bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P‐12.3: Analysis and Application of COF Peeling Failure in Display
Authors: Qianshuang HU , Cen Yi , Feng Tang , Suhua Shi , Cong Zhou , Chuanghua Deng , KEUN SHIN MOO , Yuhua Zhang
Published: August 2023

In order to solve the problem of COF peeling on OLB (Outer Lead Bonding) side of high curvature display screen, this paper studied the peeling failure strength of COF Bonding so as to guide product design through the combination of experiment and simulation. Firstly, basic peeling test of the COF was carried out under the condition of 60 ℃/90%RH HTHHO, and the COF peeling load was obtained; Then, the linear stress of COF under the peeling load was 0.18 N/mm by finite element numerical simulation; Finally, the COF twist model of 32‐inch R1000 module was established, and the maximum COF twist value was 3mm under the maximum linear stress of 0.18 N/mm at COF Bonding; The module has passed the 60 ℃/90%RH HTHHO 500h test, which verified the accuracy of COF peeling failure judgment method. Considering the safety factor of 2, the linear stress intensity standard of this Bonding process was determined to be about 0.09 N/mm. Based on the above‐mentioned linear stress intensity standard, the 27‐inch curved surface module was optimized from double PCB to single PCB, which passed the verification of high temperature and high humidity condition and met the product quality requirements. The method proposed in this paper can guide module optimization design, reduce the risk of peeling failure at COF Bonding on the source side of curved screen, and improve product reliability.
P‐12.5: Optical film microstructure design for ultra‐thin MiniLED backlight modules
Authors: Zeng Jia wen , Zheng Cheng , Lv Guo qiang , Feng Qi bin , Wang Zi
Published: August 2023

The backlight module is a key component for providing a light source for a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and its thickness has a direct impact on the thickness of the display. In order to reduce the thickness of the display product, it can be realized by reducing the thickness of the backlight module. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a design method for the microstructure of the optical film applied to the mini LED backlight module. The microstructured optical film designed in this paper can effectively improve the uniformity of brightness and realize the ultra‐thinning of the backlight module. Based on the principle of total reflection, the optical film microstructure is designed for the miniLED Lambertian light source. Under the assumption that the point light source is established, the extended light source is discretized into point light sources, and then the light energy that can be used for circulation is calculated for each point light source, and all point light sources The cyclic energy of is accumulated as the cyclic energy corresponding to the extended light source, and when its value is the largest, the best shape of the microstructure is obtained. The simulation results show that after adding the microstructured optical film, the illumination uniformity of the backlight module reaches 91.2%, which meets the uniformity requirements of the backlight module. The method of designing microstructured optical film proposed in this paper can effectively realize the ultra‐thinness of the backlight module and has strong practicability.
P‐13.5: Investigation on Chromatic Dispersion of Reflection for CFOT Display
Authors: Wu Yaodong , Zeng Yang , Yao Qijun , Zhu Shengtao , Iu Feng , Guo Linshan , Wang Lei , Ding Yuan
Published: August 2023

Chromatic dispersion of reflection makes different shapes of patterns on the display and particularly obvious under the sunlight. This will seriously affect the use of the display outdoors. We have investigated the chromatic dispersion on CFOT and regard the origin of it is identified as the diffraction of the OLED pixels. The simulation results are consistent with the experimental results, and several important factors affecting the diffraction are given in this paper. According to the influencing factors, several corresponding countermeasures are proposed.
P‐15.3: Color Speckle Evaluation Using Eigenvalues Method
Authors: Peng Yunjia , Xu Renjie , Liu Rui , Wang Weisheng , Zhou Yingchun
Published: August 2023

In the current international standard (IEC 62906‐5‐4), the variance and covariance of color coordinates u’ and v’, as well as photometric speckle contrast are used to evaluate color speckle. There are some shortcomings in the covariance method that it is difficult for users to match the speckle distribution with covariance intuitively. In this paper, the eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix generated by u’ and v’ are proposed to evaluate color speckle, which can be more intuitive and more suitable as an evaluation metric in measurement.
Sustainable Synthesis and Characterizationof Corncob‐Derived Graphene Oxide
Authors: Tinh Ninh Thi , Dat Nguyen Minh , Hieu Le Minh , Bao Le Minh , Khoa Nguyen Nhat , Nhan Dang Duc , Hoang Tat Minh , Bao Pham Phi , Huong Quach Thi Thanh , Hanh Nguyen Thi , Huong Le Minh , Khang Pham Tan , Danh Tong Thanh , Hieu Nguyen Huu
Published: August 2023

Recently, though graphene oxide (GO) has shown promising applications in many fields, there have not been many studies focusing on exploiting the source of synthetic precursors of GO. Herein, GO was synthesized from the cellulose of corncob by corncob alkalization, bleaching cellulose, pyrolysis, and improved Hummer's method. It was found that pyrolysis plays an important role in the graphitization of cellulose precursors with the catalyst Fe(NO3)3 to form Gi‐Fe(NO3)3. The GO material synthesized from Gi‐Fe(NO3)3 was characterized by advanced analytical methods. The X‐ray diffraction pattern of Gi‐Fe(NO3)3 shows the formation of a diffraction peak at the crystal plane (002), which is characteristic of the graphite material. The synthesized GO underwent a series of changes in material structure and morphology, which are confirmed via transmission electron microscopy images showing a plate‐like structure with folds represented by the dark line. This study demonstrates a sustainable approach that directly utilizes abundant biomass resources for the synthesis of GO material.
Improved Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Activity of Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33GdxFe2‐xO4 Nanoparticles Synthesized via the Co‐precipitation Method
Authors: Rabaa Mariam , Mezher Malak , Aridi Amani , Naoufal Daoud , Khalil Mahmoud , Awad Ramadan
Published: August 2023

This study reports the synthesis of Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33GdxFe2‐xO4 nanoparticles (NPs) with 0.00≤x≤0.08 by the co‐precipitation method. The structural and optical properties of NPs are investigated. As Gd content increases, the lattice parameter and the bandgap energy increase whereas the particle size decreases. The photocatalytic performance of NPs is evaluated in the degradation of methyl violet (MV) dye under sunlight irradiation. The best activity is exhibited by Mg0.33Ni0.33Co0.33GdxFe2‐xO4 where x=0.04. The rate of the photodegradation reaction is boosted by increasing the pH and temperature. 95.4 % of MV is degraded after 240 min upon the addition of 5 wt. % carbon dot. The NPs are tested against Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Leclercia adecarboxylata) isolated from wastewater. The antibacterial activity was tested by the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration broth microdilution assay, agar well diffusion assay and time‐kill test. The results show that the NPs exhibit inhibitory activity against Gram‐positive bacteria. Furthermore, NPs show bacteriostatic activity after 3 hours of incubation. The antibiofilm activity of the NPs is tested by the inhibition of biofilm formation and the destruction of pre‐formed biofilm assays. The results show an inhibitory activity of the NPs against Gram‐positive biofilms.
Celecoxib Derivatives Containing Pyrazole Linked‐Sulfonamide Moiety: Carbonic Anhydrase I–II and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Profiles, Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Gerni Serpil , Ozturk Cansu , Almaz Zuleyha , Bayrak Cetin , Tan Ayse
Published: August 2023

Heterocyclic pyrazole compounds have cytotoxic, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory properties, as well as their derivatives containing sulfonamide moiety, show superior effects on inhibiting various enzymes. Pre‐synthesized celecoxib‐derived compounds were studied for their inhibitory effects on human carbonic anhydrase (hCA I and hCA II) isoforms and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The compound containing 2,3 dimethoxyphenyl functional groups from the celecoxib derivative containing this sulfonamide moiety showed a strong inhibitory effect with Ki values at 21.70±2.50 nM, 4.70±2.20 nM, and 4.58±0.80 nM for hCA I, hCA II, and AChE, respectively. In addition, these compounds were evaluated against acetazolamide (AZA) and tacrine (TAC), which are used as standard inhibitors for the studied enzymes. The compound obtained as a result of the reaction of pyrazole compounds with propionic anhydride and showing the best inhibition effect had higher inhibitory activity than the standard inhibitors we used. In addition, molecular docking analyses to the strongest inhibitor were performed to identify possible binding mechanisms with the active sites of all three enzymes. Based on both in vitro and molecular docking analysis results, this compound was determined as a potential inhibitor of AChE, hCA I, and hCA II isoenzymes.
Polyethylene Glycol as a Green Medium for the Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Guanamines
Authors: Lim Han Yin , Dolzhenko Anton V.
Published: August 2023

The hazardous, toxic, and flammable solvents, methyl and ethyl cellosolves (2‐methoxy‐ and 2‐ethoxyethanols), are typically used as media for the synthesis of guanamines (1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamines). We found that these problematic solvents can be efficiently replaced by a green alternative, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400). The reaction efficiency in PEG 400 media was further improved by applying focused microwave irradiation. The method scope is illustrated by the preparation of twenty diverse 1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamines.
Re‐establishing the Lost Covalency of the Inverted Bond in [1.1.1]Propellane
Authors: Sultana Nargish , Guha Ankur Kanti
Published: August 2023

The nature of the bridging C−C bond in [1.1.1]propellane has been a topic of much debate, and finally it has been established to be a charge‐shift bond. But the question remains: Can we restore the “lost” covalency of this charge shift bond? Herein we have attempted to investigate the nature of the bridging C−C bond, by replacing the CH2 groups at the wing positions with NH, O, and S. Detailed analyses using atoms in molecules (AIM) and electron localization function (ELF) reveal that the bridging bond emerges as a covalent bond upon substitution with S.
Orthogonal Design of Experiments for Engineering of Lipid Nanoparticles for mRNA Delivery to the Placenta
Authors: Safford Hannah C. , Swingle Kelsey L. , Geisler Hannah C. , Hamilton Alex G. , Thatte Ajay S. , Ghalsasi Aditi A. , Billingsley Margaret M. , Alameh Mohamad‐Gabriel , Weissman Drew , Mitchell Michael J.
Published: August 2023

During healthy pregnancy, the placenta develops to allow for exchange of nutrients and oxygen between the mother and the fetus. However, placental dysregulation can lead to several pregnancy disorders, such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Recently, lipid nanoparticle (LNP)‐mediated delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) has been explored as a promising approach to treat these disorders. Here, iterative libraries of LNPs with varied excipient molar ratios are screened in vitro for enhanced mRNA delivery to placental cells with minimal cytotoxicity when compared to an LNP formulation with a standard excipient molar ratio. LNP C5, the top formulation identified by these screens, demonstrates a fourfold increase in mRNA delivery in vitro compared to the standard formulation. Intravenous administration of LNP C5 to pregnant mice achieves improved in vivo placental mRNA delivery compared to the standard formulation and mediates mRNA delivery to placental trophoblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells. These results identify LNP C5 as a promising optimized LNP formulation for placental mRNA delivery and further validates the design of experiments strategy for LNP excipient optimization to enhance mRNA delivery to cell types and organs of interest.
Regulating Molecular Packing and Orientation of Nonfused Ring Electron Acceptors for Organic Solar Cells with a High Figure‐of‐Merit
Authors: Ye Shounuan , He Chengliang , Pan Youwen , Li Shuixing , Wang Shanlu , Li Chang-Zhi , Shi Minmin , Chen Hongzheng
Published: August 2023

Developing photovoltaic materials well balancing efficiency, stability, and cost is highly required for organic solar cells (OSCs) moving toward commercial applications. With such intention, two nonfused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs), 3TT11‐4F and 3TT46‐4F, with large steric hindrance substituents and linear/branched alkyl side chains are designed. The change of alkyl side chains from branched to linear leads to tighter π–π stacking and uniform molecular orientation for 3TT11‐4F, as revealed in single‐crystal structure, which further boosts the charge transport and regulates the aggregation property. Thus, a better efficiency of 15.02% is achieved in 3TT11‐4F‐based OSC with significantly improved photocurrent, relative to 3TT46‐4F‐based one (13.79%). Besides, the two NFREAs also enable good device stability with over 70% initial efficiencies maintained after 800 h illumination. Considering the low synthetic complexity, a high industrial figure‐of‐merit value of 16.34% is achieved for 3TT11‐4F‐based OSC, superior to some typical counterparts. The work provides a good reference for material design with an outstanding figure‐of‐merit.
Abnormal Dynamic Reverse Bias Behavior and Variable Reverse Breakdown Voltage of ETL‐free Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Chaofeng , Huang Like , Guo Yi , Liu Shuang , Huang Jiajia , Liu Xiaohui , Zhang Jing , Hu Ziyang , Liu Kuan , Zhu Yuejin
Published: August 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown an impressive power conversion efficiency of 26.1%, while their upcoming commercialization urgently needs to solve the stability problem. Among numerous stability issues of PSCs, little attention is paid to reverse bias stability. When some cells of the module are shaded by irresistible factors, this will cause the current of the illuminated part to flow through the shaded cells as a reverse current and force them to be under reverse bias. Herein, the breakdown mechanism dominated by different reverse bias regions of a prototype electron transport layer free PSCs is distinguished. And, it is confirmed that PSCs present a thought‐provoking dynamic reverse bias (DRB) behavior and variable reverse breakdown voltage (VRB), which is essentially distinct from classic solar cells. Specifically, VRB is significantly affected by voltage scan rate, range and direction, and illumination. The underlying mechanism is explained by drift‐diffusion modeling taking into account the electric field generated by directional ion migration. The latter can hinder the movement of charge carriers and cause the observed variable VRB and DRB behavior. Predictably, the understanding of the dynamic process is crucial to establish a standard VRB measurement procedure and further promote the commercialization of PSCs.
A comprehensive security and performance assessment of UAV authentication schemes
Authors: Mekdad Yassine , Aris Ahmet , Acar Abbas , Conti Mauro , Lazzeretti Riccardo , Fergougui Abdeslam El , Uluagac Selcuk
Published: August 2023

In the past few years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have significantly gained attention and popularity from industry, government, and academia. With their rapid development and deployment into the civilian airspace, UAVs play an important role in different applications, including goods delivery, search‐and‐rescue, and traffic monitoring. Therefore, providing secure communication through authentication models for UAVs is necessary for a successful and reliable flight mission. To satisfy such requirements, numerous authentication mechanisms have been proposed in the literature. However, the literature lacks a comprehensive study evaluating the security and performance of these solutions. In this article, we analyze the security and performance of 27 recent UAV authentication works by considering ten different key metrics. First, in the performance analysis, we show that the majority of UAV authentication schemes are lightweight in their communication cost. However, the storage overhead or the energy consumption is not reported by many authentication studies. Then, we reveal in the security analysis the widely employed formal models (i.e., abstract description of an authentication protocol through a mathematical model), while most of the studies lack coverage of many attacks that can target UAV systems. Afterwards, we highlight the challenges that need to be addressed in order to design and implement secure and reliable UAV authentication schemes. Finally, we summarize the lessons learned on the authentication strategies for UAVs to motivate promising direction for further research.
‘Clinical practice can still be fulfilling‘
Authors: Scott Cathy
Published: August 2023

It has been well documented that many vets in clinical practice can find their work frustrating and unfulfilling, contributing to the retention crisis. To give an alternative viewpoint, Cathy Scott and Eilidh Corr, on p 120, set out why they still find being a vet satisfying and enjoyable and what might need to change for others to experience the same.
New menopause hub to support the veterinary community
Authors: Judson Anna
Published: August 2023

We launched our new menopause hub in July, designed to support all members of the veterinary profession. BVA Junior Vice President Anna Judson reflects on the value it will bring.
Career in ‘exotics’ mirrored development and acceptance of the veterinary field
Authors: Brown Sarah
Published: August 2023

Vet Sarah Brown followed her dream to work with non‐traditional companion animals and after a 20‐year career advocating for these species' welfare she launched a dedicated exotics branch at Holly House Vets.
“Health promotion governance”: A framework for operationalizing the Ottawa charter mechanisms in health system governance
Authors: Saadati Fatemeh , Nadrian Haidar
Published: August 2023

According to the Geneva Charter for well‐being, health is a political choice and governments have crucial roles in providing the prerequisites of health and well‐being for people in societies. To initiate the creation of sustainable well‐being in societies, the health systems of all countries must be governed by a health promotion approach. To propose a “health promotion governance framework,” we apply the concepts of good governance and the Ottawa Charter strategies/action areas to health system governance. To implement the good governance components within health systems, policymakers need to apply the three Ottawa Charter's strategies. Applying these strategies, the policymakers will be led to perform the five mechanisms through community‐based interventions for health promotion. As a result, they will achieve a health system with “health‐promoting governance.” Such a system can act so effective, efficient, equitable, and inclusive that it brings about better health outcomes. In this way, the proposed “health promotion governance framework” might be helpful in giving reality to the governance of health promotion in health systems, which is the first step in creating sustainable well‐being in societies.
Differentiating research from management in welfare review of wildlife activities
Authors: Thompson Tracy A. , Galloway Nathan L. , Verant Michelle , Cafaro Philip J. , Wild Margaret A.
Published: August 2023

A common understanding and clear process to apply the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to wildlife‐related activities is crucial to promote animal welfare when conducting wildlife research and for streamlining review by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Current interpretation of the AWA and United States government policies advise that wildlife research activities be reviewed for compliance by an IACUC; however, guidance regarding which wildlife activities are categorized as research and therefore subject to review and oversight is limited. In our opinion and experience, this lack of clarity creates a challenge, particularly for natural resource agencies that conduct a range of wildlife activities, to ensure that research is properly identified for IACUC review and differentiated from management activities that are exempt from review. To fill the gap in current guidance, we propose a decision‐making model that clarifies research and management activities. We apply our model to case studies involving wildlife to highlight nuanced differences between the 2 types of activities. Wildlife agencies conducting potentially regulated activities could use this adaptable model, which has been successfully employed by the National Park Service IACUC, to clarify when the AWA might apply, streamline IACUC reviews, and promote welfare of wildlife.
Geospatial data and web based tools for managing irrigation infrastructure expansion projects
Authors: Issac Annie Maria , Harshitha M S , Lakshmi Thatiparthi Vijay , Hagare Dharmappa , Maheshwari Basant , Reynolds Jason K. , Rao Lakshminarayana , Tuppad Pushpa , Prasad Shiva , Ynag Shuqing , Sivakumar Muttucumaru
Published: August 2023

Improving irrigation infrastructure is important for sustaining food security in developing countries like India. The irrigation potential of a system is estimated at the planning phase using conventional approaches. A mismatch in the irrigation potential planned to be created and the land suitable for cultivation can lead to a gap in the irrigation potential created and utilized, making the scheme unrealistic and uneconomical. This study aims to use geospatial data and geographic information system (GIS) tools to identify land suitable for cultivation when planning an irrigation system. This study was conducted in Telangana State in India, where the projected irrigation potential creation was 5 million ha (Mha). It was observed that the total land suitable for cultivation in the state, considering the soil's topography, and physical and chemical characteristics, is about 6 Mha. Time series of average monthly Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) over a 10‐year period was used to identify the critical blocks. The study illustrates how the geospatial data derived from remote sensing and recent GIS tools can aid managers in planning, implementing, and monitoring irrigation projects. The study also demonstrates how long‐term satellite information can be used for regional prioritizationprioritisation for constructing irrigation infrastructure and postconstruction impact assessment. This study was conducted as part of the Young Water Professions (YWP) Training program, which allowed the participants to develop professional competencies and implement their learning in real‐world situations.
Factors Influencing Trust and Use of Recommendation AI: A Case Study of Diet Improvement AI in Japan
Authors: Ema Arisa , Suyama Takashi
Published: August 2023

To use AI systems that are trustworthy, it is necessary to consider not only AI technologies, but also a model that takes into account factors such as guidelines, assurance through audits and standards and user interface design. In this paper, we conducted a questionnaire survey focusing on (1) AI intervention, (2) data management, and (3) purpose of use. The survey was conducted on a case study of an AI service for dietary habit improvement recommendations among Japanese people. The results suggest that how the form of communication between humans and AI is designed may affect whether users trust and use AI.
Ethics of E-Learning Recommender Systems: Epistemic Positioning and Ideological Orientation
Authors: Roux Lisa , Nodenot Thierry
Published: August 2023

Recommender systems are increasingly used in e-learning to provide users with personalized services and advice. Depending on the specific context for which the system is implemented (e.g., homework on a specific subject for university students, new training courses for life-long learners), the objectives and proposed items, the chosen recommendation techniques, the features that are considered, the way the recommendations are presented to the users are closely related to the designers’ perception of learners and knowledge. The various approaches reflect different epistemic and ethical viewpoints; for example, representing people using fixed models is easier to process, diagnose, predict and explain, but presents a partial view of reality and obscures the fact that they are complex and evolving individuals. Similarly, some filtering methods can restrict the view of available courses to items considered similar to those that the learner has already followed, thus promoting specialization rather than diversification and openness. This aspect is closely related to fundamental issues involved in the theory of knowledge, questioning the notions of utility and purposes of science, as well as a key issue for academic change and, more fundamentally, that of modern societies. Indeed, these issues should be seen in a broader context of reflection about the economic changes and ideological transformations of a society grounded on neoliberal capitalism. The main goal of this study is to explain how the design of recommender systems in e-learning has both ethical and practical implications since it reflects an ideological conception of science and techniques, thus requiring a previous examination of these issues in order to define the theoretical model of knowledge in which it takes place. For that purpose, we study the certain visions of teaching and learning that can be brought about by algorithms and models used by existing recommender systems in e-learning.
Digital Labor as a Structural Fairness Issue in Recommender Systems
Authors: Genovesi Sergio
Published: August 2023

This contribution moves from the assumption that algorithmic outcomes disadvantaging one or more stakeholder groups is not the only way a recommender system can be unfair since additional forms of structural injustice should be considered as well. After describing different ways of supplying digital labor as waged labor or consumer labor, it is shown that the current design of recommender systems necessarily requires digital labor for training and tuning, making it a structural issue. The chapter then presents several fairness concerns raised by the exploitation of digital labor. These regard, among other things, the unequal distribution of produced value, the poor work conditions of digital laborers, and the unawareness of many individuals of their laborer’s condition. To address this structural fairness issue, compensatory measures are not adequate, and a structural change of the ways training data are collected is necessary.
Ethical and Legal Analysis of Machine Learning Based Systems: A Scenario Analysis of a Food Recommender System
Authors: Levina Olga , Mattern Saskia
Published: August 2023

Laws are the reflection of the ethical and moral principles of the society. While the use of technology influences users’ behavior in a pace that is affected by the technology introduction to the market, legal activities can be driven by the society as the results of such interactions. This scenario analysis- based research focuses on a classic but fictional food recommender system and the ethical issues that might occur from its usage. The recommender system is taken here as an example of machine learning-based systems (MLS) that can often be found in the individual, business and administrative applications. The research compares the existing legal solutions, with the focus on the GDPR legislation, and the discovered ethical issues. The ethical analysis is led along the ALTAI principles suggested by the European Commission, the common good approach as well as the general principles constituted in human rights. While the GDPR-based analysis showed that this data- and privacy-based legislation addressed most of the identified ethical issues, questions related to the common good approach in the context of environment and mobility that arise due to the wide spectrum of the MLS usage require further legal discussion. The application of the two approaches shows that conducting the ethical and legal analysis is beneficial for both the designers of such MLS as well as the legal actors. The findings can enhance the design and functions of a user-facing MLS as well as influence or validate legal activities.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Integrated Diagnostic
Authors: Milan Lisa
Published: August 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the medical field have the potential to revolutionize the way in which diseases are detected and treated. Exploiting advanced algorithms and techniques, AI-based systems can analyze a very large amount of medical data and identify patterns that may not be detectable to human experts. This can lead to more accurate and efficient diagnoses, as well as the development of new diagnostic/prognostic methods. Integrated diagnostics combines multiple diagnostic modalities and data sources to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a patient’s health status. Due to a large amount of information collectable in this field, the application of AI may provide significant and cost-effective advancements in the next years. In this chapter, the current state of AI in integrated diagnostic medicine will be explored, including its applications, challenges, and future prospects.
Diagnostics and Theranostics of Benign Thyroid Disorders
Authors: Campennì Alfredo , Ruggeri Rosaria Maddalena , Jukić Tomislav , Siracusa Massimiliano , Punda Marija , Giovanella Luca , Ovčariček Petra Petranović
Published: August 2023

Thyroid scintigraphy is an evergreen in nuclear medicine imaging and up to date represents the only “in vivo” diagnostic imaging method able to evaluate thyroid functional status in patients with thyroid disorders.

It is able to identify hyperfunctioning (i.e., “hot”) or hypofunctioning (i.e., “cold”) nodules such as an increased tracer uptake in the whole gland common in patients affected by autoimmune thyroid disorders (i.e., Graves’ disease).

Most hyperthyroid patients and selected patients affected by non-toxic thyroid disorders can be successfully cured using iodine-131, the first theragnostic agent in nuclear medicine. Indeed, it is able to treat thyroid disorder by β decay while γ-emission allows us to observe its distribution in the gland.

Millions of people have worldwide been treated by iodine-131 since its first use by Dr. Saul Hertz in a young female patient affected by Graves’ disease.

Being an effective and safe therapy, iodine-131 therapy is now considered as a therapeutic option both in selected pediatric patients such as in those affected by non-toxic goiter. In these latter, its use is more common than in the past.

The present chapter is prompted to provide the readers with an updated overview on diagnostic and theragnostic approach to patients affected by benign thyroid disorders.
Radioiodine Theranostics of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Avram Anca M.
Published: August 2023

Current management of patients with thyroid cancer requires a risk-adapted approach to treatment and multidisciplinary cooperation. Routine use of 131-I administration after total thyroidectomy is no longer recommended as this approach has been challenged by evidence that remnant ablation does not improve survival in low-risk patients. However, therapeutic 131-I administration in intermediate- and high-risk patients demonstrated significant benefits in improving overall survival. Radioiodine (131-I Na-I) is the classic agent used for the diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) based on sodium–iodine symporter expression in normal and neoplastic thyroid tissues permitting the integration of diagnostic imaging and therapeutics using the same radionuclide (i.e., theranostics) targeting specific characteristics of tumor biology. Radioiodine theragnostics involves the acquisition of pre-ablation diagnostic scans (Dx Scans) to guide patient-individualized targeted 131-I therapy with goal of maximizing the benefits of the first therapeutic 131-I administration. Current imaging technology with hybrid SPECT/CT gamma camera systems has improved the capability of diagnostic radioiodine scintigraphy for identifying regional and distant metastatic disease and this imaging information can be used for 131-I treatment planning and delivery of activity-adjusted 131-I therapy for achieving intended treatment goals (e.g., remnant ablation, adjuvant treatment, and treatment of known disease). The goal of radioiodine theragnostics is to optimize the balance between 131-I therapeutic efficacy and potential side effects on non-target tissues. This chapter summarizes the new concepts and essential information at the core of multidisciplinary DTC management, which emphasizes individualization of 131I therapy according to the patient’s risk for tumor recurrence to maximize benefit and minimize morbidity.
New research on crop diversity of the early farmers in southeastern Europe (ca. 6400 − 5700 bce)
Authors: Sabanov Amalia , Soteras Raül , Hajdas Irka , Naumov Goce , Antolín Ferran
Published: August 2023

Pelagonia is a mountain valley in North Macedonia that was densely occupied by early farming communities in the second half of the 7th and early 6th millennium bce. Archaeobotanical analysis is being done on material from three sites there, Vrbjanska Čuka, Veluška Tumba and Vlaho. This paper presents the results of archaeobotanical analyses of remains from Pelagonia, which represent some of the oldest directly dated remains of cereals and pulses in Europe, and discusses the results on crop diversity among Early Neolithic communities within the region. The crop spectrum was broad, with five cereal species and several varieties, two pulses and potentially two oil crops. The diversity is slightly narrower than the one found in southwestern Asia, Greece and Bulgaria as Cicer arietinum (chickpea), Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) and Vicia ervilia (bitter vetch) were not present or very rare, and Triticum aestivum/durum (naked wheat) was only found in small amounts, probably because the early farmers were adapting their choices of crops to the different climatic conditions in Pelagonia. On the micro-regional level we have observed that the diversity and importance of certain crops may vary in relation to the 8.2 ka bp climate cooling event, as well as due to local environmental or cultural factors, showing the need for finer scale analyses beyond the level of site or phase.
Prognostic utility of serum NT-proBNP (fragments 1-76aa and 13-71aa) and galectin-3 in predicting death and re-hospitalisation due to cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure
Authors: Zhang Xi , Wan Yunxia , Karunathilaka Nuwan , Chan Wandy , Kostner Karam , Hartel Gunter , Coats Andrew J. S. , Atherton John J. , Punyadeera Chamindie
Published: August 2023

Patients with heart failure (HF) are at a higher risk of rehospitalisation. In this study, we investigated the prognostic utility of galectin-3 (Gal-3) and NT-proBNP fragments (1-76aa and 13-71aa) as biomarkers to predict outcomes for patients with HF. We collected blood samples from patients with HF (n = 101). Gal-3 and NT-proBNP fragments (1–76aa and 13–71aa) concentrations were measured by immunoassay. Survival analysis and Cox proportional regression models were used to determine the prognostic utility of Gal-3 and NT-proBNP fragments. In patients with increased baseline levels of NT-proBNP1-76 the time to primary endpoint (cardiovascular death or re-hospitalisation) was significantly shorter (p = 0.0058), but not in patient with increased baseline levels of Gal-3 or NTproBNP13-71. Patients with increased levels of NT-proBNP13-71aa at 1 month showed reduced time to the primary endpoint (p = 0.0123). Our findings demonstrated that Gal-3 and NT-proBNP can be used as prognostic biomarkers to stratify patients with HF.
Modeling elongational viscosity of polystyrene Pom-Pom/linear and Pom-Pom/star blends
Authors: Hirschberg Valerian , Lyu Shan , Schußmann Max G. , Wilhelm Manfred , Wagner Manfred H.
Published: August 2023

The elongational rheology of blends of a polystyrene (PS) Pom-Pom with two linear polystyrenes was recently reported by Hirschberg et al. (J. Rheol. 2023, 67:403–415). The Pom-Pom PS280k-2x22-22k with a self-entangled backbone (Mw,bb = 280 kg/mol) and 22 entangled sidearms (Mw,a = 22 kg/mol) at each of the two branch points was blended at weight fractions from 75 to 2 wt% with two linear polystyrenes (PS) having Mw of 43 kg/mol (PS43k) and 90 kg/mol (PS90k), respectively. While the pure Pom-Pom shows strong strain hardening in elongational flow (SHF > 100), strain hardening (SHF > 10) is still observed in Pom-Pom/linear blends containing only 2 wt% of Pom-Pom. The elongational start-up viscosities of the blends with Pom-Pom weight fractions above 10 wt% are well described by the Molecular Stress Function (MSF) model, however, requiring two nonlinear fit parameters. Here we show that quantitative and parameter-free modeling of the elongational viscosity data is possible by the Hierarchical Multi-mode Molecular Stress Function (HMMSF) model based on the concepts of hierarchical relaxation and dynamic dilution. In addition, we investigated the elongational viscosity of a blend consisting of 20 wt% Pom-Pom PS280k-2x22-22k and 80 wt% of a PS star with 11 arms of Mw,a = 25 kg/mol having a similar span molecular weight as PS43k and similar Mw,a as the Pom-Pom. This work might open up possibilities toward polymer upcycling of less-defined polymers by adding a polymer with optimized topology to gain the intended strain hardening, e.g., for film blowing applications.

Graphical Abstract
Patellar tendinopathy: an overview of prevalence, risk factors, screening, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Authors: Theodorou Andreas , Komnos Georgios , Hantes Michael
Published: August 2023

Patellar tendinopathy (PT), or jumper’s knee, is an overuse injury that occurs in professional, as well as recreational, athletes. This condition is a noncontact injury, typically characterized by gradually increasing pain in the patellar tendon. It is prevalent in participants of several sports, but it occurs mostly in jumping sports. The diagnosis of PT is primarily clinical; however, imaging techniques can be useful as well. Risk factors differ between sexes, playing conditions, the kind of sport, playing level and personal characteristics. Screening is an essential tool to assess PT. This condition affects athletic performance and often persists for years. The use of preventative methods is imperative because of the persistence of this condition, especially in elite athletes who sometimes end their career after long and failed treatments. There are a wide variety of treatment and rehabilitation options available, the majority of which are non-operative, such as eccentric exercises, cryotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and anti-inflammatory strategies. If conservative treatment fails, surgery is the next most preferable step. Even though there are many surgical treatment methods, there is no clear evidence on what is the most effective approach to address PT. Taking this into consideration, as well as the extent of this clinical entity, novel therapeutic techniques, as well as screening and prevention methods, are expected to emerge in the near future.
Clinical Features and Voxel-Based-Symptom-Lesion Mapping of Silent Aspiration in Acute Infratentorial Stroke
Authors: Lesch H. , Wittayer M. , Dias M. , Nick A. , Ebert A. , Eisele P. , Alonso A.
Published: August 2023

Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is a severe and common complication after ischemic stroke. The role of silent aspiration as an important contributing factor in the development of a dysphagia-associated complications, in particular aspiration-associated pneumonia has been insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and risk factors of silent aspiration in patients with acute infratentorial stroke by FEES and to identify culprit lesions in stroke patient with a high risk of silent aspiration via voxel-based-symptom-lesion mapping (VBS/ML). This study is a retrospective observational study based on a prospectively collected FEES and stroke database. Consecutive patient cases with acute ischemic infratentorial stroke and FEES examination between 2017 and 2022 were identified. Group allocation was performed based on PAS scores. Imaging analysis was performed by manual assignment and by VBS/ML. Group comparisons were performed to assess silent aspiration characteristics. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine if baseline clinical, demographic, and imaging parameters were helpful in predicting silent aspiration in patients. In this study 84 patient cases with acute infratentorial stroke who underwent FEES examination were included. Patients were moderately affected at admission (mean NIH-SS score at admission 5.7 SD ± 4.7). Most lesions were found pontine. Overall 40.5% of patients suffered from silent aspiration, most frequently in case of bilateral lesions. Patients with silent aspiration had higher NIH-SS scores at admission (p < 0.05), had a more severe swallowing disorder (p < 0.05) and were 4.7 times more likely to develop post-stroke pneumonia. Patients who underwent FEES examination later than 72 h after symptom onset were significantly more likely to suffer from silent aspiration and to develop pneumonia compared to patients who underwent FEES examination within the first 72 h (p < 0.05). A binary logistic regression model identified NIH-SS at admission as a weak predictor of silent aspiration. Neither in manual assignment of the lesions to brain regions nor in voxel-wise statistic regression any specific region was useful in prediction of silent aspiration. Silent aspiration is common in patients with infratentorial stroke and contributes to the risk for pneumonia. Patients with silent aspiration are more severely affected by stroke, but cannot reliably be identified by NIH-SS at admission or lesion location. Patients suffering from acute infratentorial stroke should been screened and examined for PSD and silent aspiration.
In Vivo Myelin Water Quantification Using Diffusion–Relaxation Correlation MRI: A Comparison of 1D and 2D Methods
Authors: Endt Sebastian , Engel Maria , Naldi Emanuele , Assereto Rodolfo , Molendowska Malwina , Mueller Lars , Mayrink Verdun Claudio , Pirkl Carolin M. , Palombo Marco , Jones Derek K. , Menzel Marion I.
Published: August 2023

Multidimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a versatile tool for microstructure mapping. We use a diffusion weighted inversion recovery spin echo (DW-IR-SE) sequence with spiral readouts at ultra-strong gradients to acquire a rich diffusion–relaxation data set with sensitivity to myelin water. We reconstruct 1D and 2D spectra with a two-step convex optimization approach and investigate a variety of multidimensional MRI methods, including 1D multi-component relaxometry, 1D multi-component diffusometry, 2D relaxation correlation imaging, and 2D diffusion-relaxation correlation spectroscopic imaging (DR-CSI), in terms of their potential to quantify tissue microstructure, including the myelin water fraction (MWF). We observe a distinct spectral peak that we attribute to myelin water in multi-component T1 relaxometry, T1-T2 correlation, T1-D correlation, and T2-D correlation imaging. Due to lower achievable echo times compared to diffusometry, MWF maps from relaxometry have higher quality. Whilst 1D multi-component T1 data allows much faster myelin mapping, 2D approaches could offer unique insights into tissue microstructure and especially myelin diffusion.
Nonparametric estimates of option prices via Hermite basis functions
Authors: Marinelli Carlo , d’Addona Stefano
Published: August 2023

We consider approximate pricing formulas for European options based on approximating the logarithmic return’s density of the underlying by a linear combination of rescaled Hermite polynomials. The resulting models, that can be seen as perturbations of the classical Black-Scholes one, are nonpararametric in the sense that the distribution of logarithmic returns at fixed times to maturity is only assumed to have a square-integrable density. We extensively investigate the empirical performance, defined in terms of out-of-sample relative pricing error, of this class of approximating models, depending on their order (that is, roughly speaking, the degree of the polynomial expansion) as well as on several ways to calibrate them to observed data. Empirical results suggest that such approximate pricing formulas, when compared with simple nonparametric estimates based on interpolation and extrapolation on the implied volatility curve, perform reasonably well only for options with strike price not too far apart from the strike prices of the observed sample.
Biophysical factors control invasive annual grass hot spots in the Mojave Desert
Authors: Smith Tanner Corless , Bishop Tara B. B. , Duniway Michael C. , Villarreal Miguel L. , Knight Anna C. , Munson Seth M. , Waller Eric K. , Jensen Ryan , Gill Richard A.
Published: August 2023

Invasive annual grasses can promote ecosystem state changes and habitat loss in the American Southwest. Non-native annual grasses such as Bromus spp. and Schismus spp. have invaded the Mojave Desert and degraded habitat through increased fire occurrence, severity, and shifting plant community composition. Thus, it is important to identify and characterize the areas where persistent invasion has occurred, identifying where subsequent habitat degradation has increased. Previous plot and landscape-scale analyses have revealed anthropogenic and biophysical correlates with the establishment and dominance of invasive annual grasses in the Mojave Desert. However, these studies have been limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here we use Landsat imagery validated using an extensive network of plot data to map persistent and productive populations of invasive annual grass, called hot spots, across the entire Mojave Desert ecoregion over 12 years (2009–2020). We also identify important variables for predicting hot spot distribution using the Random Forest algorithm and identifying the most invaded subregions. We identified hot spots in over 5% of the Mojave Desert mostly on the western and eastern edges of the ecoregion, and invasive grasses were detected in over 90% of the Mojave Desert at least once in that time. Across the entire Mojave Desert, our results indicate that soil texture, aspect, winter precipitation, and elevation are the highest-ranking predictive variables of invasive grass hot spots, while anthropogenic variables contributed the least to the accuracy of the predictive model. The total area covered by hot spots varied significantly among subregions of the Mojave Desert. We found that anthropogenic variables became more important in explaining invasive annual establishment and persistence as spatial scale was reduced to the subregional level. Our findings have important implications for informing where land management actions can prioritize reducing invasive annual persistence and promoting restoration efforts.