bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of the Installation Efficiency of Vertical Stationary Photovoltaic Modules with a Double-Sided “East–West”-Oriented Solar Panel
Authors: Golub Gennadii , Blažauskas Egidijus , Tsyvenkova Nataliya , Šarauskis Egidijus , Jasinskas Algirdas , Kukharets Savelii , Nadykto Volodymyr , Holubenko Anna
Published: February 2025

The objects of this research are double-sided stationary vertical photovoltaic modules (PV-modules) with an “East–West”-oriented solar panel. The tilt angles of the Sun’s rays on PV-modules at a latitude of 50° were determined, and the installation efficiencies of both double-sided stationary vertical PV-modules with an “East–West” oriented panel and PV-modules installed at an angle of latitude with a “South” oriented panel were compared. The horizontal azimuth of the fall of the Sun’s rays during the day when using PV-modules with an “East–West”-oriented panel reaches a minimum at noon. The vertical azimuth of the Sun’s rays remains constant throughout the day and can vary from 66.55° to 113.45°. The weighted average daily installation efficiency of PV-modules with an “East–West”-oriented panel has the same value as that of PV-modules with a “South”-oriented panel, and can vary between 45.87 and 50% on different days. However, these installation options have a “mirror” value of the cosines of the Sun’s rays falling on the surface of the PV-modules and can have values from 0.917 to 1. The results can be used as a basis for evaluating the efficiency of double-sided vertical stationary solar PV-modules with an “East–West”-oriented panel.
A Wind and Solar Power Prediction Method Based on Temporal Convolutional Network–Attention–Long Short-Term Memory Transfer Learning and Sensitive Meteorological Features
Authors: Wang Yuan , Bi Yue , Guo Yu , Liu Xianglong , Sun Weiqiang , Yu Yuan , Yang Jiaqiang
Published: February 2025

To address the issue of declining prediction accuracy caused by the lack of data in newly constructed wind and solar power stations, this paper introduces a transfer learning-based forecasting approach for wind and photovoltaic power. The method incorporates sensitive meteorological feature selection and utilizes a Temporal Convolutional Network–Attention–Long Short-Term Memory (TCN-ATT-LSTM) model. Spearman’s rank correlation, mutual information entropy, and Pearson correlation are employed to investigate the relationship between meteorological features and power output. Through evidence theory, meteorological features with a cumulative contribution exceeding 85% are selected as inputs for the wind and solar power forecasting model. The TCN-ATT-LSTM network is pre-trained to extract common knowledge, and transfer learning is applied to fine-tune (FT) the model through network parameter adjustments. This enables the adaptive model to be quickly constructed for target wind and solar power stations with limited data, improving the prediction accuracy. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through its application to data from a projected wind and solar power station planned for a region in northwestern China. The proposed method not only enhances forecasting accuracy for emerging wind and solar power stations with limited data but also has significant implications for the renewable energy industry.
Data Conversion Strategies for Effective Aviation Technical Support as a Service
Authors: Kabashkin Igor , Perekrestov Vladimir , Pivovar Maksim
Published: February 2025

Small airlines face significant challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards due to limited resources, fragmented technical support ecosystems, and high operational costs. Aviation Technical Support as a Service (ATSaaS) offers an innovative, scalable framework to address these issues by providing centralized or decentralized platforms for technical support. This study examines the advantages, disadvantages, and life cycle costs of centralized and decentralized data conversion architectures within the ATSaaS model. Using mathematical models and a numerical example, the research highlights the trade-offs between initial investments and long-term operational costs, with centralized systems benefiting from economies of scale and decentralized systems offering flexibility. This study also identifies limitations and future research directions.
Master Production Schedule in the Consumer Product Goods Industry: Benefits of APS Applications
Authors: Pekarcikova Miriam , Trebuna Peter , Kliment Marek , Kronova Jana , Dic Michal
Published: February 2025

The presented article deals with the application of tools to calculate the Master Production Schedule (MPS) in the production of beverages (consumer packed goods) and its impact on the inventory profile in finite or infinite capacity. The calculation of MPS can be performed at the level of an ERP solution or with dedicated standalone planning software. The first part of the manuscript defines MPS calculations, its position in the planning hierarchy and defines reason of importance having MPS calculations in the consumer product industry. The second part of the article analyses sample data of beverage production, calculates MPS for each item and compares the results of finite/infinite capacity utilization. In the last part of the manuscript, authors discuss if the challenges described in introduction part of the article can be addressed with specific planning solution to calculate MPS.
A Bio-Inspired Visual Network That Fuses Motion and Contrast Features for Detecting Small Moving Objects in Dynamic Complex Environments
Authors: Ling Jun , Meng Hecheng , Gong Deming
Published: February 2025

In complex and dynamic environments, traditional motion detection techniques that rely on visual feature extraction face significant challenges when detecting and tracking small-sized moving objects. These difficulties primarily stem from the limited feature information inherent in small objects and the substantial interference caused by irrelevant information in complex backgrounds. Inspired by the intricate mechanisms for detecting small moving objects in insect brains, some bio-inspired systems have been designed to identify small moving objects in dynamic natural backgrounds. While these insect-inspired systems can effectively utilize motion information for object detection, they still suffer from limitations in suppressing complex background interference and accurately segmenting small objects, leading to a high rate of false positives from the complex background in their detection results. To overcome this limitation, inspired by insect visual neural structures, we propose a novel dual-channel visual network. The network first utilizes a motion detection channel to extract the target’s motion position information and track its trajectory. Simultaneously, a contrast detection channel extracts the target’s local contrast information. Then, based on the target’s motion trajectory, we determine the temporal variation trajectory of the target’s contrast. Finally, by comparing the temporal fluctuation characteristics of the contrast between the target and background false positives, the network can effectively distinguish between the target and background, thereby suppressing false positives. The experimental results show that the visual network performs excellently in terms of detection rate and precision, with an average detection rate of 0.81 and an average precision as high as 0.0968, which are significantly better than those of other comparative methods. This indicates that it has a significant advantage in suppressing false alarms and identifying small targets in complex dynamic environments.
A New System for Evaluating the Ability to Release Negative Ions—Taking Urban Forests as an Example
Authors: Li Shaoning , Li Tingting , Yu Di , Zhao Na , Xu Xiaotian , Li Bin , Lu Shaowei
Published: February 2025

Negative air ions (NAIs) have the effect of improving environmental quality and human health. This study for the first time constructed an evaluation system for forest release of NAIs employing five capacity indicators: release contribution rate (L), release coefficient (n), release rate (s), instantaneous standing stock (v), and total release amount (Z). These were applied to evaluate the forest’s ability to release NAIs in the suburban urban green space of Beijing—Xishan National Forest Park. The results showed that: (1) during the growing season of the forest, the value ranges of these indicators were as follows: L: 6.04~9.71%, n: 6.63~11.05%, s: 4.53 × 103~7.49 × 103/cm2/min, v: 4.48 × 104~7.34 × 104/cm2, Z: 2.70 × 105~4.40 × 105/cm2, with the spring and autumn “noon and evening” and summer “morning and evening” forests having the strongest effect and the highest release capacity of NAIs; (2) the daily changes of L, n, s, v, and Z are generally in a “bimodal” pattern, and the overall trend of “rise and fall, rise and fall” among various indicators is consistent, showing a “linkage”; (3) weather characteristics affect release capacity in the order of sunny > rainy > cloudy, with the strongest NAI release ability from forests at 6:00 on cloudy days (0.53%, 1.7%, 877.19/cm2/min, 3.56 × 104/cm2, 9.67 × 104/cm2) and at 18:00 on rainy days (4.58%, 4.83%, 3.16 × 103/cm2/min, 3.16 × 104/cm2, 1.90 × 105/cm2), with poorer NAI release ability in the afternoon on cloudy and rainy days; (4) forests can produce over 100 million levels of NAIs throughout the year, with an average daily production of over one million levels of NAIs. From 2019 to 2021, NAI production showed an increasing trend year by year, and the increase rate increased year by year to 19.6% and 56.5%.; and (5) the five indicators are significantly positively correlated with solar radiation and temperature in the range of 0–200 w/m2 and 5–20 °C, respectively. This study provides a new method to reveal the ability of forests to release NAIs, providing strong evidence for creating a livable ecological environment.
Large Eddy Simulations of Methane Emission from Landfill and Mathematical Modeling in the Far Field
Authors: Boghi Andrea , Harris Neil R. P. , Waombo Kennedy
Published: February 2025

Greenhouse gases such as methane will be generated from the landfilling of municipal waste. The emissions of noxious gas from landfills and other waste disposal areas can present a significant hazard to the environment and to the health of the population if not properly controlled. In order to have the harmful gas controlled and mitigate the environmental pollution, the extent to which the gas will be transported into the air at some time in the future must be estimated. The emission estimates (inventories) are combined with atmospheric observations and modeling techniques. In this work, large eddy simulation (LES) is used to determine the dispersion of methane in the atmosphere at large distances from the landfill. The methane is modeled as an active scalar, which diffuses from the landfill with a given mass flux. The Boussinesq approximation has been used to embed the effect of the buoyancy in the momentum equation. A logarithmic velocity profile has been used to model the wind velocity. The results in the far field show that the mean concentration and concentration rms of methane, appropriately scaled, are self-similar functions of a certain combination of the coordinates. Furthermore, the LES results are used to fit the parameters of the Gaussian plume model. This result can be used to optimize the placement of the atmospheric receptors and reduce their numbers in the far-field region, to improve emissions estimates and reduce the costs.
Cardiomyocytes in Hypoxia: Cellular Responses and Implications for Cell-Based Cardiac Regenerative Therapies
Authors: Dwyer Kiera D. , Snyder Caroline A. , Coulombe Kareen L. K.
Published: February 2025

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a severe hypoxic event, resulting in the loss of up to one billion cardiomyocytes (CMs). Due to the limited intrinsic regenerative capacity of the heart, cell-based regenerative therapies, which feature the implantation of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (SC-CMs) into the infarcted myocardium, are being developed with the goal of restoring lost muscle mass, re-engineering cardiac contractility, and preventing the progression of MI into heart failure (HF). However, such cell-based therapies are challenged by their susceptibility to oxidative stress in the ischemic environment of the infarcted heart. To maximize the therapeutic benefits of cell-based approaches, a better understanding of the heart environment at the cellular, tissue, and organ level throughout MI is imperative. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the cardiac pathophysiology occurring during and after MI, as well as how these changes define the cardiac environment to which cell-based cardiac regenerative therapies are delivered. This understanding is then leveraged to frame how cell culture treatments may be employed to enhance SC-CMs’ hypoxia resistance. In this way, we synthesize both the complex experience of SC-CMs upon implantation and the engineering techniques that can be utilized to develop robust SC-CMs for the clinical translation of cell-based cardiac therapies.
Prediction of circRNA–Disease Associations via Graph Isomorphism Transformer and Dual-Stream Neural Predictor
Authors: Li Hongchan , Qian Yuchao , Sun Zhongchuan , Zhu Haodong
Published: February 2025

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have attracted increasing attention for their roles in human diseases, making the prediction of circRNA–disease associations (CDAs) a critical research area for advancing disease diagnosis and treatment. However, traditional experimental methods for exploring CDAs are time-consuming and resource-intensive, while existing computational models often struggle with the sparsity of CDA data and fail to uncover potential associations effectively. To address these challenges, we propose a novel CDA prediction method named the Graph Isomorphism Transformer with Dual-Stream Neural Predictor (GIT-DSP), which leverages knowledge graph technology to address data sparsity and predict CDAs more effectively. Specifically, the model incorporates multiple associations between circRNAs, diseases, and other non-coding RNAs (e.g., lncRNAs, and miRNAs) to construct a multi-source heterogeneous knowledge graph, thereby expanding the scope of CDA exploration. Subsequently, a Graph Isomorphism Transformer model is proposed to fully exploit both local and global association information within the knowledge graph, enabling deeper insights into potential CDAs. Furthermore, a Dual-Stream Neural Predictor is introduced to accurately predict complex circRNA–disease associations in the knowledge graph by integrating dual-stream predictive features. Experimental results demonstrate that GIT-DSP outperforms existing state-of-the-art models, offering valuable insights for precision medicine and disease-related research.
Mechanisms Underlying the Stimulation of DUSP10/MKP5 Expression in Chondrocytes by High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid
Authors: Ariyoshi Wataru , Takeuchi Jun , Mitsugi Sho , Koga Ayaka , Nagai-Yoshioka Yoshie , Yamasaki Ryota
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Previously, we reported that high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) exerts chondroprotective effects by enhancing dual specificity protein phosphatase 10/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 5 (DUSP10/MKP5) expression and suppressing inflammatory cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) expression in a human immortalized chondrocyte line (C28/I2 cells) via inhibition of MAPKs. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the enhancement of DUSP10/MKP5 expression by HMW-HA in C28/I2 cells. Methods: C28/I2 cells were treated with HMW-HA, and the activation of intracellular signaling molecules was determined using Western blot analysis. The expression levels of mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) were evaluated through real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis. Results: HMW-HA treatment induced Akt phosphorylation via interaction with CD44, and pretreatment with specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling attenuated the HMW-HA-induced expression of DUSP10/MKP5. HMW-HA suppressed the expression of miR-92a, miR-181a, and miR-181d. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function analyses of these miRNAs indicate that miR-92a, miR-181a, and miR-181d negatively regulate DUSP10/MKP5 expression. Moreover, HMW-HA-induced Akt phosphorylation was partially suppressed by miR-181a and miR-181d mimics. Finally, we found that HMW-HA activates RhoA-associated protein kinase (ROK) signaling, which contributes to Akt phosphorylation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the induction of DUSP10/MKP5 expression by HMW-HA binding to CD44, leading to MMP13 suppression, involves multiple regulatory mechanisms, including PI3K/Akt and RhoA-activated ROK signaling, in addition to miRNA-mediated regulation. Elucidating these detailed molecular mechanisms may reveal novel biological activities that contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of HMW-HA against osteoarthritis.
Spontaneous Necrosis of a High-Risk Bladder Tumor Under Immunotherapy for Concurrent Malignant Melanoma: Role of BRAF Mutations and PD-L1 Expression
Authors: Condoiu Cristian , Musta Mihael , Cumpanas Alin Adrian , Bardan Razvan , Dema Vlad , Zara Flavia , Suciu Cristian Silviu , Dumitru Cristina-Stefania , Ciucurita Andreea , Dumache Raluca , Ismail Hossam , Novacescu Dorin
Published: February 2025

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous malignancy, and predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains a challenge. Herein, we investigate a high-risk bladder tumor, which developed during anti-BRAF/MEK therapy for a concurrent advanced BRAF-V600E-positive malignant melanoma (MM) and subsequently underwent complete spontaneous necrosis following Nivolumab immunotherapy, only to recur thereafter while still under the same treatment. This unique scenario provided an opportunity to investigate the roles of BRAF gene mutations in BC pathogenesis, respectively, of PD-L1 expression in immunotherapy response prediction. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed BC specimens obtained via transurethral resection at two critical time-points: prior to the complete spontaneous necrosis under Nivolumab (prenecrosis) and after tumor recurrence postnecrosis (postnecrosis). The BRAF gene mutation status was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). PD-L1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantified using the combined positive score (CPS), and a cutoff of ≥10 for positivity. Results: Neither pre- nor postnecrosis BC samples harbored BRAF gene mutations. Prenecrosis PD-L1 expression (CPS = 5) indicated a minimal likelihood of response to immunotherapy. However, complete spontaneous necrosis occurred under Nivolumab, followed by recurrence with further reduced PD-L1 expression (CPS = 1). Conclusions: The complete BC regression challenges the conventional role of PD-L1 as a sole predictive biomarker for immunotherapy. This study also highlights the potential role of BRAF/MEK inhibitors in BC oncogenesis and underscores the need for alternative biomarkers, such as tumor mutation burden (TMB) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), to guide treatment selection in BC better.
Precision in Tear Fluid Biomarker Discovery: Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Small-Volume, Individual Samples Using Capillary Tube Collection
Authors: Frenia Kyla , Fu Yunxiang , Beatty Maria A. , Garwood Kathleen C. , Kimmel Jeremy , Raiji Veena , Pan Dipanjan , Bartlett David , Labriola Leanne T. , Xiao Kunhong
Published: February 2025

Background: Tear fluid, rich in proteins, is a promising source of novel biomarkers for ocular and systemic health. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the primary method for biomarker discovery. Still, factors such as limited sample volume, extracellular protein contamination, and reflex tearing can significantly impact results. Glass microcapillary tubes minimize these issues. Schirmer strips remain the most common collection method due to existing LC-MS/MS protocol optimization. Methods: In this study, we evaluated multiple digestion protocols for the shotgun quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of small-volume tear fluid samples collected using glass capillary tubes. Protocol optimization was performed using pooled samples and then compared with the analysis of individual samples. Results: Using the optimized protocol, one μL samples were processed using a timsTOF Pro 2 mass spectrometer (Bruker) coupled online with an Evosep One liquid chromatography system (Evosep), leading to the identification of an average of 361 ± 63 proteins in pooled samples and 525 ± 123 proteins in individual small-volume tear fluid samples. Conclusions: This protocol highlights the practicality of using glass capillary tubes for comprehensive LC-MS/MS-based tear proteomics analysis, paving the way for detailed proteomics characterization of individual tear fluid samples rather than pooled samples. By shifting from pooled to individual samples, this approach greatly accelerates tear biomarker discovery, advancing precision and personalized medicine.
Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids Are Associated with Obesity in Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Molan Katja , Ambrožič Avguštin Jerneja , Likar Matevž , Pongrac Barlovic Drazenka , Žgur Bertok Darja , Starčič Erjavec Marjanca
Published: February 2025

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are produced by the microbial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates, play an important role in the metabolism and physiology of the host. SCFAs are involved in the regulation of maternal metabolism during pregnancy and influence weight gain, glucose metabolism, and metabolic hormones. Methods: In 2017, women who were treated for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana were invited to participate in a longitudinal study. A total of 45 women were included in this study and comprehensively phenotyped. During the second and third trimester of pregnancy, the women with GDM provided fecal samples for SCFA analysis. The samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for the simultaneous determination of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Results: SCFA concentrations in feces differed between overweight/obese and normal-weight women with GDM. Acetate and propionate concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant women who were overweight or obese before pregnancy compared to normal-weight women but butyrate concentrations were not. Butyrate was elevated in the third trimester in the group with excessive gestational weight gain. Conclusions: The relationship between SCFAs and obesity is complex, and the association between SCFAs and GDM remains to be clarified. Regardless of the conflicting publications on the role of SCFAs, our study showed that higher acetate and propionate levels were associated with the weight categories of overweight or obesity before pregnancy and higher butyrate levels were associated with excessive gestational weight gain.
Evaluation of Cancer Cell Invasion Ability Based on Electrochemical Impedance
Authors: Jiang Feiyang , Wei Mingji , Chen Si , Wang Yanfei , Liu Ning , Yang Ning
Published: February 2025

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with the ability of cancer cells to invade blood vessels or lymphatic systems, determining their metastatic potential. Therefore, the rapid and accurate assessment of cell invasiveness is crucial. Current methods, such as the Transwell assay and fluorescent labeling, are complex, invasive, and may disrupt the physiological state of live cells. In this study, we introduce an electrochemical impedance-based method for evaluating cancer cell invasiveness, combining Transwell and microfluidic technologies to monitor the invasion process in a dynamic environment. A stable microfluidic chip with 30 μm interdigital electrodes was developed, optimized for HeLa cell detection. We identified 1 kHz as the optimal frequency for achieving the maximum impedance resolution of cancer cell invasiveness. By correlating the impedance response of Zcells/Zno-cells with invasiveness, we established a reliable electrochemical model. This model was validated with a hydrogen peroxide cytotoxicity assay, showing a high correlation with optical staining and a minimal error of 1.89%, underscoring its potential for drug efficacy prediction. The proposed method offers rapid detection, low cost, and requires no manual intervention, making it an efficient and reliable tool for assessing cancer cell invasiveness in therapeutic research.
Small-Fiber Neuropathy: An Etiology-Oriented Review
Authors: Furia Alessandro , Liguori Rocco , Donadio Vincenzo
Published: February 2025

Background: Small-fiber neuropathy (SFN), affecting Aδ or C nerve fibers, is characterized by alterations of pain and temperature sensation, as well as autonomic dysfunction. Its diagnosis may still remain challenging as methods specifically assessing small nerve fibers are not always readily available, and standard techniques for large-fiber neuropathies, such as electroneuromyography, yield negative results. Still, skin biopsy for epidermal innervation and quantitative sensory testing allow for diagnosis in the presence of a congruent clinical picture. Objectives: Many different etiologies may underlie small-fiber neuropathy, of which metabolic (diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance) and idiopathic remain prevalent. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a general picture of SFN while focusing on the different etiologies described in the literature in order to raise awareness of the variegated set of different causes of SFN and promote adequate diagnostic investigation. Methods: The term “Small-Fiber Neuropathy” was searched on the PubMed database with its different recognized etiologies: the abstracts of the articles were reviewed and described in the article if relevant for a total of 40 studies. Results: Many different disorders have been associated with SFN, even though often in the form of case reports or small case series. Conclusions: Idiopathic forms of SFN remain the most prevalent in the literature, but association with different disorders (e.g., infectious, autoimmune) should prompt investigation for SFN in the presence of a congruent clinical picture (e.g., pain with neuropathic features).
A Critical Analysis of Factors Influencing BIM Implementation for Public Projects in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Malawi
Authors: Adetoro Pelumi , Kululanga Grant , Mkandawire Theresa , Malik Abubakari
Published: February 2025

The advent of BIM in the construction sector has brought about a significant change in the construction process of public projects in developed and developing countries. However, there is limited information on BIM implementation in low-income countries. Therefore, this study aims to critically analyse factors influencing BIM implementation for public projects in Malawi. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the factors driving BIM implementation. However, to assess the criticality of these numerous drivers, a questionnaire survey was administered to purposively select participants in the construction industry. The key factors influencing BIM implementation for public projects in Malawi were analysed using the weighted mean. It was identified that technological and process factors were the key drivers for BIM implementation, encompassing the availability of BIM software that allows for smooth integration with other software and the availability of BIM knowledge resources, the development of standardised datasets for managing BIM, and the availability of clear protocol for data exchange, among others. This study provides a theoretical framework for evaluating factors influencing BIM implementation in low-income countries. The study also provides policymakers and industry stakeholders with comprehensive strategies to facilitate BIM implementation in the Malawian construction industry.
A Longitudinal Study Examining the Impact of Chronic Rhinosinusitis on the Risk of Cancer Development: A National Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Dong-Kyu , Kim Jae-In , Lee Il Hwan , Son Dae-Soon
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: We investigated the association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and cancer risk in an adult Korean population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. To ensure comparability between the groups, adjustments were made for potential confounding factors, including sex, age, residence, household income, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. The primary endpoint was the presence of newly diagnosed cancer. Results: Among 1,337,120 individuals in the nationally representative cohort database, 10,567 patients with CRS were identified and matched with 42,268 control subjects without CRS. Patients with CRS had a significantly higher risk of overall cancer events than controls. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for cancer in the CRS group was 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.28). Notably, female patients with CRS had an elevated risk of incident cancer events. Furthermore, patients with CRS without nasal polyps exhibited a significantly increased risk of cancer, whereas those with CRS with nasal polyps did not show a similar association. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for physicians to carefully monitor patients with CRS for potential cancer progression and develop appropriate therapeutic strategies to mitigate the impact of this condition.
Association Between Medicaid Expansion and Insurance Status, Risk Group, Receipt, and Refusal of Treatment Among Men with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Patel Tej A. , Jain Bhav , Dee Edward Christopher , Kohli Khushi , Ranganathan Sruthi , Janopaul-Naylor James , Mahal Brandon A. , Yamoah Kosj , McBride Sean M. , Nguyen Paul L. , Chino Fumiko , Muralidhar Vinayak , Lam Miranda B. , Vapiwala Neha
Published: February 2025

Background: Although the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been associated with increased Medicaid coverage among prostate cancer patients, the association between Medicaid expansion with risk group at diagnosis, time to treatment initiation (TTI), and the refusal of locoregional treatment (LT) among patients requires further exploration. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients aged 40 to 64 years diagnosed with localized prostate cancer from 2011 to 2016. Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis was used to compare changes in insurance status, risk group at diagnosis, TTI, and the refusal of LT among patients residing in Medicaid expansion versus non-expansion states. In a secondary analysis, we used DID to compare changes in the above outcomes among racial minorities versus White patients living in expansion states. Results: Of the 112,434 patients with prostate cancer in our analysis, 50,958 patients lived in Medicaid expansion states, and 61,476 patients lived in non-expansion states. In the adjusted analysis, we found that the proportion of uninsured patients (adjusted DID: −0.87%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: −1.28 to −0.46) and patients who refused radiation therapy (adjusted DID: −0.71%; 95% CI: −0.95 to −0.47) decreased more in expansion states compared to non-expansion states. Similarly, we observed that the racial disparity of select outcomes in expansion states narrowed, as racial minorities experienced larger absolute decreases in uninsured status and the refusal of radiation therapy (RT) regimens than White patients following ACA implementation (p < 0.01 for all). However, residence in a Medicaid expansion state was not associated with changes in risk group at diagnosis, TTI, nor the refusal of LT (p > 0.01 for all); racial disparities in TTI were also exacerbated in expansion states following ACA implementation. Conclusions: The association between Medicaid expansion and prostate cancer outcomes and disparities remains unclear. While ACA implementation was associated with increased insurance coverage and decreased refusal of RT, there was no significant association with earlier risk group at diagnosis, TTI within 180 days, or refusal of LT. Similarly, racial minorities in expansion states had larger decreases in uninsured status and the refusal of RT regimens, as well as smaller increases in intermediate-/high-risk disease at presentation than White patients following ACA implementation, but experienced no significant changes in TTI. More research is needed to understand how Medicaid expansion affects cancer outcomes and whether these effects are borne equitably among different populations.
Efficacy and Safety of the Topotecan–Cyclophosphamide Regimen in Adult Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma: A Large, Multicenter, Real-World Study
Authors: Tunbekici Salih , Yuksel Haydar Cagatay , Acar Caner , Sahin Gokhan , Kınıkoglu Oguzcan , Majidova Nargiz , Tunç Mustafa Alperen , Sali Mürsel , Deligonul Adem , Karadurmus Berkan , Tunbekici Ibrahim , Gursoy Pınar , Sanli Ulus Ali , Goker Erdem
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: There is an unmet need to improve outcomes in patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma (ES). This retrospective, multicenter study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the topotecan–cyclophosphamide (TC) regimen in adult patients with metastatic ES who had previously been treated with chemotherapy. Methods: This study enrolled 75 patients who were treated at five oncology centers in Turkey between 2011 and 2020. Patients were treated with the TC regimen, consisting of topotecan at 0.75 mg/m2/day and cyclophosphamide at 250 mg/m2/day, given daily for 5 days and repeated every 21 days. Results: The median progression-free survival was 3.06 months (95% CI, 2.91–3.22), and the median overall survival was 6.16 months (95% CI, 5.14–7.18). Patients who received the TC regimen in the second line demonstrated longer OS (7.55 months 95% CI, 5.37–14.17) compared to those who received it in the third line or later (5.70 months 95% CI, 4.07–6.60) (p = 0.005). When the TC regimen was used in the second line, the disease control rate was 50%, whereas in the third line or later, the DCR was 10.8%. In the entire group, the DCR was 30.7%. The most common toxicity was transient cytopenia. Conclusions: This study showed that the use of the TC regimen in the second line resulted in better efficacy and overall survival outcomes compared to its use in the third line or later. However, in the entire population, the TC regimen demonstrated only a modest effect on metastatic ES. TC can be considered one of the palliative treatment options for metastatic ES.
Periostin from Tumor Stromal Cells Might Be Associated with Malignant Progression of Colorectal Cancer via Smad2/3
Authors: Fan Canfeng , Wang Qiang , Kanei Saki , Kawabata Kyoka , Nishikubo Hinano , Aoyama Rika , Zhu Zhonglin , Imanishi Daiki , Sakuma Takashi , Maruo Koji , Tsujio Gen , Yamamoto Yurie , Fukuoka Tatsunari , Yashiro Masakazu
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment have been reported to be closely associated with tumor progression in various types of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Periostin, a matricellular protein, was reported to be expressed on both cancer cells and surrounding tumor stromal cells, such as CAFs, and is regulated by Smad2/3 signaling. In this study, we aimed to clarify the clinicopathologic significance of periostin and Smad2/3 expression in CRC, with a particular focus on the tumor microenvironment. Methods: A total of 351 CRC patients were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The expressions of periostin and Smad2/3 in the tumor specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Periostin expression of CAFs and cancer cells in the 351 CRC cases was observed at 36.8% and 0.6%, respectively. Smad2/3 expression of CAFs and cancer cells was observed in 41.0% and 90.0%, respectively. In CAFs, high periostin expression was significantly correlated with high Smad2/3 expression, increased invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, venous invasion, advanced disease stage, and a higher rate of relapse. The prognoses of patients with periostin-positive CAFs were significantly poorer than those with periostin-negative CAFs (p < 0.001). The survival outcomes of stage 3 CRC patients with co-expression of periostin and Smad2/3 were significantly worse compared to those with stage 2 CRC. In the stage 3 group, multivariate analysis revealed that periostin was an independent prognostic factor, while univariate analysis showed that both periostin and Smad2/3 were significantly correlated with poor survival. Conclusions: These findings suggest that periostin is expressed mainly in CAFs in CRC and is correlated with Smad2/3 expression in CAFs. Periostin from CAFs might be associated with the malignant progression of CRC via Smad2/3 signaling.
Predictors of the Development of Gastric Cancer in Post-Helicobacter pylori-Eradication Patients Followed Up for More than 10 Years: A Histological, Serological, and Endoscopic Study
Authors: Mizukami Kazuhiro , Kodama Masaaki , Hirashita Yuka , Fukuda Masahide , Ozaka Sotaro , Tsutsumi Koshiro , Sagami Ryota , Fukuda Kensuke , Ogawa Ryo , Murakami Kazunari
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy is important for preventing gastric cancer (GC), the occurrence of GC after H. pylori eradication remains a problem. In this study, the aim was to identify risk factors for GC after H. pylori eradication by comparing long-term histological, endoscopic, and serological evaluations of patients with and without GC. Methods: Patients who underwent H. pylori eradication therapy at Oita University Hospital between June 1997 and August 2013 and were followed for at least 3 years with long-term endoscopy, histology, and serum biochemical tests were included, and the GC (215 cases) and non-GC (11 cases) groups were compared. Results: The GC group was older than the non-GC group at the time of eradication, had lower serum pepsinogen I/II levels, had severe endoscopic atrophic changes, had higher activity at the antrum, and inflammation and intestinal metaplasia (IM) at the corpus on updated Sydney system scoring. On long-term follow-up after eradication, the GC group had a wider range of endoscopic mucosal atrophy and a lower serum pepsinogen I/II ratio at any time point. Conclusions: Endoscopic mucosal atrophy and the serum pepsinogen I/II ratio are useful predictors of GC in patients post H. pylori eradication at any time point.
Fabry Disease and Inflammation: Potential Role of p65 iso5, an Isoform of the NF-κB Complex
Authors: Biddeci Giuseppa , Spinelli Gaetano , Colomba Paolo , Duro Giovanni , Anania Monia , Francofonte Daniele , Di Blasi Francesco
Published: February 2025

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease, caused by mutations in the GLA gene on the X chromosome, resulting in a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme α-GAL. This leads to the progressive accumulation of Gb3 in cells, causing multi-systemic effects. FD has been classified as a subgroup of autoinflammatory diseases. NF-κB is a family of ubiquitous and inducible transcription factors that play critical roles in inflammation, in which the p65/p50 heterodimer is the most abundant. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) represents the physiological antagonists in the inflammation process. A novel spliced variant of p65, named p65 iso5, which can bind the dexamethasone, enhancing GR activity, has been found. This study investigates the potential role of p65 iso5 in the inflammation of subjects with FD. We evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), from over 100 FD patients, the p65 iso5 mRNA level, and the protein expression. The results showed significantly lower p65 iso5 mRNA and protein expression levels compared to controls. These findings, along with the ability of p65 iso5 to bind dexamethasone and the regulation of the glucocorticoid response in the opposite way of p65, strongly suggest the involvement of p65 iso5 in the inflammatory response in FD.
Soybean Yield Modeling and Analysis with Weather Dynamics in the Greater Mississippi River Basin
Authors: Xie Weiwei , Huang Yanbo , Meng Qingmin
Published: February 2025

Accurate crop yield prediction and modeling are essential for ensuring food security, optimizing resource allocation, and guiding policy decisions in agriculture, ultimately benefiting society at large. With the increasing threat of weather change, it is important to understand the impacts of weather dynamics on agricultural productivity, particularly for crucial crops like soybeans. This study considers the study area of the Greater Mississippi River Basin, where most soybeans are typically planted, with a large variety of weather across from the North to the South in the US. Leveraging the greenness and density measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images, along with weather variables including mean precipitation, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature, we aim to uncover the relationships between these variables and soybean yield for different geographical and weather regions. Our analysis focuses on the four weather regions within the US: Very Cold, Cold, Mixed Humid, and Hot Humid, where most soybeans are planted in the Mississippi River Basin. The findings reveal that soybean yield in the Cold and Very Cold regions is positively correlated with minimum temperatures, whereas in the Mixed Humid and Hot Humid regions, negative correlations between maximum temperatures and yields are found. We identify a significant positive correlation between precipitation and soybean yield across all regions. In addition, the NDVI shows significant positive correlations with the soybean yield. Both linear and nonlinear regression models, including support vector machine and random forest models, are trained with remotely sensed data and weather data, showing a reliable and improved crop yield prediction. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of how soybean yield responds to climatic variations and will help the national agricultural management system in better monitoring and predicting crop yield when facing the increasing challenge of weather dynamics.
Clinical Features of Dermatomyositis Associated with Myositis-Specific Antibodies in Moroccan Patients
Authors: Chihi Milouda , Barakat Leila , Benhayoun Fatima Zahra , Allaoui Abire , Housbane Samy , Moudatir Mina , Hali Fouzia , Bousfiha Ahmed Aziz , El Bakkouri Jalila
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy characterized by muscle weakness and typical cutaneous rash. Dermatomyositis-specific antibodies, such as anti-TIF1γ, anti-SAE, anti-Mi2, anti-MDA5, and anti-NXP2, have been associated with specific clinical phenotypes. Our study aimed to describe the clinical profile of Moroccan patients with DM and clinical associations with myositis-specific antibodies. Methods: We recruited 54 adult patients with DM according to the Bohan and Peter criteria, admitted to the internal medicine and dermatology departments of the University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd of Casablanca from January 2020 to December 2023. Testing for myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) was conducted using an Immunodot assay. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: Among our patients, 74% were female. The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 45.8 years (±12.95 years). The main clinical manifestations were a V-neck sign (70.4%), myalgia (70.4%), Gottron’s papules (68.5%), heliotrope rash (63%), arthritis/arthralgia (48.1%), proximal muscle weakness (68.5%), periungual erythema (46.3%), and dysphagia (59.3%). Of the 54 patients, 37 (68.5%) showed dermatomyositis-specific antibody positivity. The most frequently found autoantibody was anti-Mi2 (22.2%), followed by anti-TIF1γ (14.8%), anti-NXP2 (9.2%), anti-MDA5 (7.4%), and anti-SAE (7.4%). The association between clinical manifestations and MSAs showed that anti-TIF1γ antibodies were associated with the V-neck sign (p < 0.05), and the MSA-negative group was protected from periungual erythema (p < 0.05). No other significant association was found. Conclusions: This study shows the autoantibody profile of Moroccan patients with DM and the associations of MSAs with clinical manifestations.
Chemical Equilibrium Fracture Mechanics—Hydrogen Embrittlement Application
Authors: Varias Andreas G.
Published: February 2025

Chemical Equilibrium Fracture Mechanics (CEFM) studies the effect of chemical reactions and phase transformations on crack-tip fields and material fracture toughness under chemical equilibrium. An important CEFM direction is hydrogen-induced embrittlement of alloys, due to several industrial applications, including those within the industrial value chain of hydrogen that is under development, which, according to European and international policies, are expected to contribute significantly to the replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy sources. In the present study, the effect of hydrogen on the crack-tip fields of hydride- and non-hydride-forming alloys is examined. The crack-tip stress and hydrogen concentration distributions are derived under hydrogen chemical equilibrium, which is approached by considering the coupling of the operating physical mechanisms. In all cases, analytic relations are derived, thus facilitating integrity assessments, i.e., without the need to rely on complicated numerical methods, expected to lead to the development of respective tools in industrial applications. It is shown that, in the case of hydride precipitation, there are significant deviations from the K, HRR, and Prandtl fields, and, thus, the well-known approaches of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) and Elastic–Plastic Fracture Mechanics (EPFM) need to be accordingly modified/extended.
Crack-Templated Patterns in Thin Films: Fabrication Techniques, Characterization, and Emerging Applications
Authors: Cama Eleonora Sofia , Pasini Mariacecilia , Giovanella Umberto , Galeotti Francesco
Published: February 2025

Crack-templated thin films, inspired by naturally occurring patterns such as leaf venation, spider webs, and the networked structure of dried egg white, represent a paradigm shift in the design of functional materials. Traditionally, cracks in coatings are seen as defects to be avoided due to their potential to compromise mechanical integrity and performance. However, in this context, cracks are deliberately induced and meticulously controlled to serve as templates for versatile applications. This review explores the latest advances in preparation techniques, including solvent evaporation and thermal stress induction, with a focus on the interplay between material properties (e.g., polymers and ceramics) and process parameters (e.g., drying rates and temperature, layer thickness, substrate interactions) that govern crack behavior. The resulting crack patterns offer tunable features, such as density, width, shape, and orientation, which can be harnessed for applications in semitransparent electrodes, flexible sensors, and wearable and energy storage devices. Our study aims to navigate the advancements in crack engineering in the last 10 years and underscores its importance as a purposeful and versatile strategy for next-generation thin-film technologies, offering a novel and affordable approach to transforming perceived defects into assets for cutting-edge thin-film technologies.