bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heavy pnictogens-based perovskite-inspired materials: Sustainable light-harvesters for indoor photovoltaics
Authors: Schmitz Fabian , Bhatia Ribhu , Lamberti Francesco , Meloni Simone , Gatti Teresa
Published: August 2023

The need for self-powered electronics is progressively growing in parallel with the flourishing of the Internet of Things (IoT). Although batteries are dominating as powering devices, other small systems, such as piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic systems, are attracting attention. These last ones can be adapted from their classical outdoor configuration to work preferentially under indoor illumination, i.e., by harvesting the spectrum emitted by LEDs and/or fluorescent lamps. However, crystalline silicon, the classical photovoltaic material for solar panels, has a bandgap not suitable for ensuring good efficiency with such spectra. With wider bandgaps, other semiconductors can come into play for this task. Still, the materials of choice, having to be integrated within households, should also satisfy the criterion of non-toxicity and maintain low-cost production. While lead-based halide perovskites cannot represent a valuable solution for this scope, due to the strong environmental and health concerns associated with the presence of Pb, analogous compounds based on the heaviest pnictogens, i.e., bismuth and antimony, could work as sustainable light-harvesters for indoor photovoltaic devices. In this Review, we focus on reporting the most recent developments of three compounds of this class: The double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 is first chosen as a model system for the other two, which are emerging perovskite-inspired materials, namely, Cs3Sb2I9−xClx and bismuth oxyiodide. We show the potential of these semiconductors to play a crucial role in the future market of self-powering IoT devices, which will become a large class of devices in the electronics industry in the upcoming years.
Acceleration and Reynolds effects of crosswind flow fields in gorge terrains
Authors: Wang Jian , Liu Xin-Yuan , Deng E , Ni Yi-Qing , Chan Pak-Wai , Yang Wei-Chao , Tan Yan-Ke
Published: August 2023

A significant acceleration generated in the gorge terrain poses a serious threat to the operational safety of the transportation facilities downstream of the gorge. To determine the formation mechanism of the acceleration effect, this paper compares the results of wind tunnel tests with the improved delayed detached eddy simulation in terms of the spatial distribution, turbulence, and spectrum of the flow field on the gorge topography under crosswinds. The effect of the Reynolds number on the results is discussed in terms of the characteristic wind speed of flow field and the scaling ratio. Recurrent neural networks are used to attempt to get signals from unknown measurement points and to repair damaged signals. The results show that when the mountain spacing in the experimental and the computational fluid dynamics models is zero, the most dramatic acceleration reaches 1.28–1.4 times the incoming wind speed. In the wind tunnel tests, the peak of the power spectra density (1.065 × 10−2) at the downstream of the center of the gorge with a mountain spacing of zero is 3.37 and 14.77 times higher than the corresponding values (3.16 × 10−3 and 7.21 × 10−4) in the gorge topography with the mountain spacing of 0.01 and 0.02 m, respectively. The maximum difference of mean wind velocities in the leeward of the gorge is 6.4% when the Reynolds number ranges from 2.03 × 105 to 1.03 × 107. The results are expected to provide a reference for the design of windproof facilities in gorge terrains.
The electric flux through a square of a point charge near one corner
Authors: Atems Elisabeth
Published: August 2023

This paper presents two geometric models that can be used by students studying electrostatics to explore the electric flux of a point charge through a square in the limit of infinitesimal displacement from one corner. We first use qualitative reasoning to show that the limit is not a single value, but depends on the direction of displacement, and has significant discontinuities at the plane inside the square and along its sides. In the first model, the square is treated as one face of a cube. With this model, we discuss how to use Gauss’s law to determine the limiting flux through the square for displacements along symmetry lines of the cube, and their reflections through the planes of the faces. The second model treats the square as the base of a square pyramid and enables derivation of the limiting flux for displacements in an arbitrary direction. The result is verified against that obtained analytically, by integrating the definition of electric flux over the area of the square, in the limit of infinitesimal displacement from the corner. Both models require and facilitate an intuitive understanding of Gauss’s law and the limit concept, and the quantitative reasoning involves a minimum of algebra and no calculus. The first model, especially, is suitable for use in a guided-inquiry tutorial or problem-solving workshop for undergraduate physics students.
Challenges in addressing student difficulties with basics and change of basis for two-state quantum systems using a multiple-choice question sequence in online and in-person classes
Authors: Hu Peter , Li Yangqiuting , Singh Chandralekha
Published: August 2023

Research-validated multiple-choice questions comprise an easy-to-implement instructional tool for scaffolding student learning and providing formative assessment of students’ knowledge. We present findings from the implementation of a research-validated multiple-choice question sequence on the basics of two-state quantum systems, including inner products, outer products, translation between Dirac notation and matrix representation in a particular basis, and change of basis. This study was conducted in an advanced undergraduate quantum mechanics course, in both online and in-person learning environments, across three years. For each cohort, students had their learning assessed after traditional lecture-based instruction in relevant concepts before engaging with the multiple-choice question sequence. Their performance was evaluated again afterward with a similar assessment and compared to their earlier performance. We analyze, compare, and discuss the trends observed in the three implementations.
Solving time-independent Schrödinger equation variationally using random numbers
Authors: Praneel Pranjal , Kumar Ashish , Harbola Manoj K
Published: August 2023

Finding wavefunctions for even the simplest of interacting particle systems consisting of two particles is extremely difficult. It is therefore highly desirable that an accurate and easily implementable method be available to instructors and students of quantum-mechanics for obtaining wavefunctions for these particles. The usual approach taken to do this is to use parametrized functional form for the wavefunction in conjunction with the variational method to find approximate wavefunction and energy for the ground-state of such systems. In this paper, we employ random numbers to obtain ground-state wavefunctions and energies of two interacting particles in different one-dimensional potentials. The idea behind using random numbers is to search freely for functions that lead to lower and lower energy, converging eventually to its lowest value. The method presented is easily applicable numerically using a simple algorithm, and the wavefunctions obtained are highly accurate. Thus, the method presented makes study of two interacting particles accessible to instructors and students alike in a transparent manner.
Hypersonic FLEET velocimetry and uncertainty characterization in a tripped boundary layer
Authors: Pehrson J Clark , Leonov Boris S , Melone Kate , Lakebrink Matthew T , Bowersox Rodney , Miles Richard B , Limbach Christopher M
Published: August 2023

Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging (FLEET) velocimetry is applied in a hypersonic boundary layer behind an array of turbulence-inducing trips. One-dimensional mean velocity and root-mean-square (RMS) of velocity fluctuation profiles are extracted from FLEET emissions oriented across a 2.75∘ wedge and through a boundary layer above a flat plate in two test campaigns spanning 21 tunnel runs. The experiment was performed in the Texas A&M University Actively Controlled Expansion tunnel that operated near Mach 6.0 with a Reynolds number near 6 × 106 m−1 and a working fluid of air at a density near 2.5 × 10−2 kg m−3. Detailed analysis of random and systematic errors was performed using synthetic curves for error in the mean velocity due to emission decay and the error in the RMS velocity fluctuation due to random error. The boundary layer behind an array of turbulence-inducing trips is documented to show the breakdown of coherent structures. FLEET velocimetry is compared to the tunnel Data Acquisition System, Vibrationally Excited Nitric Oxide Monitoring results, and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics to verify results.
A novel pre-trained model based on graph-labeling graph neural networks for tool wear prediction under variable working conditions
Authors: Xu Haitao , Yang Xu , Wang Wei , Du Jinsong , Gao Jie
Published: August 2023

In recent years, deep learning has made significant strides and found extensive applications in tool wear prediction. However, most methods based on deep learning rely on large-scale datasets for training and do not consider the method under variable working conditions. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a novel pre-trained fine-tuning model based on the graph-labeling graph neural network (GGPT) specifically designed to train on small-scale datasets. The GGPT model comprises two essential components: a feature extractor and a graph attention module (GAT). The feature extractor uses a residual connection constructed by maximum pooling and average pooling to improve the reliability of local feature learning. The GAT module enhances the global feature learning ability of the model by aggregating local features extracted by the feature extractor. In addition, Improved Pseudo-task Regularization is introduced to enable the model to converge better on small datasets. Experimental results substantiate the superiority of the GGPT model over other deep learning-based methods, particularly when confronted with variable working conditions for tool wear prediction.
Bearing fault diagnosis based on CNN-BiLSTM and residual module
Authors: Fu Guanghua , Wei Qingjuan , Yang Yongsheng , Li Chaofeng
Published: August 2023

Bearings are key components of rotating machinery, and their fault diagnosis is essential for machinery operation. Bearing vibration signals belong to time series data, but traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or recurrent neural networks cannot fully extract the fault features from these signals. To address the insufficient feature extraction and poor noise resistance, this paper proposes a fault diagnosis model based on continuous wavelet transform (CWT), CNN with channel attention, bidirectional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM) and residual module. Firstly, a parallel dual-path feature extraction mechanism is constructed which takes time-domain signals and time–frequency images transformed via CWT as the input respectively. Then BiLSTM extracts the time features of the signal as one path, and the CNN with efficient channel attention extracts the spatial features as the other path. This parallel neural network contributes to better feature extraction. Then, the residual module is applied to extract the global features to further improve the feature extraction ability and noise immunity. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model on the Case Western Reserve University dataset has better diagnostic accuracy under different working conditions and different signal-to-noise ratios than other methods. In addition, the model shows good generalization performance on Jiangnan University dataset.
A rapid outliers detection and correction method for external ballistic velocity measurement data
Authors: Yan Lin , Qian Fucai , Li Yunfeng , Sha Xinyu , Huang Jiaoru
Published: August 2023

Due to the influence of various sudden and abnormal factors during the tracking environment, equipment working conditions, and operation process, there are inevitable outliers in the tracking measurement process of aircraft such as carrier rockets, artificial satellites, and missiles. Therefore, the prerequisite for ensuring the reliability of processing results is to timely and accurately detect and correct outliers. In this paper, we proposed the sliding window-based variable degree B-spline function method (SWVD B-spline), which can handle isolated outliers and spotted outliers. SWVD B-spline uses variable degree B-spline function to model observed data in sliding windows, which can detect and correct outliers point by point along with window sliding. Then, we propose an initial window data selection method to remove outliers in initial windows to ensure the processing effect. In addition, because there are often inflection points in external ballistic velocity measurement data, differential evolution is used to optimize variable degree B-spline in windows that include inflection points to improve processing accuracy. The experimental results verify that SWVD B-spline can handle various outliers rapidly and efficiently.
Relevance of alcoholic solvents in the growth of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO hierarchical nanorod structures on their optical and opto-electrical properties
Authors: Nagpal Keshav , Rauwel Erwan , Ducroquet Frederique , Gélard Isabelle , Rauwel Protima
Published: August 2023

We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO hierarchical nanorod structures using four different alcohols i.e. methanol, isopropanol, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol (70% alcohol, 30% water). The syntheses of the nanoparticles were carried out by non-aqueous and hydrothermal routes. In general, absolute alcohol allows a better control of the synthesis reaction and nanoparticles as small as 5 nm were obtained, confirmed by TEM. XPS analysis elucidated the chemical states that were correlated to the synthesis reaction. For the nanorod growth, these four alcohols were used as seeding solvents, followed by hydrothermal ZnO nanorod growth. Here, the seed layer tailored the nanorod diameters and surface defects, which were studied by SEM and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Subsequently, the ZnO nanorods were electrically characterized and exhibited persistent photoconductivity under UV irradiation of 365 nm. The differences in conductivity in dark and under UV irradiation were attributed to the size of the nanorods, defect states, semiconductor band bending and oxygen adsorption–desorption mechanisms. Parameters such as photoresponse and photosensitivity are also calculated in order to evaluate their applicability in UV sensors. This work demonstrates optimization of the physical, chemical, electrical and optical properties of both ZnO nanostructures via the use of alcoholic solvents.
A simple practical to measure energy stored when stretching a spring
Authors: Harrison Mark
Published: August 2023

After deriving the equations for energy stored in a stretched spring which obeys Hooke’s Law (E= ½Fx = ½kx
2), a practical demonstration was required to show that the energy stored in the spring was proportional to the square of the spring’s extension. Using existing equipment in the school laboratory, a bank of charged capacitors was discharged into a motor which wound a string to extend the spring. Measurements taken showed the required proportionality convincingly.
Boundary delineation in transrectal ultrasound images for region of interest of prostate
Authors: Peng Tao , Dong Yan , Di Gongye , Zhao Jing , Li Tian , Ren Ge , Zhang Lei , Cai Jing
Published: August 2023

Accurate and robust prostate segmentation in transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images is of great interest for ultrasound-guided brachytherapy for prostate cancer. However, the current practice of manual segmentation is difficult, time-consuming, and prone to errors. To overcome these challenges, we developed an accurate prostate segmentation framework (A-ProSeg) for TRUS images. The proposed segmentation method includes three innovation steps: (1) acquiring the sequence of vertices by using an improved polygonal segment-based method with a small number of radiologist-defined seed points as prior points; (2) establishing an optimal machine learning-based method by using the improved evolutionary neural network; and (3) obtaining smooth contours of the prostate region of interest using the optimized machine learning-based method. The proposed method was evaluated on 266 patients who underwent prostate cancer brachytherapy. The proposed method achieved a high performance against the ground truth with a Dice similarity coefficient of 96.2% ± 2.4%, a Jaccard similarity coefficient of 94.4% ± 3.3%, and an accuracy of 95.7% ± 2.7%; these values are all higher than those obtained using state-of-the-art methods. A sensitivity evaluation on different noise levels demonstrated that our method achieved high robustness against changes in image quality. Meanwhile, an ablation study was performed, and the significance of all the key components of the proposed method was demonstrated.
Saturating quantum efficiency of SNSPDs with disorder manipulation of NbN films
Authors: Yin Rui , Wang Hao , Zhang Labao , Wang Xiaohan , Ma Liang , Guan Yanqiu , Yang Zhuolin , Chen Qi , Tu Xuecou , Zhao Qingyuan , Jia Xiaoqing , Chen Jian , Kang Lin , Wu Peiheng
Published: August 2023

Quantum efficiency is one of the most important performance metrics for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). Specifically, near-infrared NbN-SNSPDs with high quantum efficiency are extremely desirable in quantum communications. However, due to the high energy gap of NbN, it is difficult to achieve a saturated quantum efficiency. In this paper, we systematically investigated the primary determinants of fabricating highly saturated NbN-SNSPD by changing the stoichiometric ratio during the growth of NbN thin films. Through electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching processes, NbN-SNSPDs with a saturated quantum efficiency were fabricated. It is worth noting that the saturated quantum efficiency is observed to be closely related to the stoichiometric ratio of NbN films. Artificially increasing the disorder in NbN films can enhance the probability of superconducting phase transition during photon detection. Our work provides a consistently simple and effective method for the fabrication of highly efficient quantum devices, which is crucial for achieving higher precision in future quantum communications.
Artificial Neural Network controller for Solar PV based Electric Vehicle Charging Station with Supercapacitor
Authors: Singh Abhishek Pratap , Kumar Yogendra
Published: August 2023

In this article, a hybrid energy system for a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station is proposed. A hybrid energy storage system is made up of a battery and a supercapacitor. If the solar power varies, a fast shift in supply from the storage system is required. Furthermore, power fluctuation is observed when power is drawn from the storage system. A standalone battery cannot adjust for this quick shift in supply. To address these issues, a hybrid energy storage system consisting of a supercapacitor and a battery is proposed for solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations. Power fluctuation is also compensated for using the hybrid energy system. The findings are obtained using a traditional PI controller and an ANN controller. The result taken with ANN controller are found better in comparison to results taken with the conventional PI controller. The results are obtained using MATLAB SIMULINKS.
Feasibility and Techno-Economic analysis of Renewable Energy based Hybrid System for rural community of India
Authors: Sharma Bandana , Rizwan M , Anand Priyanka
Published: August 2023

On account of ever-increasing electricity demand and the growing awareness of the importance of addressing environmental concerns, renewable energy sources have come to play an increasingly important role in the generation of electricity. These sources offer numerous benefits, including the fact that they are environmentally friendly, readily available, inexpensive, and abundant. India has vast potential for these RES, even though many rural areas can still not get reliable and quality power supplies. To fulfil the above target, there is an urgent need to harness RES to a large extent for electric power generation. As these RES provide fluctuating power during the day, it is essential to provide a feasible solution with constant power generation using the available energy resources. The feasibility analysis of hybrid systems based on RES is carried out using the HOMER Pro software for the selected rural site in Uttar Pradesh, India. The locally available RES were used in this study to develop hybrid power generation systems. A feasible hybrid system is selected for Gramin health care and school buildings, at the proposed site. The results obtained from the optimal system were compared with those of the other hybrid models and found to be more accurate.
Application of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) Algorithm for PID Parameter Tuning in Speed Control of Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor
Authors: Bhandari Pratap , Pancha Basanta , Poudel Yam Krishna , Lal Ajay Kumar , Chapagain Madan Raj , Achary Narayan , Niraula Dayasagar
Published: August 2023

With the advancement in the technology of power electronics and microelectronics, the use of brushless DC motor has been increasingly expanded. The numerous benefits of brushless DC motor are one of the prime factors that has helped in the rapid expansion in the use of BLDC motor. Simple operation and maintenance, compact volume, light weight, energy conservation, high efficiency, easy regulation of speed and high reliability are some the merits that promotes the increasing use of BLDC motor. Its current application is observed in almost all the sectors of industrial control. BLDC motor drivers are most widely used in motion control applications. With the increasing necessity of designing effective control strategy, the use of electronically commuted brushless DC motors is increasing rapidly in various industrial applications. For this purpose, cheap and efficient speed regulator is needed for the motor. Proper tuning of PID can also be one of the ways of controlling BLDCM. This paper adopts intelligent controlling technique for the reduction of torque ripple, settling time and overshoot through the use of MATLAB and SIMULINK.
DRISHTI: Visual Navigation Assistant for Visually Impaired
Authors: Joshi Malay , Shukla Aditi , Srivastava Jayesh , Rastogi Manya , Mujumdar Suvarna , Tripathi Himanshu
Published: August 2023

In today’s society, where independent living is becoming increasingly important, it can be extremely constricting for those who are blind. Blind and visually impaired (BVI) people face challenges because they need manual support to prompt information about their environment. In this work, we took our first step towards developing an affordable and high-performing eye wearable assistive device, DRISHTI, to provide visual navigation assistance for BVI people. This system comprises a camera module, ESP32 processor, Bluetooth module, smartphone and speakers. Using artificial intelligence, this system is proposed to detect and understand the nature of the users’ path and obstacles ahead of the user in that path and then inform BVI users about it via audio output to enable them to acquire directions by themselves on their journey. This first step discussed in this paper involves establishing a proof-of-concept of achieving the right balance of affordability and performance by testing an initial software integration of a currency detection algorithm on a low-cost embedded arrangement. This work will lay the foundation for our upcoming works toward achieving the goal of assisting the maximum of BVI people around the globe in moving independently.
PLC-based home automation system for maintaining efficient task scheduling and security
Authors: Mittal Udit , Gupta Ankit , Kaushal Gaurav , Lokesh  , Abhishek
Published: August 2023

A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based smart task scheduling system for home automation is presented in this paper. This system is automatically controlled, energy-efficient, and scalable to smart homes with basic features that save energy and increase comfort for residents. The work demonstrates how PLCs can be used in the home to control and monitor lights, sensors, and other electronic equipment. As an added benefit, the proposed technology ensures home safety. The aim of this study is to develop an affordable system that can be installed in every household to improve security and energy efficiency by making home appliances more user-friendly and effectively performing every activity as per a schedule that is defined by user demands.
Nanomechanical resonators fabricated by atomic layer deposition on suspended 2D materials
Authors: Liu Hanqing , Basuvalingam Saravana B , Lodha Saurabh , Bol Ageeth A , van der Zant Herre S J , Steeneken Peter G , Verbiest Gerard J
Published: August 2023

Atomic layer deposition (ALD), a layer-by-layer controlled method to synthesize ultrathin materials, provides various merits over other techniques such as precise thickness control, large area scalability and excellent conformality. Here we demonstrate the possibility of using ALD growth on top of suspended 2D materials to fabricate nanomechanical resonators. We fabricate ALD nanomechanical resonators consisting of a graphene/MoS2 heterostructure. Using atomic force microscope indentation and optothermal drive, we measure their mechanical properties including Young’s modulus, resonance frequency and quality factor, showing a lower energy dissipation compared to their exfoliated counterparts. We also demonstrate the fabrication of nanomechanical resonators by exfoliating an ALD grown NbS2 layer. This study exemplifies the potential of ALD techniques to produce high-quality suspended nanomechanical membranes, providing a promising route towards high-volume fabrication of future multilayer nanodevices and nanoelectromechanical systems.
A retrospective survey to establish institutional diagnostic reference levels for CT urography examinations based on clinical indications: preliminary results
Authors: Efthymiou Fotios O , Metaxas Vasileios I , Dimitroukas Christos P , Delis Harry B , Zikou Kiriaki D , Ntzanis Epameinondas S , Zampakis Petros E , Panayiotakis George S , Kalogeropoulou Christina P
Published: August 2023

Objective. To establish institutional diagnostic reference levels (IDRLs) based on clinical indications (CIs) for three- and four-phase computed tomography urography (CTU). Methods. Volumetric computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP), patients’ demographics, selected CIs like lithiasis, cancer, and other diseases, and protocols’ parameters were retrospectively recorded for 198 CTUs conducted on a Toshiba Aquilion Prime 80 scanner. Patients were categorised based on CIs and number of phases. These groups’ 75th percentiles of CTDIvol and DLP were proposed as IDRLs. The mean, median and IDRLs were compared with previously published values. Results. For the three-phase protocol, the CTDIvol (mGy) and DLP (mGy.cm) were 22.7/992 for the whole group, 23.4/992 for lithiasis, 22.8/1037 for cancer, and 21.2/981 for other diseases. The corresponding CTDIvol (mGy) and DLP (mGy.cm) values for the four-phase protocol were 28.6/1172, 30.6/1203, 27.3/1077, and 28.7/1252, respectively. A significant difference was found in CTDIvol and DLP between the two protocols, among the phases of three-phase (except cancer) and four-phase protocols (except DLP for other diseases), and in DLP between the second and third phases (except for cancer group). The results are comparable or lower than most studies published in the last decade. Conclusions. The CT technologist must be aware of the critical dose dependence on the scan length and the applied exposure parameters for each phase, according to the patient’s clinical background and the corresponding imaging anatomy, which must have been properly targeted by the competent radiologist. When clinically feasible, restricting the number of phases to three instead of four could remarkably reduce the patient’s radiation dose. CI-based IDRLs will serve as a baseline for comparison with CTU practice in other hospitals and could contribute to national DRL establishment. The awareness and knowledge of dose levels during CTU will prompt optimisation strategies in CT facilities.
Efficacy of single-agent chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or gemcitabine in a diverse cohort of patients with recalcitrant cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Weiner David , Ly Andrew , Talluru Sai , Munjal Ananya , Pierog Olivia , Ambinder Richard , Rozati Sima
Published: August 2023

There is a need for updated studies regarding the efficacy of single-agent chemotherapy for Black patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This study evaluates outcomes of single-agent chemotherapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in a large and diverse cohort of patients. Both gemcitabine and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin had promising response rates and time to next treatment, including in Black patients with recalcitrant cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Inhibiting metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 after stroke restores brain function and connectivity
Authors: Hakon Jakob , Quattromani Miriana J , Sjölund Carin , Talhada Daniela , Kim Byungchan , Moyanova Slavianka , Mastroiacovo Federica , Di Menna Luisa , Olsson Roger , Englund Elisabet , Nicoletti Ferdinando , Ruscher Karsten , Bauer Adam Q , Wieloch Tadeusz
Published: August 2023

Stroke results in local neural disconnection and brain-wide neuronal network dysfunction leading to neurological deficits. Beyond the hyper-acute phase of ischaemic stroke, there is no clinically-approved pharmacological treatment that alleviates sensorimotor impairments. Functional recovery after stroke involves the formation of new or alternative neuronal circuits including existing neural connections. The type-5 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) has been shown to modulate brain plasticity and function and is a therapeutic target in neurological diseases outside of stroke. We investigated whether mGluR5 influences functional recovery and network reorganization rodent models of focal ischaemia.

Using multiple behavioural tests, we observed that treatment with negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of mGluR5 (MTEP, fenobam and AFQ056) for 12 days, starting 2 or 10 days after stroke, restored lost sensorimotor functions, without diminishing infarct size. Recovery was evident within hours after initiation of treatment and progressed over the subsequent 12 days. Recovery was prevented by activation of mGluR5 with the positive allosteric modulator VU0360172 and accelerated in mGluR5 knock-out mice compared with wild-type mice. After stroke, multisensory stimulation by enriched environments enhanced recovery, a result prevented by VU0360172, implying a role of mGluR5 in enriched environment-mediated recovery. Additionally, MTEP treatment in conjunction with enriched environment housing provided an additive recovery enhancement compared to either MTEP or enriched environment alone. Using optical intrinsic signal imaging, we observed brain-wide disruptions in resting-state functional connectivity after stroke that were prevented by mGluR5 inhibition in distinct areas of contralesional sensorimotor and bilateral visual cortices. The levels of mGluR5 protein in mice and in tissue samples of stroke patients were unchanged after stroke.

We conclude that neuronal circuitry subserving sensorimotor function after stroke is depressed by a mGluR5-dependent maladaptive plasticity mechanism that can be restored by mGluR5 inhibition. Post-acute stroke treatment with mGluR5 NAMs combined with rehabilitative training may represent a novel post-acute stroke therapy.
Reflex Hepatitis C Virus Viral Load Testing Following an Initial Positive Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Test: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Tao Yusha , Tang Weiming , Fajardo Emmanuel , Cheng Mengyuan , He Shiyi , Bissram Jennifer S , Hiebert Lindsey , Ward John W , Chou Roger , Rodríguez-Frías Francisco , Easterbrook Philippa , Tucker Joseph D
Published: August 2023

Background

Many people who have a positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) test never receive a confirmatory HCV RNA viral load (VL) test. Reflex VL testing may help address this problem. We undertook a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of reflex VL testing compared with standard nonreflex approaches on outcomes across the HCV care cascade.

Methods

We searched 4 databases for studies that examined laboratory-based reflex or clinic-based reflex VL testing approaches, with or without a nonreflex comparator, and had data on the uptake of HCV RNA VL test and treatment initiation and turnaround time between Ab and VL testing. Both laboratory- and clinic-based reflex VL testing involve only a single clinic visit. Summary estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analyses.

Results

Fifty-one studies were included (32 laboratory-based and 19 clinic-based reflex VL testing). Laboratory-based reflex VL testing increased HCV VL test uptake versus nonreflex testing (RR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.16–1.58) and may improve linkage to care among people with a positive HCV RNA test (RR: 1.47; 95% CI: .81–2.67) and HCV treatment initiation (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: .46–2.32). The median time between Ab and VL test was <1 day for all laboratory-based reflex studies and 0–5 days for 13 clinic-based reflex testing.

Conclusions

Laboratory-based and clinic-based HCV reflex VL testing increased uptake and reduced time to HCV VL testing and may increase HCV linkage to care. The World Health Organization now recommends reflex VL testing as an additional strategy to promote access to HCV VL testing and treatment.

Clinical Trials Registration

PROSPERO CRD42021283822.
24. A NOVEL TUMOR STAGING SYSTEM INCORPORATING CN STATUS FOR STRATIFYING EARLY STAGE ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA PATIENTS AFTER TRIMODAL THERAPY
Authors: Li Xiaokun , Yuan Yong
Published: August 2023

Backgrounds

The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of cN status for early stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and construct a new staging model for individual survival prediction.

Methods

Patients from West China Hospital and Nanjing Jinling Hospital were included for training and validation, respectively. Patients with ESCC who underwent nCRT and esophagectomy were included in this study. Prognostic factors were investigated in patients with ypT0–3N0M0 using survival analysis and Cox regression model.

Results

For patients with ypI stage, cN status was a significant prognostic factor. The patients with cN1–3 yielded significantly worse OS (p = 0.014) and DFS (p = 0.008) compared with patients with cN0. However, for patients with ypII stage, cN status was not a significant prognostic factor (OS: p = 0.100 and DFS: p = 0.110). Cox regression analysis showed that only cN status was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (p = 0.030) and DFS (p = 0.019) in patients with stage ypI. A new staging model was established based on ypTNM stage and cN status by precisely stratifying ypI ESCC patients.

Conclusion

We constructed a new staging system based on ypTNM stage and cN status to precisely stratify the patients with ypI stage. Our new ypTNM-cN staging system provides new insights for classifying stage ypI ESCC and shows reliable classification efficacy for all ESCC patients after nCRT and surgery.
241. EVALUATION OF THE PYLORUS FOLLOWING GASTRIC CONDUIT RECONSTRUCTION IN OESOPHAGECTOMY USING IMPEDANCE PLANIMETRY—A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Arkle Thomas , Lam Stephen , Kumar Bhaskar
Published: August 2023

Gastric conduit dysfunction (GCD) is one of the most challenging late complications of oesophagectomy and can have a significant detrimental effect on patient’s quality of life. Functional obstruction at the pylorus may be a contributory factor, however, few studies have directly examined the physiology of the pylorus in the gastric conduit. This review aims to determine if impedance planimetry (IP), using EndoFLIP®, can be used to demonstrate a significant alteration in pyloric physiology following oesophagectomy.

We conducted a systematic literature search using EMBASE and MEDLINE to identify studies that compared results of IP analysis using EndoFLIP® in healthy volunteers with patients following oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. Selection of studies was conducted in line with the PRISMA guidelines against pre-determined inclusion criteria and the review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023401664). Meta-analysis, using a pooled mean and mean difference, was conducted to determine whether there was a significant difference in mean pyloric distensibility index (DI), a widely used and validated measure of sphincter functioning, following oesophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction compared to healthy volunteers.

A total of 2751 studies were identified following database search and four studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. All studies reported mean pyloric DI values following oesophagectomy and protocols for EndoFLIP® analysis were consistent. The pooled mean pyloric DI from all studies (n = 109) was 9.12mm2/mmHg following oesophagectomy, compared to a pre-validated normal value of 25.2mm2/mmHg in healthy volunteers. Mean difference calculation, using a fixed effects model, from two studies including original results for healthy volunteers (n = 42) and patients following oesophagectomy (n = 14), showed that pyloric distensibility was 14.41mm2/mmHg higher in healthy volunteers compared to those post-oesophagectomy (95% CI 11.81–17.00, p < 0.00001).

Studies suggest that pyloric distensibility is significantly reduced following oesophagectomy compared to healthy volunteers. A lack of pyloric distensibility may adversely affect gastric conduit emptying and contribute to GCD. It remains unclear whether DI measurements will correlate with severity of GCD or show changes pre- and post-operatively for individual patients. The effect of surgical pyloroplasty on pyloric distensibility and physiology needs to be examined as a potential means of reducing the incidence of GCD.
289. RISK FACTOR OF RELAPSE IN ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA WHO ACHIEVE PATHOLOGIC COMPLETE RESPONSE TO NEOADJUVANT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY
Authors: Zhong Jian , Fang Shuogui , Yuan Jianye , Chen Rui , Xie Xiuying , Lin Ting , Liu Mengzhong , Liu Qianwen , Fu Jianhua
Published: August 2023

Background

Controversy still exists as to the risk factors of recurrence in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) plus esophagectomy. This study aimed to investigate the patterns and risk factors for recurrence in ESCC patients with pCR after nCRT in a single center.

Method

Between January 2008 and December 2018 a total of 96 ESCC cases with pCR were enrolled in this study. Sterilized lymph nodes (SLN) were defined as those lymph nodes without residual tumor but with the presence of treatment response to nCRT. Recurrence patterns were investigated and then prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The median follow-up time was 51.5 months. Recurrence occurred in 15 cases (15.6%) with a 9.9 months median time to recurrence and a 15.6 months median survival after recurrence. The most majority of recurrent diseases developed within the first 2 years after surgery. Distant recurrences were detected in 14 cases (14.6%), in which the most common recurrence sites were supraclavicular lymph nodes and lung, followed by para-aortic lymph nodes. The mean RFS in the whole cohort was 116.6 months. Positive SLN was identified as the independently prognostic factor for worse RFS in the multivariate analysis (HR: 5.93, 95%CI: 2.09–16.86, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Relapse is not rare in ESCC cases with pCR after nCRT. Distant recurrences, the predominant pattern of relapse, mostly occur with the first 2 years after esophagectomy. pCR patients with positive SLN have a higher risk for postoperative recurrence.
299. OPTIMAL NUMBER OF NEOADJUVANT IMMUNOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY CYCLES IN ADVANCED ESOPHAGEAL CANCER TREATMENT
Authors: Rusidanmu Aizemaiti , Zhou Kun , Ye Peng
Published: August 2023

Background

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (nICT) has shown potential benefits for patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) in clinical trials. However, the ideal number of nICT cycles for maximizing treatment outcomes in ESCC remains undetermined. This study aims to compare the short-term outcomes between two and three courses of nICT to establish the optimal approach for treating ESCC.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 118 patients with resectable locally advanced ESCC treated with nICT. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received 2 cycles of nICT (group A, n = 70) and those who received 3 cycles of nICT (group B, n = 48). The primary outcome was pathological complete response (pCR; ypT0 N0). Additionally, perioperative parameters and postoperative complications were examined.

Results

Overall, 28 patients (23.7%) achieved pCR. Group B, treated with 3 cycles of nICT, demonstrated a significantly higher pCR rate compared to group A (33.3% vs. 17.1%, P = 0.042). Postoperative complication rates were similar between the two groups (58.6% vs 54.2%, P = 0.635), and no significant difference was observed in anastomotic leakage rates (11.4% vs 6.3%, P = 0.522). Moreover, operation time (306.27 ± 87.05 vs. 306.13 ± 74.18 min, P = 0.996) and postoperative hospital stay (16.09 ± 10.55 vs. 15.04 ± 5.99 days, P = 0.537) did not significantly differ between the groups.

Conclusion

Three cycles of nICT led to better pathological responses compared to two cycles without increasing the incidence of postoperative complications. These findings can guide clinicians in counseling patients and inform the design of future prospective trials in ESCC treatment.
314. CLINICAL OUTCOME OF ICI COMBINATION THERAPY AS 1ST LINE TREATMENT FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Authors: Hara Shuichiro , Makino Tomoki , Momose Kota , Yamashita Kotaro , Tanaka Koji , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Doki Yuichiro
Published: August 2023

Background

The 1st line regimens including Immunocheckpoint Inhibitor (ICI) have lately been approved for unresectable advanced or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, evidence of these regimens in clinical practice remains limited.

Methods

A total of 67 unresectable advanced or recurrent ESCC patients who received FP (5-FU + CDDP) + Pembrolizumab/Nivolumab (FP + ICI group; n = 43) or Ipilimumab+Nivolumab (ICI + ICI group; n = 24) as the 1st line treatment from December 2017 to March 2023 at our hospital were evaluated.

Results

Patient characteristics(FP + ICI: ICI + ICI) were as follows; age = 69:74 year-old, male/female = 36/7:22/2, recurrent/unresectable = 17(40%)/26(60%):13(54%)/11(46%), number of administered courses = 4 [1–35]: 2 [1–17], follow up period = 9: 6 months. Best response rate was CR/PR/SD/PD = 6/22/9/6:4/9/6/5 cases, while response/disease control rates were 65:54% and 86:79%, respectively. Regarding survival analysis, median OS = 23 months:did not reach, and 1-year OS = 83.7:87.5%, median PFS = 8:5 months, 1-year PFS = 48.8:49.3%, and DOR (duration of response) = 4[2–38]:5[5–9] months. The most common treatment-related adverse events (CTCAE Grade 3 or higher) were neutropenia in 18 cases, followed by anorexia in 7 cases (FP + ICI group), and adrenal hypofunction in 2 cases and pruritus in 2 cases (ICI + ICI group).

Conclusion

Both 1st line regimens for unresectable advanced or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma seemed to be feasible and promising in clinical use.
338. USING NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER PATIENTS REQUIRING NEOADJUVANT THERAPY
Authors: Zheng Bin
Published: August 2023

Background

Esophageal cancer has a higher incidence and mortality rate than most malignancies. At present, radical esophagectomy remains the treatment of choice for esophageal cancer. However, a significant proportion of patients are in the middle or advanced stages when diagnosed and requiring preoperative treatment before surgical resection and lengthy postoperative adjuvant therapy after surgery. In this process, a considerable number of patients usually have a negative attitude towards treatment and psychological sub-health states or even disease states, leading to be unable to cooperate with treatment and unwell prognosis. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of mind–body language program (NLP) to evaluate the psychological state of patients during treatment, and intervene in time, so as to improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients.

Methods

This was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial (allocation rate = 1:1). It is proposed to enroll 40 potentially operable esophageal cancer patients requiring neoadjuvant therapy and divided into two groups: NLP and control. Inclusion criteria included different age groups, different neoadjuvant treatments, elective surgery, etc., and signed informed consent. Data from different groups of participants (pre-neoadjuvant therapy, preoperative, 1 week postoperative, and 1 month after discharge) were collected and recorded using the Quality of Life Scale (QCR-15) and the Fear-Anxiety Assessment Scale.

The primary endpoint of this study was to compare the difference in survival status between different experimental groups with or without NLP for psychological intervention.

Discussion

This trial will provide a basis for the significance of psychotherapy in the management of esophageal cancer and help to improve the guidance on non-physical and chemotherapy treatment in esophageal cancer guidelines.

Key words: Neuro-linguistic programming: Esophageal cancer: Preoperative treatment: Quality of Life.
342. VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC ENUCLEATION OF BENIGN SCHWANNOMA MISDIAGNOSED AS MALIGNANT LESION ON F-18 FDG PET/CT IN ESOPHAGEAL SUBMUCOSAL TUMOR
Authors: Lee Sung Kwang
Published: August 2023

Background

Esophageal SMT is a rare disease, and most of them are benign. Esophageal schwannoma accounts for about 2% among esophageal SMT.

Recently, F-18 FDG PET/CT has been widely used to confirm malignancy or to identify other metastatic lesions in cancer patients. However, even benign tumors often show an elevated SUV, and in the case of schwannomas, various values of SUV have been reported, which seems to limit differentiation from other malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

Case

A 56-year-old female patient was incidentally found with extrinsic compressing mass at 22 cm from the incisor. An endoscopic ultrasonography and chest CT showed a 3.4 cm sized homogenous well-defined mass in upper esophagus, leiomyoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected. SUV was elevated on PET-CT was performed to identify malignancy and metastatic lesions. When confirmed as malignant, additional surgery was planned, and enucleation was performed for primary diagnosis and treatment.

The esophageal bulging was confirmed. After dividing the esophageal muscle, and underwent enucleation. In immunohistochemical staining, S-100 protein showed positive findings, which could be diagnosed as schwannoma.

Conclusion

Due to the characteristics of esophageal SMT, FDG uptake may be observed on PET-CT, but if there is no evidence of metastasis, it is likely to proceed with treatment according to the benign disease. Then, if immunohistochemistry examination is diagnosed as malignancy, it would be desirable to apply additional stage surgery.