bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intermittent High-Dose Glucocorticoid Treatment Does Not Cause Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Prospective Study
Authors: Einarsdottir Margret Jona , Kristjansdottir Hallgerdur L. , Bergthorsdottir Ragnhildur , Johannsson Gudmundur , Trimpou Penelope , Lewerin Catharina , Ragnarsson Oskar
Published: October 2023

Glucocorticoid (GC) treatment suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and can cause GC-induced adrenal insufficiency. In this study, we investigated the incidence of GC-induced adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving intermittent short-term high-dose oral GC treatment for newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Cosyntropin stimulation test was used to assess adrenal function at study entry (baseline), at 2 months (before the 5th cycle), and 6 months from baseline (3 months after the last cycle). Ten patients were included (40% women). Mean age was 61 years. The mean (range) plasma morning cortisol was 407 (320–530) nmol/L at baseline, 373 (260–610) nmol/L at 2 months, and 372 (230–520) nmol/L at 6 months from baseline. All patients had normal response to cosyntropin stimulation at baseline as well as 2 and 6 months from baseline. Thus, none of the patients developed biochemically verified adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, short-term high-dose GC therapy, a commonly used adjuvant treatment in patients with malignant hematological diseases, does not seem to down-regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Veneninsuffizienz: Laserablation und die Schlüsselrolle der Energieeinstellungen
Authors: Stücker Markus
Published: October 2023

Objective: To date, conflicting evidence has been reported regarding the energy settings to use during endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). In the present study, we evaluated the outcomes of EVLA of the great saphenous veins (GSVs) using different power settings with the same linear endovenous energy density (LEED) of ∼70 J/cm. Methods: We performed a single-center, randomized, controlled noninferiority trial with a blinded outcome assessment of patients with varicose veins of the GSV who underwent EVLA with a wavelength of 1470 nm and a radial fiber. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups according to the energy setting: group 1, 5 W power and an automatic fiber traction speed of 0.7 mm/s (LEED, 71.4 J/cm); group 2, 7 W and 1.0 mm/s (LEED, 70 J/cm); and group 3, 10 W and 1.5 mm/s (LEED, 66.7 J/cm). The primary outcome was the rate of GSV occlusion at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were pain intensity along the target vein the next day and at 1 week and 2 months after EVLA, the necessity for analgesics, and the occurrence of significant complications. Results: From February 2017 to June 2020, 245 lower extremities of 203 patients were enrolled. Groups 1, 2, and 3 included 83, 79, and 83 limbs, respectively. At 6 months of follow-up, 214 lower extremities were examined with duplex ultrasound. GSV occlusion was observed in 72 of 72 limbs (100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 100%-100%) in group 1 and 70 of 71 limbs (98.6%; 95% CI, 97%-100%) in groups 2 and 3 (P < .05 for noninferiority). No difference was found in the pain level, necessity for analgesics, or rate of any other complications.
Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yuan Chen-Yi , Gao Yuan-Cheng , Lin Yi , Liu Lin , Shen Xiao-Gang , Zou Wen-Li , Wang Min-Min , Shen Quan-Quan , Shao Li-Na , Liu Yue-Ming , Zhang Jia-Wei , Pan Zhi-Hui , Zhu Yan , Yu Jing-Ting , Yu Xu-Guang , Zhu Bin
Published: October 2023

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade could be a potential approach for the inhibition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. The benefits and harms of different mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in CKD are inconsistent. Objectives: The aim of the study was to summarize the benefits and harms of MRAs for CKD patients. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases for trials assessing the effects of MRAs on non-dialysis-dependent CKD populations. Treatment and adverse effects were summarized using meta-analysis. Results: Fifty-three trials with 6 different MRAs involving 22,792 participants were included. Compared with the control group, MRAs reduced urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (weighted mean difference [WMD], −90.90 mg/g, 95% CI, −140.17 to −41.64 mg/g), 24-h urinary protein excretion (WMD, −0.20 g, 95% CI, −0.28 to −0.12 g), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (WMD, −1.99 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, −3.28 to −0.70 mL/min/1.73 m2), chronic renal failure events (RR, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.79–0.93), and cardiovascular events (RR, 0.84, 95% CI, 0.77–0.92). MRAs increased the incidence of hyperkalemia (RR, 2.04, 95% CI, 1.73–2.40) and hypotension (RR, 1.80, 95% CI, 1.41–2.31). MRAs reduced the incidence of peripheral edema (RR, 0.65, 95% CI, 0.56–0.75) but not the risk of acute kidney injury (RR, 0.94, 95% CI, 0.79–1.13). Nonsteroidal MRAs (RR, 0.66, 95% CI, 0.57–0.75) but not steroidal MRAs (RR, 0.20, 95% CI, 0.02–1.68) significantly reduced the risk of peripheral edema. Steroidal MRAs (RR, 5.68, 95% CI, 1.26–25.67) but not nonsteroidal MRAs (RR, 0.52, 95% CI, 0.22–1.22) increased the risk of breast disorders. Conclusions: In the CKD patients, MRAs, particularly in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, reduced albuminuria/proteinuria, eGFR, and the incidence of chronic renal failure, cardiovascular and peripheral edema events, whereas increasing the incidence of hyperkalemia and hypotension, without the augment of acute kidney injury events. Nonsteroidal MRAs were superior in the reduction of more albuminuria with fewer peripheral edema events and without the augment of breast disorder events.
Progress of Ultrasound Techniques in the Evaluation of Carotid Vulnerable Plaque Neovascularization
Authors: Zeng Penghui , Zhang Qing , Liang Xiaowen , Zhang Min , Luo Dan , Chen Zhiyi
Published: October 2023

Background: The rupture and detachment of unstable plaques in the carotid artery can cause embolism in the cerebral artery, leading to acute cerebrovascular events. Intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) is a very important contributor to carotid plaque instability, and its evolution plays a key role in determining the outcome of vulnerable plaques. Ultrasound techniques, represented by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and superb microvascular imaging (SMI), are reported to be non-invasive, rapid, and effective techniques for the semi-quantitative or quantitative evaluation for IPN. Although ultrasound techniques have been widely applied in the detection of carotid plaque stability, it has been limited owing to the lack of unified IPN quantitative standards. Summary: This review summarizes the application and semi-quantitative/quantitative diagnostic standards of ultrasound techniques in evaluating IPN and looks forward to the prospects of the future research. With the development of novel techniques like artificial intelligence, ultrasound will offer appropriate selections for achieving more accuracy diagnosis. Key Messages: A large number of studies have used CEUS and SMI to detect IPN and perform semi-quantitative grading to predict the occurrence of diseases such as stroke and to accurately assess drug efficacy based on rating changes. These studies have made great progress at this stage, but more accurate and intelligent quantitative imaging methods should become the future development goal.
Current Management of Subretinal Hemorrhage in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Oncel Damla , Oncel Deniz , Mishra Kapil , Oncel Murat , Arevalo J. Fernando
Published: October 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among individuals aged 65 years and older in the USA. For individuals diagnosed with AMD, approximately 12% experience varying levels of subretinal hemorrhage (SRH), which can be further classified by size into small, medium, and massive measured in disc diameters. SRH is an acute and rare sight-threatening complication characterized by an accumulation of blood under the retina arising from the choroidal or retinal circulation. Released iron toxins, reduced nutrient supply, fibrin meshwork contraction, and outer retinal shear forces created by SRH contribute to visual loss, macular scarring, and photoreceptor damage. SRH treatment strategies aim to displace hemorrhage from the foveal region and prevent further bleeding. Although there are no standardized treatment protocols for SRH, several surgical and nonsurgical therapeutical approaches may be employed. The most common surgical approaches that have been utilized are pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with multiple maneuvers such as the removal of choroidal neovascularization lesions, macular translocation, retinal pigment epithelium patch repair, SRH drainage, intravitreal injection of recombinant-tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), expansile gas and air displacement, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. Nonsurgical therapeutical approaches include intravitreal anti-VEGF monotherapy, intravitreal tPA administration without PPV, and photodynamic therapy. This review article aims to explore the current treatment strategies and supporting literature regarding both surgical and nonsurgical, of SRH in patients with AMD. Moreover, this article also aims to highlight the distinct treatment modalities corresponding to different sizes of SRH.
Dual Oxytocin Receptor-G Protein Signaling in the Autoregulation of Activities of Oxytocin Neurons
Authors: Liu Xiao-Yu , Ling Shuo , Liu Yang , Jia Shuwei , Wang Xiaoran , Li Tong , Li Dongyang , Hou Chunmei , Lal Nand , Zhu Hui , Wang Yu-Feng
Published: October 2023

Oxytocin (OT), a hypothalamic nonaneuropeptide, can extensively modulate mental and physical activities; however, the regulation of its secretion from hypothalamic OT neurons remains poorly understood. OT neuronal activity is generally modulated by neurochemical environment, synaptic inputs, astrocytic plasticity, and interneuronal interactions. By changing intracellular signals and ion channel activity, these extracellular factors dynamically regulate OT neuronal activity and OT release in a microdomain-specific manner. In this process, OT receptor (OTR) and OTR-coupled G proteins are pivotal, typically observed during lactation. Suckling-elicited somatodendritic release of OT causes sequential activation of Gq and Gs proteins to increase the firing rate gradually and trigger burst firing transiently, and then of Gi/o protein to cause post-burst inhibition as a result of potential bolus somatodendritic release of OT during the burst-like discharges. Under chronic social stress like mother-baby separation and cesarean section, excessive somatodendritic secretion of OT and over-excitation of OT neurons cause post-excitation inhibition of OT neuronal activity and reduction of OT secretion. In this process, dominance of G protein that couples to OTR is switched from Gq to Gi/o type because of inhibition of OTR-Gq signaling following negative feedback of downstream Gq signaling or crosstalk of Gq with Gs and Gi signals. This review summarizes our current understandings of OT/OTR signaling in the autoregulation of OT neuronal activity under physiological and pathological conditions.
Cell Block-Based Two-Dimensional and Immunocytochemical Analyses Could Reduce Atypical/Indeterminate Case Frequency in Breast Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Noda Yuri , Nakanishi Yuko , Tsuta koji , Inaji Hideo , Yamasaki Masaru
Published: October 2023

Introduction: In fine-needle aspiration of the breast (FNAB), the “atypical” category encompasses both benign and malignant lesions, particularly papillary proliferative lesions, as per the latest WHO classification. We aimed to reduce atypical cases and improve diagnostic accuracy by investigating the utility of cell block (CB) analysis. Methods: FNAB CB samples (2018–2022) were reviewed using smear only or CBs. CB-based diagnosis was performed with 2D morphological analysis and immunocytochemistry using ER, CK5/6, p63, SMA, and CD56. Samples were reclassified as “benign,” “atypical,” “suspicious of malignancy,” “malignant,” or “insufficient/inadequate.” Atypical cases were reexamined. Diagnoses were validated histologically. Results: On examining the FNAB samples (n = 149; 32 atypical), 2D CB sectioning achieved a clearer definition of myoepithelial cells and fibrovascular cores than Papanicolaou staining. Immunocytochemistry was evaluated for 36 cases: estrogen receptor (ER)− and CK5/6+ tumors were reclassified as benign; ER+ and CK5/6− tumors as malignant; p63− tumors as invasive; papillary malignant tumors with a smooth muscle actin (SMA)+ fibrovascular core and p63− myoepithelial cells as encapsulated papillary carcinoma; and CD56+ carcinomas as neuroendocrine carcinoma. Diagnostic rates were as follows: benign (44% FNAB, 51% CB), atypical (21% FNAB, 3% CB), suspicious of malignancy and malignant (28% FNAB, 40% CB), and insufficient/inadequate (7% FNAB, 6% CB). CB achieved >85% sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Conclusion: CBs represent 3D FNA cell morphology using 2D sections, enabling adaption of pathology criteria to the cytological material. Immunocytochemical staining of CBs can predict low nuclear grade papillary tumors and reduce atypical case frequency, improving diagnostic accuracy.
Machine learning-based PortScan attacks detection using OneR classifier
Authors: Kareem Mohammed Ibrahim , Jawad Kadhim Abood Mohammad , Ibrahim Karrar
Published: October 2023

PortScan attacks are a common security threat in computer networks, where an attacker systematically scans a range of network ports on a target system to identify potential vulnerabilities. Detecting such attacks in a timely and accurate manner is crucial to ensure network security. Attackers can determine whether a port is open by sending a detective message to it, which helps them find potential vulnerabilities. However, the best methods for spotting and identifying port scanner attacks are those that use machine learning. One of the most dangerous online threats is PortScan attack, according to experts. The research is work on detection while improving detection accuracy. Dataset containing tags from network traffic is used to train machine learning techniques for classification. The JRip algorithm is trained and tested using the CICIDS2017 dataset. As a consequence, the best performance results for JRip-based detection schemes were 99.84%, 99.80%, 99.80%, and 0.09 ms for accuracy, precision, recall, F-score, and detection overhead, respectively. Finally, the comparison with current models demonstrated our model's proficiency and advantage with increased attack discovery speed.
Ultra low loss and dual polarized SPR-PCF sensor based on refractive index
Authors: Irawan Dedi , Ramadhan Khaikal , Saktioto Saktioto , Fitmawati Fitmawati , Hanto Dwi , Widiyatmoko Bambang , Marwin Azwir , Azhar Azhar
Published: October 2023

In this paper presents a numerical simulation using the finite element method (FEM) to analyze the performance of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) integrated with plasmonic material sensor components. The sensor comprises silica and Au layers with a thickness of 45 nm, arranged in a simple geometric structure. Our proposed sensor component exhibits ultra-low loss, distinguishing it from previous studies that have focused on wavelength-sensitive (WS) and amplitude-sensitive (AS) measurement techniques. The refractive index (RI) range of the sensor component spans from 1.32 to 1.38 RIU. The maximum WS and AS values achieved are 6,000 nm/RIU, -373.4 1/RIU (x-polarization), and -385.4 1/RIU (y-polarization), respectively. Moreover, we demonstrate an ultra-low loss of 0.00117 dB/cm (x-polarized) and 0.00307 dB/cm (ypolarized). In terms of sensor resolution, this design achieves a remarkable resolution of 1.6×10-7 RIU for both x-and y-polarized measurements
Survey on cryptocurrency security attacks and detection mechanisms
Authors: Almamoori Amenah Abdulabbas , Bhaya Wesam S.
Published: October 2023

Cryptocurrencies have become extremely popular as a form of payment in recent years. They are supported by blockchain, a cutting-edge advanced technology that makes extensive use of cryptographic mechanisms and other sophisticated distributed computing techniques. On these grounds, cryptocurrencies have been a target of several attacks. Cyber-attacks, for example, are exogenous events that can robustly affect cryptocurrencies by influencing their stabilization of price and market valuation. This study describes an overview of cybercriminals’ activities on cryptocurrencies. It provides a detailed discussion on the most popular types of attacks on the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Moreover, it provides possible countermeasures to these attacks. Finally, it produces insights into the most impactful attacks on cryptocurrencies and the best methods that have been proposed for detecting cryptocurrency attacks. The main goal of this survey is to obtain a thorough understanding of cryptocurrency attacks, which have been the subject of major studies concerning financial risks on cryptocurrency. A large number of existing publications have reviewed and assessed various forms of attacks to achieve this goal. However, these works have considerably flawed. To the best of our knowledge, the present survey sheds light on future research directions.
The use of CaO:Eu3+ and Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ phosphors to increase the color quality and illumination intensity of WLEDs
Authors: Thanh Tung Ha , An Nguyen Thi Dieu , Xuan Le Phan
Published: October 2023

The lumen efficacy in remote phosphor structure displayed remarkable enhancements, which is notable for the development of white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). Nevertheless, its quality of colour is deemed not as good as that of the conformal or in-cup phosphor structure. Therefore, the goal of this research is to achieve a better quality of colour and significant luminous flux value for remote phosphor configuration by using extra phosphor layers. In particular, the two-layer and three-layer structures with the implementation of green and red phosphors are proposed. Comparing these two structures can help pinpoint the best suited for the WLED production. The assessment of each structure’s effect on the WLEDs’ optical parameters was determined under various correlated temperatures of colour (5,600-8,500 K). The outcomes indicated that the three-layer structure enhanced the quality of colour with greater efficiency compared to the two-layer structure due to the increased color rendering index (CRI), color quality scale (CQS), and photoluminescence (PL), and reduced colour deviation. The scattering improvement of the three-layer structure is a key factor of these accomplishments, proven by the scattering theory of Mie. Therefore, the three-layer structure is potential for developing WLED production.
The effects of Ca14Mg2(SiO4)8:Eu2+ phosphor on white light emission quality of LED-phosphor packages
Authors: Thanh Tung Ha , An Nguyen Thi Dieu , Doan Quoc Anh Nguyen
Published: October 2023

Ca14Mg2(SiO4)8: Eu2+ (CMS:Eu2+) green phosphor is used for creating the white-light emitting diode (W-LED) packages with conversion phosphor materials. The phosphor shows the broadband green emission that peaks at 505 nm in the blue wavelength. The phosphor introduces the improvement in the blue and green emission spectra, which helps to heighten the luminous flux. Moreover, that the concentration of CMS:Eu2+ increases, the scattering events are enhanced to benefits the color blending for lower color variations or better color uniformity. The color renditions reduce with the rising green-phosphor concentration. The green-light amount becomes surplus and redundant for balancing color elements of white light emission. Thus, it should adjust and keep the concentration of CMS:Eu2+ in the range of ~2–8 wt%, to get the average number of color rendering index (CRI) (73–75), and color quality scale (CQS) (60–64). The CMS: Eu2+, hence, is suitable for white light realization, and the W-LED aiming at high-luminescence white light emission with improved color uniformity, and average rendering performances.
Jumping particle swarm optimization algorithm framework for content-based image retrieval system
Authors: Bassel Atheer , Jameel Mohammed , Saad Mohammed Ayad
Published: October 2023

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) has been studied well in the last decades in numerous research fields such as medicine, journalism, and private life. Applications of CBIR have been widely employed in medical images due to their direct impact on human life. With continues growing of digital libraries, there is a need for an efficient method to retrieve images from large datasets. In this paper, a new method was developed for CBIR based on the jumping particle swarm optimization (JPSO) algorithm. The proposed algorithm represents a developed instant of particle swarm optimization (PSO). However, JPSO the approach does not consider the velocity components to guide particle movements in the problem space. Instead of relying on inertia and velocity, intermittently random jumps (moves) occur from one solution to another within the discrete search space. To test the performance of the proposed algorithm, three types of medical image databases were used in the experiment which are the endoscopy 100, dental 100, and 50 skull image databases. The results show that the proposed algorithm could achieve high accuracy in image extraction and retrieve the accurate image category compared with other research works.
Local binary pattern and its derivatives to handwriting-based gender classification
Authors: Abbas Faycel , Gattal Abdeljalil , Menassel Rafik
Published: October 2023

Several studies by psychologists and computer scientists have verified the link between handwriting and writer gender. The texture of the writing image is a major indicator of whether it is male or female writing. This paper conducts a comparison analysis to examine the effectiveness of various local binary patterns (LBPs) techniques in detecting gender from scanned images of handwriting. We study different LBP variants, including complete local binary pattern (CLBP), local ternary pattern (LTP), local configuration pattern (LCP), rotated local binary pattern (RLBP), local binary pattern variance (LBPV), and multi-scale local binary pattern (MLBP), as features for representing handwriting images. A support vector machine (SVM) is trained using features from male and female writing. The method achieves encouraging classification rates of 76.68 when tested on subsets of the Qatar University writer identification (QUWI) dataset containing English and Arabic writing samples when using the experimental protocols of the International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition (ICDAR) 2013 gender classification competitions.
Review of wireless body area networks: protocols, technologies, and applications
Authors: Al-Sofi Soleen Jaladet , Atroshey Salih Mustafa S. , Ali Ismail Amin
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, technology plays a vital part in our daily lives. Especially in medicine, such as consultations, examination, and operation, these processes are necessary and must be utilized accordingly. Medical checkups are required to ensure the patient’s wellbeing. However, many people suffer from severe health conditions and are not always able to leave the house for examination. They are also not aware of potential risks within their body and therefore, don’t feel the need to be examined. With the rise of new technological advantages, new solutions are being presented to tackle those issues. In the field of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the wireless body area network (WBAN), alongside with its features and functionalities, can be regarded as one of the potential innovations for medicine, military, sport, and entertainment. With its tiny sensors, as well as with its plethora of applications, the WBAN is an excellent choice for remote medical surveillance and treatment. Furthermore, various routing protocols can provide proper solutions, depending on the application needs. However, challenges, such as energy efficiency, and security. are being further developed to improve the needs of its demands. This review is an overview of WBAN technologies, protocols, applications and potential challenges.
Microstrip patch antenna design and simulation for S-band wireless applications operating at 3.5 GHz
Authors: Rana Md. Sohel , Fahim Tahasin Ahmed , Ghosh Bithe , Rahman Md. Mostafizur
Published: October 2023

In the modern world, wireless technology is one way to send information from one place to another. This technology is getting better and better with time, which significantly impacts the activities that make up daily living. This wireless application has the most impact on mobile and other technologies. This research paper shows the design and analysis of a 3.5 GHz microstrip patch antenna (MPA) for wireless applications. The substrate material is Roggers RT/duroid, which has a dielectric permittivity of 2.2 computer simulation technology (CST) software does antenna design and simulation. Some observed parameters are the S-parameter, antenna directivity gain, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), and bandwidth. From the simulation, the return loss, VSWR, directivity gain, and bandwidth are -50.4227, 1.0061, 7.43 dBi, and 122.1 MHz respectively. This study aims to find the best return loss, get the most directional gain, and get the VSWR closer to 1. When this antenna was used, the results were better than those in scientific journals and conferences. As a result, this antenna is anticipated to fulfill the requirements of various wireless communication applications effectively.
A systematic literature review on data quality assessment
Authors: Reda Oumaima , Benabdellah Naoual Chaouni , Zellou Ahmed
Published: October 2023

Defining and evaluating data quality can be a complex task as it varies depending on the specific purpose for which the data is intended. To effectively assess data quality, it is essential to take into account the intended use of the data and the specific requirements of the data users. It is important to recognize that a standardized approach to data quality assessment (DQA) may not be suitable in all cases, as different uses of data may have distinct quality criteria and considerations. In order to advance research in the field of data quality, it is useful to determine the current state of the art by identifying, evaluating, and analyzing relevant research conducted in recent years. In light of this objective, the study proposes a systematic literature review (SLR) as a suitable approach to examine the landscape of data quality and investigate available research specifically pertaining to DQA. The findings of our SLR clearly reveal and demonstrate the criticality of data quality and point to new directions for future study and have consequences for researchers and practitioners interested in defining and assessing data quality.
Developments in scan shift power reduction: a survey
Authors: Sontakke Vijay , Dickhoff John
Published: October 2023

While power reduction during testing is necessary for today's low-power devices, it also lowers test costs. Scan-based methods are the most widely used approach for testing integrated circuits (IC). Test vectors are shifted into and out of scan chains bit by bit during shift operation. The time required for shift operation dominates the test time. With the geometries shrinking (7 nm→5 nm→3 nm→1.8 nm), ICs are required to be tested for newer defects, increasing test time. The most effective way to reduce test time for scan operation is to increase the frequency of the shift operation. Reduction in shift power enables scan operation to be performed with increased frequency, reducing test time, and test cost. This paper presents a survey of techniques proposed recently for shift power reduction. Various techniques, including special flip-flop usage, segmentation, reordering, and low-pass filter, are being reviewed. The techniques are organized based on main attributes to underscore their similarities and differences. Pros and cons in terms of complexities involved in their implementation are discussed. We believe this paper will provide a point of reference for further studies in scan shift power reduction and will be helpful to both industry and academia.
Factors influencing technology acceptance for ubiquitous public transportation services in tourism
Authors: Shafei Nurazlina , Salam Sazilah , Ahmad Fesol Siti Feirusz , Rusdi Jack Febrian
Published: October 2023

This article discusses the factors that influence public transport users and the driver’s intentions towards ubiquitous features for public transport services. This study used convenience sampling for selecting tourists and a purposive sample to select bus drivers, taxi drivers, and trishaw pullers in Melaka, Malaysia, a popular tourist destination. The users' dataset contains three main results: factors influencing users' use of public transportation services, levels of user satisfaction with existing public transportation services, and elements influencing how often people choose to use the suggested ubiquitous features for public transportation services. The drivers' dataset, on the other hand, is divided into two primary sections: variables influencing drivers in delivering public transportation services and factors influencing drivers' adoption of the suggested ubiquitous features for public transportation services. The analysis included descriptive statistics on factors influencing users and drivers in using public transportation services, levels of user satisfaction with existing public transportation services, and factors influencing users' and drivers' adoption of proposed ubiquitous features for public transportation services. The findings can be used to investigate the demand for on-time delivery from public transport services.
An improved transient performance boost converter using pseudo-current hysteresis control
Authors: Boutaghlaline Anas , El Khadiri Karim , Tahiri Ahmed
Published: October 2023

This paper introduces an enhanced low transient voltage and fast transient response boost converter. It uses a hysteresis-controlled circuit fed by a voltage signal from a rail-to-rail current sensor, resulting in improved efficiency, and transient response. The converter is designed using Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company (TSMC) 0.18 µm CMOS 1P6M technology, delivers an output voltage of 1.8 V while operating with an input voltage range of 0.5 V to 1 V and supports an output load current range of 10 to 100 mA. The key contributions of this paper are: i) introducing a new boost converter architecture employing pseudo-current hysteresis-controlled (PCHC) techniques, ii) incorporating voltage and current loops into the proposed architecture, and iii) demonstrating superior transient performance. Experimental measurements reveal a peak power efficiency of 98.6% at 10 mA and transient times of 15.4 µs and 11.8 µs for a step load change from 10 to 100 mA and back to 10 mA, respectively, with transient voltages of 51 mV. The presented boost converter outperforms in terms of performance, compared to previous works using the figure of merit (FOM) formula.
Fuzzy logic-based synchronization control system of generators under conditions of frequency instability
Authors: M. Al-Soud Mahmoud , M. Eial Awwad Abdullah , Al-Quteimat Alaa , Ushkarenko Oleksandr
Published: October 2023

This article focuses on studying and addressing the issue of synchronizing diesel gas generator units (DGGU) in autonomous electric power system (AEPS) in the presence of significant voltage frequency fluctuations. MATLAB models of AEPS are being developed that will enable the study of generator connection procedures while operating under a full load. Fluctuations in the rotation frequency of a diesel gas unit can be simulated by generating a realistic random procedure and adding this random signal to the control circuit. In the present study, the authors simulated the generator synchronization process in the presence of random disturbances. This simulation results indicated that the presence of random voltage frequency fluctuations and a nonzero response time of the circuit breaker (which connects the generator to the bars of the main distribution board) may violate the synchronization conditions and result in significant current surges and voltage sags at the time of synchronization. In the present work, a block diagram of the generator synchronization system is proposed that uses fuzzy logic to control the synchronization process. Software tools were developed using the methods of conceptual simulation to control the generator synchronization process; these tools represent an automated operator working station.
High isolation of SPDT PIN diode switch using switchable dumbbell-shaped DGS in millimeter wave 28 GHz band
Authors: Mohd Yasin Fatin Nadiah , Shairi Noor Azwan , Othman Adib , A. Majid Huda , Zakaria Zahriladha , Mohd Ibrahim Imran , Jamaluddin Mohd Haizal
Published: October 2023

This paper proposes a high isolation of single pole double throw (SPDT) PIN diode switch using switchable dumbbell-shaped defected ground structure (DGS). The proposed SPDT switch was designed for radio frequency (RF) front-end transceiver of antenna array multiple input multiple output (MIMO) in millimeter wave 28 GHz band. The switchable dumbbell-shaped DGS can be switched between allpass and bandstop responses where the bandstop response of the DGS can be utilized as a high isolation in the SPDT PIN diode switch circuit. A simple mathematical analysis is explained in this paper for the bandstop and allpass responses of the switchable dumbbell-shaped DGS. The propose SPDT switch was designed based on Roger RT/Duroid 5880 with 0.254 mm thickness and relative dielectric constant of 2.2. The simulated result showed that the proposed SPDT PIN diode switch produced an isolation of 36.36 dB at 27.3 GHz (center of 28 GHz band), which was 63% higher than the conventional SPDT design.
Investigating the effectiveness of deep learning approaches for deep fake detection
Authors: Berrahal Mohammed , Boukabous Mohammed , Yandouzi Mimoun , Grari Mounir , Idrissi Idriss
Published: October 2023

As a result of notable progress in image processing and machine learning algorithms, generating, modifying, and manufacturing superior quality images has become less complicated. Nonetheless, malevolent individuals can exploit these tools to generate counterfeit images that seem genuine. Such fake images can be used to harm others, evade image detection algorithms, or deceive recognition classifiers. In this paper, we propose the implementation of the best-performing convolutional neural network (CNN) based classifier to distinguish between generated fake face images and real images. This paper aims to provide an in-depth discussion about the challenge of generated fake face image detection. We explain the different datasets and the various proposed deep learning models for fake face image detection. The models used were trained on a large dataset of real data from CelebA-HQ and fake data from a trained generative adversarial network (GAN) based generator. All testing models achieved high accuracy in detecting the fake images, especially residual neural network (ResNet50) which performed the best among with an accuracy of 99.43%.
Estimation of hourly solar irradiation on tilted surfaces
Authors: Belsky Aleksey , Glukhanich Dmitry , Sutikno Tole , Hatta Jopri Mohd
Published: October 2023

Tilted photovoltaic panel (PVP) are extensively utilized in solar power installations. To model and design them, you must understand the solar irradiation on a tilted surface over time scales of an hour, day, week, month, or other period. However, most  meteorological stations only record global horizontal irradiance (GHI). In this research, a method is proposed for translating hourly worldwide horizontal irradiation from the NASA POWER database into hourly global sun irradiation on a tilted surface utilizing regression analysis methods and numerical modeling methods based on an isotropic model of solar irradiation. In addition, this work proposes a method for establishing the regression reliance of the diffuse transmittance index on the  clearness index for geographic areas where this relationship has not yet been empirically proven. To assess effectiveness, the results of the proposed technique and other authors' methods are compared with monthly average NASA POWER climatological data using evaluation methods such as mean bias error (MBE), mean absolute bias error (MABE), and root-mean-square error (RMSE). The study's findings can be used to construct, optimize, or anticipate the functioning of solar power facilities at any angle of tilt and in any geographic area.
Effect of Sinus Membrane Thickness on Membrane Perforation and Bone Augmentation in Transcrestal Sinus Floor Elevation: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Wang Dan , Cai Qing , Zhang Ni , Sun Yuyan , Gong Hao , Meng Weiyan
Published: October 2023

Sinus membrane thickening is a common maxillary sinus disease. However, a consensus has not been reached on the effect of sinus membrane thickness on the transcrestal sinus floor elevation. This retrospective study evaluated the perforation and bone formation at transcrestal sinus floor elevation sites with different sinus membrane thicknesses. A total of 117 sites in 87 patients treated with transcrestal sinus floor elevation were included in this study. The surgical sites were divided into four groups according to the baseline sinus membrane thickness: Group A (0 to 1 mm), Group B (1 to 2 mm), Group C (2 to 4 mm), and Group D (> 4 mm). CBCT scans were taken before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 6 months after surgery. The mean baseline sinus membrane thickness was 2.16 ± 2.54 mm, and the mean residual alveolar bone height was 6.58 ± 1.85 mm. The mean endosinus new bone height was 3.76 ± 1.95 mm. The perforation rate and endosinus new bone height showed no significant difference among the groups (P > .05). The incidence rates of membrane thickening and perforation were significantly higher in smoking patients (P < .05). Membrane thickening without ostium obstruction may have little impact on transcrestal sinus floor elevation surgery in regards to perforation rate and bone formation. In addition, smoking may be a risk factor for membrane thickening, and the sinus membrane is more likely to perforate during transcrestal surgery when the patient has a history of smoking.
Abstract 001: Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy And Postpartum Readmission
Authors: Tvina Alina , Ahrens Alexandra , Palatnik Anna
Published: October 2023

Background:
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the leading causes of maternal death. HDP is a leading cause of postpartum readmissions in the U.S. The initiation of an antihypertensive medication postpartum is at the provider’s discretion with no specific guidelines on when to initiate therapy for mild HDP. Our aim was to identify patients with HDP who were discharged home postpartum without antihypertensive therapy, and to characterize the high-risk patients who required readmission for blood pressure (BP) control.

Methods:
This was a 2020-2022 single center retrospective study examining readmission rates and characteristics of patients readmitted for HDP complications. Inclusion criteria were age≥18yo, diagnosis of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, BP prior to discharge at <160/105 mmHg and discharge after delivery with no antihypertensive therapy. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were done as appropriate.

Results:
A total of 159 patients met all inclusion criteria, with 27 (16.9%) requiring a readmission for hypertension-related reason. There was no difference in sociodemographic characteristics between patients who were readmitted and controls. Patients who were readmitted had a trend toward higher systolic BP at delivery discharge compared to patients who were not readmitted (143mmHg [IQR 136,148] versus 138 [IQR 130,148], p value= 0.09). However, upon readmission, systolic BP was much higher, at median value of 168 mmHg [IQR 149,178]. Among patients who were readmitted, 88.9% were diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features and 92.6% required magnesium sulfate therapy. Eighty five percent of readmitted patients were started on antihypertensive therapy.

Conclusion:
Patients with HDP discharged home without antihypertensive medications had 16.9% risk of postpartum readmission. Most of the readmitted patients developed severe HDP features and required outpatient antihypertensive therapy. The results of this study prompt future research to standardize postpartum HDP treatment and identify patients at a high risk for HDP-related complications postpartum.
Abstract 003: Aberrant Host Immune Responses Specific To Microbial-derived Ligands Are Linked To Hypertension In BPH/2J Mice
Authors: Saha Piu , Yeoh Beng San , Kandalgaonkar Mrunmayee , Joe Bina , Vijay-Kumar Matam
Published: October 2023

It has been established that derangements in host-microbiota homeostasis leads to hypertension. However, the precise mechanisms remain largely unknown. Microbial-derived ligands released into the host circulation are sensed and eliminated by various host innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. Herein, we focused on such microbial-derived ligands and hypothesized that defect in host innate and adaptive immune response to counter microbial-derived ligands is linked to hypertension. To test this hypothesis, both
in vitro
and
in vivo
studies were conducted. First, bone marrow-derived macrophages from Blood Pressure Normal (BPN/3J, systolic blood pressure: 113.2±2.20 mm Hg) and Blood Pressure Hypertensive (BPH/2J, systolic blood pressure: 143.9±4.10 mm Hg) mice (male, 8 weeks) were challenged with various Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands of microbial origin. Unstimulated macrophages from BPH mice displayed reduced levels of the co-stimulatory activation markers CD40, CD80 and CD86 (~2 fold) compared to macrophages from BPN/3J mice. Such differences, however, was normalized upon stimulation with ligands for TLR3 (poly-I:C), TLR4 (LPS), TLR5 (flagellin), TLR7/8 (R848) and TLR9 (CpG-DNA). Despite so, BPH-macrophages displayed blunted IL-6 and lipocalin-2 (~2 fold) levels in response to all the aforementioned TLR ligands when compared to macrophages from BPN mice. To confirm these findings
in vivo
, we challenged BPN and BPH mice with the microbial-derived ligand, flagellin. Interestingly, even though BPH mice had reduced cytokine responses to flagellin as monitored by levels of Lcn2 (BPN 320.9 ± 22.20
vs
BPH 230.8 ± 12.40, p<0.05) and CXCL1 (BPN 40.9 ± 4.6
vs
BPH 23.8 ± 2.4, p<0.05), they displayed higher levels of flagellin-specific IgG (BPN
vs
BPH O.D
450
, 0.51 ± 0.10
vs
0.93 ± 0.07, p<0.05) and substantially lower levels of flagellin-specific IgA (BPN
vs
BPH O.D
450
, 0.44 ± 0.13
v
s 0.13 ± 0.03, p<0.05). Collectively, both
in vitro
and
in vivo
studies demonstrate that both innate and adaptive immune responses specifically against microbial ligands is substantially deranged in the hypertensive state.
Abstract 004: Process And Health Outcomes Of Patients With Severe Hypertension In A Real-world Setting: Findings From A 12-year Study In A Large Health System
Authors: Lu Yuan , Brush John E , Liu Yuntian , Asher Jordan , Sawano Mitsuaki , Young Patrick , Schulz Wade , Anderson Mark , Burrows John , Krumholz Harlan M
Published: October 2023

Introduction:
Health systems are increasingly leveraging real-world data to improve community health outcomes.

Methods:
We conducted a longitudinal assessment of health outcomes in patients with severe hypertension using electronic health record data from the Sentara Healthcare System 2010-2021. Severe hypertension was defined as at least two consecutive blood pressure (BP) readings above 160/100 mmHg. We examined follow-up visit rates at 3 and 6 months, and BP control rates (<140/90 mmHg) at 6 and 12 months after the second BP elevation. We also assessed the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) until the end of 2022.

Results:
The study included 75,657 patients with severe hypertension. Mean age was 61.5 (13.9) years; 55% were female, 57% were White, 37% were Black, and 21.3% had a history of CVD. The median follow-up time was 3.8 years. Among patients with severe hypertension, 72% and 84% had follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months; 38% and 41% achieved BP control at 6 and 12 months. Among patients without prior history of CVD, 22.5% experienced at least one cardiovascular event during the follow-up, including 8.7% with coronary arteriosclerosis, 11.9% with heart failure, 65.2% with cerebral infarction, and 3.5% with myocardial infarction. The median time to cardiovascular events was 793 days. The risk of CVD was significantly higher in Black and older patients, as well as those with blood pressure levels exceeding 180/120 mmHg.

Conclusions:
This study successfully identified a longitudinal digital cohort of patients with severe hypertension and linked it to health outcomes. The findings have implications for health systems utilizing real-world data in population health research.
Abstract 006: Age And Sex Differentially Regulate Epigenetic Mechanisms In The Heart
Authors: Kumar Prerna , Brooks Heddwen L
Published: October 2023

Understanding epigenetic mechanisms associated with aging might reveal potential biomarkers for aging as well as therapeutic targets for reversing or ameliorating aging pathologies, including cardiovascular disease. There is a sex difference in the age of onset of cardiovascular disease, where females are protected against age related changes, including hypertension and fibrosis, until menopause. We hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms would be differentially regulated in a sex and age dependent manner, with changes in the older females reflecting the loss of estrogen with aging. To test this hypothesis, we examined heart tissue from 4-month (4M), 12-month (12M), and 24-month (24M)-old male and female C57BL/6JN mice (National Institute of Aging). Surprisingly histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity (ELISA) was significantly higher in all female mice than in age-matched males (4M, female 5.2 ± 0.6 vs male 2.8 vs 0.5; 12M, female 4.2 ± 0.4 vs male 1.3 ± 0.2; 24M, female 8.1 ± 0.6 vs male 2.3 ± 0.4; ng/min/mg protein; p < 0.05). In females age increased HDAC activity (35% increase 24M v 4M; p < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that expression levels of profibrotic class I HDACs were significantly higher in 12M and 24M old female mice (HDAC1, 52% and 48%, p < 0.05 and HDAC2, 52% and 79%, p < 0.05), respectively, as compared with age-matched males. However, histone acetyltransferase activity was comparable in all male and female groups as was histone 3 (H3) acetylation at lysine 9 and 27. Levels of circulating histones were determined in the serum. Histones are released in the extracellular space during disease state, act as damage-associated molecular pattern molecules and activate inflammatory pathways. Circulating H3 levels in serum increased significantly with age in both sexes (male 12M, 17.1 ± 1.4; and 24M, 21.4 ± 0.8 vs. 4M, 4.0 ± 0.6; ng/ml, p < 0.05; female 12M, 13.8 ± 2.1 and 24M, 17.4 ± 1.4 vs. 4M, 7.2 ± 1.0 p < 0.05). The data demonstrate the effect of age and sex in heart tissues with aged female mice exhibiting higher levels of profibrotic epigenetic enzymes compared to males. These findings will have important implications in age-related cardiac injury as aging is a primary risk factor for hypertension and related heart disease in men and women.