Liliana , Penna Francisco , Silva Marcelo , Salomão Frederico , Freitas Luiz
Published: August 2024

Cholangiopathy has been described in survivors of severe COVID-19, presenting significant clinical parallels to the pre-pandemic condition of secondary sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill patients (SSC-CIP). We aimed to examine the liver histopathology of individuals with persistent cholestasis after severe COVID-19. Methods: We subjected post-COVID-19 cholestasis liver samples to routine staining techniques and cytokeratin 7 immunostaining and semi-quantitatively analyzed the portal and parenchymal changes. Results: All ten patients, five men, had a median age of 56, an interquartile range (IQR) of 51–60, and required intensive care unit and mechanical ventilation. The median and IQR liver enzyme concentrations proximal to biopsy were in IU/L: ALP 645 (390–1256); GGT 925 (664–2169); ALT 100 (86–113); AST 87 (68–106); and bilirubin 4 (1–9) mg/dL. Imaging revealed intrahepatic bile duct anomalies and biliary casts. We performed biopsies at a median of 203 (150–249) days after molecular confirmation of infection. We found portal and periportal fibrosis, moderate-to-severe ductular proliferation, and bile duct dystrophy in all patients, while we observed hepatocyte biliary metaplasia in all tested cases. We observed mild-to-severe parenchymal cholestasis and bile plugs in nine and six cases. We also observed mild swelling of the arteriolar endothelial cells in five patients. We observed a thrombus in a small portal vein branch and mild periductal fibrosis in one case each. One patient developed multiple small biliary infarctions. We did not observe ductopenia in any patient. Conclusions: The alterations were like those observed in SSC-CIP; however, pronounced swelling of endothelial cells, necrosis of the vessel walls, and thrombosis in small vessels were notable.
A Multimodal Protocol Combining 99mTc-Tilmanocept with Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Lympho-Angiography for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Oral Cancer: A Case Series
Authors: Galli Andrea , Canevari Carla , Salerno Emilio , Irem Ayhan , Familiari Marco , Pettirossi Carlo , Battista Rosa Alessia , Chiti Arturo , Bussi Mario , Giordano Leone
Published: August 2024

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is currently considered as a viable alternative to elective neck dissection (END) for the management of cN0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). However, some difficulties were detected in sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in floor of mouth (FOM) and ventral tongue tumors because of the so-called “shine-through radioactivity” of the injection site, which may mask nodal hotspots in proximity. We assessed the feasibility and the potential strengths of combining 99mTc-Tilmanocept with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence lympho-angiography in a dedicated multimodal protocol for SLNB in T1/T2N0 oral cancer to evaluate the synergistic role of each of these two tracers in providing the appropriate sensitivity and ease of learning, even in such a critical anatomical subsite. A detailed, stepwise description of our multimodal protocol is provided, together with the presentation of its application in two cases of early-stage ventral tongue tumors. Radioactive guidance with 99mTc-Tilmanocept was used preoperatively to perform planar lymphoscintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography and to define the nodal hotspot(s) and the surgical “roadmap”. In addition, it was used intraoperatively to pinpoint the SLN location within each nodal hotspot with high specificity but limited spatial resolution. Optical guidance with ICG injection at the tumor bed and near-infrared fluorescence imaging was then added, providing intuitive intraoperative guidance within each nodal hotspot with high spatial resolution. Our small experience with this protocol is illustrated and future perspectives are highlighted.
Classification of Diabetic Foot Ulcers from Images Using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Almufadi Nouf , Alhasson Haifa F.
Published: August 2024

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent a significant and serious challenge associated with diabetes. It is estimated that approximately one third of individuals with diabetes will develop DFUs at some point in their lives. This common complication can lead to serious health issues if not properly managed. The early diagnosis and treatment of DFUs are crucial to prevent severe complications, including lower limb amputation. DFUs can be categorized into two states: ischemia and infection. Accurate classification is required to avoid misdiagnosis due to the similarities between these two states. Several convolutional neural network (CNN) models have been used and pre-trained through transfer learning. These models underwent evaluation with hyperparameter tuning for the binary classification of different states of DFUs, such as ischemia and infection. This study aimed to develop an effective classification system for DFUs using CNN models and machine learning classifiers utilizing various CNN models, such as EfficientNetB0, DenseNet121, ResNet101, VGG16, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, and InceptionResNetV2, due to their excellent performance in diverse computer vision tasks. Additionally, the head model functions as the ultimate component for making decisions in the model, utilizing data collected from preceding layers to make precise predictions or classifications. The results of the CNN models with the suggested head model have been used in different machine learning classifiers to determine which ones are most effective for enhancing the performance of each CNN model. The most optimal outcome in categorizing ischemia is a 97% accuracy rate. This was accomplished by integrating the suggested head model with the EfficientNetB0 model and inputting the outcomes into the logistic regression classifier. The EfficientNetB0 model, with the proposed modifications and by feeding the outcomes to the AdaBoost classifier, attains an accuracy of 93% in classifying infections.
Therapeutic Effects of Semaglutide on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity: An Open-Label Controlled Trial
Authors: Gad Ahmed I. , Ibrahim Nevin F. , Almadani Noura , Mahfouz Rasha , Nofal Hanaa A. , El-Rafey Dina S. , Ali Hossam Tharwat , EL-Hawary Amr T. , Sadek Ayman M. E. M.
Published: August 2024

Background: GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have been shown to improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity and reduce body weight in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). This trial sought to evaluate the therapeutic effect of oral and subcutaneous semaglutide in NAFLD and its sequelae in obesity and/or T2D. Methods: In an open-labelled intervention study, the sample was 180 patients classified into three parallel groups (1:1:1): group I received oral semaglutide, group II patients received injectable semaglutide, and group III received pioglitazone and/or vitamin E. Patients were evaluated at 6 and 12 months. Results: There was a substantial improvement in lipid profile, liver enzymes, and body mass index, especially in group II. As for HDL, only group II showed a consistent increase at both 6 months (51 ± 4.62 mg/dL) and 12 months (50.08 ± 2.45 mg/dL) compared with baseline (45.6 ± 6.37 mg/dL) (p-value < 0.001). Despite the non-significant difference in NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) (p-value = 0.45 and 0.63), group II had significantly lower scores of the fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) at 6 and 12 months (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: Semaglutide improves lipid profile, liver steatosis, and fibrosis parameters and reduces the BMI in T2D and obese patients with NAFLD.
Identification of Pine Wilt-Diseased Trees Using UAV Remote Sensing Imagery and Improved PWD-YOLOv8n Algorithm
Authors: Su Jianyi , Qin Bingxi , Sun Fenggang , Lan Peng , Liu Guolin
Published: August 2024

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is one of the most destructive diseases for pine trees, causing a significant effect on ecological resources. The identification of PWD-infected trees is an effective approach for disease control. However, the effects of complex environments and the multi-scale features of PWD trees hinder detection performance. To address these issues, this study proposes a detection model based on PWD-YOLOv8 by utilizing aerial images. In particular, the coordinate attention (CA) and convolutional block attention module (CBAM) mechanisms are combined with YOLOv8 to enhance feature extraction. The bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) structure is used to strengthen feature fusion and recognition capability for small-scale diseased trees. Meanwhile, the lightweight FasterBlock structure and efficient multi-scale attention (EMA) mechanism are employed to optimize the C2f module. In addition, the Inner-SIoU loss function is introduced to seamlessly improve model accuracy and reduce missing rates. The experiment showed that the proposed PWD-YOLOv8n algorithm outperformed conventional target-detection models on the validation set (mAP@0.5 = 94.3%, precision = 87.9%, recall = 87.0%, missing rate = 6.6%; model size = 4.8 MB). Therefore, the proposed PWD-YOLOv8n model demonstrates significant superiority in diseased-tree detection. It not only enhances detection efficiency and accuracy but also provides important technical support for forest disease control and prevention.
Using the Contrast Boundary Concentration of LST for the Earthquake Approach Assessment in Turkey, 6–8 February 2023
Authors: Nikulin Serhii , Sergieieva Kateryna , Korobko Olga , Kashtan Vita
Published: August 2024

Land surface temperature (LST) variations and anomalies associated with tectonic plate movements have been documented before large earthquakes. In this work, we propose that spatially extended and dynamic linear zones of high temperature anomalies at the Earth’s surface coinciding with faults in the Earth’s crust may be used as a predictor of an approaching earthquake. LST contrast boundary concentration maps are suggested to be a possible indicator for analyzing temperature changes before and after seismic sequences. Here, we analyze the concentration of LST contrast boundaries estimated from Landsat 8–9 data for the East Anatolian Fault Zone in the vicinity of epicenters of the destructive earthquakes with magnitudes up to 7.8 Mw that occurred in February 2023. A spatial relationship between earthquake epicenters and the maximum concentration of LST boundaries at azimuths of 0° and 90° was found to strengthen as the earthquake approaches and weaken after it. It was found that 92% of epicenters are located at up to 5 km distance from zones of maximum LST boundary concentration. The evidence presented in this work supports the idea that LST may provide valuable information for seismic hazard assessment before large earthquakes.
Governance and Fiscal Decentralisation in Latin America: An Empirical Approach
Authors: Pinilla-Rodríguez Diego E. , Hernández-Medina Patricia
Published: August 2024

The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between certain institutional variables and the effectiveness of fiscal decentralisation in Latin America. To fulfil this objective, we took a sample of 15 Latin American countries for the years 1996 to 2020 to estimate the logarithm of GDP per capita based on the level of fiscal decentralisation, as well as its interaction with six institutional variables plus three control variables. The results show that institutional variables always modulate the effects of fiscal decentralisation, in most cases significantly and negatively, the exceptions being accountability with a positive result and government effectiveness with a non-significant result. It was concluded that in the presence of weak regulations, political conflicts, and corruption, fiscal decentralisation can worsen social or economic circumstances in Latin America.
The Malleability of Higher Education Study Environment Factors and Their Influence on Humanities Student Dropout—Validating an Instrument
Authors: Qvortrup Ane , Lykkegaard Eva
Published: August 2024

In this article, we investigate how tertiary humanities students’ perceptions of the study environment, dropout considerations, and background variables, respectively, explain variations in dropout. Based on Tinto’s Institutional Departure Model and a systematic review of the dropout literature, the study environment comprised an academic system, a social system, and teaching. Multivariate statistical analyses in the form of explorative factor analysis and logistic bivariate regressions were used on half-early register and survey data from all humanities students at a Danish university [University of Southern Denmark], matriculated in 2017–2019. This article found that students’ perceptions of their study environment explained between 15.8% and 36.9% of dropout, whereas dropout considerations and background parameters explained only between 0 and 9.1% and between 7.9 and 21.4% of dropout, respectively. We hereby present and discuss the results obtained during different terms. The discussion revolves around the proposed research instrument and the longitudinal research methodology, as well as around what we could learn from this study about being a humanities student and about study environments that could help us increase the number of graduates.
Social Anxiety among Middle-Aged Teachers in Secondary Education Schools
Authors: Guo Lihan , Awiphan Ratanaporn , Wongpakaran Tinakon , Kanjanarat Penkarn , Wedding Danny
Published: August 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of social anxiety symptoms (SASs) and its associated factors among middle-aged teachers in secondary education schools. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2023 to March 2024 among 341 secondary education schoolteachers aged 45–59 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, involving an online survey. Effects of psychosocial variables on SASs were investigated, including attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, neuroticism and extraversion personality traits, loneliness, perceived social stress, job burnout, and anxiety and depression. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of SASs. Results: This study found that 98 out of 341 (28.7%) teachers presented SASs. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that marital status (β = 0.103, 95% CI [0.437, 3.404]), income (β = 0.087, 95% CI [0.049, 3.758]), extraversion (β = −0.179, 95% CI [−0.573, −0.198]), attachment anxiety (β = 0.165, 95% CI [0.106, 0.359]), attachment avoidance (β = 0.145, 95% CI [0.066, 0.243]), depression (β = 0.242, 95% CI [0.248, 0.862]), loneliness (β = 0.182, 95% CI [0.099, 0.580]), and perceived social stress (β = 0.235, 95% CI [0.131, 0.373]) were significant predictors of SASs, explaining 51.1% of the variance. Conclusion: This study discovered a relatively high prevalence of SASs among middle-aged secondary schoolteachers.
Hybrid Graph Neural Network-Based Aspect-Level Sentiment Classification
Authors: Zhao Hongyan , Cui Cheng , Wu Changxing
Published: August 2024

Aspect-level sentiment classification has received more and more attention from both academia and industry due to its ability to provide more fine-grained sentiment information. Recent studies have demonstrated that models incorporating dependency syntax information can more effectively capture the aspect-specific context, leading to improved performance. However, existing studies have two shortcomings: (1) they only utilize dependency relations between words, neglecting the types of these dependencies, and (2) they often predict the sentiment polarity of each aspect independently, disregarding the sentiment relationships between multiple aspects in a sentence. To address the above issues, we propose an aspect-level sentiment classification model based on a hybrid graph neural network. The core of our model involves constructing several hybrid graph neural network layers, designed to transfer information among words, between words and aspects, and among aspects. In the process of information transmission, our model takes into account not only dependency relations and their types between words but also sentiment relationships between aspects. Our experimental results based on three commonly used datasets demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a performance that is comparable to or better than recent benchmark methods.
State Space Average Modeling, Small Signal Analysis, and Control Implementation of an Efficient Single-Switch High-Gain Multicell Boost DC-DC Converter with Low Voltage Stress
Authors: Deraz Said A. , Zaky Mohamed S. , Tawfiq Kotb B. , Mansour Arafa S.
Published: August 2024

This paper presents the closed-loop control of a single-switch high-gain multicell boost DC-DC converter working in a continuous conduction mode (CCM). This converter is particularly designed for applications in photovoltaic systems. One of the main advantages of the proposed converter is that it only employs one active semiconductor switch, which decreases the converter losses and cost, increases the efficiency, and simplifies the control circuit. Moreover, the multicell nature of the proposed converter offers the possibility of obtaining the required voltage gain by selecting the number of cells. State space average (SSA) modeling and small-signal analysis are used to model the switching converter power stages of the proposed converter. The parasitic series resistances of the passive elements of the converter circuit are considered to improve the accuracy of the modeling. Small-signal analysis is used to derive the open-loop transfer functions, input-to-output and control-to-output transfer functions of the proposed converter to examine its dynamic performance. The stability of the converter is analyzed to design the parameters of the voltage controller using the proposed modeling method. The experimental prototype of the proposed single-switch two-cell boost DC-DC converter was implemented. The simulation and experimental results proved the effectiveness of the proposed boost DC-DC converter under different working conditions. It has a fast dynamic response without overshoots. A comprehensive comparison between the proposed converter and previous boost converters is provided. It guarantees a required variable and constant high voltage gain with a wider duty ratio range. It compromises between the required performance, the low number of components, low voltage stress on the components, and cost-effectiveness. The experimental efficiency of the proposed converter is about 96% at a 100 W load.
Practical Verification of Diagnostic Capabilities of Methods for the Recreation of Voltage Fluctuations
Authors: Kuwałek Piotr
Published: August 2024

Voltage fluctuations are one of the most common problems in low-voltage networks. Very often, these disturbances cause damage to or the incorrect operation of electrical devices. Unfortunately, at present, the monitoring of these disturbances relies on short-term and long-term flicker indicators, which only assess the severity of one of the effects of voltage fluctuations. Another measure of voltage fluctuations that has greater diagnostic potential is voltage fluctuation indices, i.e., the amplitude and rate of voltage fluctuations. One advantage of these indices that has been highlighted in recent years is their potential ability to recreate voltage fluctuations using these indices. This article presents research results that allow for the verification of the potential of voltage fluctuation indices as a method for recreating voltage fluctuations. For verification purposes, various cases of voltage variation recorded in a modern low-voltage network are used. The analysis of the possibility of recreating voltage fluctuations from voltage fluctuation indices presented in this article, in association with previously carried out numerical simulation studies and experimental laboratory studies, constitutes a complementary whole and indicates further directions in voltage fluctuation research in terms of the electromagnetic compatibility of low-frequency conducted disturbances.