bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Daylight Comfort Performance of a Vertical Fin Shading System: Annual Simulation and Experimental Testing of a Prototype
Authors: Brzezicki Marcin
Published: February 2024

This study aims to develop and evaluate a vertically rotated fin shading system for an energy-efficient, user-friendly office space. The system was designed to protect a 4 × 8 m office room with a south-facing facade from excessive solar radiation and glare. The shading system was modelled and simulated using Rhino/Ladybug 1.6.0 software with Radiance engine, based on real-weather data (*.epw file) for Wrocław, Poland at 51° lat. The simulation calculated the useful daylight illuminance (UDI) for 300–3000 lux and the daylight glare probability (DGP) for ten static and four kinetic variants of the system. The optimal angle of the fin rotation for the static variant was found to be α = 40°. The kinetic variants were activated when the work plane illuminance exceeded 3000 lux, as detected by an internal sensor “A”. The simulation results show that the kinetic system improved the daylight uniformity in the office room, achieving UDI300–3000 values above 80% for more than 40% of the room area. A prototype of the system in a 1:20 scale was built and tested on a testbed at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, using TESTO THL 160 data loggers. The measurements were conducted for a week in early November 2023, and three clear days were selected for analysis. The measurement results indicate that the low solar altitude on clear days causes high illuminance peaks (15–18 Klux) and significant contrast in the room, leading to unsatisfactory DGP values consistent with the simulation outcomes. Therefore, the study concludes that the proposed system may need an additional shading device to prevent glare during periods of low solar altitudes.
Transverse Analysis of Box Girders with Corrugated Steel Webs
Authors: Xu Fen , Cheng Yikai , Wang Kangjian , Zhou Man
Published: February 2024

The utilisation of box girders with corrugated steel webs (CSWs) represents an innovative approach to bridge superstructure design that has garnered substantial popularity worldwide, with a notable prevalence in both Asia and Europe. Compared with traditional box girders, they avoid web cracking, improving the prestressing efficiency and bridge spanning ability. As an innovative box girder, a corrugated web can increase the cantilever length and transverse stiffness, and at the same time, it reduces the dead weight of the bridge deck. However, little research has been conducted on the mechanical properties of this novel spine-like box girder with CSWs, especially its transverse performance, although it has been used in many applications. In this paper, the effect of the web form on the behaviour of box girders is introduced. Therefore, three representative three-dimensional (3D) finite-element models (i.e., corrugated web box girder, flat web box girder, and ordinary equivalent concrete web box girder) have been established to quantitatively investigate the influence of corrugated web stiffness on transverse stress under the action of gravity and vehicle loads. Generally, significant differences in the mechanical performance of box girders with CSWs have been observed compared with conventional box girders with concrete webs. Additionally, parametric studies to investigate the influences of the corrugation dimensions (in term of the corrugation height, web thickness, panel width, web height and elastic modulus) on the transverse stiffness of such bridges are analyzed. The results show that a new stiffness formula can be put forward to consider the effect of web height, and a high-strength steel web needs to be developed urgently for box girders with CSWs in the near future. Overall, the results of this investigation can be used as a reference for transverse designing and segmental construction of similar projects.
Bridge Construction Risk Assessment Based on Variable Weight Theory and Cloud Model
Authors: Yao Bo , Wang Lianguang , Gao Haiyang , Ren Lijie
Published: February 2024

In order to effectively prevent the occurrence of risky accidents during bridge construction, this study proposes a bridge construction risk assessment method based on variable weight theory and the cloud model theory. Firstly, the fishbone diagram was used to identify risk factors in constructing a bridge construction risk index system. Secondly, according to the cloud model theory, the comment cloud model of each risk index was established by using the forward cloud generator. Finally, the risk factor weights were quantified according to the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP). Combined with the variable weight theory, a zoning variable weight function was constructed and the weights were reallocated. Through the mutual aggregation of the comment cloud model and weights, the risk level of construction bridges was obtained. The method takes full account of the fuzziness and randomness existing in the evaluation process, optimizes the distribution of weight values of indicators, and uses Delphi iteration to effectively eliminate the subjective defects of individuals. A construction bridge in Changchun was used as an example for risk assessment, and the advance of the method was well verified. The results demonstrate that the method is highly feasible and effective after accuracy verification and sensitivity analysis.
Robust Building Identification from Street Views Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Roussel Robin , Jacoby Sam , Asadipour Ali
Published: February 2024

Street view imagery (SVI) is a rich source of information for architectural and urban analysis using computer vision techniques, but its integration with other building-level data sources requires an additional step of visual building identification. This step is particularly challenging in architecturally homogeneous, dense residential streets featuring narrow buildings, due to a combination of SVI geolocation errors and occlusions that significantly increase the risk of confusing a building with its neighboring buildings. This paper introduces a robust deep learning-based method to identify buildings across multiple street views taken at different angles and times, using global optimization to correct the position and orientation of street view panoramas relative to their surrounding building footprints. Evaluating the method on a dataset of 2000 street views shows that its identification accuracy (88%) outperforms previous deep learning-based methods (79%), while methods solely relying on geometric parameters correctly show the intended building less than 50% of the time. These results indicate that previous identification methods lack robustness to panorama pose errors when buildings are narrow, densely packed, and subject to occlusions, while collecting multiple views per building can be leveraged to increase the robustness of visual identification by ensuring that building views are consistent.
Perioperative Chemotherapy Including Bevacizumab in Potentially Curable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Long-Term Follow-Up of the ASSO-LM1 Trial
Authors: Dong Yawen , Santol Jonas , Gruenberger Birgit , Lenauer Alfred , Laengle Friedrich , Thaler Josef , Piringer Gudrun , Eisterer Wolfgang , Djanani Angela , Stift Judith , Gruenberger Thomas
Published: February 2024

In 2007, the ASSO-LM1 trial, a multicenter prospective study, was initiated to investigate the resectability (R0) rate following preoperative combination therapy with XELOX and bevacizumab in patients with potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases. Six cycles of systemic therapy were administered preoperatively, although the sixth cycle did not include bevacizumab, resulting in 5 weeks between the last bevacizumab dose and surgery. Treatment with bevacizumab plus XELOX was restarted for another six cycles postoperatively. In total, 43 patients were enrolled in the ASSO-LM1 trial. Eight patients were ineligible for resection due to protocol violation and progression in two patients. The resectability of operated patients was 97% with 34 R0 resections and one R1 resection. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 22% of patients, of which three operative revisions were related to the primary tumor resection. Efficacy results for response in 38 eligible patients confirmed an ORR of 66%, 31% SD and 3% PD according to RECIST. Preoperative grade 3/4 adverse events were 17% diarrhea, 5% HFS and 5% thromboembolic events. Overall survival significantly differed depending upon the fulfillment of adjuvant treatment in curative resected patients (59.1 mo vs. 30.8 mo). In conclusion, the ASSO-LM1 trial is a hypothesis-generating study confirming the prognostic benefits of perioperative therapy with XELOX and bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer confined to the liver.
Integrating Artificial Intelligence for Advancing Multiple-Cancer Early Detection via Serum Biomarkers: A Narrative Review
Authors: Wang Hsin-Yao , Lin Wan-Ying , Zhou Chenfei , Yang Zih-Ang , Kalpana Sriram , Lebowitz Michael S.
Published: February 2024

The concept and policies of multicancer early detection (MCED) have gained significant attention from governments worldwide in recent years. In the era of burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the integration of MCED with AI has become a prevailing trend, giving rise to a plethora of MCED AI products. However, due to the heterogeneity of both the detection targets and the AI technologies, the overall diversity of MCED AI products remains considerable. The types of detection targets encompass protein biomarkers, cell-free DNA, or combinations of these biomarkers. In the development of AI models, different model training approaches are employed, including datasets of case-control studies or real-world cancer screening datasets. Various validation techniques, such as cross-validation, location-wise validation, and time-wise validation, are used. All of the factors show significant impacts on the predictive efficacy of MCED AIs. After the completion of AI model development, deploying the MCED AIs in clinical practice presents numerous challenges, including presenting the predictive reports, identifying the potential locations and types of tumors, and addressing cancer-related information, such as clinical follow-up and treatment. This study reviews several mature MCED AI products currently available in the market, detecting their composing factors from serum biomarker detection, MCED AI training/validation, and the clinical application. This review illuminates the challenges encountered by existing MCED AI products across these stages, offering insights into the continued development and obstacles within the field of MCED AI.
Development and Optimisation of Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields) Delivery within 3D Primary Glioma Stem Cell-like Models of Spatial Heterogeneity
Authors: Jones Callum G. , Vanderlinden Aurelie , Rominiyi Ola , Collis Spencer J.
Published: February 2024

Glioblastoma is an aggressive, incurable brain cancer with poor five-year survival rates of around 13% despite multimodal treatment with surgery, DNA-damaging chemoradiotherapy and the recent addition of Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields). As such, there is an urgent need to improve our current understanding of cellular responses to TTFields using more clinically and surgically relevant models, which reflect the profound spatial heterogeneity within glioblastoma, and leverage these biological insights to inform the rational design of more effective therapeutic strategies incorporating TTFields. We have recently reported the use of preclinical TTFields using the inovitroTM system within 2D glioma stem-like cell (GSC) models and demonstrated significant cytotoxicity enhancement when co-applied with a range of therapeutically approved and preclinical DNA damage response inhibitors (DDRi) and chemoradiotherapy. Here we report the development and optimisation of preclinical TTFields delivery within more clinically relevant 3D scaffold-based primary GSC models of spatial heterogeneity, and highlight some initial enhancement of TTFields potency with temozolomide and clinically approved PARP inhibitors (PARPi). These studies, therefore, represent an important platform for further preclinical assessment of TTFields-based therapeutic strategies within clinically relevant 3D GSC models, aimed towards accelerating clinical trial implementation and the ultimate goal of improving the persistently dire survival rates for these patients.
Mortality from Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer in Australia from 1971 to 2021
Authors: Czarnecki D.
Published: February 2024

The number of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) removed from Australians is increasing every year. The number of deaths from NMSC is increasing but so is the population. However, the population has greatly changed with many dark-skinned people migrating to Australia. These people are at low risk for skin cancer even if they live all their lives in Australia. The susceptible population is the rest of the population. The death rate from NMSC for the entire population and susceptible populations since 1971 is examined in this article. Materials and methods: Data on the Australian population were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Every five years a census is held in Australia and detailed information of the population is provided. The ABS also provided yearly data on the causes of death in Australia. Results: The total population increased from 12,755,638 in 1971 to 25,738,140 in 2021. However, the susceptible population increased by far less, from 12,493,780 to 19,773,783. The number of deaths from NMSC increased from 143 to 765. The crude death rate for the susceptible population increased from 1.1 per 100,000 to 3.9 per 100,000. The crude death rate in the susceptible population aged 65 or more increased from 9.4 to 18.2 per 100,000. Conclusion: Deaths from NMSC are increasing despite public health campaigns to prevent skin cancer. According to current trends, NMSC will cause more deaths than melanoma in Australia.
Implications in Cancer of Nuclear Micro RNAs, Long Non-Coding RNAs, and Circular RNAs Bound by PRC2 and FUS
Authors: Swaminathan Guruprasadh , Rogel-Ayala Diana G. , Armich Amine , Barreto Guillermo
Published: February 2024

The eukaryotic genome is mainly transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including different RNA biotypes, such as micro RNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), among others. Although miRNAs are assumed to act primarily in the cytosol, mature miRNAs have been reported and functionally characterized in the nuclei of different cells. Further, lncRNAs are important regulators of different biological processes in the cell nucleus as part of different ribonucleoprotein complexes. CircRNAs constitute a relatively less-characterized RNA biotype that has a circular structure as result of a back-splicing process. However, circRNAs have recently attracted attention in different scientific fields due to their involvement in various biological processes and pathologies. In this review, we will summarize recent studies that link to cancer miRNAs that have been functionally characterized in the cell nucleus, as well as lncRNAs and circRNAs that are bound by core components of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) or the protein fused in sarcoma (FUS), highlighting mechanistic aspects and their diagnostic and therapeutic potential.
Temperature-Dependent Elastic Properties of B4C from First-Principles Calculations and Phonon Modeling
Authors: Sheikhi Sara , Stroberg Wylie , Hogan James D.
Published: February 2024

Boron carbide plays a crucial role in various extreme environment applications, including thermal barrier coatings, aerospace applications, and neutron absorbers, because of its high thermal and chemical stability. In this study, the temperature-dependent elastic stiffness constants, thermal expansion coefficient, Helmholtz free energy, entropy, and heat capacity at a constant volume (Cv) of rhombohedral B4C have been predicted using a quasi-harmonic approach. A combination of volume-dependent first-principles calculations (density functional theory) and first-principles phonon calculations in the supercell framework has been performed. Good agreement between the elastic constants and structural parameters from static calculations is observed. The calculated thermodynamic properties from phonon calculations show trends that align with the literature. As the temperature rises, the predicted free energy follows a decreasing trend, while entropy and Cv follow increasing trends with temperature. Comparisons between the predicted room temperature thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) (7.54×10−6 K−1) and bulk modulus (228 GPa) from the quasi-harmonic approach and literature results from experiments and models are performed, revealing that the calculated TEC and bulk modulus fall within the established range from the limited set of data from the literature (TEC = 5.73–9.50 ×10−6 K−1, B = 221–246 GPa). Temperature-dependent Cijs are predicted, enabling stress analysis at elevated temperatures. Overall, the outcomes of this study can be used when performing mechanical and thermal stress analysis (e.g., space shielding applications) and optimizing the design of boron carbide materials for elevated temperature applications.
Methylene Blue Removal by Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Obtained from Green Synthesis of Melia azedarach: Kinetic and Isotherm Studies
Authors: Essa Wafa K.
Published: February 2024

In this study, Melia azedarach fruit extract was used as a reducing agent and copper chloride dihydrate (CuCl2·2H2O) was used as a precursor in the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). The UV–visible spectrum showed a characteristic absorption peak of CuO NPs at 350 nm. The surface properties of the adsorbent were analyzed through various techniques, indicating the successful formation of CuO NPs. The impacts of several factors, including initial pH (4 to 8), a dose of CuO NPs adsorbent (0.01–0.05 g), dye initial concentration (10–50 mg·L−1), and contact times ranging from 5 to 120 min, were examined in batch adsorption studies. Based on the experimental results, the Langmuir isotherm is well-fitted, indicating MB dye monolayer capping on the CuO NPs surface with 26.738 mg·g−1 as a maximum adsorption capacity Qm value. For the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, the experimental and calculated adsorption capacity values (qe) exhibited good agreement.
Plastoquinone-Derivative SkQ1 Improved the Biliary Intraepithelial Neoplasia during Liver Fluke Infection
Authors: Zaparina Oxana , Kovner Anna , Petrova Viktoria , Kolosova Nataliya , Mordvinov Viatcheslav , Pakharukova Maria
Published: February 2024

Carcinogenic food-borne liver fluke infections are a serious epidemiological threat worldwide. The major complications of Opisthorchis felineus infection are chronic inflammation and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia. Although evidence has accumulated that increased reactive oxygen species production is observed in liver fluke infection, a direct relationship between the oxidative stress and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia has not been shown. Quinones and SkQ1, a derivative of plastoquinone, have been demonstrated to be cytoprotective in numerous liver injuries due to their potent antioxidant properties. This study is aimed to assess the level of biliary intraepithelial neoplasia in O. felineus-infected hamsters after treatment with mitochondria-targeted SkQ1. SkQ1 significantly reduced the biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, which was accompanied by a decrease in lipid and DNA oxidation byproducts, mRNA expression and level of proteins associated with inflammation (TNF-α, CD68) and fibrogenesis (CK7, αSMA), and was also associated with an activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Thus, a direct relationship was found between oxidative stress and the severity of biliary intraepithelial neoplasia in O. felineus-infected hamsters. The hepatoprotective effect of plastoquinone-derivative SkQ1 was established; therefore, this compound is a promising agent in complex therapy in the treatment of opisthorchiasis.
Nanomaterials for Anti-Infection in Orthopedic Implants: A Review
Authors: Sui Junhao , Hou Yijin , Chen Mengchen , Zheng Zhong , Meng Xiangyu , Liu Lu , Huo Shicheng , Liu Shu , Zhang Hao
Published: February 2024

Postoperative implant infection is a severe complication in orthopedic surgery, often leading to implant failure. Current treatment strategies mainly rely on systemic antibiotic therapies, despite contributing to increasing bacterial resistance. In recent years, nanomaterials have gained attention for their potential in anti-infection methods. They exhibit more substantial bactericidal effects and lower drug resistance than conventional antimicrobial agents. Nanomaterials also possess multiple bactericidal mechanisms, such as physico-mechanical interactions. Additionally, they can serve as carriers for localized antimicrobial delivery. This review explores recent applications of nanomaterials with different morphologies in post-orthopedic surgery infections and categorizes their bactericidal mechanisms.
What Is the Role of Public History and Environmental Oral History in Supporting Conservation through Agroecology?
Authors: Nimmo Evelyn , Laverdi Robson , de Carvalho Alessandra
Published: February 2024

Indigenous peoples and local communities are key actors in the preservation of important biodiversity resources around the world. However, the ever-encroaching agricultural frontier and expansion of conventional agricultural practices threaten these communities, their autonomy over the land, and the traditional knowledge and practices associated with biodiverse ecosystems. Agroecology emerges as an important solution to support the continuation of agrobiodiversity, food security, and environmental conservation, but top-down solutions often do not resonate with the lived realities of traditional, Indigenous, and small-scale farming communities. This paper examines a collaborative research and narrative network developed over the past several years around traditional erva-mate agroforestry production in Southern Paraná, Brazil. It offers an example of how oral environmental history and public history can support conservation practices through agroecology. The key outcomes of this interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional research and engagement were the development of a candidacy for the system to be recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the implementation of a Dynamic Conservation Action Plan to address the threats and challenges farmers and communities are facing. The discussion explores two concepts that were integral to these processes, the creation of narrative networks and a focus on plurivocity. Both approaches ensured that the actions, knowledge, and narratives developed through the GIAHS candidacy were not imposed but agreed upon and generative through narrative and dialogue, remaining true to the realities and lived experiences of community members.
A Platform for Determining Medicinal Plants with Targeted 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Modulation for Possible Hair Loss Prevention
Authors: Park Suhyeon , Kaushik Neha , Lee Geunjeong , Sohn Youngju , Hong Hyehyun , Shrestha Krishna K. , An Ren-Bo , Park Young Kum , Chang Ihseop , Kim June-Hyun
Published: February 2024

Although hair loss plays a vital physiological function in present society, their impact on shaping self-esteem is undeniable. Even though there are numerous synthetic drugs available, these days, there are issues with safety, efficiency, and unclear time settings for required outcomes with the current synthetic drug remedies available; therefore, there is growing attention to discovering alternative methods to fight hair loss, primarily through plant-derived formulations. While earlier reports mostly focused on screening compounds or plant extracts affecting 5α-reductase, our research takes a unique direction. We employed a biochemical and molecular biological approach by delving into the complicated biosynthetic pathways involving 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in producing testosterone derived from cholesterol. This process conceded requiring experimental results, posing insights into the control of the testosterone/dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production pathway. Our study confirms a discovery platform for finding potential candidates as hair loss inhibitors, highlighting exploring various biochemical mechanisms involving 17β-HSD and 3β-HSD in combination with medicinal plant extracts.
Prevalence and Levels of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in the Eswatini Population and Subsequent Severity of the Fourth COVID-19 Epidemic Wave
Authors: Mutevedzi Portia C. , Lokotfwako Vusie , Kwatra Gaurav , Maphalala Gugu , Baillie Vicky , Dlamini Lindiwe , Dlamini Senzokuhle , Mhlanga Fortune , Dlamini Tenelisiwe , Nhlabatsi Nhlanhla , Nunes Marta C. , Zwane Simon , Madhi Shabir A.
Published: February 2024

Background: Seroepidemiology studies are useful for quantifying the magnitude of past infections and estimating the extent of population-based immunity to inform risk mitigation strategies for the future. We report on the only national population-based survey of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroprevalence in Eswatini. Methods: The survey was undertaken from 31 August to 30 September 2021, following three earlier waves of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and preceded the onset of the fourth wave, which was dominated by the Omicron variant of concern. We also report on epidemiological trends of recorded COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations before and after the fourth COVID-19 wave through to March 2022. We evaluated the immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity based on either anti-nucleocapsid (N) or anti-spike (S) antigens. Results: Of 4564 individuals, 58.5% were female, 36.0% were aged 18–50 years, and 863 (18.9%) of adults who were older than 18 years had received at least a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, 2769 (60.7%) were seropositive with heterogeneity across sub-regions (53.7%; 95% CI:49.2–58.1 to 68.6%; 95% CI:64.5–72.4), with the highest rates occurring in sub-regions of the Manzini region. Seropositivity was higher in vaccinated individuals (84.5%; 95% CI: 81.9–86.7) compared to unvaccinated individuals (55.1%; 95% CI:53.5–56.7). Amongst unvaccinated individuals, seropositivity was highest in 18–50-year-olds (59.5%;95% CI: 56.9–62.1). Seropositivity was associated with female gender, previous positive SARS-CoV-2 NAAT status and being vaccinated, non-smoking, and being formally employed. We estimated as of 15 September 2021 that there had been 639,475 SARS-CoV-2 infections (95% CI; 620,824–658,003) in Eswatini, which was 25.5-fold greater than the 25,048 COVID-19 cases that had been recorded by then. The national case fatality rate (CFR) based on recorded cases was 4.8%, being 25-fold greater than the infection fatality rate (0.19; 95% CI: 0.18–0.19) based on recorded deaths and extrapolating the force of infection from seroprevalence. Nationally and across all four regions, we report the decoupling of COVID-19 cases from hospitalisations and deaths, observed as early as during the third wave, which was dominated by the Delta variant compared with earlier waves. Conclusions: We identified that 60.7% of people in Eswatini had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 at least once and before the onset of the Omicron wave in mid-November 2021. Despite a modest uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, the evolution of population immunity from infection has likely contributed to the decoupling of infection and severe COVID-19 in Eswatini.
Comparative Growth of Elephant Ear Taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza) and Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii) in Hawai‘i
Authors: Kularatna Thathmini D. , Arancon Norman Q. , Eiben Jesse A.
Published: February 2024

Alocasia macrorrhiza and Cyrtosperma merkusii are root crops in the family Araceae that have the potential to be grown as fodder plants in Hawai‘i. This research focused on growing C. merkusii and two varieties (Laufola and Faitama) of A. macrorrhiza to evaluate their growth and yield. A randomized complete block design was used to set up two growth trials in 2018 and 2019. Varieties were grown in pots in the first trial and directly on the ground in the second trial. Plant growth was measured weekly by the plant height and leaf area of the main plants. The weights of the leaf blades, petioles, and stems were taken as the yield. Lateral plants and their weights were also measured. The yield data at harvest were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA in PROC GLM, and means were separated using a Post-hoc test, Least Significant Difference, at 5%. The influence of plant height, leaf area, number of leaves produced by main plants, number of lateral plants, and their total weight on yield were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The growth and yield of plants in the second trial were generally superior to those in the first trial, in which the Laufola variety had the highest growth increase in height and leaf area, followed by Faitama. Those varieties of A. macrorrhiza also had the highest yields. The Laufola variety had the greatest average yield, in kg/ha estimates of the stem (54,896 kg/ha), petiole (99,647 kg/ha), and leaf blades (25,563 kg/ha). Plant height, leaf area, and the number of leaves produced by the main plants had a strong positive influence on the yields. Laufola and Faitama varieties have better potential to be grown in Hilo, Hawai‘i.
Dielectric Terahertz Characterization of Microwave Substrates and Dry Resist
Authors: Tofani Silvia , Ritacco Tiziana , Maiolo Luca , Maita Francesco , Beccherelli Romeo , Fuscaldo Walter , Zografopoulos Dimitrios C.
Published: February 2024

Microwave fabrication and design techniques are commonly employed in the terahertz (THz) domain. However, a characterization of commercially available microwave dielectric materials is usually lacking at sub-THz and THz frequencies. In this work, we characterized four substrates by Rogers and an Ordyl dry resist between 0.2 and 2 THz, in terms of relative permittivity and loss tangent. The reflectance spectra of the investigated materials were retrieved by means of THz time-domain spectroscopy in reflection mode and post-processed according to a transmission-line model in which the materials’ parameters are fit by means of the Havriliak–Negami variation of the Debye model. The relative permittivity of the investigated materials showed negligible frequency dispersion in the sub-THz and in the THz range. In terms of the loss tangent, the Rogers substrates revealed a more pronounced frequency-dispersive behavior among different materials, as dictated by the Havriliak–Negami model. The Ordyl resist was dispersive in the 0.2–1.2 THz range and presented a nearly constant loss tangent value between 1.2 and 2 THz. These results may represent a reference for the development of innovative components for THz and sub-THz emerging applications.
Lung Cancer Prevalence in Virginia: A Spatial Zipcode-Level Analysis via INLA
Authors: Sahoo Indranil , Zhao Jinlei , Deng Xiaoyan , Cockburn Myles Gordon , Tossas Kathy , Winn Robert , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar
Published: February 2024

Background: Examining lung cancer (LC) cases in Virginia (VA) is essential due to its significant public health implications. By studying demographic, environmental, and socioeconomic variables, this paper aims to provide insights into the underlying drivers of LC prevalence in the state adjusted for spatial associations at the zipcode level. Methods: We model the available VA zipcode-level LC counts via (spatial) Poisson and negative binomial regression models, taking into account missing covariate data, zipcode-level spatial association and allow for overdispersion. Under latent Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF) assumptions, our Bayesian hierarchical model powered by Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) considers simultaneous (spatial) imputation of all missing covariates through elegant prediction. The spatial random effect across zip codes follows a Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) prior. Results: Zip codes with elevated smoking indices demonstrated a corresponding increase in LC counts, underscoring the well-established connection between smoking and LC. Additionally, we observed a notable correlation between higher Social Deprivation Index (SDI) scores and increased LC counts, aligning with the prevalent pattern of heightened LC prevalence in regions characterized by lower income and education levels. On the demographic level, our findings indicated higher LC counts in zip codes with larger White and Black populations (with Whites having higher prevalence than Blacks), lower counts in zip codes with higher Hispanic populations (compared to non-Hispanics), and higher prevalence among women compared to men. Furthermore, zip codes with a larger population of elderly people (age ≥ 65 years) exhibited higher LC prevalence, consistent with established national patterns. Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis contributes to our understanding of the complex interplay of demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing LC disparities in VA at the zip code level, providing valuable information for targeted public health interventions and resource allocation. Implementation code is available at GitHub.
Isolation and Characterization of Antimicrobial Constituent(s) from the Stem of Cissus populnea Guill. & Perr.
Authors: Alex-Asaolu Anita , Uba Ahmad , Birnin-Yauri Umar Abubakar , Yusuf Amina Jega
Published: February 2024

Cissus populnea Guill. & Perr. (Vitaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat microbial infections, venereal diseases and infertility, among others. The aim of this research is to isolate and characterize the antimicrobial constituent(s) from the stem of C. populnea. The n-butanol fraction of C. populnea, being most active, was subjected to silica gel column chromatography, which led to the isolation of white solid and white crystalline substances coded compounds C1 and C4C5, respectively. Spectral analysis (1D and 2D-NMR) of the isolated compounds and comparison with the literature data indicated C1 to be Bis-(2-ethyloctyl)-phthalate and C4C5 to be a mixture of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; C4C5 exhibited a zone of inhibition ranging from 24 to 29 mm against the test organisms with Candida albicans being the most sensitive organism while Trichophyton rubrum was the least sensitive organism. Of the standard drugs, ciprofloxacin had 27–37 mm while fluconazole and fulcin exhibited zones of inhibition ranging from 34 mm to 29–32 mm, respectively. The MIC and MBC/MFC values for C4C5 ranges from 12.5 to 25.0 µg/cm3 and 25.0 to 50.0 µg/cm3 against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus. aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophyte, respectively. In conclusion, Bis-(-(2-ethyloctyl)-phthalate) and a mixture of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were identified for the first time from the stem of C. populnea.
Hypermethylation Loci of ZNF671, IRF8, and OTX1 as Potential Urine-Based Predictive Biomarkers for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Jiang Yuan-Hong , Liu Yu-Shu , Wei Yu-Chung , Jhang Jia-Fong , Kuo Hann-Chorng , Huang Hsin-Hui , Chan Michael W. Y. , Lin Guan-Ling , Cheng Wen-Chi , Lin Shu-Chuan , Wang Hung-Jung
Published: February 2024

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a significant health issue and poses a healthcare burden on patients, highlighting the importance of an effective detection method. Here, we developed a urine DNA methylation diagnostic panel for distinguishing between BCa and non-BCa. In the discovery stage, an analysis of the TCGA database was conducted to identify BCa-specific DNA hypermethylation markers. In the validation phase, DNA methylation levels of urine samples were measured with real-time quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). Comparative analysis of the methylation levels between BCa and non-BCa, along with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses with machine learning algorithms (logistic regression and decision tree methods) were conducted to develop practical diagnostic panels. The performance evaluation of the panel shows that the individual biomarkers of ZNF671, OTX1, and IRF8 achieved AUCs of 0.86, 0.82, and 0.81, respectively, while the combined yielded an AUC of 0.91. The diagnostic panel using the decision tree algorithm attained an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 82.6%, 75.0%, and 90.9%, respectively. Our results show that the urine-based DNA methylation diagnostic panel provides a sensitive and specific method for detecting and stratifying BCa, showing promise as a standard test that could enhance the diagnosis and prognosis of BCa in clinical settings.
NUF2 Expression in Cancer Tissues and Lymph Nodes Suggests Post-Surgery Recurrence of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Shirakami Chika , Ikeda Koei , Hinokuma Hironori , Nishi Wataru , Shinchi Yusuke , Matsubara Eri , Osumi Hironobu , Fujino Kosuke , Suzuki Makoto
Published: February 2024

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, detecting potential lymph node metastases is essential to determine the indications for sublobar resection or adjuvant therapy. NUF2 is a tumor-specific antigen that is highly expressed in lung cancer tissues. However, the significance of analyzing NUF2 expression in dissected lymph nodes has not yet been studied. Thus, we investigated the association between NUF2 expression in lung cancer tissues and dissected lymph nodes and early recurrence of NSCLC to determine its usefulness as a marker of lymph node micrometastasis. This retrospective study quantified NUF2 expression in the cancer tissues of 88 patients with NSCLC who underwent complete resection using real-time polymerase chain reaction and investigated its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis. We also quantified NUF2 RNA expression in mediastinal lymph nodes from 255 patients with pN0 NSCLC who underwent complete resection with lymph node dissection and analyzed its association with prognosis. NUF2 expression in primary tumors was correlated with lymph node metastasis and unfavorable outcomes in terms of poor recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival. In N0 NSCLC cases, high NUF2 expression in mediastinal lymph nodes indicated poor prognosis, especially in lymph node recurrence. NUF2 emerges as a promising marker for predicting lymph node metastatic recurrence, offering potential utility in guiding post-surgical adjuvant therapy for lung cancer or assisting in intraoperative decisions for sublobar resection.
T Cell Immunity in Human Papillomavirus-Related Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma—A Systematic Review
Authors: Tay Shi Huan , Oh Choon Chiat
Published: February 2024

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is an invasive malignancy that disproportionately afflicts immunosuppressed individuals. The close associations of cSCC with immunosuppression and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection beget the question of how these three entities are intertwined in carcinogenesis. By exploring the role of T cell immunity in HPV-related cSCC based on the existing literature, we found that the loss of T cell immunity in the background of β-HPV infection promotes cSCC initiation following exposure to environmental carcinogens or chronic trauma. This highlights the potential of developing T-cell centred therapeutic and preventive strategies for populations with increased cSCC risk.
Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma Combined with Other Pharmaceutical Agents for Treatment of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Franchini Massimo , Focosi Daniele , Cruciani Mario , Joyner Michael J. , Pirofski Liise-anne , Senefeld Jonathon W. , Shoham Shmuel , Sullivan David J. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: February 2024

Plasma collected from people recovered from COVID-19 (COVID-19 convalescent plasma, CCP) was the first antibody-based therapy employed to fight the pandemic. CCP was, however, often employed in combination with other drugs, such as the antiviral remdesivir and glucocorticoids. The possible effect of such interaction has never been investigated systematically. To assess the safety and efficacy of CCP combined with other agents for treatment of patients hospitalized for COVID-19, a systematic literature search using appropriate Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms was performed through PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane central, medRxiv and bioRxiv. The main outcomes considered were mortality and safety of CCP combined with other treatments versus CCP alone. This review was carried out in accordance with Cochrane methodology including risk of bias assessment and grading of the quality of evidence. Measure of treatment effect was the risk ratio (RR) together with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 11 studies (8 randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and 3 observational) were included in the systematic review, 4 studies with CCP combined with remdesivir and 6 studies with CCP combined with corticosteroids, all involving hospitalized patients. One RCT reported information on both remdesivir and steroids use with CCP. The use of CCP combined with remdesivir was associated with a significantly reduced risk of death (RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.56–0.97; p = 0.03; moderate certainty of evidence), while the use of steroids with CCP did not modify the mortality risk (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.34–1.51; p = 0.38; very low certainty of evidence). Not enough safety data were retrieved form the systematic literature analysis. The current evidence from the literature suggests a potential beneficial effect on mortality of combined CCP plus remdesivir compared to CCP alone in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. No significant clinical interaction was found between CCP and steroids.
Word Length in Political Public Speaking: Distribution and Time Evolution
Authors: Tsizhmovska Natalia L. , Martyushev Leonid M.
Published: February 2024

In this paper, word length in the texts of public speeches by USA and UK politicians is analyzed. More than 300 speeches delivered over the past two hundred years were studied. It is found that the lognormal distribution better describes the distribution of word length than do the Weibull and Poisson distributions, for example. It is shown that the length of words does not change significantly over time (the average value either does not change or slightly decreases, and the mode slightly increases). These results are fundamentally different from those obtained previously for sentence lengths and indicate that, in terms of quantitative linguistic analysis, the word length in politicians’ speech has not evolved over the last 200 years and does not obey the principle of least effort proposed by G. Zipf.
Wireless-Channel Key Distribution Based on Laser Synchronization
Authors: Xu Junpei , Wang Anbang , Zhang Xinhui , Mo Laihong , Zhang Yuhe , Sun Yuehui , Qin Yuwen , Wang Yuncai
Published: February 2024

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a wireless-channel key distribution scheme based on laser synchronization induced by a common wireless random signal. Two semiconductor lasers are synchronized under injection of the drive signal after electrical-optical conversion and emit irregular outputs that are used to generate shared keys. Our proof-of-concept experiment using a complex drive signal achieved a secure key generation rate of up to 150 Mbit/s with a bit error rate below 3.8 × 10−3. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed scheme has the potential to achieve a distribution distance of several hundred meters. It is believed that common-signal-induced laser synchronization paves the way for high-speed wireless physical-layer key distribution.
Citrus Aphids in Algarve Region (Portugal): Species, Hosts, and Biological Control
Authors: Paiva Paulo Eduardo Branco , Neto Luís Mascarenhas , Marques Natália Tomás , Duarte Beatriz Zarcos , Duarte Amílcar Marreiros
Published: February 2024

Aphids affect citrus by causing leaf deformations and reducing fruit production. Additionally, aphids are a great concern due to their ability to transmit Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), the cause of tristeza, one of the main citrus diseases. In the last four years, citrus orchards in the south of Portugal (Algarve region) were sampled for aphid species identification and counting. Aphis spiraecola was the most abundant species, representing more than 80% of all identified aphids, and the damage (leaf deformation) it causes was directly proportional to its density. A. gossypii was the second most common species, followed by A. aurantii and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. The number of aphids in nymph stages was predominant over the adult stages (both wingless and winged) in all species. A. citricidus, the most efficient CTV vector, was not detected. The largest populations of A. spiraecola were observed in lemon and orange trees during spring (>100 individuals per shoot), with great damage observed in orange, lemon, and mandarin trees. A. gossypii was observed mainly in mandarin and tangor trees. There was a low activity of natural biological control agents, with the parasitism of A. spiraecola by Lysiphlebus spp. and Binodoxys spp. ranging from 0.3 to 1.5%. The numerical ratio ranged from 150 to 440 aphids per predator, and among these, syrphids were the most abundant, followed by lacewings and coccinellids (Scymnus).
“Wholeness Is No Trifling Matter”: Toward an Epistemology of Care, Touch, and Celebration in Education
Authors: Okello Wilson K. , Savage Shawn S.
Published: February 2024

The authors argue that embracing life necessitates a shift in how we conceptualize wellness in education. They delve into the exploration of humanizing wellness and living well by drawing on Black onto-epistemologies, specifically referencing Bambara’s The Salt Eaters. This exploration involves examining how notions of wholeness manifest in the text and the subsequent implications for educators and scholars actively involved in anti-equity efforts. The authors elucidate both the possibilities and challenges related to care, touch, and celebration. In particular, they employ the concept of Black refusal to investigate how these elements can propel a critical departure from conventional ideas of wellness in the United States, paving the way for alternative modes of existence which prioritize wholeness. To achieve this, the authors present an exploration of the literature on whiteness, epistemology, and the destructive impact of anti-Blackness. The authors then introduce Black refusal as a theoretical framework, which functions as the frame guiding their methods. Examining personal reflective instances of engagement with the present political landscape, analyzing Bambara’s The Salt Eaters, and maintaining refusal as a central theoretical framework, the authors detail an epistemology of wholeness centered on care, touch, and celebration.