bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mercerization Process and Its Impact on Rice Straw Surface Topography
Authors: Hurtado-Figueroa Oswaldo , Cobo Escamilla Alfonso , Varum Humberto
Published: June 2023

The present study shows the mercerization process (NaOH) and its effect on the physicochemical characteristics of rice straw. In total, 12 samples were analyzed, 3 as a comparative basis and 9 that were exposed to different concentrations of NaOH (1%, 2%, and 3%) and times, in hours, of exposure in an alkaline environment (1 h, 2 h, and 3 h). The loss of silica and reduction in lignin and hemicellulose contents identified in the chemical characterization allowed for a visualization of the surface topography and cross-section of the treated samples, making it possible to contrast them with the three untreated samples by comparing their roughness, the appearance of their pores, and the contractions of vascular bundles in their conductive tissue. An analysis of the data showed that the results between some treatments were similar, suggesting a reduction in resources in future research. The mechanical resistance allowed for identifying that the NaOH-1%-1 h treatment obtained a better mechanical resistance in the treated samples. However, NaOH-3%-1 h, with the third lowest resistance, obtained the highest % elongation compared to the other samples. These physicochemical changes with NaOH facilitate the selection of the treatment concerning the fiber–matrix interaction and final performance of the composite material that intends to use rice straw as a reinforcing fiber.
Optimal Shape Design of Concrete Sleepers under Lateral Loading Using DEM
Authors: Chalabii Jafar , Movahedi Rad Majid , Hosseini Seyedsaber
Published: June 2023

Despite the significant contribution of sleepers to the lateral resistance of ballasted tracks, limited research has focused on improving the shape of sleepers in this aspect. This study aims to evaluate proposed sleeper shapes based on the B70 form, utilizing a linear optimization algorithm. First, a DEM model was verified for this purpose using the outcomes of the experiments. Then, using this model, the effect of the weight of the B70 sleeper was carried out on lateral resistance. Next, suggested shapes contacted with ballast materials were applied to lateral force while maintaining the mechanical ballast’s properties until a displacement of 3.5 mm was achieved. The current study’s results showed that the rate of lateral resistance increasing becomes lower for weights higher than 400 kg. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the sleeper’s weight will not always increase lateral resistance. The findings also indicated that although some proposal shapes had higher lateral resistance in comparison to other forms, these designs are not practical from an economic standpoint. Furthermore, despite the lower weight of some other suggested shapes in comparison with B70, the lateral resistances are 31.2% greater. As a result, it is possible to recommend employing a proposed sleeper rather than a B70 sleeper.
A Comparison of Two Different FFPE Tissue Dissection Methods for Routine Diagnostics in Molecular Pathology: Manual Macrodissection versus Automated Microdissection Using the Roche “AVENIO Millisect” System
Authors: Jeroch Jan , Riedlinger Tobias , Schmitt Christina , Ebner Silvana , Winkelmann Ria , Wild Peter J. , Demes Melanie
Published: June 2023

Currently, in routine diagnostics, most molecular testing is performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue after a histomorphological assessment. In order to find the best possible and targeted individual therapy, knowing the mutational status of the tumour is crucial. The “AVENIO Millisect” system Roche introduced an automation solution for the dissection of tissue on slides. This technology allows the precise and fully automated dissection of the tumour area without wasting limited and valuable patient material. In this study, the digitally guided microdissection was directly compared to the manual macrodissection regarding the precision and duration of the procedure, their DNA concentrations as well as DNA qualities, and the overall costs in 24 FFPE samples. In 21 of 24 cases (87.5%), the DNA yields of the manually dissected samples were higher in comparison to the automatically dissected samples. Shorter execution times and lower costs were also benefits of the manual scraping process. Nevertheless, the DNA quality achieved with both methods was comparable, which is essential for further molecular testing. Therefore, it could be used as an additional tool for precise tumour enrichment.
Spatial Distribution of Immune Cells in Primary and Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Small Case Study
Authors: Loussouarn Delphine , Oliver Lisa , Salaud Celine , Samarut Edouard , Bourgade Raphaël , Béroud Christophe , Morenton Emilie , Heymann Dominique , Vallette Francois M.
Published: June 2023

Only a minority of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) respond to immunotherapy, and always only partially. There is a lack of knowledge on immune distribution in GBM and in its tumor microenvironment (TME). To address the question, we used paired primary and recurrent tumors from GBM patients to study the composition and the evolution of the immune landscape upon treatment. We studied the expression of a handful of immune markers (CD3, CD8, CD68, PD-L1 and PD-1) in GBM tissues in 15 paired primary and recurrent GBM. In five selected patients, we used Nanostring Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) to obtain simultaneous assessments of multiple biomarkers both within the tumor and the microenvironment in paired primary and recurrent GBM. Our results suggest that the evolution of the immune landscape between paired primary and recurrent GBM tumors is highly heterogeneous. However, our study identifies B3-H7 and HLA-DR as potential targets in primary and recurrent GBM. Spatial profiling of immune markers from matched primary and recurrent GBM shows a nonlinear complex evolution during the progression of cancer. Nonetheless, our study demonstrated a global increase in macrophages, and revealed differential localization of some markers, such as B7-H3 and HLA-DR, between GBM and its TME.
Recent Advances in Deep Learning and Medical Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: MRI, CT, and PET Scans
Authors: Illimoottil Mathew , Ginat Daniel
Published: June 2023

Deep learning techniques have been developed for analyzing head and neck cancer imaging. This review covers deep learning applications in cancer imaging, emphasizing tumor detection, segmentation, classification, and response prediction. In particular, advanced deep learning techniques, such as convolutional autoencoders, generative adversarial networks (GANs), and transformer models, as well as the limitations of traditional imaging and the complementary roles of deep learning and traditional techniques in cancer management are discussed. Integration of radiomics, radiogenomics, and deep learning enables predictive models that aid in clinical decision-making. Challenges include standardization, algorithm interpretability, and clinical validation. Key gaps and controversies involve model generalizability across different imaging modalities and tumor types and the role of human expertise in the AI era. This review seeks to encourage advancements in deep learning applications for head and neck cancer management, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes.
Stable Sulfonic MCM-41 Catalyst for Furfural Production from Renewable Resources in a Biphasic System
Authors: Olivares Yasnina , Herrera Carla , Seguel Juan , Sepúlveda Catherine , Parra Carolina , Pecchi Gina
Published: June 2023

An MCM-41-SO3H catalyst with 14 wt% S was successfully synthesized to be used in furfural production from xylose and hemicellulose in a biphasic n-butanol/water system. The precursor MCM-41 and the acid-functionalized MCM-41-SO3H catalyst were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TEM, N2 physisorption, ICP-MS, TPD-NH3, and XPS. The characterization results indicated that the sulfonic process partially decreased the ordered mesoporous structure and increased the acid strength of the initial MCM-41. The catalytic performance of the xylose conversion was evaluated in a batch-type reactor using different biphasic ecological and renewable n-butanol/water ratios (1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, and 2.5:1) as dissolvent at 170 °C. The effect of the dissolvent mixture was clearly seen from the larger initial reaction rate and TOF values for the 1.5:1 ratio. This catalytic behavior indicated that a proper proportion of n-butanol/water dissolvent mixture enhanced the solubility of the substrate in the n-butanol-rich mixture and prevented the deactivation of acidic sulfonated surface groups. To achieve transformation of lignocellulosic raw material to value-added products, the MCM-41-SO3H catalyst was also used for the production of furfural. The recycling evaluation tests indicated that for the recovered catalyst submitted to a sulfonation process, the yield of furfural was closer to the fresh catalyst.
An Overview of Catalytic Carbonylative Double Cyclization Reactions
Authors: Gabriele Bartolo , Mancuso Raffaella , Della Ca’ Nicola , Veltri Lucia , Ziccarelli Ida
Published: June 2023

This short review is aimed at giving an overview of catalytic carbonylative double cyclization reactions, which are processes in which suitable organic substrates and carbon monoxide are sequentially activated by a promoting a catalyst to form two new cycles with the concomitant incorporation of carbon monoxide as a carbonyl function in the final product. Paradigmatic examples of this powerful synthetic methodology, which allows the one-step synthesis of complex molecular architectures from simple building blocks using the simplest and readily available C-1 unit (CO), are illustrated and discussed. The review is divided into five sections: (1) Introduction, (2) Functionalized Olefinic Substrates, (3) Functionalized Acetylenic Substrates, (4) Functionalized Halides, (5) Conclusions and Future Perspectives.
Long-Term Hydrogen Production from a Methanol–Water Solution Catalyzed by an Iridium Complex
Authors: Furukawa Shohichi , Kubota Kaito , Wang Han , Gong Haotong , Kajita Shumpei , Fujita Ken-ichi
Published: June 2023

Long-term hydrogen production from a methanol–water solution was achieved by developing a new reaction system employing a homogeneous iridium catalyst bearing a bipyridonate-type functional ligand. By optimizing the methanol:water ratio of the reaction solution, the efficiency of hydrogen production was greatly improved in relation to that reported in our previous studies. Additionally, the effect of the scale of reaction was investigated. It was found that a small-scale reaction led to a longer lifetime of the iridium catalyst, accomplishing long-term continuous hydrogen production at a constant rate for over 500 h. Furthermore, procedures for catalyst reuse were studied. After hydrogen production for 400 h, all volatiles in the reaction system were removed under vacuum. This simple procedure is highly effective for the reactivation and reuse of the catalyst. Finally, hydrogen production (13.7 L, 562 mmol) from methanol (12.3 mL, 303 mmol) and water (5.46 mL, 303 mmol), in a continuous reaction for 800 h, was achieved.
Role of Impaired Astrocyte Gap Junction Coupling in Epileptogenesis
Authors: Bedner Peter , Steinhäuser Christian
Published: June 2023

The gap-junction-coupled astroglial network plays a central role in the regulation of neuronal activity and synchronisation, but its involvement in the pathogenesis of neuronal diseases is not yet understood. Here, we present the current state of knowledge about the impact of impaired glial coupling in the development and progression of epilepsy and discuss whether astrocytes represent alternative therapeutic targets. We focus mainly on temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is the most common form of epilepsy in adults and is characterised by high therapy resistance. Functional data from TLE patients and corresponding experimental models point to a complete loss of astrocytic coupling, but preservation of the gap junction forming proteins connexin43 and connexin30 in hippocampal sclerosis. Several studies further indicate that astrocyte uncoupling is a causal event in the initiation of TLE, as it occurs very early in epileptogenesis, clearly preceding dysfunctional changes in neurons. However, more research is needed to fully understand the role of gap junction channels in epilepsy and to develop safe and effective therapeutic strategies targeting astrocytes.
NTRC and TRX-f Coordinately Affect the Levels of Enzymes of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis in a Light-Dependent Manner
Authors: Wittmann Daniel , Geigenberger Peter , Grimm Bernhard
Published: June 2023

Redox regulation of plastid gene expression and different metabolic pathways promotes many activities of redox-sensitive proteins. We address the question of how the plastid redox state and the contributing reducing enzymes control the enzymes of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis (TBS). In higher plants, this metabolic pathway serves to produce chlorophyll and heme, among other essential end products. Because of the strictly light-dependent synthesis of chlorophyll, tight control of TBS requires a diurnal balanced supply of the precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to prevent the accumulation of photoreactive metabolic intermediates in darkness. We report on some TBS enzymes that accumulate in a light intensity-dependent manner, and their contents decrease under oxidizing conditions of darkness, low light conditions, or in the absence of NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTRC) and thioredoxin f1 (TRX-f1). Analysis of single and double trxf1 and ntrc mutants revealed a decreased content of the early TBS enzymes glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR) and 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) instead of an exclusive decrease in enzyme activity. This effect was dependent on light conditions and strongly attenuated after transfer to high light intensities. Thus, it is suggested that a deficiency of plastid-localized thiol-redox transmitters leads to enhanced degradation of TBS enzymes rather than being directly caused by lower catalytic activity. The effects of the proteolytic activity of the Clp protease on TBS enzymes were studied by using Clp subunit-deficient mutants. The simultaneous lack of TRX and Clp activities in double mutants confirms the Clp-induced degradation of some TBS proteins in the absence of reductive activity of TRXs. In addition, we verified previous observations that decreased chlorophyll and heme levels in ntrc could be reverted to WT levels in the ntrc/Δ2cp triple mutant. The decreased synthesis of 5-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen in ntrc was completely restored in ntrc/Δ2cp and correlated with WT-like levels of GluTR, ALAD, and other TBS proteins.
Monocytes in Tumorigenesis and Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Chen Xiaodie , Li Yunqing , Xia Houjun , Chen Youhai H.
Published: June 2023

Monocytes are highly plastic innate immune cells that display significant heterogeneity during homeostasis, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. Tumor-induced systemic and local microenvironmental changes influence the phenotype, differentiation, and distribution of monocytes. Meanwhile, monocytes and their related cell subsets perform an important regulatory role in the development of many cancers by affecting tumor growth or metastasis. Thanks to recent advances in single-cell technologies, the nature of monocyte heterogeneity and subset-specific functions have become increasingly clear, making it possible to systematically analyze subset-specific roles of monocytes in tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss recent discoveries related to monocytes and tumorigenesis, and new strategies for tumor biomarker identification and anti-tumor immunotherapy.
Calcitonin Related Polypeptide Alpha Mediates Oral Cancer Pain
Authors: Tu Nguyen Huu , Inoue Kenji , Lewis Parker K. , Khan Ammar , Hwang Jun Hyeong , Chokshi Varun , Dabovic Branka Brukner , Selvaraj Shanmugapriya , Bhattacharya Aditi , Dubeykovskaya Zinaida , Pinkerton Nathalie M. , Bunnett Nigel W. , Loomis Cynthia A. , Albertson Donna G. , Schmidt Brian L.
Published: June 2023

Oral cancer patients suffer pain at the site of the cancer. Calcitonin gene related polypeptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide expressed by a subset of primary afferent neurons, promotes oral cancer growth. CGRP also mediates trigeminal pain (migraine) and neurogenic inflammation. The contribution of CGRP to oral cancer pain is investigated in the present study. The findings demonstrate that CGRP-immunoreactive (-ir) neurons and neurites innervate orthotopic oral cancer xenograft tumors in mice. Cancer increases anterograde transport of CGRP in axons innervating the tumor, supporting neurogenic secretion as the source of CGRP in the oral cancer microenvironment. CGRP antagonism reverses oral cancer nociception in preclinical oral cancer pain models. Single-cell RNA-sequencing is used to identify cell types in the cancer microenvironment expressing the CGRP receptor components, receptor activity modifying protein 1 Ramp1 and calcitonin receptor like receptor (CLR, encoded by Calcrl). Ramp1 and Calcrl transcripts are detected in cells expressing marker genes for Schwann cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and immune cells. Ramp1 and Calcrl transcripts are more frequently detected in cells expressing fibroblast and immune cell markers. This work identifies CGRP as mediator of oral cancer pain and suggests the antagonism of CGRP to alleviate oral cancer pain.
Transcriptome Analysis of Embryogenic and Non-Embryogenic Callus of Picea Mongolica
Authors: Wang Yaping , Wang Hao , Bao Wenquan , Sui Mingming , Bai Yu´e
Published: June 2023

Picea mongolica is a rare tree species in China, which is of great significance in combating desertification and improving the harsh ecological environment. Due to the low rate of natural regeneration, high mortality, and susceptibility to pests and cold springs, Picea mongolica has gradually become extinct. At present, somatic embryogenesis (SE) is the most effective method of micro-proliferation in conifers, but the induction rate of embryogenic callus (EC) is low, and EC is difficult to differentiate from non-embryonic callus (NEC). Therefore, the EC and NEC of Picea mongolica were compared from the morphology, histological, physiological, and transcriptional levels, respectively. Morphological observation showed that the EC was white and transparent filamentous, while the NEC was compact and brownish-brown lumpy. Histological analyses showed that the NEC cells were large and loosely arranged; the nuclei attached to the edge of the cells were small; the cytoplasm was low; and the cell gap was large and irregular. In the EC, small cells, closely arranged cells, and a large nucleus and nucleolus were observed. Physiological studies showed significant differences in ROS-scavenging enzymes between the EC and NEC. Transcriptome profiling revealed that 13,267 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, 3682 were up-regulated, and 9585 were down-regulated. In total, 63 GO terms had significant enrichment, 32 DEGs in plant hormone signal transduction pathway were identified, and 502 different transcription factors (TFs) were characterized into 38 TF families. Meanwhile, we identified significant gene expression trends associated with somatic embryo development in plant hormones (AUX/IAA, YUCCA, LEA, etc.), stress (GST, HSP, GLP, etc.), phenylpropanoid metabolism (4CL, HCT, PAL, etc.), and transcription factors (AP2/ERF, MYB, WOX, etc.). In addition, nine genes were chosen for RT-qPCR, and the results were consistent with RNA-Seq data. This study revealed the changes in morphology, histology, physiology, and gene expression in the differentiation of NEC into EC and laid the foundation for finding the key genes to promote EC formation.
Establishment of a Novel Anti-CD44 Variant 10 Monoclonal Antibody C44Mab-18 for Immunohistochemical Analysis against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Ishikawa Kenichiro , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Kaneko Mika K. , Kato Yukinari
Published: June 2023

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer, and has been revealed as the second-highest expression of CD44 in cancers. CD44 has been investigated as a cancer stem cell marker of HNSCC and plays a critical role in tumor malignant progression. Especially, splicing variant isoforms of CD44 (CD44v) are overexpressed in cancers and considered a promising target for cancer diagnosis and therapy. We developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD44 by immunizing mice with CD44v3–10-overexpressed PANC-1 cells. Among the established clones, C44Mab-18 (IgM, kappa) reacted with CHO/CD44v3–10, but not with CHO/CD44s and parental CHO-K1 using flow cytometry. The epitope mapping using peptides that cover variant exon-encoded regions revealed that C44Mab-18 recognized the border sequence between variant 10 and the constant exon 16-encoded sequence. These results suggest that C44Mab-18 recognizes variant 10-containing CD44v, but not CD44s. Furthermore, C44Mab-18 could recognize the human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line, HSC-3, in flow cytometry. The apparent dissociation constant (KD) of C44Mab-18 for CHO/CD44v3–10 and HSC-3 was 1.6 × 10−7 M and 1.7 × 10−7 M, respectively. Furthermore, C44Mab-18 detected CD44v3–10 but not CHO/CD44s in Western blotting, and endogenous CD44v10 in immunohistochemistry using OSCC tissues. These results indicate that C44Mab-18 is useful for detecting CD44v10 in flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.
Sustainable Dyeing and Finishing of Cotton Fabrics with Layer-by-Layer Technique
Authors: Uğur Şule Sultan
Published: June 2023

Large amounts of water, synthetic dyestuffs and chemicals are used in the wet processes of textile finishing, and at the end of these processes, liquors containing chemical substances create a waste load. For this reason, it is of great importance to develop new wet-finishing processes that use less water, dyestuffs and chemicals. For this purpose, the layer-by-layer deposition method (LbL) was used in this research as an environmentally friendly, sustainable method that can be used in wet-finishing processes to minimize chemical, water and energy consumption. The dyeing and functional finishing of cotton fabrics were carried out in one process by the LbL method. Cotton fabrics were pre-treated with a commercial cationic dye fixation agent and cationic charges were produced on the fabric surfaces. Reactive and direct dyestuff groups were used in the dyeing process of cotton fabrics and fluorocarbon was used in the functional finishing process. Eight and 12 dye/fluorocarbon layered structures were obtained by LbL deposition using a laboratory-type padder. Cotton fabrics were dyed and finished with the same dyes and fluorocarbon via the padding method and both samples were compared. The washing, rubbing and light color fastness properties, color strength and color difference of the dyed samples were tested. Tensile strength, air permeability, SEM graphs, contact angle, water and oil repellency analyses were performed for the treated fabrics.
Steel Surface Doped with Nb via Modulated Electron-Beam Irradiation: Structure and Properties
Authors: Vorobyov Maxim Sergeevich , Petrikova Elizaveta Alekseevna , Shin Vladislav Igorevich , Moskvin Pavel Vladimirovich , Ivanov Yurii Fedorovich , Koval Nikolay Nikolaevich , Koval Tamara Vasil`evna , Prokopenko Nikita Andreevich , Kartavtsov Ruslan Aleksandrovich , Shpanov Dmitry Alekseevich
Published: June 2023

A niobium film on an AISI 5135 steel substrate was exposed to submillisecond pulsed electron-beam irradiation with controlled energy modulation within a pulse to increase the film–substrate adhesion. This modulated irradiation made it possible to dope the steel-surface layer with Nb through film dissolution in the layer, for which optimum irradiation conditions were chosen from experiments and a mathematical simulation. The irradiated system was tested for surface hardness and wear, and its surface structure and elemental composition were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the microhardness of the irradiated system is much higher and that its wear rate is much lower compared to the initial state.
Genetic Variation in Tolerance to Iron Deficiency among Species of Oryza
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Yer Huseyin
Published: June 2023

Transplanted rice cultivation has caused groundwater depletion in several regions globally. Direct-seeded rice under aerobic conditions is a water-saving alternative. However, under aerobic conditions, iron in the soil is oxidized from the ferrous to ferric forms, which are not easily available to rice crops, resulting in iron-deficiency-induced chlorosis (IDIC) and causing significant reductions in yield. Cultivated rice accessions have limited variations in IDIC tolerance, while the wild Oryza germplasm could be a potential source of IDIC tolerance. In this study, 313 Oryza accessions were evaluated for IDIC tolerance at the tillering stage under aerobic conditions and 20 IDIC-tolerant lines were identified. The twenty lines showed no signs of chlorosis and had high levels of iron content and SPAD values, while the eight cultivated controls exhibited varying degrees of chlorosis symptoms and low levels of SPAD and iron content. To confirm their tolerance, the selected lines were evaluated again in a subsequent year, and they showed comparable levels of tolerance, indicating that these lines were efficient in iron uptake and utilization, resulting in maintained high chlorophyll and leaf area index. These accessions may be useful for developing IDIC-tolerant cultivars for aerobic rice cultivation and future studies of the molecular basis of IDIC tolerance.
Crystal Structure Analysis and Characterization of NADP-Dependent Glutamate Dehydrogenase with Alcohols Activity from Geotrichum candidum
Authors: Zhu Jing , Hou Hai , Li Kun , Xu Xiaoguang , Jiang Chunmei , Shao Dongyan , Shi Junling , Yin Dachuan
Published: June 2023

To better understand its mechanism of activity towards higher alcohols, we overexpressed and purified new Geotrichum candidum GDH (GcGDH). The purified GcGDH (50.27 kDa) was then crystallized, and the crystal diffracted to a resolution of 2.3 Å using X-ray diffraction. We found that the GcGDH crystal structure belonged to space group P212121 and was comprised of two hexamers organized into an asymmetric unit, with each subunit consisting of 452 amino acid residues. The binding sites between higher alcohols or L-glutamic acid and GcGDH were consistent. The optimal reaction conditions for GcGDH and hexanol were a pH of 4.0 and temperature of 30 °C, and those for GcGDH and monosodium glutamate (MSG) were a pH of 8.0 and temperature of 20 °C. The Km values for hexanol and MSG were found to be 74.78 mM and 0.018 mM, respectively. Mutating GcGDH Lys 113 to either Ala or Gly caused a dramatic reduction in its catalytic efficiency towards both MSG and hexanol, suggesting that Lys 113 is essential to the active site of GcGDH.
First-Principle Study of Two-Dimensional SiP2 for Photocatalytic Water Splitting with Ultrahigh Carrier Mobility
Authors: Li Jianping , Pan Hao , Sun Haiyang , Zheng Ruxin , Ren Kai
Published: June 2023

Two-dimensional materials present abundant novel properties when used in advanced applications, which develops considerable focus. In this investigation, the first-principles calculations are explored to study the structural characteristic of the monolayered SiP2, which is stable even at 1200 K. The SiP2 monolayer is a semiconductor with an indirect bandgap of 2.277 eV. The decent band alignment and light absorption capacity imply that the application is a suitable photocatalyst for water splitting. Furthermore, the SiP2 monolayer possesses an ultrafast electron mobility at 33,153 cm2·V−1·s−1 in the transport direction. The excellent Gibbs free energy of the SiP2 monolayer is also addressed in an examination of the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Experimental Study of the Evolution of Creep-Resistant Steel’s High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior
Authors: Baranová Gabriela , Hagarová Mária , Matvija Miloš , Csík Dávid , Girman Vladimír , Bednarčík Jozef , Bekeč Pavel
Published: June 2023

This study shows that in an atmosphere containing water vapor, the oxide layer on the surface of the 9CrNB steel MarBN (Martensitic 9Cr steel strengthened by Boron and MX Nitrides) was formed by an outer layer of hematite Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 and an inner two-phase layer of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 + (Fe, Cr)2O4, which was confirmed by XRD analysis. Part of the layer consisted of nodules and pores that were formed during the increase in oxides when the present H2O(g) acted on the steel surface. The diffusion mechanism at temperatures of 600 and 650 °C and at longer oxidation times supported the “healing process” with a growing layer of Fe oxides and the presence of Cr and minor alloying elements. The effects of alloying elements were quantified using a concentration profile of the oxide layer based on quantitative SEM analysis, as well as an explanation of the mechanism influencing the structure and chemical composition of the oxide layer and the steel-matrix–oxide interface. In addition to Cr, for which the content reached the requirement of exceeding 7.0 wt. % in the inner oxide layer, W, Co, Mn, and Si were also found in increased concentrations, whether in the form of the present Fe-Cr spinel oxide or as part of a continuously distributed layer of Mn2O3 and SiO2 oxides at the steel-matrix–oxide interface. After long-term high-temperature oxidation, coarser carbides of the M23C6 type (M = Fe,W) significantly depleted in Cr were formed at the oxide-layer/matrix interface. In the zone under the oxide layer, very fine particles of MC (M = V, Nb, and to a lesser extent also Cr in the particle lattice of the given phase) were observed, with a higher number of particles per unit area compared to the state before oxidation. This fact was a consequence of Cr diffusion to the steel surface through the subsurface zone.
The Effect of Transition Metals Co-Doped ZnO Nanotubes Based-Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor for Spintronic Applications
Authors: Mahmood Muhammad Adil , Khan Rajwali , Al Otaibi Sattam , Althubeiti Khaled , Abdullaev Sherzod Shukhratovich , Rahman Nasir , Sohail Mohammad , Iqbal Shahid
Published: June 2023

The Impact of Co and Gd on the structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of ZnO nanotubes synthesized by co-precipitation is reported. The results demonstrate that incorporating Co and Gd into ZnO diminished crystallinity while retaining the optimum orientation. The outcomes of transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy examined that the Co and Gd dopants had no effect on the morphology of the produced nanotubes. It was also discovered that as the frequency and concentration of Gd co-dopant decreased, the dielectric constant and loss values increased. When doping was present, the dielectric constant and ac electrical conductivity response was found to be inversely related. Ultimately, at 300K, Co and Gd co-doped ZnO nanotubes exhibited ferromagnetic properties. When Gd doping was increased to 3%, the ferromagnetic response increased. Since then, increasing the Gd co-doping, the ferromagnetic response decreased. For the same sample (Zn0.96−xCo0.04Gd0.03O nanotubes), the electrical conductivity exhibited also superior to pure and low Gd doped ZnO. Its high ferromagnetism is usually caused by magnetic impurities replaced on the ZnO side. Therefore, considering the behaviour of these nanotubes, it can be sued spin-based electronics.
Influence of Defects-Induced Stresses on Birefringence in SrTiO3 Single Crystals
Authors: Lazar Iwona , Szot Krzysztof , Roleder Krystian
Published: June 2023

Significant applications of SrTiO3 single crystals in electronics require knowledge about the influence of structural imperfections on their optical properties. Birefringence temperature changes were investigated in a few SrTiO3 single crystals in a broad temperature range, from 85 K to 250 K. The birefringence was found to be a non-linear function below the transition Ts at 105 K, and non-linear changes in the optical indicatrix orientation accompanied it. A weak residual birefringence was permanently present a dozen degrees above the phase transition temperature Ts. This is mainly connected with dislocations, which induce local stresses and shift transition points even up to about 200 K. The essential role of imperfections on optical properties was studied in a SrTiO3 24° bi-crystal reduced at 1000 K and under low oxygen pressure. In such an intentionally defected crystal, an increase of non-linearities in Δn(T) dependence was observed below and above the transition point Ts.
Effect of Pulse Frequency on Microstructure, Friction and Wear Properties of Inconel 718 Coatings Prepared via Laser Cladding
Authors: Wu Jun , Wang Sheng , Li Donghang , Zhou Hanwen , Cai Jianchen , Yang Xiaohong
Published: June 2023

The Inconel 718 alloy clad coating was successfully prepared via pulsed laser deposition. The effect of pulse frequency on the evolution of microstructure, hardness and tribological properties of the as-deposited samples were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness tester and ball-on-plate tribometer. The results showed that with the decrease in pulse frequency, the cooling rate of molten pool increases gradually, which effectively refines the γ-(Ni, Cr, and Fe) dendrites and restrains Nb segregation. Hence, the morphology of the brittle Laves phase changed from long chained to granular and its volume fraction decreased from 6.59% to 2.41%. The hardness of the coating increased from 261 HV0.1 to 297 HV0.1 and the tribological property also improved simultaneously. The friction coefficient decreased from 0.2387 to 0.2066, and the wear rate decreased from 27.30 × 10−4 mg·N−1·m−1 to 19.15 × 10−4 mg·N−1·m−1. It can also be observed that the wear area of the counterpart, Si3N4 ball, increased from 2.016 mm2 to 2.662 mm2. The increase in the hardness and tribological property were attributed to the grain refining strengthening.
New Olivine Reference Materials for Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Oxygen Isotope Measurements
Authors: Peng Bijie , He Mingyue , Yang Mei , Shi Yujia
Published: June 2023

To accurately analyze the oxygen isotope of olivine using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), appropriate standard materials are required to calibrate for matrix effects caused by chemical composition differences between the samples and the standard materials. In this study, we investigated the homogeneity of oxygen isotopes in two natural olivine minerals using a secondary ion mass spectrometer to evaluate their potential as standard materials. The two minerals, JAY03-3 and JAY02-4, with forsterite contents of 99.3% and 99.6%, respectively, were evaluated for homogeneity in oxygen isotope composition. The recommended oxygen isotope values were characterized using CO2 laser fluorination, and the homogeneity was tested with in situ SIMS oxygen isotope measurements. Our results show that the δ18O value determined via CO2 laser fluorination for JAY03-3 is 16.37 ± 0.22‰ (2 s) and for JAY02-4 is 18.29 ± 0.28‰ (2 s). The precision of SIMS oxygen isotope measurements is 0.57‰ (2 s) for JAY03-3 and 0.70‰ (2 s) for JAY02-4. These two minerals have the potential to be used as standard materials for calibrating the oxygen isotope value of end-member forsterite during in situ analysis of SIMS oxygen isotope.
Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Driven by ETV6-ABL1 in an Adolescent with Recent History of Burkitt Leukemia
Authors: Renzi Samuele , Algawahmed Fatimah , Davidson Scott , Langenberg Karin P. S. , Fuligni Fabio , Ali Salah , Anderson Nathaniel , Brunga Ledia , Bartram Jack , Abdelhaleem Mohamed , Naqvi Ahmed , Beimnet Kassa , Schuh Andre , Tierens Anne , Malkin David , Shlien Adam , Shago Mary , Villani Anita
Published: June 2023

ETV6-ABL1 gene fusion is a rare genetic rearrangement in a variety of malignancies, including myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we report the case of a 16-year-old male diagnosed with a MPN, 7 months post-completion of treatment for Burkitt leukaemia. RNA sequencing analysis confirmed the presence of an ETV6-ABL1 fusion transcript, with an intact, in-frame ABL tyrosine–kinase domain. Of note, secondary ETV6-ABL1-rearranged neoplastic diseases have not been reported to date. The patient was started on a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI; imatinib) and, subsequently, underwent a 10/10 matched unrelated haematopoietic stem cell transplant. He is disease-free five years post-transplant. Definitive evidence of the prognostic influence of the ETV6-ABL1 fusion in haematological neoplasms is lacking; however, overall data suggest that it is a poor prognostic factor, particularly in patients with ALL and AML. The presence of this ETV6-ABL1 fusion should be more routinely investigated, especially in patients with a CML-like picture. More routine use of whole-genome and RNA sequencing analyses in clinical diagnostic care, in conjunction with conventional cytogenetics, will facilitate these investigations.
Practical Management of Adult Ultra-Rare Primary Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Focus on Perivascular Epithelioid Tumours and Extraosseous Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Apte Sameer S. , Mor Eyal , Mitchell Catherine , Gyorki David E.
Published: June 2023

With the exception of well-differentiated liposarcoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, solitary fibrous tumour, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, the majority of the ≈70 histologic subtypes of retroperitoneal sarcoma are defined as ‘ultra-rare’ sarcomas, with an incidence of ≤1–5/1,000,000 persons/year. For most of these ultra-rare RPS subtypes, diagnosis and treatment follows international guidelines for the management of more common RPS histologies, with en bloc surgical resection as the mainstay of curative treatment, and enrolment in clinical trials where possible. Because the treatment of RPS is heavily driven by histology, the surgeon must be familiar with specific issues related to the diagnosis and management of ultra-rare sarcoma subtypes. Expert radiological and surgeon reviews are required to differentiate similarly presenting tumours where surgery can be avoided (e.g., angiomyolipoma), or where upfront systemic therapy is indicated (e.g., extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma). Thus, the management of all retroperitoneal sarcomas should occur at a sarcoma referral centre, with a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to the surgical and medical management of these rare tumours. In this focused review, we highlight how diagnosis and management of the ultra-rare primary RPS histologies of malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa), extraosseous Ewing sarcoma (EES), extraosseous osteosarcoma (EOS), and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) critically diverge from the management of more common RPS subtypes.
Brixia Chest X-ray Score, Laboratory Parameters and Vaccination Status for Prediction of Mortality in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Nukovic Jusuf A. , Opancina Valentina , Zdravkovic Nebojsa , Prodanovic Nikola , Pejcic Ana , Opancina Miljan , Nukovic Jasmin J. , Vojinovic Radisa , Dulovic Dragan , Jukovic Fehim , Hamzagic Nedim , Nukovic Merisa , Markovic Nenad V.
Published: June 2023

Chest X-ray has verified its role as a crucial tool in COVID-19 assessment due to its practicability, especially in emergency units, and Brixia score has proven as a useful tool for COVID-19 pneumonia grading. The aim of our study was to investigate correlations between main laboratory parameters, vaccination status, and Brixia score, as well as to confirm if Brixia score is a significant independent predictor of unfavorable outcome (death) in COVID-19 patients. The study was designed as a cross-sectional multicentric study. It included patients with a diagnosed COVID-19 infection who were hospitalized. This study included a total of 279 patients with a median age of 62 years. The only significant predictor of unfavorable outcome (death) was Brixia score (adjusted odds ratio 1.148, p = 0.022). In addition, the results of the multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.334, F = 19.424, p < 0.001) have shown that male gender (B = 0.903, p = 0.046), severe COVID-19 (B = 1.970, p < 0.001), and lactate dehydrogenase (B = 0.002, p < 0.001) were significant positive predictors, while albumin level (B = −0.211, p < 0.001) was a significant negative predictor of Brixia score. Our results provide important information about factors influencing Brixia score and its usefulness in predicting the unfavorable outcome (death) of COVID-19 patients. These findings have clinical relevance, especially in epidemic circumstances.
Identifying Postural Instability in Children with Cerebral Palsy Using a Predictive Model: A Longitudinal Multicenter Study
Authors: Bertoncelli Carlo Marioi , Bertoncelli Domenico , Bagui Sikha S. , Bagui Subhash C. , Costantini Stefania , Solla Federico
Published: June 2023

Insufficient postural control and trunk instability are serious concerns in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We implemented a predictive model to identify factors associated with postural impairments such as spastic or hypotonic truncal tone (TT) in children with CP. We conducted a longitudinal, double-blinded, multicenter, descriptive study of 102 teenagers with CP with cognitive impairment and severe motor disorders with and without truncal tone impairments treated in two specialized hospitals (60 inpatients and 42 outpatients; 60 males, mean age 16.5 ± 1.2 years, range 12 to 18 yrs). Clinical and functional data were collected between 2006 and 2021. TT-PredictMed, a multiple logistic regression prediction model, was developed to identify factors associated with hypotonic or spastic TT following the guidelines of “Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis”. Predictors of hypotonic TT were hip dysplasia (p = 0.01), type of etiology (postnatal > perinatal > prenatal causes; p = 0.05), male gender, and poor manual (p = 0.01) and gross motor function (p = 0.05). Predictors of spastic TT were neuromuscular scoliosis (p = 0.03), type of etiology (prenatal > perinatal > postnatal causes; p < 0.001), spasticity (quadri/triplegia > diplegia > hemiplegia; p = 0.05), presence of dystonia (p = 0.001), and epilepsy (refractory > controlled, p = 0.009). The predictive model’s average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity reached 82%. The model’s accuracy aligns with recent studies on applying machine learning models in the clinical field.
Esophagogastroduodenal Findings in Patients with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms
Authors: Zelnik Yovel Dana , Santo Erwin , Khader Majd , Tzadok Roie , Bar Nir , Aizic Asaf , Shibolet Oren , Ben-Ami Shor Dana
Published: June 2023

The association between intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and extra-pancreatic malignancies is controversial. This cross-sectional study compared esophagogastroduodenal findings in 340 IPMN patients to those of age- and gender-matched controls without known IPMNs who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) for similar clinical reasons. The presence of gastric and esophageal cancer, Barrett’s esophagus, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), gastric adenomas, and ampullary tumors was assessed. The results showed that 4/340 (1.2%) of the IPMN patients had gastric cancer and 1/340 (0.3%) had esophageal cancer. The matched control group had a similar incidence of gastric cancer (5/340) (1.5%), with no esophageal cancer cases (p > 0.999). The overall incidence of other esophagogastroduodenal conditions did not significantly differ between the IPMN patients and the controls. However, the incidence of gastric cancer in the IPMN patients was higher than expected based on national cancer registry data (standardized incidence ratio of 31.39; p < 0.001; CI 8.38–78.76). In conclusion, IPMN patients have a significantly higher incidence of gastric cancer compared to the general population. However, the incidence of esophagogastroduodenal findings, including gastric and esophageal cancer, is similar between IPMN patients and those who undergo an EGD for similar clinical indications. Further research is needed to determine optimal surveillance strategies for IPMN patients regarding their risk of developing gastric cancer.
Determination of Anti-Xa Inhibitor Plasma Concentrations Using a Universal Edoxaban Calibrator
Authors: Burger Annika , Studt Jan-Dirk , Mendez Adriana , Alberio Lorenzo , Fontana Pierre , Wuillemin Walter , Schmidt Adrian , Graf Lukas , Gerber Bernhard , Bovet Cédric , Sauter Thomas , Binder Nikolaus , Nagler Michael
Published: June 2023

A universal calibrator for the determination of all anti-Xa inhibitors would support laboratory processes. We aimed to test the clinical performance of an anti-Xa assay utilizing a universal edoxaban calibrator to determine clinically relevant concentrations of all anti-Xa inhibitors. Following a pilot study, we enrolled 553 consecutive patients taking rivaroxaban, edoxaban, or apixaban from nine study centers in a prospective cross-sectional study. The Technochrom® anti-Xa assay was conducted using the Technoview® edoxaban calibrator. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), anti-Xa inhibitor drug concentrations were determined. Sensitivities and specificities to detect three clinically relevant drug concentrations (30 µgL−1, 50 µgL−1, 100 µgL−1) were determined. Overall, 300 patients treated with rivaroxaban, 221 with apixaban, and 32 with edoxaban were included. The overall correlation coefficient (rs) was 0.95 (95% CI 0.94, 0.96). An area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.96 for 30 µgL−1, 0.98 for 50 µgL−1, and 0.99 for 100 µgL−1 was found. The sensitivities were 92.3% (95% CI 89.2, 94.6), 92.7% (89.4, 95.1), and 94.8% (91.1, 97.0), respectively (specificities 82.2%, 93.7%, and 94.4%). In conclusion, the clinical performance of a universal, edoxaban-calibrated anti-Xa assay was solid and most drug concentrations were predicted correctly.
LPE-Unet: An Improved UNet Network Based on Perceptual Enhancement
Authors: Wang Suwei , Yuan Chenxun , Zhang Caiming
Published: June 2023

In Computed Tomography (CT) images of the coronary arteries, the segmentation of calcified plaques is extremely important for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of coronary heart disease. However, one characteristic of the lesion is that it has a small size, which brings two difficulties. One is the class imbalance when computing loss function and the other is that small-scale targets are prone to losing details in the continuous downsampling process, and the blurred boundary makes the segmentation accuracy less satisfactory. Therefore, the segmentation of calcified plaques is a very challenging task. To address the above problems, in this paper, we design a framework named LPE-UNet, which adopts an encoder–decoder structure similar to UNet. The framework includes two powerful modules named the low-rank perception enhancement module and the noise filtering module. The low-rank perception enhancement module extracts multi-scale context features by increasing the receptive field size to aid target detection and then uses an attention mechanism to filter out redundant features. The noise filtering module suppresses noise interference in shallow features to high-level features in the process of multi-scale feature fusion. It computes a pixel-wise weight map of low-level features and filters out useless and harmful information. To alleviate the problem of class imbalance caused by small-sized lesions, we use a weighted cross-entropy loss function and Dice loss to perform mixed supervised training on the network. The proposed method was evaluated on the calcified plaque segmentation dataset, achieving a high F1 score of 0.941, IoU of 0.895, and Dice of 0.944. This result verifies the effectiveness and superiority of our approach for accurately segmenting calcified plaques. As there is currently no authoritative publicly available calcified plaque segmentation dataset, we have constructed a new dataset for coronary artery calcified plaque segmentation (Calcified Plaque Segmentation Dataset, CPS Dataset).