bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EGFR-Targeted Therapies: A Literature Review
Authors: Sha Calista , Lee Paul C.
Published: October 2024

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, underscoring the critical need to optimize treatment strategies. Compared to conventional treatments such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, targeted therapy stands out for its higher selectivity and minimal adverse effects. Among these, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the most widely used in targeted therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In our paper, we will conduct a comprehensive review of current literature on EGFR TKIs to contribute to advancements in molecular genomics and the treatment of lung cancer.
Multilevel Disparities of Sex-Differentiated Human Papilloma Virus-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancers in the United States
Authors: Verma Rhea , Fei-Zhang David J. , Fletcher Lily B. , Fleishman Sydney A. , Chelius Daniel C. , Sheyn Anthony M. , Rastatter Jeffrey C. , D’Souza Jill N.
Published: October 2024

Objectives: This study used multilevel social determinants of health (SDoH) models to determine how SDoH influence different sexes of patients diagnosed with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OPSCC) across the US. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study assessing HPV-confirmed patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers from 2010 to 2018 using census-level Yost Index socioeconomic status (SES) score and rurality–urbanicity measures alongside individual-level race–ethnicity while stratifying by biological sex. Age-adjusted multivariate regressions were performed for survival, treatment receipt, and delay of treatment initiation (of 3+ months). Results: Across 14,076 OPSCC-HPV-positive patients, delay of treatment uniquely featured positive predictors for males of black race–ethnicity (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.68–2.54) and poor Yost SES (1.43; 1.24–1.65). Five-year all-cause mortality uniquely showed positive predictors of females of black race–ethnicity (2.74; 1.84–4.71) and of males with poor Yost SES (1.98; 1.79–2.19). Three-year all-cause mortality shared positive predictors across sexes but were exacerbated in females of black race–ethnicity (2.50; 1.82–3.44) compared to males (2.23; 1.91–2.60); this was reversed for poor Yost SES (male, 1.92, 1.76–2.10; female, 1.60, 1.32–1.95). Surgery showed negative predictors of black race–ethnicity that displayed worsened effects in females (0.60, 0.44–0.79) versus males (0.75, 0.66–0.86). First-line radiation receipt uniquely featured negative predictors for males of black race–ethnicity (0.73; 0.62–0.86) with poor Yost SES (0.74; 0.68–0.82). Conclusions: Comprehensive models of multilevel SDoH displayed exacerbated disparity effects of community-level SES in males and black race–ethnicity among female HPV-positive OPSCC patients. These objective comparisons of specific SDoH factors inform providers and policy direction on how to strategically target the most pertinent SDoH factors affecting a rapidly growing cancer population.
Diagnosis and Classification of Pediatric Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Di Noia Sofia , Bonezzi Linda , Accorinti Ilaria , Bartolini Emanuele
Published: October 2024

Background/Objectives: Epilepsy is a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among children, due to limited healthcare resources, socioeconomic inequalities, and cultural stigma that often result in underdiagnosis and undertreatment. This review examines pediatric epilepsy’s diagnosis, classification, and management in this setting, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate interventions to improve care quality and address these challenges. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify pertinent studies published between 2013 and 2024. This review included studies examining the epidemiology, seizure classification and etiologies of epilepsy among children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Results: This review revealed higher incidence and prevalence of epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to high-income countries, primarily attributable to factors such as infectious diseases, perinatal injuries, and limited diagnostic resources. The most frequently reported types of epilepsy were generalized and focal seizures, with significant etiological contributions from structural and infectious causes, including nodding syndrome and HIV-related epilepsy. The treatment gap remains considerable, with up to 80% of children not receiving appropriate antiseizure medications. Conclusions: The diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in pediatric populations in Sub-Saharan Africa is complicated by several factors, including cultural stigma and the lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure. There is an urgent need for culturally tailored diagnostic tools, improved access to affordable treatments, and public health initiatives aimed at reducing stigma. Addressing these gaps through enhanced research, improved healthcare access, and targeted educational campaigns is crucial for improving the quality of life for children with epilepsy.
Evaluating Fitness in Older Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients: Balancing Therapy and Treatment Risks
Authors: Molica Matteo , Canichella Martina , Jabbour Elias , Ferrara Felicetto
Published: October 2024

Assessing the suitability of older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for intensive chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation remains a long-standing challenge. Geriatric assessment, which involves the evaluation of multiple dimensions of health, may influence a patient’s ability to tolerate intensive or mild-intensity approaches, including treatment-related mortality. Prospective studies are required to validate different fitness criteria, in addition to making it possible to compare the effectiveness of geriatric assessment-based fitness against other criteria, in order to identify which aspects of geriatric assessment are linked to treatment tolerance. It is hoped that validation studies will include different groups of patients receiving either intensive or lower-intensity chemotherapy. At a minimum, geriatric assessment should involve the measurement of the comorbidity burden, cognition, physical function, and emotional health—factors previously associated with mortality in AML. These assessments should be conducted before starting chemotherapy in order to minimize the treatment’s impact on the results. While treatment tolerance has traditionally been evaluated through toxicity rates in solid tumor patients, AML treatment often results in high toxicity rates regardless of the intensity. Therefore, early mortality should be the primary endpoint for assessing treatment tolerance, given its significant and clear implications. Other important endpoints might include declines in functional status and quality of life and treatment adjustments or discontinuation due to toxicity. Validating these fitness criteria is essential for guiding treatment choices, improving supportive care, determining trial eligibility, interpreting study outcomes, and informing drug labeling.
Total Mesorectal Excision with New Robotic Platforms: A Scoping Review
Authors: Marchegiani Francesco , Schena Carlo Alberto , Santambrogio Gaia , Emma Emilio Paolo , Tsimailo Ivan , de’Angelis Nicola
Published: October 2024

Colorectal surgery is one of the specialties that have significantly benefited from the adoption of robotic technology. Over 20 years since the first robotic rectal resection, the Intuitive Surgical Da Vinci system remains the predominant platform. The introduction of new robotic systems into the market has enabled the first documented total mesorectal excision (TME) using alternative platforms. This scoping review aimed to assess the role and adoption of these emerging robotic systems in performing TME for rectal cancer surgery. Methods: A comprehensive search of the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted up to August 2024, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Results: Thirty-six studies were included in the review. The majority of rectal surgical procedures were performed using eight different robotic platforms. Intraoperative, short-term, and functional outcomes were generally favorable. However, pathological results were frequently incomplete. Several studies identified the lack of advanced robotic instruments as a significant limitation. Conclusions: The quality of the resected specimen is critical in rectal cancer surgery. Although TME performed with new robotic platforms appears to be feasible and safe, the current body of literature is limited, particularly in the assessment of pathological and long-term survival outcomes.
Remimazolam Reduces Vasopressor Use Post-Induction and During Maintenance of General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gynecology: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Seong Hyunyoung , Cho Jang Eun , Yoon Seung Zhoo , Choi Sung Uk
Published: October 2024

Objectives: Laparoscopic gynecological surgeries are commonly performed under general anesthesia and can induce cardiovascular depression and hypotension, requiring vasopressor support. Remimazolam, a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, is used to treat minimal cardiovascular depression. This study compared the hemodynamic effects of remimazolam and sevoflurane anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 474 patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecological surgery at Korea University Anam Hospital between September 2021 and December 2022. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the anesthetic agent used: remimazolam or sevoflurane. Hemodynamic parameters, vasopressor use, and intraoperative variables were compared between anesthetic agents. Propensity score matching was applied to account for potential confounders, and logistic regression was utilized to assess the relationship between anesthesia type and outcomes. Results: Remimazolam anesthesia was linked to a significantly lower incidence of vasopressor use compared to sevoflurane-based anesthesia (3.7% vs. 19.5%, p < 0.0001). The odds of requiring vasopressor support were significantly lower during the post-induction and maintenance phases in the remimazolam group. Furthermore, hemodynamic stability, particularly systolic and mean arterial pressures, was better maintained with remimazolam than sevoflurane. Conclusions: Remimazolam provides superior hemodynamic stability and reduces the need for vasopressor support during laparoscopic gynecological surgery compared with sevoflurane.
Effect of Surface-Immobilized States of Antimicrobial Peptides on Their Ability to Disrupt Bacterial Cell Membrane Structure
Authors: Lou Tong , Zhuang Xueqiang , Chang Jiangfan , Gao Yali , Bai Xiuqin
Published: October 2024

Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) surfaces are widely used to inhibit biofilm formation and bacterial infection. However, endpoint-immobilized AMPs on surfaces are totally different from free-state AMPs due to the constraints of the surface. In this work, the interactions between AMPs and bacterial cell membranes were analyzed through coarse-grained molecular dynamics and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. This AMP disrupted membrane structure by altering the thickness and curvature of the membrane. Furthermore, the effect of surface-immobilized states of AMPs on their ability to disrupt membrane structure was revealed. The immobilized AMPs in the freeze-N system could bind to the membrane and disrupt the membrane structure through electrostatic forces between positively charged N-terminal amino acid residues and the negatively charged membrane, while the immobilized AMPs in the freeze-C system were repelled. The results will aid in the rational design of new AMP surfaces with enhanced efficacy and stability.
Mitigating Interobserver Variability in Radiomics with ComBat: A Feasibility Study
Authors: D’Anna Alessia , Stella Giuseppe , Gueli Anna Maria , Marino Carmelo , Pulvirenti Alfredo
Published: October 2024

This study investigates Intraobserver Features Variability (IFV) in radiomics studies and assesses the effectiveness of the ComBat harmonization method in mitigating these effects. Methods: This study utilizes data from the NSCLC-Radiomics-Interobserver1 dataset, comprising CT scans of 22 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients, with multiple Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) delineations performed by five radiation oncologists. Segmentation was completed manually (“vis”) or by autosegmentation with manual editing (“auto”). A total of 1229 radiomic features were extracted from each GTV, segmentation method, and oncologist. Features extracted included first order, shape, GLCM, GLRLM, GLSZM, and GLDM from original, wavelet-filtered, and LoG-filtered images. Results: Before implementing ComBat harmonization, 83% of features exhibited p-values below 0.05 in the “vis” approach; this percentage decreased to 34% post-harmonization. Similarly, for the “auto” approach, 75% of features demonstrated statistical significance prior to ComBat, but this figure declined to 33% after its application. Among a subset of three expert radiation oncologists, percentages changed from 77% to 25% for “vis” contouring and from 64% to 23% for “auto” contouring. This study demonstrates that ComBat harmonization could effectively reduce IFV, enhancing the feasibility of multicenter radiomics studies. It also highlights the significant impact of physician experience on radiomics analysis outcomes.
Cleft Lip and Palate Classification Through Vision Transformers and Siamese Neural Networks
Authors: Nantha Oraphan , Sathanarugsawait Benjaporn , Praneetpolgrang Prasong
Published: October 2024

This study introduces a novel approach for the diagnosis of Cleft Lip and/or Palate (CL/P) by integrating Vision Transformers (ViTs) and Siamese Neural Networks. Our study is the first to employ this integration specifically for CL/P classification, leveraging the strengths of both models to handle complex, multimodal data and few-shot learning scenarios. Unlike previous studies that rely on single-modality data or traditional machine learning models, we uniquely fuse anatomical data from ultrasound images with functional data from speech spectrograms. This multimodal approach captures both structural and acoustic features critical for accurate CL/P classification. Employing Siamese Neural Networks enables effective learning from a small number of labeled examples, enhancing the model’s generalization capabilities in medical imaging contexts where data scarcity is a significant challenge. The models were tested on the UltraSuite CLEFT dataset, which includes ultrasound video sequences and synchronized speech data, across three cleft types: Bilateral, Unilateral, and Palate-only clefts. The two-stage model demonstrated superior performance in classification accuracy (82.76%), F1-score (80.00–86.00%), precision, and recall, particularly distinguishing Bilateral and Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate with high efficacy. This research underscores the significant potential of advanced AI techniques in medical diagnostics, offering valuable insights into their application for improving clinical outcomes in patients with CL/P.
Chinese Populations of Magnaporthe oryzae Serving as a Source of Human-Mediated Gene Flow to Asian Countries: A Population Genomic Analysis
Authors: Duan Guohua , Liu Yuchan , Zheng Cheng , Yu Kaihui , Xie Jiahui , Wang Baohua , Zheng Huakun , Tang Wei , Bao Jiandong , Wang Zonghua , Chen Meilian
Published: October 2024

Magnaporthe oryzae, a filamentous heterothallic ascomycete fungus that serves as the causative agent of rice blast disease, is globally distributed in rice-growing regions. Populations shaped by environmental factors and human intervention play important roles in the formation of genetic structure. In this study, population structures and spatiotemporal dynamics were investigated based on large-scale whole genomic sequences of rice-infecting M. oryzae around the world. By analyzing these genetic structures, we identified divergent clades that crossed geographic boundaries. While we observed associations between the isolates and their geographic origins, we also found that there were frequent migration events occurring across Asia in main rice cultivation regions. Within Asia, China was the migration origin, facilitating gene flows to Japan and South Korea. Since the 1970s, the genetic diversity of M. oryzae populations in China has also shown a steadily increasing trend, continuing through to the 2020s. Additionally, our analysis of the evolutionary history of Asian M. oryzae populations provided insights into the population expansion that has taken place in recent decades. Overall, our findings indicate that human-mediated gene flows played a pivotal role in shaping the genetic structure of M. oryzae.
Informativeness of Performance Measures: Coefficients or R-Squareds?
Authors: Li Ken
Published: October 2024

Measuring the informativeness of earnings is of fundamental importance to accounting research. Both coefficients and R-squareds have been proposed as candidates for measuring the informativeness of earnings. However, recent research has focused substantially more on using coefficients, rather than R-squareds, to draw inferences. This paper first documents in a small theoretical model that under some circumstances, R-squareds map more closely to informativeness than coefficients. Second, this paper documents that in archival data, coefficients and R-squareds can draw opposite inferences regarding the informativeness of earnings and other performance measures up to 50% of the time. Third, this paper proposes an approach to provide statistical inference using R-squareds. Taken together, this paper suggests that rather than solely relying on coefficients, as is common in prior literature, R-squareds can also be used to measure the informativeness of earnings and other performance measures.
Editorial: Epidemiology and Control of Hepatitis Viruses
Authors: Golkocheva-Markova Elitsa , Ganova-Raeva Lilia
Published: October 2024

Five hepatitis viruses—hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis D (HDV), and hepatitis E (HEV)—have a huge impact on human health with their ability to cause acute and often chronic infection [...]
Ectopic Mediastinal Thyroid: A Crossroad Between a Multi-Layered Endocrine Perspective and a Contemporary Approach in Thoracic Surgery
Authors: Nistor Claudiu , Ciobica Mihai-Lucian , Sima Oana-Claudia , Cucu Anca-Pati , Vasilescu Florina , Eftimie Lucian-George , Terzea Dana , Costachescu Mihai , Ciuche Adrian , Carsote Mara
Published: October 2024

An ectopic thyroid (ET) involves numerous scenarios of detection and outcomes, while its current management is not standardised. A mediastinal ET (MET) represents a low index of suspicion. In this paper, we introduce a 47-year-old female who was accidentally identified with an MET, and a modern surgical approach was provided. An anterior mediastinal mass of 3.2 cm was found at CT upon a prior COVID-19 infection. Previous to the infection, she experienced non-specific complaints for a few months (intermittent night sweats, facial erythema, chest pressure, and dyspnoea). Also, CT identified a thymus-like mass and a left adrenal incidentaloma of 3 cm. The endocrine panel was normal, and the subject declined further investigations. She was re-admitted 12 months later: the MET had increased +1 cm (+45% volume) and was confirmed at a 99mTc pertechnetate scintigraphy. Noting the symptoms, mediastinal anatomy, and size change, the MET was removed via a minimally invasive trans-cervical approach (eutopic gland preservation) with the help of a Cooper thymectomy retractor (which also allowed for a synchronous thymus mass resection). No post-operatory complications were registered, the thyroid function remained normal, and the mentioned symptoms were remitted. A histological exam confirmed a benign MET and thymus hyperplasia, respectively. To conclude, this case pinpoints important aspects, such as the clinical picture became clear only upon thoracic surgery due to the complete remission of the complaints that initially seemed widely non-specific. The incidental MET finding was associated with a second (adrenal) incidentaloma, a scenario that might not be so rare, following multiple imaging scans amid the COVID-19 era (no common pathogenic traits have been identified so far). The co-presence of a thymus mass represented one more argument for surgery. Minimally invasive cervicotomy associated with eutopic gland conservation and the use of a Cooper thymectomy retractor highlight modern aspects in video-assisted thoracic surgery, which provided an excellent outcome, involving one of the lowest mediastinal thyroids to be removed by this specific procedure. Awareness of such unusual entities helps inform individualised, multidisciplinary decisions for optimum prognoses.
Age Differences and Prevalence of Comorbidities for Death and Survival in Patients with COVID-19: A Single-Center Observational Study in a Region of Southern Italy
Authors: Santella Biagio , Aliberti Silvana Mirella , Fortino Luigi , Donato Antonio , Andretta Vincenzo , Santoro Emanuela , Franci Gianluigi , Capunzo Mario , Boccia Giovanni
Published: October 2024

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has resulted in a considerable number of deaths worldwide. The virus damages the pulmonary artery endothelium, leading to a condition known as microvascular pulmonary inflammatory thrombotic syndrome (MPITS), which can be fatal and cause multiple organ failure. The presence of preexisting comorbidities has been shown to significantly impact the severity and prognosis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The objective of this study was to compare the age groups of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to identify the prevalence of comorbidities associated with death and survival in an area of southern Italy. The data set consisted of 1985 patients with confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection who were admitted to the A.O.U. San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona Hospital in Salerno between January 2021 and December 2022. The results were presented for the overall population and stratified by outcome and age group. All analyses were performed using the XLSTAT (Lumivero, 2024, Paris, France) and STATA software (release 16.1, StataCorp LLG, College Station, TX, USA, 2019) packages. In the study, population, 636 cases (32%) resulted in death, with a higher prevalence in the 60–79 age group, followed by the ≥80 and 30–59 age groups. The most prevalent diseases among deceased and surviving patients with confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were those affecting the circulatory system (61.5% vs. 55.5%), the respiratory system (55.8% vs. 26.2%), and the metabolic system (25.9% vs. 25.4%). In patients aged 30–79, respiratory diseases were the primary cause of mortality, whereas in those aged ≥80, circulatory system diseases were more prevalent. Among survivors, cardiovascular diseases were the most common comorbidities across all age groups, followed by respiratory diseases and endocrine, metabolic, and immune disorders. Moreover, these comorbidities were associated with an elevated risk of mortality. The study emphasizes the substantial influence of age and comorbidities on the mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted interventions to manage comorbid conditions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in older adults.
Effect of Mechanical Damage on Tritium Permeability Resistance of FeAl/Al2O3 Coating on 316L Stainless Steel
Authors: Li Yinghong , Nie Lihong , Meng Fantao , Hu Haixiang , Zong Sifan , Hong Zhihao , Wang Long , Li Changzheng , Ren Qisen , Hu Jing
Published: October 2024

Depositing a tritium permeation barrier on the surface of materials is a key method for reducing tritium permeability. During actual operational processes, the surface of the tritium permeation barrier may experience mechanical damage, such as spalling and scratches. The hydrogen permeability resistance of the coating will degrade due to such forms of mechanical damage. It is a significant engineering challenge to evaluate the impact of these damages on the coating’s tritium resistance. In this experiment, the mechanical damage to the FeAl/Al2O3 tritium permeation barrier on 316L stainless steel was simulated through scratching, debonding, and thermal shock. Subsequently, a hydrogen isotope gas drive permeation (GDP) test was conducted. The influence of the degree of mechanical damage on the coating’s tritium permeation behavior was assessed and discussed. The results indicate that, under the same damage mechanism, the coating’s tritium permeability resistance is positively correlated with the integrity of the coating. Additionally, the impact of scratches on the coating surface is more severe than that of other damage mechanisms.
Properties and Factors of CsxWO3 Slurry for Building Glass with High Visible Light Transmission and Outstanding Near-Infrared Insulation
Authors: Liu Yunpeng , Mu Yuqi , Yang Xihao , Yao Zhiyu , Peng Shaofeng , Shi Jincheng , Tian Wendi , Wei Yen , Niu Kangmin
Published: October 2024

This study is dedicated to the development of a new type of cesium tungsten bronze energy-saving laminated glass and explores its application in insulating glass combinations, offering innovative ideas and practical solutions for advancing energy-saving glass technology. Experimental results show that both CsxWO3 (CWO) dispersions exhibit good visible light transmittance and near-infrared shielding properties, with CWO1 demonstrating superior shielding in the 650–950 nm range, attributed to differences in shape and size distribution and verified by simulations using the Drude–Lorentz model and the finite element method.
Characterization of Interface Transition Zone in Asphalt Mixture Using Mechanical and Microscopic Methods
Authors: Yunusa Mujaheed , Hou Wenqi , Jing Guoqing , Wu Hao
Published: October 2024

An enormous surge in the pavement sector requires the evaluation of interface bonding in asphalt composite, since the assessment of bonding brings considerable cost savings. Microscopic and mechanical analyses were performed to study the status of the interface transition zone of four groups of asphalt mixtures, using thin-slice preparation to obtain asphalt mixture slices with a flat surface for microscopic analysis. The interface transition zones were characterized using good knowledge of blending or diffusion phenomena by conducting tests both at the micro and macro levels to determine mixture quality. Asphalt mixture components were observed using fluorescence microscopy imaging and evaluated by the gray value change law. Asphalt mixture groups, (virgin, recycled of 30% aged and 70% unaged, 6%, and 4% rejuvenator dosage mixtures) under the same process parameters, which are a mixing time of 270 s and a mixing temperature of 150 °C, been considered optimum for component fusion in a hot asphalt mixture were used. This study relied on the influence of morphology law, assessed through rutting tests for high temperature performance, semi-circular bending tests for low temperature performance, and pull-off tests for interface bonding strength. The relationship between interface transition zones and macro performance was studied. The self-developed pull-off method was a research innovation which can be used as an alternative to study interface transition zones in asphalt mixtures, and provides the necessary data needed with 3D surface failure mode calculations. The device measured the bonding strength of a single aggregate in distinct positions using the bitumen penetration test method. The main goals were to determine a correction factor, identify the appropriate alteration, and compute the actual fracture surface area. Using scanning electron microscopy for interface characterization and micro-morphologies of mortar transition zone, our analysis provides adequate knowledge about interface position and the components present. The applied approaches to characterize asphalt mixture interfaces proved workable and reliable, as all methods have similar trends with useful information to determine asphalt pavement quality.
Optimizing Wide Band Gap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cell Performance: Investigating the Impact of “Cliff” and “Spike” Heterostructures
Authors: Cheng Shiqing , Liu Hongmei , Lin Qiaowen
Published: October 2024

In recent years, the efficiency of high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells has been significantly improved, particularly for narrow-gap types. One of the key reasons for the enhancement of narrow-gap device performance is the formation of the “Spike” structure at the CdS/CIGS heterojunction interface. Wide-gap CIGS solar cells excel in modular production but lag behind in efficiency compared to narrow-gap cells. Some studies suggest that the “Cliff” structure at the heterojunction of wide-gap CIGS solar cells may be one of the factors contributing to this decreased efficiency. This paper utilizes the SCAPS software, grounded in the theories of semiconductor physics and photovoltaic effects, to conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of “Cliff” and “Spike” heterojunction structures on the performance of wide band gap CIGS solar cells through numerical simulation methods. The aim is to verify whether the “Spike” structure is also advantageous for enhancing wide-gap CIGS device performance. The simulation results show that the “Spike” structure is beneficial for reducing interfacial recombination, thereby enhancing the VOC of wide-gap cells. However, an electronic transport barrier may form at the heterojunction interface, resulting in a decrease in JSC and FF, which subsequently reduces device efficiency. The optimal heterojunction structure should exhibit a reduced “Cliff” degree, which can facilitate the reduction of interfacial recombination while simultaneously preventing the formation of an electronic barrier, ultimately enhancing both VOC and device performance.
Prediction of Resilient Modulus Value of Cohesive and Non-Cohesive Soils Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Głuchowski Andrzej
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for predicting the resilient modulus (Mr) of subgrade and subbase soils, which is a critical parameter in pavement design. Utilizing a dataset of 1683 Mr observations, the ANN model incorporates eight input variables, including soil gradation, plasticity, and stress conditions. The model was optimized using a quasi-Newton method, achieving high predictive accuracy, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9613 and low error rates for both selection and testing datasets. To further enhance model interpretability, SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was conducted, revealing the significant influence of specific input parameters, such as saturation ratio, plasticity index and soil gradation, on Mr predictions. This study underscores the potential of ANNs as a practical tool for estimating resilient modulus, offering a reliable alternative to conventional laboratory testing methods. The findings suggest that integrating ANNs into pavement design processes can lead to more accurate predictions of pavement performance, ultimately supporting the development of more efficient and durable road structures.
Experimental Study on Mechanical Characteristics of Stabilized Soil with Rice Husk Carbon and Calcium Lignosulfonate
Authors: Zhang Haiying , Li Hongxia , Zhang Hongze , Duan Deyue , Ding Qian , Ding Lin , Liu Yanjie
Published: October 2024

In cold regions, the extensive distribution of silt exhibits limited applicability in engineering under freeze–thaw cycles. To address this issue, this study employed rice husk carbon and calcium lignosulfonate to stabilize silt from cold areas. The mechanical properties of the stabilized silt under freeze–thaw conditions were evaluated through unconfined compressive strength tests and triaxial shear tests. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was utilized to analyze the mechanisms behind the stabilization. Ultimately, a damage model for rice husk carbon–calcium lignosulfonate stabilized silt was constructed based on the Weibull distribution function and Lemaitre’s principle of equivalent strain. The findings indicate that as the content of rice husk carbon and calcium lignosulfonate increases, the rate of improvement in the compressive strength of the stabilized silt progressively accelerates. With an increase in the number of freeze–thaw cycles, the deviatoric stress of the stabilized soil gradually diminishes; the decline in peak deviatoric stress becomes more gradual, while the reduction in cohesion intensifies. The decrease in the angle of internal friction is relatively minor. Microscopic examinations reveal that as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increases, the soil pores tend to enlarge and multiply. The established damage model for stabilized silt under freeze–thaw cycles and applied loads demonstrates a similar pattern between the experimental and theoretical curves under four different confining pressures, reflecting an initial rapid increase followed by a steady trend. Thus, it is evident that the damage model for stabilized silt under freeze–thaw conditions outperforms traditional constitutive models, offering a more accurate depiction of the experimental variations observed.
The Quantitative Evaluation of the Cell Structure Uniformity of Microcellular TPU with Low Porosity via a Digital Image Processing Method
Authors: Wang Liang , Jiang Junjie , Zhai Wentao
Published: October 2024

The cell structure uniformity of microcellular polymers significantly impacts material performance, especially for low-porosity microcellular TPU used in chip polishing. The distribution of the cell structure of polishing pads directly affects the removal rate and process repeatability. Despite its importance, no quantitative method for evaluating cell structure uniformity has been reported in the literature. In this study, a digital image processing method that involves morphological operations of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, binarization, and cell localization, and the statistical evaluation of cell structure parameters was established to evaluate cell structure uniformity. A quantitative metric, the cell structure uniformity index (CUI), was calculated based on cell structure indices, incorporating the cell size index (Ud), the cell number index (Un), and the cell local spacing index (Ur). By establishing an ideal model and analyzing representative SEM images, the effectiveness and efficiency of the method for evaluating cell structure uniformity of microcellular TPU were successfully validated. The results demonstrated that low-porosity TPU foams exhibited relatively low cell structure uniformity compared to the ideal model. The heterogeneous nucleation process in TPU caused non-uniform cell structures due to the temporal and spatial non-homogeneities during the early cell nucleation process. As the cells grew, they merged and reduced the distance between them, resulting in improved cell structure uniformity.
A Case Study on the Possibility of Extending the Service Life of the Demining Machine Belt
Authors: Blatnický Miroslav , Dižo Ján , Brůna Marek , Matejka Marek
Published: October 2024

The operational practice of the design of the Bozena 5 demining machine has shown that its belts are the critical component that fundamentally affects the functionality of the entire machine. This article is a practical continuation and extension of the previous research results from the point of view of materials (research of the uniaxial fatigue life in bending and torsion), calculation (creation of the necessary mathematical, analytical and numerical models for the research) and construction (i.e., patented design of the belt tensioning of this machine). All these actions are aimed at a single objective—to achieve a condition that guarantees a sufficient service life without malfunctions, since repairing these machines in the field is often impossible. Therefore, this study examined the fatigue life of welded joints (uniaxial bending and torsion) of S960 QL and S500MC steels welded by MAG technology. Subsequently, the data were compared with previous results (electron and laser welds) and the influence of each type of weld on the fatigue life relative to the base material was discussed. It was found that conventional MAG technology had a more significant negative impact on the fatigue life of the base material than non-conventional technologies. This trend was particularly true for the bending stress. At the same time, the bending stress was identified by the FEM analysis as the dominant load on the belt. The maximum stress in the belt link under the considered boundary conditions was approximately 240 MPa (in bending). This stress corresponded to the continuous fatigue life (more than 107 cycles) for both base materials tested (S960QL, S500MC). In the whole studied spectrum of controlled deformation amplitudes (Manson–Coffin), the life of MAG welds was lower in comparison with the base material and with welds made by unconventional technologies. All the activities carried out so far (research on microstructure, hardness, strength, residual stresses, tribological properties and fatigue life) have shown that the original belt design (S500MC) using MAG technology has significant deficiencies in the state of optimal life. It is expected that the proposed material change (use of S960QL instead of S500MC) and work with advanced technologies will bring this state significantly closer.
Mixed Conduction in A-Site Double-Perovskite Na1+xLa1-xZr2O6-δ Proton Conductors
Authors: Huang Wenlong , Gao Zheng , Li Ying , Ding Yushi , Lu Jiayao , Zhuang Chunsheng , Yue Pengfei , Zhang Wei
Published: October 2024

Perovskite-type proton conductors exist in two structural forms, ABO3 and A2B′B″O6. In this study, novel A-site double-perovskite proton conductors (A′A″B2O6) were proposed. Na1+xLa1-xZr2O6-δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) perovskites were prepared by a solid-state reaction at 1200 °C. However, raising the sintering temperature to 1300 °C resulted in the Na to volatilize, converting the Na1.1La0.9Zr2O6-δ into La0.9Zr2O6-δ. The conductivities of these materials in a humid atmosphere were tested using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and their carrier transport numbers were measured using the defect equilibria model and concentration cell method. Na1.1La0.9Zr2O6-δ and Na1.2La0.8Zr2O6-δ are predominantly proton conductors, with Na1.1La0.9Zr2O6-δ exhibiting the highest proton transport number of 0.52 at 800 °C. In contrast, NaLaZr2O6 is predominantly an electronic conductor, while La0.9Zr2O6-δ functions as an oxide ion conductor. Due to their high protonic transport numbers, these Na1+xLa1-xZr2O6-δ A-site double-perovskite oxides present a promising avenue for the development of proton conductors.
Friction in Adhesive Contact Between a Rough Hard Indenter and Smooth Soft Elastomer Layer
Authors: Lyashenko Iakov A. , Pham Thao H. , Popov Valentin L.
Published: October 2024

The friction between a hard steel indenter and a soft elastomer is studied experimentally. To investigate the influence of roughness, a series of experiments was conducted utilizing an indenter with varying degrees of surface roughness. There is a strong adhesive interaction between the contacting bodies and the friction force is proportional to the real contact area. It has been shown that as the amplitude of roughness increases, the friction force initially rises due to the deformable elastomer filling the gaps between the roughness features, thereby increasing the real contact area. An increase in the roughness amplitude results in a more regular dependence of the friction force on the tangential displacement of the indenter. High-amplitude roughness prevents the propagation of elastic deformation waves (Schallamach waves) within the contact, which are responsible for the establishment of a “stick–slip” type of friction regime. The results of this study are of interest for technical applications in mechanical engineering, particularly those involving the production of rubber seals.
Mathematical Analysis of the Poiseuille Flow of a Fluid with Temperature-Dependent Properties
Authors: Baranovskii Evgenii S. , Domnich Anastasia A. , Artemov Mikhail A.
Published: October 2024

This article is devoted to the mathematical analysis of a heat and mass transfer model for the pressure-induced flow of a viscous fluid through a plane channel subject to Navier’s slip conditions on the channel walls. The important feature of our work is that the used model takes into account the effects of variable viscosity, thermal conductivity, and slip length, under the assumption that these quantities depend on temperature. Therefore, we arrive at a boundary value problem for strongly nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The existence and uniqueness of a solution to this problem is analyzed. Namely, using the Galerkin scheme, the generalized Borsuk theorem, and the compactness method, we proved the existence theorem for both weak and strong solutions in Sobolev spaces and derive some of their properties. Under extra conditions on the model data, the uniqueness of a solution is established. Moreover, we considered our model subject to some explicit formulae for temperature dependence of viscosity, which are applied in practice, and constructed corresponding exact solutions. Using these solutions, we successfully performed an extra verification of the algorithm for finding solutions that was applied by us to prove the existence theorem.
Linearly Implicit Conservative Schemes for the Nonlocal Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Zhang Yutong , Li Bin , Fei Mingfa
Published: October 2024

This paper introduces two high-accuracy linearly implicit conservative schemes for solving the nonlocal Schrödinger equation, employing the extrapolation technique. These schemes are based on the generalized scalar auxiliary variable approach and the symplectic Runge–Kutta method. By integrating these advanced methods, the proposed schemes aim to significantly enhance computational accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining the essential conservative properties necessary for accurate physical modeling. This offers a structured approach to handle auxiliary variables, ensuring stability and conservation, while the symplectic Runge–Kutta method provides a robust framework with high accuracy. Together, these techniques offer a powerful and reliable approach for researchers dealing with complex quantum mechanical systems described by the nonlocal Schrödinger equation, ensuring both accuracy and stability in their numerical simulations.
Exploring the Diversity of Kink Solitons in (3+1)-Dimensional Wazwaz–Benjamin–Bona–Mahony Equation
Authors: Almusawa Musawa Yahya , Almusawa Hassan
Published: October 2024

The Wazwaz–Benjamin–Bona–Mahony (WBBM) equation is a well-known regularized long-wave model that examines the propagation kinematics of water waves. The current work employs an effective approach, called the Riccati Modified Extended Simple Equation Method (RMESEM), to effectively and precisely derive the propagating soliton solutions to the (3+1)-dimensional WBBM equation. By using this upgraded approach, we are able to find a greater diversity of families of propagating soliton solutions for the WBBM model in the form of exponential, rational, hyperbolic, periodic, and rational hyperbolic functions. To further graphically represent the propagating behavior of acquired solitons, we additionally provide 3D, 2D, and contour graphics which clearly demonstrate the presence of kink solitons, including solitary kink, anti-kink, twinning kink, bright kink, bifurcated kink, lump-like kink, and other multiple kinks in the realm of WBBM. Furthermore, by producing new and precise propagating soliton solutions, our RMESEM demonstrates its significance in revealing important details about the model behavior and provides indications regarding possible applications in the field of water waves.
Global Exponential Synchronization of Delayed Quaternion-Valued Neural Networks via Decomposition and Non-Decomposition Methods and Its Application to Image Encryption
Authors: Sriraman Ramalingam , Kwon Ohmin
Published: October 2024

With the rapid advancement of information technology, digital images such as medical images, grayscale images, and color images are widely used, stored, and transmitted. Therefore, protecting this type of information is a critical challenge. Meanwhile, quaternions enable image encryption algorithm (IEA) to be more secure by providing a higher-dimensional mathematical system. Therefore, considering the importance of IEA and quaternions, this paper explores the global exponential synchronization (GES) problem for a class of quaternion-valued neural networks (QVNNs) with discrete time-varying delays. By using Hamilton’s multiplication rules, we first decompose the original QVNNs into equivalent four real-valued neural networks (RVNNs), which avoids non-commutativity difficulties of quaternions. This decomposition method allows the original QVNNs to be studied using their equivalent RVNNs. Then, by utilizing Lyapunov functions and the matrix measure method (MMM), some new sufficient conditions for GES of QVNNs under designed control are derived. In addition, the original QVNNs are examined using the non-decomposition method, and corresponding GES criteria are derived. Furthermore, this paper presents novel results and new insights into GES of QVNNs. Finally, two numerical verifications with simulation results are given to verify the feasibility of the obtained criteria. Based on the considered master–slave QVNNs, a new IEA for color images Mandrill (256 × 256), Lion (512 × 512), Peppers (1024 × 1024) is proposed. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed IEA is verified by various experimental analysis. The experiment results show that the algorithm has good correlation coefficients (CCs), information entropy (IE) with an average of 7.9988, number of pixels change rate (NPCR) with average of 99.6080%, and unified averaged changed intensity (UACI) with average of 33.4589%; this indicates the efficacy of the proposed IEAs.
Dominated Ideals and Baire Ideals in Complete Domains
Authors: Rusu Dănuţ , Ciobanu Gabriel
Published: October 2024

We consider an operator Gi,I generated by a given interior operator i and an ideal I. Among the properties of the operator Gi,I, two properties denoted by Pi and Qi are remarkable. The ideals with the property Pi are called dominated ideals, and the ideals with the property Qi are called Baire ideals. We present methods of constructing dominated and Baire ideals, providing several examples and (topological) results in the framework of domain theory.