bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of three ephedrine psychoactive substances in sewage using solid‐phase extraction–ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xu Yiqin , Yang Fang , Ye Hong , Tang Qingqiang , Chen Yanwen , Gao Zhigang , Wang Shuhua , Zhang Fang , Li Xiaojing
Published: August 2024

Rationale

In recent years, ephedrine psychoactive substances have attracted much attention due to their prevalence in water bodies and potential threat to aquatic ecosystems. Psychoactive substances have been considered as a new type of environmental pollutant due to their unpredictable potential risks to the behavior and nervous system of non‐target organisms. A rapid, sensitive, selective, and robust method for the quantification of three ephedrine psychoactive substances in sewage is needed.

Methods

An ultraperformance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of three ephedrine psychoactive substances in water. The optimal processing conditions were determined by optimizing the chromatography—mass spectrometry and solid‐phase extraction (SPE) conditions (e.g., the SPE column, sample pH, washing, and elution), and the treatment conditions were determined; this was achieved via positive ion scanning in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Poly‐Sery MCX was selected as the extraction column, with samples loaded at pH 3. And 4‐mL solution of 2% formic acid (FA) aqueous solution was used as the eluent; the target compounds were eluted with 5 mL of 5% NH4OH in acetonitrile (ACN) solution. The best results were obtained when the residue was resolubulization in ACN after nitrogen evaporation.

Results

The developed UPLC‐MS/MS showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0–50.00 μg/L, with determination coefficients (R2) greater than 0.9990. The detection limit and quantitation limit were 0.05–0.10 and 0.20–0.50 μg/L, respectively. Recovery rates of the target compounds in blank sewage at three different concentrations ranged from 92.37% to 106.31%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.77%–4.83% (n = 7).

Conclusions

This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of surface water and domestic sewage, and the samples were processed stably, indicating that the method is practical for the determination of ephedrine psychoactive drugs in water bodies.
Collision cross‐section measurements of small molecules via transient decay profiles observed in Orbitrap mass analyzers
Authors: Ni Ziqin , Arevalo Ricardo
Published: August 2024

Collision cross section (CCS) of organic compounds can be measured via Fourier transform‐based mass spectrometry (MS) by modeling the decay rate of transient signals in the analyzer. Deriving CCS values of low‐mass molecules (mass < 2000 Da and CCS < 500 Å2) with Orbitrap MS is challenging due to their high axial frequencies and small absolute variances in cross‐sectional profiles. Here, we acquired mass spectra of progressively more complex low‐mass analytes using commercial Orbitrap mass spectrometers. The transient signals were processed using Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and short‐time Fourier transform (StFFT) to derive decay constants of multiple select ionic species from a single MS full‐scan experiment. Decay constants were translated into CCS values using at least two internal standards in the same mass spectrum. Our results suggest target ionic species should have high S/N in order to derive CCS values with ≤0.5% uncertainty. Limitations in the precision of CCS measurements reflect local space charge effects that disturb ion motion in the analyzer. The derived CCS values of polymer like fragments of Ultramark 1621 and small molecules such as individual protonated amino acids can achieve average ±1% error with selection of internal standards across a wide mass range. Future studies need to optimize the strategy to select internal standards in order to improve the precision and accuracy of CCS measurements for small molecules via Orbitrap MS.
Identification, characterization, and in silico ADMET prediction of nirmatrelvir and its degradation products using HPLC‐PDA and LC‐QTOF‐MS/MS
Authors: Kumar Matta Ashwin , Sundararajan Raja
Published: August 2024

Rationale

Nirmatrelvir is a protease inhibitor that is essential for virus replication. Nirmatrelvir is indicated for the management of mild to severe cases of COVID‐19 in individuals who are 12 years of age or older. Forced degradation studies of nirmatrelvir were carried out on the drug substance in solid and solution forms, subjecting it to various stress conditions according to International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Q1A(R2) and Q1B guidelines. The analytical method was validated as per the ICH Q2(R1) guidelines.

Methods

The drug substance (nirmatrelvir) was subjected to hydrolysis (acidic, alkaline, and neutral), thermal, photolytic, and oxidative stress conditions. Five degradation products (DPs) of nirmatrelvir formed under hydrolytic (acidic and alkaline) and oxidative (2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile) stress conditions. These degradation products were identified and separated using reverse‐phase HPLC on a phenomenex kinetex C8 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm × 5 μm) with gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile, and detection was carried out at a wavelength of 210 nm.

Results and conclusions

Nirmatrelvir and its five DPs were efficiently separated using reverse phase–HPLC. These five DPs were identified and characterized using LC‐electrospray ionization (ESI)‐Q‐TOF‐coupled mass spectrometry analysis in the ESI‐positive ionization mode. The formation mechanisms of the DPs and the most probable mass fragmentation pathways for both nirmatrelvir and its DPs were elucidated. The developed method demonstrated selectivity, accuracy, linearity, and reproducibility, making it appropriate for quality control of nirmatrelvir and future research studies. Additionally, the physicochemical and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) properties of nirmatrelvir and its DPs were predicted using ADMET predictor software. The toxicity profile revealed that DP2 and DP3 have teratogenic effects while DP1 and DP3 caused phospholipidosis.
Identification of active ingredients in Naomaitai capsules using high‐resolution mass spectrometry unite molecular network analysis and prediction of their action mechanisms
Authors: Li Shuang , Liu Zhiyan , Zeng Haiping , Fu Jinyu , Sun Mo , Bao Chun , Zhang Chenning
Published: August 2024

Rationale

Although Naomaitai capsule (NMC) is widely used in clinical practice and has a good curative effect for cerebral infarction, its material basis and mechanism of action remain unclear.

Methods

In this study, ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap MS technology was used to analyse the in vivo and in vitro components of NMC, and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking website was used to further analyse the components of NMC. Next, systems biology approaches were employed to investigate the mechanism of action of NMC. Finally, molecular docking technology was used to verify the network pharmacological results.

Results

In total, 177 compounds were identified in vitro, including 65 terpenoids, 62 flavonoids, 25 organic acids and 11 quinones. 64 compounds were identified in the blood of mice, and the main active components included ginkgolide C, ginkgolide A, ligustilide, tanshinone IIB, olmelin, emodin and puerarin. The main targets in vivo included TP53, SRC, STAT3, PIK3CA and PIK3R1.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this study has revealed that NMC acts on multiple targets in the body through various active components, exerting synergistic effects in the treatment of CI. Its mechanism of action may involve inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses as well as reducing cerebral vascular permeability and promoting cerebral vascular regeneration.
Design and Motion Control of Master–Slave Control Endotracheal Intubation Robot
Authors: Qi Qian , Lv Junqi , Sun Ke , Sun Yi , Jiang Andong , Ji Aihong
Published: August 2024

Background

Master–slave remote control technology allows patients to be treated promptly during transport and also reduces the risk of contagious infections. Endotracheal intubation, guided by endoscopy and a master–slave system, enables doctors to perform the procedure efficiently and accurately.

Methods

In this paper, we present the development of a master–slave controlled endotracheal intubation robot (EIR). It is based on operation incremental mapping, a weighted recursive average filtering method to reduce vibration, and a virtual fixture designed to reduce mishandling in minimally invasive surgery.

Results

Simulation analysis of the master–slave control demonstrates that the weighted recursive average filtering method effectively reduces vibration, while the virtual fixture assists in confining the operator's movement within a delimited area. Experimental validation confirms the validity of the robot's structural design and control method.

Conclusions

The developed robot successfully achieves the necessary motion for endotracheal intubation surgery through master–slave control.
Dual‐Function Nanoscale Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles for Targeted Diagnosis and Therapeutic Delivery in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Lin Yuanzhe , Liu Jingjing , Chong Suet Yen , Ting Hui Jun , Tang Xichuan , Yang Liqiang , Zhang Sitong , Qi Xinyi , Pei Peng , Yi Zhigao , Huang Chenyuan , Hou Xiao , Gao Liang , Torta Federico , Liu Xiaogang , Liu Bin , Kah James Chen Yong , Wang Jiong‐Wei
Published: August 2024

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. However, current medical practice lacks non‐invasive, reliable approaches for both imaging atherosclerotic plaques and delivering therapeutic agents directly therein. Here, a biocompatible and biodegradable pH‐responsive nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) based theranostic system is reported for managing atherosclerosis. NCPs are synthesized with a pH‐responsive benzoic‐imine (BI) linker and Gd3+. Simvastatin (ST), a statin not used for lowering blood cholesterol but known for its anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects in mice, is chosen as the model drug. By incorporating ST into the hydrophobic domain of a lipid bilayer shell on NCPs surfaces, ST/NCP‐PEG nanoparticles are created that are designed for dual purposes: they diagnose and treat atherosclerosis. When administered intravenously, they target atherosclerotic plaques, breaking down in the mild acidic microenvironment of the plaque to release ST, which reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and Gd‐complexes for MR imaging of the plaques. ST/NCP‐PEG nanoparticles show efficacy in slowing the progression of atherosclerosis in live models and allow for simultaneous in vivo monitoring without observed toxicity in major organs. This positions ST/NCP‐PEG nanoparticles as a promising strategy for the spontaneous diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Dual Luminescent Mn(II)‐Doped Cu‐In‐Zn‐S Quantum Dots as Temperature Sensors in Water
Authors: Bellatreccia Caterina , Ziani Zakaria , Germinario Angelica , Engelaar Stijn , Battaglia Filippo Piero , Gradone Alessandro , Villa Marco , Ceroni Paola
Published: August 2024

CuInS2 quantum dots have emerged in the last years as non‐toxic alternative to traditional Pb and Cd based quantum dots, especially for biological applications. In this work, the hydrothermal synthesis of alloyed Cu‐In‐Zn‐S quantum dots (CIZS) doped with manganese(II) is explored, with different metal ratios (Mn‐CIZSy). The doped quantum dots show the sensitized emission of Mn2+ (approximately ms lifetime), together with the emission of the CIZS structure (approximately µs lifetime). The relative contribution of Mn2+ emission is highly dependent on the composition of the CIZS hosting structure (In:Cu ratio). In addition to that, it is shown that Mn2+ sensitization requires a threshold energy, which suggests the involvement of an intermediate state in the sensitization mechanism. The long‐lived emission intensity decay of Mn2+ shows a stable and reversible temperature response in physiological conditions (25–45 °C, pH = 7.4). Mn‐CIZSy quantum dots are thus interesting candidates as biological luminescent temperature probe thanks to their easy synthesis, high colloidal stability, insensitivity to dioxygen quenching and quantitative time‐gated detection.
Synergistic Enhancement of Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties in Grafted Polymer/Oxide Hybrid Electrolytes
Authors: Scharf Felix , Krude Annalena , Lennartz Peter , Clausnitzer Moritz , Shukla Gourav , Buchheit Annika , Kempe Fabian , Diddens Diddo , Glomb Pascal , Mitchell Melanie M. , Danner Timo , Heuer Andreas , Latz Arnulf , Winter Martin , Brunklaus Gunther
Published: August 2024

Lithium metal batteries operated with high voltage cathodes are predestined for the realization of high energy storage systems, where solid polymer electrolytes offer a possibility to improve battery safety. Al2O3_PCL is introduced as promising hybrid electrolyte made from polycaprolactone (PCL) and Al2O3 nanoparticles that can be prepared in a one‐pot synthesis as a random mixture of linear PCL and PCL‐grafted Al2O3. Upon grafting, synergistic effects of mechanical stability and ionic conductivity are achieved. Due to the mechanical stability, manufacture of PCL‐based membranes with a thickness of 50 µm is feasible, yielding an ionic conductivity of 5·10−5 S cm−1 at 60 °C. The membrane exhibits an impressive performance of Li deposition in symmetric Li||Li cells, operating for 1200 h at a constant and low overvoltage of 54 mV and a current density of 0.2 mA cm−2. NMC622 | Al2O3_PCL | Li cells are cycled at rates of up to 1 C, achieving 140 cycles at >80% state of health. The straightforward synthesis and opportunity of upscaling as well as solvent‐free polymerization render the Al2O3_PCL hybrid material as rather safe, potentially sustainable and affordable alternative to conventional polymer‐based electrolytes.
Atomic‐Dispersed Cu Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction: Coordination Engineering and Fundamental Insights
Authors: Zhu Xiaorong , Yuan Xiaolei , Ge Ming , Tang Yanfeng
Published: August 2024

The development of Cu‐based atomic dispersed catalysts with tailored coordination environments represents a significant step forward in enhancing the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia. By precisely modulating the electronic structures of Cu active centers, the binding strength of the *NO3 intermediates is successfully tuned, thereby substantially improving the catalytic activity toward electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR). This study reveals that the N4‐coordinated Cu single‐atom catalyst (Cu‐SAC) exhibits superior performance due to its robust interaction with coordinating atoms. Notably, this optimized catalyst achieves a low limiting potential of −0.38 V, while the dual‐atom system further reduces this value to −0.32 V, demonstrating exceptional activity. Detailed electronic structure analysis, including the examination of d‐band centers, Bader charges, and projected density of states (PDOS), provides a comprehensive understanding of the origin of this high activity. Specifically, the high and concentrated density of states near the Fermi level plays a crucial role in facilitating the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction process. This work not only offers crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms of eNO3RR but also provides valuable guidelines for the rational design of highly efficient electrocatalysts for this important reaction.
Non‐Noble‐Metal‐Based Electrocatalysts for Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives
Authors: Liu Tingting , Chen Chen , Pu Zonghua , Huang Qiufeng , Zhang Xiaofeng , Al‐Enizi Abdullah M. , Nafady Ayman , Huang Shengyun , Chen Ding , Mu Shichun
Published: August 2024

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a pivotal role in diverse renewable energy storage and conversion technologies, including water electrolysis, electrochemical CO2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, and metal‐air batteries. Among various water electrolysis techniques, proton exchange membrane (PEM)‐based water electrolysis devices offer numerous advantages, including high current densities, exceptional chemical stability, excellent proton conductivity, and high‐purity H2. Nevertheless, the prohibitive cost associated with Ir/Ru‐based OER electrocatalysts poses a significant barrier to the broad‐scale application of PEM‐based water splitting. Consequently, it is crucial to advance the development of non‐noble metal OER catalysis substance with high acid‐activity and stability, thereby fostering their widespread integration into PEM water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). In this review, a comprehensive analysis of the acidic OER mechanism, encompassing the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) and oxide path mechanism (OPM) is offered. Subsequently, a systematic summary of recently reported noble‐metal‐free catalysts including transition metal‐based, carbon‐based and other types of catalysts is provided. Additionally, a comprehensive compilation of in situ/operando characterization techniques is provided, serving as invaluable tools for furnishing experimental evidence to comprehend the catalytic mechanism. Finally, the present challenges and future research directions concerning precious‐metal‐free acidic OER are comprehensively summarized and discussed in this review.
Introduced Iron‐Based Catalysts for Low‐Temperature Upcycling Regeneration of Spent Graphite towards Ultra‐Fast Lithium Storage Properties
Authors: Wang Bin , Li Jiexiang , Zeng Zihao , Zhu Chao , Yang Yue , Ge Peng , Sun Wei
Published: August 2024

Spent graphite, as the main component of retired batteries, have attracted plenty of attentions. Although a series of recycling strategies are proposed, they still suffer from high cost of regeneration and large CO2 emission, mainly ascribed to the full‐recovery of surface and internal phase at ultra‐high temperature. However, the existing of suitable internal defects is conductive to their energy‐storage abilities. Herein, with the introduction of Fe‐based catalysts, spent graphite is successfully repaired at low temperature with the tailored surface traits, including conductivities, isotropy and so on. As Li‐storage anodes, all of samples can display a capacity of 340 mAh g−1 above at 1.0 C after 200 cycles. At high rate 5.0 C, their capacity can be also kept ≈300 mAh g−1, and remained ≈233 mAh g−1 even after 1000 cycles. Assisted by electrochemical and kinetic behaviors, their cycling traits with dynamic surface transformations are detailed explored, including activated/fading mechanism, Li‐depositions forming etc. Moreover, the calculated constant time of as‐optimized regenerated sample is ≈3.0 × 10−4 s, further revealing the importance of surface designing. Therefore, the work is expected to shed light on their energy‐storage behaviors, and offer low‐temperature regenerated strategies of spent graphite with high value.
Complex outsourcing relationships management model
Authors: Khan Ghulam Murtaza , Khan Siffat Ullah , Niazi Mahmood , Ilyas Muhammad , Humayun Mamoona , Ahmad Akash , Khan Javed Ali , Mahmood Sajjad
Published: August 2024

Global software development (GSD) refers to developing software with a distributed team spanning multiple locations and time zones. Based on relationships, there are four types of outsourcing: dyadic (one client–one vendor), multi‐vendor (one client–many vendors), co‐sourcing (many clients–one vendor), and complex outsourcing (many clients–many vendors). Compared to the other types of outsourcing contracts, complex outsourcing contracts are the hardest to work on and have the highest risk of project failure. This paper presents a model, the complex outsourcing relationships management model (CORMM), to assist the complex outsourcing stakeholders (both the clients and vendors) in managing their relationships in the context of GSD. This paper aims to develop a CORMM to assist the complex outsourcing relationships management stakeholders in GSD. Also, we are interested in identifying the applicability and effectiveness of the CORMM in the real‐world industry. The research approach follows a structured methodology comprising multiple phases. Initially, it leverages a systematic literature review (SLR) as its primary research method. The second phase involves the validation of the SLR findings via an empirical study. Subsequently, in the third phase, a model is developed. Finally, the proposed research approach is validated by incorporating two industrial case studies to assess the organization's relationship management utilizing the Motorola tool. The case study results show that CORMM can successfully point out relationship management issues in a complex outsourcing context. The feedback received from the participants of both companies indicates several positive and valuable insights about the CORMM and its application in the context of complex outsourcing relationships. The results highlight that CORMM serves as an assessment tool for evaluating an organization's relationship management capability and a means for organizations to enhance their position. Through CORMM, complex outsourcing organizations (many clients–many vendors) can identify strengths and weaknesses in their relationship management practices, enabling targeted improvement efforts.
Batched ranged random integer generation
Authors: Brackett‐Rozinsky Nevin , Lemire Daniel
Published: August 2024

Pseudorandom values are often generated as 64‐bit binary words. These random words need to be converted into ranged values without statistical bias. We present an efficient algorithm to generate multiple independent uniformly‐random bounded integers from a single uniformly‐random binary word, without any bias. In the common case, our method uses one multiplication and no division operations per value produced. In practice, our algorithm can more than double the speed of unbiased random shuffling for small to moderately large arrays.
Zum Trag‐ und Ermüdungsverhalten von Kopfbolzendübeln mit fehlerbehafteten Schweißungen
Authors: Bucak Ömer , Dürr André , Grötzner Jakob , Knefelkamp Sascha , Otto Stephan , Rodic Slobodan
Published: August 2024

Das Schweißen von Kopfbolzendübeln (KBD) ist ein technisch anspruchsvoller Prozess. Die Schwierigkeiten für die ausführenden Firmen bestehen hauptsächlich darin, dass die Mangelfreiheit des Produkts derzeit noch nicht zerstörungsfrei nachgewiesen werden kann. Durch das Erscheinen des Allgemeinen Rundschreibens Straßenbau (ARS) Nr. 18/2019 zur Qualitätssicherung beim Schweißen von Kopfbolzendübeln im Brückenbau wurden die Anforderungen an das Kopfbolzendübelschweißen deutlich verschärft. Dieser Aufsatz setzt sich mit fehlerhaften Kopfbolzendübelschweißungen sowie mit in der Praxis üblichen Reparaturmethoden auseinander, um erste Erkenntnisse zu erlangen, ob verschärfte Anforderungen zur Qualitätssicherung beim Schweißen von Kopfbolzendübeln im Brückenbau zielführend bzw. notwendig sind. Es werden außerdem Ergebnisse des PAUT‐Verfahrens (Phased Array Ultraschall) betrachtet, um festzustellen, ob es ggf. zukünftig möglich ist, mit diesem Verfahren eine zerstörungsfreie Prüfung von Kopfbolzendübelschweißungen durchzuführen.
EA‐YOLO: An Efficient and Accurate UAV Image Object Detection Algorithm
Authors: Dong Dehao , Li Jianzhuang , Liu Haiying , Deng Lixia , Gu Jason , Liu Lida , Li Shuang
Published: August 2024

An improved EA‐YOLO object detection algorithm based on YOLOv5 is proposed to address the issues of drastic changes in target scale, low detection accuracy, and high miss rate in unmanned aerial vehicle aerial photography scenarios. Firstly, a DFE module was proposed to improve the effectiveness of feature extraction and enhance the whole model's ability to learn residual features. Secondly, a CWFF architecture was introduced to enable deeper feature fusion and improve the effectiveness of feature fusion. Finally, in order to solve the traditional algorithm's shortcomings it is difficult to detect small targets. We have designed a novel SDS structure and adopted a strategy of reusing low‐level feature maps to enhance the network's ability to detect small targets, making it more suitable for detecting some small objects in drone images. Experiments in the VisDrone2019 dataset demonstrated that the proposed EA‐YOLOs achieved an average accuracy mAP@0.5 of 39.9%, which is an 8% improvement over YOLOv5s, and mAP@0.5:0.95 of 22.2%, which is 5.2% improvement over the original algorithm. Compared with YOLOv3, YOLOv5l, and YOLOv8s, the mAP@0.5 of EA‐YOLOs improved by 0.9%, 1.8%, and 0.6%, while the GFLOPs decreased by 86.4%, 80.6%, and 26.7%. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Food‐induced thyrotoxicosis in a dog
Authors: Isidori Marco , Corbee Ronald J. , Kooistra Hans S.
Published: August 2024

This report presents a case of factitial thyrotoxicosis in a dog ensuing from the long‐term administration of a raw meat‐based pet food adulterated with thyroid tissue. A 7‐year‐old, male, neutered bull terrier was brought to the clinic because of polyuria/polydipsia, restlessness and a decrease in bodyweight despite increased appetite. Physical examination revealed hyperthermia, polypnea, tachycardia and a mild underconditioning, whereas routine bloodwork and urinalysis were unremarkable. Exogenous thyrotoxicosis was suspected based on thyroid function test results, together with contrast computed tomography and nuclear scintigraphy of the thyroid gland, showing increased serum T4 concentrations and very low thyroid‐stimulating hormone concentration in the absence of either eutopic or ectopic thyroid tumours. Histological and biomedical analyses of the dog's diet identified it to be the likely source of environmental thyroid hormones. Diagnosis confirmation was achieved by transitioning the dog to a new food, which was accompanied by a speedy and full remission of clinical signs.
Experimentation on Risk Reduction by Training: A Framework for Seminar Activity
Authors: Rindone Corrado , Moschella Marialuisa
Published: August 2024

Every year, at the global level, disasters connected to natural and anthropic events produce relevant losses. This implies the necessity to plan, design and implement a system of actions for reducing risk and their components (occurrence, vulnerability and exposure). This paper focuses on the exposure component, by considering the training actions aimed at improving the community’s preparedness for evacuation procedures deriving from the emergency planning process. By selecting the discussion–based training class, this paper presents a framework of a seminar, that is the simplest action aimed at orienting participants about the planned indications. The framework is inspired by the US standard approach to training actions. The structured seminar can be considered the first step of a wide training cycle that includes discussion and operation-based exercises. An example of a seminar is clear in the air transport sector. The seminar has become standard practice regulated by ICAO for defining procedures to follow in the event of danger on aircraft. The procedure is aimed at increasing awareness and it requires competency of operators. So, the entire cycle of a seminar must contribute to risk reduction by increasing awareness of the procedures provided and their testing in a stress-free environment. The entire cycle contributes to risk reduction by increasing awareness about planned procedures and their experimentation in a no-stress environment. Training and exercises constitute an opportunity to reduce risk and then the potential damages produced by disasters. Seminars are low-cost activities aimed at putting into practice the planned evacuation procedures. The paper is useful for decision-makers and takers involved in emergency planning procedures who want to increase the effectiveness of preparedness actions implemented before an emergency event.
Deutscher Expertenkonsens zur PD-L1-Testung („programmed cell death ligand 1“) in der perioperativen Systemtherapie des muskelinvasiven Blasenkarzinoms
Authors: Niegisch G. , Bolenz C. , Doehn C. , Gakis G. , Hartmann A. , Müller-Huesmann H. , Reis H. , Roghmann F. , Schwamborn K. , Tiemann K. , Retz M.
Published: August 2024

Das Rezidivrisiko von Patienten mit einem muskelinvasiven Harnblasenkarzinom (MIBC) nach radikaler Zystektomie ist abhängig vom pathologischen Tumorstadium. Ein hohes Risiko weisen insbesondere Patienten mit einer lymphonodalen Metastasierung (pN+), lokal fortgeschrittenem (≥pT3) oder residuellem muskelinvasivem Tumor trotz neoadjuvanter Chemotherapie auf. Aktuell nimmt die Bedeutung einer adjuvanten Therapie mit Immun-Checkpoint-Inhibitoren (ICI) im Rahmen perioperativer systemtherapeutischer Konzepte zu. Die Indikationsstellung bei dem derzeit in der Europäischen Union zugelassenen PD-1-Inhibitor („programmed cell death 1“) Nivolumab erfordert die Expressionsbestimmung des PD-L1 („programmed cell death ligand 1“)-Proteins mittels Immunhistochemie im Tumorgewebe. Mit Fokus auf MIBC-Patienten mit hohem Rezidivrisiko ergeben sich neue Fragen in Bezug auf die Durchführung und Interpretation der PD-L1-Testung. Eine interdisziplinäre Expertengruppe aus Deutschland hat relevante Fragestellungen aus klinisch-pathologischer Sicht diskutiert und praxisnahe Handlungsempfehlungen erarbeitet, die die Implementierung einer validierten und qualitätsgesicherten PD-L1-Testung entlang der zugelassenen Indikationen im klinischen Alltag erleichtern sollen.
Analyzing the effect of infill density on the mechanical compression of ASA in additive manufacturing: a FEM perspective
Authors: Karkalos Nikolaos E. , Rydzoń Kacper , Papazoglou Emmanouil L. , Karmiris-Obratański Panagiotis
Published: August 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM) represents a novel method for parts manufacturing, revolutionizing the design principles and processes. Among the different AM methods, fused filament fabrication (FFF) is one of the most widely employed and affordable, with numerous applications across a broad range of fields. Inherently, due to the fundamental physical mechanisms occurring during part building, the material acquires different properties compared to those of bulk material. Simultaneously, parameters such as the infill pattern and infill density significantly affect the overall behavior of the part. An efficient and effective tool to minimize the necessity for experimental investigations and to define the mechanical properties with respect to these parameters (i.e., infill density and pattern) is the finite element method (FEM). In the current study, accurate FEM models were developed and presented, considering the precise geometry of compression specimens for simulating the compression behavior of FFF-printed ASA polymer. More specifically, honeycomb infill patterns with different infill densities were simulated, and the results were validated by direct comparison to respective experimental results. It was deduced that utilizing an appropriate mesh size leads to higher precision and also increases the stability of the numerical simulation, while the FEM models can predict the loads as well as the deformed geometric shapes for different infill densities. As an overall conclusion, it is proved and reasoned that employing FEM and a proper modeling approach is indeed a feasible and efficient way to predict and define the compressive behavior of FFF parts.
Analysis of abrasive impact wear of the Mn8/SS400 bimetal composite using a newly designed wear testing rig
Authors: Yuan Shengnan , Wu Hui , Xie Haibo , Jia Fanghui , Liang Xiaojun , Zhao Xing , Jiao Sihai , Liu Hongqiang , Sun Li , Cao Hongwei , Jiang Zhengyi
Published: August 2024

In this study, the abrasive impact wear behaviour of a bimetal composite made of medium manganese steels (MMSs) and low carbon steels (LCSs), i.e., the Mn8/SS400 bimetal composite, was investigated using a newly designed wear-testing rig. The need for a new rig arose from the difficulty in replicating real-world wear conditions. Our rig allows for precise control and measurement of wear, simulating harsh environments more accurately than other wear-testing rigs. The bimetal composite Mn8/SS400 demonstrated superior wear resistance, showing an improvement of up to 2.8 times compared to benchmark steels, attributed to its enhanced work hardening sensitivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses were employed to elucidate the wear mechanisms. After 300 h of abrasive impact wear, the subsurface microhardness of Mn8 reached 601.31 HV, significantly higher than that of the matrix hardness of 292.24 HV, indicating a substantial work hardening effect. The wear mechanism of the Mn8/SS400 bimetal composite was found to be a synergistic effect of grain refinement strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and twin strengthening. Initially, twin strengthening was the dominant mechanism up to 200 h of wear testing. However, after 300 h, contributions from all three mechanisms became increasingly significant, enhancing the overall wear resistance of the composite.
Parabolic Boundary Harnack Inequalities with Right-Hand Side
Authors: Torres-Latorre Clara
Published: August 2024

We prove the parabolic boundary Harnack inequality in parabolic flat Lipschitz domains by blow-up techniques, allowing, for the first time, a non-zero right-hand side. Our method allows us to treat solutions to equations driven by non-divergence form operators with bounded measurable coefficients, and a right-hand side $$f \in L^q$$

f
∈

L
q

for $$q > n+2$$

q
>
n
+
2

. In the case of the heat equation, we also show the optimal $$C^{1-\varepsilon }$$

C

1
-
ε

regularity of the quotient. As a corollary, we obtain a new way to prove that flat Lipschitz free boundaries are $$C^{1,\alpha }$$

C

1
,
α

in the parabolic obstacle problem and in the parabolic Signorini problem.
Changes in 3-Dimensional Measurements of Masseter Muscle After Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Facial Asymmetry
Authors: Yang Xiaobin , Piao Zhengguo , Liu Yaoran , Chen Lunqiu , Huang Luo
Published: August 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate morphological and volumetric changes in the masseter muscle using 3-dimensional analysis of facial asymmetry patients and to identify factors influencing these changes before and after orthognathic surgery.

Methods

[Reviewer1 (2)]A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted on twenty-two patients with deviation of the chin > 4 mm. Masseter muscle volume and morphology were measured at different periods during long-term follow-up (mean 15 ± 3.2 months). Factors related to changes in masseter muscle cross-sectional area and volume analyzed were also analyzed.

Results

[Reviewer1 (2) and (9)]The volume and cross-sectional area of the masseter muscle on the non-deviated side reduced by 13.5% (P < 0.05) and 16.4% (P < 0.05), respectively, after orthognathic surgery. The length of the masseter muscle increased by 13.9% on the deviated side (P < .05) but decreased by 11.7% on the non-deviated side (P < 0.05). The width decreased on the deviated side from T1 to T2 (13.51 ± 2.09 mm vs. 12.04 ± 1.39 mm), but the non-deviated side showed an opposite tendency (10.81 ± 1.31 mm vs. 12.69 ± 2.37 mm). The difference in masseter muscle length and width between the two sides significantly reduced after surgery (P < 0.05). There was a noticeable decrease in the asymmetry in the muscle in proportion to the degree of the occlusal plane angle.

Conclusion

Masseter muscle asymmetry exists in patients with facial asymmetry, but it could be improved with maxilla-mandible correction. Atrophy of the masseter muscle after orthognathic surgery was greater in patients with a large inclined occlusal plane angle due to improved dental compensation.

Level of Evidence IV

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How to Measure the Researcher Impact with the Aid of its Impactable Area: A Concrete Approach Using Distance Geometry
Authors: Cappelletti-Montano Beniamino , Cherchi Gianmarco , Manca Benedetto , Montaldo Stefano , Musio Monica
Published: August 2024

Assuming that the subject of each scientific publication can be identified by one or more classification entities, we address the problem of determining a similarity function (distance) between classification entities based on how often two classification entities are used in the same publication. This similarity function is then used to obtain a representation of the classification entities as points of an Euclidean space of a suitable dimension by means of optimization and dimensionality reduction algorithms. This procedure allows us also to represent the researchers as points in the same Euclidean space and to determine the distance between researchers according to their scientific production. As a case study, we consider as classification entities the codes of the American Mathematical Society Classification System.
Optical coherence tomography measurements in Huntington’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gouravani Mahdi , Fekrazad Sepehr , Mafhoumi Asma , Ashouri Moein , DeBuc Delia Cabrera
Published: August 2024

Background

A connection has been established between ocular structural changes and various neurodegenerative diseases. Several studies utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT) have detected signs of ocular structural alterations among individuals with Huntington's disease (HD). The inconsistent results reported in the literature regarding alterations in the retina and choroid encouraged us to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis to accumulate the findings.

Methods

A systematic search was carried out in three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus) to find studies reporting OCT measurements in HD cases compared with healthy controls (HC). A fixed-effects or random-effects meta-analysis was conducted according to the detected heterogeneity level. Furthermore, subgroup and sensitivity analyses, meta-regression, and quality assessment were performed.

Results

Eleven studies were included in the systematic review and 9 studies with a total population of 452 participants (241 cases, and 211 HC) underwent meta-analysis. Results of the analysis denoted that subfoveal choroid had a significantly reduced thickness in HD eyes compared to HC (p < 0.0001). Moreover, our analysis indicated that HD cases had a significantly thinner average (p = 0.0130) and temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) (p = 0.0012) than HC. However, subjects with pre-HD had insignificant differences in average (p = 0.44) and temporal pRNFL thickness (p = 0.33) with the HC group.

Conclusion

Results of the current systematic review and meta-analysis revealed the significant thinning of average and temporal pRNFL and subfoveal choroid in HD compared to HC. However, OCT currently might be considered insensitive to be applied in the pre-HD population at least until further longitudinal investigations considering variables such as the duration between OCT measurement and disease onset validating OCT as a routine diagnostic tool in HD clinics.
Integrating deep learning for accurate gastrointestinal cancer classification: a comprehensive analysis of MSI and MSS patterns using histopathology data
Authors: Wafa Abeer A. , Essa Reham M. , Abohany Amr A. , Abdelkader Hanan E.
Published: August 2024

Early detection of microsatellite instability (MSI) and microsatellite stability (MSS) is crucial in the fight against gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. MSI is a sign of genetic instability often associated with DNA repair mechanism deficiencies, which can cause (GI) cancers. On the other hand, MSS signifies genomic stability in microsatellite regions. Differentiating between these two states is pivotal in clinical decision-making as it provides prognostic and predictive information and treatment strategies. Rapid identification of MSI and MSS enables oncologists to tailor therapies more accurately, potentially saving patients from unnecessary treatments and guiding them toward regimens with the highest likelihood of success. Detecting these microsatellite status markers at an initial stage can improve patient outcomes and quality of life in GI cancer management. Our research paper introduces a cutting-edge method for detecting early GI cancer using deep learning (DL). Our goal is to identify the optimal model for GI cancer detection that surpasses previous works. Our proposed model comprises four stages: data acquisition, image processing, feature extraction, and classification. We use histopathology images from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Kaggle website with some modifications for data acquisition. In the image processing stage, we apply various operations such as color transformation, resizing, normalization, and labeling to prepare the input image for enrollment in our DL models. We present five different DL models, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a hybrid of CNNs-simple RNN (recurrent neural network), a hybrid of CNNs with long short-term memory (LSTM) (CNNs-LSTM), a hybrid of CNNs with gated recurrent unit (GRU) (CNNs-GRU), and a hybrid of CNNs-SimpleRNN-LSTM-GRU. Our empirical results demonstrate that CNNs-SimpleRNN-LSTM-GRU outperforms other models in accuracy, specificity, recall, precision, AUC, and F1, achieving an accuracy of 99.90%. Our proposed methodology offers significant improvements in GI cancer detection compared to recent techniques, highlighting the potential of DL-based approaches for histopathology data. We expect our findings to inspire future research in DL-based GI cancer detection.
Enhancement of Cinnamomum camphora magnetic nanoparticle bioactivities via carboxymethyl cellulose immobilization for potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment
Authors: Abd El-Aziz Salim Mohamed , Faraag Ahmed H. I. , Abdul-Baki Enas A. , Fouda Manar Seleem
Published: August 2024

A promising method for cancer therapy is the coating of magnetic nanoparticles with carboxy methylcellulose. In a research project, hydroalcoholic extract of Cinnamomum camphora leaves was used to demonstrate the production of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs); MNPs were coated with carboxymethyl cellulose to form carboxymethyl cellulose-coated magnetic nanoparticles (CMNPs)were formed. Preliminary phytochemical screening of C. camphora confirmed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, and proteins. Phenolics 280.59 (mg/g), flavonoids 15.46 (mg/g), proteins 1.9 (mg/mL) and total carbohydrates 293.80 (mg/g) were all quantified. To confirm the formation of MNPs and CMNPs, UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used. Peaks were observed at 232 nm and 240 nm, respectively. The largest absorption peaks were observed in MNPs and CMNPs, respectively. The particles were spherical in shape and less than 10 (nm) in diameter. The potential scavenging activity of biosynthesized MNPs and CMNPs was evaluated by the ABTS and DPPH assays, and the inhibition values IC50 were 141.3 ± 3.0 and 61.67 ± 2.5 (µg/mL) for ABTS and 176.1 ± 4.0 and 70.92 ± 3.0 (µg/mL) for DPPH, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the cytotoxicity test results showed that the HCT-116 human colon cancer cell line had the lowest IC50 value of 20 (µg/mL) for CMNP, followed by the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line with an IC50 value of 33 (µg/mL) for CMNP, indicating that the cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells is stronger than on liver cancer cells. Molecular docking studies have revealed that CMNPs target and bind to apoptotic protein, enhancing their bioactivity and cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the induction of apoptosis may be responsible for the anticancer effects of CMNPs.

Graphical abstract
A model proposal explaining the influence of smartphone addiction related factors on high school students’ academic success
Authors: Kutluay Engin , Karaca Feride
Published: August 2024

An exploratory sequential mixed-method study is designed to develop and test a comprehensive model explaining the relationships between factors associated with smartphone addiction and high school students’ academic achievement. Involving two main phases of qualitative and quantitative, focus group discussions with high school students and interviews with teachers were conducted in the first phase, both to decide on the factors and to reveal the relationships between the factors in the model. According to the qualitative results, the most important factors were found as social media usage, cyberloafing, academic procrastination, external and internal academic locus of control. Then, a hypothesis model involving these factors was developed to explain high school students' academic achievement. Obtained from 410 high school students, quantitative data are collected online by the use of some scales measuring the factors included in the model. Using the path analysis method, the hypothesis model was tested, and it was observed that the model fit the data well. As a result, the factors that most influence academic achievement were found as duration of social media usage, external academic locus of control, smartphone addiction, internal academic locus of control, academic procrastination, and cyberloafing respectively. The uniqueness of the presented model in this research is believed to lie in its holistic perspective on the relationships between smartphone addiction and related factors, and their effects on academic achievement. Looking from a big picture, this model is expected to provide a roadmap for practitioners and decision-makers in terms of how to improve students’ academic achievement.
Enhancing learner affective engagement: The impact of instructor emotional expressions and vocal charisma in asynchronous video-based online learning
Authors: Suen Hung-Yue , Hung Kuo-En
Published: August 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and adult learning, asynchronous video-based online learning has not only become the new norm but has also emerged as the cornerstone of instructional delivery for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Despite its widespread adoption, this learning mode confronts a critical challenge: the inherent lack of social presence, posing a significant risk of diminishing learner affective engagement and, consequently, jeopardizing the efficacy of learning outcomes. Addressing this pressing issue, our study conducted a comprehensive analysis of 240 instructional videos from 240 distinct instructors on a MOOC platform, supplemented by 845 post-course learner feedback surveys from a diverse cohort of college students and adult learners. Using deep learning and statistical analysis, the research revealed that the on-screen presence of instructors does not inherently affect students’ affective engagement. The study revealed that learners’ affective engagement is affected by distinct combinations of the instructor’s facial and paraverbal expressions, including happiness, surprise, and anger, which vary depending on whether the instructor is visible. The discovery that vocal attractiveness is a pivotal element in enhancing learners’ affective engagement with instructional videos marks a paradigm shift in our understanding of digital andragogy and heutagogy. This study propels academic discourse by illuminating the critical role of instructor non-verbal cues in establishing social presence and facilitating emotional contagion within asynchronous video-based online learning but also provides educators and content creators with empirically-backed techniques to revolutionize video instruction and amplify affective engagement.