bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Immunotherapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Clinical Point of View
Authors: Mosna Federico
Published: June 2024

The potential of the immune system to eradicate leukemic cells has been consistently demonstrated by the Graft vs. Leukemia effect occurring after allo-HSCT and in the context of donor leukocyte infusions. Various immunotherapeutic approaches, ranging from the use of antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, bispecific T-cell engagers, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, and therapeutic infusions of NK cells, are thus currently being tested with promising, yet conflicting, results. This review will concentrate on various types of immunotherapies in preclinical and clinical development, from the point of view of a clinical hematologist. The most promising therapies for clinical translation are the use of bispecific T-cell engagers and CAR-T cells aimed at lineage-restricted antigens, where overall responses (ORR) ranging from 20 to 40% can be achieved in a small series of heavily pretreated patients affected by refractory or relapsing leukemia. Toxicity consists mainly in the occurrence of cytokine-release syndrome, which is mostly manageable with step-up dosing, the early use of cytokine-blocking agents and corticosteroids, and myelosuppression. Various cytokine-enhanced natural killer products are also being tested, mainly as allogeneic off-the-shelf therapies, with a good tolerability profile and promising results (ORR: 20–37.5% in small trials). The in vivo activation of T lymphocytes and NK cells via the inhibition of their immune checkpoints also yielded interesting, yet limited, results (ORR: 33–59%) but with an increased risk of severe Graft vs. Host disease in transplanted patients. Therefore, there are still several hurdles to overcome before the widespread clinical use of these novel compounds.
Pathologic Response and Survival after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Bevacizumab Followed by Surgery for Clinical Stage II/IIIA Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Results from a Phase II Feasibility Study (NAVAL)
Authors: Tsutani Yasuhiro , Miyata Yoshihiro , Suzuki Kenji , Tanaka Fumihiro , Ito Hiroyuki , Yamashita Yoshinori , Okada Morihito
Published: June 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pathologic response and survival in patients with clinical stage II/IIIA nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who intended to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bevacizumab, followed by surgery. In this phase II NAVAL study evaluating the feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin (75 mg/m2), pemetrexed (500 mg/m2), and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg), followed by surgery, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed as the secondary endpoints. Patients were categorized based on the proportion of residual viable primary tumor in the resected specimen after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: those with residual tumor in less than one-third were classified as pathologic responders, the rest as nonresponders. Of the 30 patients, 25 underwent surgical resection after three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bevacizumab; 5 did not undergo surgery. Among all 30 patients, the rates of 2- and 5-year PFS were 41.5% and 34.6%, respectively, and the rates of 2- and 5-year OS were 70.0% and 60.0%, respectively. A total of 6 patients (20%) were classified as pathologic responders; the other 24 (80%), as nonresponders. The five-year PFS differed significantly between pathologic responders (100%) and nonresponders (17.5%; p = 0.002). The five-year OS also differed significantly between pathologic responders (100%) and nonresponders (43.5%; p = 0.006). Pathologic response seems to be a predictor of survival. Long-term survival after surgery is expected for pathologic responders, whereas additional therapy is needed for nonresponders.
Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance
Authors: Peng Hanjing , Endo Yukinori , Wu Wen Jin
Published: June 2024

The mechanisms of mAb-induced ADCC have been well established. However, the ADCC bioassays used to quantify mAb-induced ADCC require continued development/refinement to properly assess and compare the potency of newly developed therapeutic mAbs and biosimilars to meet regulatory requirements. We used trastuzumab and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based ADCC bioassay as a model to define critical parameters of the ADCC bioassay, describing how several bioassay parameters, including preparation of effector cells, E/T ratio, target cell selection, bioassay media components, and treatment time can influence the data quality of the ADCC activity. We confirm that a 4 to 24 h recovery cultivation is required to restore peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and natural killer (NK) cell activity toward ADCC when using cryopreserved PBMCs. Furthermore, we delineated the cellular mechanisms underlying the restored ADCC activity following the recovery cultivation. We observed that CD69, an early marker of NK cell activation, was upregulated and a new subset CD56dim/CD16dim population was dramatically increased in the recovered NK cells, which led to an increase in expression and secretion of perforin, granzyme B, and cytokine production. This study provides comprehensive technical insights into ADCC bioassay optimization to inform trastuzumab biosimilar development. The knowledge gained from this study can also be leveraged to guide bioassay development for therapeutic mAbs with ADCC as the primary mechanism of action.
n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are Associated with Stable Nitric Oxide Metabolites in Highly Trained Athletes
Authors: Lyudinina Aleksandra Y. , Parshukova Olga I. , Bojko Evgeny R.
Published: June 2024

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between levels of n-3 essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and stable nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in the plasma of athletes. Methods: Highly trained cross-country skiers (males, n = 39) were examined. The fatty acid profile of the total plasma lipids was determined by gas chromatography. The plasma NO level was studied by a colorimetric method via reaction with Griess reagent. Results: A widespread deficiency of essential n-3 PUFAs in the plasma of athletes (more than 80% of the subjects) was demonstrated in association with an imbalance in the levels of nitrates (NO3) and nitrites (NO2). A lower value of n-3 linolenic acid in the plasma (0.21 mol/%) was associated with a NO3 level below the normal range (n-3 C18:3 and NO3 Rs = 0.461; p = 0.003). Higher levels of n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (0.8 mol/%) were associated with a concentration of NO2 above the normal value (n-3 C20:5 and NO2 Rs = 0.449; p = 0.004). Conclusion: For the first time, the participation of essential n-3 PUFAs in the nitrite–nitrate pathway of NO synthesis in highly trained skiers was demonstrated.
Correction: Boia-Ferreira et al. TCTP from Loxosceles Intermedia (Brown Spider) Venom Contributes to the Allergic and Inflammatory Response of Cutaneous Loxoscelism. Cells 2019, 8, 1489
Authors: Boia-Ferreira Marianna , Moreno Kamila G. , Basílio Alana B. C. , da Silva Lucas P. , Vuitika Larissa , Soley Bruna , Wille Ana Carolina M. , Donatti Lucélia , Barbaro Katia C. , Chaim Olga M. , Gremski Luiza Helena , Veiga Silvio S. , Senff-Ribeiro Andrea
Published: June 2024

In the original publication [...]
High-Density Lipoprotein Modifications: Causes and Functional Consequences in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Xiaodi , van der Vorst Emiel P. C.
Published: June 2024

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a group of small, dense, and protein-rich lipoproteins that play a role in cholesterol metabolism and various cellular processes. Decreased levels of HDL and HDL dysfunction are commonly observed in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is also associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Due to hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation that develop in T2DM, HDL undergoes several post-translational modifications such as glycation, oxidation, and carbamylation, as well as other alterations in its lipid and protein composition. It is increasingly recognized that the generation of HDL modifications in T2DM seems to be the main cause of HDL dysfunction and may in turn influence the development and progression of T2DM and its related cardiovascular complications. This review provides a general introduction to HDL structure and function and summarizes the main modifications of HDL that occur in T2DM. Furthermore, the potential impact of HDL modifications on the pathogenesis of T2DM and CVD, based on the altered interactions between modified HDL and various cell types that are involved in glucose homeostasis and atherosclerotic plaque generation, will be discussed. In addition, some perspectives for future research regarding the T2DM-related HDL modifications are addressed.
A Reliable System for Quantitative G-Protein Activation Imaging in Cancer Cells
Authors: Mandrou Elena , Thomason Peter A. , Paschke Peggy I. , Paul Nikki R. , Tweedy Luke , Insall Robert H.
Published: June 2024

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors have proven to be an indispensable tool in cell biology and, more specifically, in the study of G-protein signalling. The best method of measuring the activation status or FRET state of a biosensor is often fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), as it does away with many disadvantages inherent to fluorescence intensity-based methods and is easily quantitated. Despite the significant potential, there is a lack of reliable FLIM-FRET biosensors, and the data processing and analysis workflows reported previously face reproducibility challenges. Here, we established a system in live primary mouse pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, where we can detect the activation of an mNeonGreen-Gαi3-mCherry-Gγ2 biosensor through the lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPAR) with 2-photon time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) FLIM. This combination gave a superior signal to the commonly used mTurquoise2-mVenus G-protein biosensor. This system has potential as a platform for drug screening, or to answer basic cell biology questions in the field of G-protein signalling.
Corrosion Efficiency of Zn-Ni/ZrO2 and Zn-Co/ZrO2 Bi-Layer Systems: Impact of Zn-Alloy Sublayer Thickness
Authors: Boshkova Nelly , Stoyanova Daniela , Stambolova Irina , Dimitrov Ognian , Simeonova Sylviya , Avdeev Georgi , Peshova Miglena , Bachvarov Vasil , Smrichkova Sonya , Boshkov Nikolai
Published: June 2024

The presented manuscript demonstrates the effect of the thickness of a zinc alloy sublayer on the corrosion resistance and stability of three types of bi-layer systems composed of Co- or Ni-modified zinc coatings (both as sublayers) and a top sol–gel ZrO2 film in a 5% NaCl solution. In order to obtain more detailed information, the alloy sublayers were electrodeposited with three different thicknesses (1, 5 and 10 µm, respectively) on a low-carbon steel substrate. Three consecutive dip-coated ZrO2 sol–gel layers were deposited thereafter on the individual zinc alloy sublayers. For comparison, an ordinary electrodeposited zinc coating was obtained and investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the thickness of the zinc-based sublayer on the protective characteristics of the bi-layer systems. The surface morphology features and the phase composition of the latter systems were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle (WCA) measurements and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The corrosion stability was evaluated by means of potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves and polarization resistance (Rp) measurements. The zirconia finish layers possessed an amorphous, dense and hydrophobic nature, while the sublayers were multicrystalline. The results confirmed the increased corrosion resistance of the protective system, which contains electrodeposited sublayer of Zn-Co alloy with a 10 µm thickness in a corrosive test medium.
Design of a Far-Infrared Broadband Metamaterial Absorber with High Absorption and Ultra-Broadband
Authors: Xu Tao , Yi Yingting , Song Qianju , Yi Zao , Yi Yougen , Cheng Shubo , Zhang Jianguo , Tang Chaojun , Sun Tangyou , Zeng Qingdong
Published: June 2024

We designed a metamaterial far-infrared absorber based on an MDM (metal–dielectric–metal) structure. We made a hollow crossed Ti microstructure at the top of the absorber. It is known that the coupling effect of equipartitional exciton resonance and intrinsic absorption at the surface of the depleting material has a strong influence on the absorber. Based on this, we investigated the absorption characteristics of the absorber using the Finite Difference in Time Domain (FDTD) theory. The results show that the absorber absorbed more than 90% of the light within a bandwidth of 12.01 μm. The absorber has an average absorption of 94.08% in the longwave infrared (LWIR) to ultra-longwave infrared (UWIR) bands (10.90–22.91 μm). The polarization insensitivity of the designed absorber is demonstrated by analyzing the absorption spectra of the absorber at different polarization angles. By adjusting the relevant geometric parameters, the absorption spectrum can be independently adjusted. Furthermore, the absorber exhibits good incidence angle insensitivity in both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes. The absorbers are simple and easy to configure for applications such as optical cloaking, infrared heat emitters, and photodetectors. These advantages will greatly benefit the application of absorbers in practice.
Characterization of Materials Used in the Concrete Industry, from the Point of View of Corrosion Behavior
Authors: Petrescu Marius Gabriel , Ripeanu Razvan George , Laudacescu Eugen , Tanase Maria , Niță Adrian , Burlacu Andrei
Published: June 2024

Industrial applications in the concrete industry face significant challenges in selecting appropriate metallic materials, as these choices can enhance equipment lifespan and reduce costs. This study examines the corrosion behavior of various metallic materials, offering valuable insights for their selection in corrosive environments. The findings indicate that material testing can provide cost-effective solutions for concrete industry equipment. Notably, replacing cast iron used in concrete mixing blades with specific steels is advantageous for corrective or accidental maintenance, lowering spare parts costs, and short-term use, steels P265GH and AISI 4140 exhibiting corrosion resistance similar to cast iron. Additionally, for mineral aggregate dryers, selecting adequate steel can significantly reduce operating and maintenance costs while increasing equipment durability. The results show that substituting steel S235 with steel P265GH can decrease the corrosion rate by nearly 65%.
Improved Experimental Yield of Temperature-Cycle-Induced Deracemization (TCID) with Cooling and Crystal Washing: Application of TCID for the Industrial Scale
Authors: Maeda Jin , Cardinael Pascal , Flood Adrian , Coquerel Gerard
Published: June 2024

Temperature-Cycle-Induced Deracemization (TCID) offers a promising approach to obtain enantiopure solids from racemic mixtures. By combining rapid racemization in solution and temperature swings, homochirality is theoretically achieved. Despite theoretical expectations of doubled yields compared to traditional chiral separation methods, such as in Preferential Crystallization, experimental validation remains lacking. We applied TCID to (1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-one) (Cl-TAK), introducing a post-TCID cooling step to enhance yield and a washing step to augment enantiopurity. This refinement yielded an 89.8% mass yield with 99.1% enantiomeric excess in the crystal phase (c.e.e.) within 24 h on an 8.75 g scale, showcasing improved performance with insignificant process duration extension. Additionally, we explored the stochasticity of deracemization, observing the development from low initial crystal enantiomeric excesses (1–6% c.e.e0) at a 2.5 g scale. Kinetic analysis revealed that a 2% c.e.e0 effectively mitigates chiral flipping risks and induction time in our system. Our study underscores the potential for reduced initial c.e.e. to expedite deracemization and presents a straightforward method to optimize yield and purity, facilitating industrial application.
Photophysical Properties, Stability and Microstructures of Temperature-Dependent Evolution of Methylammonium Lead Bromide Perovskite
Authors: Lai Yuming , Ma Lin , Zheng Shi , Li Xiao , Cai Shuangyu , Chang Hai
Published: June 2024

Organic/inorganic hybrid perovskite materials, such as CH3NH3PbX3 (X = I, Br), have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their excellent properties such as a widely tunable bandgap, high optical absorption coefficient, excellent power conversion efficiency, etc. The exposure of perovskite solar cells and photovoltaic devices to heat can significantly degrade their performance. Therefore, elucidating their temperature-dependent optical properties is essential for performance optimization of perovskite solar cells. We synthesized CH3NH3PbBr3 (MAPbBr3) single crystals through the polymer-controlled nucleation route and investigated the optical properties and molecular structure evolution of them with temperature. Through temperature evolution photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, we found that the fluorescence intensity was greatly affected by increasing the temperature, with an asymmetric PL profile suggesting that more captured excitons undergo radiative complexation. The optical photographs showed that the color of MAPbBr3 single crystals faded. Raman spectroscopy revealed that during the heating process, the structure of MAPbBr3 was still preserved at 90 °C since all of the Raman bands were very clear. When the temperature increased to 120 °C, the Raman bands of the internal modes became very weak. On further heating, the inorganic framework on sample’s surface started to disintegrate above 210 °C. During the heating process, the PL spectra exhibited significant changes in spectral intensity, peak position and Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM). The PL spectral intensity decreased abruptly with increasing temperature. The peak position was blue shifted with increasing temperature, and the peak shape showed an obvious asymmetry. The FMWH of the PL spectra was gradually broadened with the increase in the temperature, and there was a sharp increase from 270 °C to 300 °C. These variations in the PL spectra with temperature indicate that the optical properties of MAPbBr3 are greatly affected by temperature, which in turn affects the application of MAPbBr3 in fields such as optical devices. These results may be instructive for the application of MAPbBr3.
Density Functional Theory Studies on Boron Nitride and Silicon Carbide Nanoclusters Functionalized with Amino Acids for Organophosphorus Pesticide Adsorption
Authors: Chang Chia Ming , Chang Yu-Hsuan
Published: June 2024

This study compares the properties of B12N12 and Si12C12 nanoclusters functionalized with tyrosine in the adsorption of organophosphorus pesticides, focusing on adsorption energy and electronic stability. The results indicate that B12N12/tyrosine exhibits more negative adsorption energies than Si12C12/tyrosine, suggesting stronger interactions and higher adsorption stability. Additionally, B12N12 demonstrates higher ionization energy and chemical hardness, enhancing its electronic stability during the adsorption process. In contrast, Si12C12 has higher electrophilicity and maximum electron transfer capacity, leading to greater variability in adsorption energy and more flexible electronic structure adjustments. These findings suggest that B12N12 nanoclusters have greater potential and application value as adsorption materials, particularly when modified with tyrosine. B12N12/tyrosine demonstrates higher stability and predictability in pesticide adsorption, making it more suitable for related applications.
Tailoring the Graphene Properties for Electronics by Dielectric Materials
Authors: Otoo Isaac Appiah , Saushin Aleksandr , Owusu Seth , Karvinen Petri , Suvanto Sari , Svirko Yuri , Kuzhir Polina , Fedorov Georgy
Published: June 2024

Tunability of properties is one of the most important features of 2D materials, among which graphene is attracting the most attention due to wide variety of its possible applications. Here, we demonstrated that the carrier concentration in graphene can be efficiently tuned by the material of the dielectric substrate on which it resides. To this end, we fabricated samples of CVD-grown graphene transferred onto silicon wafers covered with alumina, titanium dioxide, and silicon dioxide. We measured the transmission spectra of these samples using a time-domain terahertz spectrometer and extracted the Drude frequency-dependent graphene conductivity. We found that the sheet resistance of graphene is strongly affected by the underlying dielectric material, while the carrier scattering time remains the same. The carrier concentration value was found to range from 7×1011/cm2 in the case of alumina and 4.5×1012/cm2 in the case of titanium dioxide. These estimations are consistent with what can be extracted from the position of the G-peak in the Raman spectra of graphene. Our results show a way to control the graphene doping level in applications where it does not have to be adjusted.
Decadal Changes in Benthic Community Structure and Function in a Coral Community in the Northeastern Tropical Pacific
Authors: de Alba-Guzmán Cassandra , Cabral-Tena Rafael Andrés , Rodríguez-Zaragoza Fabián Alejandro , Tortolero-Langarica José de Jesús Adolfo , Cupul-Magaña Amílcar Leví , Rodríguez-Troncoso Alma Paola
Published: June 2024

The high diversity and biomass of organisms associated with coral communities depend directly on the maintenance or changes in the benthic composition. Over a decade, we evaluated the spatiotemporal variation in the benthic structure and composition of an insular coral community in the Northeastern Tropical Pacific. Our results show that local conditions drive spatiotemporal differences, and benthic organisms such as sponges, crustose coralline algae, octocorals, and hydrocorals all increased in abundance (cover) in response to negative thermal anomalies caused by the 2010–2011 La Niña event. In contrast, abnormally high temperatures, such as those recorded during the 2015–2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, explain the loss of scleractinian corals and crustose coralline algae coverage, which reduced the benthic groups’ richness (BGR), diversity (H’BG), and evenness (J’BG), with evidence of a consequent decrease in ecosystem function recorded the following year. Our analysis also showed that sites with high habitat heterogeneity harbored higher average BRG and H’BG values and were less affected by environmental fluctuations than sites with high live scleractinian coral cover and lower BRG and H’BG values. Therefore, the benthic structure was impacted differently by the same perturbation, and changes in the benthic community composition affected the groups associated with the community and ecological functions. More importantly, regional stressors such as the ENSO event caused only temporary changes in the benthic community structure, demonstrating the high resilience of the community to annual and interannual stressors.
Firebreaks and Their Effect on Vegetation Composition and Diversity in Grasslands of Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa
Authors: van Aardt Andri C. , de Jager J. C. Linde , van Tol Johan J.
Published: June 2024

Southern African grasslands with a rich flora, shaped by fire, grazing, climate and geology, as well as playing a role in carbon sequestration, are becoming more important in conservation. Fire is often used as a management tool to improve vegetation and to protect property against uncontrolled fire. We therefore attempt to determine the effect consecutive burning has on vegetation. Paired plots along firebreaks were used to collect vegetation data using the Braun-Blanquet cover abundance scale. Soil samples were also collected to determine the impact of fire on below-ground nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) stocks and ratios. The results indicate that there is no difference between the plant communities of the firebreaks and the adjacent grassland; however, there are certain species that are favoured by firebreaks and others by the adjacent grassland. There is also no difference in diversity between the firebreaks and adjacent grassland areas. Carbon and nitrogen stocks as well as C:N ratios did not differ significantly between the firebreaks and the adjacent grassland plots although trends indicate a decline in both C and N with repeated burning.
Diagnostic Yield and Outcomes of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Small Bowel Bleeding Receiving Antithrombotics
Authors: Viazis Nikos , Christodoulou Dimitris , Papastergiou Vasilis , Mousourakis Konstantinos , Kozompoli Dimitra , Stasinos Giannis , Dimopoulou Konstantina , Apostolopoulos Periklis , Fousekis Fotios , Liatsos Christos , Kyriakos Nikolaos , Argyropoulos Theodoros , Tribonias George
Published: June 2024

We aimed to determine the diagnostic yield and outcome of patients receiving antithrombotic drug therapy subjected to small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) for the investigation of small bowel bleeding (SBB). A multicenter retrospective analysis of collected data from all patients undergoing SBCE for the investigation of SBB from March 2003 to June 2023 was performed. The diagnostic yield of SBCE was defined as the detection of positive findings that could explain the cause of the patient’s bleeding. Rebleeding was defined as evidence of bleeding within 1 year after the index episode. During the study period, 8401 patients underwent SBCE for SBB investigation. Bleeding lesions were detected in 1103/2535 (43.5%) antithrombotic users, compared to 1113/5866 (18.9%) in nonusers (p < 0.00001). Following capsule endoscopy, a therapeutic intervention was possible in 390/2216 (17.5%) patients with a bleeding lesion. Rebleeding occurred in 927 (36.5%) of antithrombotic users (36.5%), compared to 795 (13.5%) of nonusers (13.5%, p < 0.00001). Both the diagnostic yield of SBCE and the rebleeding rates were higher in patients with SBB receiving antithrombotics. Therapeutic intervention was possible in a real-world setting only for a minority of patients with positive findings.
A BERT-GNN Approach for Metastatic Breast Cancer Prediction Using Histopathology Reports
Authors: Basaad  Abdullah , Basurra  Shadi , Vakaj  Edlira , Eldaly  Ahmed Karam , Abdelsamea  Mohammed M.
Published: June 2024

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. This work introduces an innovative non-invasive breast cancer classification model designed to improve the identification of cancer metastases. While this study marks the initial exploration into predicting MBC, additional investigations are essential to validate the occurrence of MBC. Our approach combines the strengths of large language models (LLMs), specifically the bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) model, with the powerful capabilities of graph neural networks (GNNs) to predict MBC patients based on their histopathology reports. This paper introduces a BERT-GNN approach for metastatic breast cancer prediction (BG-MBC) that integrates graph information derived from the BERT model. In this model, nodes are constructed from patient medical records, while BERT embeddings are employed to vectorise representations of the words in histopathology reports, thereby capturing semantic information crucial for classification by employing three distinct approaches (namely univariate selection, extra trees classifier for feature importance, and Shapley values to identify the features that have the most significant impact). Identifying the most crucial 30 features out of 676 generated as embeddings during model training, our model further enhances its predictive capabilities. The BG-MBC model achieves outstanding accuracy, with a detection rate of 0.98 and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.98, in identifying MBC patients. This remarkable performance is credited to the model’s utilisation of attention scores generated by the LLM from histopathology reports, effectively capturing pertinent features for classification.
Reversible Cellular Automata Based Cryptosystem
Authors: Stănică George Cosmin , Anghelescu Petre
Published: June 2024

The increasing reliance on telecommunication technologies across various domains has raised concerns surrounding data security and privacy during transmission. In response to these concerns, this study introduces a different approach to cryptographic algorithm construction, utilizing cellular automata (CA). The idea involves designing an encryption algorithm based on a specific class of one-dimensional CA, incorporating elementary evolution rules specifically constructed to establish a reversible system, thereby enhancing information preservation and security. The encryption process involves forward iteration of the system, while decryption employs backward iteration, both processes being based on the same rule. Classified as a symmetric key cryptosystem within the stream cipher framework, the proposed algorithm was implemented using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device (XILINX Spartan3E) at the hardware-level, complemented by software applications developed using the C# programming language. Testing on the experimental findings was conducted to check the efficacy of the proposed algorithm in ensuring information security and randomness, confirming its viability for practical encryption applications.
Color Histogram Contouring: A New Training-Less Approach to Object Detection
Authors: Rabie Tamer , Baziyad Mohammed , Sani Radhwan , Bonny Talal , Fareh Raouf
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces the Color Histogram Contouring (CHC) method, a new training-less approach to object detection that emphasizes the distinctive features in chrominance components. By building a chrominance-rich feature vector with a bin size of 1, the proposed CHC method exploits the precise information in chrominance features without increasing bin sizes, which can lead to false detections. This feature vector demonstrates invariance to lighting changes and is designed to mimic the opponent color axes used by the human visual system. The proposed CHC algorithm iterates over non-zero histogram bins of unique color features in the model, creating a feature vector for each, and emphasizes those matching in both the scene and model histograms. When both model and scene histograms for these unique features align, it ensures the presence of the model in the scene image. Extensive experiments across various scenarios show that the proposed CHC technique outperforms the benchmark training-less Swain and Ballard method and the algorithm of Viola and Jones. Additionally, a comparative experiment with the state-of-the-art You Only Look Once (YOLO) technique reveals that the proposed CHC technique surpasses YOLO in scenarios with limited training data, highlighting a significant advancement in training-less object detection. This approach offers a valuable addition to computer vision, providing an effective training-less solution for real-time autonomous robot localization and mapping in unknown environments.
YOLO Adaptive Developments in Complex Natural Environments for Tiny Object Detection
Authors: Zhong Jikun , Cheng Qing , Hu Xingchen , Liu Zhong
Published: June 2024

Detection of tiny object in complex environments is a matter of urgency, not only because of the high real-world demand, but also the high deployment and real-time requirements. Although many current single-stage algorithms have good detection performance under low computing power requirements, there are still significant challenges such as distinguishing the background from object features and extracting small-scale target features in complex natural environments. To address this, we first created real datasets based on natural environments and improved dataset diversity using a combination of copy–paste enhancement and multiple image enhancement techniques. As for the choice of network, we chose YOLOV5s due to its nature of fewer parameters and easier deployment in the same class of models. Most improvement strategies to boost detection performance claim to improve the performance of privilege extraction and recognition. However, we prefer to consider the combination of realistic deployment feasibility and detection performance. Therefore, based on the hottest improvement methods of YOLOV5s, we try to make adaptive improvements in three aspects, namely attention mechanism, head network, and backbone network. The experimental results proved that the decoupled head and Slimneck based improvements achieved, respectively, 0.872 and 0.849, 0.538 and 0.479, 87.5% and 89.8% on the mAP0.5, mAP0.5:0.95, and Precision metrics, surpassing the results of the baseline model on these three metrics: 0.705, 0.405 and 83.6%. This result suggests that the adaptively improved model can better meet routine testing needs without significantly increasing the number of parameters. These models perform well on our custom dataset and are also effective on images that are difficult to detect by naked eye. Meanwhile, we find that YOLOV8s, which also has the decoupled head improvement, has the results of 0.743, 0.461, and 87.17% on these three metrics. It proves that under our dataset, it is possible to achieve more advanced results with lower number of model parameters just by adding decoupled head. And according to the results, we also discuss and analyze some improvements that are not adapted to our dataset, which also provides ideas for researchers in similar scenarios: in the booming development of object detection, choosing the suitable model and adapting to combine with other technologies would help to provide solutions to real-world problems.
Influence Maximization in Temporal Social Networks with the Mixed K-Shell Method
Authors: Yang Shuangshuang , Zhu Wenlong , Zhang Kaijing , Diao Yingchun , Bai Yufan
Published: June 2024

The study of influence maximizing in temporal social networks (IMT) is an important aspect of influence maximization (IM) research. Currently, two main types of algorithms can solve the IMT problem: greedy-based algorithms and heuristic-based algorithms. However, the greedy-based algorithm is too time-consuming to be used in practice, and most existing heuristic methods do not consider the attributes of nodes, resulting in these methods being unable to solve the IMT problem. Therefore, this paper proposes a mixed k-shell (MKS) algorithm, which considers nodes’ local and global attributes to characterize their influence and select seed nodes. At the local level, we consider the degree centrality of nodes, and at the global level, we propose the temporal k-shell decomposition (TKS) algorithm. Ultimately, the influence of a node is determined by combining the influence of itself and its neighbors. Experiments on four real temporal social networks show that MKS performs better in effectiveness than other heuristic baselines and can maintain a balance between effectiveness and efficiency, providing a useful solution for solving the IMT problem.
Spatial–Temporal Dynamics of a Germinable Seed Bank of a Semi-Arid Vegetation in the Brazilian Northeast
Authors: Santos Danielle Melo dos , Silva Kleber Andrade da , Cunha Simone Rabelo da , Aguiar Bruno Ayron de Souza , Santos Priscila Silva dos , Araujo Vanessa Kelly Rodrigues de , Santos Josiene Maria Falcão Fraga dos , Araújo Elcida de Lima
Published: June 2024

Soil seed bank contributes to the maintenance and renewal of the plant community. Species richness and density of the soil seed bank are affected by the temporal and spatial variations occurring in dry environments. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the effect of time (climatic season and annual precipitation) and space (soil depth and microhabitat type) on floristic composition, species richness, and seed density in the soil bank from a Brazilian dry forest over seven consecutive years. During the study period, 0–5 cm soil samples were collected in three types of microhabitats (Flat, Rocky, and Riverside) from the litter and soil, totaling 2940 samples. The seed bank was quantified using the seedling emergence method; each collected sample was monitored for six months. All data on species richness and seedling emergence were analyzed using the GLM and Anosim test for floristic composition. Results show that the floristic composition, species richness, and seed density differ between climatic seasons, between years of study, between soil depths, and between the three types of microhabitats found in the studied area. However, the explanatory power of each variable was low, demonstrating that other variables such as temperature, wind action, and predation may also be influencing seed storage in the soil bank. In summary, this study demonstrated that the richness, species composition, and emergence of seedlings recorded in soil seed banks are influenced by the spatiotemporal variation found in dry environments. Thus, all the tested variables partially explained the behavior observed in the seed bank.
A Tree Segmentation Algorithm for Airborne Light Detection and Ranging Data Based on Graph Theory and Clustering
Authors: Seidl Jakub , Kačmařík Michal , Klimánek Martin
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a single tree segmentation method applied to 3D point cloud data acquired with a LiDAR scanner mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The method itself is based on clustering methods and graph theory and uses only the spatial properties of points. Firstly, the point cloud is reduced to clusters with DBSCAN. Those clusters are connected to a 3D graph, and then graph partitioning and further refinements are applied to obtain the final segments. Multiple datasets were acquired for two test sites in the Czech Republic which are covered by commercial forest to evaluate the influence of laser scanning parameters and forest characteristics on segmentation results. The accuracy of segmentation was compared with manual labels collected on top of the orthophoto image and reached between 82 and 93% depending on the test site and laser scanning parameters. Additionally, an area-based approach was employed for validation using field-measured data, where the distribution of tree heights in plots was analyzed.
Long-Term Effects of Mistletoe Removal on Radial Growth of Semi-Arid Aleppo Pine Forests
Authors: González de Andrés Ester , Valeriano Cristina , Camarero J. Julio
Published: June 2024

Mistletoes are hemiparasites that modify how trees cope with drought by impairing the relationships between water, carbon, and nutrients within the tree. Thus, mistletoes endanger the vitality and persistence of trees in drought-prone regions, such as the Mediterranean Basin. Here, we evaluated radial growth patterns and drought sensitivity of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) trees from which mistletoe was removed ca. two decades ago (MRTs) with control; currently infested trees (MCTs) from a semi-arid region in NE Spain. Growth showed negative trends in both tree classes since the 1980s concurrent with progressive aridification and aggravated by mistletoe infestation, as indicated by the positive effect of mistletoe removal on the growth of MRT trees. Water availability during the previous autumn and winter and current spring and early summer drove growth. Climate–growth correlations were similar between tree classes before treatment, but after mistletoe removal, precipitation became significant in MCT trees but not in MRT trees. Likewise, the impact of drought on growth changed through time: it increased until the late 20th century and then decreased in the MRT trees, which showed higher resistance and resilience against post-treatment droughts. This study provides evidence of the long-term positive effect of mistletoe removal on radial growth in semi-arid pine forests.
Accumulation Pattern and Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Topsoil as Affected by Diverse Sources in Different Ecosystems in Western Dabie Mountain
Authors: Yang Tao , Wu Feng , Luo Minxuan , Xiong Jiatai , Nie Xiaoli , Cao Fan , Ruan Yunzhao , Li Fu , Huang Wubiao , Liang Tao , Yang Yujing
Published: June 2024

Soil heavy metal (HM) control has become a pressing global ecological and environmental issue, with a significant focus on the western Dabie Mountain in China, a region that is recognized for its ecological barriers and water sources. We analyzed the concentrations, pollution status, and potential ecological risks of 10 HMs (i.e., Cu, +Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, As, Hg, and Mn) in the topsoil of different ecosystems in this region. The effects of four soil groups (Anthrosol, Fluvisols, Gleysol, and Alisols) and three soil texture types (sandy, clayey, and loamy soils) on the above aspects were also analyzed. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) models were performed to identify and quantify the potential sources and contribution rates of these HMs. Results showed that the level of HM pollution may be negligible, and there was no potential ecological risk. Of all metals, Pb and Cd exhibited the highest levels of pollution. The potential ecological risk associated with soil HMs decreased from croplands to urban and further to forests. Cu and Co were more likely to accumulate in Anthrosols, while Alisols were more likely to accumulate Pb, Cd, and Hg and had a higher overall potential ecological risk. The overall risk in clayey and loamy soils is both higher than in sandy soils. The HM accumulation in topsoil was closely related to the soil organic matter and clay contents. The potential main sources of HMs in this region can be agricultural activities, soil parent material, mining, industrial activities, and vehicle emissions. These findings suggest that special attention should be paid to soil Pb and Cd in western Dabie Mountain. Future efforts can focus on reducing mining, smelting, and industrial emissions, as well as strengthening the research on the migration patterns and mechanisms of HMs.
Building Information Modeling and Digital Twins for Functional and Technical Design of Smart Buildings with Distributed IoT Networks—Review and New Challenges Discussion
Authors: Walczyk Gabriela , Ożadowicz Andrzej
Published: June 2024

Modern building automation systems implement plenty of advanced control and monitoring functions that consider various parameters like users’ activity, lighting, temperature changes, etc. Moreover, novel solutions based on the Internet of Things and cloud services are also being developed for smart buildings to ensure comfort of use, user safety, energy efficiency improvements, and integration with smart grids and smart city platforms. Such a wide spectrum of technologies and functions requires a novel approach in building automation systems design to provide effective implementation and flexibility during operation. At the same time, in the building design and operation industries, tools based on building information modeling and digital twins are being developed. This paper discusses the development directions and application areas of these solutions, identifying new trends and possibilities of their use in smart homes and buildings. In particular, the focus is on procedures for selecting automation functions, effective integration, and interoperability of building management systems with the Internet of Things, considering the organization of prediction mechanisms and dynamic functional changes in buildings and smart networks. Chosen solutions and functions should consider the requirements set out in the EN ISO 52120 standard and the guidelines defined for the Smart Readiness Indicator.
Burden of Disease in Refugee Patients with Diabetes on the Island of Lesvos—The Experience of a Frontline General Hospital
Authors: Bountouvis Nikolaos , Koumpa Eirini , Skoutarioti Niki , Kladitis Dimitrios , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K. , Anitsakis Charalampos
Published: June 2024

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease which poses a great burden on refugee populations, who are confronted with limited access to healthcare services and disruption of pre-existing pharmacological treatment. Aims: We sought to evaluate the degree of hyperglycaemia in refugees with known or recently diagnosed diabetes, to assess cardiovascular comorbidities and diabetes complications, to review and provide available therapeutic options, and to compare, if possible, the situation in Lesvos with other locations hosting refugee populations, thus raising our awareness towards barriers to accessing healthcare and managing diabetes in these vulnerable populations and to propose follow-up strategies. Methods: We retrospectively studied 69 refugee patients (68% of Afghan origin, 64% female) with diabetes mellitus (81% with type 2 diabetes), who were referred to the diabetes outpatient clinics of the General Hospital of Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece, between June 2019 and December 2020. Age, Body Mass Index, diabetes duration, glycaemic control (HbA1c and random glucose), blood pressure, estimated renal function, lipid profile, diabetes complications and current medication were documented at presentation and during subsequent visits. Results: For all patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, age at presentation was 17.7 and 48.1 years, BMI 19.6 kg/m2 and 28.9 kg/m2 and HbA1c 9.6% and 8.7%, respectively (all medians). One-third (29%) of patients with type 2 diabetes presented either with interrupted or with no previous pharmacological treatment. Insulin was administered to only 21% of refugees with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Only half of the patients (48%) with hypertension were taking antihypertensive medication and one-sixth (17%) were taking lipid-lowering medication. Forty-two per cent (42%) of patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusions: Our results showed that a significant portion of refugees with diabetes have either no treatment at all or have had their treatment discontinued, that insulin is still underutilised and that a significant portion of patients are lost to follow-up. It is essential to enhance our ability to identify refugees who may be at risk of developing diabetes or experiencing complications related to the disease. Additionally, it is important to expand access to crucial treatment and monitoring services. By improving our policies for managing non-communicable diseases, we can better support the health and well-being of these vulnerable populations. Furthermore, it is vital to recognize that Greece cannot bear the burden of the refugee crisis alone; international support and collaboration are necessary to address these challenges effectively.