bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Parameters Influencing the Formation of Particles during the Braking Process: Experimental Approach
Authors: Vasiljević Saša , Glišović Jasna , Lukić Jovanka , Miloradović Danijela , Stanojević Milan , Đorđević Milan
Published: October 2023

Knowing and understanding the parameters influencing the concentration of particles created by brake wear, as one of the main contributors to non-exhaust emissions from vehicles, is important for the further development of systems on vehicles to reduce the concentration of particles, and also for further research in the field of developing new friction pairs. In this research, a brake inertial dynamometer was used to measure brake particles, and four different brake pads were examined. Based on a previous review of the applied tests and driving cycles, the braking parameters were determined, i.e., the initial simulated speed of the vehicle, the load of one-quarter of the vehicle, and the brake pressure. The ambient temperature, air humidity, coefficient of friction between friction pairs, deceleration, and braking time can have an influence depending on the brake pad. Further, during the measurement, the temperatures of the brake pads were also measured, where the initial temperature of the brake pads was always the same. In order to process the data, several methods were used, including the presentation of the obtained results in a time domain, the application of the Taguchi design of the experiment with the analysis of the parameters, and a correlation analysis using the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. In this research, the authors concluded that the influences of the parameters primarily depend on the applied brake pads. The vehicle speed turned out to have a large influence in all cases, as did the load, i.e., the influence of the vehicle weight (indirectly through the kinetic energy of the vehicle). In this case, the pressure showed less influence on the particle concentration. An important braking parameter that has a significant impact on the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles is the final temperature of the brake pads.
Hybrid Post-Processing on GEFSv12 Reforecast for Summer Maximum Temperature Ensemble Forecasts with an Extended-Range Time Scale over Taiwan
Authors: Nageswararao Malasala Murali , Zhu Yuejian , Tallapragada Vijay , Chen Meng-Shih
Published: October 2023

Taiwan is highly susceptible to global warming, experiencing a 1.4 °C increase in air temperature from 1911 to 2005, which is twice the average for the Northern Hemisphere. This has potentially led to higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Accurately predicting maximum temperatures during the summer season is crucial, but numerical weather models become less accurate and more uncertain beyond five days. To enhance the reliability of a forecast, post-processing techniques are essential for addressing systematic errors. In September 2020, the NOAA NCEP implemented the Global Ensemble Forecast System version 12 (GEFSv12) to help manage climate risks. This study developed a Hybrid statistical post-processing method that combines Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and quantile mapping (QQ) approaches to predict daily maximum temperatures (Tmax) and their extremes in Taiwan during the summer season. The Hybrid technique, utilizing deep learning techniques, was applied to the GEFSv12 reforecast data and evaluated against ERA5 reanalysis. The Hybrid technique was the most effective among the three techniques tested. It had the lowest bias and RMSE and the highest correlation coefficient and Index of Agreement. It successfully reduced the warm bias and overestimation of Tmax extreme days. This led to improved prediction skills for all forecast lead times. Compared to ANN and QQ, the Hybrid method proved to be more effective in predicting daily Tmax, including extreme Tmax during summer, on extended-range time-scale deterministic and ensemble probabilistic forecasts over Taiwan.
Multiwave Matrix Polarization Lidar
Authors: Volkov Sergei N. , Bryukhanov Ilia D. , Samokhvalov Ignatii V. , Kim Duk-Hyeon , Noh Youngmin
Published: October 2023

Remote control of the state of the atmosphere is an urgent problem nowadays. The problem of remote monitoring of the optical parameters of the atmosphere is solved using a matrix polarization lidar (MPL). The scattering matrix obtained from polarization measurements contains complete information on the scattering parameters in the atmosphere. The purpose of the present research is the derivation of the theory and description of methods for solving problems of practical implementation of the multiwave MPL (MMPL). The problem is considered within the framework of the concept of the unified methodological approach to polarization studies. The MMPL operation principle is based on simultaneous use for sensing of the first, second, and third harmonics of radiation of a widespread Nd:YAG laser. The basis for achieving this purpose is provided by new methods of optical selection of the polarization components of radiation received in the experiment, methods of conducting polarization studies, and new solutions in experimental data processing methods. It has been shown that this challenge can be solved within the framework of simple solutions. Thus, the proposed MMPL is structurally simple and compact and can be implemented in mobile polarization lidar systems.
The Combined Effect of Atmospheric and Solar Activity Forcings on the Hydroclimate in Southeastern Europe
Authors: Mares Ileana , Dobrica Venera , Demetrescu Crisan , Mares Constantin
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of solar activity described by the sunspot number (SSN) on certain terrestrial variables that might impact the Southeastern European climate at different spatio-temporal scales (the North Atlantic Oscillation Index, NAOI, and the Greenland–Balkan Oscillation Index, GBOI—on a large scale; the Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, PHDI—on a regional scale; the Danube discharge at the Orsova (lower basin), Q, representative of the Southeastern European climate—on a local scale). The investigations were carried out for the 20th century using the annual and seasonal averages. To find the connections between terrestrial (atmospheric and hydrological) parameters and SSN, the wavelet coherence were used both globally and in the time–frequency domain. The analyses were carried out for the time series and considered simultaneously (in the same year or season), as well as with lags from 1 to 5 years between the analyzed variables. For the annual values, the type of correlation (linear/non-linear) was also tested using elements from information theory. The results clearly revealed non-linear links between the SSN and the terrestrial variables, even for the annual average values. By applying the wavelet transform to test the solar influence on the terrestrial variables, it was shown that the connections depend on both the terrestrial variable, as well as on the considered lags. Since, in the present study, they were analyzed using wavelet coherence, but only the cases in which the coherence was significant for almost the entire analyzed time interval (1901–2000) and the terrestrial variables were in phase or antiphase with the SSN were considered. Relatively few results had a high level of significance. The analysis of seasonal averages revealed significant information, in addition to the analysis of annual averages. Thus, for the climatic indices, the GBOI and NAOI, a significant coherence (>95%) with the solar activity, associated with the 22-year (Hale) solar cycle, was found for the autumn season for lag = 0 and 1 year. The Hale solar cycle, in the case of the PHDI, was present in the annual and summer season averages, more clearly at lag = 0. For the Danube discharge at Orsova, the most significant SSN signature (~95%) was observed at periods of 33 years (Brüuckner cycle) in the autumn season for lags from 0 to 3 years. An analysis of the redundancy–synergy index was also carried out on the combination of the terrestrial variables with the solar variable in order to find the best synergistic combination for estimating the Danube discharge in the lower basin. The results differed depending on the timescale and the solar activity. For the average annual values, the most significant synergistic index was obtained for the combination of the GBOI, PHDI, and SSN, considered 3 years before Q.
Microwave-Assisted Recovery of Spent LiCoO2 Battery from the Corresponding Black Mass
Authors: Scaglia Matteo , Cornelio Antonella , Zanoletti Alessandra , La Corte Daniele , Biava Giada , Alessandri Ivano , Forestan Angelo , Alba Catya , Depero Laura , Bontempi Elza
Published: October 2023

The literature indicates that utilizing pyrometallurgical methods for processing spent LiCoO2 (LCO) batteries can lead to cobalt recovery in the forms of Co3O4, CoO, and Co, while lithium can be retrieved as Li2O or Li2CO3. However, the technology’s high energy consumption has also been noted as a challenge in this recovery process. Recently, an innovative and sustainable approach using microwave (MW) radiation has been proposed as an alternative to traditional pyrometallurgical methods for treating used lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). This method aims to address the shortcomings of the conventional approach. In this study, the treatment of the black mass (BM) from spent LCO batteries is explored for the first time using MW–materials interaction under an air atmosphere. The research reveals that the process can trigger carbothermic reactions. However, MW makes the BM so reactive that it causes rapid heating of the sample in a few minutes, also posing a fire risk. This paper presents and discusses the benefits and potential hazards associated with this novel technology for the recovery of spent LCO batteries and gives information about real samples of BM. The work opens the possibility of using a microwave for raw material recovery in spent LIBs, allowing to obtain rapid and more efficient reactions.
State of Health Assessment of Spent Lithium–Ion Batteries Based on Voltage Integral during the Constant Current Charge
Authors: Amuta Ote , Kowal Julia
Published: October 2023

Lithium–ion batteries (LIBs) are used in many personal electronic devices (PED) and energy-demanding applications such as electric vehicles. After their first use, rather than dispose of them for recycling, some may still have reasonable capacity and can be used in secondary applications. The current test methods to assess them are either slow, complex or expensive. The voltage integral during the constant current (CC) charge of the same model of LIBs strongly correlates with the state of health (SOH) and is faster than a full capacity check. Compared to the filtering requirement in the incremental capacity (IC) and differential voltage (DV) or the complex analysis in the electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS), the voltage integral offers a simple integration method, just like the simple capacity Coulomb’s counter that is installed in many BMS for estimating the SOC of LIBs. By obtaining the voltage integral of a relatively new cell and an old cell of the same model with known SOH at a given ambient temperature and CC charge, the SOH of other similar cells can be easily estimated by finding their voltage integrals.
Age-Dependent Alterations in Semen Parameters and Human Sperm MicroRNA Profile
Authors: Santiago Joana , Silva Joana V. , Santos Manuel A. S. , Fardilha Margarida
Published: October 2023

The trend to delay parenthood is increasing, impacting fertility and reproductive outcomes. Advanced paternal age (APA), defined as men’s age above 40 years at conception, has been linked with testicular impairment, abnormal semen parameters, and poor reproductive and birth outcomes. Recently, the significance of sperm microRNA for fertilization and embryonic development has emerged. This work aimed to investigate the effects of men’s age on semen parameters and sperm microRNA profiles. The ejaculates of 333 Portuguese men were collected between 2018 and 2022, analyzed according to WHO guidelines, and a density gradient sperm selection was performed. For microRNA expression analysis, 16 normozoospermic human sperm samples were selected and divided into four age groups: ≤30, 31–35, 36–40, and >40 years. microRNA target genes were retrieved from the miRDB and TargetScan databases and Gene Ontology analysis was performed using the DAVID tool. No significant correlation was found between male age and conventional semen parameters, except for volume. Fifteen differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) between groups were identified. Enrichment analysis suggested the involvement of DEMs in the sperm of men with advanced age in critical biological processes like embryonic development, morphogenesis, and male gonad development. Targets of DEMs were involved in signaling pathways previously associated with the ageing process, including cellular senescence, autophagy, insulin, and mTOR pathways. These results suggest that although conventional semen parameters were not affected by men’s age, alterations in microRNA regulation may occur and be responsible for poor fertility and reproductive outcomes associated with APA.
Auto-Classification of Parkinson’s Disease with Different Motor Subtypes Using Arterial Spin Labelling MRI Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Xiong Jinhua , Zhu Haiyan , Li Xuhang , Hao Shangci , Zhang Yueyi , Wang Zijian , Xi Qian
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study was to automatically classify different motor subtypes of Parkinson’s disease (PD) on arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) data using support vector machine (SVM). This study included 38 subjects: 21 PD patients and 17 normal controls (NCs). Based on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscores, patients were divided into the tremor-dominant (TD) subtype and the postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) subtype. The subjects were in a resting state during the acquisition of ASL-MRI data. The automated anatomical atlas 3 (AAL3) template was registered to obtain an ASL image of the same size and shape. We obtained the voxel values of 170 brain regions by considering the location coordinates of these regions and then normalized the data. The length of the feature vector depended on the number of voxel values in each brain region. Three binary classification models were utilized for classifying subjects’ data, and we applied SVM to classify voxels in the brain regions. The left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC_sub_L) was clearly distinguished in both NCs and PD patients using SVM, and we obtained satisfactory diagnostic rates (accuracy = 92.31%, specificity = 96.97%, sensitivity = 84.21%, and AUCmax = 0.9585). For the right supramarginal gyrus (SupraMarginal_R), SVM distinguished the TD group from the other groups with satisfactory diagnostic rates (accuracy = 84.21%, sensitivity = 63.64%, specificity = 92.59%, and AUCmax = 0.9192). For the right intralaminar of thalamus (Thal_IL_R), SVM distinguished the PIGD group from the other groups with satisfactory diagnostic rates (accuracy = 89.47%, sensitivity = 70.00%, specificity = 6.43%, and AUCmax = 0.9464). These results are consistent with the changes in blood perfusion related to PD subtypes. In addition, the sensitive brain regions of the TD group and PIGD group involve the brain regions where the cerebellothalamocortical (CTC) and the striatal thalamocortical (STC) loops are located. Therefore, it is suggested that the blood perfusion patterns of the two loops may be different. These characteristic brain regions could become potential imaging markers of cerebral blood flow to distinguish TD from PIGD. Meanwhile, our findings provide an imaging basis for personalised treatment, thereby optimising clinical diagnostic and treatment approaches.
Design and Non-Linear Modeling of New Wind Girder Used for Bolted Tanks
Authors: Drahorad Lukas , Marsalek Pavel , Hroncek Juraj , Rybansky David , Sotola Martin , Poruba Zdenek , Larys Michal
Published: October 2023

Large-capacity bolted cylindrical tanks for liquid storage are used in many applications. The tanks are made of thin steel sheets that are connected by bolts. A common problem associated with tanks is deforming under extreme loads. Adding wind girders to the tank increases the tank’s buckling capacity, which is defined as the limit load at which the structure loses stability. The girders are usually placed in the horizontal joints of the tank wall. The girders are bent from standard or non-standard steel bars with a uniform cross-section. This type of design is difficult to produce, especially with large profiles or large curvatures, to avoid distortion of the cross-section during bending. Furthermore, the girders are customized to the given openings and curvature for various tank diameters. The resulting solution is then uneconomical and more complicated to store. This paper deals with the design and non-linear modeling of a new shape of wind girder for bolted tanks that eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages. To analyze the new shape of the girder, a non-linear numerical model of an open-topped tank with various dimensions is designed to study its buckling capacity.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ni–Co–O Nanosheets on Silicon Carbide Microspheres/Graphite Composite for Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Chang Han-Wei , Tsai Zong-Ying , Ye Jia-Jun , Chiu Kuo-Chuang , Liu Tzu-Yu , Tsai Yu-Chen
Published: October 2023

The well-interconnected ternary Ni–Co–O nanosheets were grown on silicon carbide microspheres/graphite composite (gra@SiC/Ni–Co–O) by optimizing the electrodeposition method. Silicon carbide microspheres/graphite composite (gra@SiC) serves as a conductive template for the growth of Ni–Co–O nanosheets to form a binder-free 3D well-designed hierarchical interconnected network between the Ni–Co–O nanosheets and SiC microspheres. The obtained gra@SiC/Ni–Co–O is proposed as a great capacitance performance for supercapacitors. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical analysis were employed to investigate the morphology and structural and electrochemical characteristics. The synergistic effects of EDLC (SiC microspheres) and pseudo-capacitance (Ni–Co–O nanosheets) can effectively improve the supercapacitive performance. It is also worth mentioning that after electrochemical testing, the redox reaction of Ni–Co–O nanosheets greatly promoted the faradic pseudo-capacitance contribution, and silicon carbide microspheres/graphite composite contributed to the formation of a 3D interconnected network, improving the cycling stability during the charging/discharging processes.
Characterisation of Aberrant Metabolic Pathways in Hepatoblastoma Using Liquid Chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Authors: Whitby Alison , Pabla Pardeep , Shastri Bhoomi , Amugi Laudina , Del Río-Álvarez Álvaro , Kim Dong-Hyun , Royo Laura , Armengol Carolina , Dandapani Madhumita
Published: October 2023

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare childhood tumour with an evolving molecular landscape. We present the first comprehensive metabolomic analysis using untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of paired tumour and non-tumour surgical samples in HB patients (n = 8 pairs). This study demonstrates that the metabolomic landscape of HB is distinct from that of non-tumour (NT) liver tissue, with 35 differentially abundant metabolites mapping onto pathways such as fatty acid transport, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, branched-chain amino acid degradation and glutathione synthesis. Targeted metabolomics demonstrated reduced short-chain acylcarnitines and a relative accumulation of branched-chain amino acids. Medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines in HB were similar to those in NT. The metabolomic changes reported are consistent with previously reported transcriptomic data from tumour and non-tumour samples (49 out of 54 targets) as well as metabolomic data obtained using other techniques. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) from RNAseq data (n = 32 paired HB and NT samples) demonstrated a downregulation of the carnitine metabolome and immunohistochemistry showed a reduction in CPT1a (n = 15 pairs), which transports fatty acids into the mitochondria, suggesting a lack of utilisation of long-chain fatty acids in HB. Thus, our findings suggest a reduced metabolic flux in HB which is corroborated at the gene expression and protein levels. Further work could yield novel insights and new therapeutic targets.
Colorectal Pulmonary Metastases: Pulmonary Metastasectomy or Stereotactic Radiotherapy?
Authors: van Dorp Martijn , Trimbos Constantia , Schreurs Wilhelmina H. , Dickhoff Chris , Heineman David J. , Torensma Bart , Kazemier Geert , van den Broek Frank J. C. , Slotman Ben J. , Dahele Max
Published: October 2023

Background: Pulmonary metastasectomy and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) are both guideline-recommended treatments for selected patients with oligometastatic colorectal pulmonary metastases. However, there is limited evidence comparing these local treatment modalities in similar patient groups. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of consecutive patients treated for colorectal pulmonary metastases with surgical metastasectomy or SABR from 2012 to 2019 at two Dutch referral hospitals that had different approaches toward the local treatment of colorectal pulmonary metastases, one preferring surgery, the other preferring SABR. Two comparable patient groups were identified based on tumor and treatment characteristics. Results: The metastasectomy group comprised 40 patients treated for 69 metastases, and the SABR group had 60 patients who were treated for 90 metastases. Median follow-up was 38 months (IQR: 26–67) in the surgery group and 46 months (IQR: 30–79) in the SABR group. Median OS was 58 months (CI: 20–94) in the metastasectomy group and 70 months (CI: 29–111) in the SABR group (p = 0.23). Five-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was 44% after metastasectomy and 30% after SABR (p = 0.16). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 15 months (CI: 3–26) in the metastasectomy group and 10 months (CI: 6–13) in the SABR group (p = 0.049). Local recurrence rate was 12.5/7.2% of patients/metastases respectively after metastasectomy and 38.3/31.1% after SABR (p < 0.001). Lower BED Gy10 was correlated with an increased likelihood of recurrence (p = 0.025). Clavien Dindo grade III-V complication rates were 2.5% after metastasectomy and 0% after SABR (p = 0.22). Conclusion: In this retrospective cohort study, pulmonary metastasectomy and SABR had comparable overall survival, local recurrence-free survival, and complication rates, despite patients in the SABR group having a significantly lower progression-free survival and local control rate. These data would support a randomized controlled trial comparing surgery and SABR in operable patients with radically resectable colorectal pulmonary metastases.
Antiangiogenics in Malignant Granular Cell Tumors: Review of the Literature
Authors: Torrado Carlos , Camaño Melisa , Hindi Nadia , Ortega Justo , Sevillano Alberto R. , Civantos Gema , Moura David S. , Dimino Alessandra , Martín-Broto Javier
Published: October 2023

Granular cell tumors (GCT) represent 0.5% of all soft tissue sarcomas (STS), and when metastatic, they exhibit aggressive behavior and determine limited survival. Metastatic GCTs are relatively chemo-resistant; however, there is growing evidence of the benefit of using pazopanib and other targeted therapies in this histology. This is a review of the role of pazopanib and other targeted therapies in the treatment of GCTs, along with some insights on pathology and molecular biology described in GCTs. From 256 articles found in our search, 10 case-report articles met the inclusion criteria. Pazopanib was the most employed systemic therapy. The median reported time on therapy with pazopanib was seven months. Eight out of ten patients (80%) experienced disease control with pazopanib, while four out of ten (40%) patients achieved an objective RECIST response. Molecular studies suggested that antitumoral effects of pazopanib in GCT might be due to a loss-of-function of ATP6AP1/2 genes which consequently enhance signaling through several molecular pathways, such as SFKs, STAT5a/b, and PDGFR-β. Other reported targeted therapies for malignant GCTs included pazopanib in combination with crizotinib, which showed disease control for four months in one patient, and a PI3K inhibitor which achieved disease control for nine months in another patient. Dasatinib and megestrol were ineffective in two other different patients. Pazopanib has been demonstrated to be active in advanced GCTs and may be considered as a preferable treatment option.
MLH1 Methylation Testing as an Integral Component of Universal Endometrial Cancer Screening—A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Plotkin Anna , Olkhov-Mitsel Ekaterina , Nofech-Mozes Sharon
Published: October 2023

MLH1/PMS2 loss due to MLH1 promoter hypermethylation (MLH1-PHM) is the most common cause of mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency in endometrial cancer (EC). This study aimed to determine the proportion of MLH1-deficient EC with PHM, assess the impact of the reflex MLH1-PHM testing strategy, and evaluate the associated costs within the publicly funded Canadian healthcare system. In a cohort of 2504 EC samples, 534 (21.4%) exhibited dual MLH1/PMS2 loss, prompting MLH1-PHM testing. Among 418 cases with available testing results, 404 (96.7%) were MLH1-hypermethylated, while 14 (3.3%) were non-methylated. The incidence of MLH1 non-methylated cases in our cohort was 14/2504 (0.56%) of all ECs, underscoring the prevalence of hypermethylation-driven MLH1/PMS2 loss in ECs universally screened for MMR deficiency. Reflex MLH1-PHM testing incurs substantial costs and resource utilization. Assay cost is CAD 231.90 per case, amounting to CAD 123,834.60 for 534 cases, with 30 tests needed per additional candidate for MLH1 germline analysis (CAD 6957.00 per candidate). This raises a provocative question: can we assume that the majority of the MLH1-deficient ECs are due to PHM and forgo further testing in healthcare systems with finite resources? It is imperative to assess resource utilization efficiency and explore optimized approaches that encompass clinical correlation, family history and judicious utilization of methylation testing to ensure it is provided only to those who stand to benefit from it.
Immunocheckpoint Inhibitors in Microsatellite-Stable or Proficient Mismatch Repair Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Are We Entering a New Era?
Authors: Matteucci Laura , Bittoni Alessandro , Gallo Graziana , Ridolfi Laura , Passardi Alessandro
Published: October 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe. About 5% of metastatic CRC (mCRC) are characterized by high microsatellite instability (MSI) due to a deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR), and this condition has been related to a high sensitivity to immunotherapy, in particular to the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs). In fact, in MSI-H or dMMR mCRC, treatment with ICIs induced remarkable response rates and prolonged survival. However, the majority of mCRC cases are mismatch-repair-proficient (pMMR) and microsatellite-stable (MSS), and unfortunately these conditions involve resistance to ICIs. This review aims to provide an overview of the strategies implemented to overcome ICI resistance and/or define subgroups of patients with MSS or dMMR mCRC who may benefit from immunotherapy.
Clinical Features of Gastric Signet Ring Cell Cancer: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dal Cero Mariagiulia , Bencivenga Maria , Liu Drolaiz H. W. , Sacco Michele , Alloggio Mariella , Kerckhoffs Kelly G. P. , Filippini Federica , Saragoni Luca , Iglesias Mar , Tomezzoli Anna , Carneiro Fátima , Grabsch Heike I. , Verlato Giuseppe , Torroni Lorena , Piessen Guillaume , Pera Manuel , de Manzoni Giovanni
Published: October 2023

Background: Conflicting results about the prognostic relevance of signet ring cell histology in gastric cancer have been reported. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis focusing on the clinicopathological features and prognosis of this subgroup of cancer compared with other histologies. Methods: A systematic literature search in the PubMed database was conducted, including all publications up to 1 October 2021. A meta-analysis comparing the results of the studies was performed. Results: A total of 2062 studies referring to gastric cancer with signet ring cell histology were identified, of which 262 studies reported on its relationship with clinical information. Of these, 74 were suitable to be included in the meta-analysis. A slightly lower risk of developing nodal metastases in signet ring cell tumours compared to other histotypes was found (especially to undifferentiated/poorly differentiated/mucinous and mixed histotypes); the lower risk was more evident in early and slightly increased in advanced gastric cancer. Survival tended to be better in early stage signet ring cell cancer compared to other histotypes; no differences were shown in advanced stages, and survival was poorer in metastatic patients. In the subgroup analysis, survival in signet ring cell cancer was slightly worse compared to non-signet ring cell cancer and differentiated/well-to-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: Most of the conflicting results in signet ring cell gastric cancer literature could be derived from the lack of standardisation in their classification and the comparison with the different subtypes of gastric cancer. There is a critical need to strive for a standardised classification system for gastric cancer, fostering clarity and coherence in the forthcoming research and clinical applications.
Single-Probe Percutaneous Cryoablation with Liquid Nitrogen for the Treatment of T1a Renal Tumors
Authors: Moulin Benjamin , Kammoun Tarek , Audoual Regis , Droupy Stéphane , Servois Vincent , Meria Paul , Beregi Jean paul , Frandon Julien
Published: October 2023

Kidney cancer accounts for 3% of adult malignancies and is increasingly detected through advanced imaging techniques, highlighting the need for effective treatment strategies. This retrospective study assessed the safety and efficacy of a new single-probe percutaneous cryoablation system using liquid nitrogen for treating T1a renal cancers. From May 2019 to May 2022, 25 consecutive patients from two academic hospitals, with a median age of 64.8 years [IQR 59; 75.5], underwent cryoablation for 26 T1a renal tumors. These tumors had a median size of 25.3 mm [20; 30.7] and a median RENAL nephrometry score, indicating tumor complexity, of 7 [5; 9]. No major complications arose, but three non-clinically relevant perirenal hematomas were detected on post-procedure CT scans. With a median follow-up of 795 days [573; 1020], the primary local control rate at one month stood was 80.8% (21 out of 26). The five recurrent lesions, which exhibited a higher renal score (p = 0.016), were treated again using cryoablation, achieving a secondary local control rate of 100%. No patient died, and the disease-free survival rate was 92% (23 out of 25). In conclusion, single-probe percutaneous cryoablation emerges as a promising modality for managing small renal masses. Notably, recurrence rates appear influenced by RENAL nephrometry scores, suggesting a need for further research to refine the technique.
The Complex Interplay Relationship between HCV Infection, Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Occurrence
Authors: Cavalletto Luisa , Villa Erica , Chemello Liliana
Published: October 2023

The new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are highly effective, despite the short duration of treatment, and very tolerable [...]
Adding Value to Liquid Biopsy for Brain Tumors: The Role of Imaging
Authors: Khalili Nastaran , Shooli Hossein , Hosseini Nastaran , Fathi Kazerooni Anahita , Familiar Ariana , Bagheri Sina , Anderson Hannah , Bagley Stephen J. , Nabavizadeh Ali
Published: October 2023

Clinical management in neuro-oncology has changed to an integrative approach that incorporates molecular profiles alongside histopathology and imaging findings. While the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline recommends the genotyping of informative alterations as a routine clinical practice for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, the acquisition of tumor tissue in the CNS is invasive and not always possible. Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive approach that provides the opportunity to capture the complex molecular heterogeneity of the whole tumor through the detection of circulating tumor biomarkers in body fluids, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Despite all of the advantages, the low abundance of tumor-derived biomarkers, particularly in CNS tumors, as well as their short half-life has limited the application of liquid biopsy in clinical practice. Thus, it is crucial to identify the factors associated with the presence of these biomarkers and explore possible strategies that can increase the shedding of these tumoral components into biological fluids. In this review, we first describe the clinical applications of liquid biopsy in CNS tumors, including its roles in the early detection of recurrence and monitoring of treatment response. We then discuss the utilization of imaging in identifying the factors that affect the detection of circulating biomarkers as well as how image-guided interventions such as focused ultrasound can help enhance the presence of tumor biomarkers through blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption.
Polysaccharide-Stabilized PdAg Nanocatalysts for Hydrogenation of 2-Hexyn-1-ol
Authors: Zharmagambetova Alima K. , Talgatov Eldar T. , Auyezkhanova Assemgul S. , Bukharbayeva Farida U. , Jumekeyeva Aigul I.
Published: October 2023

We used a new one-pot green technique to prepare polysaccharide-based Pd and PdAg nanocatalysts. Catalysts were obtained using a sequentially supporting natural polymer (2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), chitosan (Chit), pectin (Pec)) and metals on zinc oxide. Nanocatalysts based on a polysaccharide were studied using various physicochemical methods (IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, etc.). The catalyst characterization results indicated the complete adsorption of polysaccharides and metal ions onto the inorganic support (ZnO). We demonstrated the formation of polysaccharide-stabilized Pd nanoparticles with a size of ~2 nm. Metal nanoparticles were uniformly located on the surface of polysaccharide-modified zinc oxide. The synthesized catalysts were tested using liquid-phase hydrogenation of 2-hexyn-1-ol under mild conditions (0.1 MPa, 40 °C). Close conversion values of 2-hexyn1-ol were obtained for all the developed catalysts. The selectivity for cis-hexen-1-ol of the polysaccharide-based PdAg nanocatalysts varied as follows: PdAg-HEC/ZnO > PdAg-Pec/ZnO > PdAg-Chit/ZnO. A similar correlation was obtained in the presence of monometallic Pd-polysaccharide/ZnO catalysts. We determined the optimum reaction temperature and catalyst loading for PdAg catalysts modified using HEC and Chit (40 °C, 0.05 g).
Modifying Headspace Sampling Environment Improves Detection of Boar Taint Compounds in Pork Fat Samples
Authors: Burgeon Clément , Markey Alice , Brostaux Yves , Fauconnier Marie-Laure
Published: October 2023

The extraction of boar taint compounds from pork fat samples was performed under various temperature (150, 300 and 450 °C) and atmosphere (air, nitrogen and reduced pressure) conditions. This aimed at understanding which conditions allow the greatest extractions of indole, skatole and androstenone (present in backfat in low concentrations) while limiting the presence of other VOCs in the headspace of heated fat (interfering with correct VOC-based detection of boar taint compounds). Indole and skatole were extracted in the greatest concentrations when heating backfat at 450 °C under reduced pressure, while androstenone was highest when heating at 300 °C under reduced pressure. Oxidation products were most abundant under air conditions, nitrogenated products appeared in the presence of a nitrogen-enriched atmosphere, and lastly, molecules intrinsic to boar fat saw their headspace concentration increase with reduced pressure. The combination of 450 °C and reduced pressure atmosphere was suggested for the heating of backfat prior to detection with analytical methods and to complement the current sensory analysis.
Exploiting Surface Plasmon with Dielectric Coating in Copper Wires Waveguide for the Propagation of Terahertz Waves
Authors: Sohoo Arslan Ahmed , Seman Fauziahanim Che , Al-Gburi Ahmed Jamal Abdullah , Ahmad Hamza , Khee Yee See , Ishak Nurul Syafeeqa Binti , Alghamdi Thamer A. H. , Alathbah Moath
Published: October 2023

Recently, metallic wires have gained popularity for utilization as waveguides in propagating sub-THz and THz waves through surface plasmonic polaritons (SPPs). Single and double metallic wire waveguides have demonstrated the ability to propagate these high frequencies with minimal loss and nearly zero dispersion. However, wires typically installed commercially are often coated with dielectric material. Therefore, this paper investigated the effects of using two and four metallic copper wires, both with and without dielectric coating. The impact of various gap distances on different propagation characteristics was also analyzed. Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio was employed in this study for electromagnetic simulations of both uncoated and coated configurations of two and four wires. The introduction of a dielectric coating led to an enhancement in reducing conductor losses and improving energy confinement, with the goal of enhancing the overall efficiency of waveguide signal propagation.
Trends in Nanoparticles for Leishmania Treatment: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis
Authors: Mazón-Ortiz Gabriel , Cerda-Mejía Galo , Gutiérrez Morales Eberto , Diéguez-Santana Karel , Ruso Juan M. , González-Díaz Humberto
Published: October 2023

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical illness with a wide variety of clinical signs ranging from visceral to cutaneous symptoms, resulting in millions of new cases and thousands of fatalities reported annually. This article provides a bibliometric analysis of the main authors’ contributions, institutions, and nations in terms of productivity, citations, and bibliographic linkages to the application of nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of leishmania. The study is based on a sample of 524 Scopus documents from 1991 to 2022. Utilising the Bibliometrix R-Tool version 4.0 and VOSviewer software, version 1.6.17 the analysis was developed. We identified crucial subjects associated with the application of NPs in the field of antileishmanial development (NPs and drug formulation for leishmaniasis treatment, animal models, and experiments). We selected research topics that were out of date and oversaturated. Simultaneously, we proposed developing subjects based on multiple analyses of the corpus of published scientific literature (title, abstract, and keywords). Finally, the technique used contributed to the development of a broader and more specific “big picture” of nanomedicine research in antileishmanial studies for future projects.
A Dynamic Monitoring Method of Public Opinion Risk of Overseas Direct Investment—Based on Multifractal Situation Optimization
Authors: Li Yong
Published: October 2023

The negative public opinions and views on overseas direct investment (ODI) of a multinational enterprise (MNE) will damage the image of its brand and are likely to bring it serious economic and social losses. So, it is important for the MNE to understand the formation and spread mechanism of public opinion risk (POR) in order to effectively respond to and guide the public opinion. This research proposed a multifractal-based situation optimization method to explore the POR evolution based on the media-based negative sentiment on China’s ODI. The sentiment measurement is obtained by a directed crawler for gathering the text of media reports corresponding to a certain ODI event using a URL knowledge base from the GDELT Event Database. Taking the public opinion crisis of the tax evasion incident of the local arm of China’s MNE in India as an example, the experiments show that this method could dynamically monitor the POR event in real-time and help MNE guide the effective control and benign evolution of public opinion of the event.
Coarse-to-Fine Homography Estimation for Infrared and Visible Images
Authors: Wang Xingyi , Luo Yinhui , Fu Qiang , He Yuanqing , Shu Chang , Wu Yuezhou , Liao Yanhao
Published: October 2023

Homography estimation for infrared and visible images is a critical and fundamental task in multimodal image processing. Recently, the coarse-to-fine strategy has been gradually applied to the homography estimation task and has proved to be effective. However, current coarse-to-fine homography estimation methods typically require the introduction of additional neural networks to acquire multi-scale feature maps and the design of complex homography matrix fusion strategies. In this paper, we propose a new unsupervised homography estimation method for infrared and visible images. First, we design a novel coarse-to-fine strategy. This strategy utilizes different stages in the regression network to obtain multi-scale feature maps, enabling the progressive refinement of the homography matrix. Second, we design a local correlation transformer (LCTrans), which aims to capture the intrinsic connections between local features more precisely, thus highlighting the features crucial for homography estimation. Finally, we design an average feature correlation loss (AFCL) to enhance the robustness of the model. Through extensive experiments, we validated the effectiveness of all the proposed components. Experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms existing methods on synthetic benchmark datasets in both qualitative and quantitative comparisons.
Fault Diagnosis of Vibration Sensors Based on Triage Loss Function-Improved XGBoost
Authors: Fan Chao , Li Cheng , Peng Yanfeng , Shen Yiping , Cao Guanghui , Li Sai
Published: October 2023

Vibration sensors are prone to bias, drift, and other failures. To avoid misjudgments in state monitoring systems and potential safety accidents caused by vibration sensor failures, it is significant to diagnose the faults of vibration sensors. Existing methods for vibration sensor fault diagnosis are primarily based on Deep Learning, but Extreme Gradient Boosting stands out due to its excellent interpretability, and compared to other ensemble learning algorithms, it boasts superior accuracy and efficiency. Therefore, a vibration sensor fault diagnosis method based on Extreme Gradient Boosting is proposed to diagnose seven common types of faults in vibration sensors. To prevent the model from being overwhelmed by simple negative cases during training, a new loss function named Triage Loss is designed to improve the classifier’s performance. The vibration sensor fault diagnosis has confirmed the efficacy and practicality of the suggested approach. The experimental results indicate that the training of the model done using Triage Loss outperforms the training model done using the default loss function, with a maximum improvement of 5.4% accuracy, 5.45% in the F1-score, and 9.87% in the mean Average Precision under different fault rates.
Temperature Field and Performance Analysis of Brush Seals Based on FEA-CFD and the Porous Medium of Anisotropic Heat Transfer Models
Authors: Song Xiaolei , Liu Meihong , Sun Junfeng , Wang Juan , Wang Kun
Published: October 2023

A brush seal is a type of contact sealing technology that generates a great amount of heat during operations. The heat can affect the seal’s performance and lifespan. To study the brush seals’ temperature distribution, a new model considering the anisotropic heat transfer effect is established in this paper. The friction heat effect at the bristles’ tip is studied. The temperature field and leakage rates are obtained by using combined finite element analysis (FEA)-computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and the anisotropic heat transfer theory. The influence of operating and structural parameters on the temperature field and the sealing properties of the brush seal are investigated. It is shown that the value of the rotation rate and the interference can cause the temperature of the brush seal to increase. The pressure difference enhances the convective heat transfer from the brush seals. While the temperature at the bristles’ tip increases, the radial average temperature of the bristles decreases significantly. In the case of a small pressure difference, the fence’s height can increase the windward area, leading to stiff bristles and resulting in a temperature increase at the bristles’ tip; however, the effective flow area increases, resulting in an acceleration of the radial temperature’s decrease. To summarize, the porous medium model of anisotropic heat transfer provides a new method for studying brush seals, and it can reflect the temperature distribution and leakage performance of brush seals.
ILA Optimisation Based Control for Enhancing DC Link Voltage with Seamless and Adaptive VSC Control in a PV-BES Based AC Microgrid
Authors: Samoon Farhat Afzah , Hussain Ikhlaq , Iqbal Sheikh Javed
Published: October 2023

The paper presents a grid-connected microgrid with a photovoltaic system and a battery as a storage element. The optimal design and control of storage elements and power quality improvement are enhanced using sigmoid-function-based variable step size (SFB-VSS) adaptive LMS control. The DC-link voltage and battery current are enhanced using an ILA-optimization-based PI controller. Comparative analysis shows that an ILA-optimized PI controller improves battery stress and DC-link voltage fluctuations, enhancing overall system stability. The relative percentage error of Vdc is only 0.5714% for ILA-optimized values as compared to GA, PSO, and manually tuned PI gains which are 0.857%, 1.14285%, and 0.86%, respectively. ILA-optimized parameters also enhance battery current, reducing stress on the battery. The system was studied under various dynamic conditions, achieving power balance in all conditions. The system has the capability of seamless transfer of control from GC mode to SA mode when the grid is disconnected. The proposed VSC control shows better performance in steady-state and dynamic conditions, maintaining a THD under 5%, which follows IEEE standard 519, and providing better DC offset rejection, fewer oscillations in the weight component of the load, and better convergence. The proposed control also enhances the frequency of the grid, ensuring a smooth transition between modes. The system is simulated in the MATLAB Simulink environment, and all the optimization techniques were carried out offline.