bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-Life Effectiveness and Safety of Guselkumab in Patients with Psoriasis Who Have an Inadequate Response to Ustekinumab: A 3-Year Multicenter Study
Authors: Megna Matteo , Balato Anna , Caccavale Stefano , Cacciapuoti Sara , Calabrese Giulia , Di Brizzi Eugenia Veronica , Di Costanzo Luisa , Manzo Raffaella , Marino Vincenzo , Puca Rosa Valentina , Romano Francesca , Sarno Oriele , Scotto di Luzio Genoveffa , Lembo Serena
Published: April 2024

Background: Guselkumab is the first approved human IgG1λ monoclonal antibody selectively targeting the p19 subunit of IL23. Its effectiveness and safety were widely reported by clinical trials. However, these results must be confirmed in real life since its safety deals with more complicated subjects with respect to trials. Currently, real-life data on the use of guselkumab following treatment failure with ustekinumab are limited, and existing studies usually show a small cohort and/or a reduced follow-up period. In this context, the aim of our study was to evaluate the use of guselkumab in patients who previously did not respond to ustekinumab after up to 3 years of treatment. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was performed. The study enrolled patients affected by moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis undergoing treatment with guselkumab who were attending the Psoriasis Center of nine different centers in the Campania region of Italy. Demographic and clinical features were collected for each patient at baseline. Moreover, data on psoriasis severity and adverse events (AEs) were collected at each follow-up visit (week (W)16-W36-W52-W104-W156). Results: A total of 112 patients (70 male, 62.5%; mean age 54.8 ± 11.7 years old) were enrolled. Of these, 48 (42.9%), 34 (30.4%), and 16 (14.3%) reached 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, of follow-up under guselkumab. A statistically significant clinical improvement was observed since W16, and sustained effectiveness was reported at each timepoint up to W156. No serious AEs were collected. Moreover, a sub analysis on the body mass index, involvement of difficult-to-treat areas, and presence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) showed that the presence of PsA or palmoplantar psoriasis was associated with a reduced clinical improvement at W16 and W36, without differences from W52. In contrast, the efficacy of guselkumab does not seem to be affected by the BMI, involvement of fingernails, or location in the genital or scalp area. Conclusions: To sum up, our long-term real-life multicenter retrospective study confirmed the efficacy and safety of guselkumab following ustekinumab discontinuation up to 156 weeks of treatment.
Unveiling Timetable for Physical Therapy after Single-Level Lumbar Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease: Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ruffilli Alberto , Manzetti Marco , Cargeli Alessandro , Viroli Giovanni , Ialuna Marco , Traversari Matteo , Vita Fabio , Giannini Isabella Sofia , Faldini Cesare
Published: April 2024

Background: Postoperative physical therapy emerges as a pivotal element of the rehabilitation process, aimed at enhancing functional recovery, managing pain, and mitigating the risk of further complications. The debate concerning the optimal timing of physical therapy intervention post-surgery remains unresolved; in particular, whether to initiate physical therapy immediately or to wait weeks is of particular interest. The aim of this study is to review the available literature regarding the optimal timing of physical therapy initiation and the outcomes obtained. Methods: This review was carried out in accordance with the Preferential Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. This search was carried out in February 2024. Only peer-reviewed articles were considered for inclusion. Results: Fourteen studies were included. The primary outcomes assessed in the included studies were the following: 12-week and 12-month low back pain, return to work, function and disability, psychological status, patient satisfaction, and complications associated with early physical therapy. A meta-analysis was performed concerning low back pain after lumbar discectomy at 12 weeks and 12 months and complications after early physical therapy after lumbar discectomy and lumbar interbody fusion. A significant difference was found between early and standard physical therapy in terms of low back pain at 12–18 months (p = 0.0062); no significant differences were found in terms of complications, both for discectomy and arthrodesis. Conclusions: This review indicates that employing early rehabilitation strategies for intervertebral disc disease could enhance results in terms of pain and disability without an enhanced risk of complications.
No Detectable Differences in microRNA Plasma Levels between Diabetic Hypertensive Patients with and without Incident Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Feddersen Søren , Philippsen Tine J. , Hansen Michael S. , Christensen Lene S. , Nybo Mads , Brandes Axel
Published: April 2024

Background: Long-term rhythm monitoring (LTRM) can detect undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients at risk of AF and stroke. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been shown to play a role in atrial electrical and structural remodelling, could help to select patients who would benefit most from LTRM. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension and screen-detected subclinical AF (SCAF) using an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) have significantly different plasma baseline levels of five selected miRNAs playing a role in the modulation of atrial electrical and structural remodelling (miR-21-5p, miR-29b-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-328-3p, and miR-432-5p) compared to those without SCAF. Methods: This study was performed at the outpatient clinic of a secondary academic teaching hospital between December 2013 and November 2015. Eligible patients were ≥65 years of age with DM and hypertension but without known heart diseases. All patients received an ICM. On the day of ICM implantation, blood samples for the measurement of plasma levels of the five miRNAs were drawn. In this post hoc analysis, we investigated their expression by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. MiRNA plasma levels in patients with and without newly detected SCAF were compared. Results: We included 82 consecutive patients (median age of 71.3 years (IQR 67.4–75.1)), who were followed for a median of 588 days (IQR: 453–712 days). Seventeen patients (20.7%) had ICM-detected SCAF. Plasma levels of miR-328-3p, miR-29b-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-432-5p, and miR-150-5p were slightly but not significantly different in patients with incident SCAF compared with patients without. Conclusions: In patients with hypertension and DM, newly detected SCAF was not significantly associated with changes in expression levels of miR-21-5p, miR-29b-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-328-3p, and miR-432-5p.
Parenteral, Non-Intravenous Analgesia in Acute Traumatic Pain—A Narrative Review Based on a Systematic Literature Search
Authors: de Grunt Midas N. , de Jong Bianca , Hollmann Markus W. , Ridderikhof Milan L. , Weenink Robert P.
Published: April 2024

Traumatic pain is frequently encountered in emergency care and requires immediate analgesia. Unfortunately, most trauma patients report sustained pain upon arrival at and discharge from the Emergency Department. Obtaining intravenous access to administer analgesics can be time-consuming, leading to treatment delay. This review provides an overview of analgesics with both fast onset and parenteral, non-intravenous routes of administration, and also indicates areas where more research is required.
Evaluation of a Combinatorial Immunotherapy Regimen That Can Cure Mice Bearing MYCN-Driven High-Risk Neuroblastoma That Resists Current Clinical Therapy
Authors: Zebertavage Lauren , Schopf Allison , Nielsen Megan , Matthews Joel , Erbe Amy K. , Aiken Taylor J. , Katz Sydney , Sun Claire , Witt Cole M. , Rakhmilevich Alexander L. , Sondel Paul M.
Published: April 2024

Background: Incorporating GD2-targeting monoclonal antibody into post-consolidation maintenance therapy has improved survival for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. However, ~50% of patients do not respond to, or relapse following, initial treatment. Here, we evaluated additional anti-GD2-based immunotherapy to better treat high-risk neuroblastoma in mice to develop a regimen for patients with therapy-resistant neuroblastoma. Methods: We determined the components of a combined regimen needed to cure mice of established MYCN-amplified, GD2-expressing, murine 9464D-GD2 neuroblastomas. Results: First, we demonstrate that 9464D-GD2 is nonresponsive to a preferred salvage regimen: anti-GD2 with temozolomide and irinotecan. Second, we have previously shown that adding agonist anti-CD40 mAb and CpG to a regimen of radiotherapy, anti-GD2/IL2 immunocytokine and anti-CTLA-4, cured a substantial fraction of mice bearing small 9464D-GD2 tumors; here, we further characterize this regimen by showing that radiotherapy and hu14.18-IL2 are necessary components, while anti-CTLA-4, anti-CD40, or CpG can individually be removed, and CpG and anti-CTLA-4 can be removed together, while maintaining efficacy. Conclusions: We have developed and characterized a regimen that can cure mice of a high-risk neuroblastoma that is refractory to the current clinical regimen for relapsed/refractory disease. Ongoing preclinical work is directed towards ways to potentially translate these findings to a regimen appropriate for clinical testing.
Advancing Personalized Medicine in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Authors: Sullo Francesco Giulio , Passardi Alessandro , Gallio Chiara , Molinari Chiara , Marisi Giorgia , Pozzi Eleonora , Solaini Leonardo , Bittoni Alessandro
Published: April 2024

Rectal cancer presents a significant burden globally, often requiring multimodal therapy for locally advanced cases. Long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCRT) and short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by surgery have been conventional neoadjuvant approaches. Recent trials favor LCRT due to improved local control. However, distant tumor recurrence remains a concern, prompting the exploration of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) as a comprehensive treatment strategy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show promise, particularly in mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, potentially revolutionizing neoadjuvant regimens. Nonoperative management (NOM) represents a viable alternative post-neoadjuvant therapy for selected patients achieving complete clinical response (cCR). Additionally, monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) emerges as a non-invasive method for the assessment of treatment response. This review synthesizes current evidence on TNT, ICIs, NOM, and ctDNA, elucidating their implications for rectal cancer management and highlighting avenues for future research and clinical application.
Predictability of Cardiovascular Risk Scores for Carotid Atherosclerosis in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults
Authors: Chou Chao-Liang , Liu Chun-Chieh , Wu Tzu-Wei , Cheng Chun-Fang , Lu Shu-Xin , Wu Yih-Jer , Wang Li-Yu
Published: April 2024

Background: The assessment of future risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is strongly recommended for all asymptomatic adults without CVD history. Carotid atherosclerosis (CA) is a preclinical phenotype of CVDs. However, data on estimated future CVD risks with respect to preclinical atherosclerosis are limited. This community-based study aimed to assess the relationships between predicted CVD risks and CA. Methods: We enrolled 3908 subjects aged 40–74 years without CVD history and calculated their 10-year CVD risks using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and the Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE). Carotid plaque (CP) at the extracranial carotid arteries was determined by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography and further classified into mild or advanced CA. Results: The means of FRS for CP-negative and mild and advanced CA were 9.0%, 14.4%, and 22.1%, respectively (p-value < 0.0001). The corresponding values for PCE score were 4.8%, 8.8%, and 15.0%, respectively (p-value < 0.0001). The odds ratios (ORs) of having CP per 5.0% increase in FRS and PCE score were 1.23 (95% CI, 1.19–1.28) and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.28–1.44), respectively. The corresponding values of having advanced CA were 1.24 (95% CI, 1.19–1.29) and 1.38 (95% CI, 1.30–1.48), respectively. Among the models of FRS or PCE plus other conventional CVD risk factors, the FRS + age model had the highest discrimination for the presence of CP (AUROC, 0.7533; 95% CI, 0.7375–0.7691) as well as for the presence of advanced CA (AUROC, 0.8034; 95% CI, 0.7835–0.8232). The calibration of the FRS + age models for the presences of CP and advanced CA was excellent (χ2 = 8.45 [p = 0.49] and 10.49 [p = 0.31], respectively). Conclusions: Estimated future CVD risks were significantly correlated with risks of having CA. Both FRS and PCE had good discrimination for the presences of CP and advanced CA.
Chagas Disease: Comparison of Therapy with Nifurtimox and Benznidazole in Indigenous Communities in Colombia
Authors: Kann Simone , Concha Gustavo , Frickmann Hagen , Hagen Ralf Matthias , Warnke Philipp , Molitor Ernst , Hoerauf Achim , Backhaus Joy
Published: April 2024

Background: For indigenous people in Colombia, high infection rates with Chagas disease (CD) are known. Methods: In 2018 and 2020, nine villages were screened for CD. CD-positive patients could enter a drug observed treatment. While, in 2018, Benznidazole (BNZ) was provided as the first-line drug by the government, nifurtimox (NFX) was administered in 2020. Results: Of 121 individuals treated with BNZ, 79 (65%) suffered from at least one adverse event (AE). Of 115 treated with NFX, at least one AE occurred in 96 (84%) patients. In 69% of BNZ cases, the side effects did not last longer than one day; this applied to 31% of NFX cases. Excluding extreme outlier values, average duration of AEs differed highly significantly: BNZ (M = 0.7, SD = 1.4) and NFX (M = 1.7, SD = 1.5, p < 0.001). Using an intensity scale, AEs were highly significantly more severe for NFX (M = 2.1, SD = 0.58) compared to BZN (M = 1.1, SD = 0.38), p < 0.001. When analyzing the duration in relation to the intensity, the burden of AEs caused by NFX was significantly more pronounced. Dropouts (n = 2) due to AEs were in the NFX-group only. Conclusions: Side effects caused by BNZ were significantly fewer, as well as milder, shorter in duration, and more easily treatable, compared to NFX.
DepthCrackNet: A Deep Learning Model for Automatic Pavement Crack Detection
Authors: Saberironaghi Alireza , Ren Jing
Published: April 2024

Detecting cracks in the pavement is a vital component of ensuring road safety. Since manual identification of these cracks can be time-consuming, an automated method is needed to speed up this process. However, creating such a system is challenging due to factors including crack variability, variations in pavement materials, and the occurrence of miscellaneous objects and anomalies on the pavement. Motivated by the latest progress in deep learning applied to computer vision, we propose an effective U-Net-shaped model named DepthCrackNet. Our model employs the Double Convolution Encoder (DCE), composed of a sequence of convolution layers, for robust feature extraction while keeping parameters optimally efficient. We have incorporated the TriInput Multi-Head Spatial Attention (TMSA) module into our model; in this module, each head operates independently, capturing various spatial relationships and boosting the extraction of rich contextual information. Furthermore, DepthCrackNet employs the Spatial Depth Enhancer (SDE) module, specifically designed to augment the feature extraction capabilities of our segmentation model. The performance of the DepthCrackNet was evaluated on two public crack datasets: Crack500 and DeepCrack. In our experimental studies, the network achieved mIoU scores of 77.0% and 83.9% with the Crack500 and DeepCrack datasets, respectively.
Multivariate USV Motion Prediction Method Based on a Temporal Attention Weighted TCN-Bi-LSTM Model
Authors: Wang Yuchao , Tian Zixiang , Fu Huixuan
Published: April 2024

Unmanned surface vehicle (USV)’s motion is represented by time-series data that exhibit highly nonlinear and non-stationary features, significantly influenced by environmental factors, such as wind speed and waves, when sailing on the sea. The accurate prediction of USV motion, particularly crucial parameters, such as the roll angle and pitch angle, is imperative for ensuring safe navigation. However, traditional and single prediction models often struggle with low accuracy and fail to capture the intricate spatial–temporal dependencies among multiple input variables. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a prediction approach integrating temporal convolutional network (TCN) and bi-directional long short-term memory network (Bi-LSTM) models, augmented with a temporal pattern attention (TPA) mechanism, termed the TCN-Bi-LSTM-TPA (TBT) USV motion predictor. This hybrid model effectively combines the strengths of TCN and Bi-LSTM architectures to extract long-term temporal features and bi-directional dependencies. The introduction of the TPA mechanism enhances the model’s capability to extract spatial information, crucial for understanding the intricate interplay of various motion data. By integrating the features extracted by TCN with the output of the attention mechanism, the model incorporates additional contextual information, thereby improving prediction accuracy. To evaluate the performance of the proposed model, we conducted experiments using real USV motion data and calculated four evaluation metrics: mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and R-squared (R2). The results demonstrate the superior accuracy of the TCN-Bi-LSTM-TPA hybrid model in predicting USV roll angle and pitch angle, validating its effectiveness in addressing the challenges of multivariate USV motion prediction.
Fuzzy Logic-Based Decision-Making Method for Ultra-Large Ship Berthing Using Pilotage Data
Authors: Li Yibo , Song Guobin , Yip Tsz-Leung , Yeo Gi-Tae
Published: April 2024

As seafarers are involved in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), except for those in the fourth level of autonomy, the decision making of autonomous berthing should be carried out and be understood by human beings. This paper proposes a fuzzy logic-based human-like decision-making method for ultra-large ship berthing, which considers locations, ship particulars and the natural environment, and these factors are treated as the input variables. The IF–THEN rules are then established after the fuzzification of the input variables and are used for fuzzy inference to derive the decision of ship handling. It can be implemented in the decision-making system for safe navigation or be included in the process of autonomous berthing. The pilotage data are collected with nautical instruments and a distance measurement system during the berthing process, which are used to validate the proposed model and calculate the speed and turn errors. The overall and individual error of the decision-making model is in a reasonable and small range, which indicates that the model has good accuracy. The results of this research offer theoretical and practical insights into the development of a human-like decision-making method for autonomous navigation in port waters and maritime safety management in the shipping industry. The model can be further applied to develop a more widely applicable decision-making system for autonomous navigation in confined waters.
A Lateral Flow-Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Method for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Detection
Authors: Xu Wei-Teng , Lu Xin-Yu , Wang Yue , Li Ming-Han , Hu Ke , Shen Zi-Jie , Sun Xiao-Qin , Zhang Yan-Mei
Published: April 2024

The greater yam (Dioscorea alata), a widely cultivated and nutritious food crop, suffers from widespread yield reduction due to anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Latent infection often occurs before anthracnose phenotypes can be detected, making early prevention difficult and causing significant harm to agricultural production. Through comparative genomic analysis of 60 genomes of 38 species from the Colletotrichum genus, this study identified 17 orthologous gene groups (orthogroups) that were shared by all investigated C. gloeosporioides strains but absent from all other Colletotrichum species. Four of the 17 C. gloeosporioides-specific orthogroups were used as molecular markers for PCR primer designation and C. gloeosporioides detection. All of them can specifically detect C. gloeosporioides out of microbes within and beyond the Colletotrichum genus with different sensitivities. To establish a rapid, portable, and operable anthracnose diagnostic method suitable for field use, specific recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) primer probe combinations were designed, and a lateral flow (LF)-RPA detection kit for C. gloeosporioides was developed, with the sensitivity reaching the picogram (pg) level. In conclusion, this study identified C. gloeosporioides-specific molecular markers and developed an efficient method for C. gloeosporioides detection, which can be applied to the prevention and control of yam anthracnose as well as anthracnose caused by C. gloeosporioides in other crops. The strategy adopted by this study also serves as a reference for the identification of molecular markers and diagnosis of other plant pathogens.
The Putative Cytochrome b5 Domain-Containing Protein CaDap1 Homologue Is Involved in Antifungal Drug Tolerance, Cell Wall Chitin Maintenance, and Virulence in Candida albicans
Authors: Xu Dayong , Wang Manman , Zhang Xing , Mao Hongchen , Xu Haitao , Zhang Biao , Zeng Xin , Li Feng
Published: April 2024

Candida albicans (Ca), a prominent opportunistic fungal pathogen in humans, has garnered considerable attention due to its infectious properties. Herein, we have identified and characterized CaCDAP1 (Ca orf19.1034), a homolog of ScDAP1 found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CaCDAP1 encodes a 183-amino acid protein with a conserved cytochrome b5-like heme-binding domain. The deletion of CaDAP1 renders Ca cells susceptible to caspofungin and terbinafine. CaDAP1 deletion confers resistance to Congo Red and Calcofluor White, and sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate. The deletion of CaDAP1 results in a 50% reduction in chitin content within the cell wall, the downregulation of phosphorylation levels in CaMkc1, and the upregulation of phosphorylation levels in CaCek1. Notably, CaDAP1 deletion results in the abnormal hyphal development of Ca cells and diminishes virulence in a mouse systemic infection model. Thus, CaDAP1 emerges as a critical regulator governing cellular responses to antifungal drugs, the synthesis of cell wall chitin, and virulence in Ca.
The Causal Effect of Gut Microbiota and Plasma Metabolome on Lung Cancer and the Heterogeneity across Subtypes: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zeng Jun , Yi Bin , Chang Ruimin , Li Jiashuo , Zhu Jiebo , Yu Zhongjie , Li Xi , Gao Yang
Published: April 2024

The causal effect and pathways of gut microbiota and plasma metabolome on lung cancer have been important topics for personalized medicine; however, the heterogeneity of lung cancer subtypes has not gained enough attention in previous studies. This study sought to employ a Mendelian randomization analysis to screen the specific gut microbiota and plasma metabolome, which may have a causal effect on lung cancer. We further extended our analysis to estimate the effects of these exposures on various pathological subtypes of lung cancer. Furthermore, a mediation analysis was performed to identify the potential pathway underlying the influence of microbiota and metabolites. Our study identified 13 taxa and 15 metabolites with a causal association with the overall risk of lung cancer. Furthermore, we found 8 taxa and 14 plasma metabolites with a causal effect on lung adenocarcinoma, 4 taxa and 10 metabolites with a causal effect on squamous cell lung carcinoma, and 7 taxa and 16 metabolites with a causal effect on SCLC. We also identified seven mediation pathways that could potentially elucidate the influence of these microbiota and metabolites on overall lung cancer or special subtypes. Our study highlighted the heterogeneity of the gut microbiome and plasma metabolome in a lung cancer subtype and elucidated the potential underlying mechanisms. This could pave the way for more personalized lung cancer prevention and treatment.
Clinical Factors Affecting the Rate of Liver Regeneration in Living Donors after Right Hepatectomy
Authors: Kim Minkyoung , Suh Suk-Won , Lee Eun Sun , Suh Sanggyun , Lee Seung Eun , Choi Yoo Shin
Published: April 2024

Sufficient liver regeneration after a right hepatectomy is important in living donors for preventing postoperative hepatic insufficiency; however, it differs for each living donor so we investigated the clinical factors affecting the rate of liver regeneration after hepatic resection. This retrospective case–control study investigated fifty-four living donors who underwent a right hepatectomy from July 2015 to March 2023. Patients were classified into 2 groups by the remnant/total volume ratio (RTVR): Group A (RTVR < 30%, n = 9) and Group B (RTVR ≥ 30%, n = 45). The peak postoperative level of total bilirubin was more elevated in Group A than in Group B (3.0 ± 1.1 mg/dL vs. 2.3 ± 0.8 mg/dL, p = 0.046); however, no patients had hepatic insufficiency or major complications. The rates of residual liver volume (RLV) growth at Postoperative Week 1 (89.1 ± 26.2% vs. 53.5 ± 23.7%, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in Group A, and its significant predictors were RTVR (β = −0.478, p < 0.001, variance inflation factor (VIF) = 1.188) and intraoperative blood loss (β = 0.247, p = 0.038, VIF = 1.182). In conclusion, as the RLV decreases, compensatory liver regeneration after hepatic resection becomes more prominent, resulting in comparable operative outcomes. Further studies are required to investigate the relationship between hematopoiesis and the rate of liver regeneration.
Machine Learning to Enhance the Detection of Terrorist Financing and Suspicious Transactions in Migrant Remittances
Authors: Mbiva Stanley Munamato , Correa Fabio Mathias
Published: April 2024

Migrant remittances have become significant in poverty alleviation and microeconomic development in low-income countries. However, the ease of conducting global migrant remittance transfers has also introduced the risk of misuse by terrorist organizations to quickly move and conceal operational funds, facilitating terrorism financing. This study aims to develop an unsupervised machine learning algorithm capable of detecting suspicious financial transactions associated with terrorist financing in migrant remittances. To achieve this goal, a structural equation model (SEM) and an outlier detection algorithm were developed to analyze and identify suspicious transactions among the financial activities of migrants residing in Belgium. The results show that the SEM model classifies a significantly high number of transactions as suspicious, making it prone to detecting false positives. Finally, the study developed an ensemble outlier detection algorithm that comprises an isolation forest (IF) and a local outlier factor (LOF) to detect suspicious transactions in the same dataset. The model performed exceptionally well, being able to detect over 90% of suspicious transactions.
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Ecological Parameters in Various Land Use Types in China during the First 20 Years of the 21st Century
Authors: Zhang Cong , Yao Xiaojun , Xiu Lina , Jin Huian , Cao Juan
Published: April 2024

Ecological quality in China has experienced significant improvements due to the interplay of climate change and human activities. Nevertheless, previous studies exploring the trend of ecological parameters have always overlooked the effects of land use types. Therefore, in this study, we explored the spatiotemporal variation in ecological parameters in various land use types and discussed the relationship between ecological parameters and climatic factors in China during the first 20 years of the 21st century. The results show that: (1) The area of grassland and unutilized land decreased, and the area of other land use types increased. (2) Distinct variations in the average, slope, and interval distribution of ecological parameters across various land use types were evident. Particularly significant increases in ecological parameters were observed in cultivated land and forest. (3) The influence of land use and land cover change on ecological parameters was evident. The conversion of cultivated land, forest, and grassland into water bodies, constructive land, and unutilized land resulted in a significant decrease in ecological parameters. (4) The distinct climatic conditions resulted in heightened monthly variations in the ecological parameters. Significant monthly fluctuations in ecological parameters were observed for cultivated land, forest, grassland, and constructed land, while water bodies and unutilized land did not exhibit such variations. (5) The correlation between ecological parameters and climatic factors varied considerably in various land use types in different regions.
Perspectives on Cadastre and Land Management in Support of Sustainable Real Estate Markets
Authors: Potsiou Chryssy , Navratil Gerhard
Published: April 2024

Land is a limited resource and its responsible use requires administration, management, and planning [...]
Investigating Immunotoxicity in Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) Fingerlings Exposed to Niclosamide
Authors: Wu Hao , Yuan Xiping , Tian Xing , Gao Jinwei , Xie Min , Xie Zhonggui , Song Rui , Ou Dongsheng
Published: April 2024

Niclosamide (NIC) is a potent salicylanilide molluscicide/helminthicide commonly utilized for parasite and mollusc control in aquatic environments. Due to its persistent presence in water bodies, there is growing concern regarding its impact on aquatic organisms, yet this remains inadequately elucidated. Consequently, this study aims to assess the hepatotoxic effects and detoxification capacity of black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in a semi-static system, employing various parameters for analysis. NIC was applied to juvenile black carp at three different concentrations (0, 10 and 50 μg/L) for 28 days in an environmentally realistic manner. Exposure to 50 μg/L NIC resulted in an increase in hepatic lysozyme (LYZ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and complement 4 (C4) levels while simultaneously causing a decrease in peroxidase (POD) activity. Additionally, NIC exposure exhibited a dose-dependent effect on elevating serum levels of LYZ, ALP, complement 3 (C3), C4, and immunoglobulin T (IgT). Notably, the mRNA levels of immune-related genes tnfα, il8, and il6, as well as nramp and leap2, were upregulated in fish exposed to NIC. RNA-Seq analysis identified 219 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in M. piceus after NIC exposure, with 94 upregulated and 125 downregulated genes. KEGG and GO analyses showed enrichment in drug metabolism pathways and activities related to oxidoreductase, lip oprotein particles, and cholesterol transport at 50 μg/L NIC. Additionally, numerous genes associated with lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and innate immunity were upregulated in NIC-exposed M. piceus. Taken together, these findings indicate that NIC has the potential to cause hepatotoxicity and immunotoxicity in M. piceus. This research offers important insights for further understanding the impact of molluscicide/helminthicide aquatic toxicity in ecosystems.
Bacteroidales-Specific Antimicrobial Genes Can Influence the Selection of the Dominant Fecal Strain of Bacteroides vulgatus and Bacteroides uniformis from the Gastrointestinal Tract Microbial Community
Authors: Koo Hyunmin , Morrow Casey D.
Published: April 2024

Bacteroides vulgatus and Bacteroides uniformis are known to be abundant in the human fecal microbial community. Although these strains typically remain stable over time in humans, disruption of this microbial community following antibiotics resulted in the transient change to new strains suggesting that a complex, dynamic strain community exists in humans. To further study the selection of dominant fecal microbial strains from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) community, we analyzed three longitudinal metagenomic sequencing data sets using BLAST+ to identify genes encoding Bacteroidales-specific antimicrobial proteins (BSAP) that have known functions to restrict species-specific replication of B. uniformis (BSAP-2) or B. vulgatus (BSAP-3) and have been postulated to provide a competitive advantage in microbial communities. In the HMP (Human Microbiome Project) data set, we found fecal samples from individuals had B. vulgatus or B. uniformis with either complete or deleted BSAP genes that did not change over time. We also examined fecal samples from two separate longitudinal data sets of individuals who had been given either single or multiple antibiotics. The BSAP gene pattern from most individuals given either single or multiple antibiotics recovered to be the same as the pre-antibiotic strain. However, in a few individuals, we found incomplete BSAP-3 genes at early times during the recovery that were replaced by B. vulgatus with the complete BSAP-3 gene, consistent with the function of the BSAP to specifically restrict Bacteroides spp. The results of these studies provide insights into the fluxes that occur in the Bacteroides spp. GIT community following perturbation and the dynamics of the selection of a dominant fecal strain of Bacteroides spp.
An Experimental Study on the Distribution of Grease in Cylindrical Roller Bearings
Authors: Liang He , Lu Yan , Wang Wenzhong , Sun Yi , Zhao Jingjing , Guo Yulong
Published: April 2024

The lubrication performance of bearings is greatly influenced by the distribution of the lubricant. In this study, a cylindrical rolling bearing test rig was constructed and presented. The distribution of grease and lubricating oil along the contact region was examined using the laser-induced fluorescence technique, and the thickness of the layer was determined. The lubricating oil and grease layer thickness distribution map was acquired. The effects of supply amount, thickener content, and speed on grease distribution were examined. Mechanisms for replenishing the line contact area were investigated.
Friction Coefficient of Wet Clutches as a Function of Service Mileage
Authors: Wu Bangzhi
Published: April 2024

As a core component for efficient variable speed transmission and energy saving, wet clutches are widely used in the transmission systems of energy-saving and new energy vehicles. However, with an increase in the service mileage of the wet clutch, the friction coefficient undergoes alterations. This leads to a deterioration of the control accuracy of the clutch transmission torque, which ultimately has a negative impact on the dynamic characteristics and driving safety of the entire vehicle. In order to understand the service behavior of the friction coefficient in a wet clutch, wet clutches with different service mileages were investigated experimentally and theoretically. The results show that as the service mileage increased, the hydrodynamic lubrication phase was extended. Analyses of the three-dimensional profile of the friction plate and the theoretical simulation of the friction revealed that the edge ridges of the friction pads were flattened. This increased the clutch engagement force when the asperities on the separator and friction plates came into contact.
Synergistic Effects of Boron and Rare Earth Elements on the Microstructure and Stress Rupture Properties in a Ni-Based Superalloy
Authors: Tian Qiang , Huang Shuo , Qin Heyong , Duan Ran , Wang Chong , Lian Xintong
Published: April 2024

The synergistic effects of boron (B) and rare earth (RE) elements on the microstructure and stress rupture properties were investigated in a Ni-based superalloy. The stress rupture lifetime at 650 °C/873 MPa significantly increased with the addition of B as a single element. Furthermore, the stress rupture lifetime reached its peak (303 h), with a certain amount of B and RE added together in test alloys. Although the grain size and morphology of the γ′ phase varied a little with the change in B and RE addition, they were not considered to be the main reasons for stress rupture performance. The enhancement in stress rupture lifetime was mostly attributed to the segregation of the B and RE elements, which increased the binding force of the grain boundary and improved its strength and plasticity. In addition, the enrichment of B and RE inhabited the precipitation of carbides along grain boundaries. Furthermore, nano-scale RE precipitates containing sulfur (S) and phosphorus (P) were observed to be distributed along the grain boundaries. The purification of grain boundaries by B and RE elements was favorable to further improve the stress rupture properties.
Improving the Tribological Properties of WE43 and WE54 Magnesium Alloys by Deep Cryogenic Treatment with Precipitation Hardening in Linear Reciprocating Motion
Authors: Barylski Adrian , Aniołek Krzysztof , Dercz Grzegorz , Matuła Izabela , Kaptacz Sławomir , Rak Jan , Paszkowski Robert
Published: April 2024

This paper presents the results of tribological tests on WE43 and WE54 magnesium alloys with rare earth metals performed in linear reciprocating motion for four different material couples (AISI 316-L steel, silicon nitride—Si3N4, WC tungsten carbide, and zirconium dioxide—ZrO2). Additionally, magnesium alloys were subjected to a complex heat treatment consisting of precipitation hardening combined with a deep cryogenic treatment. The study presents the effect of deep cryogenic treatment combined with precipitation hardening on the tribological properties of WE43 and WE54 alloys. Tribological tests revealed the most advantageous results for the magnesium alloy—AISI 316-L steel friction node. For both alloys tested after heat treatment, a nearly 2-fold reduction in specific wear rate has been achieved. Furthermore, microscopic examinations of the wear track areas and wear products were performed, and the wear mechanisms and types of wear products occurring in linear reciprocating friction were determined. Wear measurements were taken using the 3D profilometric method and compared with the results obtained from calculations performed in accordance with ASTM G133 and ASTM D7755, which were modified to improve the accuracy of the calculation results (the number of measured profiles was increased from four to eight). Appropriately selected calculation methods allow for obtaining reliable tribological test results and enabling the verification of both the most advantageous heat treatment variant and material couple, which results in an increase in the durability of the tested alloys.
Microstructure Evolution and Recrystallization Mechanisms of a Cu–Cr–Sn Alloy during Thermal Deformation Process
Authors: Yu Qian , Yang Zhen , Peng Lijun , Xie Haofeng , Cao Yicheng , Zhu Yunqing , Liu Feng
Published: April 2024

Thermal deformation behavior of Cu–Cr–Sn alloy ingots under deformation temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 950 °C and strain rates from 0.01 s−1 to 10 s−1 was investigated in detail. The thermal deformation constitutive equation and thermal processing map of the alloy were established, respectively. The activation energy Q was determined as 430.61 KJ/mol. The optimal deformation system corresponding to the hot working diagram was a deformation temperature of 900 °C and strain rate of 0.1 s−1. Under these deformation conditions, twin dynamic recrystallization (TDRX), continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX), and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) occurred simultaneously, with the twinning process causing the stress–strain curve to exhibit a wavy change. The thermal deformation microstructure of the alloy is co-regulated by different recrystallization mechanisms, with DDRX occurring mainly at low deformation temperatures, and both CDRX and DDRX occurring at high deformation temperatures.
Silicone Nanocomposites with Enhanced Thermal Resistance: A Short Review
Authors: Zielecka Maria , Rabajczyk Anna
Published: April 2024

Continuous technological progress places significant demands on the materials used in increasingly modern devices. An important parameter is often the long-term thermal resistance of the material. The use of heat-resistant polymer materials worked well in technologically advanced products. An economically justified direction in searching for new materials is the area of polymer nanocomposite materials. It is necessary to appropriately select both the polymer matrix and the nanofillers best able to demonstrate the synergistic effect. A promising area of exploration for such nanocomposites is the use of organosilicon polymers, which results from the unique properties of these polymers related to their structure. This review presents the results of the analysis of the most important literature reports regarding organosilicon polymer nanocomposites with increased thermal resistance. Particular attention was paid to modification methods of silicone nanocomposites, focusing on increasing their thermal resistance related to the modification of siloxane molecular structure and by making nanocomposites using inorganic additives and carbon nanomaterials. Attention was also paid to such important issues as the influence of the dispersion of additives in the polymer matrix on the thermal resistance of silicone nanocomposites and the possibility of modifying the polymer matrix and permanently introducing nanofillers thanks to the presence of various reactive groups. The thermal stability mechanism of these nanocomposites was also analysed.
Investigation of Effect of Proposed Two-Stage Foam Injection Method and Modified Additive on Workability of Foam Concrete
Authors: Lukpanov Rauan , Dyussembinov Duman , Altynbekova Aliya , Yenkebayev Serik , Zhumagulova Adiya
Published: April 2024

This article presents the results of an investigation of the proposed method and the influence of a modified additive on foam concrete properties. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the modified additive has a variable mineralogical composition, and the joint use of the components contributes to the synergistic effect, improving the processes of cement hydration. Microscopy of the foam concrete samples showed the presence of microcracks and micropores in samples both with and without the additive. However, the use of the additive significantly reduced their number and size, which indicates an improvement in the structure of the material. The strength values showed that the samples with the additive have high strength. In particular, the strength values of samples of type 3 at different stages of curing exceed those of samples of type 1 by 1.32–1.51 times and samples of type 2 by 1.07–1.10 times. The obtained strength values are 2.82–3.21 MPa for type 1, 3.64–4.04 MPa for type 2, and 4.39–4.84 MPa for type 3, which corresponds to grade D600. The evaluation of water absorption also confirmed the advantages of the proposed method and the additive, significantly reducing the water absorption of the samples and increasing their hydrophobicity. The obtained values of water absorption are 13.8–16.6% for type 1, 13.7–16.1% for type 2, and 9.5–11.2% for type 3.
Mesoscopic Analysis of Fatigue Damage Development in Asphalt Mixture Based on Modified Burgers Contact Algorithm in Discrete Element Modeling
Authors: Zhou Mingqiao , Cao Wei
Published: April 2024

This study is aimed at examining the mesoscopic mechanical response and crack development characteristics of asphalt mixtures using the three-dimensional discrete element approach via particle flow code (PFC). The material is considered an assembly of three phases of aggregate, mortar, and voids, for which three types of contact are identified and described using a modified Burgers model allowing for bond failure and crack formation at contact. The laboratory splitting test is conducted to determine the contact parameters and to provide the basis for selecting three different load levels used in the indirect tensile fatigue test and simulation. The reliability of the simulation is verified by comparing the fatigue lives and dissipated energies against those from the test. Under cyclic loading, the internal tensile and compressive force chains vary dynamically as a response to the cyclic loading; both are initially concentrated beneath the top loading strip and then extend downward along the loading line. The compressive chains are oriented roughly vertically and develop an elliptic shape as damage grows, while the tensile chains are mostly horizontal and become denser. An analysis based on the histories of the numbers of different contact types indicates that damage mainly originates from bond failures among the aggregate particles and at the aggregate–mortar interfaces. In terms of location, cracking is initiated below the loading point (consistent with observations from the force chains) and propagates downward and laterally, leading to the macrocrack along the vertical diameter. The findings provide a mesoscopic understanding of the fatigue damage initiation and propagation in asphalt mixture.
Effect of Fusion Boundary Microstructure on Flow-Accelerated Corrosion Cracking
Authors: Wang Yajing , Lyu Zhe , Wu Zhisheng , Li Leijun
Published: April 2024

Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) preferentially attacks the downstream heat-affected zone of the root-pass weld in steam pipe systems. A detailed characterization identifies the fusion boundary as the initiation location for the attack. Alloying elements are found depleted along the weld fusion boundary, and multiple welding thermal cycles and repetitive austenite-to-ferrite phase transformations result in an increased proportion of grains with Goss {110}<001> texture along the fusion boundary. The synergistic effects of chemical segregation and the Schmid factor may contribute to the preferential initiation of FAC cracks along the root weld fusion boundary, making it the weakest link for FAC attack in steam pipe girth welds.
The Success of Fabrication of Pure SmFe2 Phase Film with Outstanding Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy
Authors: Liao Shijie , Wang Fang , Shen Hui , Zhang Jian
Published: April 2024

This study used DC magnetron sputtering technology to fabricate Sm-Fe films and systematically investigated the phase transition behavior of Sm-Fe films with different Fe ratios. It was found that at higher Fe content, the films consisted of Sm2Fe17 or SmFe7 phases; as Fe content decreased, the films were mainly composed of SmFe3 or SmFe2 phases; at higher Sm content, the films primarily consisted of Sm phase. Sm is prone to volatilization at high temperatures, so Ta was used as a capping layer to effectively suppress Sm volatilization, successfully synthesizing pure SmFe2 phase films at a nearly 1:2 ratio. The magnetic properties and magnetostrictive behavior of the SmFe2 films were investigated, revealing that pure-phase SmFe2 films exhibit good perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and magnetostriction properties. The larger stress along the perpendicular-to-film direction, resulting from the absence of substrate-induced constraints, contributes to the excellent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the films. This study successfully synthesized pure-phase SmFe2 films and discovered a new method for fabricating perpendicularly anisotropic films. The research findings are of great significance for the efficient synthesis of desired films with high phase formation temperatures containing volatile elements.