bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study on the Failure Mechanism of Finned Pile Foundation under Horizontal Cyclic Loads
Authors: Duan Lunliang , Fan Meiling , Zhan Bolin , Wang Haicui , Liu Haiming , Tang Guangwu , Geng Bo
Published: September 2024

In order to study the failure mechanism of a finned pile foundation under horizontal cyclic loads, a physical model test of the pile–soil interaction of finned pile is designed in this paper. Based on the model tests, the pile top displacement, the cyclic stiffness of the pile foundation, and the response of pore water pressure within the soil around the pile were fully studied for the finned pile foundation under horizontal cyclic loads. It is found that the cyclic stiffness attenuation of the finned pile foundation is more severe than that of a regular single pile foundation, but the final stiffness at equilibrium is still greater than that of a regular single pile foundation. The accumulation of horizontal displacement at the pile top and pore water pressure within the soil around the pile mainly occurs in the first 1000 loading cycles, and an increase in fin plate size will reduce the magnitude of pore water pressure and pile top displacement. This study can not only deepen the understanding of the failure mechanism of finned pile foundation under horizontal cyclic loads, but also provide guidance for the design of the finned pile foundation.
Quantifying and Rating the Energy Resilience Performance of Buildings Integrated with Renewables in the Nordics under Typical and Extreme Climatic Conditions
Authors: Rehman Hassam ur , Nik Vahid M. , Ramesh Rakesh , Ala-Juusela Mia
Published: September 2024

The future buildings and society need to be resilient. This article aims to propose a novel concept of the energy resilience framework and implement a color-based rating system to quantify and rate the energy resilience performance of buildings in Nordic climates. The objective is to conduct a comparative analysis between old (1970s) and new (2020s) single-family buildings integrated with renewable energy sources and storage, assessing their energy resilience performance for heating during power outages, under extreme and typical climatic conditions. The study utilizes dynamic simulation of the buildings and renewable energy systems, conducting parametric studies to calculate proposed resilience indicators and rate their resilience performance, employing both passive and active methods. The total costs of the design variables are also calculated for economic evaluation. Given the complexities arising from climate change, the article uses a simplified method to synthesize regional climate to consider extreme climate change impacts on energy resilience performance. For the old building lacking PV, the robustness duration increased from 1 h to 3 h, and the degree of disruption (DoD) varied from 0.545 to 0.3 in extreme cold to warm climate scenarios, with the higher DoD number indicating worse performance. The impact of the season within the same climate scenario is also evident, as the habitability and robustness durations increased during spring compared to winter. The resilience improved with PV and battery. The new building showed that the robustness duration increased from 3 to 15 h, habitability durations increased, and the DoD varied from 0.496 to 0.22 from extreme cold to warm climates without renewables and storage. With the integration of PV and battery, the new building was able to achieve a lower DoD and better performance with lower PV and battery capacity, compared to the old building. Furthermore, utilizing the color grading method (red to green), optimal technical solutions and corresponding design variables were identified for each building type and climate scenario that could support decision-making. The total cost of the optimal solutions varied, as new buildings required lower costs to reach optimal performance. However, for optimal resilience performance during extreme cold climate scenarios, higher costs are required for each building type. The proposed resilience framework, indicators, color grading system, and costing could potentially support improvements in building regulations, ensuring the development of optimally resilient buildings, particularly in the face of extreme climatic conditions.
Bond–Slip Performance between Steel Tube and Self-Compacting Fly Ash Concrete
Authors: Hui Cun , Zhang Yihao , Lei Shijie , Wu Haipeng , Hai Ran
Published: September 2024

To reduce the amount of ordinary concrete and then reduce carbon dioxide emission, improving the engineering application range of self-compacting fly ash concrete (FASCC), this study explored the bond–slip traits between FASCC and a steel tube. Six samples were created, and bond–slip push-out tests were performed with varying concrete strength grades and steel tube internal setups. Digital image correlation (DIC) technology was applied to track the surface strain of four samples throughout the experiment. The results show that the outer surface of the steel tube stays mostly undistorted after the concrete is pushed out. Prior to reaching peak load, the load–slip curves of each specimen exhibit a primarily linear load–displacement relationship. Post-peak, the curves diverge into two distinct patterns, namely a sudden drop and a gradual decline. As the strength grade of the inner concrete increases, the interfacial bond between the steel tube and FASCC improves. Additionally, under the same conditions, the internal structure of the steel tube significantly enhances bonding strength. The FA40-Z specimen shows a maximum load that is 25.6% and 53.7% higher than the FA40-G and FA40-C specimens, respectively. The strain evolution patterns of steel tubes within FASCC and regular self-compacting concrete demonstrate similar characteristics. These observations provide valuable insights for the application of FASCC in engineering projects.
The Digital Twin Immersive Design Process and Its Potential Disruption to Healthcare Design through a User-Centered Approach
Authors: Kemkomnerd Wasin , Tirapas Chamnarn
Published: September 2024

This applied research proposes a solution to the static government design process for Thai healthcare architecture to better serve the needs of its elderly society. In its place, a novel real-time design process, termed the Digital Twin Immersive Design Process (DT-IDP), repurposes aspects of digital twin and virtual reality technologies into a ‘unitary’ immersive design system. This system accesses ‘experiential’ user-centered data, helping enhance the design of Thai healthcare space beyond a standardized government response. This text builds a rationale for departing from the current design process by describing the formation and advantages of the DT-IDP process. To test its credibility, the DT-IDP process is used to build and compare two digital versions of an existing healthcare space. In these spaces, participants are immersed (elderly patients n = 30; nursing staff n = 5; government healthcare architects n = 5) to assess visitor experiences based on daylighting, artificial lighting, and views of nature. Following immersion, government healthcare architects are interviewed in-depth to evaluate the process’s efficacy and their willingness to adopt it. Results confirm the potential for this process to capture ‘user-centered’ insights, otherwise unobtainable without immersion. Consequently, healthcare architects express a unanimous preference for DT-IDP, acknowledging its unique capacity to bridge a market gap through an experiential component that could better assist them in creating a superior final product. Ultimately, they assert that demand for these features could have a disruptive impact to the current healthcare design process, helping to re-envisage the design of future Thai healthcare space.
HLA-A01 and HLA-B27 Supertypes, but Not HLA Homozygocity, Correlate with Clinical Outcome among Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Pembrolizumab in Combination with Chemotherapy
Authors: Abed Afaf , Reid Anna , Law Ngie , Millward Michael , Gray Elin S.
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Maximal heterozygosity on the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci has been found to be associated with improved survival and development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) among NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy. Here, we investigated the effect of germline HLA-I/-II on clinical outcomes among NSCLC patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy. Method: We prospectively recruited patients with NSCLC who were commencing first-line pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy. DNA from white blood cells was used for high-resolution HLA-I/II typing. Results: Of the 65 patients recruited, 53 complied with the inclusion criteria. We did not find an association between HLA-I/-II homozygosity and clinical outcome among the studied population. However, the presence of HLA-A01 was associated with unfavourable PFS (HR = 2.32, 95%CI 1.13–4.77, p = 0.022) and worsening OS (HR = 2.86, 95%CI 1.06–7.70, p = 0.038). The presence of HLA-B27 was associated with improved PFS (HR = 0.35, 95%CI 0.18–0.71, p = 0.004) and trends toward improving OS. None of the HLA-I supertypes were associated with the development or worsening of irAEs. Conclusions: The absence of association between genomic HLA-I/-II homozygosity and clinical outcome among patients with advanced NSCLC treated with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy might reflect a diminished role for HLA molecules among patients with low or no PD-L1. HLA-A01 and HLA-B27 might have a role in predicting clinical outcomes among this cohort of patients. Further studies are needed to explore biomarkers for this group of patients.
Minimal Requirements for Cancer Initiation: A Comparative Consideration of Three Prototypes of Human Leukemia
Authors: Hori Toshiyuki
Published: September 2024

Even if its completed form is complex, cancer originates from one or two events that happened to a single cell. A simplified model can play a role in understanding how cancer initiates at the beginning. The pathophysiology of leukemia has been studied in the most detailed manner among all human cancers. In this review, based on milestone papers and the latest research developments in hematology, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with RUNX1-RUNX1T1 are selected to consider minimal requirements for cancer initiation. A one-hit model can be applied to the initiation of APL and CML whereas a two-hit model is more suitable to the initiation of AML with RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and other AMLs. Even in cancer cells with multiple genetic abnormalities, there must be a few mutant genes critical for the mutant clone to survive and proliferate. Such genes should be identified and characterized in each case in order to develop individualized target therapy.
The Role of Predictive and Prognostic MRI-Based Biomarkers in the Era of Total Neoadjuvant Treatment in Rectal Cancer
Authors: Curcean Sebastian , Curcean Andra , Martin Daniela , Fekete Zsolt , Irimie Alexandru , Muntean Alina-Simona , Caraiani Cosmin
Published: September 2024

The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rectal cancer management has significantly increased over the last decade, in line with more personalized treatment approaches. Total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) plays a pivotal role in the shift from traditional surgical approach to non-surgical approaches such as ‘watch-and-wait’. MRI plays a central role in this evolving landscape, providing essential morphological and functional data that support clinical decision-making. Key MRI-based biomarkers, including circumferential resection margin (CRM), extramural venous invasion (EMVI), tumour deposits, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and MRI tumour regression grade (mrTRG), have proven valuable for staging, response assessment, and patient prognosis. Functional imaging techniques, such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), alongside emerging biomarkers derived from radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to transform rectal cancer management offering data that enhance T and N staging, histopathological characterization, prediction of treatment response, recurrence detection, and identification of genomic features. This review outlines validated morphological and functional MRI-derived biomarkers with both prognostic and predictive significance, while also exploring the potential of radiomics and artificial intelligence in rectal cancer management. Furthermore, we discuss the role of rectal MRI in the ‘watch-and-wait’ approach, highlighting important practical aspects in selecting patients for non-surgical management.
Highly Active Cerium Oxide Supported Solution Combustion Cu/Mn Catalysts for CO-PrOx in a Hydrogen-Rich Stream
Authors: Motha Sbusiso , Mahomed Abdul S. , Singh Sooboo , Friedrich Holger B.
Published: September 2024

Mono- and di-substituted cerium oxide catalysts, viz. Ce0.95Cu0.05O2-δ, Ce0.90Cu0.10O2-δ, Ce0.90 Cu0.05Mn0.05O2-δ, Ce0.85Cu0.10Mn0.05O2-δ, and Ce0.80Cu0.10Mn0.10O2-δ, were synthesized via a one-step urea-assisted solution combustion method. The elemental composition and textural and structural properties of the catalysts were determined by various physical, electronic, and chemical characterization techniques. Hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction showed that co-doping of copper and manganese ions into the CeO2-δ lattice improved the reducibility of copper. Powder XRD, XPS, HR-TEM, and Raman spectroscopy showed that the catalysts were a singled-phased, solid-solution metal oxide with a cerium oxide cubic fluorite (cerianite) structure, and evidence of oxygen vacancies was observed. Catalytic results in the preferential oxidation of CO in a hydrogen-rich stream showed that complete CO conversion occurred between 150 and 180 °C. Furthermore, at 150 °C, Ce0.90Cu0.05Mn0.05O2-δ, Ce0.90 Cu0.10O2-δ, and Ce0.85Cu0.10Mn0.05O2-δ catalysts were the most active, achieving complete CO conversion and CO2 selectivity of 81, 79, and 71%, respectively. The catalysts performed moderately in the presence of CO2 and water, with the Ce0.90Cu0.05Mn0.05O2-δ catalyst giving a CO conversion of 80% in CO2, which decreased to about 60% when water was added.
Influence of the Interaction of Nickel and Copper with Ceria on Ethanol Steam Reforming over Ni-Cu-CeO2 Catalysts
Authors: Pájaro Karen C. , Cortés Corberán Vicente , Martínez-Arias Arturo
Published: September 2024

Catalysts of nickel-ceria, nickel-copper-ceria, and copper-ceria were explored with respect to their properties for hydrogen production through ethanol steam reforming (ESR). They were prepared by coprecipitation of the components within inverse microemulsions to achieve intimate contact between them, and the catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption measurements, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, TPR, and XPS. The catalysts were tested for the ESR reaction, and they were regenerated with oxygen when significant deactivation took place, as occurred for the copper-containing systems. In contrast, the nickel–ceria catalyst exhibits a high activity and stability despite the formation of an important amount of carbon deposits during the course of the ESR test. The presence of nickel sites, which strongly interact with the ceria support, and which are affected by the presence of copper, and the limitation of copper for C-C bond breaking are invoked to explain the results obtained on the whole.
HGA Triggers SAA Aggregation and Accelerates Fibril Formation in the C20/A4 Alkaptonuria Cell Model
Authors: Mastroeni Pierfrancesco , Trezza Alfonso , Geminiani Michela , Frusciante Luisa , Visibelli Anna , Santucci Annalisa
Published: September 2024

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) gene, leading to the accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA), causing severe inflammatory conditions. Recently, the presence of serum amyloid A (SAA) has been reported in AKU tissues, classifying AKU as novel secondary amyloidosis; AA amyloidosis is characterized by the extracellular tissue deposition of fibrils composed of fragments of SAA. AA amyloidosis may complicate several chronic inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic infections, neoplasms, etc. Treatments of AA amyloidosis relieve inflammatory disorders by reducing SAA concentrations; however, no definitive therapy is currently available. SAA regulation is a crucial step to improve AA secondary amyloidosis treatments. Here, applying a comprehensive in vitro and in silico approach, we provided evidence that HGA is a disruptor modulator of SAA, able to enhance its polymerization, fibril formation, and aggregation upon SAA/SAP colocalization. In silico studies deeply dissected the SAA misfolding molecular pathway and SAA/HGA binding, suggesting novel molecular insights about it. Our results could represent an important starting point for identifying novel therapeutic strategies in AKU and AA secondary amyloidosis-related diseases.
LIP1 Regulates the Plant Circadian Oscillator by Modulating the Function of the Clock Component GIGANTEA
Authors: Hajdu Anita , Nyári Dóra , Terecskei Kata , Gyula Péter , Ádám Éva , Dobos Orsolya , Mérai Zsuzsanna , Kozma-Bognár László
Published: September 2024

Circadian clocks are biochemical timers regulating many physiological and molecular processes according to the day/night cycles. The function of the oscillator relies on negative transcriptional/translational feedback loops operated by the so-called clock genes and the encoded clock proteins. Previously, we identified the small GTPase LIGHT INSENSITIVE PERIOD 1 (LIP1) as a circadian-clock-associated protein that regulates light input to the clock in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We showed that LIP1 is also required for suppressing red and blue light-mediated photomorphogenesis, pavement cell shape determination and tolerance to salt stress. Here, we demonstrate that LIP1 is present in a complex of clock proteins GIGANTEA (GI), ZEITLUPE (ZTL) and TIMING OF CAB 1 (TOC1). LIP1 participates in this complex via GUANINE EX-CHANGE FACTOR 7. Analysis of genetic interactions proved that LIP1 affects the oscillator via modulating the function of GI. We show that LIP1 and GI independently and additively regulate photomorphogenesis and salt stress responses, whereas controlling cell shape and photoperiodic flowering are not shared functions of LIP1 and GI. Collectively, our results suggest that LIP1 affects a specific function of GI, possibly by altering binding of GI to downstream signalling components.
CCDC78: Unveiling the Function of a Novel Gene Associated with Hereditary Myopathy
Authors: Lopergolo Diego , Gallus Gian Nicola , Pieraccini Giuseppe , Boscaro Francesca , Berti Gianna , Serni Giovanni , Volpi Nila , Formichi Patrizia , Bianchi Silvia , Cassandrini Denise , Sorrentino Vincenzo , Rossi Daniela , Santorelli Filippo Maria , De Stefano Nicola , Malandrini Alessandro
Published: September 2024

CCDC78 was identified as a novel candidate gene for autosomal dominant centronuclear myopathy-4 (CNM4) approximately ten years ago. However, to date, only one family has been described, and the function of CCDC78 remains unclear. Here, we analyze for the first time a family harboring a CCDC78 nonsense mutation to better understand the role of CCDC78 in muscle. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive histopathological analysis on muscle biopsies, including immunofluorescent assays to detect multiple sarcoplasmic proteins. We examined CCDC78 transcripts and protein using WB in CCDC78-mutated muscle tissue; these analyses were also performed on muscle, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts from healthy subjects. Subsequently, we conducted RT-qPCR and transcriptome profiling through RNA-seq to evaluate changes in gene expression associated with CCDC78 dysfunction in muscle. Lastly, coimmunoprecipitation (Co-Ip) assays and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) studies were carried out on extracted muscle proteins from both healthy and mutated subjects. Results: The histopathological features in muscle showed novel histological hallmarks, which included areas of dilated and swollen sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). We provided evidence of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), identified the presence of novel CCDC78 transcripts in muscle and lymphocytes, and identified 1035 muscular differentially expressed genes, including several involved in the SR. Through the Co-Ip assays and LC-MS/MS studies, we demonstrated that CCDC78 interacts with two key SR proteins: SERCA1 and CASQ1. We also observed interactions with MYH1, ACTN2, and ACTA1. Conclusions: Our findings provide insight, for the first time, into the interactors and possible role of CCDC78 in skeletal muscle, locating the protein in the SR. Furthermore, our data expand on the phenotype previously associated with CCDC78 mutations, indicating potential histopathological hallmarks of the disease in human muscle. Based on our data, we can consider CCDC78 as the causative gene for CNM4.
Class Effect Unveiled: PPARγ Agonists and MEK Inhibitors in Cancer Cell Differentiation
Authors: Ben-Yishay Rakefet , Globus Opher , Balint-Lahat Nora , Arbili-Yarhi Sheli , Bar-Hai Neta , Bar Vered , Aharon Sara , Kosenko Anna , Zundelevich Adi , Berger Raanan , Ishay-Ronen Dana
Published: September 2024

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a major role in breast cancer progression and the development of drug resistance. We have previously demonstrated a trans-differentiation therapeutic approach targeting invasive dedifferentiated cancer cells. Using a combination of PPARγ agonists and MEK inhibitors, we forced the differentiation of disseminating breast cancer cells into post-mitotic adipocytes. Utilizing murine breast cancer cells, we demonstrated a broad class effect of PPARγ agonists and MEK inhibitors in inducing cancer cell trans-differentiation into adipocytes. Both Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone effectively induced adipogenesis in cancer cells, marked by PPARγ and C/EBPα upregulation, cytoskeleton rearrangement, and lipid droplet accumulation. All tested MEK inhibitors promoted adipogenesis in the presence of TGFβ, with Cobimetinib showing the most prominent effects. A metastasis ex vivo culture from a patient diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer demonstrated a synergistic upregulation of PPARγ with the combination of Pioglitazone and Cobimetinib. Our results highlight the potential for new therapeutic strategies targeting cancer cell plasticity and the dedifferentiation phenotype in aggressive breast cancer subtypes. Combining differentiation treatments with standard therapeutic approaches may offer a strategy to overcome drug resistance.
Reporter Mice for Gene Editing: A Key Tool for Advancing Gene Therapy of Rare Diseases
Authors: Li Siang , Brakebusch Cord
Published: September 2024

Most rare diseases are caused by mutations and can have devastating consequences. Precise gene editing by CRISPR/Cas is an exciting possibility for helping these patients, if no irreversible developmental defects have occurred. To optimize gene editing therapy, reporter mice for gene editing have been generated which, by expression of reporter genes, indicate the efficiency of precise and imprecise gene editing. These mice are important tools for testing and comparing novel gene editing methodologies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of reporter mice for gene editing which all have been used for monitoring CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene editing involving DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Furthermore, we discuss how reporter mice can be used for quickly checking genetic alterations by base editing (BE) or prime editing (PE).
How Economic Theories Shape Chemical Technology Profile
Authors: Gkika Despina A. , Mitropoulos Athanasios C. , Kyzas George Z.
Published: September 2024

The chemical industry, a cornerstone of the global economy essential for modern life, has raised significant concerns due to its unique nature. Chemical technologies often require high energy inputs, involving ecotoxic reagents thus assessing risks from an economic standpoint becomes complex. While the economic aspects of chemical technologies have been discussed and economic tools have been used to inform investment decisions in this field, many fundamental issues remain unexplored, such as the clear definition of chemical technology economics and the reasons for its importance. The primary contribution of this article is to synthesize insights into these fundamental issues and propose pathways for future research in chemical technology economics. This review is divided into two sections: the first provides an overview of the significance of economic factors in chemical technologies, and the second explores the fundamentals of economics and their application to chemical technology considerations. Our research underscores that economic theories significantly influence the profile of chemical technologies, viewing the chemical sector as a dual asset. First, the sector has a unique opportunity to lead the way in promoting sustainable economic development, and second, it can adopt economic behaviors that align with environmental and societal needs.
Expanded Illite Filler in UV-Curable Polymer Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Bae Minseong , Ahn Seongki , You Sunkyung , Kim Jae-kwang , Kim Daewon , Kim Hanjoo , Kim Hong-Il , Park Jinjoo
Published: September 2024

In this study, we explored the potential of illite sourced from Yeongdong-eup, South Korea, as a filler in polymer electrolytes for all-solid-state Li-ion batteries. The illite was expanded (EI) by acid treatment and UV curing was employed to synthesize the polymer electrolytes. The Li+ ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes was measured at various EI contents, revealing the highest conductivity of 1.08 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 4 wt% of the EI. The electrochemical performance of NMC cells assembled with the EI-incorporated polymer electrolyte showed a good discharge capacity of over 158.6 mAh g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of 99%. These findings demonstrate the significant potential of EI as a sustainable and efficient filler material for enhancing the performance of polymer-based all-solid-state Li batteries. This study highlighted the applicability of illite sourced from South Korea and its potential contribution to the development of polymer-based all-solid-state batteries.
ULPING-Based Titanium Oxide as a New Cathode Material for Zn-Ion Batteries
Authors: Shiam Suben Sri , Rath Jyotisman , Gutiérrez Vera Eduardo , Kiani Amirkianoosh
Published: September 2024

The need for alternative energy storage options beyond lithium-ion batteries is critical due to their high costs, resource scarcity, and environmental concerns. Zinc-ion batteries offer a promising solution, given zinc’s abundance, cost effectiveness, and safety, particularly its compatibility with non-flammable aqueous electrolytes. In this study, the potential of laser-ablation-based titanium oxide as a novel cathode material for zinc-ion batteries was investigated. The ultra-short laser pulses for in situ nanostructure generation (ULPING) technique was employed to generate nanostructured titanium oxide. This laser ablation process produced highly porous nanostructures, enhancing the electrochemical performance of the electrodes. Zinc and titanium oxide samples were evaluated using two-electrode and three-electrode setups, with cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) techniques. Optimal cathode materials were identified in the Ti-5W (laser ablated twice) and Ti-10W (laser ablated ten times) samples, which demonstrated excellent charge capacity and energy density. The Ti-10W sample exhibited superior long-term performance due to its highly porous nanostructures, improving ion diffusion and electron transport. The potential of laser-ablated titanium oxide as a high-performance cathode material for zinc-ion batteries was highlighted, emphasizing the importance of further research to optimize laser parameters and enhance the stability and scalability of these electrodes.
In Situ Synthesis and Characterization of Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Metakaolin Composite Photocatalysts Using a Commercial Kaolin
Authors: Zsirka Balázs , Fónagy Orsolya , Vágvölgyi Veronika , Juzsakova Tatjána , Fodor Lajos , Őze Csilla
Published: September 2024

Kaolin-based graphitic carbon nitride (g-CNx) composite photocatalysts were synthesized from a urea precursor using a commercial kaolin. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified the successful thermal polycondensation of g-CNx along the thermal dehydroxylation of kaolinite to metakaolin at 550 °C. The g-CNx content of the composites were estimated by thermogravimetry and CHN analysis, ranging from ca. 87 m/m% to ca. 2 m/m% of dry mass. The addition of kaolin during the composite synthesis was found to have a significant effect: the yield of in situ formed g-CNx drastically decreased (from ca. 4.9 m/m% to 3.8–0.1 m/m%) with increasing kaolin content. CHN and FTIR indicated the presence of nitrogen-rich g-CNx, having a specific surface area of 50 m2/g, which synergistically increased after composite synthesis to 67–82 m2/g. Estimated optical band gaps indicated the affinity to absorb in the visible light spectrum (λ < 413 nm). Photocatalytic activity upon both UV and artificial sunlight irradiation was observed by hydroxyl radical evolution, however, without the synergistic effect expected from the favorable porosity.
Non-Coding RNA Involved in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis—A Narrative Review
Authors: Kiełbowski Kajetan , Żychowska Justyna , Bakinowska Estera , Pawlik Andrzej
Published: September 2024

Atherosclerosis is a highly prevalent condition associated with lipid accumulation in the intima layer of arterial blood vessels. The development of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the incidence of major cardiovascular events, such as acute coronary syndrome or ischemic stroke. Due to the significant prevalence of atherosclerosis and its subclinical progression, it is associated with severe and potentially lethal complications. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is complex and not entirely known. The identification of novel non-invasive diagnostic markers and treatment methods that could suppress the progression of this condition is highly required. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) involves several subclasses of RNA molecules. microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) differently regulate gene expression. Importantly, these molecules are frequently dysregulated under pathological conditions, which is associated with enhanced or suppressed expression of their target genes. In this review, we aim to discuss the involvement of ncRNA in crucial mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We summarize current evidence on the potential use of these molecules as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Enhancing Cone-Beam CT Image Quality in TIPSS Procedures Using AI Denoising
Authors: Dehdab Reza , Brendlin Andreas S. , Grözinger Gerd , Almansour Haidara , Brendel Jan Michael , Gassenmaier Sebastian , Ghibes Patrick , Werner Sebastian , Nikolaou Konstantin , Afat Saif
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study evaluates a deep learning-based denoising algorithm to improve the trade-off between radiation dose, image noise, and motion artifacts in TIPSS procedures, aiming for shorter acquisition times and reduced radiation with maintained diagnostic quality. Methods: In this retrospective study, TIPSS patients were divided based on CBCT acquisition times of 6 s and 3 s. Traditional weighted filtered back projection (Original) and an AI denoising algorithm (AID) were used for image reconstructions. Objective assessments of image quality included contrast, noise levels, and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) through place-consistent region-of-interest (ROI) measurements across various critical areas pertinent to the TIPSS procedure. Subjective assessments were conducted by two blinded radiologists who evaluated the overall image quality, sharpness, contrast, and motion artifacts for each dataset combination. Statistical significance was determined using a mixed-effects model (p ≤ 0.05). Results: From an initial cohort of 60 TIPSS patients, 44 were selected and paired. The mean dose-area product (DAP) for the 6 s acquisitions was 5138.50 ± 1325.57 µGy·m2, significantly higher than the 2514.06 ± 691.59 µGym2 obtained for the 3 s series. CNR was highest in the 6 s-AID series (p < 0.05). Both denoised and original series showed consistent contrast for 6 s and 3 s acquisitions, with no significant noise differences between the 6 s Original and 3 s AID images (p > 0.9). Subjective assessments indicated superior quality in 6 s-AID images, with no significant overall quality difference between the 6 s-Original and 3 s-AID series (p > 0.9). Conclusions: The AI denoising algorithm enhances CBCT image quality in TIPSS procedures, allowing for shorter scans that reduce radiation exposure and minimize motion artifacts.
[131I]6ß-Iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol SPECT/CT for the Lateralization of Mineralocorticoid Overproduction in Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Barna Sandor , Sira Livia , Bhattoa Harjit Pal , Toth Laszlo , Czine Zsigmond , Szoboszlay Lilla , Nagy Edit B. , Kepes Zita , Garai Ildiko , Bodor Miklos , Varga Jozsef , Nagy Endre V.
Published: September 2024

Primary: aldosteronism is a frequent cause of secondary hypertension. With access to specialized care, an increasing number of patients with aldosteronism are being identified. Primary aldosteronism is treatable by adrenal surgery if aldosterone excess originates from one of the two, and not from both, adrenals. Bilateral hyperplasia requires lifelong mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment. Up till now, adrenal venous sampling (AVS) has been widely used to distinguish between one-sided and two-sided aldosterone overproduction and patient selection for surgery. AVS is an invasive technique, and the unsuccessful sampling of the right adrenal vein during AVS often prevents side comparison, making the AVS procedure useless. Molecular imaging using [131I]6ß-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol with SPECT CT imaging (SPECT/CT) may be a potential alternative. Methods: In 42 consecutive patients with confirmed primary aldosteronism, molecular imaging has been performed. After dexamethasone suppression of the non-affected adrenal tissue, 37 MBq [131I]6ß-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol was injected i.v., and SPECT/CT images were taken 7 days later. Based on the visual evaluation of the images by two nuclear medicine specialists, patients with one-sided tracer accumulation underwent adrenalectomy. To identify a SPECT/CT parameter that best characterizes the side difference, the maximum counts and the mean counts of spherical VOIs were analyzed. Results: Of the 42 patients, 24 had one-sided aldosterone overproduction by SPECT/CT. After surgical removal of the involved adrenal, all 24 patients with SPECT/CT-identified unilateral aldosteronism achieved biochemical cure, defined as a normalized potassium level combined with an aldosterone-to-renin ratio ≤ 30. To identify the best measurable parameter of SPECT/CT side difference, the mean counts and maximum counts of a series of spherical VOIs of different diameters were analyzed. The ratio of the mean counts of 3 cm spherical VOIs of the right and left adrenal regions (lateralization index) was the best discriminator; a ratio of ≥1.29 was characteristic of one-sided disease, without overlap between the one-sided and two-sided patient groups. Conclusions: [131I]6ß-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol SPECT/CT with a count-based image interpretation and side-ratio calculation may be an equipollent non-invasive substitute for adrenal venous sampling in the lateralization of mineralocorticoid overproduction. It reliably identifies unilateral disease and facilitates patients’ selection for surgical intervention. If confirmed by others, this functional imaging may replace AVS when lateralization is required for management decisions in primary aldosteronism.
College Students with ADHD: A Selective Review of Qualitative Studies
Authors: Cohen Shira L. , Shavel Katie , Lovett Benjamin J.
Published: September 2024

Diagnoses of ADHD in adults continue to increase, and the number of college students with ADHD has risen in particular. Qualitative research on this population has been common, but it is not clear what conclusions can be drawn from this research base. We conducted a review of the qualitative research on college students with ADHD over a 20-year period (2002–2021). A systematic search yielded 41 papers that were reviewed in detail. Studies were grouped into four topic areas, with the most researched area being the college experience for these students. Most sample sizes were small, with a median of 10 participants, and most studies used students’ self-reports of having ADHD as the sole method of diagnosis identification/verification. Very few studies (7.3%) included a comparison group of students without disabilities. These results suggest that the qualitative research base on college students with ADHD has significant limitations, including difficulties with generalization, uncertainty regarding diagnostic accuracy, and an inability to make comparative statements about students with vs. without ADHD.
Role of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Alveolar Bone Remodeling during Orthodontic Retention Phase in Rat Models
Authors: Maulana Hafiedz , Yueniwati Yuyun , Permatasari Nur , Suyono Hadi
Published: September 2024

Alveolar bone remodeling during the retention phase is essential for successful orthodontic treatment. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is an adjunctive therapy for bone-related diseases that induces osteogenesis and prevents bone loss. This study aimed to examine the role of PEMF exposure during the retention phase of orthodontic treatment in alveolar bone remodeling. A total of 36 male Wistar rats were divided into control, PEMF 7, and PEMF 14 groups; a 50 g force nickel–titanium closed-coil spring was inserted to create mesial movement in the first molar for 21 d. Furthermore, the spring was removed, and the interdental space was filled with glass ionomer cement. Concurrently, rats were exposed to a PEMF at 15 Hz with a maximum intensity of 2.0 mT 2 h daily, for 7 and 14 days. Afterwards, the cements were removed and the rats were euthanized on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 to evaluate the expression of Wnt5a mRNA and the levels of RANKL, OPG, ALP, and Runx2 on the tension side. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and post hoc tests, with p < 0.05 declared statistically significant. PEMF exposure significantly upregulated Wnt5a mRNA expression, OPG and ALP levels, and Runx2 expression, and decreased RANKL levels in the PEMF 7 and 14 groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). This study showed that PEMF exposure promotes alveolar bone remodeling during the orthodontic retention phase on the tension side by increasing alveolar bone formation and inhibiting resorption.
Physiological Regularity and Synchrony in Individuals with Gaming Disorder
Authors: Chi Hung-Ming , Hsiao Tzu-Chien
Published: September 2024

Individuals with gaming disorder (GD) show emotional dysregulation and autonomic dysfunction in daily life. Although studies have shown that the relaxation method of breathing exercise (BE) improves cardiopulmonary synchrony, the physiological regularity and synchrony of GD remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the regularities of pulse wave (PW), thoracic wall movement (TWM), and abdominal wall movement (AWM) using sample entropy (SE) and assessed the vascular-respiratory and TWM-AWM synchrony using cross-sample entropy (CSE). Twenty individuals with GD and 26 healthy control (HC) individuals participated in baseline, gaming, and recovery stages, both before and after BEs. The results showed that both groups had significantly higher SETWM, SEAWM, and CSETWM-AWM during gaming than baseline. Before BE, CSEPW-TWM and CSEPW-AWM during gaming were considerably higher in the GD group than in the HC group. Compared to before BE, both groups had decreased SETWM and CSETWM-AWM during gaming, particularly in the HC group. Online gaming may induce pulse wave and respiratory irregularities, as well as thoracic–abdominal wall movement asynchrony. Individuals with GD who engage in prolonged gaming periods may exhibit lower vascular–respiratory synchrony compared to the HC group. SETWM, SEAWM, CSETWM-AWM, CSEPW-TWM, and CSEPW-AWM may serve as biomarkers for assessing the risk of GD. BE may improve TWM regularity and vascular–respiratory synchrony during gaming, potentially alleviating addictive behavior.
Bi-Level Optimal Configuration of Electric Thermal Storage Boilers in Thermal–Electrical Integrated Energy System
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Feng Jiaoyang , Liang Guangzhe , Ding Chonglei , Yang Peihong , Zhang Xin
Published: September 2024

Electric thermal storage boilers (ETSBs) are important devices in enhancing the electric–thermal decoupling ability and spatiotemporal transfer of integrated energy system (IES), which is beneficial for improving system flexibility and energy utilization efficiency. In order to obtain more accurate and comprehensive results, a bi-level optimal model is proposed to study the site selection and capacity configuration of ETSB in IES based on the established mathematical model of ETSB. The objective of upper-level optimization of the model is obtaining the lowest energy supply cost when configuring the location and capacity of ETSB, while the lower-level model optimizes the operation scheduling with the goal of obtaining the lowest operational cost. The mixed-integer linear programming method and the genetic algorithm method are selected to obtain the optimal model. To illustrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method, case studies are carried out. The optimal configuration scheme for an ETSB is obtained by comparing the lowest energy supply cost under different configuration parameters. Furthermore, the impact of an ETSB on the system is also analyzed based on the variations in energy balance, abandoned energy, and energy allocation before and after configuring the ETSB.
Deep Learning-Based Joint Beamforming Design for Multi-Hop Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)-Aided Communication Systems
Authors: Chen Xiao , Ye Jiaoyang , Wei Yuxuan , Shi Jianfeng , Zhu Jianyue
Published: September 2024

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is one of the promising technologies for sixth generation communications due to its advantages including energy saving, high spectral efficiency, etc. However, the non-convex joint beamforming design is a challenge, especially in the multi-hop RIS-assisted communication system. This paper proposes a deep learning-based joint beamforming (DLBF) design, aiming to maximize the system data rate for multi-hop RIS-aided communication systems. The proposed DLBF design consists of the reflection matrices design of all RISs and the transmit beamforming design at the base station, which has a reduced computational complexity. Numerical results show that the proposed DLBF can achieve 1.8 bit/s/Hz sum rate gain compared to the conventional beamforming method for the two-user scenario, which can be enhanced by large-scale users. The sum rate performance can be improved by increasing the number of RISs due to the reflection gain, and corresponding results provide a guidance of the multi-hop number selection for further investigation.
A Benchmark Evaluation of Multilingual Large Language Models for Arabic Cross-Lingual Named-Entity Recognition
Authors: Al-Duwais Mashael , Al-Khalifa Hend , Al-Salman Abdulmalik
Published: September 2024

Multilingual large language models (MLLMs) have demonstrated remarkable performance across a wide range of cross-lingual Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks. The emergence of MLLMs made it possible to achieve knowledge transfer from high-resource to low-resource languages. Several MLLMs have been released for cross-lingual transfer tasks. However, no systematic evaluation comparing all models for Arabic cross-lingual Named-Entity Recognition (NER) is available. This paper presents a benchmark evaluation to empirically investigate the performance of the state-of-the-art multilingual large language models for Arabic cross-lingual NER. Furthermore, we investigated the performance of different MLLMs adaptation methods to better model the Arabic language. An error analysis of the different adaptation methods is presented. Our experimental results indicate that GigaBERT outperforms other models for Arabic cross-lingual NER, while language-adaptive pre-training (LAPT) proves to be the most effective adaptation method across all datasets. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating language-specific knowledge to enhance the performance in distant language pairs like English and Arabic.
A CHEMCAD Software Design Approach for Non-Conventional Biodiesel Production Using Methyl Acetate as Feedstock
Authors: Petrescu Letitia , Beudean Oana , Galusnyak Stefan Cristian , Cormos Calin-Cristian
Published: September 2024

Biodiesel is a sustainable and renewable fuel generated from renewable resources, including vegetable oil or animal fats. It is thought to be a non-toxic fuel that degrades gradually and causes no harm to the environment. In the present study, a non-conventional supercritical method for industrial biodiesel production is investigated. The non-conventional method refers to a single-step interesterification reaction between triglycerides and methyl acetate resulting in methyl esters of fatty acids and triacetin as a secondary product. Process flowsheet modeling, using CHEMCAD chemical engineering software, was used as an investigation tool. The production capacity was set to 25,000 kg/h biodiesel. Methyl acetate requested in the biodiesel production is produced from methanol esterification with acetic acid using an intensified reactive distillation unit. Methanol, in turn, is obtained using synthetic gas derived from biomass as a raw material, the process representing a new method at the industrial level to solve problems related to the energy that is required, storage and disposal of residual materials, and pollution through the release of pollutants into the air. The methanol synthesis process is similar to the one based on natural gas, consisting of three main steps, namely: (i) synthesis gas production, followed by (ii) methanol production, and (iii) methanol purification. Acetic acid is an essential chemical product, generated in the proposed approach by a sustainable method with low energy consumption and low air emissions, more exactly methanol carbonylation. All the processes previously mentioned: (i) biodiesel production, (ii) methyl acetate production, (iii) acetic acid production, and (iv) methanol production were modeled and simulated, leading to the desired biodiesel productivity (e.g., 25,000 kg/h) with the obtained purity being higher than 99%. Relevant discussions regarding the design assumptions used, the simulation and validation results, as well as other technical issues (i.e., electricity and thermal energy consumption) for the system being simulated, are provided, leading to the conclusion that the proposed route is well suited for the desired application and can deliver significant results. The simulation outcomes have provided confidence in the feasibility and effectiveness of the chosen process design, making it a viable option for further development and implementation.