bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microfluidic impedance flow cytometer leveraging virtual constriction microchannel and its application in leukocyte differential
Authors: Wang Minruihong , Zhang Jie , Chen Xiao , Li Yimin , Huang Xukun , Wang Junbo , Li Yueying , Huo Xiaoye , Chen Jian
Published: December 2024

Microfluidic impedance flow cytometry has been widely used in leukocyte differential and counting, but it faces a bottleneck due to the trade-off between impedance detection throughput and sensitivity. In this study, a microfluidic impedance flow cytometer based on a virtual constriction microchannel was reported, in which the virtual constriction microchannel was constructed by crossflow of conductive sample and insulated sheath fluids with underneath micro-electrodes for impedance measurements. Compared to conventional mechanical constriction microchannels, this virtual counterpart could effectively avoid direct physical contact between cells and the microchannel walls to maintain high throughputs, and significantly reduce the volume of the impedance detection region for sensitivity improvements. Using the developed microfluidic impedance flow cytometer, impedance pulses of three leukemia cell lines, K562, Jurkat, and HL-60, were detected, achieving a 99.8% differentiation accuracy through the use of a recurrent neural network. Furthermore, impedance pulses of four white blood cell subpopulations (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes) from three donors were detected, achieving a classification accuracy of ≥99.2%. A classification network model was established based on purified white blood cell and applied to impedance pulses of two white blood cell mixtures, resulting in proportional distributions of four leukocyte subpopulations within theoretical ranges. These results indicated that the developed microfluidic impedance flow cytometer based on the virtual constriction microchannel could achieve both high detection throughput and high sensitivity, showing great potentials for clinical diagnostics and blood analysis.
Comparing machine learning techniques for neonatal mortality prediction: insights from a modeling competition
Authors: Sullivan Brynne A. , Moreira Alvaro G. , McAdams Ryan M. , Knake Lindsey A. , Husain Ameena , Qiu Jiaxing , Mudireddy Avinash , Majeedi Abrar , Shalish Wissam , Lake Douglas E. , Vesoulis Zachary A.
Published: December 2024

Background

Predicting mortality risk in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is challenging due to complex, variable clinical and physiological data. Machine learning (ML) offers potential for more accurate risk stratification.

Objective

To compare the performance of various ML models in predicting NICU mortality using a team-based modeling competition.

Methods

We conducted a modeling competition with five neonatologist-led teams applying ML techniques—logistic regression, CatBoost, neural networks, random forest, and XGBoost—to a shared dataset from over 6,000 NICU admissions. The dataset included static demographic and clinical variables, alongside daily samples of heart rate and oxygen saturation. Each team developed models to predict mortality risk at baseline and within 7 days. Models were evaluated using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Results were presented at a national meeting, where an audience poll ranked models before AUC results were revealed.

Results

The audience favored the most complex model (CNN) for real-world application, though logistic regression achieved the highest AUC on test data. Teams employed varied feature selection, tuning, and evaluation strategies.

Conclusions

Logistic regression outperformed more complex models, highlighting the importance of selecting modeling methods based on data characteristics, interpretability, and expertise rather than model complexity alone.

Impact

By demonstrating that model complexity does not necessarily equate to better predictive performance, this research encourages the careful selection of modeling approaches.
Noninvasive early identification of durable clinical benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition: a prospective multicenter study (NCT04566432)
Authors: Ai Xinghao , Jia Bo , He Zhiyi , Zhang Junping , Zhuo Minglei , Zhao Jun , Wang Zhe , Zhang Jiexia , Fan Zaiwen , Zhang Xiaotong , Li Chong , Jin Feng , Li Ziming , Ma Xia , Tang Hao , Yan Xiang , Li Wei , Xiong Yuanyuan , Yin Huan , Chen Rongrong , Lu Shun
Published: December 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the treatment landscape for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In spite of durable responses in some patients, many patients develop early disease progression during the ICI treatment. Thus, early identification of patients with no durable benefit would facilitate the clinical decision for these patients. In this prospective, multicenter study, 101 non-EGFR/ALK patients who received ICI treatment were enrolled after screening 328 stage III-IV NSCLC patients. At the date of cutoff, 83 patients were eligible for ICI efficacy evaluation, with 56 patients having progress-free survival (PFS) over 6 months, which was defined as durable clinical benefit (DCB). A multimodal model was established by integrating normalized bTMB, early dynamic of ctDNA and the first RECIST response. This model could robustly predict DCB with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.878, sensitivity of 79.2% at 86.4% specificity (accuracy = 80.0%). This model was further validated in the independent cohort of the DIREct-On study with AUC of 0.887, sensitivity of 94.7% at 85.3% specificity (accuracy = 90.3%). Patients with higher predict scores had substantially longer PFS than those with lower scores (training cohort: median PFS 13.6 vs 4.2 months, P < 0.001, HR = 0.24; validation cohort: median PFS 11.0 vs 2.2 months, P < 0.001, HR = 0.17). Taken together, these results demonstrate that integrating early changes of ctDNA, normalized bTMB, and the first RECIST response can provide accurate, noninvasive, and early prediction of durable benefits for NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and guide clinical decision-making for optimal immunotherapy in NSCLC patients.
Artificial intelligent fuzzy control and LAPO algorithm for enhancement LVRT and power quality of grid connected PV/wind hybrid systems
Authors: EL Sayed Noura G. , Yousef Ali M. , El-Saady Gaber , Alanazi Meshari D. , Ziedan Hamdy A. , Abdelsattar Montaser
Published: December 2024

Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) is considered one of the main and serious problems facing the electrical grid. It occurs due to three-phase symmetric faults and asymmetric faults such as a double line to ground fault that applies in this system. This paper applies Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOM) to improve the LVRT capability and dynamic performance of an electrical grid linked to a Photovoltaic (PV)/Wind hybrid system through grid disturbances. A hybrid power system containing a PV station that produces 1 MW and a wind farm from type Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) that produces 9 MW is connected to STATCOM with 48 pulses at PCC bus and energized load. It compensates reactive power to improve LVRT that occurred due to fault. The applied STATCOM controller adjusts the voltage of the PCC bus during an occuring fault on the grid by compensating reactive power. STATCOM is controlled by a Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) and is compared with STATCOM controlled by Artificial Intelligence Control (AIC)-based on Proportional—Integral Fuzzy Logic Control (PI FLC). The Lightning Attachment Procedure Optimization Algorithm (LAPO) optimization method is used to adjust the parameters of the PI controller to reduce error signals. A simulation model of the suggested hybrid power system has been performed using Matlab/Simulink. The simulation results of STATCOM proved powerful and the effectiveness of STATCOM with PI FLC in reducing voltage dip, compensating active power of wind and PV farm, protecting DC-link voltage of PV and wind from overvoltage and oscillation that happens at three-phase fault and double line to ground fault as compared with PID STATCOM in enhancement LVRT capability, and power quality.
Nanobubble nucleation by pulsed laser illumination of colloidal gold nanoparticles
Authors: Sharma Yatha , Ohl Claus-Dieter , Rosselló Juan Manuel
Published: December 2024

This study expands upon a technique our team previously developed for generating nanobubbles on demand with a collimated pulsed laser beam. This work highlights how the controlled addition of gold nanoparticles enhances nanobubble generation efficiency in water, even at laser intensities well below the threshold for multiphoton ionization. Specifically, we investigated the influence of nanoparticles of three distinct sizes on the laser fluence threshold for bubble nucleation and the lifetime of the resultant nanobubbles. Our findings confirm that nanoparticles with a diameter of 60 nm exhibit the greatest nucleation efficiency, achieving nearly 45 % at a fluence threshold of around $$70\,(\pm \,11)\,\hbox {mJ/cm}^2$$. Interestingly, nanoparticle size did not impact the nanobubble lifetime.
TelAP2 links TelAP1 to the telomere complex in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Weisert Nadine , Majewski Verena , Hartleb Laura , Luko Katarina , Lototska Liudmyla , Krapoth Nils Christian , Ulrich Helle D. , Janzen Christian J. , Butter Falk
Published: December 2024

The extracellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei evades the immune system of the mammalian host by periodically exchanging its variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat. Hereby, only one VSG gene is transcribed from one of 15 subtelomeric so-called bloodstream form expression sites (BES) at any given timepoint, while all other BESs are silenced. VSG gene expression is altered by homologous recombination using a large VSG gene repertoire or by a so-called in situ switch, which activates a previously silent BES. Transcriptional activation, VSG switching and VSG silencing during developmental differentiation from the bloodstream form to the procyclic form present in the tsetse fly vector are tightly regulated. Due to their subtelomeric position, telomere-associated proteins are involved in the regulation of VSG expression. Three functional homologs of mammalian telomere complex proteins have been characterized thus far, and novel telomere-interacting proteins, such as telomere-associated protein 1 (TelAP1), have recently been identified. Here, we used mass spectrometry-based proteomics and interactomics approaches, telomere pull-down assays with recombinant material and immunofluorescence analysis to elucidate the interactions of 21 other putative TelAPs. We investigated the influence on VSG expression and showed that depletion of TelAPs does not ultimately lead to changes in VSG expression. Additionally, we examined the interaction patterns of four TelAPs with the TbTRF/TbTIF2/TbRAP1 telomere complex by reciprocal affinity purification. We further propose that TelAP1 interacts with Tb927.6.4330, now called TelAP2, and that TelAP1 depends on this interaction to form a complex with the telomeric proteins TbTRF, TbTIF2 and TbRAP1.
Spinal instrumentation length affects adjacent segment range of motion and intradiscal pressure
Authors: Liebsch Christian , Obid Peter , Vogt Morten , Schlager Benedikt , Wilke Hans-Joachim
Published: December 2024

Scoliosis instrumentation length depends on the type and degree of deformity and the individual preference of the surgeon. This in vitro study aimed to explore effects of increasing instrumentation length on adjacent segment mobility and intervertebral disc loading. Six fresh frozen human spine specimens (C7-sacrum) with entire rib cage from young adult donors (26–45 years) were loaded with pure moments of 5 Nm. Range of motion (ROM) of all segments was determined using optical motion tracking. Lumbar intradiscal pressure (IDP) was measured using flexible pressure sensors from L1 to L5. The specimens were tested in two groups with increasing posterior instrumentation length in proximal (group 1) and distal direction (group 2). Significant (p < 0.05) adjacent segment ROM increases compared to the condition without any instrumentation and compared to other instrumentations were primarily found proximally to the instrumentation in lateral bending. IDP significantly (p < 0.05) increased in flexion in the distal adjacent segment for T4-L1 instrumentation and by up to 550% at instrumented levels compared to the condition without instrumentation. These findings may explain clinical complications such as adjacent segment disease and associated proximal and distal junctional kyphosis. To reduce loads on adjacent segments, instrumentation should therefore be applied as short as reasonable.
Anogenital distance on MRI does not correlate to surgical diagnosis of endometriosis in patients without prior abdominal surgery
Authors: Harth Sebastian , Metze Lena , Leufkens Daniel , Roller Fritz C. , Brose Alexander , Zeppernick Felix , Meinhold-Heerlein Ivo , Krombach Gabriele A.
Published: December 2024

Anogenital distance (AGD) is regarded as a potential biomarker for endometriosis, and a measurement on MRI images has been found to be promising. This study aimed to evaluate the measurement of AGD on MRI to predict the surgical diagnosis of endometriosis. We included 127 patients who received an MRI for endometriosis between October 2018 and February 2023. AGD was measured on MRI by two readers (MRI-AGD-AC: clitoris to anus; MRI-AGD-AF: posterior fourchette to anus). The feasibility and interobserver reliability of AGD measurements were evaluated. Differences in AGD between patient groups were analyzed. The intraclass correlation coefficient estimates indicated a good to excellent reliability of MRI-AGD-AC (0.92; 95% CI: 0.83–0.95) and a poor to good reliability of MRI-AGD-AF (0.68; 95% CI: 0.27–0.83). No statistically significant differences in the mean MRI-AGD-AC and MRI-AGD-AF in patients with and without surgical diagnosis of DIE (p = 0.413; p = 0.110), peritoneal endometriosis with and without DIE (p = 0.641; p = 0.323), and ovarian endometriosis (p = 0.155; p = 0.150) were found. The AUC ranged from 0.475 (95% CI: 0.365–0.584) to 0.586 (95% CI: 0.454–0.718). Thus, AGD does not constitute a valuable biomarker for patients with clinically suspected endometriosis.
Optimal cerebral perfusion pressure during induced hypertension and its impact on delayed cerebral infarction and functional outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Kranawetter Beate , Tuzi Sheri , Moerer Onnen , Mielke Dorothee , Rohde Veit , Malinova Vesna
Published: December 2024

Disturbed cerebral autoregulation (CA) increases the dependency of cerebral blood flow (CBF) on cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Thus, induced hypertension (IHT) is used to prevent secondary ischemic events. The pressure reactivity index (PRx) assesses CA and can determine the optimal CPP (CPPopt). This study investigates CPPopt in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated with IHT and its impact on delayed cerebral infarction and functional outcome. This is a retrospective observational study including SAH patients treated between 2012 and 2020. PRx defines the correlation coefficient of intracranial pressure (ICP) and the mean arterial pressure (MAP). The CPP corresponding to the lowest PRx-value describes CPPopt. Primary outcome parameters were deleayed cerebral infarction and functional outcome. In patients without IHT, higher deviations of measured CPP from CPPopt were associated with delayed cerebral infarction (p = 0.001). Longer time spent with a CPP below the calculated CPPopt during IHT led to an increased risk of developing delayed cerebral infarction (r = 0.39, p = 0.002). A larger deviation of measured CPP from CPPopt correlated with an unfavorable outcome in patients treated with IHT (p = 0.04) and without IHT (p = 0.0007). Patients with severe aneurysmal SAH may benefit from an individualized CPP management and the calculation of CPPopt may help to guide IHT.
Protective effect of interferon type I on barrier function of human airway epithelium during rhinovirus infections in vitro
Authors: Boland Helena , Endres Adrian , Kinscherf Ralf , Schubert Ralf , Wilhelm Beate , Schwarzbach Hans , Jonigk Danny , Braubach Peter , Rohde Gernot , Bellinghausen Carla
Published: December 2024

The airway epithelium provides a crucial barrier against infection with respiratory pathogens. This barrier can be impaired following viral infection, paving the way for bacterial superinfections. Type I interferons (IFNs) are important antiviral mediators, and inhaled formulations of these glycoproteins are considered a potential approach for the treatment of respiratory viral infections. To investigate if type I IFNs can also protect against virus-induced epithelial barrier dysfunction, differentiated primary bronchial epithelial cells were pre-treated with IFN-β1a and subsequently infected with human rhinovirus (HRV) for 24 to 72h. Moreover, to functionally assess the effects of IFN-β1a pre-treatment on barrier integrity, we conducted co-infection experiments, in which cells were initially infected with HRV, and superinfected with Streptococcus pneumoniae 24 to 72 h later. In untreated cells, HRV infection significantly damaged ZO-1 positive tight junctions and cilia, and transiently increased permeability, whereas the barrier of cultures pre-treated with IFN-β1a remained intact. In co-infection experiments, bacteria were able to penetrate deeper into the cell layers of HRV-infected cultures than into those of uninfected cells. IFN-β1a pre-treatment abrogated virus-induced damage to the epithelial barrier. Taken together, these data demonstrate a beneficial effect of IFN-β in protecting epithelial barrier function in addition to its antiviral effects.
Hour-glass spectra due to oxygen doping in cobaltates
Authors: Peng W. , Guo H. , Schmidt W. , Piovano A. , Luetkens H. , Chen C.-T. , Hu Z. , Komarek A. C.
Published: December 2024

The magnetic excitation spectrum of most high-temperature superconducting (HTSC) cuprates is hour-glass shaped. The observation of hour-glass spectra in the isostructural Sr-doped cobaltates La2−xSrxCoO4 gives rise to a deeper understanding of these spectra. So far, hour-glass spectra have been only observed in those systems that evolve from incommensurate magnetic peaks. Here, we report on the appearance of hour-glass spectra in oxygen-doped cobaltates La2CoO4+δ. The high-energy part of the hour-glass spectrum of oxygen doped cobaltates is extremely anisotropic with a very prominent stripe-like appearance not seen that clearly in purely Sr-doped compounds. A charge stripe scenario is evidenced by (polarized) neutron diffraction measurements and also corroborated by spin wave simulations. Our results indicate that charge stripes are the origin of the anisotropic stripe- or diamond-shaped high-energy part of the hour-glass spectrum. A link between hour-glass spectra and charge stripes could be of relevance for the physics in HTSC cuprates.
A hitchhiker's guide to deep chemical language processing for bioactivity prediction
Authors: Özçelik Rıza , Grisoni Francesca
Published: December 2024

Deep learning offers a plethora of solutions to accelerate drug discovery. Here we discover simple and effective approaches to develop bioactivity prediction models via ‘chemical language’.
Multifunctional DNA nanomaterials: a new frontier in rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Zhang Yiyi , Sun Yue , Liao Hang , Shi Sirong
Published: December 2024

DNA nanomaterials offer promising advancements in addressing the challenges of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through targeted drug delivery, biomarker detection, and therapeutic innovation.
Total synthesis of the taraxacine A natural product via Ag(i)-catalysed imidate-alkyne cyclization
Authors: Zalte Rajesh R. , Festa Alexey A. , Demidov Sergei A. , Awuku Samuel O. , Golubenkova Alexandra S. , Mironov Yuri Yu. , Golantsov Nikita E. , Storozhenko Olga A. , Novikov Anton P. , Voskressensky Leonid G.
Published: December 2024

The total synthesis of taraxacine A and diverse analogues has been realised.
Early Language, Social Communication, and Autism Characteristics of Young Toddlers at Elevated Likelihood for Autism Identified by the First Years Inventory–Lite
Authors: Artis Jonet , Nowell Sallie W. , Dubay Michaela , Grzadzinski Rebecca , Thompson Kelsey , Choi Elizabeth , Baranek Grace T. , Watson Linda R.
Published: December 2024

Purpose:

The purposes of this article were (a) to compare the developmental skills of toddlers whose scores on the First Years Inventory–Lite (FYI-Lite), an early screening tool, indicated an elevated likelihood of a later diagnosis of autism (ELA) to the developmental skills of toddlers at a lower likelihood of a later diagnosis of autism (LLA) and (b) to examine how autism characteristics are correlated with communication measures in toddlers at an ELA.

Method:

We assessed the language, social communication (SC) skills, and characteristics of autism demonstrated by 45 toddlers at an ELA and 37 toddlers at an LLA between the ages of 11 and 18 months and compared group scores on these measures. We also examined the correlations between the characteristics of autism and language measures within the ELA group.

Results:

Toddlers at an ELA demonstrated lower scores on measures of global expressive and receptive language, receptive vocabulary, gestures, and response to joint attention bids as well as SC characteristics of autism when compared to those demonstrated by toddlers at an LLA. There were no significant differences between groups on expressive vocabulary, language profiles (i.e., the relationship between receptive and expressive scores), or restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Within the ELA group, the SC characteristics of autism were significantly associated with their global receptive and expressive language skills.

Conclusions:

On the basis of the FYI-Lite screening tool, toddlers at an ELA are demonstrating delays in language and SC skills when compared to toddlers identified with an LLA. For toddlers at an ELA, the SC characteristics of autism are significantly associated with early language skills.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27969444
Long-term properties of coronal off-limb structures
Authors: Bourgeois S. , Chierichini S. , Soós Sz. , Erdélyi R. , Liu J. , Korsós M. B. , Gafeira R. , Barata T.
Published: December 2024

Context. Extracting plasma structures in the solar corona (e.g. jets, loops, prominences) from spacecraft imagery data is essential in order to ascertain their unique properties and for our understanding of their evolution.

Aims. Hence, our aim is to detect all coronal off-limb structures over a solar cycle and to analyse their statistical properties. In particular, we investigated the intensity and density evolution of these coronal structures, with a specific focus on active longitudes in the corona, that is, longitudinal regions where the solar activity is unequivocally dominant.

Methods. We developed a methodology based on mathematical morphology (MM) algorithms to extract these coronal structures from extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) in the 304 Å wavelength channel during Solar Cycle (SC) 24.

Results. The resulting dataset consists of 877 843 structures spanning the whole period from June 2010 to December 2021 with a three-hour cadence. We assessed the main characteristics of these coronal off-limb structures, such as their length, width, area, perimeter, latitude, and longitude (evaluated at the centre of the structures), as well as their intensity corrected for the charge-coupled device (CCD) sensitivity degradation of the AIA instrument.

Conclusions. Regarding most of these properties, we find similar trends to the behaviour of the on-disk features, including the butterfly diagram and the structures that migrate towards the polar regions (also referred to as ‘rush-to-the-poles’ structures) expanding during the rising phase of SC 24 until the reversal of the magnetic field at the solar poles. We uncover an interesting distribution: lower-intensity coronal structures seem to behave differently with respect to higher-intensity structures. The butterfly diagram is clearly shaped by the high-intensity structures, while the lower-intensity structures are more dispersed and survive during the declining phase of SC 24. We also find evidence of the existence of active longitudes in the corona and of their dependence on differential rotation and latitude.
Machine-learning approach for mapping stable orbits around planets
Authors: Pinheiro Tiago F. L. L. , Sfair Rafael , Ramon Giovana
Published: December 2024

Context. Numerical N-body simulations are typically employed to map stability regions around exoplanets. This provides insights into the potential presence of satellites and ring systems.

Aims. We used machine-learning (ML) techniques to generate predictive maps of stable regions surrounding a hypothetical planet. This approach can also be applied to planet-satellite systems, planetary ring systems, and other similar systems.

Methods. From a set of 105 numerical simulations, each incorporating nine orbital features for the planet and test particle, we created a comprehensive dataset of three-body problem outcomes (star-planet-test particle). Simulations were classified as stable or unstable based on the stability criterion that a particle must remain stable over a time span of 104 orbital periods of the planet. Various ML algorithms were compared and fine-tuned through hyperparameter optimization to identify the most effective predictive model. All tree-based algorithms demonstrated a comparable accuracy performance.

Results. The optimal model employs the extreme gradient boosting algorithm and achieved an accuracy of 98.48%, with 94% recall and precision for stable particles and 99% for unstable particles.

Conclusions. ML algorithms significantly reduce the computational time in three-body simulations. They are approximately 105 times faster than traditional numerical simulations. Based on the saved training models, predictions of entire stability maps are made in less than a second, while an equivalent numerical simulation can take up to a few days. Our ML model results will be accessible through a forthcoming public web interface, which will facilitate a broader scientific application.
Rate coefficients for rotational state-to-state transitions in H2O + H2 collisions as predicted by mixed quantum–classical theory
Authors: Joy Carolin , Bostan Dulat , Mandal Bikramaditya , Babikov Dmitri
Published: December 2024

Aims. A new dataset of collisional rate coefficients for transitions between the rotational states of H2O collided with H2 background gas is developed. The goal is to expand over the other existing datasets in terms of the rotational states of water (200 states are included here) and the rotational states of hydrogen (10 states). All four symmetries of ortho- and para-water combined with ortho- and para-hydrogen are considered.

Methods. The mixed quantum–classical theory of inelastic scattering implemented in the code MQCT was employed. A detailed comparison with previous datasets was conducted to ensure that this approximate method was sufficiently accurate. Integration over collision energies, summation over the final states of H2, and averaging over the initial states of H2 was carried out to provide state-to-state, effective, and thermal rate coefficients in a broad range of temperatures.

Results. The rate coefficients for collisions with highly excited H2 molecules are presented for the first time. It is found that rate coefficients for rotational transitions in H2O molecules grow with the rotational excitation of H2 projectiles and exceed those of the ground state H2, roughly by a factor of two. These data enable a more accurate description of water molecules in high-temperature environments, where the hydrogen molecules of background gas are rotationally excited, and the H2O + H2 collision energy is high. The rate coefficients presented here are expected to be accurate up to the temperature of ~2000 K.
Testing the asteroseismic estimates of stellar radii with surface brightness-colour relations and Gaia DR3 parallaxes
Authors: Valle G. , Dell’Omodarme M. , Prada Moroni P. G. , Degl’Innocenti S.
Published: December 2024

Context. A recent investigation highlighted peculiar trends between the radii derived from surface brightness-colour relations (SBCRs) combined with Gaia DR3 parallaxes with respect to asteroseismic scaling relation radii from K2 data.

Aims.Kepler data differ from K2 data in many aspects. We investigated on the robustness of the results based on Kepler data.

Methods. We cross-matched asteroseismic and astrometric data for over 12 000 red giant branch and red clump stars from the end-of-mission Kepler catalogue with the Gaia DR3 and TESS Input Catalogue v8.2 to obtain precise parallaxes, V- and K-band magnitudes, and E(B − V) colour excesses. Two well-tested SBCRs from the literature were adopted to estimate stellar radii.

Results. The analysis confirmed that SBCR and asteroseismic radii agree very well. The overall differences are only 1–2% depending on the adopted SBCR. The dispersion of 7% was about two-thirds of what was found for K2-based data. As a difference from the K2-based investigation, the ratio of SBCRs-to-asteroseismic radii did not depend on the metallicity [Fe/H]. Moreover, the intriguing decreasing trend with [α/Fe] of the radius ratio for massive stars that was observed in K2 data was absent in Kepler data. The SBCR radii are systematically higher than asteroseismic estimates by 5% for stars with masses below 1.0 M⊙.

Conclusions. The SBCRs have proven to be a highly effective tool for estimating radii with a precision comparable to that obtained from asteroseismology, but at a significantly lower observational cost. Moreover, the superior concordance of Kepler-derived radii with SBCR measurements and the absence of the discrepancies observed in the K2-derived radii suggest the existence of underlying systematic errors that impact specific mass and metallicity regimes within the K2 dataset.
Output feedback stabilizability of periodic sampled-data control systems
Authors: Liu Hanbing , Ma Lingying , Wang Ming
Published: December 2024

In this work, a characterization in terms of weak observability inequalities is built up for output feedback stabilizability of linear periodic sampled-data control systems with a given decay rate. Based on this characterization, we give a verifiable condition to ensure the output feedback stabilizability of a class of periodic sampled-data control systems coupled by constant matrices. Finally, we provide several valuable examples as applications of our main result.
Advanced TOPCon solar cells with patterned p-type poly-Si fingers on the front side and vanishing metal induced recombination losses
Authors: Hoß Jan , Kalaghichi Saman Sharbaf , Comak Mertcan , Preis Pirmin , Lossen Jan , Linke Jonathan , Koduvelikulathu Lejo Joseph , Buchholz Florian
Published: December 2024

The silicon photovoltaic industry is rapidly expanding production capacity for TOPCon solar cells and surveys such as the ITRPV 2024 forecast worldwide market dominance for this cell concept from the year 2024 and beyond. Already now, approaches such as laser doped selective emitter and alternative methods for contact formation such as laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) are increasingly used in industry to reduce metal induced recombination at the cell front side. However, in order to fully avoid recombination at the front contacts the application of local passivated contacts under the metal fingers would be desirable as final evolutionary step of both-side-contacted single-junction silicon solar cells via the high-temperature route. The present paper proposes a lean fabrication process to achieve this goal and provides detailed experimental results for solar cells with polycrystalline silicon passivated contacts for both polarities. It is shown that local passivated contacts can be integrated into standard TOPCon cells by adding only a few additional process steps to the current industrial baseline process. Crucially, it is shown that this cell concept can achieve vanishing metal induced charge carrier recombination with differences below 2 mV between implied open-circuit voltage of the non-metalized cell precursor and the external open-circuit voltage of the final solar cell. In the present study this enables a champion device with an external open-circuit voltage of 719 mV and an efficiency of 23.4%. While these results mark an important milestone on the way towards a fully passivated TOPCon cell, the paper also details the challenges related to the development and integration of local passivated contacts and the shortcomings that have to be addressed in order to achieve a relevant efficiency gain over standard TOPCon cells.
Fast simulation of the influence of a refractive free-form microstructure on a wave field based on scalar diffraction theory
Authors: Thiemicke Fabian , El-Bashar Ramy , Hameed Mohamed F.M. , Agour Mostafa , Obayya Salah S.A. , Bergmann Ralf B. , Falldorf Claas
Published: December 2024

We present a novel fast simulation approach to simulate the influence of refractive freeform microstructures on a wave field. The FRISP (Finite Refractive Index Selective Propagation) method combines the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral with a thin element approximation and provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the optical properties of these microstructures. The main advantage of this method is its reduced complexity, which leads to a remarkable reduction in computation time by more than two orders of magnitude compared to finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods. This efficiency facilitates the iterative optimization of refractive microstructures and thus represents a practical tool to improve this type of microstructures. The verification of the FRISP method is realized by comparing the focal position and spot size of refractive microstructures. For this purpose, we compare FDTD, Mie theory and experimental data on microspheres with the predictions of FRISP. This comparison demonstrates the robustness and reliability of the approach, emphasizes its validity and demonstrates it as a valuable tool for the design and analysis of microstructures.
Oral plasmablastic lymphoma: at the origin of the discovery of an HIV infection
Authors: Rahman Nurhayu Ab , Hussain Faezatul Arbaeyah , Eng Kam Chuan
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Plasmablastic lymphoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy derived from a B cell lineage. It has a predilection for extranodal sites, particularly arises de novo in the oral cavity. Underlying immune deficiency is a well-established factor, as most cases are associated with HIV infection or posttransplant patients. Observation: A 55-year-old man presented with a large, painful, multi-lobulated, bluish-purplish mass on the right posterior maxillary gingiva and was initially misdiagnosed as a dental abscess. He was married with three children and had no known risk for immune deficiency. The histopathological diagnosis revealed a plasmablastic lymphoma lesion, which subsequently led to the establishment of the patient's HIV positive status. Conclusions: From a histopathology perspective, HIV testing is warranted in a patient who has been diagnosed with plasmablastic lymphoma despite having a negative history of HIV, transmission risk or exposure to further establish the clinicopathological correlation. Clinically, this testing is necessary to determine the patient's overall therapy, with a focus on counselling of the individual patient and family members to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Closed (hydrodynamic) versus open (lateral sinus floor) subantral augmentation for single tooth replacement: criteria of decision-making and clinical efficacy
Authors: Artemchuk Artem , Yahodka Bohdan , Osmanov Bekir , Kopchak Andrii , Chepurnyi Yurii
Published: December 2024

Introduction: This research aimed to study the impact of initial anatomical conditions on decision-making for subantral augmentation in a single tooth gap and to compare the clinical efficiency of closed hydrodynamic sinus lift and lateral sinus floor augmentation (LSFA) for single tooth restoration. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 96 patients who underwent subantral augmentation with simultaneous implantation in a single tooth gap. Patients were divided: 50 in the “Open” LSFA group and 46 in the “Closed” hydrodynamic lift group. A two-stage protocol was applied, with data on age, intervention site, implant dimensions, and bone height analyzed. Results: Mean residual bone height differed: 3.341 ± 1.433 mm in “Open” and 4.437 ± 1.741 mm in “Closed” (p = 0.001). Median bone height post-surgery was 9.5 mm in “Open” and 8.5 mm in “Closed” (p = 0.0031), with significant bone height increase (p < 0.00001). No implant or graft removals were needed. Conclusion: Residual alveolar ridge height, cortical bone thickness, and sinus wall thickness are key criteria in selecting a protocol. Both techniques achieved effective results, even with initial bone heights below 5 mm. LSFA led to greater bone height increase, while both approaches provide reliable options for stable implant integration.
Correlation analysis between coiling tension and the sleeve's hoop stress
Authors: Park Yonghui
Published: December 2024

The coiling process, crucial for winding long sheets of consistent thickness, often encounters challenges due to deformation induced by pressure and frictional forces on the inner mandrel and sleeve. This necessitates precise stress calculations to ensure operational safety within elastic deformation limits. This study proposes a novel mathematical model to accurately predict stress distribution in the sleeve's hoop direction. The mathematical model is modified by applying a correction factor, derived from an enhanced analytical solution based on the Lame equation, specifically tailored to address coiling stress during prior elastic deformation. Validation of the proposed analytical solution was carried out using finite element analysis through the ABAQUS model. This validation process revealed variations in stress within the sleeve's hoop direction corresponding to different coiling tensions. Furthermore, parametric analysis highlighted a correlation between increased coiling tension and higher frictional forces exerted by the first layer of the steel coil on the sleeve, resulting in discernible variations in hoop stress based on sleeve radius and coiling tension. The key innovation lies in the application of the correction factor to the Lame equation, enabling the derivation of stress results consistent with finite element analysis, even under arbitrary coiling tension and sleeve radius inputs. This analytical solution not only holds promise for predicting the behavior of various thick-walled cylinders produced through different manufacturing processes involving coiling but also facilitates integration with monitoring systems to mitigate slumping during steel rolling operations, all while minimizing computational burden.
Deux observations de défaut d’efficacité des avermectines dans le contrôle de Psoroptes ovis en élevage ovin allaitant des Pyrénées
Authors: Baudel Hélène , Petermann Julie , Jacquiet Philippe
Published: December 2024

La gale psoroptique est une maladie parasitaire endémique en France et constitue une préoccupation majeure pour le bien-être des ovins. Elle entraîne chez les animaux atteints une perte d’état considérable associée à un prurit intense. Le contrôle de la gale est rendu difficile principalement par les caractéristiques du cycle du parasite, une méconnaissance ou une mauvaise application des recommandations de traitement, ce qui peut mener à l’échec de l’éradication du parasite. Mais il existe une autre menace : l’apparition de résistance aux avermectines, molécules largement utilisées ces dernières années dans le contrôle de la gale. Cet article présente deux cas de suspicion de baisse d’efficacité des avermectines pour le contrôle de la gale psoroptique.
Endoscopic closure using a dedicated device following gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: Multicenter, prospective, observational pilot study
Authors: Shiotsuki Kazuo , Takizawa Kohei , Nose Yohei , Kondo Yuki , Homma Hitoshi , Inada Taisuke , Daikaku Mao , Maehara Kosuke , Fukuda Shin-ichiro , Aoki Hironori , Sumida Yorinobu , Akiho Hirotada , Watari Jiro , Nakajima Kiyokazu
Published: December 2024

Development of a simple, optimized closure method for mucosal defects left by gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is warranted. Herein, we developed a novel and dedicated closure device called FLEXLOOP and aimed to assess feasibility and safety of the closure using FLEXLOOP following gastric ESD.

This multicenter, prospective, observational study enrolled patients clinically diagnosed with gastric neoplasms < 30 mm in size. Following gastric ESD, closure of the mucosal defect was performed using a FLEXLOOP with standard clips. The primary outcome was the complete closure rate. The secondary outcomes were procedure time, number of clips, sustained closure rate on second-look endoscopy on postoperative days (PODs) 5 to 7, and rate of post-ESD bleeding.

Overall, 35 patients were included in this study. The median specimen size was 32 mm. The mucosal defect was completely closed in 31 patients (89%; 95% confidence interval, 73%-99%) and incompletely closed in four patients (11%). Median closure time was 11 minutes and median number of clips was 10. Second-look endoscopy performed on PODs 5 to 7 demonstrated sustained, partially sustained, and unsustained closures in seven (20%), 22 (63%), and six patients (17%), respectively. Post-ESD bleeding and complications related to FLEXLOOP were not observed.

Closure using FLEXLOOP is feasible and safe. Our technique using this new device can be an attractive option for more easily closing mucosal defects. However, further clinical research is warranted to confirm that this technique can prevent delayed complications.
Gastric Cancer: Molecular Characterization, Therapeutic Innovations, and Perspectives
Authors: da Costa Emily Tonin , de Azevedo Sergio Jobim , Jácome Alexandre A.
Published: December 2024

Introduction Gastric cancer is the fifth most common neoplasm and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. The present review aims to offer to the oncologic community the molecular characterization of gastric cancer, the therapeutic innovations and the perspectives for the systemic therapy for gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods We searched for articles in the PubMed database using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The latest publications and proceedings of meetings were also reviewed.

Results The cornerstone of the systemic therapy for gastric cancer is the dual combination of fluoropyrimidines and platin-based chemotherapy. Nevertheless, it is recommended that gastric cancer patients are tested for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H), programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1), and claudin 18.2 expression. If HER2-positive, trastuzumab plus pembrolizumab should be added to the doublet chemotherapy. Anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy, such as nivolumab or pembrolizumab, should also be added to chemotherapy in MSI-H and in the PD-L1-positive patients. Patients who present overexpression of claudin 18.2 should be treated with the combination of zolbetuximab and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Immunotherapy may also be considered in patients with high tumor mutational burden. Clinical trials evaluating fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) inhibitors and the dual inhibition anti-PD-1 and anti-T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domains (anti-TIGIT) are promising.

Conclusions The clinical applicability of precision medicine in gastric cancer has risen in the past few decades, leading to substantial improvements in the efficacy of the systemic therapy. Testing patients for biomarkers is paramount for the appropriate management of advanced disease. Ongoing clinical trials evaluating new therapeutic strategies are promising and offer optimism for the patients affected by this challenging disease.
Dismantling Development: Towards an Abolitionist Theory of Development
Authors: Raghavan Priya
Published: December 2024

What might it mean to approach development from an epistemic and programmatic lens aimed at the displacement of the very conditions that necessitate and sustain the international development-industrial complex? This paper explores the productive possibilities inaugurated by taking an expressly abolitionist approach to development. In doing so, I build on but also extend beyond calls to decolonise development in acknowledgement of development’s inextricable imbrication with racial capitalism and neo-colonialism. I identify non-reformist reform, disepistemologies, practices of refusal and radical complicity, and the notion of the undercommons as particularly useful abolition tools with which to approach the project of dismantling development. The paper does not constitute a comprehensive or even concrete set of prescriptions in relation to abolishing development—instead, it seeds various intellectual and political possibilities by bringing together two rich traditions of critique and resisting, inviting those of us within the development-industrial complex to collectively imagine and enact an abolitionist approach to development.
Oscillatory dependence of the magnetoresistance of thin bicrystalline plates
Authors: Kirichenko O. V. , Kolesnichenko Yu. A.
Published: December 2024

The dependence of the electrical conductivity of thin bicrystalline plates on a magnetic field perpendicular to the outer surfaces of the specimen and to the crystallite interface is investigated theoretically. It is shown that along with the conventional Sondheimer oscillations, there arise harmonics associated with electron motion within the crystallites. The intensity of such harmonics in the nonmonotonic part of the magnetoresistance is determined by the degree of diffuseness of the crystallite interfaces. The amplitude of the oscillations due to electrons which cross the plane separating the crystallites is proportional to the probability of the passage of charge carriers through this plane without scattering.
The equations of the dissipative hydrodynamics of a mixture of two superfluid liquids
Authors: Kovalevskii M. Yu. , Lavrinenko N. M.
Published: December 2024

The equations of the hydrodynamics of two superfluid liquids are derived with allowance for dissipative processes. The analysis is based on the use of the method of quasi-averages and the reduced-description method. The approach developed allows a consistent consideration of the dragging of either component of the solution as a result of the motion of the other. The kinetic coefficients are expressed in terms of the time correlation functions of the corresponding flux operators, and satisfy Onsager’s symmetry principle for kinetic coefficients.
Pinning mechanisms in niobium, irradiated by helium ions
Authors: Volkov M. P. , Sokurskii Yu. N. , Tsypkin S. I. , Chuev V. I. , Shishov V. N.
Published: December 2024

Based on investigations of the structure and superconducting properties of specimens of Nb foils, implanted with different doses of high-energy He ions, pinning mechanisms acting in the specimens investigated are examined. The features of the dependences of the pinning force on the magnetic field, the angle which it forms with the surface of the specimen, the irradiation dose and temperature, including the nature of the sum of the elementary forces and the appreciable deviations from the scaling law are interpreted as the manifestation of two pinning mechanisms: on the external surface of the specimens and on dislocation loops, created by irradiation.