bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights into the Interaction of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Authors: Wester Michael , Arzt Michael , Sinha Frederick , Maier Lars , Lebek Simon
Published: November 2023

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is emerging as a widespread disease with global socioeconomic impact. Patients with HFpEF show a dramatically increased morbidity and mortality, and, unfortunately, specific treatment options are limited. This is due to the various etiologies that promote HFpEF development. Indeed, cluster analyses with common HFpEF comorbidities revealed the existence of several HFpEF phenotypes. One especially frequent, yet underappreciated, comorbidity is sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which is closely intertwined with the development and progression of the “obese HFpEF phenotype”. The following review article aims to provide an overview of the common HFpEF etiologies and phenotypes, especially in the context of SDB. As general HFpEF therapies are often not successful, patient- and phenotype-individualized therapeutic strategies are warranted. Therefore, for the “obese HFpEF phenotype”, a better understanding of the mechanistic parallels between both HFpEF and SDB is required, which may help to identify potential phenotype-individualized therapeutic strategies. Novel technologies like single-cell transcriptomics or CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing further broaden the groundwork for deeper insights into pathomechanisms and precision medicine.
Evaluation of the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Maxillofacial Silicone Type A-2186 Impregnated with a Hybrid Chitosan–TiO2 Nanocomposite Subjected to Different Accelerated Aging Conditions
Authors: Al-Kadi Faten K. , Adbulkareem Jwan Fateh , Azhdar Bruska A.
Published: November 2023

The effects of incorporating a pioneer chitosan–TiO2 nanocomposite on the mechanical and physical properties of room-temperature vulcanization (RTV) maxillofacial A-2186 silicone under accelerated aging protocols were rigorously examined. This investigation utilized 450 samples distributed across five distinct silicone classifications and assessed their attributes, such as tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, hardness, and surface roughness, before and after various accelerated aging processes. Statistical methodologies, including a one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD, and Dunnett’s T3, were employed based on the homogeneity of variance, and several key results were obtained. Silicones infused with 1 wt.% chitosan–TiO2 showed enhanced tensile strength across various aging procedures. Moreover, the 1 wt.% TiO2/Chitosan noncombination (TC) and 2 wt.% TiO2 compositions exhibited pronounced improvements in the elongation percentage. A consistent rise was evident across all silicone categories regarding tear strength, with the 1 wt.% chitosan–TiO2 variant being prominent under certain conditions. Variations in hardness were observed, with the 1 wt.% TC and 3 wt.% chitosan samples showing distinctive responses to certain conditions. Although most samples displayed a decreased surface roughness upon aging, the 1 wt.% chitosan–TiO2 variant frequently countered this trend. This investigation provides insights into the potential of the chitosan–TiO2 nanocomposite to influence silicone properties under aging conditions.
Optimization of Butterworth and Bessel Filter Parameters with Improved Tree-Seed Algorithm
Authors: Beşkirli Mehmet , Kiran Mustafa Servet
Published: November 2023

Filters are electrical circuits or networks that filter out unwanted signals. In these circuits, signals are permeable in a certain frequency range. Attenuation occurs in signals outside this frequency range. There are two types of filters: passive and active. Active filters consist of passive and active components, including transistors and operational amplifiers, but also require a power supply. In contrast, passive filters only consist of resistors and capacitors. Therefore, active filters are capable of generating signal gain and possess the benefit of high-input and low-output impedance. In order for active filters to be more functional, the parameters of the resistors and capacitors in the circuit must be at optimum values. Therefore, the active filter is discussed in this study. In this study, the tree seed algorithm (TSA), a plant-based optimization algorithm, is used to optimize the parameters of filters with tenth-order Butterworth and Bessel topology. In order to improve the performance of the TSA for filter parameter optimization, opposition-based learning (OBL) is added to TSA to form an improved TSA (I-TSA). The results obtained are compared with both basic TSA and some algorithms. The experimental results show that the I-TSA method is applicable to this problem by performing a successful prediction process.
Bio-Inspired Self-Healing, Shear-Thinning, and Adhesive Gallic Acid-Conjugated Chitosan/Carbon Black Composite Hydrogels as Suture Support Materials
Authors: Shin Hyun Ho , Ryu Ji Hyun
Published: November 2023

The occurrence of leakage from anastomotic sites is a significant issue given its potential undesirable complications. The management of anastomotic leakage after gastrointestinal surgery is particularly crucial because it is directly associated with mortality and morbidity in patients. If adhesive materials could be used to support suturing in surgical procedures, many complications caused by leakage from the anastomosis sites could be prevented. In this study, we have developed self-healing, shear-thinning, tissue-adhesive, carbon-black-containing, gallic acid-conjugated chitosan (CB/Chi-gallol) hydrogels as sealing materials to be used with suturing. The addition of CB into Chi-gallol solution resulted in the formation of a crosslinked hydrogel with instantaneous solidification. In addition, these CB/Chi-gallol hydrogels showed enhancement of the elastic modulus (G′) values with increased CB concentration. Furthermore, these hydrogels exhibited excellent self-healing, shear-thinning, and tissue-adhesive properties. Notably, the hydrogels successfully sealed the incision site with suturing, resulting in a significant increase in the bursting pressure. The proposed self-healing and adhesive hydrogels are potentially useful in versatile biomedical applications, particularly as suture support materials for surgical procedures.
Investigating the Insertion Mechanism of Cell-Penetrating Peptide Penetratin into Cell Membranes: Implications for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Almarwani Bashiyar , Hamada Yahia Z. , Phambu Nsoki , Sunda-Meya Anderson
Published: November 2023

The cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) penetratin (PEN) has garnered attention for its potential to enter tumor cells. However, its translocation mechanism and lack of selectivity remain debated. This study investigated PEN’s insertion into healthy cells (H-) and cancer cells (C-) using micromolar concentrations and various techniques. Raman spectroscopy was used to determine PEN’s location in the lipid bilayer at different lipid-to-peptide ratios. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analysis were used to measure the lipid–PEN complex’s size and charge. The results showed helical PEN particles directly inserted into C- membranes at a ratio of 110, while aggregated particles stayed on H- surfaces. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed PEN insertion in C- membranes. Zeta potential studies revealed highly negative charges for PEN–C- complexes and neutral charges for PEN–H- complexes at pH 6.8. C- integrity remained unchanged at a ratio of 110. Specific lipid-to-peptide ratios with dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine (DPPS) were crucial for direct insertion. These results provide valuable insights into CPP efficacy for targeted drug delivery in cancer cells, considering membrane composition and lipid-to-peptide ratios.
Continuous Real-Time Detection of Serotonin Using an Aptamer-Based Electrochemical Biosensor
Authors: Ahmad Habib M. N. , Andrade Arturo , Song Edward
Published: November 2023

Serotonin (5-HT) is a critical neurotransmitter involved in many neuronal functions, and 5-HT depletion has been linked to several mental diseases. The fast release and clearance of serotonin in the extracellular space, low analyte concentrations, and a multitude of interfering species make the detection of serotonin challenging. This work presents an electrochemical aptamer-based biosensing platform that can monitor 5-HT continuously with high sensitivity and selectivity. Our electrochemical sensor showed a response time of approximately 1 min to a step change in the serotonin concentration in continuous monitoring using a single-frequency EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) technique. The developed sensing platform was able to detect 5-HT in the range of 25–150 nM in the continuous sample fluid flow with a detection limit (LOD) of 5.6 nM. The electrochemical sensor showed promising selectivity against other species with similar chemical structures and redox potentials, including dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), L-tryptophan (L-TP), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). The proposed sensing platform is able to achieve high selectivity in the nanomolar range continuously in real-time, demonstrating the potential for monitoring serotonin from neurons in organ-on-a-chip or brain-on-a-chip-based platforms.
Multi-Slice Generation sMRI and fMRI for Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis Using 3D-CNN and Vision Transformers
Authors: Alharthi Asrar G. , Alzahrani Salha M.
Published: November 2023

Researchers have explored various potential indicators of ASD, including changes in brain structure and activity, genetics, and immune system abnormalities, but no definitive indicator has been found yet. Therefore, this study aims to investigate ASD indicators using two types of magnetic resonance images (MRI), structural (sMRI) and functional (fMRI), and to address the issue of limited data availability. Transfer learning is a valuable technique when working with limited data, as it utilizes knowledge gained from a pre-trained model in a domain with abundant data. This study proposed the use of four vision transformers namely ConvNeXT, MobileNet, Swin, and ViT using sMRI modalities. The study also investigated the use of a 3D-CNN model with sMRI and fMRI modalities. Our experiments involved different methods of generating data and extracting slices from raw 3D sMRI and 4D fMRI scans along the axial, coronal, and sagittal brain planes. To evaluate our methods, we utilized a standard neuroimaging dataset called NYU from the ABIDE repository to classify ASD subjects from typical control subjects. The performance of our models was evaluated against several baselines including studies that implemented VGG and ResNet transfer learning models. Our experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-slice generation with the 3D-CNN and transfer learning methods as they achieved state-of-the-art results. In particular, results from 50-middle slices from the fMRI and 3D-CNN showed a profound promise in ASD classifiability as it obtained a maximum accuracy of 0.8710 and F1-score of 0.8261 when using the mean of 4D images across the axial, coronal, and sagittal. Additionally, the use of the whole slices in fMRI except the beginnings and the ends of brain views helped to reduce irrelevant information and showed good performance of 0.8387 accuracy and 0.7727 F1-score. Lastly, the transfer learning with the ConvNeXt model achieved results higher than other transformers when using 50-middle slices sMRI along the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes.
Effects of Physical Activity on Cognitive Functioning: The Role of Cognitive Reserve and Active Aging
Authors: D’Aurizio Giulia , Festucci Fabiana , Di Pompeo Ilaria , Tempesta Daniela , Curcio Giuseppe
Published: November 2023

Background: The increase in average life expectancy necessitates the identification of possible mechanisms capable of promoting “active aging” to ensure adequate levels of global functioning. Numerous studies show that regular physical activity promotes, even in the elderly, a state of functional psychophysical well-being capable of slowing down age-related cognitive decline. This study aimed to clarify whether, and how, the intensity of physical activity can modulate cognitive and executive skills by influencing specific psychological variables. Methods: Our sample consisted of 151 senior subjects divided into hikers (HIK), gentle gymnastics (GYM), and sedentary (SED), who practice intense, moderate, and reduced physical activity, respectively. A battery of psychological questionnaires was administrated to evaluate attentional skills, decision-making, the ability to implement targeted behaviors, perceived self-efficacy, and psychophysical well-being. We included: the Mini-Mental State Examination, Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Letter Cancellation Test, Everyday Competence Questionnaire, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: Comparisons between the scores reported by the three groups showed that the HIK group differs from the others with respect to most of the measurements, presenting better mood and cognitive performance, and a specific psychological profile. On the contrary, the GYM group appeared to have a greater affinity with the SED group than with the HIK group, both cognitively and psychologically. Conclusions: Types of physical activity, as well as the intensity and frequency with which they are practiced, are factors that promote an active aging process, protecting the psychophysical well-being and overall cognitive functioning of the elderly.
Abnormalities of Hippocampal Subfield and Amygdalar Nuclei Volumes and Clinical Correlates in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia with Obsessive–Compulsive Behavior—A Pilot Study
Authors: Liu Mu-N , Hu Li-Yu , Tsai Chia-Fen , Hong Chen-Jee , Chou Yuan-Hwa , Chang Chiung-Chih , Yang Kai-Chun , You Zi-Hong , Lau Chi Ieong
Published: November 2023

(1) Background: The hippocampus (HP) and amygdala are essential structures in obsessive–compulsive behavior (OCB); however, the specific role of the HP in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and OCB remains unclear. (2) Objective: We investigated the alterations of hippocampal and amygdalar volumes in patients with bvFTD and OCB and assessed the correlations of clinical severity with hippocampal subfield and amygdalar nuclei volumes in bvFTD patients with OCB. (3) Materials and methods: Eight bvFTD patients with OCB were recruited and compared with eight age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Hippocampal subfield and amygdalar nuclei volumes were analyzed automatically using a 3T magnetic resonance image and FreeSurfer v7.1.1. All participants completed the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI). (4) Results: We observed remarkable reductions in bilateral total hippocampal volumes. Compared with the HCs, reductions in the left hippocampal subfield volume over the cornu ammonis (CA)1 body, CA2/3 body, CA4 body, granule cell layer, and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (GC-ML-DG) body, molecular layer of the HP body, and hippocampal tail were more obvious in patients with bvFTD and OCB. Right subfield volumes over the CA1 body and molecular layer of the HP body were more significantly reduced in bvFTD patients with OCB than in those in HCs. We observed no significant difference in amygdalar nuclei volume between the groups. Among patients with bvFTD and OCB, Y-BOCS score was negatively correlated with left CA2/3 body volume (τb = −0.729, p < 0.001); total NPI score was negatively correlated with left GC-ML-DG body (τb = −0.648, p = 0.001) and total bilateral hippocampal volumes (left, τb = −0.629, p = 0.002; right, τb = −0.455, p = 0.023); and FBI score was negatively correlated with the left molecular layer of the HP body (τb = −0.668, p = 0.001), CA4 body (τb = −0.610, p = 0.002), and hippocampal tail volumes (τb = −0.552, p < 0.006). Mediation analysis confirmed these subfield volumes as direct biomarkers for clinical severity, independent of medial and lateral orbitofrontal volumes. (5) Conclusions: Alterations in hippocampal subfield volumes appear to be crucial in the pathophysiology of OCB development in patients with bvFTD.
Movement Sonification Techniques to Improve Balance in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Raglio Alfredo , De Maria Beatrice , Parati Monica , Giglietti Andrea , Premoli Stefano , Salvaderi Stefano , Molteni Daniele , Ferrante Simona , Dalla Vecchia Laura Adelaide
Published: November 2023

Background: Movement sonification has been recently introduced into the field of neuromotor rehabilitation alongside Neurologic Music Therapy and music-based interventions. This study introduces the use of musical auditory cues encompassing the melodic-harmonic aspect of music. Methods: Nineteen patients with Parkinson’s disease were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 9) groups and underwent thrice-weekly sessions of the same gait training program, with or without sonification. Functional and motor parameters, as well as fatigue, quality of life, and the impact of intervention on patients’ well-being, were assessed at baseline (PRE), the end of treatment (POST), and at follow-up (FU). Between-group differences were assessed for each outcome measure using linear mixed-effects models. The outcome measure was entered as the dependent variable, group and time as fixed effects, and time by group as the interaction effect. Results: Mini BESTest and Dynamic Gait Index scores significantly improved in the experimental group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively) from PRE to FU, demonstrating a significant impact of the sonification treatment on balance. No other significant differences were observed in the outcome measures. Conclusions: Larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the effectiveness of sonification approaches in Parkinson’s disease, as well as in other neurological disorders.
Multilingual Language Diversity Protects Native Language Production under Different Control Demands
Authors: Kang Keyi , Xiao Yumeng , Yu Hanxiang , Diaz Michele T. , Zhang Haoyun
Published: November 2023

The use of multiple languages has been found to influence individuals’ cognitive abilities. Although some studies have also investigated the effect of multilingualism on non-native language proficiency, fewer studies have focused on how multilingual experience affects native language production. This study investigated the effect of multilingualism on native language production, specifically examining control demands through a semantic Go/No-Go picture naming task. The multilingual experience was quantified using language entropy, which measures the uncertainty and diversity of language use. Control demands were achieved by manipulating the proportion of Go (i.e., naming) trials in different conditions. Results showed that as control demands increased, multilingual individuals exhibited poorer behavioral performance and greater brain activation throughout the brain. Moreover, more diverse language use was associated with higher accuracy in naming and more interconnected brain networks with greater involvement of domain-general neural resources and less domain-specific neural resources. Notably, the varied and balanced use of multiple languages enabled multilingual individuals to respond more efficiently to increased task demands during native language production.
Correction: Iannuzzi et al. Might Fibroblasts from Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Reflect the Brain Pathology? A Focus on the Increased Phosphorylation of Amyloid Precursor Protein Tyr682 Residue. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 103
Authors: Iannuzzi Filomena , Frisardi Vincenza , Annunziato Lucio , Matrone Carmela
Published: November 2023

In the original article [...]
Payment Behavioral Response Mechanisms for All-Age Retrofitting of Older Communities: A Study among Chinese Residents
Authors: Zhang Yang , Dong Lei
Published: November 2023

Intergenerational integration has given rise to a novel aging paradigm known as all-age communities, which is garnering international attention. In China, the aging population and the implementation of the three-child policy have resulted in increased demand for retirement and childcare services among residents in older neighborhoods. Consequently, there is a pressing need to retrofit these older neighborhoods to accommodate all-age living arrangements given the high demand they generate. Therefore, this study undertakes research interviews with residents and constructs an exploratory theoretical model rooted in established theory. To assess the significance of our model, we employ Smart PLS 3.0 based on 297 empirical data points. Our findings indicate that anxiety has a significant negative effect on payment behavior; objective perception, willingness to pay, and government assistance exert significant positive effects on payment behavior. By comprehensively analyzing the mechanisms underlying residents’ payment behavior, this study provides valuable insights for the government for promoting the aging process within communities and formulating effective transformation policies.
Performance Analysis of Industrial-Waste-Based Artificial Aggregates: CO2 Uptake and Applications in Bituminous Pavement
Authors: Ma Jian , Wang Xiaodong , Zhang Zhen , Dai Guangjian , Huo Yifei , Zhao Yunfeng
Published: November 2023

In order to raise the utilization rate of industrial waste and mitigate issues involving land resource occupation and environmental damage, in this study, industrial-waste-based artificial aggregates (IWAAs) were fabricated using steel slag powders, fly ash, and cement. They were processed under accelerated carbonation and were utilized in a bitumen mixture. During the experiment, the micromorphology, internal structure, and phase composition of IWAAs before and after accelerated carbonation were characterized using X-ray phase analysis, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); concurrently, the possibility of IWAAs being used as a partial substitute for natural aggregate to prepare bituminous mixture was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed based on Marshall’s design procedure in combination with road performance tests and microcosmic analyses. The results indicated that the presence of carbonate crystals brought about by accelerated carbonation was the main phase composition inside the IWAAs, enhancing the microstructure densification and diminishing the immersion expansion and crushing values; this is due to the depletion of the interior Ca-based (e.g., f-CaO and Portlandite) and Mg-based (e.g., periclase and brucite) compounds together with the formation of cement hydration products. Additionally, the 12 h carbonation time obtained the optimum CO2-sequestration efficiency on the premise of satisfying the performance standard. The expansion rate and crushing value of the IWAAs decreased by 82.21% and 41.58%, respectively, whilst the anti-rutting properties, the moisture damage resistance, and the skid resistance rose by 31.92%, 5.59%, and 10.00%, respectively, in the IWAAs–bituminous mixture. This study lays a foundation for research on the CO2 sequestration and resource utilization of industrial wastes in bitumen mixtures.
Time Reversal Method for Lamb−Wave−Based Diagnostics of Multiple−Sleeve Grouting Connections
Authors: Lin Wei , Wang Hongjie , Chen Shanghong , Lin Xin , Huang Jintu , Wang Rong
Published: November 2023

The grouting quality of the grouting sleeve connector is crucial for ensuring the stability of prefabricated building components. In practical engineering, the grouting sleeve is often arranged with multiple sleeves, and there is no feasible nondestructive testing method for testing the complex arrangement of the sleeve grouting joints in the embedded state. Building upon the feasibility of nondestructive detection of single socket grouting connectors, this study discusses the feasibility of defect detection and the severity of defects. Simulation results are used to investigate the choice of the best excitation signal. For different simulated damage cases, it is proven that the selected damage index can be very sensitive, and both the location and the extent of the damage can be detected successfully. The results demonstrate that with the section injury rate ranging from 10% to 40%, the reverse focus peak decreased from 20% to 60% compared to no injury. The effectiveness of the Lamb−wave−based time reversal method in detecting the internal grouting defects of multiple grouting sleeve joints is proven. This paper focuses on the detection study of the Lamb−wave−based time reversal method and proves its ability to perform the detection task effectively and accurately.
Numerical Investigation of the Ultimate Load-Carrying Capacity of Square Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns Considering Initial Stresses Generated during Construction
Authors: Xue Huizhong , Zhao Kaozhong , Xia Fengmin , Wang Guangyi , Shen Ao
Published: November 2023

During construction, newly cast concrete exerts lateral pressure on the steel plates of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns, resulting in non-negligible initial circumferential stresses. Finite element analysis, in which lateral pressure is applied using a user-defined load subroutine, was conducted to comprehensively investigate the effects of initial stresses, including circumferential stresses, on the structural behaviors of a square CFST column under the action of compressive load. This study also provides guidance for the numerical simulation of CFST columns under complicated construction scenarios. The analysis revealed that the steel tube plates were more sensitive to lateral pressure, which should be limited during construction, compared with gravity loads. Under the action of compressive load, the presence of initial stresses altered the failure modes of the square CFST columns and reduced their ultimate load-carrying capacities (ULCCs). For columns with slenderness ratios of 18 and 37, the ULCCs were essentially inversely proportional to the initial stress ratio β, ranging from 0.1 to 0.5. However, for columns with a larger slenderness ratio of 55, the initial stress level did not influence their ULCCs. Finally, a simple method for calculating the ULCCs of square CFST columns considering initial stresses is proposed for design purposes.
Rolling Shear Strength of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)—Testing, Evaluation, and Design
Authors: Glasner David , Ringhofer Andreas , Brandner Reinhard , Schickhofer Gerhard
Published: November 2023

Cross laminated timber (CLT), with its typical orthogonal layering and exposure to out-of-plane bending, develops inherent rolling shear stresses. These stresses need to be checked during the ultimate limit state design process. With the ongoing revision of Eurocode 5, a discussion regarding the characteristic value of the rolling shear strength of CLT has arisen. One obstacle in the discussion is seen in the lack of harmonized regulations concerning how to determine rolling shear properties. This circumstance manifests in the greatly diverging test results of different institutions testing the rolling shear strength. The paper at hand aims to propose a candidate for such harmonized regulations. To achieve this, the most common test setups, such as the inclined shear test, three- and four-point bending tests, etc., were numerically and experimentally investigated. Within the numerical investigations, a comparison of the most common calculation methods (Timoshenko beam theory, modified γ-method, Shear Analogy Method, and Finite Element Analysis) for evaluating rolling shear stresses was included. In the experimental program, parameters such as the specimen width, number, and thickness of the cross layer(s), shear length, optional reinforcement against the stresses perpendicular to the grain, and the overall test setup were varied. It was found that the used test setups themselves and the area of the cross layer(s) (shear length, number, and thickness of the cross layer(s)) have a major impact on the rolling shear strength. In contrast, no effect was found from the calculation methods. Based on these findings and on a database of approx. 300 four-point bending rolling shear tests on CLT specimens from five well-established CLT manufacturers, a model for the regulation of the rolling shear strength of CLT is proposed, in combination with a corresponding four-point bending test setup. Afterwards, with two additionally conducted four-point bending test series, the proposed model is successfully validated. The conclusions and recommendations in respect to the test setup (four-point bending), evaluation procedure (Timoshenko beam theory), reference characteristic rolling shear strength, and the model, which allows adapting the reference rolling shear strength to individual conditions, are seen as a worthy basis for a more objective discussion on this topic.
Environmental Assessments in Architectural Competitions in Poland in the Years 2018–2022
Authors: Grzegorzewska Magdalena , Kaczmarek Andrzej , Kirschke Paweł
Published: November 2023

This paper discusses environmental and energy-saving factors in architectural competition procedures. The final assessment of sustainability and environmental aspects of a building is a derivative of the decisions taken during the entire project execution process, especially those taken at the initial stage. Notifications concerning architectural competitions, both in Poland and other European countries, as well as in the United States and Canada, increasingly often list sustainability as a necessary criterion. Aspects such as the use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency solutions or reducing a building’s occupancy costs most often appear as guidelines. In this paper, the authors discuss the essence of solutions in architectural competition procedures announced in Poland in the years 2018–2022, using 154 cases as an example and setting them against the background of Europe. The types and level of detail of the selected criteria and their frequency of occurrence were examined. The study unveiled the absence of comprehensive guidelines in the processes of nationwide architectural competitions that take sustainability into account. The lack of definitions for environmental and energy objectives has a significant impact on their integration into competition designs, and reduces the chances of adapting and adopting these aspects at a further stage. Based on the analysis, a range of recommendations were formulated for implementation in competition procedures.
Optimising Daylight and Ventilation Performance: A Building Envelope Design Methodology
Authors: Abdollahi Rizi Rana , Sangin Hamed , Haghighatnejad Chobari Kiana , Eltaweel Ahmad , Phipps Robyn
Published: November 2023

The future of building envelope design lies in smart adaptation. The current literature overlooks the crucial integration of airflow, ventilation and daylighting in adaptive façade design. Moreover, it neglects the occupants’ locations, activities and interior layouts in this context. This study introduces an innovative approach to adaptive building envelope design, aiming to enhance occupants’ comfort through parametric analysis of daylight and airflow. The research combines parametric simulation, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and multiobjective optimisation. The optimisation goal is to improve visual comfort and indoor air quality while maintaining air temperature and velocity within the human comfort range. The study contributes to providing designers with a method for building envelope design that considers visual comfort and airflow, resulting in more interactive building envelopes that are adaptable to environmental conditions for enhanced utility and comfort. Results indicated that the optimised façade configuration and design methodology can achieve a 69% improvement in daylight performance, improving useful daylight illuminance (UDI) while reducing glare risk. Additionally, air changes per hour (ACH) showed a 38% annual improvement. This research signifies a significant step towards more efficient and occupant-centric building envelope design, aligning with the evolving demands of the construction industry and sustainable building practices.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Railway Bridges Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle–Terrestrial Laser Scanner Point Cloud Fusion
Authors: Li Jian , Peng Yipu , Tang Zhiyuan , Li Zichao
Published: November 2023

To address the incomplete image data collection of close-to-ground structures, such as bridge piers and local features like the suspension cables in bridges, obtained from single unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) oblique photography and the difficulty in acquiring point cloud data for the top structures of bridges using single terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs), as well as the lack of textural information in TLS point clouds, this study aims to establish a high-precision, complete, and realistic bridge model by integrating UAV image data and TLS point cloud data. Using a particular large-scale dual-track bridge as a case study, the methodology involves aerial surveys using a DJI Phantom 4 RTK for comprehensive image capture. We obtain 564 images circling the bridge arches, 508 images for orthorectification, and 491 images of close-range side views. Subsequently, all images, POS data, and ground control point information are imported into Context Capture 2023 software for aerial triangulation and multi-view image dense matching to generate dense point clouds of the bridge. Additionally, ground LiDAR scanning, involving the placement of six scanning stations both on and beneath the bridge, was conducted and the point cloud data from each station are registered in Trimble Business Center 5.5.2 software based on identical feature points. Noise point clouds are then removed using statistical filtering techniques. The integration of UAV image point clouds with TLS point clouds is achieved using the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm, followed by the creation of a TIN model and texture mapping using Context Capture 2023 software. The effectiveness of the integrated modeling is verified by comparing the geometric accuracy and completeness of the images with those obtained from a single UAV image-based model. The integrated model is used to generate cross-sectional profiles of the dual-track bridge, with detailed annotations of boundary dimensions. Structural inspections reveal honeycomb surfaces and seepage in the bridge piers, as well as painted rust and cracks in the arch ribs. The geometric accuracy of the integrated model in the X, Y, and Z directions is 1.2 cm, 0.8 cm, and 0.9 cm, respectively, while the overall 3D model accuracy is 1.70 cm. This method provides technical reference for the reconstruction of three-dimensional point cloud bridge models. Through 3D reconstruction, railway operators can better monitor and assess the condition of bridge structures, promptly identifying potential defects and damages, thus enabling the adoption of necessary maintenance and repair measures to ensure the structural safety of the bridges.
Magnetic Carbon Foam Adorned with Co/Fe Nanoneedles as an Efficient Activator of Oxone for Oxidative Environmental Remediation: Roles of Surficial and Chemical Enhancement
Authors: Chen Yi-Chun , Jiang Xin-Yu , Thanh Bui Xuan , Lin Jia-Yin , Wang Haitao , Huang Chao-Wei , Yang Hongta , Ebrahimi Afshin , Sirivithayapakorn Sanya , Lin Kun-Yi (Andrew)
Published: November 2023

As heterogeneous catalysis is a practical method for activating Oxone, the immobilization of transition metals (e.g., Co, Fe) on carbonaceous supports is a promising platform. Thus, this study attempts to develop a carbon-supported metallic catalyst by growing Co/Fe on carbon foam (CF) via adopting melamine foam as a readily available template which could be transferred to nitrogen-doped CF with marcoporous structures. Specifically, a unique adornment of Co/Fe species on this CF is facilely fabricated through a complexation of Co/Fe with a plant extract, tannic acid, on melamine foam, followed by carbonization to produce nano-needle-like Co/Fe on N-doped CF, forming a magnetic CF (MCF). This resultant MCF exhibits a much higher surface area of 54.6 m2/g than CF (9.5 m2/g), and possesses a much larger specific capacitance of 9.7 F/g, than that of CF as 4.0 F/g. These superior features of MCF enable it to accelerate Oxone activation in order to degrade an emerging contaminant, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone (BHPM). Furthermore, MCF + Oxone exhibits a lower activation energy as 18.6 kJ/mol for BHPM elimination and retains its effectiveness in eliminating BHPM over multiple rounds. More importantly, the CF is also prepared and directly compared with the MCF to study the composition-structure-property relationship to provide valuable insights for further understanding of catalytic behaviors, surficial characteristics, and application of such a functional carbon material.
Integrated Network Analysis of microRNAs, mRNAs, and Proteins Reveals the Regulatory Interaction between hsa-mir-200b and CFL2 Associated with Advanced Stage and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Intestinal Gastric Cancer
Authors: dos Santos Everton Cruz , Rohan Paulo , Binato Renata , Abdelhay Eliana
Published: November 2023

Intestinal gastric cancer (IGC) carcinogenesis results from a complex interplay between environmental and molecular factors, ultimately contributing to disease development. We used integrative bioinformatic analysis to investigate IGC high-throughput molecular data to uncover interactions among differentially expressed genes, microRNAs, and proteins and their roles in IGC. An integrated network was generated based on experimentally validated microRNA-gene/protein interaction data, with three regulatory circuits involved in a complex network contributing to IGC progression. Key regulators were determined, including 23 microRNA and 15 gene/protein hubs. The regulatory circuit networks were associated with hallmarks of cancer, e.g., cell death, apoptosis and the cell cycle, the immune response, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, indicating that different mechanisms of gene regulation impact similar biological functions. Altered expression of hubs was related to the clinicopathological characteristics of IGC patients and showed good performance in discriminating tumors from adjacent nontumor tissues and in relation to T stage and overall survival (OS). Interestingly, expression of upregulated hub hsa-mir-200b and its downregulated target hub gene/protein CFL2 were related not only to pathological T staging and OS but also to changes during IGC carcinogenesis. Our study suggests that regulation of CFL2 by hsa-miR-200b is a dynamic process during tumor progression and that this control plays essential roles in IGC development. Overall, the results indicate that this regulatory interaction is an important component in IGC pathogenesis. Also, we identified a novel molecular interplay between microRNAs, proteins, and genes associated with IGC in a complex biological network and the hubs closely related to IGC carcinogenesis as potential biomarkers.
Exploring the Potential Role of Upper Abdominal Peritonectomy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Cytoreductive Surgery Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Laios Alexandros , Kalampokis Evangelos , Mamalis Marios Evangelos , Thangavelu Amudha , Hutson Richard , Broadhead Tim , Nugent David , De Jong Diederick
Published: November 2023

The Surgical Complexity Score (SCS) has been widely used to describe the surgical effort during advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cytoreduction. Referring to a variety of multi-visceral resections, it best combines the numbers with the complexity of the sub-procedures. Nevertheless, not all potential surgical procedures are described by this score. Lately, the European Society for Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) has established standard outcome quality indicators pertinent to achieving complete cytoreduction (CC0). There is a need to define what weight all these surgical sub-procedures comprising CC0 would be given. Prospectively collected data from 560 surgically cytoreduced advanced stage EOC patients were analysed at a UK tertiary referral centre.We adapted the structured ESGO ovarian cancer report template. We employed the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm to model a long list of surgical sub-procedures. We applied the Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) framework to provide global (cohort) explainability. We used Cox regression for survival analysis and constructed Kaplan-Meier curves. The XGBoost model predicted CC0 with an acceptable accuracy (area under curve [AUC] = 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.63–0.76). Visual quantification of the feature importance for the prediction of CC0 identified upper abdominal peritonectomy (UAP) as the most important feature, followed by regional lymphadenectomies. The UAP best correlated with bladder peritonectomy and diaphragmatic stripping (Pearson’s correlations > 0.5). Clear inflection points were shown by pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection and ileocecal resection/right hemicolectomy, which increased the probability for CC0. When UAP was solely added to a composite model comprising of engineered features, it substantially enhanced its predictive value (AUC = 0.80, CI = 0.75–0.84). The UAP was predictive of poorer progression-free survival (HR = 1.76, CI 1.14–2.70, P: 0.01) but not overall survival (HR = 1.06, CI 0.56–1.99, P: 0.86). The SCS did not have significant survival impact. Machine Learning allows for operational feature selection by weighting the relative importance of those surgical sub-procedures that appear to be more predictive of CC0. Our study identifies UAP as the most important procedural predictor of CC0 in surgically cytoreduced advanced-stage EOC women. The classification model presented here can potentially be trained with a larger number of samples to generate a robust digital surgical reference in high output tertiary centres. The upper abdominal quadrants should be thoroughly inspected to ensure that CC0 is achievable.
Abdominal Visceral-to-Subcutaneous Fat Volume Ratio Predicts Survival and Response to First-Line Palliative Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer
Authors: Aringhieri Giacomo , Di Salle Gianfranco , Catanese Silvia , Vivaldi Caterina , Salani Francesca , Vitali Saverio , Caccese Miriam , Vasile Enrico , Genovesi Virginia , Fornaro Lorenzo , Tintori Rachele , Balducci Francesco , Cappelli Carla , Cioni Dania , Masi Gianluca , Neri Emanuele
Published: November 2023

Prognosis in advanced gastric cancer (aGC) is predicted by clinical factors, such as stage, performance status, metastasis location, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. However, the role of body composition and sarcopenia in aGC survival remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate how abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat volumes, psoas muscle volume, and the visceral-to-subcutaneous (VF/SF) volume ratio impact overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in aGC patients receiving first-line palliative chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined CT scans of 65 aGC patients, quantifying body composition parameters (BCPs) in 2D and 3D. Normalized 3D BCP volumes were determined, and the VF/SF ratio was computed. Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Cox Proportional Hazard model between the upper and lower halves of the distribution. Additionally, response to first-line chemotherapy was compared using the χ2 test. Patients with a higher VF/SF ratio (N = 33) exhibited significantly poorer OS (p = 0.02) and PFS (p < 0.005) and had a less favorable response to first-line chemotherapy (p = 0.033), with a lower Disease Control Rate (p = 0.016). Notably, absolute BCP measures and sarcopenia did not predict survival. In conclusion, radiologically assessed VF/SF volume ratio emerged as a robust and independent predictor of both survival and treatment response in aGC patients.
Efficient Hydrogen Production from the Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Biomass-Derived Oxygenated Hydrocarbons over an Ultrafine Pt Nanocatalyst
Authors: Xiao Ze , Lin Xi , Feng Wenhua , Chen Binyi , Meng Qingwei , Wang Tiejun
Published: November 2023

Hydrogen from biomass, as a promising alternative fuel, is becoming considerably attractive due to its high energy density and clean emissions. The aqueous phase reforming (APR) of biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons and water is a renewable and efficient pathway for hydrogen production and shows great potential. However, the key to the application of this technique is to develop catalysts with high hydrogen productivity. In this work, we first synthesized polyaniline–platinum (PANI-Pt) organo-metallic hybrid precursors and then obtained a high-loaded (~32 wt.% Pt) and highly dispersed (~3 nm Pt particles) Pt@NC−400 catalyst after pyrolysis at 400 °C, and the nanoparticles were embedded in a nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) support. The Pt@NC−400 catalyst showed an almost three times higher hydrogen production rate (1013.4 μmolH2/gcat./s) than the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst (357.3 μmolH2/gcat./s) for catalyzing methanol–water reforming at 210 °C. The hydrogen production rate of 1,2-propanediol APR even reached 1766.5 μmolH2/gcat./s over the Pt@NC−400 catalyst at 210 °C. In addition, Pt@NC−400 also exhibited better hydrothermal stability than 20% Pt/C. A series of characterizations, including ICP, XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, N2 physisorption, and CO chemisorption, were conducted to explore the physiochemical properties of these catalysts and found that Pt@NC−400, although with higher loading than 20% Pt/C (~23 wt.% Pt, ~4.5 nm Pt particle), possessed a smaller particle size, a more uniform particle distribution, a better pore structure, and more Pt metal active sites. This study provides a strategy for preparing high-loaded and highly dispersed nanoparticle catalysts with high hydrogen productivity and sheds light on the design of stable and efficient APR catalysts.
Bacterial Cellulose and Biodegradable Superbase for Heterogeneous Transesterification to Alkyl Esters
Authors: Gogoaşă Cristina Ionela , Răducanu Cristian Eugen , Petraş Laura Elisabeta , Cioroiu Tîrpan Doinița Roxana , Vasilievici Gabriel , Mîrţ Andreea Luiza , Dobre Tănase , Pârvulescu Oana Cristina
Published: November 2023

Heterogeneous catalysts, basic, acidic or bifunctional, can catalyze transesterification reactions where the raw material has a significant content of FFA fatty acids, such as used cooking oils or other lipid-based residues, which do not have the purity required for homogeneous catalysis, in which case the purity of the triglycerides above 99.5% is the first condition for the initiation of the reaction, to avoid saponification. In this work, a green supported catalyst was developed, using bacterial cellulose as catalytic support and biodegradable superbase as a chemical compound, for transesterification reaction to obtain alkyl esters, yielding over 99% of its content at 70 °C temperature and 7.5% catalyst loading (1.5/20 w/w catalyst:oil). A Plackett-–Burman design was used for screening experiments to explore the main effect in terms of catalytic activity and performance of the triglyceride conversion reaction.