bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Microchemistry Elements in Relation of Laser Welding Parameters on the Morphology 304 Stainless Steel Welds Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Touileb Kamel , Attia Elawady , Djoudjou Rachid , Hedhibi Abdejlil Chihaoui , Benselama Abdallah , Ibrahim Albaijan , Ahmed Mohamed M. Z.
Published: July 2023

Small differences in the contents of surface active elements can change flow direction and thus heat transfer, even for different batches of a given alloy. This study aims to determine the effects of sulfur on weld bead morphology in the laser process. The paper presents the results related to the weld bead shape of two thin AISI 304 industrial stainless steel casts. One cast contains 80 ppm (0.008%) of sulfur, considered as a high sulfur content, and the other one contains 30 ppm (0.003%) sulfur, which can be considered low sulfur. The welds were executed using a CO2 laser. The effects of laser power (3.75, 3.67, 6 kW), welding speed (1.25, 2.40, 2.45, 3.6 m/min), focus point position (2, 7, 12 mm), and shield gas (Helium, mixed 40% helium + 60% argon and mixed 70% helium + 30% argon) with a flow rate of 10 L/min on the depth of the weld (D) and the aspect ratio (R = D/W) were investigated using RSM (response surface methodology). The experimental results show that the transfer of energy from the laser beam to the workpiece can be total in cases where the selected welding parameters prevent plasma formation. For the 304 HS cast, the focus point is the major factor in determining the depth of penetration, and its contribution is up to 52.35%. However, for 304 LS, the interaction between shield gas and focus point seems to play an important role, and the contribution of their interaction raises to 28% in relation to the laser depth of the weld. Moreover, the study shows that sulfur plays a surface-active role only in the case of partial penetration beads, so that a 56% partially penetrated weld supports the hypothesis of its surface-active role in the formation of the weld pool. However, a penetration of only 36% confirms the effects of a sulfur surface-active when the bead is fully penetrated.
Next-Generation Quantum Materials for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion
Authors: Singh Shiva Kumar , Munevar Julian , Mendonça-Ferreira Letície , Avila Marcos A.
Published: July 2023

This review presents the recent advances in the search for thermoelectric (TE) materials, mostly among intermetallic compounds and in the enhancement of their TE performance. Herein, contemporary approaches towards improving the efficiency of heat–electricity conversion (e.g., energy harvesting and heat pumping) are discussed through the understanding of various emergent physical mechanisms. The strategies for decoupling the individual TE parameters, as well as the simultaneous enhancement of the TE power factor and the suppression of heat conduction, are described for nanoparticle-doped materials, high entropy alloys, and nanowires. The achievement of a superior TE performance due to emergent quantum phenomena is discussed for intermetallic chalcogenides and related systems (e.g., strong and weak topological insulators, Weyl and Dirac semimetals), and some of the most promising compounds within these classes are highlighted. It was concluded that high-entropy alloying provides a methodological breakthrough for employing band engineering methods along with various phonon scattering mechanisms towards significant TE efficiency improvement in conventional TE materials. Finally, topological semimetals and magnetic semimetals with several intriguing features, such as a violation of the Wiedemann–Franz law and outstanding perpendicular Nernst signals, are presented as strong candidates for becoming next-generation TE quantum materials.
Cold Sintering Isomagnetic Dielectric NaCl-Nickel Zinc Ferrite Composite Ceramics
Authors: Han Jiuyuan , Chi Mengjiao , Yang Liu , Liu Bing , Mao Minmin , Bafrooei Hadi , Ma Zhongyan , Ren Yingjie , Shi Feng , Taheri-Nassaj Ehsan , Wang Dawei , Song Kaixin
Published: July 2023

In this study, dense composites of xNaCl-(1−x)Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (referred to as NaCl-NZO) and xH3BO3-(0.8−x)Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4-0.2NaCl (referred to as HB-NZO-NaCl) were prepared using the cold sintering process. The objective was to investigate the cold sintering procedure for fabricating ferrite composite ceramics with comparable permeability and dielectric constants suitable for radio-frequency electronic device applications. Optimal cold sintering conditions were determined as 200 °C/30 min/500 MPa with a relative density of 95% for NaCl-NZO and 120 °C/30 min/300 MPa with a relative density of 95.4% for HB-NZO-NaCl. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses confirmed the absence of secondary phases. The resulting composite ceramics showed promising characteristics, with the 0.5NaCl-0.5NZO composition exhibiting a dielectric constant of 6.2 @ 100 MHz, dielectric loss of 0.02 @ 100 MHz, permeability of 2.5 @ 100 MHz, and magnetic loss of 0.001 @ 100 MHz. Similarly, the 0.3HB-0.5NZO-0.2NaCl composition displayed a dielectric constant of 5.9 @ 100 MHz, dielectric loss of 0.02 @ 100 MHz, permeability of 5.1 @ 100 MHz, and magnetic loss of 5 × 10−4 @ 100 MHz. These findings indicate potential applications in wireless communication.
Combining UV-Vis and Resonance Raman Spectroscopy to Characterize Molecular Aggregation
Authors: Sesti Valentina , D’Antonio Micol , Lucotti Andrea , Moretti Paola , Castagna Rossella , Bertarelli Chiara , Tommasini Matteo
Published: July 2023

In this work, we use UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy to correlate the intensity of selected transitions to the onset of aggregation phenomena. Through TDDFT calculations, we rationalize the formation of H-aggregates and their influence on the observed changes in the UV-Vis spectra. A correlation between Raman intensity and the molar absorption coefficient is experimentally observed and theoretically rationalized. We develop this method by considering Disperse Orange 3 (DO3), a well-known push–pull azobenzene dye with strong optical absorption in the blue–green region of the visible spectrum, and the known tendency to form H-aggregates.
Multifunctional Polymeric Nanocomposites for Sensing Applications—Design, Features, and Technical Advancements
Authors: Kausar Ayesha , Ahmad Ishaq , Zhao Tingkai , Aldaghri Osamah , Ibnaouf Khalid H. , Eisa M. H.
Published: July 2023

Among nanocomposite materials, multifunctional polymer nanocomposites have prompted important innovations in the field of sensing technology. Polymer-based nanocomposites have been successfully utilized to design high-tech sensors. Thus, conductive, thermoplast, or elastomeric, as well as natural polymers have been applied. Carbon nanoparticles as well as inorganic nanoparticles, such as metal nanoparticles or metal oxides, have reinforced polymer matrices for sensor fabrication. The sensing features and performances rely on the interactions between the nanocomposites and analytes like gases, ions, chemicals, biological species, and others. The multifunctional nanocomposite-derived sensors possess superior durability, electrical conductivity, sensitivity, selectivity, and responsiveness, compared with neat polymers and other nanomaterials. Due to the importance of polymeric nanocomposite for sensors, this novel overview has been expanded, focusing on nanocomposites based on conductive/non-conductive polymers filled with the nanocarbon/inorganic nanofillers. To the best of our knowledge, this article is innovative in its framework and the literature covered regarding the design, features, physical properties, and the sensing potential of multifunctional nanomaterials. Explicitly, the nanocomposites have been assessed for their strain-sensing, gas-sensing, bio-sensing, and chemical-sensing applications. Here, analyte recognition by nanocomposite sensors have been found to rely on factors such as nanocomposite design, polymer type, nanofiller type, nanofiller content, matrix–nanofiller interactions, interface effects, and processing method used. In addition, the interactions between a nanocomposite and analyte molecules are defined by high sensitivity, selectivity, and response time, as well as the sensing mechanism of the sensors. All these factors have led to the high-tech sensing applications of advanced nanocomposite-based sensors. In the future, comprehensive attempts regarding the innovative design, sensing mechanism, and the performance of progressive multifunctional nanocomposites may lead to better the strain-sensing, gas/ion-sensing, and chemical-sensing of analyte species for technical purposes.
Effects of Buffer Layer on Structural Properties of Nonpolar (112¯0)-Plane GaN Film
Authors: Zhao Jianguo , Suo Boyan , Xu Ru , Tao Tao , Zhuang Zhe , Liu Bin , Zhang Xiong , Chang Jianhua
Published: July 2023

Nonpolar (112¯0) a-plane GaN films were grown on semipolar (11¯02) r-plane sapphire substrates using various buffer layers within a low-pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition system. The structural properties of nonpolar a-plane GaN films were intensively investigated by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra measurements. A set of buffer layers were adopted from a GaN layer to a composite layer containing a multiple AlN layers and a gradually varied-Al-content AlGaN layer, the full width at half maximum of the X-ray rocking curves measured along the [0001] and [101¯0] directions of a-plane GaN were reduced by 35% and 37%, respectively. It was also found that the basal-plane stacking faults (BSFs) density can be effectively reduced by the heterogeneous interface introduced together with the composite buffer layer. An order of magnitude reduction in BSFs density, as low as 2.95 × 104 cm−1, and a pit-free surface morphology were achieved for the a-plane GaN film grown with the composite buffer layer, which is promising for the development of nonpolar GaN-based devices in the future.
Morphological Investigation of Protein Crystals by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Rotondi Silvia Maria Cristina , Ailuno Giorgia , Mattioli Simone Luca , Pesce Alessandra , Cavalleri Ornella , Canepa Paolo
Published: July 2023

In this review, we discuss the progress in the investigation of macromolecular crystals obtained through the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM), a powerful tool for imaging surfaces and specimens at high resolution. AFM enables the visualization of soft samples at the nanoscale and can provide precise visual details over a wide size range, from the molecular level up to hundreds of micrometers. The nonperturbative nature, the ability to scan in a liquid environment, and the lack of need for freezing, fixing, or staining make AFM a well-suited tool for studying fragile samples such as macromolecular crystals. Starting from the first morphological investigations revealing the surface morphology of protein crystals, this review discusses the achievements of AFM in understanding the crystal growth processes, both at the micro- and nanoscale. The capability of AFM to investigate the sample structure at the single molecular level is analyzed considering in-depth the structure of S-layers. Lastly, high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is discussed as the evolution to overcome the limitations of low imaging speed, allowing for the observation of molecular dynamics and weakly adsorbed, diffusing molecules. HS-AFM has provided intuitive views and directly visualized phenomena that were previously described indirectly, answering questions that were challenging to address using other characterization methods.
Resilience at Work among Healthcare Professionals in Oncology during and beyond the Pandemic: Report from A Deliberative Multi-Stakeholder Reflexive Symposium
Authors: Tremblay Dominique , Beaupère Sophie , Biaudet Julien , Castel Patrick , Fervers Béatrice , Galvez Christelle , Sontag Pascale , Usher Susan , Wilhelmy Catherine
Published: July 2023

The chronic distress faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in oncology was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, heightening the need to improve their resilience. The Entretiens Jacques Cartier symposium provided an opportunity for participants from France and Quebec to share perspectives on resilience at work and discuss interventions at individual and organizational levels to support HCP health and well-being. Fifty-eight stakeholders were invited to the symposium, including HCPs, government decision-makers, researchers, and patient representatives. The symposium began with presentations on the nature of professional resilience at work in oncology and promising interventions developed in France and Quebec. Participants were then engaged in deliberation on how evidence and experiential knowledge could contribute to workplace strategies to strengthen resilience. Small-group reflexive sessions using the photovoice method, and an intersectoral roundtable, elicited the expression and deliberation of multiple perspectives on the nature and building blocks of resilience. Four main themes emerged from the discussions: (1) that resilience remains a muddy concept and can be associated pejoratively with “happycracy”; (2) that resilience must contend with bounded autonomy and captors; (3) that it relies on a sense of coherence at work; and (4) that patients play a role in improving HCP resilience. Stakeholders from healthcare systems in different countries view resilience at work as a means of equipping teams to handle chronic and punctual stresses in cancer care. The symposium emphasized the importance of better defining what resilience at work means and pursuing explorations of multicomponent interventions to support oncology HCPs and the patients they care for. The themes raised by participants at the symposium suggest pathways for furthering this exploration.
Ampullary Cancer: Histological Subtypes, Markers, and Clinical Behaviour—State of the Art and Perspectives
Authors: Nappo Gennaro , Funel Niccola , Laurenti Virginia , Stenner Elisabetta , Carrara Silvia , Bozzarelli Silvia , Spaggiari Paola , Zerbi Alessandro
Published: July 2023

There are different cancers in the peri-ampullary region, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), duodenum cancers (DCs), and ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC). Here, significant morphological–molecular characterizations should be necessary for the distinction of primary tumours and classifications of their subtypes of cancers. The sub classification of AACs might include up to five different variants, according to different points of view, concerning the prevalence of the two more-cellular components found in the ampulla. In particular, regarding the AACs, the most important subtypes are represented by the intestinal (INT) and the pancreato-biliary (PB) ones. The subtyping of AACs is essential for diagnosis, and their identifications have been impacting clinical management responses to treatments and overall survival (os) after surgery. Pb is associated with a worse clinical outcome. Otherwise, the criteria, through which are possible to attribute its subtype classification, are not well established. A triage of immune markers represented by CK7, CK20, and CDX-2 seem to represent the best compromise in order to split the cohort of AAC patients in the INT and PB groups. The test of choice for the sub-classification of AACs is represented by the immuno-histochemical approach, in which its molecular classification acquires its diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic value for both the INT and PB patients.
Twenty Years of Advancements in a Radiotherapy Facility: Clinical Protocols, Technology, and Management
Authors: Tomatis Stefano , Mancosu Pietro , Reggiori Giacomo , Lobefalo Francesca , Gallo Pasqualina , Lambri Nicola , Paganini Lucia , La Fauci Francesco , Bresolin Andrea , Parabicoli Sara , Pelizzoli Marco , Navarria Pierina , Franzese Ciro , Lenoci Domenico , Scorsetti Marta
Published: July 2023

Background: Hypo-fractionation can be an effective strategy to lower costs and save time, increasing patient access to advanced radiation therapy. To demonstrate this potential in practice within the context of temporal evolution, a twenty-year analysis of a representative radiation therapy facility from 2003 to 2022 was conducted. This analysis utilized comprehensive data to quantitatively evaluate the connections between advanced clinical protocols and technological improvements. The findings provide valuable insights to the management team, helping them ensure the delivery of high-quality treatments in a sustainable manner. Methods: Several parameters related to treatment technique, patient positioning, dose prescription, fractionation, equipment technology content, machine workload and throughput, therapy times and patients access counts were extracted from departmental database and analyzed on a yearly basis by means of linear regression. Results: Patients increased by 121 ± 6 new per year (NPY). Since 2010, the incidence of hypo-fractionation protocols grew thanks to increasing Linac technology. In seven years, both the average number of fractions and daily machine workload decreased by −0.84 ± 0.12 fractions/year and −1.61 ± 0.35 patients/year, respectively. The implementation of advanced dose delivery techniques, image guidance and high dose rate beams for high fraction doses, currently systematically used, has increased the complexity and reduced daily treatment throughput since 2010 from 40 to 32 patients per 8 h work shift (WS8). Thanks to hypo-fractionation, such an efficiency drop did not affect NPY, estimating 693 ± 28 NPY/WS8, regardless of the evaluation time. Each newly installed machine was shown to add 540 NPY, while absorbing 0.78 ± 0.04 WS8. The COVID-19 pandemic brought an overall reduction of 3.7% of patients and a reduction of 0.8 fractions/patient, to mitigate patient crowding in the department. Conclusions: The evolution of therapy protocols towards hypo-fractionation was supported by the use of proper technology. The characteristics of this process were quantified considering time progression and organizational aspects. This strategy optimized resources while enabling broader access to advanced radiation therapy. To truly value the benefit of hypo-fractionation, a reimbursement policy should focus on the patient rather than individual treatment fractionation.
Presence of Endangered Red-Crowned Parrots (Amazona viridigenalis) Depends on Urban Landscapes
Authors: Kiacz Simon , Wang Hsiao-Hsuan , Brightsmith Donald J.
Published: July 2023

Many species of plants and animals thrive in urban habitats and stand to gain from the global trend in increased urbanization. One such species, the Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis), is endangered within its native range but seems to thrive in urban landscapes. While populations of endangered synanthropic species may be uncommon, they can act as genetic reservoirs and present us with unique conservation and research opportunities. We sought to determine the red-crowned parrot’s level of dependency on urban areas, as well as the climatic and anthropogenic drivers of their distribution throughout the United States. We built national level species distribution models for the USA using Maxent and correlated presence points derived from field work and citizen science databases to environmental variables for three Red-crowned Parrot populations: two naturalized (California and Florida) and one native (Texas). We found current occupancy to be 18,965 km2 throughout the three states. These three states also contained 39,429 km2 of high- and medium-quality habitats, which, if occupied, would represent a substantial increase in the species range. Suitable habitat showed a strong positive correlation with urbanization in areas where average monthly temperatures were at least 5 °C. The current and predicted distributions of Red-crowned Parrots were closely aligned with urban boundaries. We expected populations of Red-crowned Parrots and other synanthropic species to grow due to a combination of factors, namely, continued urbanization and the effects of climate change, which increase the size and connectivity of a suitable habitat. For some imperiled species, urban habitats could prove to be important bastions for their conservation.
Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography and Laboratory Parameters as Non-Invasive Diagnostic Markers of Pancreatic Fibrosis
Authors: Khatkov Igor E. , Bordin Dmitry S. , Lesko Konstantin A. , Dubtsova Elena A. , Karnaukhov Nikolay S. , Kiriukova Maria A. , Makarenko Nadezhda V. , Dorofeev Alexey S. , Savina Irina V. , Salimgereeva Diana A. , Shurygina Elena I. , Vinokurova Ludmila V.
Published: July 2023

Pancreatic fibrosis (PF) is a part of the pathogenesis in most pancreatic disorders and plays a crucial role in chronic pancreatitis development. The aim of our study was to investigate a relationship between PF grade and signs in resected pancreatic specimens, and the results of both multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) post-processing parameters and fibronectin (FN), hyaluronic acid (HA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-9 serum levels. The examination results of 74 patients were analyzed. The unenhanced pancreas density (UPD) value and contrast enhancement ratio (CER) showed statistically significant differences in groups with peri- and intralobular fibrosis grades, an integrative index of fibrosis, inflammation in pancreatic tissue, and pancreatic duct epithelium metaplasia, while the normalized contrast enhancement ratio in the venous phase (NCER VP) significantly differed with the perilobular fibrosis grade, integrative fibrosis index, and inflammation (p < 0.05). The blood FN level showed a weak positive correlation with the intralobular fibrosis grade (rho = 0.32, p = 0.008). The blood level of HA positively correlated with the presence of prominent and enlarged peripheral nerves (rho = 0.28, p = 0.02) and negatively correlated with the unenhanced pancreas density value (rho = −0.42, p = 0.0001). MMP-1 and MMP-9 values’ intergroup analysis and correlation did not show any statistical significance. The UPD value, NCER VP, and CER, as well as blood levels of FN and HA, could be used in non-invasive PF diagnosis.
Pediatric COVID-19 and Diabetes: An Investigation into the Intersection of Two Pandemics
Authors: Fotea Silvia , Ghiciuc Cristina Mihaela , Stefanescu Gabriela , Cianga Anca Lavinia , Mihai Cristina Maria , Lupu Ancuta , Butnariu Lacramioara Ionela , Starcea Iuliana Magdalena , Salaru Delia Lidia , Mocanu Adriana , Chisnoiu Tatiana , Thet Aye Aung , Miron Lucian , Lupu Vasile Valeriu
Published: July 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a complex infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it currently represents a worldwide public health emergency. The pediatric population is less prone to develop severe COVID-19 infection, but children presenting underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, are thought to be at increased risk of developing more severe forms of COVID-19. Diabetic children face new challenges when infected with SARS-CoV-2. On one hand, the glycemic values become substantially more difficult to manage as COVID-19 is a predisposing factor for hyperglycemia. On the other hand, alongside other risk factors, high glycemic values are incriminated in modulating immune and inflammatory responses, leading to potentially severe COVID-19 cases in the pediatric population. Also, there are hypotheses of SARS-CoV-2 being diabetogenic itself, but this information is still to be confirmed. Furthermore, it is reported that there was a noticeable increase in the number of cases of new-onset type 2 diabetes among the pediatric population, and the complications in these patients with COVID-19 include the risk of developing autoimmune diseases under the influence of stress. Additionally, children with diabetes mellitus are confronted with lifestyle changes dictated by the pandemic, which can potentially lead to the onset or exacerbation of a potential underlying anxiety disorder or depression. Since the literature contains a series of unknowns related to the impact of COVID-19 in both types of diabetes in children, the purpose of our work is to bring together the data obtained so far and to identify potential knowledge gaps and areas for future investigation regarding COVID-19 and the onset of diabetes type 1 or type 2 among the pediatric population.
Deep Learning Convolutional Neural Network Reconstruction and Radial k-Space Acquisition MR Technique for Enhanced Detection of Retropatellar Cartilage Lesions of the Knee Joint
Authors: Kaniewska Malwina , Deininger-Czermak Eva , Lohezic Maelene , Ensle Falko , Guggenberger Roman
Published: July 2023

Objectives: To assess diagnostic performance of standard radial k-space (PROPELLER) MRI sequences and compare with accelerated acquisitions combined with a deep learning-based convolutional neural network (DL-CNN) reconstruction for evaluation of the knee joint. Methods: Thirty-five patients undergoing MR imaging of the knee at 1.5 T were prospectively included. Two readers evaluated image quality and diagnostic confidence of standard and DL-CNN accelerated PROPELLER MR sequences using a four-point Likert scale. Pathological findings of bone, cartilage, cruciate and collateral ligaments, menisci, and joint space were analyzed. Inter-reader agreement (IRA) for image quality and diagnostic confidence was assessed using intraclass coefficients (ICC). Cohen’s Kappa method was used for evaluation of IRA and consensus between sequences in assessing different structures. In addition, image quality was quantitatively evaluated by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements. Results: Mean acquisition time of standard vs. DL-CNN sequences was 10 min 3 s vs. 4 min 45 s. DL-CNN sequences showed significantly superior image quality and diagnostic confidence compared to standard MR sequences. There was moderate and good IRA for assessment of image quality in standard and DL-CNN sequences with ICC of 0.524 and 0.830, respectively. Pathological findings of the knee joint could be equally well detected in both sequences (κ-value of 0.8). Retropatellar cartilage could be significantly better assessed on DL-CNN sequences. SNR and CNR was significantly higher for DL-CNN sequences (both p < 0.05). Conclusions: In MR imaging of the knee, DL-CNN sequences showed significantly higher image quality and diagnostic confidence compared to standard PROPELLER sequences, while reducing acquisition time substantially. Both sequences perform comparably in the detection of knee-joint pathologies, while DL-CNN sequences are superior for evaluation of retropatellar cartilage lesions.
Medical Radiology: Current Progress
Authors: Pepe Alessia , Crimì Filippo , Vernuccio Federica , Cabrelle Giulio , Lupi Amalia , Zanon Chiara , Gambato Sebastiano , Perazzolo Anna , Quaia Emilio
Published: July 2023

Recently, medical radiology has undergone significant improvements in patient management due to advancements in image acquisition by the last generation of machines, data processing, and the integration of artificial intelligence. In this way, cardiovascular imaging is one of the fastest-growing radiological subspecialties. In this study, a compressive review was focused on addressing how and why CT and MR have gained a I class indication in most cardiovascular diseases, and the potential impact of tissue and functional characterization by CT photon counting, quantitative MR mapping, and 4-D flow. Regarding rectal imaging, advances in cancer imaging using diffusion-weighted MRI sequences for identifying residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and [18F] FDG PET/MRI were provided for high-resolution anatomical and functional data in oncological patients. The results present a large overview of the approach to the imaging of diffuse and focal liver diseases by US elastography, contrast-enhanced US, quantitative MRI, and CT for patient risk stratification. Italy is currently riding the wave of these improvements. The development of large networks will be crucial to create high-quality databases for patient-centered precision medicine using artificial intelligence. Dedicated radiologists with specific training and a close relationship with the referring clinicians will be essential human factors.
From Euglycemia to Recent Onset of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Proof-of-Concept Study on Circulating microRNA Profiling Reveals Distinct, and Early microRNA Signatures
Authors: Greco Marta , Mirabelli Maria , Salatino Alessandro , Accattato Francesca , Aiello Vincenzo , Brunetti Francesco S. , Chiefari Eusebio , Pullano Salvatore A. , Fiorillo Antonino S. , Foti Daniela P. , Brunetti Antonio
Published: July 2023

Background and aim—Alterations in circulating microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns are thought to be involved in the early stages of prediabetes, as well as in the progression to overt type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and its vascular complications. However, most research findings are conflicting, in part due to differences in miRNA extraction and normalization methods, and in part due to differences in the study populations and their selection. This cross-sectional study seeks to find new potentially useful biomarkers to predict and/or diagnose T2D by investigating the differential expression patterns of circulating miRNAs in the serum of patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and new-onset T2D, with respect to euglycemic controls, using a high-throughput 384-well array and real-time PCR. Methods—Thirty subjects, aged 45–65 years, classified into three matched groups (of 10 participants each) according to their glycometabolic status, namely (1) healthy euglycemic controls, (2) patients with IFG and (3) patients with new-onset, uncomplicated T2D (<2 years since diagnosis) were enrolled. Circulating miRNAs were extracted from blood serum and profiled through real-time PCR on a commercial 384 well-array, containing spotted forward primers for 372 miRNAs. Data analysis was performed by using the online data analysis software GeneGlobe and normalized by the global Ct mean method. Results—Of the 372 analyzed miRNAs, 33 showed a considerably different expression in IFG and new-onset T2D compared to healthy euglycemic controls, with 2 of them down-regulated and 31 up-regulated. Stringent analysis conditions, using a differential fold regulation threshold ≥ 10, revealed that nine miRNAs (hsa-miR-3610, hsa-miR-3200-5p, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-1281, hsa-miR-4301, hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-523-5p and hsa-let-7a-5p) showed a specific increase in new-onset T2D patients compared to IFG patients, suggesting their possible role as early biomarkers of progression from prediabetes to T2D. Moreover, by conventional fold regulation thresholds of ±2, hsa-miR-146a-5p was down-regulated and miR-1225-3p up-regulated in new-onset T2D patients only. Whereas hsa-miR-146a-5p has a well-known role in glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and T2D complications, no association between hsa-miR-1225-3p and T2D has been previously reported. Bioinformatic and computational analysis predict a role of hsa-miR-1225-3p in the pathogenesis of T2D through the interaction with MAP3K1 and HMGA1. Conclusions—The outcomes of this study could aid in the identification and characterization of circulating miRNAs as potential novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of T2D and may serve as a proof-of-concept for future mechanistic investigations.
Early Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers for Selected Retinal Diseases—A Review
Authors: Goździewska Ewa , Wichrowska Małgorzata , Kocięcki Jarosław
Published: July 2023

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive, easily accessible imaging technique that enables diagnosing several retinal diseases at various stages of development. This review discusses early OCT findings as non-invasive imaging biomarkers for predicting the future development of selected retinal diseases, with emphasis on age-related macular degeneration, macular telangiectasia, and drug-induced maculopathies. Practitioners, by being able to predict the development of many conditions and start treatment at the earliest stage, may thus achieve better treatment outcomes.
Exploring Extended White Blood Cell Parameters for the Evaluation of Sepsis among Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units
Authors: Ho Sook Fong , Tan Swee Jin , Mazlan Mohd Zulfakar , Iberahim Salfarina , Lee Ying Xian , Hassan Rosline
Published: July 2023

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in intensive care units. This case–control study aimed to investigate the haematology cell population data and extended inflammatory parameters for sepsis management. The study included three groups of patients: sepsis, non-sepsis, and healthy controls. Patients suspected of having sepsis underwent a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) evaluation and had blood drawn for blood cultures, complete peripheral blood counts (CBC), and measurements of various markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We observed significant changes in numerous CBC parameters and extended inflammation parameters (EIPs), in addition to significant biochemical analysis markers CRP and IL-6 in sepsis cohorts. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that combining different CBC parameters and EIPs were effective to profile these patients. Two different models have been developed using white blood cell counts and their extended parameters. Our findings indicate that the absolute counts of white blood cells, and the EIPs which reflect their activation states, are important for the prediction and assessment of sepsis, as the body responds to an insult that triggers an immune response. In an emergency situation, having timely updates on patient conditions becomes crucial for guiding the management process. Identifying trends in these specific patient groups will aid early diagnosis, complementing clinical signs and symptoms, especially as CBC is the most commonly ordered test in a diagnostic workup.
Biofluid Biomarkers in the Prognosis of Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Georgountzos Georgios , Gkalonakis Ioannis , Anastasopoulos Lykourgos , Stranjalis George , Κalamatianos Theodosis
Published: July 2023

The present systematic scoping review aimed at mapping and analyzing the available literature on biological fluid (biofluid) biomarkers showing promise in the prediction of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) recurrence and the prognosis of neurological/functional patient outcome. Twenty-three studies published between 2003 and 2023 investigating a diverse range of biomarkers in hematoma fluid and/or the circulation in 3749 patients were included. Immune cell populations and inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines comprised the most studied category of biomarkers displaying significant findings. A notable time trend in biomarker studies was a recent shift in research focus towards the analysis of circulating biomarkers. Several biomarkers were indicated as independent predictors of cSDH recurrence and/or functional/neurological outcome, including circulating fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-1) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), as well as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the ratios of blood neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR) or red blood cell distribution width to platelet count (RPR). While studies on cSDH prognostic biomarkers have gained, in recent years, momentum, additional multicenter prospective studies are warranted to confirm and extend their findings. The identification of prognostic biofluid biomarkers in cSDH is an active field of research that may provide future tools, guiding clinical decisions and allowing for the design of treatments based on risk stratification.
Robotic Colonoscopy and Beyond: Insights into Modern Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Authors: Tumino Emanuele , Visaggi Pierfrancesco , Bolognesi Valeria , Ceccarelli Linda , Lambiase Christian , Coda Sergio , Premchand Purushothaman , Bellini Massimo , de Bortoli Nicola , Marciano Emanuele
Published: July 2023

Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and removal of colonic polyps. Delays in colonoscopy following a positive fecal immunochemical test increase the likelihood of advanced adenomas and colorectal cancer (CRC) occurrence. However, patients may refuse to undergo conventional colonoscopy (CC) due to fear of possible risks and pain or discomfort. In this regard, patients undergoing CC frequently require sedation to better tolerate the procedure, increasing the risk of deep sedation or other complications related to sedation. Accordingly, the use of CC as a first-line screening strategy for CRC is hampered by patients’ reluctance due to its invasiveness and anxiety about possible discomfort. To overcome the limitations of CC and improve patients’ compliance, several studies have investigated the use of robotic colonoscopy (RC) both in experimental models and in vivo. Self-propelling robotic colonoscopes have proven to be promising thanks to their peculiar dexterity and adaptability to the shape of the lower gastrointestinal tract, allowing a virtually painless examination of the colon. In some instances, when alternatives to CC and RC are required, barium enema (BE), computed tomographic colonography (CTC), and colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) may be options. However, BE and CTC are limited by the need for subsequent investigations whenever suspicious lesions are found. In this narrative review, we discussed the current clinical applications of RC, CTC, and CCE, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different endoscopic procedures, with a particular focus on RC.
Fast Tube-Based Robust Compensation Control for Fixed-Wing UAVs
Authors: Wang Lixin , Zheng Sizhuang , Wang Weijia , Wang Hao , Liu Hailiang , Yue Ting
Published: July 2023

When considering the robust control of fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a conflict often arises between addressing nonlinearity and meeting fast-solving requirements. In existing studies, the less nonlinear robust control methods have shown significant improvements that parallel computing and dimensionality reduction techniques in real-time applications. In this paper, a nonlinear fast Tube-based Robust Compensation Control (TRCC) for fixed-wing UAVs is proposed to satisfy robustness and fast-solving requirements. Firstly, a solving method for discrete trajectory tubes was proposed to facilitate fast parallel computation. Subsequently, a TRCC algorithm was developed that minimized the trajectory tube to enhance robustness. Additionally, considering the characteristics of fixed-wing UAVs, dimensionality reduction techniques such as decoupling and stepwise approaches are proposed, and a fast TRCC algorithm that incorporates the control reuse method is presented. Finally, simulations verify that the proposed fast TRCC effectively enhances the robustness of UAVs during tracking tasks while satisfying the requirements for fast solving.
Feature Fusion Based on Graph Convolution Network for Modulation Classification in Underwater Communication
Authors: Yao Xiaohui , Yang Honghui , Sheng Meiping
Published: July 2023

Automatic modulation classification (AMC) of underwater acoustic communication signals is of great significance in national defense and marine military. Accurate modulation classification methods can make great contributions to accurately grasping the parameters and characteristics of enemy communication systems. While a poor underwater acoustic channel makes it difficult to classify the modulation types correctly. Feature extraction and deep learning methods have proven to be effective methods for the modulation classification of underwater acoustic communication signals, but their performance is still limited by the complex underwater communication environment. Graph convolution networks (GCN) can learn the graph structured information of the data, making it an effective method for processing structured data. To improve the stability and robustness of AMC in underwater channels, we combined the feature extraction and deep learning methods by fusing the multi-domain features and deep features using GCN. The proposed method takes the relationships among the different multi-domain features and deep features into account. Firstly, a feature graph was built using the properties of the features. Secondly, multi-domain features were extracted from the received signals and deep features were extracted from the signals using a deep neural network. Thirdly, we constructed the input of GCN using these features and the graph. Then, the multi-domain features and deep features were fused by the GCN. Finally, we classified the modulation types using the output of GCN by way of a softmax layer. We conducted the experiments on a simulated dataset and a real-world dataset, respectively. The results show that the AMC based on GCN can achieve a significant improvement in performance compared to the current state-of-the-art methods. Our approach is robust in underwater acoustic channels.
Comparative Exergy and Environmental Assessment of the Residual Biomass Gasification Routes for Hydrogen and Ammonia Production
Authors: Vargas Gabriel Gomes , Flórez-Orrego Daniel Alexander , de Oliveira Junior Silvio de Oliveira
Published: July 2023

The need to reduce the dependency of chemicals on fossil fuels has recently motivated the adoption of renewable energies in those sectors. In addition, due to a growing population, the treatment and disposition of residual biomass from agricultural processes, such as sugar cane and orange bagasse, or even from human waste, such as sewage sludge, will be a challenge for the next generation. These residual biomasses can be an attractive alternative for the production of environmentally friendly fuels and make the economy more circular and efficient. However, these raw materials have been hitherto widely used as fuel for boilers or disposed of in sanitary landfills, losing their capacity to generate other by-products in addition to contributing to the emissions of gases that promote global warming. For this reason, this work analyzes and optimizes the biomass-based routes of biochemical production (namely, hydrogen and ammonia) using the gasification of residual biomasses. Moreover, the capture of biogenic CO2 aims to reduce the environmental burden, leading to negative emissions in the overall energy system. In this context, the chemical plants were designed, modeled, and simulated using Aspen plus™ software. The energy integration and optimization were performed using the OSMOSE Lua Platform. The exergy destruction, exergy efficiency, and general balance of the CO2 emissions were evaluated. As a result, the irreversibility generated by the gasification unit has a relevant influence on the exergy efficiency of the entire plant. On the other hand, an overall negative emission balance of −5.95 kgCO2/kgH2 in the hydrogen production route and −1.615 kgCO2/kgNH3 in the ammonia production route can be achieved, thus removing from the atmosphere 0.901 tCO2/tbiomass and 1.096 tCO2/tbiomass, respectively.
A Novel Trajectory Feature-Boosting Network for Trajectory Prediction
Authors: Ni Qingjian , Peng Wenqiang , Zhu Yuntian , Ye Ruotian
Published: July 2023

Trajectory prediction is an essential task in many applications, including autonomous driving, robotics, and surveillance systems. In this paper, we propose a novel trajectory prediction network, called TFBNet (trajectory feature-boosting network), that utilizes trajectory feature boosting to enhance prediction accuracy. TFBNet operates by mapping the original trajectory data to a high-dimensional space, analyzing the change rules of the trajectory in this space, and finally aggregating the trajectory goals to generate the final trajectory. Our approach presents a new perspective on trajectory prediction. We evaluate TFBNet on five real-world datasets and compare it to state-of-the-art methods. Our results demonstrate that TFBNet achieves significant improvements in the ADE (average displacement error) and FDE (final displacement error) indicators, with increases of 46% and 52%, respectively. These results validate the effectiveness of our proposed approach and its potential to improve the performance of trajectory prediction models in various applications.
“The Work I Do Matters”: Cultivating a STEM Counterspace for Black Girls through Social-Emotional Development and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies
Authors: King Natalie S. , Peña-Telfer Laura , Earls Shaeroya
Published: July 2023

Central to culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP) is the notion that we sustain what we love by decentering the white gaze. Elevating CSP and the five core social-emotional learning competencies, we honed in on how Black and Brown girls developed knowledge and skills to manage their emotions, achieve goals, show empathy, and maintain healthy relationships within the context of a single-gender summer STEM program. These opportunities to engage in critical conversations to learn, unlearn, and relearn, while showing up as their full and authentic selves, are not often afforded in traditional STEM classes. This paper focuses on dialogue and interactions amongst four program participants—Samira, Rita, Brandy, and Joy. Critical discourse analysis was employed to challenge the dominance and reproduction of discourses by examining social contexts and systemic structures that they addressed in conversation. Findings revealed the importance of cultivating trusting and intentional learning spaces for Black and Brown girls to engage in open dialogue and critique oppressive discourses. It also displayed the significance of leaning into difficult conversations and pluralism to help adolescent girls realize the complexities of culture while also promoting joy and social-emotional development. Creating spaces that affirm Black and Brown girls matter; their contributions and work that they do matter.
Mitigating the Risks of Malware Attacks with Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Alnajim Abdullah M. , Habib Shabana , Islam Muhammad , Albelaihi Rana , Alabdulatif Abdulatif
Published: July 2023

Malware has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, endangering people, businesses, and digital assets worldwide. Despite the numerous techniques and methodologies proposed for detecting and neutralizing malicious agents, modern automated malware creation methods continue to produce malware that can evade modern detection techniques. This has increased the need for advanced and accurate malware classification and detection techniques. This paper offers a unique method for classifying malware, using images that use dual attention and convolutional neural networks. Our proposed model has demonstrated exceptional performance in malware classification, achieving the remarkable accuracy of 98.14% on the Malimg benchmark dataset. To further validate its effectiveness, we also evaluated the model’s performance on the big 2015 dataset, where it achieved an even higher accuracy rate of 98.95%, surpassing previous state-of-the-art solutions. Several metrics, including the precision, recall, specificity, and F1 score were used to evaluate accuracy, showing how well our model performed. Additionally, we used class-balancing strategies to increase the accuracy of our model. The results obtained from our experiments indicate that our suggested model is of great interest, and can be applied as a trustworthy method for image-based malware detection, even when compared to more complex solutions. Overall, our research highlights the potential of deep learning frameworks to enhance cyber security measures, and mitigate the risks associated with malware attacks.