bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Coordinated Bidding Strategy of Wind Power Producers and DR Aggregators Using a Cooperative Game Approach
Authors: Dai Xuemei , Zheng Shiyuan , Chen Haoran , Bi Wenjun
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the profitability of wind energy and demand response (DR) resources participating in the energy and frequency regulation markets. Since wind power producers (WPPs) must reduce their output to provide up-regulation and DR aggregators (DRAs) have to purchase additional power to facilitate down-regulation, this may result in revenue loss. If WPPs coordinate with DRAs, these two costs could be reduced. Thus, it would be profitable for WPPs and DRAs to form a coalition to participate in the regulation market. To better utilize the frequency response characteristics of wind and DR resources, this paper proposes a cooperation scheme to optimize the bidding strategy of the coalition. Furthermore, cooperative game theory methods, including Nucleolus- and Shapley-value-based models, are employed to fairly allocate additional benefits among WPPs and DRAs. The uncertainties associated with wind power and the behavior of DR customers are modeled through stochastic programming. In the optimization process, the decision-maker’s attitude toward risks is considered using conditional value at risk (CVaR). Case studies demonstrate that the proposed bidding strategy can improve the performance of the coalition and lead to higher benefits for both WPPs and DRAs. Specifically, the expected revenue of the coordinated strategies increased by 12.1% compared to that of uncoordinated strategies.
Analysis of Hydrocarbon Enrichment in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs in the Eastern Baiyun Depression
Authors: Wang Xudong , Qiu Nansheng , Zhang Xiangtao , Wang Zhuochao , Li Zhiye
Published: November 2024

Based on the special geological background of the east and north slopes of the Baiyun Depression, the development conditions of Paleogene structure–lithology traps, the development conditions of high-quality reservoirs and the difficulty in characterizing the distribution characteristics are studied in this paper. It is concluded that the eastern Baiyun is located on the Baiyun–Liwan continental–oceanic large-scale intershell separation system, with a complex tectonic background and a tectono-sedimentary pattern of “fault and uplift interlocking and uplift and depression interphase”. The palaeo source sink system of the low bulge in the east of Yundong is restored, the favorable position of reservoir collective development and the favorable characteristics of reservoir–cap assemblage are clarified, and the paleo-geomorphology and sedimentary filling evolution law are clarified. Guided by the drive of oil and gas accumulation, three types of large and medium-sized structure–stratigraphic traps have been implemented in the eastern Baiyun system, including the convex inclined end, the restricted fault gully and the magmatic floor intrusion, and the corresponding oil and gas accumulation models have been perfected. By studying the structure, source and sink system and trap characterization of the eastern Baiyun basin, the development conditions and exploration direction of the large and medium-sized Palaeogene traps are systematically summarized.
The Construction of a Digital Agricultural GIS Application Suite
Authors: Hu Di , Zhang Zongxiang , Ma Xuejiao , Bian Duo , Man Yihao , Chang Jun , Qian Runxuan
Published: November 2024

With the increasing expansion and deepening of GIS applications across diverse industries, the limitations of industry-specific GIS application systems in terms of development efficiency, flexibility, and customization have become increasingly apparent. This paper employes the concept of application suites and proposes a design approach for tailored GIS application suites in digital agriculture, considering its specific application requirements. Additionally, it outlines an implementation method based on low-code development and microservice technologies. A GIS application system for digital agriculture was developed to conduct experimental validation. The results indicate that the GIS application suite developed in this study demonstrates readily deployable characteristics, granular assembly capabilities, and ease of scalability, facilitating the rapid development of customized GIS applications for digital agriculture. This approach enhances both development efficiency and flexibility while meeting the customization needs inherent to such applications.
Complex Indoor Human Detection with You Only Look Once: An Improved Network Designed for Human Detection in Complex Indoor Scenes
Authors: Xu Yufeng , Fu Yan
Published: November 2024

Indoor human detection based on artificial intelligence helps to monitor the safety status and abnormal activities of the human body at any time. However, the complex indoor environment and background pose challenges to the detection task. The YOLOv8 algorithm is a cutting-edge technology in the field of object detection, but it is still affected by indoor low-light environments and large changes in human scale. To address these issues, this article proposes a novel method based on YOLOv8 called CIHD-YOLO, which is specifically designed for indoor human detection. The method proposed in this article combines the spatial pyramid pooling of the backbone with an efficient partial self-attention, enabling the network to effectively capture long-range dependencies and establish global correlations between features, obtaining feature information at different scales. At the same time, the GSEAM module and GSCConv were introduced into the neck network to compensate for the loss caused by differences in lighting levels by combining depth-wise separable convolution and residual connections, enabling it to extract effective features from visual data with poor illumination levels. A dataset specifically designed for indoor human detection, the HCIE dataset, was constructed and used to evaluate the model proposed in this paper. The research results show that compared with the original YOLOv8s framework, the detection accuracy has been improved by 2.67%, and the required floating-point operations have been reduced. The comprehensive case analysis and comparative evaluation highlight the superiority and effectiveness of this method in complex indoor human detection tasks.
Towards Open-Set NLP-Based Multi-Level Planning for Robotic Tasks
Authors: Racinskis Peteris , Vismanis Oskars , Zinars Toms Eduards , Arents Janis , Greitans Modris
Published: November 2024

This paper outlines a conceptual design for a multi-level natural language-based planning system and describes a demonstrator. The main goal of the demonstrator is to serve as a proof-of-concept by accomplishing end-to-end execution in a real-world environment, and showing a novel way of interfacing an LLM-based planner with open-set semantic maps. The target use-case is executing sequences of tabletop pick-and-place operations using an industrial robot arm and RGB-D camera. The demonstrator processes unstructured user prompts, produces high-level action plans, queries a map for object positions and grasp poses using open-set semantics, then uses the resulting outputs to parametrize and execute a sequence of action primitives. In this paper, the overall system structure, high-level planning using language models, low-level planning through action and motion primitives, as well as the implementation of two different environment modeling schemes—2.5 or fully 3-dimensional—are described in detail. The impacts of quantizing image embeddings on object recall are assessed and high-level planner performance is evaluated using a small reference scene data set. We observe that, for the simple constrained test command data set, the high-level planner is able to achieve a total success rate of 96.40%, while the semantic maps exhibit maximum recall rates of 94.69% and 92.29% for the 2.5d and 3d versions, respectively.
Investigating the Influential Factors of Ride-Hailing Usage Frequency in the Post-Pandemic Era
Authors: Du Mingyang , Li Xuefeng , Wang Hui , Yang Jingzong , Liu Dong , Kwan Mei-Po
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on public travel and has significantly altered people’s travel behavior. By comparing the travel behaviors of ride-hailing passengers before and after the pandemic (i.e., the pre-pandemic era and the post-pandemic era), it is possible to effectively identify the changes in their travel patterns and thus deeply understand the changes in individual travel habits in the post-pandemic era. Using data collected in Nanjing, China, this paper develops two ordered logit models to examine the impact mechanism of multi-dimensional influential factors on the trip frequency of ride-hailing users before and after the pandemic. The results reveal the following: (1) Before the pandemic, the increase in waiting time promoted the usage frequency of ride-hailing users, while in the post-pandemic era, the increase in waiting time reduces the travel frequency of ride-hailing users. (2) Before the pandemic, the increase in prices led to a decrease in ride-hailing users’ usage frequency, while it presents a push effect in the post-pandemic era. (3) In the post-pandemic era, ride-hailing users are more concerned about personal safety, avoiding conversing with the driver and touching objects in the car. Finally, some strategies, such as increasing awareness of personal information protection and security, optimizing waiting times, and improving the hygiene standards of ride-hailing, are proposed to assist transportation network companies in operating and restoring ride-hailing services in the post-pandemic era.
Design of a Differential Chaotic Shift Keying Communication System Based on Noise Reduction with Orthogonal Double Bit Rate
Authors: Fu Yao , Yu Qihao , Li Hongda
Published: November 2024

In this paper, a differential chaotic shift keying communication system based on noise reduction with orthogonal double bit rate (NR-ODBR-DCSK) is proposed. The system incorporates Walsh orthogonalization at the transmitter side to orthogonalize the information signals so that two mutually orthogonal signals can be superimposed. At the receiving end, because the principle of orthogonal signals is used, it achieves the characteristic of double information transmission rate for information signal transmission while avoiding the problem of chaotic synchronization. In addition, the system employs a noise reduction transmission mechanism, which reduces the noise variance in the received signal, further reducing the BER of the system and thus improving the performance of the communication system. By analyzing the signal format of the system, the transmitter and receiver structures of the communication system are designed. Subsequently, theoretical analyses and simulations in an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel demonstrate the good performance of the system, including a low bit error rate (BER) and a good data-energy to bit-energy ratio (DBR). Finally, a simulation test of the NR-ODBR-DCSK system for a semi-physical communication system was carried out using two USRP devices to verify the experimental feasibility of the system. The simulation analysis results show that comparative analyses with conventional DCSK and SR-DCSK systems highlight the superior performance of the NR-ODBR-DCSK system.
Evaluation of Radiation Rates and Health Hazards from Different Cement Types in Pakistan
Authors: Waseem Muhammad , Younis Hannan , Salouci Moustafa , Mateen Ullah Mian , Adil Khan Muhammad , Salem Ouazir , Abdelkader Atef , Haj Ismail Abd
Published: November 2024

The raw materials of cement contain radioactive elements that come from natural sources. Members of the decay chains of uranium, thorium, and potassium radioisotope 40K are the primary sources of this radioactivity. The natural radionuclide concentration levels in cement differ greatly depending on different geographic areas. To estimate the radionuclides concentration in cement specimens from twelve diverse Pakistani companies, gamma-ray spectroscopy analysis was used in the study. 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K had activity concentration levels ranging from 18.08 to 43.18 Bq/kg, 16.73 to 23.53 Bq/kg, and 14.24 to 315.22 Bq/kg, respectively. The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) threshold for the 226Ra was surpassed by five of the studied samples. The indoor and outdoor dose rates as well as different radiological health hazard indices were also examined. The Indoor Absorbed Dosage (Din) for some of the samples exceeded the permissible limit. These samples also had a high Indoor Effective Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) factor, which makes them unsafe for interior construction purposes. The outdoor dosages as well as the hazard indices were well within the permitted ranges. The outdoor ELCR factor is low for all the cement brands, which makes them safe for exterior construction purposes. The findings were compared with published data from other countries around the globe. Finally, a thorough statistical analysis was performed and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (r) exhibited a very strong correlation between the different outdoor and indoor radiological health hazard indices.
Total and Double Total Domination on Octagonal Grid
Authors: Klobučar Antoaneta , Klobučar Barišić Ana
Published: November 2024

A k-total dominating set is a set of vertices such that all vertices in the graph, including the vertices in the dominating set themselves, have at least k neighbors in the dominating set. The k-total domination number γkt(G) is the cardinality of the smallest k-total dominating set. For k=1,2, the k-total dominating number is called the total and the double total dominating number, respectively. In this paper, we determine the exact values for the total domination number on a linear and on a double octagonal chain and an upper bound for the total domination number on a triple octagonal chain. Furthermore, we determine the exact values for the double total domination number on a linear and on a double octagonal chain and an upper bound for the double total domination number on a triple octagonal chain and on an octagonal grid Om,n,m≥3,n≥3. As each vertex in the octagonal system is either of degree two or of degree three, there is no k-total domination for k≥3.
Exploring Nonlinear Dynamics in Intertidal Water Waves: Insights from Fourth-Order Boussinesq Equations
Authors: Almusawa Hassan , Almusawa Musawa Yahya , Jhangeer Adil , Hussain Zamir
Published: November 2024

The fourth-order nonlinear Boussinesq water wave equation, which describes the propagation of long waves in the intertidal zone, is investigated in this study. The exact wave patterns of the equation were computed using the tanh method. As stability decreased, soliton wave structures were derived using similarity transformations. Numerical simulations supported these findings. The tanh method introduced a Galilean modification, leading to the discovery of several new exact solutions. Subsequently, the fourth-order nonlinear Boussinesq wave equation was transformed into a planar dynamical system using the travelling wave transformation. The quasi-periodic, cyclical, and nonlinear behaviors of the analyzed equation were particularly examined. Numerical simulations revealed that varying the physical parameters impacts the system’s nonlinear behavior. Graphs represent all possible examples of phase portraits in terms of these parameters. Furthermore, the study was proven to be highly beneficial for addressing issues such as shock waves and highly active travelling wave processes. Sensitivity analysis theory and the Lyapunov exponent were employed, offering a wide variety of linear periodic and first-frequency periodic characteristics. Sensitivity analysis and multistability analysis of the Boussinesq water wave equation were thoroughly investigated.
Intrinsic Functional Partially Linear Poisson Regression Model for Count Data
Authors: Xu Jiaqi , Lu Yu , Su Yuanshen , Liu Tao , Qi Yunfei , Xie Wu
Published: November 2024

Poisson regression is a statistical method specifically designed for analyzing count data. Considering the case where the functional and vector-valued covariates exhibit a linear relationship with the log-transformed Poisson mean, while the covariates in complex domains act as nonlinear random effects, an intrinsic functional partially linear Poisson regression model is proposed. This model flexibly integrates predictors from different spaces, including functional covariates, vector-valued covariates, and other non-Euclidean covariates taking values in complex domains. A truncation scheme is applied to approximate the functional covariates, and the random effects related to non-Euclidean covariates are modeled based on the reproducing kernel method. A quasi-Newton iterative algorithm is employed to optimize the parameters of the proposed model. Furthermore, to capture the intrinsic geometric structure of the covariates in complex domains, the heat kernel is employed as the kernel function, estimated via Brownian motion simulations. Both simulation studies and real data analysis demonstrate that the proposed method offers significant advantages over the classical Poisson regression model.
Microbial Community of Wilted Fritillaria ussuriensis and Biocontrol Effects of Bacillus tequilensis and Trichoderma koningiopsis
Authors: Wu Hao , Lu Jingjing , Zhao Simeng , Fei Jingyi , Qu Zhimiao , Zhao Min , Yang Hongyan
Published: November 2024

The cultivation of Fritillaria ussuriensis faces challenges due to the prevalent Fritillaria wilt disease, hindering large-scale production. To address this, we aimed to understand the disease’s characteristics and develop effective prevention measures. Microbial communities of diseased F. ussuriensis plants were analyzed, pathogenic and antagonistic strains were screened, and biocontrol feasibility was tested. We identified Botryotinia predominance in aboveground parts and variations in Mrakia, Humicola, llyonectria, and Fusarium in underground parts. The pathogens Fusarium oxysporum IFM-1 and Fusarium solani IFM-52 isolated from diseased F. ussuriensis not only caused severe Fritillaria wilt but were also pathogenic to Lilium lancifolium and Allium cepa var. aggregatum in Liliaceae. The antagonistic Bacillus tequilensis LFM-30 and Trichoderma koningiopsis IFM-47 isolated from diseased plants significantly alleviated plant wilt and showed promise in preventing wilt disease caused by Fusarium in Liliaceae plants. Our study highlights distinct microbial differences between healthy and diseased F. ussuriensis and underscores the pathogenicity of Fusarium. Using T. koningiopsis and B. tequilensis either singly or in combination could offer effective biocontrol against F. solani and F. oxysporum, benefiting F. ussuriensis and related Liliaceae plants.
Computational Study of Network and Type-I Functional Divergence in Alcohol Dehydrogenase Enzymes Across Species Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Park Suhyun , Jebamani Petrina , Seo Yeon Gyo , Wu Sangwook
Published: November 2024

Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are critical enzymes involved in the oxidation of alcohols, contributing to various metabolic pathways across organisms. This study investigates type I functional divergence within three ADH1 families: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PDB ID: 4W6Z), Gadus morhua (PDB ID: 1CDO), and Homo sapiens (PDB ID: 1HDX). Understanding the molecular evolution and mechanisms underlying functional divergence of ADHs is essential for comprehending their adaptive significance. For this purpose, we performed a computational analysis that included structural characterization of ADHs through three-dimensional modeling, site-specific analysis to evaluate selective pressures and evolutionary constraints, and network analysis to elucidate relationships between structural features and functional divergence. Our findings indicate substantial variations in evolutionary and structural adaptations among the ADH families.
Illness Narrative Master Plots Following Musculoskeletal Trauma and How They Change over Time, a Secondary Analysis of Data
Authors: Soundy Andrew , Moffatt Maria , Yip Nga Man (Nicole) , Heneghan Nicola , Rushton Alison , Falla Deborah , Silvester Lucy , Middlebrook Nicola
Published: November 2024

Introduction; to the best of the authors knowledge, no past research has established how illness narrative master plots are expressed initially and then if and how they change longitudinally following musculoskeletal trauma. The aim of the present research was to consider how specific master plots were expressed, interact, and change across time following musculoskeletal trauma. Methods: A narrative analysis was undertaken that included individuals who had experienced a musculoskeletal traumatic injury. Individuals were included if they were an inpatient within 4 weeks of the first interview, had mental capacity to participate, and were able to communicate in English. Three interviews were undertaken (within 4 weeks of injury, then at 6- and 12-months post-injury). A 5-stage categorical form—type narrative analysis was performed. Results: Twelve individuals (49.9 ± 17.5 years; 7 male, 5 female) completed interviews at three time points following the trauma event (<4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months). Three main narrative master plots appeared to work together to facilitate a positive accommodation of the trauma event into the individual’s life. These included the resumption narrative, the activity narrative, and the quest narrative. Finally, less often regressive narratives were identified, although these narratives were, at times, actively avoided. Discussion: The current results provide important consideration for how narratives are used within clinical practice, in particular the value of how these three narratives could be accessed and promoted.
Critical Success Factors of Sustainability Implementation in the Construction Industry
Authors: Dobrucali Esra , Demirkesen Sevilay , Zhang Chengyi , Damci Atilla , Besiktepe Deniz
Published: November 2024

Sustainability is one of the emerging areas in building construction, and it is widely investigated in terms of bringing sustainable technology into construction. However, one of the biggest challenges in the construction industry is implementing sustainability. Building contractors and construction practitioners mostly struggle with the implementation of sustainability due to the lack of certain parameters that define sustainability. Therefore, this study investigates the factors for effective sustainability implementation to provide industry practitioners with the benefit of the extensive list of parameters when designing their sustainability program. To research the parameters, a questionnaire was designed and administered to construction professionals with wide experience in sustainability implementation. The respondents were asked to evaluate a set of sustainability factors in the economic, social, and environmental domains. This way, the study provides reflections from construction practitioners working on large projects. The findings indicated that Ethical and Relational Factors in economic sustainability, Historical and Social Relations Factors in social sustainability, and Material Usage Factors in environmental sustainability are the most important for effective sustainability implementation. The findings are expected to help construction practitioners understand metrics of sustainability, effectively manage their projects, and successfully implement sustainability with the consideration of proper metrics.
Paraphrase the Obstacles to the Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste: A Perspective of the Evolutionary Game of Three Stakeholders
Authors: Chen Zhangli , Li Keying , Tan Haowen , Liu Jiawen , Wu Xizhen , Wang Peng
Published: November 2024

With China’s urbanization, the construction industry has generated massive construction and demolition waste (C&DW), leading to severe environmental pollution and social problems. However, the currently proposed policies have not promoted the sustainable development of the C&DW recycling market. This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model of construction production enterprises, construction enterprises, and the government. The decision-making evolution laws of relevant stakeholders at different stages of the development of the C&DW recycling market are identified through equilibrium stability analysis. The results show that in the initial stage, the government can help encourage enterprises to participate in C&DW recycling through appropriate subsidy and penalty measures. As the recycling market matures, enterprises achieve profits through market mechanisms and the proportion of enterprises participating in recycling increases. At this time, the government no longer plays a leading role, and the strategy evolves into non-supervision. In addition, the government should design carbon emission reduction policies for carbon quota and trading according to the market status to exert positive effects. Hence, this study provides a theoretical basis for the governments of developing countries to effectively manage C&DW market development.
Numerical Approach to Determine the Resistance of Threaded Anchors in Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite
Authors: Hochuli Antonina , Brühwiler Eugen
Published: November 2024

Due to their relatively high tensile strength and dense matrix, UHPFRCs have proven to be a highly effective building material for both strengthening existing reinforced concrete structures and constructing new ones. In both cases, the use of fasteners is prevailing, with threaded anchors being frequently employed. The thicknesses of structural components made of UHPFRCs are relatively thin, i.e., at least 30 mm, typically 50 to 100 mm, and exceptionally 100 to 200 mm. Therefore, the aim is to use fasteners with short anchorage lengths. In this study, the structural behavior of a short threaded anchor with a 20 mm diameter and an embedment length of 50 mm (2.5 Ø) in a UHPFRC is investigated using non-linear finite element models. The UHPFRC is assumed to exhibit tensile strain-hardening behavior, with tensile strengths of 7 MPa and 11 MPa, respectively. The modeled anchor was subjected to a continuously increasing uniaxial pull-out force. The results indicate that the fracture mechanism of threaded anchors in UHPFRCs is primarily characterized by the formation of a tensile membrane within the UHPFRC, which acts as the main resisting element against the pull-out force. Additionally, the influence of the UHPFRC’s tensile properties on the pull-out behavior and ultimate resistance of the threaded anchors was determined.
Numerical Methods for Topological Optimization of Wooden Structural Elements
Authors: Țăpuși Daniela , Sabău Andrei-Dan , Savu Adrian-Alexandru , Erbașu Ruxandra-Irina , Teodorescu Ioana
Published: November 2024

Timber represents a building material that aligns with the environmental demands on the impact of the construction sector on climate change. The most common engineering solution for modern timber buildings with large spans is glued laminate timber (glulam). This project proposes a tool for a topological optimized geometry generator of structural elements made of glulam that can be used for building a database of topologically optimized glulam beams. In turn, this can be further used to train machine learning models that can embed the topologically optimized geometry and structural behavior information. Topological optimization tasks usually require a large number of iterations in order to reach the design goals. Therefore, embedding this information into machine learning models for structural elements belonging to the same topological groups will result in a faster design process since certain aspects regarding structural behavior such as strength and stiffness can be quickly estimated using Artificial Intelligence techniques. Topologically optimized geometry propositions could be obtained by employing generative machine learning model techniques which can propose geometries that are closer to the topologically optimized results using FEM and as such present a starting point for the design analysis in a reduced amount of time.
Preparation and Electromagnetic-Wave-Absorption Properties of Cement-Based Materials with Graphite Tailings and Steel Fiber
Authors: Wang Qian , Wei Taibing , Wang Rong , Zhu Deliang , Liu Feiyu , Li Huawei
Published: November 2024

The development of functional building materials that can absorb electromagnetic radiation is important for preventing and controlling electromagnetic pollution in urban areas. In this study, cement-based electromagnetic wave (EMW)-absorbing materials were created using graphite tailings (GTs) as a conductive admixture and steel fiber (SF) as an EMW absorber, which resulted in materials with a wide effective bandwidth and high reflection loss (RL). In particular, a GT–cement matrix with excellent mechanical and electrical properties was obtained. This study explored the influence mechanism of the SF content on the mechanical, electrical, and EMW-absorption properties of cement-based materials under the synergistic effect of GTs and SF. Findings demonstrate that the combination of GTs and SF notably improved the electrical and EMW-absorption characteristics of the cement-based materials. Optimal EMW-absorption properties were observed for a combination of 30% GTs and 6% SF. A developed cement-based EMW-absorbing material with a thickness of 20 mm displayed a minimum RL of −25.78 dB in the frequency range of 0.1–5 GHz, with an effective bandwidth of 0.953 GHz. Thus, the cement-based composite materials developed in this study have excellent EMW-absorption performance, which provides an effective strategy for preventing and controlling electromagnetic pollution in urban spaces.
Effect of Relative Density on the Lateral Response of Piled Raft Foundation: An Experimental Study
Authors: Siddiqi Mohammad Ilyas , Qureshi Hamza Ahmad , Jamil Irfan , Alshawmar Fahad
Published: November 2024

The population surge has led to a corresponding increase in the demand for high-rise buildings, bridges, and other heavy structures. In addition to gravity loads, these structures must withstand lateral loads from earthquakes, wind, ships, vehicles, etc. A piled raft foundation (PRF) has emerged as the most favored system for high-rise buildings due to its ability to resist lateral loads. An experimental study was conducted on three different piled raft model configurations with three different relative densities (Dr) to determine the effect of Dr on the lateral response of a PRF. A model raft was constructed using a 25 mm thick aluminum plate with dimensions of 304.8 mm × 304.8 mm, and galvanized iron (GI) pipes, each 457.2 mm in length, were used to represent the piles. The lateral and vertical load cells were connected to measure the applied loads. It was found that an increase in Dr increased the soil stiffness and led to a decrease in the lateral displacement for all three PRF models. Additionally, the contribution of the piles in resisting the lateral load decreased, whereas the contribution of the raft portion in resisting the lateral load increased. With an increase in Dr from 30% to 90%, the percentage contribution of the raft increased from 42% to 66% for 2PRF, 38% to 61% for 4PRF, and 46% to 70% for 6PRF.
Optimal Cost Design of RC T-Shaped Combined Footings
Authors: Moreno-Landeros Victor Manuel , Luévanos-Rojas Arnulfo , Santiago-Hurtado Griselda , López-León Luis Daimir , Olguin-Coca Francisco Javier , López-León Abraham Leonel , Landa-Gómez Aldo Emelio
Published: November 2024

This paper shows the optimal cost design for T-shaped combined footings of reinforced concrete (RC), which are subjected to biaxial bending in each column to determine the steel areas and the thickness of the footings assuming a linear distribution of soil pressure. The methodology used in this paper is as follows: First, the minimum contact surface between the footing and the ground is investigated. The design equations for the combined footing are then used to determine the objective function and its constraints to obtain the lowest cost, taking into account the ACI code requirements. Flowcharts are shown for the lowest cost and the use of Maple 15 software. The current model for design is developed as follows: A footing thickness is proposed, and then it is verified that the thickness complies with the effects produced by moments, bending shears, and punching shears. Furthermore, four numerical examples are presented under the same loads and moments applied to each column, with different conditions applied to obtain the optimal contact surface and then the minimum cost design. The results show that the optimal cost design (lowest cost) is more economical and more accurate than any other model, and there is no direct proportion between the minimum contact surface and lowest cost for the design of T-shaped combined footings. In this way, the minimum cost model shown in this work can be applied to the design of rectangular and T-shaped combined footings using optimization techniques.
PSMA-Guided Imaging and Therapy of Advanced Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas and Other Salivary Gland Carcinomas
Authors: Trautwein Nils F. , Brendlin Andreas , Reischl Gerald , Mattke Moritz , Paulsen Frank , Loewenheim Hubert , Zender Lars , la Fougère Christian , Dittmann Helmut
Published: November 2024

SGCs are rare malignancies, accounting for less than 1% of all head and neck cancers [...]
Risk of Postoperative Hemorrhage After Glioma Surgery in Patients with Preoperative Acetylsalicylic Acid
Authors: Pinchuk Anatoli , Tonchev Nikolay , Dumitru Claudia A. , Neyazi Belal , Stein Klaus-Peter , Sandalcioglu I. Erol , Rashidi Ali
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Patients with gliomas show an increased risk of spontaneous hemorrhages throughout the disease. Simultaneously, the number of patients taking acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for primary and secondary prophylaxis is rising in daily clinical practice, and interrupting ASA intake before elective or emergency intracranial surgery is not always feasible. This study aims to evaluate the risks associated with continuing ASA use perioperatively while focusing on hemorrhage and potential thromboembolic events that may arise from discontinuing ASA, particularly in multimorbid patients undergoing glioma surgery. Methods: The clinical parameters and imaging data of 7149 patients who underwent intracranial surgery in our department over a 10-year period were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their ASA status: Group 1 (no ASA impact) included those with no ASA use or who discontinued ASA use more than seven days prior to surgery (low stroke or cardiovascular risk), and Group 2 (ASA impact) included those who continued ASA use within seven days prior to operation (high stroke or cardiovascular risk). Results: In this retrospective study, data from 650 patients with various types of glial tumors who underwent surgery between 2008 and 2018 were examined. Of these patients, 50 experienced a postoperative hemorrhage (POH), and 10 required reoperations due to clinical neurological deterioration and increased intracranial pressure caused by the space-occupying effect of the hemorrhage. In the ASA impact group, 2.7% developed POH, compared to 1.3% in the no ASA impact group (p = 0.098). Our analysis did not show a significantly increased risk of POH after surgery, although patients in the ASA impact group had a one- to two-fold higher risk of developing POH overall. Additionally, other factors contributing to postoperative hemorrhage following glioma surgery were investigated and evaluated. Conclusions: In this cohort, the perioperative use of ASA was not associated with an increased rate of hemorrhagic complications after intracranial glioma surgery, although a trend was observed. In patients with high stroke and cardiovascular risk, ASA can be continued during elective brain tumor surgery.
The Descriptive and Disproportionality Assessment of EudraVigilance Database Reports on Capecitabine Induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Vonica Razvan Constantin , Butuca Anca , Vonica-Tincu Andreea Loredana , Morgovan Claudiu , Pumnea Manuela , Cipaian Remus Calin , Curca Razvan Ovidiu , Batar Florina , Vornicu Vlad , Solomon Adelaida , Frum Adina , Dobrea Carmen Maximiliana , Axente Dan Damian , Gligor Felicia Gabriela
Published: November 2024

Capecitabine (CAP) is one of the most commonly prescribed fluoropyrimidines in oncology, especially in the treatment of colon cancer. Cardiac toxicity is a severe and potentially lethal adverse drug reaction (ADR) against fluoropyrimidines. Cardiac ADRs, such as myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), arrhythmias, and a number of cardiomyopathies, are reported for these molecules. To have a better understanding of the risk–benefit ratio of colon cancer therapy, a pharmacovigilance study of real-world evidence of the cardiac toxicity of antineoplastic agents is required. Aim: This post-marketing research on CAP aims to assess the risk of cardiac toxicity. Five other antitumor drugs used in colorectal cancer, i.e., 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan (IRI), oxaliplatin (OX), bevacizumab (BEV) and panitumumab (PAN), were also studied to create a relative profile of observed cardiotoxicity. Methods: A retrospective study based on reports submitted in the EudraVigilance (EV) database until 28 July 2024 was conducted. Using the aggregated data from EV, a descriptive analysis and disproportionality analysis of cardiac ADRs induced by fluoropyrimidines were performed. To evaluate the disproportionality of the signals, Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated by comparison with other drugs used in colorectal cancer: 5-FU, IRI, OX, BEV, and PAN. Results: “Cardiac disorders” represent 3.4% of the total reports for CAP. The value is comparable to 5-FU, but higher than for other drugs. t was observed that there are no significant differences in the occurrence of cardiac ADRs in patients exposed to CAP and 5-FU treatments, and in particular MI and HF. Compared to 5-FU, which could produce cardiac arrythmias with a higher probability than all other drugs, CAP has a higher probability of reporting this ADR only in comparison with IRI (ROR: 1.2971; 95% CI: 1.0196-1.6502). Conclusions: CAP induces adverse cardiovascular reactions, especially MI, HF, and cardiomyopathies. Arrhythmias have been shown to be side effects more frequent associated with 5-FU than with CAP. The results emphasize the need for a rigorous cardiovascular monitoring of patients following treatment with CAP or 5-FU and especially for those with pre-existing cardiac pathology.
A New Approach of Detecting ALK Fusion Oncogenes by RNA Sequencing Exon Coverage Analysis
Authors: Zakharova Galina , Suntsova Maria , Rabushko Elizaveta , Mohammad Tharaa , Drobyshev Alexey , Seryakov Alexander , Poddubskaya Elena , Moisseev Alexey , Smirnova Anastasia , Sorokin Maxim , Tkachev Victor , Simonov Alexander , Guguchkin Egor , Karpulevich Evgeny , Buzdin Anton
Published: November 2024

Background: In clinical practice, various methods are used to identify ALK gene rearrangements in tumor samples, ranging from “classic” techniques, such as IHC, FISH, and RT-qPCR, to more advanced highly multiplexed approaches, such as NanoString technology and NGS panels. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they share the drawback of detecting only a restricted (although sometimes quite extensive) set of preselected biomarkers. At the same time, whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS, RNAseq) can, in principle, be used to detect gene fusions while simultaneously analyzing an incomparably wide range of tumor characteristics. However, WTS is not widely used in practice due to purely analytical limitations and the high complexity of bioinformatic analysis, which requires considerable expertise. In particular, methods to detect gene fusions in RNAseq data rely on the identification of chimeric reads. However, the typically low number of true fusion reads in RNAseq limits its sensitivity. In a previous study, we observed asymmetry in the RNAseq exon coverage of the 3′ partners of some fusion transcripts. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the accuracy of ALK fusion detection through an analysis of differences in the coverage of its tyrosine kinase exons. Methods: A total of 906 human cancer biosamples were subjected to analysis using experimental RNAseq data, with the objective of determining the extent of asymmetry in ALK coverage. A total of 50 samples were analyzed, comprising 13 samples with predicted ALK fusions and 37 samples without predicted ALK fusions. These samples were assessed by targeted sequencing with two NGS panels that were specifically designed to detect fusion transcripts (the TruSight RNA Fusion Panel and the OncoFu Elite panel). Results: ALK fusions were confirmed in 11 out of the 13 predicted cases, with an overall accuracy of 96% (sensitivity 100%, specificity 94.9%). Two discordant cases exhibited low ALK coverage depth, which could be addressed algorithmically to enhance the accuracy of the results. It was also important to consider read strand specificity due to the presence of antisense transcripts involving parts of ALK. In a limited patient sample undergoing ALK-targeted therapy, the algorithm successfully predicted treatment efficacy. Conclusions: RNAseq exon coverage analysis can effectively detect ALK rearrangements.
An Exploratory Study: Can Native T1 Mapping Differentiate Sarcoma from Benign Soft Tissue Tumors at 1.5 T and 3 T?
Authors: Dupont Laura , Delattre Bénédicte M. A. , Sans Merce Marta , Poletti Pierre Alexandre , Boudabbous Sana
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: T1 relaxation time has been shown to be valuable in detecting and characterizing tumors in various organs. This study aims to determine whether native T1 relaxation time can serve as a useful tool in distinguishing sarcomas from benign tumors. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with histologically confirmed soft tissue sarcomas and benign tumors were included. Only patients who had not undergone prior treatment or surgery and whose magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) included native T1 mapping were considered. Images were acquired using both 1.5 T and 3 T MRI scanners. T1 histogram parameters were measured in regions of interest encompassing the entire tumor volume, as well as in healthy muscle tissue. Results: Out of 316 cases, 16 sarcoma cases and 9 benign tumor cases were eligible. The T1 values observed in sarcoma did not significantly differ from those in benign lesions in both 1.5 T and 3 T MRIs (p1.5T = 0.260 and p3T = 0.119). However, T1 values were found to be lower in healthy tissues compared to sarcoma at 3 T (p = 0.020), although this difference did not reach statistical significance at 1.5 T (p = 0.063). At both 1.5 T and 3 T, no significant difference between healthy muscle measured in sarcoma cases or benign tumor cases was observed (p1.5T = 0.472 and p3T = 0.226). Conclusions: T1 mapping has the potential to serve as a promising tool for differentiating sarcomas from benign tumors in baseline assessments. However, the standardization of imaging protocols and further improvements in T1 mapping techniques are necessary to fully realize its potential.
Factors Affecting Cancer Mortality in Young Adults: Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Le Ngoan T. , Pham Yen T.-H. , Le Linh T. , Dao Hang V. , Koriyama Chihaya , Ha Toan H. , Lichtveld Maureen , Kuchipudi Suresh V. , Huynh Nhi Y.-N. , Nguyen Dai D. , Luu Hung N.
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Cancer incidence in young adults or those aged 15–49 years old has increased during the past decade. Knowledge about the risk factors for cancer-related deaths in young adults is limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This analysis was based on the Hanoi Prospective Cohort Study, an ongoing study of 39,401 participants aged 15 or older in Northern Vietnam in the 2007–2019 period. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between potential factors and the risk of cancer-related deaths. Results: With a median follow-up of 11.01 years, we identified 164 deaths in young adults out of 554 total deaths. Overall, family history of cancer (HR = 7.34; 95% CI: 3.30–16.36), drinking alcohol (HR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.18–2.81), and smoking (HR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.36–3.63) were found to be risk factors, while drinking coffee was found to be a protective factor (HR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.24–1.00) for cancer-related deaths in young adults. Young male adults were found to be at a higher risk due to excessive cigarette smoking (HR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.00–3.68) and alcohol consumption (HR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.32–3.53) than those aged 50 years and older (HR = 1.36 and 95% CI: 0.96–1.93 and 1.27 and 95% CI: 0.97–1.67, respectively). The risk of death from cancer in women compared with men in the young population was twice as high as that in the older population (HR = 1.18 and 95% CI: 0.72–1.94 vs. 0.47 and 95% CI: 0.35–0.63, respectively). Conclusions: Our data suggest that the young Vietnamese population is vulnerable to the risk of cancer-related deaths and that cancer in women will increase rapidly in the future.
Can the Analysis of Toll-like Receptors (TLR) on NK and NKT-like Cells Improve Gastric Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment?
Authors: Kos Marek , Bojarski Krzysztof , Mertowska Paulina , Mertowski Sebastian , Tomaka Piotr , Zaborek-Łyczba Monika , Łyczba Jakub , Dziki Łukasz , Grywalska Ewelina
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the assessment of the percentage of NK and NKT-like cells expressing Toll-like receptors (TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4, and TLR-9) in patients with gastric cancer (GC) compared with healthy volunteers (HV) and to investigate differences according to cancer subtype. We also assessed TLR gene expression by RT-qPCR to assess whether TLRs could be diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Methods: The study included 86 patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer and 30 healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the participants, and TLR expression on NK and NKT-like cells was assessed by flow cytometry and RT-qPCR. The expression of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR9 genes was assessed using genetic material derived from NK and NKT-like cells sourced from PBMC. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests, and the predictive ability of variables was assessed using ROC curve analysis. Results: A significantly higher expression of TLR receptors (TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4, and TLR-9) was found in patients with gastric cancer compared to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). TLR expression also differed depending on the cancer subtype, and higher expression was observed in more advanced GC subtypes. RT-qPCR analysis showed significantly increased expression of TLR genes in the group of GC patients. ROC curves indicate a high ability of TLRs to differentiate between GC patients and healthy individuals. Conclusions: The expression of TLRs on NK and NKT-like cells is clearly increased in patients with gastric cancer, especially in more advanced subtypes of the tumor. The results suggest that TLRs could potentially be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and represent potential targets for immune therapies in GC. However, further studies are needed to determine the functional role of TLRs in disease progression and the possibility of their use in personalized treatment.