bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Silico Integrated Analysis of Genomic, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Data Reveals QTL-Specific Genes for Bacterial Canker Resistance in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Celik Ibrahim
Published: February 2023

Bacterial canker of tomato, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), is a devasting disease that leads to significant yield losses. Although QTLs originating from three wild species (Solanum arcanum, S. habrochaites, and S. pimpinellifolium) were identified, none of the QTLs was annotated for candidate gene identification. In the present study, a QTL-based physical map was constructed to reveal the meta-QTLs for Cmm resistance. As a result, seven major QTLs were mapped. Functional annotation of QTLs revealed 48 candidate genes. Additionally, experimentally validated Cmm resistance-related genes based on transcriptomic and proteomic studies were mapped in the genome and 25 genes were found to be located in the QTL regions. The present study is the first report to construct a physical map for Cmm resistance QTLs and identify QTL-specific candidate genes. The candidate genes identified in the present study are valuable targets for fine mapping and developing markers for marker-assisted selection in tomatoes for Cmm resistance breeding.
Structure-Engineered Core–Shell Ni–Co–O/NiCo-LDH Nanospheres as High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes
Authors: Luo Yumei , Feng Xu , Wei Dan , Zhang Lingling , Wang Qingyong , Yang Fan , Qiu Shujun , Xu Fen , Zou Yongjin , Sun Lixian , Chu Hailiang
Published: February 2023

The development of a novel electrode material for energy storage devices is a grand challenge. Here, through a rational design of the structure, the electrochemical performance of the prepared sample could be improved while enhancing the conductivity and the synergistic effect of its components. Herein, we constructed a core–shell composite named Ni–Co–O/NiCo-LDH as the electrode material by a self-template method, which comprised hydrothermal and annealing steps. The as-prepared material exhibited a Chinese chestnut-like structure, and the core–shell structure was based on nanoneedles. The pseudocapacitance characteristics of the Ni–Co–O/NiCo-LDH electrode were significantly improved due to the good electrical conductivity of the core material and the unique core–shell structure, which led to a high electrochemical performance, reaching a high specific capacitance of 1434 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1. When assembled in a device with activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode, the supercapacitor showed an energy density of 26 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 807 W kg−1. Simultaneously, the device showed an excellent cycle stability, with 95% capacity retention after 3600 cycles at a current density of 6 A g−1, which could largely widen the application of the supercapacitor.
Calcium Phosphate Loaded Biopolymer Composites—A Comprehensive Review on the Most Recent Progress and Promising Trends
Authors: Furko Monika , Balázsi Katalin , Balázsi Csaba
Published: February 2023

Biocompatible ceramics are extremely important in bioengineering, and very useful in many biomedical or orthopedic applications because of their positive interactions with human tissues. There have been enormous efforts to develop bioceramic particles that cost-effectively meet high standards of quality. Among the numerous bioceramics, calcium phosphates are the most suitable since the main inorganic compound in human bones is hydroxyapatite, a specific phase of the calcium phosphates (CaPs). The CaPs can be applied as bone substitutes, types of cement, drug carriers, implants, or coatings. In addition, bioresorbable bioceramics have great potential in tissue engineering in their use as a scaffold that can advance the healing process of bones during the normal tissue repair process. On the other hand, the main disadvantages of bioceramics are their brittleness and poor mechanical properties. The newest advancement in CaPs doping with active biomolecules such as Mg, Zn, Sr, and others. Another set of similarly important materials in bioengineering are biopolymers. These include natural polymers such as collagen, cellulose acetate, gelatin, chitosan, and synthetic polymers, for example, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polycaprolactone (PCL). Various types of polymer have unique properties that make them useful in different fields. The combination of CaP particles with different biopolymers gives rise to new opportunities for application, since their properties can be changed and adjusted to the given requirements. This review offers an insight into the most up-to-date advancements in the preparation and evaluation of different calcium phosphate–biopolymer composites, highlighting their application possibilities, which largely depend on the chemical and physical characteristics of CaPs and the applied polymer materials. Overall, these composites can be considered advanced materials in many important biomedical fields, with potential to improve the quality of healthcare and to assist in providing better outcomes as scaffolds in bone healing or in the integration of implants in orthopedic surgeries.
Strain Modulation of Microstructure, Magnetic Domains, and Magnetic Properties of Ti/Fe/Ni81Fe19/Fe/Ti Multilayer Thin Films
Authors: He Zongsheng , Ma Zenan , Li Ziyu , Du Yangzhong , Yang Jun , Wu Chuanjian , Li Qifan , Jiang Xiaona , Wang Chaoming , Yu Zhong , Lan Zhongwen , Sun Ke
Published: February 2023

A simple and convenient method is demonstrated in this work by continuously applying uniaxial tensile strains to tune the high-frequency properties of flexible magnetic films. The magnetostriction effect causes the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the Ti/Fe/Ni81Fe19/Fe/Ti multilayer film when the flexible substrate transitions from the convex state to the planar state after preparation. In addition, the microstructure, magnetic domain morphology, and the high-frequency magnetic performance of the pre-strained Ti/Fe/Ni81Fe19/Fe/Ti multilayer films are investigated. The results show that the flexible Ti/Fe/Ni81Fe19/Fe/Ti multilayer films’ initial permeability can be monotonically varied over a hundred units, and the resonant frequency can be adjusted around 1.5 GHz. The flexible Ti/Fe/Ni81Fe19/Fe/Ti films, with their elastic-tunable magnetic performance, are promising candidate materials for flexible microwave devices.
Solvothermal Synthesis of Calcium Hydroxyapatite via Hydrolysis of Alpha-Tricalcium Phosphate in the Presence of Different Organic Additives
Authors: Karalkeviciene Rasa , Raudonyte-Svirbutaviciene Eva , Zarkov Aleksej , Yang Jen-Chang , Popov Anatoli I. , Kareiva Aivaras
Published: February 2023

In this study, the effects of sodium lauryl sulfate and various amino acids (DL-aspartic acid, dodecanedioic acid, and suberic acid) on the formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite via hydrolysis of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) were investigated; moreover, a combined effect of these additives and ethylene glycol as a synthesis medium was also estimated. The hydrolysis reaction was performed in solutions containing different concentrations of additives in aqueous and mixed aqueous–organic media under solvothermal conditions. It was demonstrated that the nature and the concentration of organic additives influence the phase purity and morphology of the final product. Higher concentrations of sodium lauryl sulfate and dodecanedioic acid induced the formation of impurities in addition to hydroxyapatite, while aspartic and suberic acid did not affect the phase purity. The morphology of the samples varied from plate- to rod-like depending on the concentrations of specific organic additive.
Elevated Temperature Mechanical Characteristics and Fracture Behavior of a Novel Beta Titanium Alloy
Authors: Sajadifar Seyed Vahid , Maier Hans Jürgen , Niendorf Thomas , Yapici Guney Guven
Published: February 2023

In the present work, the elevated-temperature deformation characteristics and microstructural evolution of a Ti-5V-5Mo-5Cr-4Al alloy in solution-treatment conditions were studied under a tensile load at temperatures in the range of 25 to 550 °C and strain rates between 0.001 and 0.1 s−1. The results obtained indicated that, essentially, dynamic recovery (DRV) was the dominant softening mechanism in the case of the regimes considered. An analysis based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the assessment of the mechanical behavior of the solution-heat-treated Ti-5V-5Mo-5Cr-4Al alloy revealed that dynamic precipitation (DPN) only took place at a strain rate of 0.001 s−1 and at temperatures of 450 °C and 500 °C. Void coalescence occurred upon an increase in the deformation temperature and a decrease in the strain rate due to a higher rate of diffusion and the provision of sufficient time for growth, respectively. The results obtained in the present study pave the way for the robust processing of this novel β titanium alloy. Depending on the deformation parameters, the deformation characteristics can be governed by either DRV (at moderate temperatures) or DPN (at moderate temperatures and at low rates of deformation).
Thickness Study of Ga2O3 Barrier Layer in p-Si/n-MgZnO:Er/Ga2O3/ZnO:In Diode
Authors: Ying Shih-Wei , Chao Shou-Yen , Shih Ming-Chang , Huang Chien-Jung , Lan Wen-How
Published: February 2023

The p-Si/n-MgZnO:Er/Ga2O3/ZnO:In diodes with different Ga2O3 thicknesses were fabricated through spray pyrolysis deposition at 450 °C with aqueous solutions containing magnesium nitrate, zinc acetate, erbium acetate, gallium nitrate, and indium nitrate precursors. The effects of Ga2O3 layer thickness on the diode properties were investigated. For the deposited films, a combined tiny hexagonal slices and small blocks surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy for all samples. Diodes were formed after In and Ag deposition on the back side and top side, respectively. The current-voltage characteristics and luminescence spectra are studied. With the increasing of Ga2O3 thickness, the diode forward bias resistance increases while the reverse biased dark current shows the decrease-increase characters. The Er ion corresponded green light emission was characterized for the diode under reverse biased breakdown condition. The increased luminescent intensity with low turn-on current behaviors was characterized by the diode with a Ga2O3 thickness of 4.9 nm. With the diode electrical and luminescence analysis, the effect of the Ga2O3 barrier layer on the diode was discussed. The Ga2O3 barrier layer improves performance for rare earth-related light-emitting devices.
Crystallography and Surface Oxidation of Stoichiometric Arsenopyrite from Šumadija-Kopaonik Pb-Zn/Polymetallic Ore District (Serbia)
Authors: Jelić Ivana , Pačevski Aleksandar , Kremenović Aleksandar , Šoster Aleš , Šestan Andreja , Zavašnik Janez
Published: February 2023

The behaviour and stability of arsenopyrite largely depend on its crystal structure, but studies of crystallography and structural defects are scarce. For clarification, we investigated a series of natural arsenopyrite crystals from the polymetallic Pb-Zn-(±Cu,Ag,Au,Sb,Bi,W) Šumadija-Kopaonik ore district (Serbia) by powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD). Among them, samples from the Drenjak gold mineralisation showed near-stoichiometric FeAsS composition and were further investigated by conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy methods. TEM revealed abundant planar crystallographic defects and epitaxial surface oxide layer formation upon air exposure. Our findings present the fundamental work on the prototype arsenopyrite structure and have further implications for studies on ion incorporation into FeAsS structure and its environmental stability and oxidation mechanisms as a source of anthropogenic As release into the environment.
Real-World Molecular Biomarker Testing Patterns and Results for Advanced Gastroesophageal Cancers in the United States
Authors: Mehta Rutika , Liepa Astra M. , Zheng Shen , Chatterjee Anindya
Published: February 2023

The decision to treat advanced gastroesophageal cancers (GECs) with targeted therapy and immunotherapy is based on key biomarker expression (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), microsatellite instability (MSI), and/or mismatch repair (MMR)). Real-world data on testing, results, and treatment patterns are limited. This retrospective observational study used a nationwide electronic health record-derived de-identified database of patients from the United States. The analysis included adult patients with advanced GECs who initiated systemic treatment between 2017 and 2020. Biomarker testing patterns, timing, assays, tissue collection site, results, and treatment sequences were assessed. Of 1142 eligible patients, adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent histology (83% of patients). Overall, 571 (50%) patients were tested for PD-L1, 582 (51%) were tested for MMR/MSI, and 857 (75%) were tested for HER2. Between 2017 and 2020, the PD-L1 testing rate increased from 39% to 58%, and the MMR/MSI testing rate increased from 41% to 58%; the median time from initial diagnosis to first test decreased for both biomarkers. Programmed cell death receptor-1 inhibitor use was observed among patients with positive PD-L1 or MMR-deficient/MSI-High results. These results supplement data reported in key clinical trials and may inform decision-making as treatment options for advanced GECs evolve.
Loss of CD34 Expression within an Interstitial Dermal Lymphoid Cell Infiltrate Is a Helpful Clue to the Diagnosis of Morphea
Authors: Daruish Maged , Zidan Anoud , Greenblatt Danielle T. , Stefanato Catherine M.
Published: February 2023

A dermal interstitial lymphocytic infiltrate may represent a diagnostic challenge, particularly if the clinical history is not provided. We present three cases within the histological spectrum of morphea in which the immunohistochemical marker CD34 was helpful in confirming the diagnosis.
Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cysts: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Authors: Singh Ritu R. , Gopakumar Harishankar , Sharma Neil R.
Published: February 2023

The prevalence of pancreatic cysts has been rising due to the widespread use of cross-sectional imaging (CT scan and MRI) of the abdomen. While most pancreatic cysts are benign and do not require treatment or surveillance, a significant minority are premalignant and rarely malignant. The risk stratification of these lesions is not straightforward, and individual risk assessment, cyst size, distribution, and alarming morphologic features (when present) can guide the next steps in management. Neoplastic pancreatic cysts are mucinous or non-mucinous. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration is often required to classify pancreatic cysts into mucinous and non-mucinous cysts and to assess the malignant potential. Advances in endoscopic techniques (confocal laser endomicroscopy, microforceps biopsy) can provide a definitive diagnosis of pancreatic cysts in some cases; however, the use of these techniques involves a higher risk of adverse events.
DTLCx: An Improved ResNet Architecture to Classify Normal and Conventional Pneumonia Cases from COVID-19 Instances with Grad-CAM-Based Superimposed Visualization Utilizing Chest X-ray Images
Authors: Ahamed Md. Khabir Uddin , Islam Md Manowarul , Uddin Md. Ashraf , Akhter Arnisha , Acharjee Uzzal Kumar , Paul Bikash Kumar , Moni Mohammad Ali
Published: February 2023

COVID-19 is a severe respiratory contagious disease that has now spread all over the world. COVID-19 has terribly impacted public health, daily lives and the global economy. Although some developed countries have advanced well in detecting and bearing this coronavirus, most developing countries are having difficulty in detecting COVID-19 cases for the mass population. In many countries, there is a scarcity of COVID-19 testing kits and other resources due to the increasing rate of COVID-19 infections. Therefore, this deficit of testing resources and the increasing figure of daily cases encouraged us to improve a deep learning model to aid clinicians, radiologists and provide timely assistance to patients. In this article, an efficient deep learning-based model to detect COVID-19 cases that utilizes a chest X-ray images dataset has been proposed and investigated. The proposed model is developed based on ResNet50V2 architecture. The base architecture of ResNet50V2 is concatenated with six extra layers to make the model more robust and efficient. Finally, a Grad-CAM-based discriminative localization is used to readily interpret the detection of radiological images. Two datasets were gathered from different sources that are publicly available with class labels: normal, confirmed COVID-19, bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia cases. Our proposed model obtained a comprehensive accuracy of 99.51% for four-class cases (COVID-19/normal/bacterial pneumonia/viral pneumonia) on Dataset-2, 96.52% for the cases with three classes (normal/ COVID-19/bacterial pneumonia) and 99.13% for the cases with two classes (COVID-19/normal) on Dataset-1. The accuracy level of the proposed model might motivate radiologists to rapidly detect and diagnose COVID-19 cases.
Machine-Learning-Based Detecting of Eyelid Closure and Smiling Using Surface Electromyography of Auricular Muscles in Patients with Postparalytic Facial Synkinesis: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Hochreiter Jakob , Hoche Eric , Janik Luisa , Volk Gerd Fabian , Leistritz Lutz , Anders Christoph , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando
Published: February 2023

Surface electromyography (EMG) allows reliable detection of muscle activity in all nine intrinsic and extrinsic ear muscles during facial muscle movements. The ear muscles are affected by synkinetic EMG activity in patients with postparalytic facial synkinesis (PFS). The aim of the present work was to establish a machine-learning-based algorithm to detect eyelid closure and smiling in patients with PFS by recording sEMG using surface electromyography of the auricular muscles. Sixteen patients (10 female, 6 male) with PFS were included. EMG acquisition of the anterior auricular muscle, superior auricular muscle, posterior auricular muscle, tragicus muscle, orbicularis oculi muscle, and orbicularis oris muscle was performed on both sides of the face during standardized eye closure and smiling tasks. Machine-learning EMG classification with a support vector machine allowed for the reliable detection of eye closure or smiling from the ear muscle recordings with clear distinction to other mimic expressions. These results show that the EMG of the auricular muscles in patients with PFS may contain enough information to detect facial expressions to trigger a future implant in a closed-loop system for electrostimulation to improve insufficient eye closure and smiling in patients with PFS.
Evaluation and Analysis of Absence of Homozygosity (AOH) Using Chromosome Analysis by Medium Coverage Whole Genome Sequencing (CMA-seq) in Prenatal Diagnosis
Authors: Lü Yan , Jiang Yulin , Zhou Xiya , Hao Na , Lü Guizhen , Guo Xiangxue , Guo Ruidong , Liu Wenjie , Xu Chenlu , Chang Jiazhen , Li Mengmeng , Zhang Hanzhe , Zhou Jing , Zhang Wei (Victor) , Qi Qingwei
Published: February 2023

Objective: Absence of homozygosity (AOH) is a genetic characteristic known to cause human diseases mainly through autosomal recessive or imprinting mechanisms. The importance and necessity of accurate AOH detection has become more clinically significant in recent years. However, it remains a challenging task for sequencing-based methods thus far. Methods: In this study, we developed and optimized a new bioinformatic algorithm based on the assessment of minimum sequencing coverage, optimal bin size, the Z-score threshold of four types of allele count and the frequency for accurate genotyping using 28 AOH negative samples, and redefined the AOH detection cutoff value. We showed the performance of chromosome analysis by five-fold coverage whole genome sequencing (CMA-seq) for AOH identification in 27 typical prenatal/postnatal AOH positive samples, which were previously confirmed by chromosomal microarray analysis with single nucleotide polymorphism array (CMA/SNP array). Results: The blinded study indicated that for all three forms of AOH, including whole genomic AOH, single chromosomal AOH and segmental AOH, and all kinds of sample types, including chorionic villus sampling, amniotic fluid, cord blood, peripheral blood and abortive tissue, CMA-seq showed equivalent detection power to that of routine CMA/SNP arrays (750K). The subtle difference between the two methods is that CMA-seq is prone to detect small inconsecutive AOHs, while CMA/SNP array reports it as a whole. Conclusion: Based on our newly developed bioinformatic algorithm, it is feasible to detect clinically significant AOH using CMA-seq in prenatal diagnosis.
Acute Esophageal Necrosis in Acute Pancreatitis—Report of a Case and Endoscopic and Clinical Perspective
Authors: Grigore Monica , Enache Iulia , Chirvase Mirela , Popescu Andrada Loredana , Ionita-Radu Florentina , Jinga Mariana , Bucurica Sandica
Published: February 2023

Esophageal stroke, also known as acute esophageal necrosis or Gurvits syndrome, is an entity that has gained more and more recognition in the last two decades. It is also named “black esophagus” because of striking black discoloration of the esophageal mucosa, with an abrupt transition to normal mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction. Its most common clinical presentation is represented by upper gastrointestinal bleeding and esophagogastroduodenoscopy is the main diagnostic tool. Among the etiopathogenetic and multiple predisposing factors described are hypovolemia, shock state, ischemia, congestive heart failure, acute renal failure, infections, trauma, and diabetes mellitus. Current management of this condition consists of treating the underlying pathology, nil per os, and antacid administration in uncomplicated cases. Although most of the cases have favorable prognosis, complications such as pneumomediastinum or esophageal stricture may occur and fatal cases are a consequence of underlying comorbidities.
Imaging Characteristics of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: More Than Just Spinal Bony Bridges
Authors: Eshed Iris
Published: February 2023

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a systemic condition characterized by new bone formation and enthesopathies of the axial and peripheral skeleton. The pathogenesis of DISH is not well understood, and it is currently considered a non-inflammatory condition with an underlying metabolic derangement. Currently, DISH diagnosis relies on the Resnick and Niwayama criteria, which encompass end-stage disease with an already ankylotic spine. Imaging characterization of the axial and peripheral skeleton in DISH subjects may potentially help identify earlier diagnostic criteria and provide further data for deciphering the general pathogenesis of DISH and new bone formation. In the current review, we aim to summarize and characterize axial and peripheral imaging findings of the skeleton related to DISH, along with their clinical and pathogenetic relevance.
[18F]FDG PET-MR in the Evaluation and Follow-Up of Incidental Bone Ischemic Lesions in a Mono-Center Cohort of Pediatric Patients Affected by Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Authors: Giraudo Chiara , Carraro Elisa , Cavallaro Elena , Zuliani Monica , Spampinato Gotsyak Liliya , Massano Davide , Modugno Antonella , Mussolin Lara , Biffi Alessandra , Cecchin Diego , Pillon Marta , Zucchetta Pietro
Published: February 2023

Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is one of the neoplasms with the best prognosis in children, adolescents and young adults, but sufferers are burdened by the possibility of developing adverse effects such as Bone Ischemic Lesions (BILs) which are lesions of the bone caused by the loss of/reduction in blood flow. The main goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the role of [18F]FDG-PET-MR in the early detection of BILs in a single-center cohort of uniformly treated pediatric HL patients. BILs were assessed through PET-MR images as the appearance of medullary lesion surrounded by a serpiginous, tortuous border. From 2017 to 2022, 10/53 (18.9%) HL patients developed BILs which were mostly (8/10 patients) multifocal. Overall, 30 lesions were identified in the 10 asymptomatic patients, all with the above-mentioned features at MR and with very low [18F]FDG uptake. BILs were incidentally detected during HL therapy (n = 6) and follow-up (n = 4), especially in the long bones (66.7%). No factors correlated with the occurrence of BIL were identified. No patients developed complications. PET-MR is a sensitive combined-imaging technique for detecting BILs that are asymptomatic and self-limiting micro-ischemic lesions. BILs can be monitored by clinical follow-up alone both during and after therapy.
PET/CT of the Spleen with Gallium-Oxine-Labeled, Heat-Damaged Red Blood Cells: Clinical Experience and Technical Aspects
Authors: Drescher Robert , Seifert Philipp , Gröber Sebastian , Greiser Julia , Kühnel Christian , Gühne Falk , Freesmeyer Martin
Published: February 2023

Several scintigraphic techniques have been supplemented or replaced by PET/CT methods because of their superior sensitivity, high resolution, and absolute activity quantification capability. The purpose of this project was the development of a PET tracer for splenic imaging, its radiopharmaceutical validation, and its application in selected patients in whom unclear constellations of findings could not be resolved with established imaging methods. Heat-damaged red blood cells (RBCs) were labeled with [68Ga]gallium-oxine, which was produced from [68Ga]gallium and 8-Hydroxyquinoline (oxine) on an automated synthesizer. Ten patients underwent [68Ga]gallium-oxine-RBC-PET/CT for the classification of eleven unclear lesions (3 intra-, 8 extrapancreatic). [68Ga]gallium-oxine and [68Ga]gallium-oxine-labeled RBCs could be synthesized reproducibly and reliably. The products met GMP quality standards. The tracer showed high accumulation in splenic tissue. Of the 11 lesions evaluated by PET/CT, 3 were correctly classified as non-splenic, 6 as splenic, 1 as equivocal, and 1 lesion as a splenic hypoplasia. All lesions classified as non-splenic were malignant, and all lesions classified as splenic did not show malignant features during follow-up. PET/CT imaging of the spleen with [68Ga]gallium-oxine-labeled, heat-damaged RBCs is feasible and allowed differentiation of splenic from non-splenic tissues, and the diagnosis of splenic anomalies.
Tumor Lung Visualization and Localization through Virtual Reality and Thermal Feedback Interface
Authors: Benbelkacem Samir , Zenati-Henda Nadia , Zerrouki Nabil , Oulefki Adel , Agaian Sos , Masmoudi Mostefa , Bentaleb Ahmed , Liew Alex
Published: February 2023

The World Health Organization estimates that there were around 10 million deaths due to cancer in 2020, and lung cancer was the most common type of cancer, with over 2.2 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths. While there have been advances in the diagnosis and prediction of lung cancer, there is still a need for new, intelligent methods or diagnostic tools to help medical professionals detect the disease. Since it is currently unable to detect at an early stage, speedy detection and identification are crucial because they can increase a patient’s chances of survival. This article focuses on developing a new tool for diagnosing lung tumors and providing thermal touch feedback using virtual reality visualization and thermal technology. This tool is intended to help identify and locate tumors and measure the size and temperature of the tumor surface. The tool uses data from CT scans to create a virtual reality visualization of the lung tissue and includes a thermal display incorporated into a haptic device. The tool is also tested by touching virtual tumors in a virtual reality application. On the other hand, thermal feedback could be used as a sensory substitute or adjunct for visual or tactile feedback. The experimental results are evaluated with the performance comparison of different algorithms and demonstrate that the proposed thermal model is effective. The results also show that the tool can estimate the characteristics of tumors accurately and that it has the potential to be used in a virtual reality application to “touch” virtual tumors. In other words, the results support the use of the tool for diagnosing lung tumors and providing thermal touch feedback using virtual reality visualization, force, and thermal technology.
APOBEC3B Is Co-Expressed with PKCα/NF-κB in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Fanourakis Galinos , Kyrodimos Efthymios , Papanikolaou Vasileios , Chrysovergis Aristeidis , Kafiri Georgia , Papanikolaou Nikolaos , Verykokakis Mihalis , Tosios Konstantinos , Vastardis Heleni
Published: February 2023

The enzymatic activity of APOBEC3B (A3B) has been implicated as a prime source of mutagenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The expression of Protein Kinase C α (PKCα) and Nuclear Factor-κΒ p65 (NF-κΒ p65) has been linked to the activation of the classical and the non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways, respectively, both of which have been shown to lead to the upregulation of A3B. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of PKCα, NF-κΒ p65 and A3B in non-HPV related oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), by means of immunohistochemistry and in silico methods. PKCα was expressed in 29/36 (80%) cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCCs, with 25 (69%) cases showing a PKCα+/A3B+ phenotype and only 6/36 (17%) cases showing a PKCα-/A3B+ phenotype. Εxpression of NF-κB p65 was seen in 33/35 (94%) cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCCs, with 30/35 (86%) cases showing an NF-κB p65+/A3B+ phenotype and only 2/35 (6%) cases showing an NF-κB p65-/A3B+ phenotype. In addition, mRNA expression analysis, using the UALCAN database, revealed strong expression of all three genes. These findings indicate that the expression of A3B is associated with PKCα/NF-κB p65 expression and suggest a potential role for the PKC/NF-κB signaling pathway in the development of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
Sample, Fuzzy and Distribution Entropies of Heart Rate Variability: What Do They Tell Us on Cardiovascular Complexity?
Authors: Castiglioni Paolo , Merati Giampiero , Parati Gianfranco , Faini Andrea
Published: February 2023

Distribution Entropy (DistEn) has been introduced as an alternative to Sample Entropy (SampEn) to assess the heart rate variability (HRV) on much shorter series without the arbitrary definition of distance thresholds. However, DistEn, considered a measure of cardiovascular complexity, differs substantially from SampEn or Fuzzy Entropy (FuzzyEn), both measures of HRV randomness. This work aims to compare DistEn, SampEn, and FuzzyEn analyzing postural changes (expected to modify the HRV randomness through a sympatho/vagal shift without affecting the cardiovascular complexity) and low-level spinal cord injuries (SCI, whose impaired integrative regulation may alter the system complexity without affecting the HRV spectrum). We recorded RR intervals in able-bodied (AB) and SCI participants in supine and sitting postures, evaluating DistEn, SampEn, and FuzzyEn over 512 beats. The significance of “case” (AB vs. SCI) and “posture” (supine vs. sitting) was assessed by longitudinal analysis. Multiscale DistEn (mDE), SampEn (mSE), and FuzzyEn (mFE) compared postures and cases at each scale between 2 and 20 beats. Unlike SampEn and FuzzyEn, DistEn is affected by the spinal lesion but not by the postural sympatho/vagal shift. The multiscale approach shows differences between AB and SCI sitting participants at the largest mFE scales and between postures in AB participants at the shortest mSE scales. Thus, our results support the hypothesis that DistEn measures cardiovascular complexity while SampEn/FuzzyEn measure HRV randomness, highlighting that together these methods integrate the information each of them provides.
ShrewdAttack: Low Cost High Accuracy Model Extraction
Authors: Liu Yang , Luo Ji , Yang Yi , Wang Xuan , Gheisari Mehdi , Luo Feng
Published: February 2023

Machine learning as a service (MLaaS) plays an essential role in the current ecosystem. Enterprises do not need to train models by themselves separately. Instead, they can use well-trained models provided by MLaaS to support business activities. However, such an ecosystem could be threatened by model extraction attacks—an attacker steals the functionality of a trained model provided by MLaaS and builds a substitute model locally. In this paper, we proposed a model extraction method with low query costs and high accuracy. In particular, we use pre-trained models and task-relevant data to decrease the size of query data. We use instance selection to reduce query samples. In addition, we divided query data into two categories, namely low-confidence data and high-confidence data, to reduce the budget and improve accuracy. We then conducted attacks on two models provided by Microsoft Azure as our experiments. The results show that our scheme achieves high accuracy at low cost, with the substitution models achieving 96.10% and 95.24% substitution while querying only 7.32% and 5.30% of their training data on the two models, respectively. This new attack approach creates additional security challenges for models deployed on cloud platforms. It raises the need for novel mitigation strategies to secure the models. In future work, generative adversarial networks and model inversion attacks can be used to generate more diverse data to be applied to the attacks.
Efficient Video Watermarking Algorithm Based on Convolutional Neural Networks with Entropy-Based Information Mapper
Authors: Bistroń Marta , Piotrowski Zbigniew
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a method for the transparent, robust, and highly capacitive watermarking of video signals using an information mapper. The proposed architecture is based on the use of deep neural networks to embed the watermark in the luminance channel in the YUV color space. An information mapper was used to enable the transformation of a multi-bit binary signature of varying capacitance reflecting the entropy measure of the system into a watermark embedded in the signal frame. To confirm the effectiveness of the method, tests were carried out for video frames with a resolution of 256 × 256 pixels, with a watermark capacity of 4 to 16,384 bits. Transparency metrics (SSIM and PSNR) and a robustness metric—the bit error rate (BER)—were used to assess the performance of the algorithms.
The Degree of Practicing Creative Leadership by Academic Leaders at Jordanian Universities and Its Relationship to the Level of Teaching Performance
Authors: Al-Zoubi Zohair H. , Issa Hytham M. Bany , Musallam Fawwaz Y.
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to identify the degree to which academic leaders at official Jordanian universities practice creative leadership and its relationship to the level of teaching performance according to faculty members’ point of view. This study also aimed to identify if there are statistically significant differences in the degree of creative leadership and in the level of teaching performance due to the variables of faculty and years of experience. It also aimed to examine the correlation between creative leadership and teaching performance. A descriptive correlative approach was used in this study, and the study sample consisted of 362faculty members at Jordanian universities during the second semester of the academic year 2020/2021.This study found that the degree of practicing creative leadership by the academic leaders at the faculties of Jordanian universities was high, and it also showed that there were no statistically significant differences inthe degree of academic leaders’ practice of creative leadership at the faculties of Jordanian public universities due to the variables of faculty and years of experience. The level of teaching performance of faculty members at the faculties of Jordanian universities was also high, and there were no statistically significant differences in the level of teaching performance of faculty members. There was a positive relationship between the degree of practicing creative leadership and the level of teaching performance of faculty members at Jordanian universities. According to the results of this study, the researchers recommended that universities should adopt the concept of creative leadership because of its positive role in achieving the universities’ mission, vision, and objectives, and in motivating employees.
A Monostable Physically Unclonable Function Based on Improved RCCMs with 0–1.56% Native Bit Instability at 0.6–1.2 V and 0–75 °C
Authors: Della Sala Riccardo , Bellizia Davide , Centurelli Francesco , Scotti Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

In this work, a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) based on an improved regulated cascode current mirror (IRCCM) is presented. The proposed IRCCM improves the loop-gain of the gain-boosting branch over the conventional RCCM PUF, thereby increasing the output resistance and amplifying the mismatches due to random variations. The introduction of an explicit reference current in the biasing branch of the IRCCM results in lower native unstable bits, good robustness against environmental variations and very stable power consumption. The proposed PUF has been validated through measurement results on a test-chip implemented in a 130 nm CMOS process. The PUF performance was measured for supply voltages between 0.6 and 1.2V, and temperatures ranging from 0 °C to 75 °C. A comparison against similar designs from the literature has shown that the proposed PUF exhibits state of the art performance with improved reliability under supply voltage variations.
A Fast Power Lines RCS Calculation Method Combining IEDG with CM-SMWA
Authors: Chen Chunfeng , Hu Changyu , Zhou Jianjiang
Published: February 2023

The existing methods for calculating electromagnetic scattering can be used to obtain the RCS of power lines. However, these methods do not take advantage of the periodicity of power lines. We propose a fast electromagnetic scattering calculation method combining the integral equation discontinuous Galerkin (IEDG) method and the characteristic modes-Sherman–Morrison–Woodbury algorithm (CM-SMWA) exploiting the power lines with stranded structure. We adopt the IEDG to discretize the electric field integral equation (EFIE) so that the EFIE can deal with non-conformal grids and significantly increase the flexibility of the CM-SMWA. Combing with the periodic property of power lines, the modeling and grid generation shall be carried out within one cycle (stranding) of the power line, and the grids of the rest cycle of the power line can be spliced by translating the grid of the divided sections. The advantage of the proposed method lies in that only the CM of one segment needs to be calculated, and the result can be applied to other segments to avoid repeated calculation of the CMs. The simulation results of the RCS of power lines show that the calculation time of our method is cut down by 50% as compared to the conventional CM-SMWA.
Modeling and Investigation of Rear-Passivated Ultrathin CIGS Solar Cell
Authors: Boukortt Nour El I. , Patanè Salvatore , Adouane Mabrouk
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we use numerical simulations to investigate ultrathin Cu (In1−xGax) Se2 solar cells. In the first part, we focus on the cell configuration in which the PV parameters fit and match the fabricated cell characteristics. Our goal is to investigate the impact of different loss mechanisms, such as interface trap density (Dit) and absorber trap density (Nt), in different cell pitch sizes on cell performances. Dit defines the number of carrier traps at CIGS/Al2O3 interfaces to recombine with photogenerated carriers. Nt defines the number of carrier traps in the absorber layer. Recombination through traps has been found to be the primary loss process in the investigated cell. Additional numerical simulations reveal appreciable gains in cell performance for various cell pitch sizes, absorber doping densities, Ga content, and graded bandgap under AM1.5 illumination. Research during the recent decade has clarified that the most promising strategy to achieve maximum efficiency consists of the so-called tandem configuration. Therefore, we here propose a u-CIGS/PERT silicon device employing, as a top cell, a u-CIGS cell optimized to take into account the above procedure. The results of these simulations provide insights into the optimization of ultrathin-film CIGS solar cells.
Enhancing MIMO Spatial-Multiplexing and Parallel-Decoding under Interference by Computational Feedback
Authors: Elgam Avner , Peretz Yossi , Pinhasi Yosef
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we propose a new digital Hard-Successive-Interference-Cancellation (HSIC), the Alternating Projections-HSIC (AP-HSIC), an innovative fast computational feedback algorithm that deals with various destructive phenomena from different types of interferences. The correctness and convergence of the proposed algorithm are provided, and its complexity is given. The proposed algorithm possesses the functionality of canceling digital interference without the aid of physical feedback between the receiver and the transmitter or the loading of learning information about the state of the Multiple Input–Multiple Output (MIMO) channel to the transmitter. The proposed AP-HSIC algorithm enables a parallel decoding process from the parallel transmission of Orthogonal- Space–Time-Block-Coding (OSTBC) under a complex and challenging wireless environment to facilitate the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) capability. We present a performance comparison of the proposed algorithm with the algorithm for Multi-Group-Space–Time-Coding (MGSTC) under MIMO fading channels and general interference or high-level Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN). Mathematical analysis and real-time simulations show the advantages of the proposed algorithm compared to the MGSTC decoding algorithm.
Novel Pulsating-DC High-Voltage Linear Driving Scheme for GaN LED General Lighting
Authors: Zhang Xiu , Wang Baoxing , Fu Kai , Yue Rui , Guo Haojie , Li Shuqi , Cai Yong
Published: February 2023

This work investigates a novel pulsating DC high-voltage linear driving scheme for GaN-based Light-emitting diode (GaN LED) general lighting to save costs and alleviate flicker. The superiority and practicality of this scheme in three-phase AC power grids were demonstrated for the first time. Compared to applications for single-phase AC grids, linear driving of GaN LEDs for three-phase AC grids can provide superior performance for general lighting. The DC component of the three-phase AC rectified voltage reaches 90.7%, which effectively alleviates the flicker problem. In this paper, we balanced GaN LED power and driving efficiency by optimizing the GaN LED distribution of the linear multi-string GaN LED driving scheme while taking the effects of grid voltage fluctuations into account. In addition, we constructed a double-string GaN LED lighting system as a modular prototype with scalability. The experimental results exhibit high driving efficiency (~94% @380 V line voltage), high power factor (~0.952), flicker-free, and high reliability at a very low cost (~$0.005/W).
Improved Salp Swarm Algorithm for Tool Wear Prediction
Authors: Wei Yu , Wan Weibing , You Xiaoming , Cheng Feng , Wang Yuxuan
Published: February 2023

To address the defects of the salp swarm algorithm (SSA) such as the slow convergence speed and ease of falling into a local minimum, a new salp swarm algorithm combining chaotic mapping and decay factor is proposed and combined with back propagation (BP) neural network to achieve an effective prediction of tool wear. Firstly, the chaotic mapping is used to enhance the formation of the population, which facilitates the iterative search and reduces the trapping in the local optimum; secondly, the decay factor is introduced to improve the update of the followers so that the followers can be updated adaptively with the iterations, and the theoretical analysis and validation of the improved SSA are carried out using benchmark test functions. Finally, the improved SSA with a strong optimization capability to solve BP neural networks for the optimal values of hyperparameters is used. The validity of this is verified by using the actual tool wear data set. The test results of the benchmark test function show that the algorithm presented has a better convergence speed and solution accuracy. Meanwhile, compared with the original algorithm, the R2 value of the part life prediction model proposed is improved from 0.962 to 0.989, the MSE value is reduced from the original 34.4 to 9.36, which is a 72% improvement compared with the original algorithm, and a better prediction capability is obtained.
Linking Solar and Biomass Resources to Generate Renewable Energy: Can We Find Local Complementarities in the Agricultural Setting?
Authors: Bowman Gillianne , Huber Thierry , Burg Vanessa
Published: February 2023

Today, an energy transition is underway to tackle the problems of climate change and energy sufficiency. For this transition to succeed, it is essential to use all available renewable energy resources most efficiently. However, renewable energies often bring a high level of volatility that needs to be balanced. One solution is combining the use of different renewable sources to increase the overall energy output or reduce its environmental impact. Here, we estimate the agricultural solar and biomass resources at the local level in Switzerland, considering their spatial and temporal variability using geographic information systems. We then identify the technologies that could allow for synergies or complementarities. Overall, the technical agricultural resources potential is a ~15 PJ/annum biogas yield from residual biomass and ~10 TWh/a in terms of electricity from solar photovoltaic tiles installed on roofs (the equivalent to ~36 PJ/a). Biomethane upgrading, power to X, electrolysis, cooling or photovoltaic roofing on biogas facilities are among the examples that could foster complementarity in the system if resources are pooled within the agricultural setting. Temporal complementarity at the farm scale can only lead to partial autarchy. The possible benefits of these complementarities should be further investigated, looking in particular at the economic viability of such systems.