bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Securely Computing the Manhattan Distance under the Malicious Model and Its Applications
Authors: Liu Xin , Liu Xiaomeng , Zhang Ruiling , Luo Dan , Xu Gang , Chen Xiubo
Published: November 2022

Manhattan distance is mainly used to calculate the total absolute wheelbase of two points in the standard coordinate system. The secure computation of Manhattan distance is a new geometric problem of secure multi-party computation. At present, the existing research secure computing protocols for Manhattan distance cannot resist the attack of malicious participants. In the real scene, the existence of malicious participants makes it necessary to study a solution that can resist malicious attacks. This paper first analyzes malicious attacks of the semi-honest model protocol of computing Manhattan distance and then designs an advanced protocol under the malicious model by using the Goldwasser–Micali encryption system and Paillier encryption algorithm, and utilizing some cryptographic tools such as the cut-choose method and zero-knowledge proof. Finally, the real/ideal model paradigm method is used to prove the security of the malicious model protocol. Compared with existing protocols, the experimental simulation shows that the proposed protocol can resist malicious participant attacks while maintaining high efficiency. It has practical value.
A Survey of Deep Learning for Electronic Health Records
Authors: Xu Jiabao , Xi Xuefeng , Chen Jie , Sheng Victor S. , Ma Jieming , Cui Zhiming
Published: November 2022

Medical data is an important part of modern medicine. However, with the rapid increase in the amount of data, it has become hard to use this data effectively. The development of machine learning, such as feature engineering, enables researchers to capture and extract valuable information from medical data. Many deep learning methods are conducted to handle various subtasks of EHR from the view of information extraction and representation learning. This survey designs a taxonomy to summarize and introduce the existing deep learning-based methods on EHR, which could be divided into four types (Information Extraction, Representation Learning, Medical Prediction and Privacy Protection). Furthermore, we summarize the most recognized EHR datasets, MIMIC, eICU, PCORnet, Open NHS, NCBI-disease and i2b2/n2c2 NLP Research Data Sets, and introduce the labeling scheme of these datasets. Furthermore, we provide an overview of deep learning models in various EHR applications. Finally, we conclude the challenges that EHR tasks face and identify avenues of future deep EHR research.
Active Bearing Technology of Foot Steel Pipe Applied in Controlling the Large Deformation of Tunnels: A Case Study
Authors: Zhao Zhizhong , Wu Yimin , Wang Lin , Hu Kaixun , Tian Changqing
Published: November 2022

Foot steel pipe was the main arch foot supporting structure to control large deformation of loess tunnels, but the supporting effect was not ideal. Taking Yulinzi Tunnel in Qingyang, Gansu Province, as the engineering background, the design concept and implementation scheme of a foot steel pipe active bearing was put forward. The purpose was to solve the problem that it was difficult to control the surrounding rock settlement with the foot steel pipe. Numerical simulation and field experiments were used to verify the effect of the active bearing technology of the foot steel pipe. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) The effect of increasing the diameter of the foot steel pipe is better than that of increasing the number of foot steel pipes. (2) The active bearing mode of exerting its bearing capacity in advance by prepressing the foot steel pipe can effectively reduce the settlement of the vault. The settlement rate of the vault can be reduced by about 70% in 1–2 days and more than 50% in 1–3 days. (3) At the initial stage of surrounding rock deformation, this technology can provide a large bearing capacity, thereby reducing the overall deformation of the surrounding rock, slowing down the release of the surrounding rock pressure, and playing a positive role in the settlement control of the vault.
Emerging Trends in Curcumin Embedded Electrospun Nanofibers for Impaired Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Tamilarasi Ganesan Padmini , Krishnan Manikandan , Sabarees Govindaraj , Gouthaman Siddan , Alagarsamy Veerachamy , Solomon Viswas Raja
Published: November 2022

Chronic wounds impose a significant burden on individuals and healthcare systems all over the world. Through clinical and preclinical investigations, inflammation and oxidative damage have been established as the primary causes of chronic wounds. These skin sores are easily exposed to microorganisms, which in turn cause inflammation and hinder the healing process. Additionally, microorganisms may cause an infection that prevents collagen production and reepithelialization. Curcumin’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infectious characteristics, among others, have been identified as useful for diabetic wound healing management. However, curcumin has a few disadvantages, such as limited bioavailability, pH-dependent instability, water insolubility, slow cell absorption, and fast intracellular metabolism. These constraints necessitates the development of a suitable transporter to improve curcumin’s stability, bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy, and solubility. In recent years, Electrospun nanofiber mats have been an excellent choice for drug delivery because of their numerous advantages and inherent properties. Electrospun nanofibers have shown considerable promise as wound dressing materials. This review highlights the potential properties and recent advancements in using curcumin-loaded nanofibers for diabetic wound healing.
Modified Gravity and a Space Probe–Venus Mission
Authors: Yefremov Alexander P.
Published: November 2022

A comparison of gravitational forces and a space probe’s trajectory parameters is made for two different models of the sun’s field, expressed in Schwarzschild and isotropic coordinates. It is shown that these two representations of a single Schwarzschild solution give, in the tangent space format, different deflections from classical finite trajectories and, hence, from one other; greatly amplified by a planet’s (Venus’) gravity assist, this effect renders it possible to experimentally specify the format of the gravity law that dominates the solar system.
Direct Detection of Severe Biomass Burning Aerosols from Satellite Data
Authors: Nakata Makiko , Mukai Sonoyo , Fujito Toshiyuki
Published: November 2022

The boundary between high-concentration aerosols (haze) and clouds is ambiguous and the mixing of aerosols and clouds is complex in terms of composition and structure. In particular, the contribution of biomass burning aerosols (BBAs) to global warming is a source of uncertainty in the global radiation budget. In a previous study, we proposed a method to detect absorption aerosols such as BBAs and dust using a simple indicator based on the ratio of violet to near-ultraviolet wavelengths from the Global Change Observation Mission-Climate/Second-Generation Global Imager (GCOM-C/SGLI) satellite data. This study adds newly obtained SGLI data and proposes a method for the direct detection of severe biomass burning aerosols (SBBAs). Moreover, polarization data derived from polarization remote sensing was incorporated to improve the detection accuracy. This is possible because the SGLI is a multi-wavelength sensor consisting of 19 channels from 380 nm in the near-ultraviolet to thermal infrared, including red (674 nm) and near-infrared (869 nm) polarization channels. This method demonstrated fast SBBA detection directly from satellite data by using two types of wavelength ratio indices that take advantage of the characteristics of the SGLI data. The SBBA detection algorithm derived from the SGLI observation data was validated by using the polarized reflectance calculated by radiative transfer simulations and a regional numerical model—scalable computing for advanced library and environment (SCALE). Our algorithm can be applied to the detection of dust storms and high-concentration air pollution particles, and identifying the type of high-concentration aerosol facilitates the subsequent detailed characterization of the aerosol. This work demonstrates the usefulness of polarization remote sensing beyond the SGLI data.
Quantifying a Reliable Framework to Estimate Hydro-Climatic Conditions via a Three-Way Interaction between Land Surface Temperature, Evapotranspiration, Soil Moisture
Authors: Taheri Mercedeh , Anboohi Milad Shamsi , Nasseri Mohsen , Bigdeli Mostafa , Mohammadian Abdolmajid
Published: November 2022

Distributed hydrological models can be suitable choices for predicting the spatial distribution of water and energy fluxes if the conceptual relationships between the components are defined appropriately. Therefore, an innovative approach has been developed using a simultaneous formulation of bulk heat transfer theory, energy budgeting, and water balance as an integrated hydrological model, i.e., the Monthly Continuous Semi-Distributed Energy Water Balance (MCSD-EWB) model, to estimate land surface hydrological components. The connection between water and energy balances is established by evapotranspiration (ET), which is a function of soil moisture and land surface temperature (LST). Thus, the developed structure is based on a three-way coupling between ET, soil moisture, and LST. The LST is obtained via the direct solution of the energy balance equation, and the spatiotemporal distribution of ET is presented using the computed LST and soil moisture through the bulk transfer method and water balance. In addition to the LST computed using the MCSD-EWB model, the LST products of ERA5-Land and MODIS are also utilized as inputs. The results indicate the adequate performance of the model in simulating LST, ET, streamflow, and groundwater level. Furthermore, the developed model performs better by employing the ERA5-Land LST than by using the MODIS LST in estimating the components.
New Subclasses of Bi-Univalent Functions with Respect to the Symmetric Points Defined by Bernoulli Polynomials
Authors: Buyankara Mucahit , Çağlar Murat , Cotîrlă Luminiţa-Ioana
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we introduce and investigate new subclasses of bi-univalent functions with respect to the symmetric points in U=z∈C:z<1 defined by Bernoulli polynomials. We obtain upper bounds for Taylor–Maclaurin coefficients a2,a3 and Fekete–Szegö inequalities a3−μa22 for these new subclasses.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Weaver Chaston , Bin Satter Khaled , Richardson Katherine P. , Tran Lynn K. H. , Tran Paul M. H. , Purohit Sharad
Published: November 2022

Renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) comprises over 75% of all renal tumors and arises in the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubule. Molecularly ccRCC is characterized by copy number alterations (CNAs) such as the loss of chromosome 3p and VHL inactivation. Additional driver mutations (SETD2, PBRM1, BAP1, and others) promote genomic instability and tumor cell metastasis through the dysregulation of various metabolic and immune-response pathways. Many researchers identified mutation, gene expression, and proteomic signatures for early diagnosis and prognostics for ccRCC. Despite a tremendous influx of data regarding DNA alterations, gene expression, and protein expression, the incorporation of these analyses for diagnosis and prognosis of RCC into the clinical application has not been implemented yet. In this review, we focused on the molecular changes associated with ccRCC development, along with gene expression and protein signatures, to emphasize the utilization of these molecular profiles in clinical practice. These findings, in the context of machine learning and precision medicine, may help to overcome some of the barriers encountered for implementing molecular profiles of tumors into the diagnosis and treatment of ccRCC.
Energy Absorption Characteristics of Polygonal Bio-Inspired Honeycomb Column Thin-Walled Structure under Quasi-Static Uniaxial Compression Loading
Authors: Wang Shijie , Xia Hongxiang , Liu Yancheng
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we investigated the internal structure of the beetle elytra, i.e., two different structural forms I and II of the bio-inspired honeycomb column thin-walled structures (BHTS) that give the honeycomb sandwich structure frequently used in construction projects better mechanical properties and lightweight performance. BHTS specimens were fabricated by additive manufacturing selective laser melting (AM-SLM) using AlSi10Mg Al-Si alloy. In order to understand the effect of section angle number on BHTS during loading, quasi-static uniaxial compression tests were carried out and verified by numerical simulation. The experimental results showed that in the quasi-static uniaxial compression tests, the number of section angles greatly improved the energy absorption (EA) index of each BHTS: the average value of initial peak crushing force (PCF) of hexagonal BHTS increased by 108.82% and 43.44%, respectively, compared to triangular and rectangular BHTS. The average value of the mean crushing force (MCF) increased by 74.87% and 45.48%, respectively. The average value of EA increased by 89.02% and 46.64%, respectively. The results indicate that the number of section angles can be used as an effective way to enhance the EA of BHTS. This work can provide a reference for the design of high-efficiency energy absorbers and will be widely used in EA scenarios such as construction, transportation, etc.
A Rapid, Fluorescence Switch-On Biosensor for Early Diagnosis of Sorghum Mosaic Virus
Authors: Han Zhenlong , Yang Congyuan , Xiao Dan , Lin Yinfu , Wen Ronghui , Chen Baoshan , He Xipu
Published: November 2022

For the first time, a nanobiosensor was established for Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV) detection. The biosensor consists of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) conjugated to the specific antibody (Ab) against SrMV coat protein (CP) and carbon quantum dots (C QDs) labeled with SrMV coat protein. The formation of the fluorophore-quencher immunocomplex CdTe QDs-Ab+C QDs-CP led to a distinct decrease in the fluorescence intensity of CdTe QDs. Conversely, the emission intensity of CdTe QDs recovered upon the introduction of unlabeled CP. The developed biosensor showed a limit of detection of 44 nM in a linear range of 0.10–0.54 μM and exhibited the strongest fluorescence intensity (about 47,000 a.u.) at 552 nm. This strategy was applied to detect purified CP in plant sap successfully with a recovery rate between 93–103%. Moreover, the feasibility of the proposed method was further verified by the detection of field samples, and the results were consistent with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Contrarily to ELISA, the proposed biosensor did not require excessive washing and incubation steps, thus the detection could be rapidly accomplished in a few minutes. The high sensitivity and short assay time of this designed biosensor demonstrated its potential application in situ and rapid detection. In addition, the fluorescence quenching of CdTe QDs was attributed to dynamic quenching according to the Stern-Volmer equation.
A Comprehensive Review on Upconversion Nanomaterials-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Environment, Biology, Food and Medicine Applications
Authors: Jiang Wei , Yi Jiaqi , Li Xiaoshuang , He Fei , Niu Na , Chen Ligang
Published: November 2022

Near-infrared-excited upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have multicolor emissions, a low auto-fluorescence background, a high chemical stability, and a long fluorescence lifetime. The fluorescent probes based on UCNPs have achieved great success in the analysis of different samples. Here, we presented the research results of UCNPs probes utilized in analytical applications including environment, biology, food and medicine in the last five years; we also introduced the design and construction of upconversion optical sensing platforms. Future trends and challenges of the UCNPs used in the analytical field have also been discussed with particular emphasis.
Advanced Lab-on-Fiber Optrodes Assisted by Oriented Antibody Immobilization Strategy
Authors: Ucci Sarassunta , Spaziani Sara , Quero Giuseppe , Vaiano Patrizio , Principe Maria , Micco Alberto , Sandomenico Annamaria , Ruvo Menotti , Consales Marco , Cusano Andrea
Published: November 2022

Lab-on-fiber (LoF) optrodes offer several advantages over conventional techniques for point-of-care platforms aimed at real-time and label-free detection of clinically relevant biomarkers. Moreover, the easy integration of LoF platforms in medical needles, catheters, and nano endoscopes offer unique potentials for in vivo biopsies and tumor microenvironment assessment. The main barrier to translating the vision close to reality is the need to further lower the final limit of detection of developed optrodes. For immune-biosensing purposes, the assay sensitivity significantly relies on the capability to correctly immobilize the capture antibody in terms of uniform coverage and correct orientation of the bioreceptor, especially when very low detection limits are requested as in the case of cancer diagnostics. Here, we investigated the possibility to improve the immobilization strategies through the use of hinge carbohydrates by involving homemade antibodies that demonstrated a significantly improved recognition of the antigen with ultra-low detection limits. In order to create an effective pipeline for the improvement of biofunctionalization protocols to be used in connection with LoF platforms, we first optimized the protocol using a microfluidic surface plasmon resonance (mSPR) device and then transferred the optimized strategy onto LoF platforms selected for the final validation. Here, we selected two different LoF platforms: a biolayer interferometry (BLI)-based device (commercially available) and a homemade advanced LoF biosensor based on optical fiber meta-tips (OFMTs). As a clinically relevant scenario, here we focused our attention on a promising serological biomarker, Cripto-1, for its ability to promote tumorigenesis in breast and liver cancer. Currently, Cripto-1 detection relies on laborious and time-consuming immunoassays. The reported results demonstrated that the proposed approach based on oriented antibody immobilization was able to significantly improve Cripto-1 detection with a 10-fold enhancement versus the random approach. More interestingly, by using the oriented antibody immobilization strategy, the OFMTs-based platform was able to reveal Cripto-1 at a concentration of 0.05 nM, exhibiting detection capabilities much higher (by a factor of 250) than those provided by the commercial LoF platform based on BLI and similar to the ones shown by the commercial and well-established bench-top mSPR Biacore 8K system. Therefore, our work opened new avenues into the development of high-sensitivity LoF biosensors for the detection of clinically relevant biomarkers in the sub-ng/mL range.
Heterogeneous Optical Fiber Sensor System for Temperature and Turbidity Assessment in Wide Range
Authors: Leal-Junior Arnaldo , Lopes Guilherme , Macedo Leandro C. , Duque Welton , Frizera Anselmo , Marques Carlos
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the development of an optical fiber sensor system for multiparametric assessment of temperature and turbidity in liquid samples. The sensors are based on the combination between fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), intensity variation and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. In this case, the intensity variation sensors are capable of detecting turbidity with a resolution of about 0.5 NTU in a limited range between 0.02 NTU and 100 NTU. As the turbidity increases, a saturation trend in the sensor is observed. In contrast, the SPR-based sensor is capable of detecting refractive index (RI) variation. However, RI measurements in the turbidity calibrated samples indicate a significant variation on the RI only when the turbidity is higher than 100 NTU. Thus, the SPR-based sensor is used as a complementary approach for the dynamic range increase of the turbidity assessment, where a linearity and sensitivity of 98.6% and 313.5 nm/RIU, respectively, are obtained. Finally, the FBG sensor is used in the temperature assessment, an assessment which is not only used for water quality assessment, but also in temperature cross-sensitivity mitigation of the SPR sensor. Furthermore, this approach also leads to the possibility of indirect assessment of turbidity through the differences in the heat transfer rates due to the turbidity increase.
A Combination of Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging with Two-Dimensional Correlation Analysis for Monitoring the Content of Alanine in Beef
Authors: Dong Fujia , Bi Yongzhao , Hao Jie , Liu Sijia , Lv Yu , Cui Jiarui , Wang Songlei , Han Yafang , Rodas-González Argenis
Published: November 2022

Alanine (Ala), as the most important free amino acid, plays a significant role in food taste characteristics and human health regulation. The feasibility of using near–infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR–HSI) combined with two–dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D–COS) analysis to predict beef Ala content quickly and nondestructively is first proposed in this study. With Ala content as the external disturbance condition, the sequence of chemical bond changes caused by synchronous and asynchronous correlation spectrum changes in 2D–COS was analyzed, and local sensitive variables closely related to Ala content were obtained. On this basis, the simplified linear, nonlinear, and artificial neural network models developed by the weighted coefficient based on the feature wavelength extraction method were compared. The results show that with the change in Ala content in beef, the double-frequency absorption of the C-H bond of CH2 in the chemical bond sequence occurred prior to the third vibration of the C=O bond and the first stretching of O-H in COOH. Furthermore, the wavelength within the 1136–1478 nm spectrum range was obtained as the local study area of Ala content. The linear partial least squares regression (PLSR) model based on effective wavelengths was selected by competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) from 2D–COS analysis, and provided excellent results (R2C of 0.8141, R2P of 0.8458, and RPDp of 2.54). Finally, the visual distribution of Ala content in beef was produced by the optimal simplified combination model. The results show that 2D–COS combined with NIR–HSI could be used as an effective method to monitor Ala content in beef.
A Characterization of Brain Area Activation in Orienteers with Different Map-Recognition Memory Ability Task Levels—Based on fNIRS Evidence
Authors: Liu Yang , Lu Su , Liu Jingru , Zhao Mingsheng , Chao Yue , Kang Pengyang
Published: November 2022

Background: Mapping memory ability is highly correlated with an orienteer’s level, and spatial memory tasks of different difficulties can reveal the spatial cognitive characteristics of high-level athletes. Methods: An “expert–novice” experimental paradigm was used to monitor behavioral performance and changes in cerebral blood oxygen concentration in orienteering athletes with tasks of different difficulty and cognitive load using functional near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (fNIRS). Results: (1) there was no difference between high-/low-level athletes’ map recognition and memory abilities in the non-orienteering scenario; (2) with increasing task difficulty, both high-/low-level athletes showed significantly decreasing behavioral performance, reduced correctness, longer reaction time, and strengthened cerebral blood oxygen activation concentration. There was no significant difference in L-DLPFC cerebral oxygen concentration between high-/low-level athletes in the simple map task, and the cerebral oxygen concentration in all brain regions was lower in the expert group than in the novice group in the rest of the task difficulty levels; (3) the correctness rate in the expert group in the complex task was closely related to the activation of the right hemisphere (R-DLPFC, R-VLPFC). Conclusions: Experts have a specific cognitive advantage in map-recognition memory, showing higher task performance and lower cerebral blood oxygen activation; cognitive load constrains map-recognition memory-specific ability and produces different performance effects and brain activation changes on spatial memory processing.
The Use of Commas in Secondary-Education Students and Its Relationship with Reading Comprehension: The Case of Spanish
Authors: Marcet Ana , Moreno Verónica , Rodríguez-Gonzalo Carmen , Perea Manuel
Published: November 2022

The correct use of punctuation marks in secondary-school students is essential for the comprehension of written texts and, therefore, for the students’ academic success. However, the examination of this issue has often been overlooked in the literature. In the present study, we focused on the progression of comma usage (i.e., a punctuation mark that is often challenging to master) and examined its relation to reading comprehension. A sample of first- and fourth-year secondary-education students from Spain (N = 115) punctuated brief texts in which commas had been previously omitted. The original texts included various types of mandatory commas in Spanish. We also obtained a reading comprehension score from a standardized reading test. Results show that secondary-education students often did not correctly place the commas, with first-year secondary-education students only succeeding in the correct placement of commas 54.5% of the time in (Year 8 in the UK system). This figure increased to 80.9% in fourth-year secondary-education students (Year 11 in the UK system). As a control, this figure rose to 91.5% in first-year university students. Critically, better comprehenders were the ones with better use of punctuation marks (r = 0.33). These results are useful for developing teaching methods to improve writing/reading skills in secondary-school students.
Music Listening, Emotion, and Cognition in Older Adults
Authors: Vincenzi Margherita , Borella Erika , Sella Enrico , Lima César F. , De Beni Rossana , Schellenberg E. Glenn
Published: November 2022

Using the arousal and mood hypothesis as a theoretical framework, we examined whether community-dwelling older adults (N = 132) exhibited cognitive benefits after listening to music. Participants listened to shorter (≈2.5 min) or longer (≈8 min) excerpts from recordings of happy- or sad-sounding music or from a spoken-word recording. Before and after listening, they completed tasks measuring visuospatial working memory (WM), cognitive flexibility and speed, verbal fluency, and mathematical ability, as well as measures of arousal and mood. In general, older adults improved from pre- to post-test on the cognitive tasks. For the test of WM, the increase was greater for participants who heard happy-sounding music compared to those in the other two groups. The happy-sounding group also exhibited larger increases in arousal and mood, although improvements in mood were evident only for the long-duration condition. At the individual level, however, improvements in WM were unrelated to changes in arousal or mood. In short, the results were partially consistent with the arousal and mood hypothesis. For older adults, listening to happy-sounding music may optimize arousal levels and mood, and improve performance on some cognitive tasks (i.e., WM), even though there is no direct link between changes in arousal/mood and changes in WM.
Effects of Personality Traits Concerning Media Use Decisions on Fear of Missing Out and Social Media Use Behavior
Authors: Lin Sheng-Cheng , Jian Er-Ting
Published: November 2022

We could view the phenomenon of fear of missing out (FoMO) as a dilemma of too many choices about social media. Although there are already various studies on FoMO, there is still a lack of studies on what personality traits concerning media use decisions will contribute to FoMO or how FoMO mediates these personality traits and people’s social media use behavior, and, thus, corresponding negative emotions. This study explored the causes of FoMO in a FoMO moderated mediation model using maximizing tendency before the choice was made, social comparison orientation when making choices, and regrets tendency after the choice was made. The results showed that (1) there is a non-significant influence between maximizing tendency and FoMO, (2) regret tendency is a positive influence on FoMO, (3) social comparison orientation is a positive influence on FoMO, (4) FoMO is a positive influence on the compulsive use of social media and surveillance use of social media, (5) FoMO exhibited a full mediating effect on the relationship between regret tendency and social media surveillance use, (6) FoMO exhibited a full mediating effect on the relationship between social comparison orientation and social media compulsive use.
Study of the Interaction of Cement-Based Materials for 3D Printing with Fly Ash and Superabsorbent Polymers
Authors: Melichar Jindřich , Žižková Nikol , Brožovský Jiří , Mészárosová Lenka , Hermann Radek
Published: November 2022

The use of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in construction is a relatively new trend, and not a completely explored area. However, SAP itself has been on the market for over 80 years. SAPs have a cross-linked three-dimensional structure, thanks to which they have the unique ability to absorb extreme amounts of water, up to a hundred times their weight. By using this property, it is possible to prevent water losses, which is important at the time of maturation in cementitious building materials. When there is a lack of water needed for hydration processes, the physical and mechanical properties deteriorate. The subject of this article is to determine the possible positive effect of the presence of SAP in the cement matrix in order to optimize the parameters of silicate composites for 3D printing. For this purpose, a special methodology was compiled consisting of tests through which it is possible to assess the suitability of the tested mixtures for 3D printing. This methodology consists of determining consistency, volumetric weight, ultrasonic analysis, buildability, X-ray diffraction, flexural tensile and compressive strength. For determining of buildability and ultrasonic analysis new methodologies were created in this research in order to be suitable for the 3D printing materials. Last but not least, efforts are also being made to increase the incorporation of secondary raw material (fly ash) in order to reduce the environmental impact of industrial production and, conversely, to increase its sustainability while maintaining or improving the mechanical–physical parameters of building materials. From the results presented in this paper it is apparent, that created methodology is efficient for determining properties of 3D printable mixtures. SAPs also significantly influenced properties of these mixtures. Mainly buildability and flexural tensile strength (by up to 30%) were increased and volumetric weight was decreased (by up to 5%).
Numerical Analysis of Masonry-Infilled RC-CLT Panel Connections
Authors: Mehdipour Zabih , Poletti Elisa , Branco Jorge M. , Lourenço Paulo B.
Published: November 2022

CLT panels have been investigated for reinforcement of existing masonry-infilled RC framed buildings through the increase of the overall lateral stiffness of the structure, thus reducing the story drift demand. The contribution of CLT panels depends on the connection to the RC frame elements. This paper evaluates the role of connectors by which CLT is attached to RC frames for capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation of the structure and its elements separately using different kinds of RC-CLT connections, and ultimately finds and compares the optimum number and arrangement of connectors. The results show that the geometry of connections plays a greater seismic role in RC frames than their mechanical properties. Regarding masonry infills, they allow a higher strength capacity but reduce the efficacy of CLT strengthening. However, strong connectors decrease the ability of infills in dissipation. Finally, in the optimum arrangement of connectors, they are distributed equally along the upper and lower beams at equal spacing, where CLT is added, starting in the middle of the beams and moving to the frame corners.
An Experimental and Numerical Study of the Winter Outdoor Wind Environment in High-Rise Residential Complexes in a Coastal City in Northern China
Authors: Peng Zhen , Chen Yihua , Deng Wu , Lun Isaac Yu Fat , Jiang Naibin , Lv Gang , Zhou Tongyu
Published: November 2022

In recent years, residents in high-rise residential complexes (HRCs) in China have been placing an increasing demand on the living quality in HRCs. Particularly, the outdoor wind conditions are garnering more attention; however, few studies on the wind conditions within HRCs with densely arranged buildings and high plot ratios have been reported. Therefore, this study investigated the relation between the buildings’ layouts in HRCs and their wind conditions and it proposes optimization strategies to enhance body comfort in their outdoor environments. The research methods in this work involved field surveys, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and field monitoring. The field surveys were used to determine the types of activities undertaken by the residents in the selected HRCs and their perceptions of the wind conditions within the HRCs. Field monitoring was primarily conducted to measure the present wind conditions in the HRCs. The CFD simulations were performed to analyze the interactions between individual buildings and the wind as well as the performance of the wind conditions in the HRCs before and after a building layout optimization. The simulation results and monitoring data showed that the present wind conditions in the HRCs were uncomfortable due to high wind speeds (exceeding 5 m/s) and large windless areas. To achieve a comfortable outdoor wind environment, future HRCs should adopt a point-to-point building layout and the buildings should be oriented south. Moreover, the ratios of the height to width (Hb/Wb) for individual buildings should be kept at approximately 1.33. For existing HRCs, landscape walls, trees, and moveable windbreak panels can be used to reduce the wind speeds, especially in open exit/entrance areas and windward areas.
A Study on the Influence of Bolt Arrangement Parameters on the Bending Behavior of Timber–Steel Composite (TSC) Beams
Authors: Liu Ruiyue , Liu Jiatong , Wu Zhenzhen , Chen Ling , Wang Jiejun
Published: November 2022

The present paper investigates the impact of bolt distance, bolt diameter, and the number of bolt rows on the bending performance of timber–steel composite (TSC) beams. This study aims to facilitate the application of bolt connections in assembled TSC structures. Composite steel I-beams were designed with timber boards connected in the upper section with bolts. Three-point static bending tests were conducted on nine timber–steel composite beams divided into four groups (L1, L2, L3, and L4) with varying bolt arrangements. The destruction mode, ultimate bearing capacity, ductility coefficient, load–midspan deflection curve, and load–midspan strain curve of each specimen were obtained. In addition, the destruction mechanism, the quantitative relationship between the bolt area ratio and interfacial slip, and the ideal bolt area ratio were identified. It was found that when the midspan deflection of the timber–steel composite beam approached the prescribed limit, the main failure mode can be explained as follows: The top surface of the boards of all the specimens had longitudinal local splitting, except L1, which had fewer bolts and no obvious damage. Moreover, due to compression and because the stress at the lower edge of the I-beam entered the flow amplitude stage, some of the specimens were crushed but were not pulled off. The composite beams had high flexural load capacity and ductility coefficient, and the maximum relative slips of the timber–steel interfaces were in the range of 2–6 mm. It was also found that the maximum slip of the interface and the ductility coefficient decreased steadily as the bolt area ratio increased, while the specimen’s flexural bearing capacity increased. The optimal bolt area ratio was determined to be 8 × 10−3. Using the total bolt area, we designed the arrangement of the bolts on the board. For convenience, multiple bolt variables were converted into one bolt variable. The longitudinal distance of the bolts had a greater impact on the slip, and the bolt diameter had a smaller impact. The theoretical values of total relative slip were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results, which were based on the superposition of the relative slip equations with varying bolt distances. The effective bolt area ratio and the formula of the relative slip of each segment can provide instructions for the arrangement of bolts and the control of the relative slip of intersections in engineering practices.
HER2 mRNA Levels, Estrogen Receptor Activity and Susceptibility to Trastuzumab in Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Triulzi Tiziana , Regondi Viola , Venturelli Elisabetta , Gasparini Patrizia , Ghirelli Cristina , Groppelli Jessica , Di Modica Martina , Bianchi Francesca , De Cecco Loris , Sfondrini Lucia , Tagliabue Elda
Published: November 2022

While the results thus far demonstrate the clinical benefit of trastuzumab in breast cancer (BC), some patients do not respond to this drug. HER2 mRNA, alone or combined with other genes/biomarkers, has been proven to be a powerful predictive marker in several studies. Here, we provide evidence of the association between HER2 mRNA levels and the response to anti-HER2 treatment in HER2-positive BC patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab and show that this association is independent of estrogen receptor (ER) tumor positivity. While HER2 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with HER2 protein levels in ER-negative tumors, no correlation was found in ER-positive tumors, and HER2 protein expression was not associated with relapse risk. Correlation analyses in the ER-positive subset identified ER activity as the pathway inversely associated with HER2 mRNA. Associations between HER2 levels and oncogene addiction, as well as between HER2 activation and trastuzumab sensitivity, were also observed in vitro in HER2-positive BC cell lines. In ER-positive but not ER-negative BC cells, HER2 transcription was increased by reducing ligand-dependent ER activity or inducing ER degradation. Accordingly, HER2 mRNA levels in patients were found to be inversely correlated with blood levels of estradiol, the natural ligand of ER that induces ER activation. Moreover, low estradiol levels were associated with a lower risk of relapse in HER2-positive BC patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. Overall, we found that HER2 mRNA levels, but not protein levels, indicate the HER2 dependency of tumor cells and low estrogen-dependent ER activity in HER2-positive tumors.
[225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB for Targeted Alpha Therapy of Prostate Cancer: Preclinical Evaluation and Comparison with [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617
Authors: Busslinger Sarah D. , Tschan Viviane J. , Richard Olivia K. , Talip Zeynep , Schibli Roger , Müller Cristina
Published: November 2022

In the present study, SibuDAB, an albumin-binding PSMA ligand, was investigated in combination with actinium-225 and the data were compared with those of [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617. In vitro, [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB and [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 showed similar tumor cell uptake and PSMA-binding affinities as their 177Lu-labeled counterparts. The in vitro binding to serum albumin in mouse and human blood plasma, respectively, was 2.8-fold and 1.4-fold increased for [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB as compared to [177Lu]Lu-SibuDAB. In vivo, this characteristic was reflected by the longer retention of [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB in the blood than previously seen for [177Lu]Lu-SibuDAB. Similar to [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617, [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB was well tolerated at 30 kBq per mouse. Differences in blood cell counts were observed between treated mice and untreated controls, but no major variations were observed between values obtained for [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB and [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617. [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB was considerably more effective to treat PSMA-positive tumor xenografts than [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617. Only 5 kBq per mouse were sufficient to eradicate the tumors, whereas tumor regrowth was observed for mice treated with 5 kBq [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 and only one out of six mice survived until the end of the study. The enhanced therapeutic efficacy of [225Ac]Ac-SibuDAB as compared to that of [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 and reasonable safety data qualify this novel radioligand as a candidate for targeted α-therapy of prostate cancer.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the External Ear: Population-Based Analysis and Survival Outcomes
Authors: Alves André S. , Scampa Matteo , Martineau Jérôme , Giordano Salvatore , Kalbermatten Daniel F. , Oranges Carlo M.
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Due to its highly aggressive behavior, the ability to identify and manage Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) with a full understanding of its characteristics is essential. Because the external ear is an exposed area, resection can have dramatic consequences on patient’s self-image, which is why it is fundamental to detect MCC, typically found on UV-exposed regions such as the ears, at an early stage. (2) Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was searched for all external ear MCC between 2000 and 2019. A descriptive analysis based on frequencies was made to describe the demography of pathophysiologic features linked to MCC. Overall survival (OS) was studied and compared between variables with a log rank test. A multivariable Cox regression analysis was then computed to identify independent prognostic factors. (3) Results: A total of 210 patients (160 men) were identified with a median age of 80 years. The median OS was 47 months. Factors associated with lower OS included an age of over 80 years, the male gender, a tumor size of >5 cm, and metastatic disease. Gross (<1 cm) and wide (>1 cm) surgery excision margins were the surgery types with the best OS. (4) Conclusions: MCC of the external ear is diagnosed mostly in old men. Among the 182 patients who received a surgical procedure, gross and wide excision without radiotherapy were associated with the best OS.
Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Related Myelomonocytic Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment of Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Wang Samuel S. Y. , Chng Wee Joo , Liu Haiyan , de Mel Sanjay
Published: November 2022

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second-most common hematologic malignancy and remains incurable despite potent plasma cell directed therapeutics. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key player in the pathogenesis and progression of MM and is an active focus of research with a view to targeting immune dysregulation. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and dendritic cells (DC) are known to drive progression and treatment resistance in many cancers. They have also been shown to promote MM progression and immune suppression in vitro, and there is growing evidence of their impact on clinical outcomes. The heterogeneity and functional characteristics of myelomonocytic cells in MM are being unraveled through high-dimensional immune profiling techniques. We are also beginning to understand how they may affect and be modulated by current and future MM therapeutics. In this review, we provide an overview of the biology and clinical relevance of TAMs, MDSCs, and DCs in the MM TME. We also highlight key areas to be addressed in future research as well as our perspectives on how the myelomonocytic compartment of the TME may influence therapeutic strategies of the future.
Bone Marrow Immune Microenvironment in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: Kouroukli Olga , Symeonidis Argiris , Foukas Periklis , Maragkou Myrto-Kalliopi , Kourea Eleni P.
Published: November 2022

The BM, the major hematopoietic organ in humans, consists of a pleiomorphic environment of cellular, extracellular, and bioactive compounds with continuous and complex interactions between them, leading to the formation of mature blood cells found in the peripheral circulation. Systemic and local inflammation in the BM elicit stress hematopoiesis and drive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) out of their quiescent state, as part of a protective pathophysiologic process. However, sustained chronic inflammation impairs HSC function, favors mutagenesis, and predisposes the development of hematologic malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Apart from intrinsic cellular mechanisms, various extrinsic factors of the BM immune microenvironment (IME) emerge as potential determinants of disease initiation and evolution. In MDS, the IME is reprogrammed, initially to prevent the development, but ultimately to support and provide a survival advantage to the dysplastic clone. Specific cellular elements, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are recruited to support and enhance clonal expansion. The immune-mediated inhibition of normal hematopoiesis contributes to peripheral cytopenias of MDS patients, while immunosuppression in late-stage MDS enables immune evasion and disease progression towards acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this review, we aim to elucidate the role of the mediators of immune response in the initial pathogenesis of MDS and the evolution of the disease.
Identification of CD73 as a Novel Biomarker Encompassing the Tumor Microenvironment, Prognosis, and Therapeutic Responses in Various Cancers
Authors: Tang Kun , Zhang Jingwei , Cao Hui , Xiao Gelei , Wang Zeyu , Zhang Xun , Zhang Nan , Wu Wantao , Zhang Hao , Wang Qianrong , Xu Huilan , Cheng Quan
Published: November 2022

CD73 is essential in promoting tumor growth by prohibiting anti-tumor immunity in many cancer types. While the mechanism remains largely unknown, our paper comprehensively confirmed the onco-immunological characteristics of CD73 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of pan-cancer. This paper explored the expression pattern, mutational profile, prognostic value, tumor immune infiltration, and response to immunotherapy of CD73 in a continuous cohort of cancers through various computational tools. The co-expression of CD73 on cancer cells, immune cells, and stromal cells in the TME was also detected. Especially, we examined the correlation between CD73 and CD8+ (a marker of T cell), CD68+ (a marker of macrophage), and CD163+ (a marker of M2 macrophage) cells using multiplex immunofluorescence staining of tissue microarrays. CD73 expression is significantly associated with a patient’s prognosis and could be a promising predictor of these cancers. High CD73 levels are strongly linked to immune infiltrations, neoantigens, and immune checkpoint expression in the TME. In particular, enrichment signaling pathway analysis demonstrated that CD73 was obviously related to activation pathways of immune cells, including T cells, macrophages, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Meanwhile, single-cell sequencing algorithms found that CD73 is predominantly co-expressed on cancer cells, CAFs, M2 macrophages, and T cells in several cancers. In addition, we explored the cellular communication among 14 cell types in glioblastoma (GBM) based on CD73 expression. Based on the expression of CD73 as well as macrophage and T cell markers, we predicted the methylation and enrichment pathways of these markers in pan-cancer. Furthermore, a lot of therapeutic molecules sensitive to these markers were predicted. Finally, potential anticancer inhibitors, immunotherapies, and gene therapy responses targeting CD73 were identified from a series of immunotherapy cohorts. CD73 is closely linked to clinical prognosis and immune infiltration in many cancers. Targeting CD73-dependent signaling pathways may be a promising therapeutic strategy for future tumor immunotherapy.