bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value and clinicopathological correlation of tumor location in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after surgery: A propensity matched retrospective cohort study with development of a survival nomogram
Authors: Chen Jinxia , Xu Jingli , Xiao Hui , Ma Yubo , Zi Mengli , Pang Chuhong , Liang Chen , Cheng Xiangdong , Yuan Li , Yang Litao
Published: September 2023

Background: There is controversy over whether tumor location affects the prognosis of GIST. The objective of this study is to compare the clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) rates of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in the stomach and small bowel, as well as to identify independent prognostic factors and predict OS for GIST.
Methods: A total of 504 patients who underwent surgical treatment for GIST between 2005 and 2020 were included in this retrospective cohort study. The OS of patients with small bowel GIST was compared to those with gastric GIST using Cox regression analyses and propensity score matching (PSM) techniques. Furthermore, a nomogram was developed based on significant risk factors identified through multivariate Cox analysis. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves.
Results: Among the entire cohort, 308 patients (61.1%) had a primary tumor located in the stomach, 129 patients (25.6%) in the duodenum, 21 patients (4.2%) in the colorectum, and 46 patients (9.1%) in other sites. Small bowel GISTs exhibited larger tumor size, higher mitotic count, higher risk stratification, and higher rates of recurrence or metastasis compared to gastric GISTs. After adjusting for potential confounders using PSM, multivariate analyses revealed that the OS of patients with small bowel GIST [hazard ratio (HR) 3.735, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.279-10.908] was significantly shorter than that of patients with gastric GIST. Subsequently, a nomogram incorporating four prognostic risk factors, namely gender, tumor location, mitotic count, and drug therapy, was constructed to predict the 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS. The nomogram demonstrated good discriminative ability, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.734, 0.849, and 0.823, respectively.
Conclusions: GIST patients with tumors located in the small bowel exhibit more aggressive pathological features. Importantly, patients with small bowel GIST experience inferior survival outcomes compared to those with gastric GIST, even after adjusting for relevant risk factors through multivariate analysis and PSM. Furthermore, we successfully developed a robust nomogram which demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy for estimating long-term OS probability among GIST patients who underwent surgical intervention.
Transparent ultrasonic transducers based on relaxor ferroelectric crystals for advanced photoacoustic imaging
Authors: Li Fei , Qiu Chaorui , Zhang Zhiqiang , Xu Zhiqiang , Qiao Liao , Zhang Shujun , Su Min , Wu Weichang , Song Kexin , Xu Zhuo , Chen Long-Qing , Zheng Hairong , Liu Chengbo , Qiu Weibao
Published: September 2023

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is promising as a non-invasive functional imaging modality for various applications, from clinical diagnosis to fundamental research. However, achieving capillary-level resolution, wide field-of-view (FOV) and high imaging frame rate simultaneously in a PAI system remains very challenging. To address this, transparent ultrasonic transducer (TUT) was considered to be an alternative to conventional opaque one in PAI systems. While this concept shows promise, existing TUTs have limitations in bandwidth and sensitivity, hindering their practical application. To overcome these limitations, we propose to use our newly developed transparent relaxor ferroelectric crystals as piezoelectric elements for the TUT design. Owing to their ultrahigh dielectric and piezoelectric properties, the newly designed TUT exhibits a four-fold enhancement of photoacoustic detection sensitivity when compared to conventional LiNbO3-based counterpart. In addition, we implemented a transparent-double-matching-layer design via an innovative transducer fabrication process, resulting in a 31-MHz TUT with an impressive bandwidth of 76%, surpassing existing TUTs (<37%) and comparable to opaque ultrasonic transducers with the same operation frequency. Leveraging the relatively large FOV and significantly improved performances of our newly developed TUT, we achieved a high-speed PAI of the mouse microvasculature at a frame rate of 1 Hz over a 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm area via optical scanning. This advancement surpasses the conventional mechanical-scanning-based PAI techniques by at least 30 times. As a result, we successfully monitored the dynamic change of the mouse cerebral cortex microvasculature during an epileptic seizure. The innovative TUT design holds great potential to drive progress in the field of high-performance and compact photoacoustic devices, particularly for applications in fundamental brain science research.
The Prevalence, Morphological Types and Factors Associated with Anemia Among Under- Five Children Hospitalized at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Muhunzi David , Bairon Silvano , Ndobho Flora
Published: September 2023

Background
Anemia is a global public health concern that causes significant mortality and morbidity especially in children. The risk factors for anemia vary in different settings, including having intestinal parasites, malaria parasitemia, HIV infection, nutritional deficiencies, chronic diseases, and the habit of taking meals with tea. Understanding the burden, morphological types and factors associated with anemia is important in guiding the development and implementation of intervention programs.
Objective
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, morphological types and factors associated with anemia among under-five children hospitalized at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Materials and Methods
This was a cross-sectional facility-based study conducted among under-five children hospitalized at Muhimbili National Hospital. A convenient sampling technique was used to obtain study participants. Data on sociodemographic characteristics of the children and their caregivers were obtained using a pretested structured questionnaire, and nutritional status of each child was assessed. Complete Blood Count (CBC) results on the day of admission was recorded. Data were entered in SPSS software version 27 for analysis. Continuous variables were expressed as median and interquartile range, while categorical variables were expressed as frequency and percentages. To determine the factors associated with anemia, significant variables from univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis, and adjusted odds ratio was calculated to determine the strength of association. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
The prevalence of anemia was found to be 85.9% with the proportion of mild, moderate and severe anemia being 22.9%, 45.7% and 31.4% respectively. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was the predominant morphological type of anemia among the study participants. Receiving a last dose of anthelminthic medication more than three months prior to admission and the habit of taking meals with tea were found to be significantly associated with anemia.
Conclusion
Prevalence of anemia among under-five children hospitalized at Muhimbili National Hospital is high. Intervention programs to address anemia in Tanzania should take on board the identified modifiable factors in order to reduce the prevalence of anemia among under-five children.
Allosteric Site Mediates Inhibition of Tonic NMDA Receptor Activity by Low Dose Ketamine
Authors: Popescu Gabriela , Abbott Jamie , Wen Han , Liu Beiying , Gupta Sheila , Iacobucci Gary , Zheng Wenjun
Published: September 2023

Ketamine, a general anesthetic, has rapid and sustained antidepressant effects when administered at lower doses. At anesthetic doses, ketamine causes a drastic reduction in excitatory transmission by lodging in the centrally located hydrophilic pore of the NMDA receptor, where it blocks ionic flow. In contrast, the molecular and cellular targets responsible for the antidepressant effects of ketamine remain controversial. Here, we report functional and structural evidence that, at nanomolar concentrations, ketamine interacts with membrane-accessible hydrophobic sites where it stabilizes desensitized receptors to cause an incomplete, voltage- and pH-dependent reduction in NMDA receptor activity. This allosteric mechanism spares brief receptor activations and reduces preferentially currents from tonically active receptors. The hydrophobic site is a promising target for safe and effective therapies against acute and chronic neurodegeneration.
Global Trends and Research Progress of Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde and Cancer: A Bibliometric Analysis (1991-2022)
Authors: Pourbabaki Reza , Abbaslou Hossein , Sadeghi-Yarandi Mohsen , Soleimani Esmaeel , Hwang Jooyeon
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the global scientific output of cancer of formaldehyde (CFA) in occupational exposure and explore the hot spots and research trends. Articles related to the CFA between 1991–2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. We retrieved the articles for a bibliometric analysis including countries/institutions, international cooperation, journals, citations, and keywords. Among 758 retrieved articles, 350 eligible studies were identified for further analysis. The National Cancer Institute conducted more research than others about CFA. The journal of “American Journal of Industrial Medicine” published the most studies on “CFA”. The past few years have witnessed research focused on the mechanism of formaldehyde in causing cancer at the cellular level. Numerous studies have registered significant increases in oxidative and DNA damage in the bone marrow of mice exposed to formaldehyde. There have been reports of increased DNA-protein crosslinks and structural chromosomal alterations in lymphocytes in pathology and anatomy laboratory workers exposed to formaldehyde. Further original research on representative samples of workers exposed to measurable levels of formaldehyde is essential. In order to investigate the toxicity caused by formaldehyde, studies should be designed to minimize bias caused by co-exposure to other carcinogens. The current trends may suggest research gaps in our understanding of formaldehyde mechanisms and shifting occupational exposure levels for formaldehyde. As a result, future studies should most likely concentrate on molecular biology and human exposure assessment to formaldehyde and its substitutes.
Machine-Learning Workflow for Edge Computed Arrhythmia Detection in Exploration-Class Missions
Authors: Mani Cyril , Paul Tanya , Archambault Patrick , Marois Alexandre
Published: September 2023

Deep-space missions require preventative care methods based on predictive models for identifying in-space pathologies. Deploying such models requires flexible edge computing, which Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) formats enable by optimizing inference directly on wearable edge devices. This work demonstrates an innovative approach to point-of-care machine learning model pipelines by combining this capacity with an advanced self-optimizing training scheme to classify periods of Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR), Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB) and Atrial Flutter (AFL). 742 hours of electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings were pre-processed into 30-second normalized samples where variable mode decomposition purged muscle artifacts and instrumentation noise. Seventeen heart rate variability and morphological ECG features were extracted by convoluting peak detection with Gaussian distributions and delineating QRS complexes using discrete wavelet transforms. The decision tree classifier’s features, parameters and hyperparameters were self-optimized through stratified triple nested cross-validation ranked on F1-scoring against cardiologist labelling. The selected model achieved a macro F1-score of 0.899 with 0.993 for NSR, 0.938 for AFIB and 0.767 for AFL. The most important features included median P-wave amplitudes, PNN20, and mean heart rates. The ONNX-translated pipeline took 9.2 s/sample. The novel combination of our self-optimizing scheme and deployment use case of ONNX demonstrated overall accurate operational tachycardia detection.
Valorization of Malaysian fish sausage (Keropok Lekor) by-products into bioactive fish protein hydrolysate by Bacillus licheniformis fermentation: Influence of by-products characteristics on nutritional, antioxidant and antibacterial capacities
Authors: Rashid Nur Yuhasliza Abd , Indran Santhiya Ravi , Manan Musaalbakri Abd , Pa'ee Khairul Faizal , Saari Nazamid , Wong Fadzlie Wong Faizal
Published: September 2023

The Malaysian fish sausage industry, Keropok Lekor (KL), generates large amounts of by-products (FBs), that are underutilised and inappropriately disposed of, resulting in negative environmental implications. This study aimed to transform the FBs into bioactive fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) via the Bacillus licheniformis fermentative approach. Besides the various FBs and strain type used, this study was significant for its detailed analysis exploring the effect of the FB's nutritional and amino acid contents on antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as well as the nutritional qualities of the FPHs. The B. licheniformis fermentation improved the FBs nutritional quality by increasing protein digestibility and essential amino acid content. The highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) was linked to soluble protein concentration, and there was a significant correlation (R2 = 0.9) between the DH and protein yields in the samples. The FPHs demonstrated stronger DPPH (32.5–58.4%) and ABTS (74.8–90.1%) antiradical activities, and ferrous chelating activity (25.3–59.9%) than that of the FBs (p < 0.05). The highest peptide concentration was found in fraction 3–10 kDa, which also showed the strongest inhibition of DPPH and ABTS, and ferrous chelating activity. The amino acid composition of the FPH significantly influenced the level of antioxidant activity. However, all FPHs showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference in growth inhibition against all tested pathogens compared to their FBs. Hence, KL FBs valorisation into high-value product like bioactive FPH by microbial fermentation serves as a green strategy to improve waste management and to advocate a circular and sustainable bioeconomy.
Eco-evolutionary strategies for relieving carbon limitation under salt stress differ across microbial clades
Authors: Chen Ruirui , Dong Yang , Graham Emily , Yu Bingqian , Bao Yuanyuan , Li Xin , You Xiangwei , Feng Youzhi
Published: September 2023

The eco-evolutionary tradeoff between microbial mitigation of carbon limitation and maintenance of functional traits in saline soils, a habitat rapidly expanding in extent under climate change, represents a significant knowledge gap in predicting future soil health and ecological function. Through shotgun metagenomic sequencing of coastal soils along a salinity gradient, we show contrasting eco-evolutionary directions of soil bacteria and archaea that manifest in changes to genome size and functional potential of the soil microbiome with increasing saline stress. Bacteria exhibited reduced genome sizes associated with a depletion of core metabolic genes in response to salinity, while archaea displayed larger genomes and an enrichment of salt-resistance, core metabolic genes, and especially an enhanced capacity for carbon acquisition in saline soils. This suggests that bacteria conserve energy through genome streamlining when facing salt stress, while archaea invest in carbon acquisition pathways to broaden their resource usage. These findings suggest divergent patterns in eco-evolutionary adaptations to soil saline stress amongst microbial clades and serve as a foundation for understanding the response of soil microbiomes to escalating climate change.
Carboxypeptidase A4 regulates stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Li Ying-dong , Qin Ou , Ai Yong-biao , Li Wenfang
Published: September 2023

To investigate the significance of carboxypeptidase A4 (CPA4) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The expressions of CPA4, stem and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins in TNBC were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between CPA4 and clinicopathological parameters in 168 cases of TNBC was analyzed. The effect of si-CPA4 on MDA-MB-231 was observed. The related proteins were detected by Western Blot. The results indicated the CPA4 positive rate in TNBC was 57.14% (96/168), which was significantly higher than that in non-TNBC tissues (37.5%, 15/40) (χ2 = 5.009,P = 0.025). The positive rate of CPA4 in TNBC tissues was significantly higher than that in breast hyperplasia tissues (20%, 4/20) (χ2 = 9.850,P = 0.002). High CPA4 in patients was positively correlated with NANOG (χ2 = 4.205,P = 0.040) and E-cadherin (χ2 = 11.764,P = 0.040). Vimentin (χ2 = 4.797,P = 0.029), EGFR (χ2 = 4.057,P = 0.044). Si-CPA4 inhibited MDA-MB-231 colony formation, sphere forming, migration and invasion, inhibited the expression of ALDH-1, NANOG and Vimentin, but promoted the expression of E-cadherin. We concluded CPA4 might play an important role in TNBC stemness progression and EMT conversion. CPA4 might be an important therapeutic target for TNBC therapy.
Three-Dimensional Observations of the Electric Field Distribution of Variable Frequency Microwaves: Scaling-up Organic Syntheses
Authors: Horikoshi Satoshi , Mura Haruka , Serpone Nick
Published: September 2023

This article reports, for the first time, the experimental in-situ three-dimensional measurements of the E-field’s uniform distribution of Variable Frequency Microwaves (VFM) within a multimode cavity under high power conditions, and subsequent comparison to fixed frequency microwaves (FFM). Such distribution could earlier be assessed only through a theoretical analysis. The article also examines the consequences of changes in VFM irradiation conditions and elucidates the threshold at which VFM irradiation is beneficial. With an ultimate focus of the use of VFM microwave radiation toward industrial applications, the effective synthesis of 4-methylbyphenyl (4-MBP) carried out in the presence of Pd (catalyst) supported on activated carbon particulates (Pd/AC) was revisited with two principal objectives:(a) the effective suppression of discharge phenomena (formation of hot spots); and (b) the scale-up of the synthesis using a 5-fold increase in sample quantity and a 7.5-fold larger reactor size (diameter) than used in earlier studies.
From Places to People: Human-centric Characterization of Life Activity Flood Exposure for Intra- and Inter-city Analysis
Authors: Rajput Akhil , Liu Chenyue , Liu Zhewei , Mostafavi Ali
Published: September 2023

A human-centric perspective on flood exposure assessment of flood-hazard vulnerability transcends the conventional focus on spatial exposure by quantifying the effect of daily human activities in flood-prone areas. Using a novel index to quantify the time individuals spend in flood-prone areas, this method characterizes latent flood exposure. Calculations rely on millions of fine-resolution location-based data points collected anonymously from smartphones of opted-in users. A comparative analysis of multiple U.S. metropolitan cities based on latent flood exposure with similar extents of spatial flood risk reveals significant spatial disparities in LAFE. A bimodal distribution in life activity flood exposure index values in 18 coastal metropolitan areas reveals flood exposure disparities. The inter-city analysis results also uncovers the role of urban forms and structures in shaping LAFE, revealing how spatial clustering of flood hazards and distance-decay characteristic of human visitation can exacerbate flood exposure. Our findings provide a novel and more human-centric approach to characterizing and quantifying flood exposure by shifting focus from places to people. The life activity flood exposure captures the extent to which a population’s daily life activities would be disrupted due to flooding and could capture the socio-economic aspects of flood exposure (such as loss of access to critical facilities and work) more objectively than the existing approaches. The findings provide interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners across urban sciences, flood risk management, emergency response with novel human-centric measure and insights to better examine flood exposure and risk.
Economic, Social and Family Factors of the Intergenerational Transmission of Educational in the 21 st Century. An analysis for Spanish Case
Authors: Garcia-Centeno Maria-Carmen , Escobar Laura De Pablos
Published: September 2023

Achieving greater economic and social equity among individuals has long been an important objective for various economic actors. Education has played a key role in achieving this goal, reducing inequalities and achieving equality of opportunity. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to make important contributions, on the one hand, to the characteristics of the intergenerational transmission of education at both national and regional levels in Spain and, on the other hand, to the identification of the most influential social, economic and family factors in the different categories of educational mobility in the first decades of the 21st century. To do so, we have used data from different modules of the Living Conditions Survey of the National Institute of Statistics for the years 2005, 2011 and 2019. Our results are important because, on the one hand, they show that this transmission is very different between the richest and the poorest autonomous communities and, on the other hand, that despite the significant increases in educational levels between generations within families, a high degree of determinism remains.
JEL classification codes: I21; J48; J62
Establishment and characterization of a novel hilar cholangiocarcinoma cell line, CBC3T-1
Authors: Bai Mingzhen , Jiang Ningzu , Fu Wenkang , Huang Chongfei , Tian Liang , Mi Ningning , Gao Long , Ma Haidong , Lu Yawen , Cao Jie , Zhang Chao , Yue Ping , Zhang Yong , Lin Yanyan , Meng Wenbo , Li Xun
Published: September 2023

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a group of malignant heterogeneous cancer arising from the biliary tree. The tumor is characterized by insidious onset, high degree of malignancy, poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Immortalized cancer cell lines are the best and easiest models for in vitro cancer research. Here, we established a naturally immortalized highly tumorigenic hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA) cell line, CBC3T-1. The CBC3T-1 cell line was cultured for over 60 passages. Thorough analysis showed that CBC3T-1 cells share characteristics similar to original tumor cells from patients with cholangiocarcinoma and display a stable phenotype, including features of epithelial origin, stem cell-like properties as well as a high invasive and migratory capability and tumorigenicity in mice. Furthermore, this cell line showed the best sensitivity to paclitaxel, followed by gemcitabine. RNA sequencing and whole‑exome sequencing showed that cancer-associated pathways and somatic mutations played a dominant role in the development of CCA. We established and characterized a new hCCA cell line, CBC3T-1, which contributes to a better understanding of bile duct cancer and can be used to study tumorigenesis and progression and the role of anticancer drugs.
NMR 1H, 13C, 15N backbone resonance assignments of wild-type human K-Ras and its oncogenic mutants G12D and G12C bound to GTP
Authors: Yuan Chunhua , Hansen Alexandar L. , Bruschweiler-Li Lei , Brüschweiler Rafael
Published: September 2023

Human K-Ras protein, which is a member of the GTPase Ras family, hydrolyzes GTP to GDP and concomitantly converts from its active to its inactive state. It is an important oncoprotein, because several mutations, particularly those at residue position 12, occur with a high frequency in a wide range of human cancers. The K-Ras protein is therefore an important target for developing therapeutic anti-cancer agents. In this work we report the almost complete sequence-specific resonance assignments of wild-type, G12C and G12D mutants in the GTP-complexed active forms, including the functionally important Switch I and Switch II regions. These assignments serve as the basis for a comprehensive functional dynamics study of wild-type K-Ras and its G12 mutants.
Reconfiguration of four-degree limited Laman graphs
Authors: Trinh Hoang Minh
Published: September 2023

Several simple algorithms are proposed for expanding and reducing a Laman graph, of which each vertex has at most four neighbors. These algorithms can be iteratively applied to construct, reconfigure, or destroy a given four-degree limited Laman graph. The validity of the proposed algorithms is asserted by Laman’s criterion.MSC Classification:68R10
Correlates of preconception and pregnancy hair cortisol concentrations
Authors: Juvinao-Quintero Diana L. , Künzel Richard G. , Larabure-Torrealva Gloria , Duncan Laramie , Kirschbaum Clemens , Sanchez Sixto E. , Gelaye Bizu
Published: September 2023

Assessing factors that influence chronic stress biomarkers like hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) in pregnancy is critical to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, we aimed to identify correlates of HCC preconception and during pregnancy. 2,581 pregnant women participated in the study. HCC was available at four time periods: pre-pregnancy (0–3 months preconception, n = 1,023), and in the first (1–12 weeks, n = 1,734), second (13–24 weeks, n = 1,534), and third (25–36 weeks, n = 835) trimesters. HCC was assessed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sociodemographic, pregnancy- and hair-related characteristics, and measures of psychosocial stress, were interrogated as potential correlates of HCC. Spearman correlations, paired t-tests, and ANOVA were used to assess differences in log-transformed values of HCC (logHCC) across maternal characteristics. Multivariable linear regressions were used to identify the correlates of HCCs after adjusting for confounders. Mean logHCC values increased across the four prenatal periods (P < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, pre-pregnancy BMI was consistently associated with all HCCs, while gestational age, economic hardship, hair dyeing, and depression, showed time-specific associations with HCC. In conclusion, this study showed evidence of factors influencing HCC levels before and during pregnancy. The most consistent association was seen with pre-pregnancy BMI. Depression was also associated with HCC concentrations.
Enhancing statistical chart accessibility for people with low vision: insights from a user test
Authors: Alcaraz-Martínez Rubén , Ribera Mireia , Adeva-Fillol Adrià , Pascual-Almenara Afra
Published: September 2023

Purpose
A remote user test was performed with two versions (one accessible and another one non-accessible) of three types of web-based charts (horizontal bar chart, vertical stacked bar chart, and line chart). The objectives of the test were a) to validate a set of heuristic indicators for the evaluation of the accessibility of statistical charts presented in a previous work [7]; b) to identify new barriers and preferences for users with low vision in the access and use of this content not previously contemplated.
Methods
12 users were tested, with a variety of conditions associated with low vision: low visual acuity (6 users), reduced central vision (2 users), reduced peripheral vision (2 users), blurry vision (1 user), sensitivity to light (3 users), Nystagmus (2 users) and color vision deficiency (CVD) (4 users).
Results
From a quantitative standpoint, accessible versions of charts were more efficient, effective, and satisfactory. From a qualitative point of view, results verify the relevance of heuristics H2, Legend; H3, Axes; H6, Data source (as data table); H10, Safe colors; H11, Contrast; H12, Legibility; H13, Image quality; H14, Resize; H16, Focus visible; H17, Independent navigation; related to the proposed tasks. As new observations, tooltips were highly valued by all users, but their implementation must be improved to avoid covering up significant parts of the charts when displayed. The data table has also been frequently used by all users, especially in the non-accessible versions, allowing them to carry out tasks more efficiently. The position and size of the legend can be a significant barrier if it is too small or appears in an unusual position. Finally, despite the limitations related to color perception, some users prefer color graphics to black and white, so, to target all profiles, it is necessary to redundantly encode categories with colors and patterns as well.
Clay Soil Porosity Estimation Using Seismic P and S-Wave Velocities
Authors: Chatrayi Hosein , Hajizadeh Farnusch , Taghavi Behnam
Published: September 2023

To study how the soils, respond to an earthquake, seismic waves are frequently utilized. The purpose of this work is to build the porosity graphs based on the geotechnical parameters of the soils and forecast the porosity of shallow clay soils using seismic wave velocities that analyze the dynamic features of the soil. Compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities, seismic velocity ratio, Poisson ratio, bulk modulus, and shear modulus are the factors used to calculate porosity. In this work, porosity values are calculated using grain and dry densities of core samples taken from different boreholes within the study region, and bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio are calculated using P- and S-wave velocities obtained by utilizing the seismic-refraction method, as well as porosity values. The research region is in Iran; Isfahan Metro Line 2 and mostly consists of clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposits. Based on the values of the Poisson ratio, seismic P wave velocity, seismic velocity ratio (Vp/Vs), and the stiffness of the clay soils, the data of the clay soils in the region were individually sorted. These characteristics were used to create novel multi-parameter relationships between clay soil porosity, seismic velocities, shear modulus, and the Poisson ratio. Using the error norm approach, the errors in the parameters utilized for each relationship were identified. The error norm technique's findings show that the shear wave velocity and shear module have the lowest error when calculating porosity. Therefore, it is advised to estimate porosity of shallow clay soils using the given correlations. These relationships can be used to assess the porosity of clay soil and to determine if the soil's pores are saturated with liquid.
Radiomics of pericoronary adipose tissue on computed tomography angiography predicts coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Miao Shumei , Yu Feihong , Rongrong Sheng , Zhang Xiaoliang , Li Yong , Qi Yaolei , Lu Shan , Ji Pei , Fan Jiyue , Zhang Xin , Xu Tingyu , Zhongmin Wang , Yang Guanyu , Liu Yun
Published: September 2023

Background
Diabetes is a common chronic metabolic disease. The progression of the disease promotes vascular inflammation and the formation of atherosclerosis, leading to cardiovascular disease. The coronary artery perivascular adipose tissue attenuation index based on CCTA is a new noninvasive imaging biomarker that reflects the spatial changes in perivascular adipose tissue attenuation in CCTA images and the inflammation around the coronary arteries. In this study, a radiomics approach is proposed to extract a large number of image features from CCTA in a high-throughput manner and combined with clinical diagnostic data to explore the predictive ability of vascular perivascular adipose imaging data based on CCTA for coronary heart disease in diabetic patients.
Methods
R language was used for statistical analysis to screen the variables with significant differences. A presegmentation model was used for CCTA vessel segmentation, and the pericoronary adipose region was screened out. PyRadiomics was used to calculate the radiomics features of pericoronary adipose tissue, and SVM, DT and RF were used to model and analyze the clinical data and radiomics data. Model performance was evaluated using indicators such as PPV, FPR, AAC, and ROC.
Results
The results indicate that there are significant differences in age, blood pressure, and some biochemical indicators between diabetes patients with and without coronary heart disease. Among 1037 calculated radiomic parameters, 18.3% showed significant differences in imaging omics features. Three modeling methods were used to analyze different combinations of clinical information, internal vascular radiomics information and pericoronary vascular fat radiomics information. The results showed that the dataset of full data had the highest ACC values under different machine learning models. The support vector machine method showed the best specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for this dataset.
Conclusions
In this study, the clinical data and pericoronary radiomics data of CCTA were fused to predict the occurrence of coronary heart disease in diabetic patients. This provides information for the early detection of coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes and allows for timely intervention and treatment.
A Switchable Demultiplexer utilizing Magnetic-Based Phononic Crystal Configuration
Authors: Ranjbar Sajjad , Nazari Fakhroddin , Hajizadeh Rasoul
Published: September 2023

This study presents a novel approach to achieve a controllable demultiplexer by applying a magnetic field in a solid-solid phononic crystal structure. The proposed phononic crystal structure consists of a square lattice made of tungsten cylinders embedded in a PMMA substrate. The switchable demultiplexer is composed of two identical but symmetrical parts, with an input waveguide separating them. Each unit comprises an output channel and a common input channel, with output channels side-coupled by a ring resonator to the input bus waveguide. The operating frequency range of the demultiplexer is in the MHz regime. The switchability of this elastic demultiplexer is achieved by dynamically controlling Young's modulus. By applying a magnetic field to the structure, the Young's modulus of the Terfenol-D material used in the output waveguide is altered, allowing for controllability. The proposed demultiplexer demonstrates an average crosstalk value of -12.65 dB, indicating suitable performance, along with a high average quality factor (Q) of 1870. The solid-solid elastic structure is simulated using the finite element method.
Efficacy and Safety of Radiotherapy Plus Immunochemotherapy in Patients with Oligometastatic Esophageal Cancer
Authors: duan Yanan , cheng shuping , qin wenru , zou bing , fan bingjie , wang linlin
Published: September 2023

Background and purpose: Immunotherapy had revolutionized the treatment of metastatic esophageal cancer. Oligometastasis is a limited-metastatic state, and patients at this stage may benefit from metastatic-directed local treatments, which may increase their chances of survival. As an immunomodulator, radiotherapy (RT) might achieve a synergistic effect when combined with immunotherapy. Compared to immunochemotherapy alone, this study assessed the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy plus immunochemotherapy in de-novo oligometastatic esophageal cancer (EC).
Materials and methods: In this trial, we retrospectively collected esophageal cancer patients with de-novo oligometastases and received immunochemotherapy. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), and treatment-related adverse events (TREAs).
Results: Between Jan 2019 and Jan 2022, 226 patients were included, which consisted of 108 cases in the RT plus immunochemotherapy (iCRT) group, and 118 cases in the immunochemotherapy (iCT) group. With a median follow-up of 22.2 months, the median PFS (mPFS) was 13.0 months for the iCRT group and 7.7 months for the iCT group (P＜0.001, HR=0.520, 95% CI, 0.388-0.696). In terms of OS, the median OS (mOS) was 27.5 months for the iCRT group and 21.7 months for the iCT group (P=0.026, HR=0.670, 95% CI, 0.468-0.958). The iCRT group compared with the iCT group was associated with a higher risk of ≥ grade 3 myelosuppression. No other grade 5 TRAEs or new safety signals were observed. Through univariate and multivariate analysis, we also found that, besides local radiotherapy, oligometastatic esophageal cancer (OMEC) patients with a history of alcohol consumption, more metastatic lesions, and second-line and above treatment had inferior PFS. And a lower KPS score, a greater number of metastatic lesions, and second-line and above treatment were found to have inferior OS.
Conclusion: Compared to immunochemotherapy alone, radiotherapy plus immunochemotherapy showed survival benefits with manageable safety for oligometastatic esophageal cancer patients. It deserves to be validated in a larger trial.
WITHDRAWN: P-Delta Effects Assessment in Precast Structures Via Inelastic Performance Based Spectra
Authors: Nascimbene Roberto , Sisti Andrea
Published: September 2023

The seismic design of precast structures is significantly impacted by the inherent characteristics of precast technology. One primary concern is to deliver structural elements that are as lightweight as possible to streamline on-site assembly and cost reduction. Consequently, the slenderness of beams and columns is considerably greater compared to traditional cast-in-situ concrete constructions, and second-order effects assume a pivotal role. Furthermore, these very factors make dry pinned joints the preferred choice for designers when it comes to connecting beams and columns. Cast-in-situ concrete is typically reserved for connections between columns and foundations, as well as for topping off precast floor elements. Pinned joints result in the transformation of the frame into an ideal isostatic structure, with cantilevered columns securely anchored at the base. This transformation leads to a significant reduction in the energy dissipation capacity of the entire structure. It not only prevents the formation of plastic hinges in the beams but also amplifies the P-Delta effects in the column's response by decreasing the overall stiffness when subjected to lateral loads. A simplified approach for assessing dynamic instability in single and multi-storey precast hinged frames is presented. The objective is to create a tool for the initial design of such structures, enabling the prediction of dynamic collapse and the achievement of limit states during seismic events based on fundamental structural parameters. The impact of these parameters on the overall behaviour is explored through incremental dynamic nonlinear analysis, using real far-field accelerograms, on equivalent single-degree-of-freedom systems. The result is a set of inelastic spectra, giving the structural capacity in term of force reduction factor versus parameters like building height, column aspect ratios and floor masses configuration, with regard to different limit states usually considered in seismic design of these structures.
Risk prediction model for mortality in microscopic polyangiitis: multicentre REVEAL cohort study
Authors: Kotani Takuya , Matsuda Shogo , Okazaki Ayana , Nishioka Daisuke , Watanabe Ryu , Gon Takaho , Manabe Atsushi , Shoji Mikihito , Kadoba Keiichiro , Hiwa Ryosuke , Yamamoto Wataru , Hashimoto Motomu , Takeuchi Tohru
Published: September 2023

Background: To establish refined risk prediction models for mortality in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) by using comprehensive clinical characteristics.
Methods: Data from the multicentre Japanese Registry of Patients with Vasculitis (REVEAL cohort) were used in our analysis. In total, 194 patients with newly diagnosed MPA were included, and baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment details were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the significant risk factors predictive of mortality.
Results: Over a median follow-up of 202.5 (84–352) weeks, 60 (30.9%) of 194 patients died. The causes of death included MPA-related vasculitis (18.3%), infection (50.0%), and other (31.7%). Deceased patients were older (median age 76.2 years) than survivors (72.3 years) (P < 0.0001). The death group had shorter observation periods (median 128.5 [35.3–248] weeks) than the survivor group (229 [112–392] weeks). Compared to survivors, the death group exhibited a higher smoking index, lower serum albumin levels, higher serum C-reactive protein levels, higher Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), higher Five-Factor Score, and a more severe European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS) categorization system. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher BVAS and severe EUVAS independently predicted mortality. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated lower survival rates for BVAS ≥20 and severe EUVAS, and a risk prediction model (RPM) based on these stratified patients into low, moderate, and high-risk mortality groups.
Conclusions: The developed RPM is promising to predict mortality in patients with MPA, and provides clinicians with a valuable tool for risk assessment and informed clinical decision-making.
Exploring Bangladeshi EFL Learners’ Mindfulness and Engagement in Online Learning Context
Authors: Khatami Mojtaba , Shayerey Afsana Jerin , Behera Santosh Kumar , He Deyuan , Haji-Othman Noor Azam
Published: September 2023

The study investigates the relationship between Bangladeshi English as a Foreign Language(EFL) learners’ mindfulness and their engagement in online learning context due to Covid-19. Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS) and Online Student Engagement Scale (OSES) were employed to gather data from 215 male and female Bangladeshi university students on a voluntary basis. Descriptive and regression analyses revealed that there was no significant relationship between mindfulness and online student engagement. Thematic analysis of respondents’ interview data collected through open-ended questions revealed that more than 80% of Bangladeshi EFL students preferred in-person classes due to unreliable internet connection, stress, anxiety, and lack of interaction with teachers and peers. The study suggests that policy makers should prioritize promoting internet access and reliability to facilitate effective online classes, which could alleviate stress and anxiety among students and provide a platform for learning-friendly interactions between students and teachers.
"We're all learning together”: Educator perspectives on medical student reflective practice
Authors: Woodall Hannah , Carrigan Brendan , Furness Linda , Heffernan Robert , Pinidiyapathirage Janani , Brumpton Kay
Published: September 2023

Introduction
Reflective learning skills are important in the development of medical students. Through reflection, students learn about self and medicine and the integration of theoretical knowledge into real life work. However, reflection requires time, willingness, and skills on the part of the student. This study explored the factors perceived by educators to influence reflective learning amongst medical students undertaking a rural longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) in southeast Queensland.
Methods:
Within the described LIC program, medical students receive teaching and support from both medical and nursing educators. Two qualitative focus groups were conducted with eleven educators from a medical (6 participants) and nursing (5 participants) background. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clark’s approach to thematic analysis.
Results:
Three major themes were identified as contributing to student reflective learning. Fostering a culture of reflection within the organisation was seen as important for supporting and setting expectations for reflection. Undertaking the reflective learning journey together recognised the importance of students and educators learning collaboratively. Finally, looking through “the student lens” allowed educators to recognise the wider contextual factors impacting on student reflection. Recognition of these factors allows educators to tailor reflective teaching to the student.
Discussion
Reflective learning is a critical skill for medical students and their educators. This study identified that reflection can be supported through the development of a supportive organisational culture, through encouraging educators and students to learn together, and through recognising the student perspective.
Consensus of multi-agent systems with randomly occurring nonlinearities via uncertain pinning control under switching topologies *
Authors: Sui Xin , Yang Yongqing , Wang Fei
Published: September 2023

This paper is focused on the consensus problem of multi-agent systems via uncertain pinning control under switching topologies. The stochastic disturbances and randomly occurring nonlinearities are proposed to describe more realistic systems. The communication topology is modeled by a directed graph and it is divided into two cases, the consensus problem is discussed in these two cases. In addition, there exist some uncertain pinning connections between the followers and leader due to switching topologies, the distributed control protocol is designed to satisfy the follower asymptotically converge to the leader. By constructing suitable multiple Lyapunov functions and utilizing tools of M-matrix theory, some sufficient consensus criteria are deduced to reach this goal. Finally, two examples are given to verify the correctness of the proposed method.
A 30-year bibliometric analysis of the literature in the disciplines of orthopedics, surgery, or oncology on chondrosarcoma from 1993 to 2023
Authors: Yılmaz Selçuk , Kurt Mehmet
Published: September 2023

Background: A thorough bibliometric analysis of publications published in the field of chondrosarcoma research has not yet been performed in the Web of Science database, especially for publications published between 1993 and 2023. This study, with a focus on the fields of orthopedics, surgery, and oncology, aims to fill this knowledge gap by providing a thorough analysis of the current knowledge in the field of chondrosarcoma.
Methods: In this bibliometric study, a literature search was performed in the Web of Science database to find all publications on chondrosarcoma. For data visualization and analysis, a bibliometric software program was used (the open-source visualization application Vosviewer).
Results: The Web of Science Core Collection data used for this retrospective bibliometric study, which covers the period from January 1993 to September 2023, reveals interesting trends in chondrosarcoma research. As the most popular fields of study, orthopedics, surgery, and oncology accounted for a sizable portion of the publications. A noteworthy increase in research output from 2014 to 2023, accounting for 41.74% of the papers, reflects a thriving research environment. Leading countries for publications were China, Japan, and the United States, demonstrating cross-border cooperation in chondrosarcoma research. Their contributions were highlighted by important affiliations with institutions like Harvard University, Leiden University, and China Medical University Taiwan. A thorough keyword mapping analysis also highlighted research priorities, encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation. The field's scholarly importance and ongoing relevance are highlighted by the study's high citation count (30,076 total) and highly cited articles.
Conclusions: Overall, this information offers crucial insights into the chondrosarcoma research landscape's development, its collaborative nature, and its long-lasting influence on academic research and clinical practice.