bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling Temporal and Spatial Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer: Insights into the Crucial Role of Immunosuppressive Cells
Authors: Yu zhiwei , Wang Muhong , Deng Chunyu , Yan Mingze , Lu Haibo , Zhang Yan , Liu Honghao , Tong Zhekuan , Ma Jiaao , Wang Jiaming , Zhang Yan , Wang Jiahao , Xuan Yuhong , Cheng Haiyue , Zhao Kai , Zhang Jiaqi , Chai Cuicui , Li Mingzhe
Published: July 2023

The occurrence and progression of tumors can be established through a complex interplay between tumor cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasive factors, and immune cells. This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatially resolved transcriptomics (ST) to assess the pseudotime trajectory and spatial interactive relationship between EMT invasive malignant tumors and immune cells in primary CRC tissues at different stages (stage I/II and stage III with tumor deposit). The research characterized the spatiotemporal relationship between invasive tumor programs by constructing pseudotime endpoint-EMT-invasion tumor programs (EMTPs) located at the edge of ST, using evolution trajectory and EMT-invasion genes. Strikingly, The invasive and expansive process of tumors undergoes remarkable spatial reprogramming of regulatory and immunosuppressive cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), regulatory T cells (Treg), and exhausted T cells (Tex). These cell types are adjacent to the EMTPs and are linked to beneficial EMT invasion genes, particularly C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CXCL8 which are important for prognosis. Interestingly, the EMTPs for stage I mainly produce an inflammatory pre-invasive niche, while the EMTPs for stage III tissues are likely to produce a hypoxic pre-invasive niche. Our data demonstrate the crucial role of regulatory and immunosuppressive cells in tumor progression and formation in CRC. This study provides a framework for studying the spatiotemporal pre-invasive niche of different stages in CRC samples.
Utilising Machine Learning for Tool Condition Monitoring of Diamond-Coated Burrs with Acoustic Emission
Authors: Jessel Thomas Howard , Byrne Carl , Eaton Mark , Merrifield Ben , Harris Stuart , Pullin Rhys
Published: July 2023

Within manufacturing there is a growing need for autonomous in-line Tool Condition Monitoring (TCM) systems with the ability to predict tool wear and failure. This need is only increased when using specialised tools such as Diamond-Coated Burrs (DCBs), in which the random nature of the tool and inconsistent manufacturing methods, create large variance in tool life. This unpredictable nature leads to a significant fraction of a DCB tools life being under-utilised. Acoustic Emission (AE) presents a possible inline monitoring technique which in conjunction with Machine Learning (ML) models could be used as a prediction method for DCB wear. Four wear life tests were conducted with a ø1.3 mm #1000 DCB, in which AE was continuously acquired during grinding passes, followed by surface measurements of the DCB. Three ML model architectures were trained on AE features to predict DCB mean radius, an indicator of overall tool wear. All architectures showed potential of learning from the dataset, with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models performing the best, resulting in prediction error of MSE = 0.559 μm2. Additionally, links between AE kurtosis and the tool’s runout/form error were identified during an initial review of the data, showing potential for future work to focus on grinding effectiveness as well as overall wear. This paper has shown that AE contains sufficient information to enable inline monitoring of DCBs during the grinding process. ML models have been shown to be sufficiently precise in predicting overall DCB wear and have the potential of interpreting grinding condition.
Real-time prediction of deposited bead width in L-DED using Semi-Supervised Transfer Learning
Authors: Mochi Victor Henzel , Núñez Henrique Hiram Libutti , Ribeiro Kandice Suane Barros , Venter Giuliana Sardi
Published: July 2023

Laser Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that offers unique advantages for creating and repairing metallic parts. The quality of the final print is highly dependent on the consistency of the printing parameters, and as a result, the deposited bead geometry along the printing pathway. Inconsistencies, particularly in the bead width, can produce defects between adjacent beads, increasing the material susceptibility to failure. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor and predict the printing parameters in real-time during the process. The objective of this study is to develop a machine learning model that accurately predicts the width of the deposited track in real-time. To achieve this, a dataset with approximately 12,379 melt pool images was used to train the algorithm and predict the width of the deposited track. Each one of the deposited track was measured by a profilometer at 10 points along the pathway, and intermediate labels were predicted using a spline curve, making the model semi-supervised. To implement the machine learning model, pre-trained frozen networks based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) architectures VGG, ResNet, and DenseNet were employed, using transfer learning principles. These networks were integrated into a dense, fully connected network containing trainable parameters. The results demonstrate a good model fit, with a mean absolute error of 4.5% and a mean absolute error of 0.0358 mm. Moreover, the processing frequency of the best model, at 55 Hz, enables real-time control of the L-DED manufacturing process. It is important to highlight, however, that the VGG based model shows a frequency of 250 Hz and similar results. Thus, accurately predicting the width of the deposited bead has the potential to significantly improve the quality of the final part by reducing overall defects, such as lack of fusion and porosity, whenever this data is used as input to a feed-back control system. This is particularly valuable in industries where mechanical properties and fatigue life are critical, such as automotive, aerospace, and biomedical sectors. The models developed in this study offer a promising approach to effectively provide data to control the L-DED manufacturing process in real-time, enabling the reliable production of high-quality components associated with reduced manufacturing costs.
Flexural Capacity of Eco-Friendly Reinforced Concrete Beams
Authors: Gerges Nagib N. , Issa Camille , Khalil Nariman J. , Khalek Lara Abdul , Abdo Serge , Abdulwahab Yehia
Published: July 2023

In the construction industry, concrete is the most utilized building material. It is produced from different natural resources such as sand and gravel, as well as cement. The production of concrete is causing harm to the environment, yet its use became a necessity. To solve this humongous environmental challenge, many researchers devoted a considerable effort to partially replacing concrete mix components with waste material derived from glass, plastics, aluminum, wood ash, construction and demolition wastes, or tires. In the current study, a novel effort was conducted to incorporate all the above-mentioned wastes in a concrete mix design and to assess its performance. Five recycled mix designs were explored and based on the concrete mechanical properties derived, an optimum mix was realized. The optimum mix incorporated the following waste percentages: 2% crumb rubber (CR) partially replacing sand, 20% powdered glass (PG) partially replacing sand, 50% recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) partially replacing coarse aggregates, and the addition of 0.5% plastic. The optimum recycled mix was utilized to cast a real-life-size reinforced concrete beam which was compared to a normal mix beam.
Enhanced Spectral Resolution for Correlated Spectroscopic Imaging Using Inner-Product and Covariance Transform: A Pilot Analysis of Metabolites and Lipids in Breast Cancer In Vivo
Authors: Joy Ajin , Thomas Michael Albert
Published: July 2023

Acquisition duration of correlated spectroscopy in vivo can be longer due to a large number of t1 increments along the indirect (F1) dimension. Limited number of t1 increments on the other hand leads to poor spectral resolution along F1. Covariance transformation (CT) instead of Fourier transform along t1 is an alternative way of increasing the resolution of the 2D COSY spectrum. Prospectively undersampled five-dimensional echo-planar correlated spectroscopic imaging (EP-COSI) data from ten malignant patients and ten healthy women were acquired and reconstructed using compressed sensing. The COSY spectrum at each voxel location was then generated using FFT, CT and a variant of CT called Inner Product (IP). Metabolite and lipid ratios were computed with respect to water from unsuppressed one-dimensional spectrum. The effects of t1-ridging artifacts commonly seen with FFT were not observed with CT/ IP. Statistically significant differences were observed in the fat cross peaks measured with CT/IP/FFT. Spectral resolution was increased ~ 8.5 times (~ 19.53Hz in FFT, ~ 2.32Hz in CT/ IP) without affecting the spectral width along F1 was possible with CT/ IP. CT and IP enabled substantially increased F1 resolution effectively with significant gain in scan time and reliable measure of unsaturation index as a biomarker for malignant breast cancer.
Karyotype analysis Chinese chive germplasms with different ploidy levels and their evolutionary relationships
Authors: Yao Peng-qiang , Chen Jian-Hua , Ma Pei-Fang , Xie Li-Hua , Shi Jiang , Cheng Shi-Ping
Published: July 2023

Diploids, triploids and tetraploids were screened from the germplasm garden of Chinese chive in this study using flow cytometry and chromosome counting technologies. Their evolutionary status was analysed by karyotype comparison and microsporogenesis observation. Their relationships were determined and discussed. The karyotype formula of the diploids was 2n = 2x = 16 = 14m + 2sm (2SAT). The asymmetrical karyotype coefficient (As. K. C) was 57.02%, which indicates the 2A type. The karyotype formula of triploids was 2n = 3x= 24 = 18m + 6sm (2SAT), and the As. K. C was 57.49%, which indicates the 2A type. The karyotype formula of tetraploids was 2n = 4x = 32 = 26m + 4sm + 2st (2SAT), and the As. K. C was 57.80%, which indicates the 2A type. The karyotyping results suggested that the evolutionary status increased with increasing ploidy in Chinese chive. Abnormal chromosome synapsis and separation during microsporogenesis result in the formation of pollen of different sizes in triploids, suggesting that 2n gametes more easily form in triploids. Therefore, we speculate that tetraploids were formed by the combination of 2n gametes of a triploid and n gametes of a diploid. In this process, triploids are the most likely bridge for the formation of tetraploids in Chinese chive.
Life Cycle Assessment of a Direct Air Capture and Storage plant in Ireland
Authors: Casaban Daniel , Tsalaporta Elena
Published: July 2023

Despite the efforts to transition to a low carbon economy, greenhouse gas emissions are rising and reaching critical levels. Carbon Dioxide Removals such as Direct Air Capture (DAC) are gaining the public attention in the last few years. This technology is essential to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and meet the climate targets. DAC can be deployed at any place, yet certain studies are necessary as for example, a life cycle assessment (LCA) to prove its viability. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the construction of 1 MtCO2 plant in Ireland. The selected storage sites for this study were the gas fields at Kinsale and Corrib. Because of the small area of the island, the results showed that the country is a perfect candidate to scale up this emerging industry. With a reliable source of heat and electricity, the efficiency was only influenced by the construction of the pipeline section. The effect of the distances to the storage sites were significant in the present analysis. Counties near the gas fields are in an advantageous situation over other regions. During this study, we concluded Ireland has the potential to start its own DAC industry.
Effects of early postnatal gastric and colonic microbiota transplantation on piglet gut health
Authors: Larsen Christina , Offersen Simone Margaard , Brunse Anders , Pirolo Mattia , Kar Soumya Kanti , Guadabassi Luca , Thymann Thomas
Published: July 2023

Background
Diarrhea is a major cause of reduced growth and mortality in piglets during the suckling and weaning periods and poses a major threat to the global pig industry. Diarrhea and gut dysbiosis may in part be prevented via improved early postnatal microbial colonization of the gut. To secure better postnatal gut colonization, we hypothesized that transplantation of colonic or gastric content from healthy donors to newborn recipients would prevent diarrhea in the recipients until the post-weaning stage. Our objective was to examine the impact of transplanting colonic or gastric content on health and growth parameters and paraclinical parameters in recipient single-housed piglets exposed to a weaning transition and challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC).
Methods
Seventy-two 1-day-old piglets were randomized to four groups: colonic microbiota transplantation (CMT, n = 18), colonic content filtrate transplantation (CcFT, n = 18), gastric microbiota transplantation (GMT, n = 18), or saline (CON, n = 18). Inoculations were given on day two and three of life, and all piglets were milk-fed until weaning (day 20) and shortly after challenged with ETEC (day 24). We assessed growth, diarrhea prevalence, ETEC concentration, organ weight, blood parameters, small intestinal morphology and histology, gut mucosal function, and microbiota composition and diversity.
Results
Episodes of diarrhea were seen in all groups during both the milk- and the solid-feeding phase, possibly due to stress associated with single housing. However, CcFT showed lower diarrhea prevalence on days 22, 27, 28, and 29 compared to CON (all p < 0.05). CcFT also showed a lower ETEC prevalence on day 27 (p < 0.05). CMT showed a higher alpha diversity and a difference in beta diversity compared to CON (p < 0.05). Growth and other paraclinical endpoints were similar across groups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, only CcFT reduced ETEC-related post-weaning diarrhea. However, the protective effect was marginal, suggesting that higher doses, more effective modalities of administration, longer treatment periods, and better donor quality should be explored by future research to optimize the protective effects of transplantation.
Renal vein valves: A prevalence, microanatomical and histological study
Authors: Shekhawat Devendra , Chaiyamoon Arada , Cardona Juan J. , Lesser Emma , Iwanaga Joe , Loukas Marios , Killackey Mary T. , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: July 2023

Purpose
In the modern era of robotic renal procedures and diagnostics, an even more detailed anatomical understanding than hitherto is necessary. Valves of the renal veins (RVV) have been underemphasized and have been disputed by some authors, and few textbooks describe them. The current anatomical study was performed to address such shortcomings in the literature.
Methods
One hundred renal veins were studied in fifty adult formalin-fixed cadavers. Renal veins were removed from the abdomen after sectioning them flush with their entrance to the renal hilum. The inferior vena cava was then incised longitudinally and opened, and RVV were examined grossly and histologically. A classification scheme was developed and applied to our findings.
Results
Nineteen RVVs were observed in the fifty cadavers (38%). Four (8%) valves were found on right sides and fifteen (30%) on left sides. The valves were seen as cord/band-like, folds, and single and double leaflets. Histologically, they were all extensions of the tunica intima.
Conclusion
On the basis of our study, RVV are not uncommon. They were more common on left sides, and on both sides, they were found within approximately one centimeter of the junction of the inferior vena cava and renal vein. Although the function of such valves cannot be inferred from this anatomical study, the structures of the TS2 and TS3 valves suggest they could prevent venous reflux from the IVC into the kidney.
A fast linearized virtual element method on graded meshes for nonlinear time fractional diffusion equations
Authors: GU QILING , CHEN YANPING , HUANG YUNQING
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we develop a fast linearized virtual element method (VEM) for the approximation of the nonlinear time fractional diffusion equations on polygonal meshes. The $L1$-scheme with graded meshes is used to deal with the non-smooth system, the Newton linearized method is adopted to handle the nonlinear term and VEM is employed to discrete the spatial variable. Then the error splitting approach is used to prove the unconditional optimal error estimate of the fully-discrete linearized L1-VEM scheme. In order to reduce the storageand computational cost caused by the nonlocality of the Caputo fractional operator, a fast memory-saving L1-VEM is developed. It is proved that the difference between the solution of the L1-VEM and the fast L1-VEM can be made arbitrarily small and is independently the sizes of the time and/or space grids. Finally, numerical results are implemented to verify the theoretical results.
Mathematics subject classification: 65M60, 65N30, 34K37, 65M15, 65M55
Molecular and serological detection of Epstein Barr virus from lymphoma patients in Ethiopia
Authors: Teshome Seifegebriel , Zealiyas Kidist , Abubeker Abdulaziz , Tadesse Fisihatsion , Balakrishna Jayalakshmi , Weigel Christoph , Ahmed Elshafa Hassan , Abebe Tamrat , Baiocchi Robert A.
Published: July 2023

Background: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is an oncogenic human herpes virus infecting most of the global population. EBV is linked to various lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. While the epidemiology of EBV-related lymphomas has been studied in North America, Europe, and Asia, there are no reports on the frequency of the virus in lymphoma patients in Ethiopia. Therefore, the study’s main goal was to determine the molecular and serological detection of EBV in patients diagnosed with different types of lymphoma in Ethiopia.
Methods: Viral DNA was extracted from formalin fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks, polymorphonuclear cells, and fresh lymph node biopsy samples collected from 305 patients at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Ethiopia. EBV Viral capsid antigen IgG antibody test was performed to assess the EBV serostatus. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using primers specific for the EBNA1 open reading frame was performed on all lymphoma cases.
Results: 31.6% and 69.4% of the study participants were HL and NHL patients, respectively. EBV DNA was detected in 99% of study participants through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) and 96% serologically. 56.3% of the lymphoma patients had a higher EBV viral copy number (>10,000 EBV particles/ml). Higher EBV viral load was observed in 59.3% and 54.8% of HL and NHL patients, respectively. From the NHL types, DLBCL had the highest EBV viral load prevalence (67.6%), followed by Burkitt’s lymphoma (50%), CLL/small lymphocytic leukemia (44.9%), and follicular lymphoma (20%) specimens had viral loads >10,000. Differences between sample type and HIV status were significantly associated with a high EBV viral load. In contrast, age, gender and histologic lymphoma subtypes types were not significantly associated with higher EBV copy number.
Conclusion: This work shows a high EBV prevalence among lymphoma patients in Ethiopia and represents the first study in this field that can be utilized as a baseline for future studies. Further studies on viral epidemiology should be done throughout the country and across the region of horn of Africa.
The use and abuse of drought indicators in (paleo)climate research
Authors: Ionita Monica , Scholz Patrick , Nagavciuc Viorica
Published: July 2023

Europe’s recent multi-year droughts have led to substantial socio-economic consequences, but understanding the severity and cause of these extreme events still poses a lot of challenges, Here we provide a detailed analysis of short-term and multi-year drought events in Europe, by employing three different long-term reconstructions/simulations for three different drought indicators (i.e., the Palmer Drought Severity Index – PDSI, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index -SPEI and the Soil Moisture Index – SMI). When analyzing the year-to-year variability we found that the driest years, at the European level, in terms of magnitude and spatial extent, are different for the three indicators (i.e., PDSI – 1659, SPEI – 1738, and SMI – 1868). The same holds true if we look at multi-year extreme drought events. While PDSI indicates the decade 1941–1950 as the driest one over the last 600 years, both in magnitude and spatial coverage, SPEI has identified the decade 2011–2018 as the driest one on record. When looking at soil moisture multi-year droughts, SMI indicates that the decade 1781–1790 was the driest one on record followed by 2011–2018. At a more regional scale (i.e., the Mediterranean region - MED, Central Europe – CEU, and the northern part of Europe - NEU) the results are also divergent between the three drought indicators and the driest years/decades vary depending on the region/indicator. Based on these findings, we argue that one should be extremely careful when using a single (paleo)drought indicator to infer the extremeness of recent long-lasting drought events, each indicator having its own advantages and disadvantages and responding differently to the currently observed changes in the climate system.
A comparative study of the effect of various surface treatments on the fracture behavior of aluminum adhesive joints under mode I loading
Authors: Nazari Roohollah , Hatami Mohammad Mahdi
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the effect of different surface treatments on the fracture behavior of epoxy-aluminum joints under mode-I loading. Six surface treatments including degreasing, abrasion with varying grit sizes, alkaline etching, acid etching, a combination of alkaline and acid etching, and a combination of abrasion and acid etching were applied to aluminum surfaces before bonding. Surface morphology, roughness parameters, total surface free energy, contact angle, and elemental composition were analyzed. Results showed that the ultimate fracture load and fracture energy initially increased and then decreased with increasing surface roughness. The most effective treatments were found to be acidic etching in combination with alkaline etching and abrasion due to their synergetic effects. These treatments removed the natural oxide layer and created a porous oxide layer, enhancing surface roughness, increasing adhesive-substrate contact areas, and providing more sites for mechanical interlocking. Compared to control joints, significant improvements were observed, including a 40% and 31% increase in maximum fracture load, a 74% and 53% increase in initiation fracture energy, and a 65% and 47% increase in propagation fracture energy, respectively. Etching treatments demonstrated superior effects on the fracture behavior of aluminum adhesive joints compared to abrasion methods, leading to cohesive failure after etching treatments.
The initial clinical application of standard PCNL combined with visual needle nephroscope in the treatment of complex renal calculi
Authors: Yanne Engo Ovone , Yang Huan , Li Cong , Zhang Jiaqiao , Yu Xiao , Guo Xiaolin , Cui Lei
Published: July 2023

Purpose: To present the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of an optimized treatment of complex renal calculi based on visual needle nephroscopy.
Methods: We collected data of 31 patients with complex kidney calculi, who underwent standard PCNL combined with visual needle nephroscope (“needle-perc”, Youcare@, Wuhan, China). The percutaneous nephroscopic working channel was established by visual needle nephroscope, and the primary channel was expanded to 20F to treat most of the main body of the calculi with a 550 μm holmium laser fiber. Visual needle nephroscope was used to locate the renal calyx where the residual calculi were located for precise puncture as a secondary channel, and the residual stones were treated by a 200 μm holmium laser fiber. Clinical data were collected, and intraoperative variables, postoperative complications and outcomes were assessed.
Results: All 31 patients successfully completed the operation without severe complications. The S.T.O.N.E. score of 31 patients before operation was 10.5±0.9 points and above, of which the N score was more than 2 points. The average operation time was (65.5±12.7) minutes, and the average hospital stay was (7.3±2.1) days. After operation, 1 patient developed a fever, which improved after symptomatic treatment by intravenous antibiotics. 2 patients had clinically significant residual fragments, and the stone-free rate of primary operation was 93.5% (29/31).
Conclusions: The optimized operation for the treatment of complex renal calculi based on standard PCNL combined with visual needle nephroscope has good feasibility, safety and effectiveness.
Unravelling the Thermo-Physical Properties of MHD Heat and Mass Transfer of Nano-Fluid Flow over a Nonlinear Permeable Stretching Sheet
Authors: Ekang Idongesit F. , Popoola Amos O.
Published: July 2023

Investigating MHD Heat and mass transfer of Nano-fluid over a permeable stretching sheet can lead to improved storage, handling and usage. This work therefore examined the significance of temperature-dependent viscosity and temperature-dependent thermal conductivity on MHD heat and mass transfer of nano-fluid over a nonlinear permeable stretching sheet. The governing partial differential equations describing the nano fluid flow are transformed and parameterized into a system of ordinary differential equations. The resulting mathematical model was solved numerically using shooting technique with fourth order Runge-Kutta method after the transformation by similarity technique. Graphical analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of certain fluid parameters on the momentum, thermal and concentration equations. The results from the graphs showed that temperature-dependent viscosity and temperature-dependent thermal conductivity have appreciable effect on the model.
2010 AMS Subject Classification: 76D05, 76W05
Fluids and body composition during anesthesia in children: a bioimpedance study
Authors: Betti Céline , Busi Ilaria , Cortesi Cinzia , Anselmi Luciano , Mendoza-Sagaon Mario , Simonetti Giacomo D.
Published: July 2023

PURPOSE: The assessment of total body fluid volume, intracellular volume and extracellular volume before and after anesthesia may be useful to define a better intraoperative fluid administration.
METHODS: A bioimpedance spectroscopy device (BCM) was used to measure total body fluid volume, extracellular volume, intracellular volume. BCM-measurements were performed before and after general anesthesia in unselected healthy children and adolescents visiting the Pediatric Institute of Southern Switzerland for low-risk surgical procedures.
RESULTS: In 100 children and adolescents aged 7.0 [4.8 – 11] years (median and interquartile range), the average total body water (TBW) increased perioperatively with a delta value of 182 [0 – 383] mL/m2 from pre- to postoperatively, as well as the extracellular water content (ECW), which had an equivalent increase with a delta value of 169 [19 – 307] mL/m2. The changes in TBW and ECW significantly correlated with the amount of fluids administered.
CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report shows that intraoperative fluid administration results in a significant fluid accumulation in low-risk schoolchildren during general anesthesia. Children without major health problems undergoing short procedures, do not need any perioperative intravenous fluid therapy, because they are allowed to take clear fluids up to 1 hour prior anesthesia. BCM-measurements could become useful for guiding intraoperative fluid therapy in future studies.
Reduction of gas and oil pipeline failures using radiography inspection technique
Authors: Mbizani Vusumuzi Samuel , Mathuthu Manny
Published: July 2023

The oil and gas sector faces a challenging predicament as the recurring issue of pipeline failures impedes progress. One such setback arises from corrosion that stems from Fe2+ Carbon steel pipelines. This corrosion leads to equipment wearing out prematurely, leading to potential environmental hazards caused by product leakages. This study investigated pipelines failures using radiography inspection method. Results showed that the smaller the pipe thickness, the higher the corrosion rate and a welding is likely to break where it failed before. This work confirmed that routine maintenance of pipelines is key to reducing product losses and environmental pollution with oil or gas leakages.
A spatiotemporal prediction model for surface subsidence caused by mining in deep loose and thin bedrock strata
Authors: Qin Zhe , Han Xu , Han Jihuan
Published: July 2023

Aiming at the shortcomings and limitations of existing prediction methods and time function models in predicting the surface subsidence caused by coal mining in deep loose and thin bedrock strata, the deformation and mechanics characteristics of mining rock are analyzed comprehensively, and a near rectangular deflection function is established based on determining the spatial position of the primary key layer. Combining with the principle of probability integral method of discontinuous random medium, a spatiotemporal prediction model(SPM) is obtained to depict the development of surface subsidence throughout coal mining process, and its reliability is verified. The results demonstrate that the model can accurately invert the whole process of surface subsidence with coal mining, providing reliable outcomes. The model considers various factors relevant to coal mining, contributing to its theoretical significance. Additionally, the utilization of visual programming operations enhances the practicality and convenience of the model in engineering applications. The results are of great significance for the prevention and control of stratal subsidence disasters resulting from mining activities.
Recognizing Risk Factors of Breast Cancer Development and Evaluating the Efficacy of Mammography Screening in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Chi-Cheng , Lu Tzu-Pin , Wang Yu-Jen , Chen Bo-Fang , Yang Hui-Ting , Chang Wei-Pin , Tseng Ling-Ming
Published: July 2023

Background
Evidence of mammography screening primarily came from Western countries, while there remains an unmet need for a more efficient and tailored screening strategy.
Purpose
Risk factors for breast cancer development were identified from big data analyses.
Methods
Using a unique ID, we identified subjects attending screening at least once between Jan 2007 and Sep 2014, matching the cancer registry concurrently with a two-year’s extension of the screening interval to Aug 2016.
Results
Multi-variate analyses identified family history of cancer, the number of affected sisters, years of hormone replacement, breast symptoms, breast examinations within two years, previous breast surgery, educational level, and breast composition as risk factors for breast cancer diagnosis, while menopausal status, breast feeding, sonography within two years, compared with previous mammography, times of screening mammography, and served with a mobile mammography van were protective. The model showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.6766. Screening-detected cases were associated with an earlier disease stage, while clinically detected breast cancer remained an independent risk factor for relapse-free and overall survival.
Conclusion
Using big data analysis for risk model construction, several risk factors for Taiwanese breast cancer development were identified, and the efficacy of mammography screening was ascertained for Taiwanese women.
Impact:
Further studies incorporating genetic data may augment the predictive power substantially and pave the way for personalized screening.
Adaptive resource allocation for time-critical applications in industrial edge computing using Heuristic-HCMDO approach
Authors: K Udayakumar , S Ramamoorthy
Published: July 2023

An intensive computation source has become increasingly important in recent years to meet the time-critical and low-latency needs of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems. Existing IIoT-based devices are built with limited computational resources, delivering results in a limited fashion when used in highly resource-intensive applications. Since then, a novel concept known as Edge Computing (EC) has been introduced to reduce network latency and alleviate strain on cloud data centers using an EC server located at the network's periphery. The EC server only managed to gather a small number of resources compared to the resource cloud. Without prior context about task deadline and load, an EC server could not optimally handle latency-sensitive and computation-intensive tasks. Additionally, the EC server did not significantly improve overhead minimization when sending data to and from the remote cloud and the user's device. Parallel to the development of EC, nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been identified as a technique with the potential to substantially increase spectrum efficiency. In this paper, a NOMA-based EC framework for IIoT system is examined, in which multiple task nodes transfer their task via NOMA to multiple edge servers in proximity for execution. As such, this paper aims to develop a joint optimization model for making decisions about task offloading and allocating resources in Industrial edge computing. An adaptive resource allocation decision model (ARADM) based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) and heuristically modified long short-term memory (H-LSTM) using hybrid Cat and Mouse Dingo Optimization (HCMDO) is proposed to allocate the task optimally. We formulate joint optimization by considering multi-constraint objective function with communication, computation, and cache parameters using HCMDO. Further, these optimal parameters are used in training an H-LSTM along with benchmark dataset. The outcome of the H-LSTM network utilized in DRL to improve convergence speed, accuracy and stability by predicting optimal cost and load. The goal is to minimize service delay, energy consumption, balance load and maximize resource utilization. The experimental results validated the developed model and its ability to improve the quality of resource allocation in Industrial edge computing.
Urban refugia sheltering biodiversity across world cities
Authors: Gentili Rodolfo , Quaglini Lara Assunta , Galasso Gabriele , Montagnani Chiara , Caronni Sarah , Cardarelli Elisa , Citterio Sandra
Published: July 2023

Over the last years, world cities have emerged as multiple and complex habitats hosting numerous and varied urban refugia for biodiversity. Therefore, the published literature was systematically reviewed to investigate the increasingly acknowledged role of many urban habitats to function as refugia for species. Many plants and animals were reported to colonize a variety of urban environments: Urban forest/grassland (natural/seminatural), City park, Historical park (villa garden, botanical gardens, cemeteries, etc.), Green spaces (abandoned areas, railways, line of trees, etc.), Water body, and Built areas. Refugia were found in over a hundred world cities, especially in medium- to very big-size cities. The number of papers focusing on animals (n=66) were higher than those regarding plants and mushrooms (n=19 and n=1, respectively); however, the number of species recorded within refugia were the highest for plants. Plants exhibited the highest frequency (7 out of 19 papers) in Historical park, while animals in Urban forest and grassland (20 out of 66 papers). In most studies (25.9%), urban refugia were linked to Urban forest/grassland that is terrestrial natural and seminatural sites widespread within or around cities. The 22.3% of studies referred to generic Green spaces of several types interspersed within cities, both public and private. The 14.1% of refugia were found in Built areas (artificial). About the 33% of studies reported the presence of species worthy of conservation (rare, endemic, endangered, or protected) for a total of 365 species. The 20% of investigated papers reported the presence of alien species for a total of 879 species. The capability for urban areas to host a huge amount of biodiversity needs to be acknowledged by city planners so that management practices that maintain and support such diversity can be pursued. Recording and monitoring species along with their refugial habitats is fundamental to achieve this goal.
Biomass, Productivity, Carbon Sequestration and Economics of four short rotation tree Species in Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Tomar Anita , Singh Bijay Kumar
Published: July 2023

To study the biomass, productivity, carbon sequestration and economic of short rotation tree species viz., Eucalyptus spp., Casuarina equisetifolia, Gmelina arborea and Melia dubia in high-density plantation in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, with different spacings, viz., 1 × 1 m, 1.2 × 1.2 m and 1.5 × 1.5 m. The experiment was established in July 2019 and data was collected every year. The maximum volume was found in T1: Eucalyptus (1×1 m) 2917.34 m3 ha-1 followed by T4: Melia (1×1 m) 2109.74 m3 ha-1 and minimum in T10: Casuarina (1.5×1.5 m) 373.54 m3 ha-1. The Biomass, Carbon Stock and Carbon Sequestration maximum found in T1: Eucalyptus (1×1 m) 3374.43, 1687.22 and 6192 t ha-1 followed by T4: Melia (1×1 m) 1594.96, 797.48 and 2926.75 t ha-1 and minimum in T12: Melia (1.5×1.5 m) 406.58, 203.29 and 746.07 t ha-1 respectively. The maximum volume productivity index was found in T1: Eucalyptus (1×1 m) 833.53 m3 ha-1 year-1 followed by T4: Melia (1×1 m) 602.78 m3 ha-1 year-1 and minimum in T10: Casuarina (1.5×1.5 m) 106.74 m3 ha-1 year-1 whereas the maximum biomass productivity index was found in T1: Eucalyptus (1×1 m) 964.12 t ha-1 year-1 followed by T4: Melia (1×1 m) 455.70 m3 ha-1 year-1 and minimum in T12: Melia (1.5×1.5 m) 116.18 m3 ha-1 year-1. The maximum B:C ratio was found in T1: Eucalyptus (1×1 m) 8.35 followed by T9: Eucalyptus (1.5×1.5 m) 5.03 and minimum in T3: Casuarina (1×1 m) 2.06.
Weizmannia coagulans Extracellular Proteins Reduce Skin Acne by Inhibiting Pathogenic Bacteria and Regulating TLR2/TRAF6- Mediated NF-κB and MAPKs Signaling Pathways
Authors: Zhang Yongtao , Jiang Yanbing , Zhao Jingsha , Mo Qiuting , Wang Changtao , Wang Dongdong , Li Meng
Published: July 2023

As a probiotic, Weizmannia coagulans (W. coagulans) is often used in food and medicine to regulate intestinal flora and resist specific inflammation. In this study, the anti-acne efficacy and mechanism of YTCY extracellular proteins (YTCY-EPs) from a strain of W. coagulans are analyzed. The main components of YTCY-EPs, extracted and separated from the fermentation broth, are peptides ranging from 1.51–11.44 kDa, accounting for about 80%. Among the peptides identified by LC/MS-MS, YTCY A-F possess the properties of antimicrobial peptides, while YTCY 1–4 possess antioxidative properties. These peptides have a strong effect on Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) and significantly inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. The adhesion of YTCY-EPs has a 50% inhibition rate. It is found that YTCY-EPs possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and can reduce the downstream TLR2/NF-κB and MAPKs/AP-1 pathways by regulating the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and AP-1 in vitro. The transcriptional expression of inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinase genes is also regulated, thereby slowing the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the development of inflammation, and increasing keratinocyte mobility. YTCY-EPs can also effectively solve such problems as erythema, papules, cysts, skin lesions, hyperkeratinization, and desquamation caused by C. acnes in rabbit ears. Additionally, the treatment effectively improves the condition of wounds and inflammation. The results of this study prove that YTCY-EPs can be used as a potential anti-acne raw material in cosmetics.
Causal association between type 1 diabetes mellitus and inflammatory bowel disease: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Su Tao , Gan Ying , Ma Shulin , Lu Shilin , Zhi Min , Dai Shixue , Yao Jiayin , Lu Yi
Published: July 2023

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are common autoimmune diseases. Previous studies reported an association between these two diseases. However, due to the limitations of observational research, it cannot provide sufficient evidence to support the existence of causality or reverse causality.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the existence of the causal relationship between T1DM and IBD.
Methods: A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed to investigate a possibility of the causal relationship between T1DM and IBD, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Independent genetic variants of T1DM and IBD were retrieved from the IEU OpenGWAS project，and the individuals were of European ancestry. After filtering the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), several MR methods, including MR–Egger regression, weighted median, inverse variance-weighted (IVW), and weighted mode with IVW as the primary analysis method, were used to test the causal association between the two diseases. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to detect the heterogeneity and pleiotropy of the instrumental variables.
Results: Bidirectional MR analysis indicated a negative correlation between T1DM and IBD (IVW OR: 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.94 to 0.97, P = 1.19E-12). However, a separate analysis of CD and UC showed that this negative association appeared to exist only for T1DM and CD (IVW OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.99, P = 0.0063) and not for UC (IVW OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.05, P = 0.3315). In contrast, we found no difference in the prevalence of T1DM among patients with IBD, CD, and UC compared to the general population.
Conclusions: This study using MR has confirmed that individuals diagnosed with T1DM exhibit a decreased susceptibility to IBD in comparison to the general population，indicating that new therapeutic targets for IBD based on the pathogenesis of T1DM should be explored.
Pharmaceutical Reforms in Greece during the financial crisis
Authors: Constantopoulos Athanasios , Chantzaras Athanasios , Yfantopoulos John
Published: July 2023

OBJECTIVES:The objective of this study was to study cost containment and cost reallocation and to discern how they burden households and the pharmaceutical industry.METHODS:For the period 2010-2020, we implemented content analysis on 377 statutes that concerned pharmaceutical expenditure. These measures were classified firstly with reference to their character as cost containing or rationing and, secondly, with respect to cost reallocation.RESULTS:The proportion of measures shifting healthcare costs to consumers was 31% and 48.5% to industry. Mean equivalized total consumption between 2008 and 2018 decreased by 31.5% while mean equivalized total health expenditure decreased by 20.5%. During the same period mean equivalized pharmaceutical expenditure increased by 25.56% and the proportion of households with positive expenditure increased by 31 %. Meanwhile pharmaceutical industry’s direct contribution to the total pharmaceutical expenditure increased from 1.5% in 2010 to 30.1% in 2020.CONCLUSIONS:Recent reforms (2010-2020) regarding pharmaceutical expenditure present a clear tendency to reallocate pharmaceutical cost to consumers and the pharmaceutical industry. This shifting of the cost from the public health sector to the private sector endanger the sustainability of the pharmaceutical sector, and the access of patients to quality pharmaceutical treatment.
The drospirenone only pill as a contraceptive option for breast feeding women. Safety aspects on new-born and users’ acceptability
Authors: Regidor Pedro Antonio , colli enrico , Jakimiuk Artur
Published: July 2023

Background
Progestin-only pills (POPs) and progestogen contraceptives have been used for contraception in breastfeeding women for years. When used by lactating women, POPs do not interfere with a woman's ability to breastfeed. Evidence from observational and randomized studies generally supports the notion that POPs do not have adverse effects on infant growth, health, or development during the first year postpartum.
Methods
This was a multicentre observational study conducted with a single visit and retrospective data review. The study involved 100 women who used a drospirenone-only pill (DRSP) for contraception during breastfeeding. The study aimed to analyse the impact on new-born development, assess the bleeding profile, and evaluate user satisfaction.
Results
The analysis of the new-borns showed that their growth parameters including length and weight were within the expected range of standard development. The mean birth weight was 3368 g (median 3360 g), with the lowest recorded weight being 860 g and the highest 5040 g. The median length of the new-borns was 55 cm, ranging from 35 cm to 65 cm. All new-borns demonstrated appropriate growth without any signs of retardation. No adverse effects were observed in the new-borns.
Regarding the satisfaction with the bleeding profile, the median satisfaction rating was 89.5, while the mean value was 82.8. Notably, women aged 35 years or older reported significantly higher satisfaction compared to younger women (≥35 years: mean=88.4, SD=16.5; <35 years: mean=80.3, SD=20.2) (p = 0.02).
More than half of all patients (N=61; 61.0%; 95% CI: 50.7 - 70.4%) expressed their willingness to continue using DRSP after breastfeeding, including 24 patients who had previously used combined oral contraceptives before their pregnancy.
Conclusion
The DRSP contraceptive pill demonstrated high safety for new-borns, with no clinical impact observed on their growth. Additionally, users expressed high satisfaction with the bleeding profile of the pill. Out of the users, sixty-one individuals decided to continue using this contraceptive method after breastfeeding, highlighting the effectiveness of the drospirenone-only pill as a valid option for contraception during and after breastfeeding.
Clinical trial registration number: DRKS00028438