bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on Chemical Deashing of Coal from Bulupodo Area Sinjai Regency of South Sulawesi Province Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Wahyuni  , Widodo S , Sufriadin
Published: January 2023

Bulupodo coal has a fairly high ash content and low total sulphur. The main objective of this research is to reduce the ash content in Bulupodo coal. The methods used was chemical washing of coal using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with washing variables such as time (30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, and 180 minutes), H2O2 concentration (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), temperature (45°C, 60°C, and 80°C) and particle sizes (16 mesh, 40 mesh, and 70 mesh). The results of the quality analysis show that Bulupodo coal has a moisture of 6.37%; ash 53.3%; volatile matter 26.79%; fixed carbon 14.45%; and a total sulfur of 0.53%. Hence, mineral matter analysis using microscopic and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) show that Bulupodo coal contains kaolinite, illite, quartz, and pyrite minerals. As a result washing with the highest reduction time variable of ash content at 180 minutes was 21.63%; the concentration variable of the highest ash content reduction solution was at a concentration of 20% of 14.78%; the temperature variable for the reduction of the highest ash content at 60°C was 13.45%; and the particle size variable for the reduction of the highest ash content was at a particle size of 40 mesh of 7.32%.
Mineral microscopic analysis of stream sediment deposit in Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Authors: Widodo S , Maulana A , Unde A A , Fikriawan A I , Gautama A
Published: January 2023

Ten stream sediment samples from some locations along the river in Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia were collected. Stream sediment is influenced by water which functions as metal transportation from the mainland, metal mobilization starts from the process of weathering, erosion and rock formation. In the mobilization process, trace elements are absorbed by clay and organic matter or can precipitate together with oxides and hydroxides. Mineral distribution occurs naturally from rock formations that are easily weathered, in rivers. According to the microscopical observation in this study, stream sediment samples in the study area showed some of the minerals present in the samples. The results of observations using a microscope identified several minerals in the sample, including the mineral quartz (Qz), pyroxene (Px), plagioclase (Pl), muscovite (Ms), biotite (Bt), hornblende (Hbl), sericite (Ser), tourmaline (Tour), rutile (Rt), and orthoclase (Or). Based on the results of microscopic analysis, it can be identified that several minerals were deposited and disseminated in the study area.
Distribution of Microplastic Abundance and Composition in Surface Water around Anthropogenic Areas (Case Study: Jeneberang River, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
Authors: Mangarengi N A P , Zakaria R , Zubair A , Langka P , Riswanto N A
Published: January 2023

Microplastic research in urban and industrial areas has been done newly. However, there is still an absence and very little research about microplastic abundances caused by anthropogenic activities in the traditional market, industrial, recreation, and slum area, especially in the Jeneberang River. The Jeneberang River is located in Gowa Regency with its upstream in the Bili-Bili area and empties into the high seas, namely Tanjung Bayang. Jeneberang River water is also used as a source of raw water and for other uses. Therefore, research on the distribution of microplastics in this area is significant to analyze. Microplastic abundance, size, and type research are minimal compared to marine microplastics. Surface water of the river was obtained at eight stations and grouped into four locations based on land use at the riverbank. Microplastic particles were identified using a binocular microscope and categorized by shape and size. The average microplastic concentration fluctuated. It starts from 2.00 ± 1.30 particles per liter of surface water to 5.77 ± 1.25 microplastic particles per liter of surface water. The data on microplastic engagement has been distributed normally (Shapiro-Wilk; p-value > 0.05). Microfiber is the type of microplastic that usually exists in river samples, followed by fragments and films. The Average Size of particles is between 15.33 mm and 26.67 mm. Station 1 A in ± 60 m near the traditional market has a higher microplastic concentration with an average of 5.77 ± 1.25 particle/L, compared to station 2 B and 4 B, which is 4.20 ± 1.30 and 3.93 ± 1.32, respectively.
Study of increasing the calorific value of coal using waste cooking oil
Authors: Pratama R , Sufriadin  , Widodo S
Published: January 2023

Low rank coal is still less attractive to consumers because it is difficult to market and exploits. One of the parameters used for coal export or trading is calorific value. The disadvantage of low rank coal is the high moisture content. The high moisture content will cause problems in the process, especially if it is used as direct fuel and of course affects lower calorific value. The study aims to determine the characteristics of the coal samples used in the study, and to analyze the effect of mixing ratio and temperature on the quality of coal after being mixed with waste cooking oil. Further aim is to analyze the changing process of coal quality after the upgrading process. The study was conducted by mixing coal with waste cooking oil using the ratio of mixture ratio, temperature, and time. The comparison of coal before and after being mixed is seen from the results of proximate and calorific value analysis. The calorific value of the initial coal sample is 5,296.19 calories/gram and waste cooking oil is 7,080.33 calories/gram. The results showed that the mixing ratio (coal: waste cooking oil) 1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2 using a temperature of 150°C obtained a calorific value of 6,733.02 calories/gram, 5,694.59 calories/gram, 5,295.45 calories/gram. The calorific value of a 1:1 ratio using temperatures of 175°C and 200°C is 6,965.51 calories/gram and 6,493.59 calories/gram. These results indicate that a 1:1 ratio with a temperature of 175°C is the most optimal condition for mixing coal with waste cooking oil.
Utilization of Surface Water Potential for Irrigation at Gona Village Bone Regency
Authors: Syamsir A R A , Lopa R T , Karamma R
Published: January 2023

Availability of water is one of the important factors in determining the success of farmers in their harvest, especially during the dry season. Many efforts have been made by the government to meet the needs of the community, one of which is by paying attention to development in the agricultural sector, namely in terms of providing irrigation water with a pumping system that utilizes water sources from rivers, springs, lakes, and other water sources. To find out how large the area of rice fields that can be fed by the spring, it is necessary to analyze the amount of water availability and water requirement using the F.J. Mock Method and Cropwat 8.0 software developed by FAO. The results showed, the dependable flow (P) 80% is 0.0413 m3 /s or 41,3 lt / s with a rain catchment area of 0.493 km2. The highest water requirement is December dec 3 as much as 2,191 lt/ha/sec and the lowest water requirement is December dec 1. It can be concluded that the water availability is more than the water need, so the surface water in Gona Village Springs can be utilized 4 ha in the first planting season, 20 ha in the second planting season. and 5 ha in the third season.
Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy in Bromo Tengger Semeru Region (Case Study: Pasuruan Regency)
Authors: Koswara A Y , Adlina Y Y N , Aini S D , Billah T H
Published: January 2023

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) area is located on 4 regencies in East Java, Indonesia. One of them is Pasuruan Regency. This area has majestic natural potential that is proposed to be one of Global Geopark. Conservation, education, and economic prosperity become 3 important pillars of Global Geopark that have to be maintained and balanced. Local Economic Development (LED) is part of the 3rd pillar that could enhance the socio-economic development of the people in the TNBTS area. Tosari, Tutur, and Puspo are 3 districts in the Pasuruan regency that are adjacent to one another and produce high-quality coffee commodities. This research aimed to discover problems in the study area based on important factors related to Coffee-based LED and suggest strategies that could address the problems. First, AHP is used to find important factors for Coffee-based LED. Secondly, in-depth interview with stakeholders like government, business, and academics was conducted to find the root cause problems for each important factor. Lastly, triangulation analysis is used to generate the strategies, with 3 main inputs which are the root cause problem, existing regulation in the area, and best practices of LED.
Predicting physical clogging of modular paver equipped with filter media
Authors: Salwa M Z M , Makhtar Muaz Mohd Zaini , Selimin Mohammad Tamizi
Published: January 2023

Porous pavements are simple to retrofit, good at improving the hydrology and quality of the water, but prone to clogging. There is little knowledge on the physical clogging processes through these systems, even though they play a significant role in the lifespan of porous pavements. This study’s objectives were to comprehend the primary physical mechanisms that control physical clogging and create a straightforward hexagonal modular (HM) model that can forecast physical congestion. A filtration system with a layered filter media granular activated carbon (GAC) and sand was installed. The clogging agent was found trapped only on the mesh because of the sizes of some of the material being larger than the size of mesh opening, while the voids of the media material were found to be not of a major effect in this respect. With the GAC and sand layers combined, the hydraulic conductivity was determined to be 0.097 cm/s and this k value can be considered low for the purpose.
44% of the flash flood in Klang Valley occurred coincidentally during the typhoon period: A review on 2015
Authors: Asri Ummi Hajidah Mohamad , Mahmud Mohd. Rizaludin
Published: January 2023

This paper reviewed the occurrences of all the flood events that happened in the Klang Valley of Malaysia in 2015. The aim is to identify the sources of the heavy and extreme rainfall that triggered the flood; either it was attributed to the seasonal monsoon flows or other plausible factors. The major concern of flash floods is that many of them had frequently occurred regardless of the seasonal monsoon period; as it seems to be influenced by other factors. Therefore, besides the three monsoonal seasons with common heavy and extreme rainfall in Klang Valley which includes the Northeast Monsoon (Nov. – Feb.), Inter-monsoon 1 (Mar.-Apr.), and Inter-monsoon 2 (Oct.), this study also takes into account the typhoon season which occurred from April to December. There are 43 flash flood cases and most of them occurred during the wet period of the Northeast monsoon (Nov. – Feb.). 44% of the flash flood events did occur during the typhoon season (Apr. – Dec.) with its distribution varied via different monsoon seasons. The majority of the flash flood during the dry season (Southwest Monsoon) and wet season (Northeast Monsoon) happened during the same period of strong typhoons. Severe flash flood cases that occurred coincidentally with strong typhoons (category 4 and above) during the Northeast Monsoon had impacted larger spatial coverage, increased rainfall intensity and longer duration. The hypothetical explanation offered is that the occurrence of strong typhoons (category 4 and 5) with trajectory near the Philippines in the South China Sea could affect the regional weather of Peninsular Malaysia; in which resulting in stronger wind flows and accelerating the transportation of moist air parcels from regional ocean or seas to land areas. Such information is required for adaptation, mitigation and preventive actions including early warning systems.
Lab-Scale Physical Modelling of Common Drainage Inlets for Better Management of Runoff from Road Surfaces
Authors: Mamun A A , Mahmud T M N T , Ibrahim S L , Masbah D I , Daud J I , Khan N K E M Y
Published: January 2023

Management of excess water from the pavements and road surfaces, due to rainfall, is not only important for the safety of the traffic but also important for the long life of the road structures. Drainage inlets improperly designed or constructed may lead to an unsafe depth of stormwater on the road surfaces leading to hydroplaning, which may cause the skidding of the vehicles and an increased number of road accidents. As such, the hydraulic behaviour of the most common road drainage inlets was investigated using lab-scale models and the findings are reported in this paper. A rainfall-runoff simulator was used to produce rain of various intensities on the lab-scale roadside drainage system. The main intention was to study the effect of rainfall on the commonly used circular, rectangular, and grated inlets. Rainfall intensity, inflow, water depth on the model road surface, and outflow rates through the inlets were monitored. Experimental results indicated that open rectangular inlets are the best compared to circular and grated inlets, with regards to quickly releasing water from the road surface to the roadside drains. Based on the lab-scale model study, the grated and circular inlets held 64 % and 28% more runoff depth (respectively) on the road surface, compared to that the rectangular inlet. For the same rainfall intensity, a rectangular roadside inlet was found to cause less stagnant water on the road surface.
Parametric study of embankment stabilization by pile reinforcement
Authors: Khor Z P , Lee M L , Wong S Y , Mohamed A A , Lau T L
Published: January 2023

Stabilising piles have been proven as an effective slope stabilization approach. This study aims to investigate the optimal location of stabilising pile for an embankment slope with a surcharge loading at crest. A series of finite element analyses were performed to determine the optimal location of the pile with considerations of varying slope gradients. An additional analysis was performed to compare the factor of safety computed from the present 2D analysis with the previous 3D analysis. The results showed that the introduction of the stabilising pile could effectively minimise the deformed soil mass and slip surface, with the greatest improvement recorded for the embankment of 1.5V:1H gradient. The optimal pile location was found to be at the middle of the slope. The pile influence zone (Wpile
) obtained from the present numerical study showed reasonably good agreement with previous results of centrifuge experiments. Based on the comparison of factor of safety computed from the present 2D analysis with a previous 3D analysis, the 2D analysis generally yielded a more conservative FOS (about 20% lower) than the more rigorous 3D analysis because of the absence of soil arching effect. As conclusions, it is recommended to install piles at the middle of slope to yield the most favourable slope stabilization effect. A simple 2D analysis can be used to analyse the problem of pile stabilised embankment with a slightly more conservative FOS was expected than the rigorous 3D analysis.
Full-scale Field Test Extraction of Natural Frequency and Acceleration of Bridge using Modal Test and Operational Modal Analysis
Authors: Kamal Wan Ikram Wajdee Wan Ahmad , Ibrahim Izni Syahrizal , Padil Khairul Hazman , Umar Sarehati , Lee Han-Seung , Singh Jitendra Kumar
Published: January 2023

Vibration in bridges occurred due to several factors such as structural design, environmental loadings, and loading characteristics (speed parameter, loading patterns, and configuration of axles). If this problem is prolonged for several years, this may lead to stages of failure such as structural cracking, fatigue on structural members, excessive deformation, and local stress concentration on structural connections. In response to this issue, an investigation was carried out in this study by utilising numerical modelling of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to explore the effect of the Intermediate Diaphragm (ID) on the RC bridge deck. The FEA is then validated and confirmed from the full-scale field-test, which consists of a modal test for both frequency and mode shape comparisons, and operational modal analysis for extraction of deck acceleration. The results show that the current natural frequency of the bridge does not reach the minimum frequency requirement from the BS5400 Code of Practice, while the acceleration based on a 24-tonnes moving truck is within the allowable acceleration limit. In comparison, frequency, mode shape and acceleration between the FEA numerical analysis and field test had shown insignificant differences and minimum error between the two.
Relationship of Suspended Atmospheric Microplastics and Meteorological Parameters in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Authors: Hasnatul A H , Azman Nur Fazreen , NorRuwaida J , Dewika M , Sara Y Y
Published: January 2023

Microplastic has been an interesting topic since years ago, but majority only focus on the relation between microplastics and ocean or aquatic life, therefore, the information regarding the suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) is still limited to date. Microplastics are small particles within the size of 1μm-5mm and composes of different elements. Be it marine life or airborne pathways, microplastic has become one of the major concerns among environmental researchers around the world and microplastic pollution can be expected to stay for a very long time, as plastics production keep increasing, year by year. In this regard, this study evaluates the physical characteristics of atmospheric microplastics and the relationship between its emission and meteorological data. The atmospheric microplastics were collected using a High-Volume Sampler in which the sampler was placed on a rooftop at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for three months. The physical characteristics of microplastics were categorized by shape, colors and size using spectro-microscopy microscope. The correlation between the characteristics with environmental parameters such as rainfall, wind speed, mean temperature, and relative humidity were then evaluated. The estimated daily intake of microplastic were also determined at different human development. The atmospheric microplastics found are in the range between 300μm–5000μm, which is similar to literature. There is no correlation that can be found between the atmospheric microplastics and the meteorological data, probably due to the low number of samplings. The estimation of daily abundance of microplastics were found to be high for infants.
Investigation of Indoor Air Quality in Natural Ventilated Classroom in Perlis
Authors: Rahim Nur Afrina Abdul , Noor Norazian Mohamed , Yusuf Sara Yasina , Elbayoumi Maher
Published: January 2023

Indoor air pollutants have been linked to many health effects in humans and particularly children who are more vulnerable to the poor IAQ. This study presents quantitative assessment of IAQ in the selected primary schools in Perlis that is situated at northern peninsular of Malaysia. The objectives of this study was to investigate indoor air quality and comfort parameters in the natural ventilated school classroom in Perlis. A real-time monitoring method that was derived from Industry Code of Practice on IAQ 2010 by Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) was used in this research. IAQ monitoring was conducted using Aeroqual Series 500, Tactical Air Sampler, SKC Aircheck XR5000, Elitech Rc-4 and UT363BT Anemometer were carried out at two primary schools which are SK Seri Perlis and SK Putra. Selected parameters such as respirable particulates (PM10), total volatile organic compound (TVOC), formaldehyde (CH2O), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), temperature, relative humidity and velocity were measured for two months period. The IAQ monitoring results revealed that the air pollutants were recorded higher in SK Seri Perlis compared to SK Putra due to its location that is nearby roadside. The examined pollutants concentration such as PM10, CO, and O3 were within the acceptable limits of Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (2010) by DOSH, while CH2O, temperature, relative humidity and velocity were detected higher than the acceptable limits.
Workability and Compressive Strength of Mortar with Addition of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as Partial Cement Replacement in Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC)
Authors: Zakaria N , Ghani K D A , Rosli M I F , Abdul Aziz A , Jafri N , Mohamad Kamil M H N
Published: January 2023

In today’s engineering world, an industrial ecology is a prevalent approach for achieving long-term industrial development. This approach encourages waste from by-products to be recycled. One of these by-product wastes is rice husk ash (RHA). Previous research has highlighted RHA’s significant potential as a cement additive alternative. The possible use of RHA as a partial replacement for cement in designed cementitious composites is briefly described in the work (Engineered Cementitious Composite). RHA was utilized to substitute cement at various percentages by volume in the experiments, including 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The flow table test was used to evaluate the workability of the fresh mortar mix, while the compressive strength test was used to study the mechanical properties of the hardened mortar. From the result obtained, the workability of RHA-ECC decreased when the amount of RHA in the sample was increased. The compressive strength of RHA-ECC is maximum at 10% by volume compared to other replacement levels with 52.21% at 28 days of curing. This study adds to the body of knowledge about the sustainability of RHA as a partial cement replacement for ECC.
Local Coefficients and Gamma Factors for Principal Series of Covering Groups
Authors: Gao Fan , Shahidi Freydoon , Szpruch Dani
Published: January 2023

We consider an

n
n

-fold Brylinski–Deligne cover of a reductive group over a

p
p

-adic field. Since the space of Whittaker functionals of an irreducible genuine representation of such a cover is not one-dimensional, one can consider a local coefficients matrix arising from an intertwining operator, which is the natural analogue of the local coefficients in the linear case. In this paper, we concentrate on genuine principal series representations and establish some fundamental properties of such a local coefficients matrix, including the investigation of its arithmetic invariants. As a consequence, we prove a form of the Casselman–Shalika formula which could be viewed as a natural analogue for linear algebraic groups. We also investigate in some depth the behaviour of the local coefficients matrix with respect to the restriction of genuine principal series from covers of

G

L
2

GL_2

to

S

L
2

SL_2

. In particular, some further relations are unveiled between local coefficients matrices and gamma factors or metaplectic-gamma factors.
Tropical shrubs living in an extreme environment show convergent ecological strategies but divergent ecophysiological strategies
Authors: Aragón Lina , Messier Julie , Atuesta-Escobar Natalia , Lasso Eloisa
Published: January 2023

Background and Aims

Trait-based frameworks assess plant survival strategies using different approaches. Some frameworks use functional traits to assign species to a priori defined ecological strategies. Others use functional traits as the central element of a species ecophysiological strategy. We compared these two approaches by asking: (1) what is the primary ecological strategy of three dominant co-occurring shrub species from inselbergs based on the CSR scheme, and (2) what main functional traits characterize the ecophysiological strategy of the species based on their use of carbon, water and light?

Methods

We conducted our study on a Colombian inselberg. In this extreme environment with multiple stressors (high temperatures and low resource availability), we expected all species to be stress tolerant (S in the CSR scheme) and have similar ecophysiological strategies. We measured 22 anatomical, morphological and physiological leaf traits.

Key Results

The three species have convergent ecological strategies as measured by CSR (S, Acanthella sprucei; and S/CS, Mandevilla lancifolia and Tabebuia orinocensis) yet divergent resource-use strategies as measured by their functional traits. A. sprucei has the most conservative carbon use, risky water use and a shade-tolerant strategy. M. lancifolia has acquisitive carbon use, safe water use and a shade-tolerant strategy. T. orinocensis has intermediate carbon use, safe water use and a light-demanding strategy. Additionally, stomatal traits that are easy to measure are valuable to describe resource-use strategies because they are highly correlated with two physiological functions that are hard to measure: stomatal conductance and maximum photosynthesis per unit mass.

Conclusions

The two approaches provide complementary information on species strategies. Plant species can co-occur in extreme environments, such as inselbergs, because they exhibit convergent primary ecological strategies but divergent ecophysiological strategies, allowing them to use limiting resources differently.
Analysis of the Cause of Cartilage Warping in the Rhinoplasty of Costal Cartilage and Application of Embed-In Graft in Revisional Surgery
Authors: Xu Yihao , Zhang Xulong , You Jianjun , Wang Huan , Zheng Ruobing , Wu Lehao , Tian Le , Guo Junsheng , Fan Fei
Published: January 2023

Background

It is undeniable that costal cartilage is an excellent source of grafts, however it has some potential disadvantages, including a tendency to warp. There are very few studies that have examined how to resolve preexisting cartilage warping during secondary revisional surgery.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore causes of cartilage warping other than the cartilage itself and ways to correct cartilage warping during revisional surgery.

Methods

In the present study, cases of cartilage warping in the past 5 years were retrospectively reviewed, and external factors of cartilage warping were evaluated to help design new cartilage grafts that could be employed to repair cartilage deformities.

Results

A total of 29 females and 3 males between the ages of 18 and 60 years participated in the study (average age, 32.5 years). In all cases, embed-in grafts were utilized to correct warping. All patients were satisfied with the results. As a result of our research, we found that another external cause of cartilage warping was the hump that was not removed completely during the initial surgery.

Conclusions

Incomplete removal of the hump is a major contributing external factor to cartilage warping, particularly in the sagittal plane. This embed-in graft is not intended as a routine graft in normal circumstances, but rather as an immediate means of solving an unexpected situation. The graft is primarily for management of severely warped cartilage.
Deepro-Glu: combination of convolutional neural network and Bi-LSTM models using ProtBert and handcrafted features to identify lysine glutarylation sites
Authors: Wang Xiao , Ding Zhaoyuan , Wang Rong , Lin Xi
Published: January 2023

Lysine glutarylation (Kglu) is a newly discovered post-translational modification of proteins with important roles in mitochondrial functions, oxidative damage, etc. The established biological experimental methods to identify glutarylation sites are often time-consuming and costly. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop computational methods for efficient and accurate identification of glutarylation sites. Most of the existing computational methods only utilize handcrafted features to construct the prediction model and do not consider the positive impact of the pre-trained protein language model on the prediction performance. Based on this, we develop an ensemble deep-learning predictor Deepro-Glu that combines convolutional neural network and bidirectional long short-term memory network using the deep learning features and traditional handcrafted features to predict lysine glutaryation sites. The deep learning features are generated from the pre-trained protein language model called ProtBert, and the handcrafted features consist of sequence-based features, physicochemical property-based features and evolution information-based features. Furthermore, the attention mechanism is used to efficiently integrate the deep learning features and the handcrafted features by learning the appropriate attention weights. 10-fold cross-validation and independent tests demonstrate that Deepro-Glu achieves competitive or superior performance than the state-of-the-art methods. The source codes and data are publicly available at https://github.com/xwanggroup/Deepro-Glu.
MIMESIS: minimal DNA-methylation signatures to quantify and classify tumor signals in tissue and cell-free DNA samples
Authors: Romagnoli Dario , Nardone Agostina , Galardi Francesca , Paoli Marta , De Luca Francesca , Biagioni Chiara , Franceschini Gian Marco , Pestrin Marta , Sanna Giuseppina , Moretti Erica , Demichelis Francesca , Migliaccio Ilenia , Biganzoli Laura , Malorni Luca , Benelli Matteo
Published: January 2023

DNA-methylation alterations are common in cancer and display unique characteristics that make them ideal markers for tumor quantification and classification. Here we present MIMESIS, a computational framework exploiting minimal DNA-methylation signatures composed by a few dozen informative DNA-methylation sites to quantify and classify tumor signals in tissue and cell-free DNA samples. Extensive analyses of multiple independent and heterogenous datasets including >7200 samples demonstrate the capability of MIMESIS to provide precise estimations of tumor content and to enable accurate classification of tumor type and molecular subtype. To assess our framework for clinical applications, we designed a MIMESIS-informed assay incorporating the minimal signatures for breast cancer. Using both artificial samples and clinical serial cell-free DNA samples from patients with metastatic breast cancer, we show that our approach provides accurate estimations of tumor content, sensitive detection of tumor signal and the ability to capture clinically relevant molecular subtype in patients’ circulation. This study provides evidence that our extremely parsimonious approach can be used to develop cost-effective and highly scalable DNA-methylation assays that could support and facilitate the implementation of precision oncology in clinical practice.
Occupational skin cancer: measurements of ultraviolet radiation exposure bring knowledge for prevention
Authors: Kezic Sanja , van der Molen Henk F
Published: January 2023

Outdoor workers are at higher risk for keratinocyte cancer. Data-base of UV-exposure generated in the Genesis-UV study will facilitate specific prevention measures and workers’ health surveillance in outdoor occupations.
Migrant skin health: perspectives from the Migrant Health Summit, Malta, 2022
Authors: Padovese Valeska , Fuller Lucinda C , Griffiths Christopher E M , Maurer Toby , Freeman Esther ,   Migrant Health Dermatology Working Group of the International Foundation for Dermatology, Dassoni Federica , Enbiale Wendemagegn , Forrestel Amy , Knapp Alexia , Khan Sidra , Hay Rod , Logie Carmen , Lwin Su M , Maatouk Ismael , Morrone Aldo , Olabi Bayanne , Rossoni Isotta , Sethi Aisha , Veizis Apostolos
Published: January 2023

Skin diseases are listed among the most common health issues in refugee camps, yet the lack of skilled professionals, scarce diagnostics and formularies lead to inadequate provision of care for these people. This perspective highlights the possible role of dermatologists in escalating dermatological care to migrants and displaced persons in humanitarian crises.
Papular xanthomas in untreated folliculotropic mycosis fungoides: a case report and literature review
Authors: Viedma-Martinez Myriam , Garcia-Dorado Jesus , Diaz-De la Pinta Francisco Javier , Conde-Ferreiros Marta , Sanchez-Lazcano Maria , Martins-Lopes Monica , Santos-Briz Angel
Published: January 2023

Following a recent report of xanthomas arising in a patient treated with etoposide for mycosis fungoides (MF), we present a similar patient with xanthomas and MF, who had not received any treatment. Further studies are needed to elucidate the origin and pathophysiology of normocholesterolaemic xanthomas associated with MF.
Trichorrhexis nodosa improving with oral minoxidil: a case report
Authors: McFeely Orla , Meah Nekma , Sinclair Rodney , Wall Dmitri
Published: January 2023

Trichorrhexis nodosa is a condition of hair fragility. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with trichorrhexis nodosa that improved with a novel treatment; low-dose oral minoxidil.
Prevalence and incidence of vitiligo and associated comorbidities: a nationwide population-based study in Korea
Authors: Kang Hyun , Lee Solam
Published: January 2023

Background

The prevalence of vitiligo shows regional variance. Recently, an association between vitiligo and extracutaneous conditions including other autoimmune, metabolic and dermatological disorders has been suggested. Despite its increasing incidence, the epidemiological trends and comorbidities in people with vitiligo have rarely been quantified in Asia.

Aim

To determine the prevalence and incidence of vitiligo and the disorders associated with vitiligo using the National Health Insurance Service database.

Methods

We included all patients with vitiligo, classified by the International Classification of Disease, 10th revision (ICD-10) code of L80, with ≥ 3 documented visits from 2003 to 2019. The incidence and prevalence of vitiligo were estimated for the study period. Age-, sex-, insurance type- and income level-matched controls (ratio 1 : 5) were selected to compare comorbidities. The odds ratios between comorbidities and vitiligo were calculated through conditional logistic regression.

Results

The incidence and annual prevalence of vitiligo in Korea increased from 2003 to 2019, with incidence peaking in summer. Age-specific incidence showed a bimodal distribution, with the steepest increase in the group aged < 20 years. Many comorbidities, including alopecia areata, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, Sjögren syndrome, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, chronic hepatitis, anxiety disorder and mood disorder showed higher odds ratios in patients with vitiligo than controls.

Conclusion

The incidence and prevalence of vitiligo are increasing, particularly among younger patients in Korea. In addition, various comorbidities are associated with vitiligo, therefore, if patients with vitiligo present with extracutaneous symptoms, physicians should consider the possibility of other comorbid diseases.
Development and validation of a new equation based on plasma creatinine and muscle mass assessed by CT scan to estimate glomerular filtration rate: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Stehlé Thomas , Ouamri Yaniss , Morel Antoine , Vidal-Petiot Emmanuelle , Fellahi Soraya , Segaux Lauriane , Prié Dominique , Grimbert Philippe , Luciani Alain , Audard Vincent , Haymann Jean Philippe , Mulé Sébastien , De Kerviler Eric , Peraldi Marie-Noëlle , Boutten Anne , Matignon Marie , Canouï-Poitrine Florence , Flamant Martin , Pigneur Frédéric
Published: January 2023

Background

Inter-individual variations of non-glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determinants of serum creatinine, such as muscle mass, account for the imperfect performance of estimated GFR (eGFR) equations. We aimed to develop an equation based on creatinine and total lumbar muscle cross-sectional area measured by unenhanced computed tomography scan at the third lumbar vertebra.

Methods

The muscle mass–based eGFR (MMB-eGFR) equation was developed in 118 kidney donor candidates (iohexol clearance) using linear regression. Validation cohorts included 114 healthy subjects from another center (51Cr-EDTA clearance, validation population 1), 55 patients with chronic diseases (iohexol, validation population 2), and 60 patients with highly discordant creatinine and cystatin C–based eGFR, thus presumed to have atypical non-GFR determinants of creatinine (51Cr-EDTA, validation population 3). Mean bias was the mean difference between eGFR and measured GFR, precision the standard deviation (SD) of the bias, and accuracy the percentage of eGFR values falling within 20% and 30% of measured GFR.

Results

In validation population 1, performance of MMB-eGFR was not different from those of CKD-EPICr2009 and CKD-EPICr2021. In validation population 2, MMB-eGFR was unbiased and displayed better precision than CKD-EPICr2009, CKD-EPICr2021 and EKFC (SD of the biases: 13.1 vs 16.5, 16.8 and 15.9 mL/min/1.73 m2). In validation population 3, MMB-eGFR had better precision and accuracy {accuracy within 30%: 75.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 64.0–86.0] vs 51.5% (95% CI 39.0–64.3) for CKD-EPICr2009, 43.3% (95% CI 31.0–55.9) for CKD-EPICr2021, and 53.3% (95% CI 40.7–66.0) for EKFC}. Difference in bias between Black and white subjects was −2.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI −7.2 to 3.0), vs −8.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI −13.2 to −3.6) for CKD-EPICr2021.

Conclusion

MMB-eGFR displayed better performances than equations based on demographics, and could be applied to subjects of various ethnic backgrounds.
Fibrin clot properties in cardiovascular disease: from basic mechanisms to clinical practice
Authors: Ząbczyk Michał , Ariëns Robert A S , Undas Anetta
Published: January 2023

Fibrinogen conversion into insoluble fibrin and the formation of a stable clot is the final step of the coagulation cascade. Fibrin clot porosity and its susceptibility to plasmin-mediated lysis are the key fibrin measures, describing the properties of clots prepared ex vivo from citrated plasma. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), referring to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and hypertension, has been shown to be associated with the formation of dense fibrin networks that are relatively resistant to lysis. Denser fibrin mesh characterized acute patients at the onset of myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke, while hypofibrinolysis has been identified as a persistent fibrin feature in patients following thrombotic events or in those with stable coronary artery disease. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, and hypertension, have also been linked with unfavourably altered fibrin clot properties, while some lifestyle modifications and pharmacological treatment, in particular statins and anticoagulants, may improve fibrin structure and function. Prospective studies have suggested that prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype can predict cardiovascular events in short- and long-term follow-ups. Mutations and splice variants of the fibrinogen molecule that have been proved to be associated with thrombophilia or increased cardiovascular risk, along with fibrinogen post-translational modifications, prothrombotic state, inflammation, platelet activation, and neutrophil extracellular traps formation, contribute also to prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype. Moreover, about 500 clot-bound proteins have been identified within plasma fibrin clots, including fibronectin, α2-antiplasmin, factor XIII, complement component C3, and histidine-rich glycoprotein. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying unfavourable fibrin clot properties and their implications in CVD and its thrombo-embolic manifestations.
Pathogenesis of Perianal Fistulising Crohn’s Disease: Current Knowledge, Gaps in Understanding, and Future Research Directions
Authors: Cao Siyan , Colonna Marco , Deepak Parakkal
Published: January 2023

Fistulising perianal involvement is a common presentation of Crohn’s disease. Perianal Crohn’s disease dramatically impairs patients’ social and sexual life and its management remains a critical challenge in field of inflammatory bowel disease. No medical therapy is specifically designed for the treatment of perianal Crohn’s disease, largely due to the poorly understood pathophysiology. Limited evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggests that the initiation, progression, and maintenance of Crohn’s disease-associated perianal fistulas involves complex interactions between host, microbial, and environmental factors. This review intends to discuss the possible roles of genetic predisposition, mucosal immunity, and gut microbiome in perianal Crohn’s disease, and considers how epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition may contribute to the pathogenesis. It also summarises recent advances on the development of animal models and new therapies for perianal Crohn’s disease. At the end, we discussed future directions in basic, translational, and clinical research that may dramatically improve our understanding of perianal Crohn’s disease and open avenues for novel therapeutic strategies with a multidisciplinary approach. Overall, this review aims to identify current gaps in understanding of perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease and to explore future research priorities for this debilitating condition.
Pregnancy-related hypophysitis revisited
Authors: Honegger Jürgen , Giese Sabrina , Nasi-Kordhishti Isabella , Donegan Diane Mary
Published: January 2023

Objective

The aim of the study is to assess the distinguishing features of pregnancy-related hypophysitis (PR-Hy) compared to non-pregnancy autoimmune hypophysitis and to evaluate the changing therapeutic approaches and outcomes in PR-Hy over time.

Design

Retrospective analysis of all published cases with PR-Hy and 6 own cases.

Methods

A PubMed search was performed and abstracts screened for publications with information on cases with PR-Hy from which full-text review was performed. Clinical features, diagnostic findings, and outcome in relation to treatment modalities in PR-Hy were assessed.

Results

One hundred and forty-eight cases with PR-Hy were identified. PR-Hy was significantly delimited from non-PR-Hy by the frequent occurrence of the chiasmal syndrome (50% vs 13%, P < .0001), higher rate of intrasellar origin (94% vs 74%, P = .0005), lower rate of pituitary stalk involvement (39% vs 86%, P < .0001), and low rate of diabetes insipidus (12% vs 54%, P < .0001). The role of surgery in PR-Hy decreased over time while noninvasive treatment modalities increased. The recurrence rate after high-dose glucocorticoid therapy (33%) was high and exceeded that of surgery (2%) and conservative management (2%). In contrast to initial reports on PR-Hy, recent literature regarding outcome of mother's and child's health was positive. The frequency of spontaneous preterm delivery was not increased. Recurrent PR-Hy in a subsequent pregnancy was reported in only two females.

Conclusion

PR-Hy has distinct features that delineate the disorder from non-PR-Hy. With increasing experience in diagnosis, availability of adequate replacement therapy, and improved treatment modalities, PR-Hy has lost its threat and the outcome is encouraging.
Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear feature: clinical, pathological, and molecular update 5 years after the nomenclature revision
Authors: Melo Miguel , Ventura Mara , Cardoso Luís , Gaspar da Rocha Adriana , Paiva Isabel , Sobrinho-Simões Manuel , Soares Paula
Published: January 2023

The term non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) was proposed in 2016 and incorporated as a new entity in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumours of endocrine organs in 2017. Since then, there has been debate regarding the histological criteria for the diagnosis, the need for molecular studies or the risk of lymph node metastasis or recurrence associated with this entity. Over the years, the concept of NIFTP evolved, now including both small (<1 cm) and large (>4 cm) tumours and oncocytic lesions. On the other hand, recent data on NIFTP in the setting of thyroid follicular nodular disease or frequent coexistence of malignant tumours raised concerns regarding the follow-up of these patients. Today, both pathologists and clinicians still face several challenges in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with NIFTP.
Contracting creativity: patronage and creative freedom in the Italian Renaissance art market
Authors: Piano Ennio E , Piano Clara E
Published: January 2023

We study contractual solutions to creative disagreements in the market for original paintings using a sample of ninety commission documents from Renaissance Italy (1285–1530). We investigate the determinants of creative freedom by comparing the length of the description of the final painting with variables capturing painter-, patron-, and commission-specific characteristics. Our results suggest that corporate patronage was positively associated with creative freedom for the painter as compared to individual patrons. We also find evidence that the reputation of the painter at commission and larger commission values are negatively associated with creative freedom.
NDR kinase tricornered genetically interacts with Ccm3 and metabolic enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster tracheal development
Authors: Hudson Joshua , Paul Sayantanee , Veraksa Alexey , Ghabrial Amin , Harvey Kieran F , Poon Carole
Published: January 2023

The Germinal Center Kinase III (GckIII) pathway is a Hippo-like kinase module defined by sequential activation of Ste20 kinases Thousand and One (Tao) and GckIII, followed by nuclear dbf2-related (NDR) kinase Tricornered (Trc). We previously uncovered a role for the GckIII pathway in Drosophila melanogaster tracheal (respiratory) tube morphology. The trachea form a network of branched epithelial tubes essential for oxygen transport, and are structurally analogous to branched tubular organs in vertebrates, such as the vascular system. In the absence of GckIII pathway function, aberrant dilations form in tracheal tubes characterized by mislocalized junctional and apical proteins, suggesting that the pathway is important in maintaining tube integrity in development. Here, we observed a genetic interaction between trc and Cerebral cavernous malformations 3 (Ccm3), the Drosophila ortholog of a human vascular disease gene, supporting our hypothesis that the GckIII pathway functions downstream of Ccm3 in trachea, and potentially in the vertebrate cerebral vasculature. However, how GckIII pathway signaling is regulated and the mechanisms that underpin its function in tracheal development are unknown. We undertook biochemical and genetic approaches to identify proteins that interact with Trc, the most downstream GckIII pathway kinase. We found that known GckIII and NDR scaffold proteins are likely to control GckIII pathway signaling in tracheal development, consistent with their conserved roles in Hippo-like modules. Furthermore, we show genetic interactions between trc and multiple enzymes in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting a potential function of the GckIII pathway in integrating cellular energy requirements with maintenance of tube integrity.