bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Influence Mechanism of Soil Covering and Compaction Process on Maize Sowing Uniformity Based on DEM–MBD Coupling
Authors: Sun Kuo , He Chenglin , Zhou Qing , Yu Xinnan , Dong Qiu , Wang Wenjun , Chen Yulong , Li Mingwei , Xia Xiaomeng , Wang Yang , Zhou Long
Published: December 2024

In the production process of maize, the uniformity of maize sowing is one of the main factors affecting maize yield. The effect of soil coverage and the compaction process on sowing uniformity, as the final link in determining the seed bed position, needs to be further investigated. In this paper, the parameters between soil particles and boundaries are calibrated using the Plackett–Burman test and the central composite design. Furthermore, based on the DEM–MBD coupling, the influence of soil coverage and the compaction process on the seed position of the seeding monomer at different forward speeds are analysed. It was found that the adhesion between the soil and the soil-touching component can have a significant effect on the contact process between the component and the soil. Therefore, the EEPA model was used to analyse the soil–component interaction process and the contact parameters between the soil and components were obtained for the calibration. Further, based on the above work, it was found that before and after mulching, the displacement of seed particles of all shapes in the longitudinal direction increased significantly with the increase in the advancement speed of the sowing unit, while the displacement of seed particles in the transverse and sowing depth directions decreased with the increase in the advancement speed of the unit. In addition, before and after suppression, as the forward speed of the sowing unit increased, the displacement of seed particles of all shapes in the longitudinal and transverse directions gradually increased, and the displacement of seed particles of all shapes in the direction of the sowing depth decreased; the disturbance of seed displacement by the mulch suppression process was not related to seed shape. As the operating speed of the seeding unit increased, the mulching compaction process significantly reduced the sowing uniformity of maize seeds. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the next step in optimising the structure and working process of the soil coverage and the compaction.
Effects of Different Straw Cover Patterns on Water Use Efficiency and Crop Growth
Authors: Lin Han , Li Mingyong , Ji Jiangtao , Zhang Chao , Zhong Guangyuan , Wu Hongjian , Du Zhaohui , Li Qianwen , Tan Lu , Han Haopeng
Published: December 2024

Straw cover is commonly used in agriculture to reduce soil water loss and improve crop productivity. However, the effects of straw length and cover amount remain unclear. This study, conducted from 2020 to 2022 in double-cropping (Laixi County) and mono-cropping (Qingyuan County) systems, examined the impact of straw length, cover amount, and tillage methods on soil properties, crop growth, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). Five treatments were tested: no till (NT) with long and full straw cover (LF), long and half straw cover (LH), short and full straw cover (SF), short and half straw cover (SH), and no straw cover (NS). The results showed that straw cover improved soil temperature, crop growth, yield, and WUE. Under the NS treatment, the 30-day average soil temperature was 0–1.22 °C lower than with straw cover. Meanwhile, WUE increased by 2.38% to 5.52% under straw cover treatments compared to NS. Consequently, the straw cover treatments resulted in an increase of 2.28% to 6.89% in crop yield compared with the NS treatment. In double-cropping systems, SH treatment had the best results, while LF treatment was most effective in mono-cropping systems. These findings suggest that straw cover can enhance water conservation and soil quality while improving crop yields.
A Molecular Marker Within the NLP3-B1 Gene Is Associated with Earliness in Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Bazhenov Mikhail , Nazarova Lyubov , Mokhov Timofey , Pukhova Olga , Chernook Anastasiya , Kocheshkova Alina , Kroupin Pavel , Karlov Gennady , Divashuk Mikhail
Published: December 2024

Earliness is a critical agronomic trait that enables plants to avoid adverse weather conditions during the late growing season or at harvest. In wheat, earliness is controlled by at least three distinct mechanisms: vernalization requirement, photoperiod sensitivity, and a mechanism independent of the first two, so called, earliness per se. In this work we report a locus on chromosome 3B within NLP3-B1 (TraesCS3B02G190300) gene, coding a nitrate-sensitive transcription factor protein, which is associated with earliness in F5:6 of PI-518620 x CI-17241 spring wheat cross. The variant ‘A’ of the single nucleotide polymorphism NLP3-B1: c.1824+137G>A, which is proper to evolutionary earlier haplotypes, provides heading and anthesis that is 2 days earlier. The effect of this novel marker on earliness was additive to the effect of PPD-D1 locus in the same population; however, the effect of the former was weaker. Similarly, allele Ppd-D1a and the variant ‘A’ of the NLP3-B1: c.1824+137G>A polymorphism statistically significantly reduced the plant height (for 2.2 and 1.3 cm, correspondingly) and changed some other agronomical traits; however, these light pleiotropic effects are not of practical value. The possible direct impact of NLP3-B1 on the timing of flowering via altered nitrate sensitivity has been discussed, and other candidate genes on chromosome 3B have also been suggested.
Effect of Milk Replacer Feeding Level and Concentration on Feed Utilization, Growth Performance, and Blood Parameters of Hanwoo Calves
Authors: Jeong Wangyong , Lee Sang Rak , Na Youngjun , Choi Yongjun
Published: December 2024

This study aims to determine appropriate milk replacer feeding amounts and concentrations for artificial suckling of Hanwoo calves by analyzing growth and blood parameters in response to varying feeding levels and concentrations. A total of 90 Hanwoo calves (45 females; 45 males) (Mean weight 30.84 (3.61) kg; females 29.22 (3.47) kg; males 32.46 (2.99) kg) were allocated in the experiment. The treatment design consisted of a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, resulting in 9 treatment groups based on milk replacer feeding levels and concentrations. Milk replacer feeding levels were set at 10, 20, and 30% of calf body weight, while concentrations were 15, 20, and 25%. The blood parameters, average daily gain, feed efficiency, diarrhea incidence, feed intake, and water intake were measured. Optimal feed intake was observed at milk replacer levels above 4.0% DM of BW (20% of body weight × 20% concentration) (p < 0.05). Maximum average daily gain was achieved with 4.5% DM of BW (30% of body weight × 15% concentration). The 25% milk replacer concentration showed reduced growth performance and increased diarrhea incidence compared with lower concentrations. Blood parameters remained unaffected across treatments. For 30-day-old Hanwoo calves, the ideal feeding regimen appears to be 4.5% DM of BW (30% of body weight × 15% concentration) divided into four daily feedings. However, for younger calves or when digestive issues are a concern, a two-phase approach is recommended: 3.0% DM of BW (20% of body weight × 15% concentration) for the first 10 days, followed by an increase to 4.5% DM of BW (30% of body weight × 15% concentration) thereafter. This feeding strategy aims to optimize growth performance while minimizing potential digestive disturbances during the critical early development stage of Hanwoo calves.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Birth Wool Length, Birth Weight, and Head Color in Chinese Tan Sheep Through Whole-Genome Re-Sequencing
Authors: Ma Lina , Zhao Wei , Ma Qing , Wang Jin , Zhao Zhengwei , Zhang Juan , Gu Yaling
Published: December 2024

The Chinese Tan sheep is a unique breed of sheep that is typical throughout China, mainly used for fur and meat production. They are widely distributed in northwestern China and are famous for their lambskin and shiny white curly wool. In this study, the phenotypic traits of wool length, birth weight, and head coat color were evaluated in 256 Chinese Tan sheep breeds. Whole genome sequencing generated 23.67 million high-quality SNPs for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We identified 208 significant SNPs associated with birth wool length, implicating RAD50, MACROD2, SAMD5, SASH1, and SPTLC3 as potential candidate genes for this trait. For birth weight, 1056 significant SNPs, with 76.89% of them located on chromosome 2, were identified by GWAS, and XPA, INVS, LOC121818504, GABBR2, LOC101114941, and LOC106990096 were identified as potential candidate genes for birth weight. The GWAS for head coat color identified 1424 significant SNPs across three chromosomes, with 99.65% on chromosome 14, and SPIRE2, TCF25, and MC1R as candidate genes were found to be possibly involved in the development of the black-headed coat color in sheep. Furthermore, we selected head coat color as a representative trait and performed an independent test of our GWAS findings through multiplex PCR SNP genotyping. The findings validated five mutation sites in chromosome 14 (14,251,947 T>A, 14,252,090 G>A, 14,252,158 C>T, 14,252,329 T>G, and 14,252,464 C>T) within the exon1 of the MC1R gene (517 bp), as identified by GWAS in an additional 102 Tan sheep individuals, and revealed that black-headed sheep predominantly exhibited heterozygous genotypes, possibly contributing to their color change. Our results provide a valuable foundation for further study of these three economically important traits, and enhance our understanding of genetic structure and variation in Chinese Tan sheep.
Comparative Analysis of Different Extracellular Matrices for the Maintenance of Bovine Satellite Cells
Authors: Han Jae Ho , Jang Si Won , Kim Ye Rim , Na Ga Rim , Park Ji Hoon , Choi Hyun Woo
Published: December 2024

Cultured meat produced using satellite cells has emerged to address issues such as overpopulation, the ethical conundrums associated with the breeding environment, and the methane gas emissions associated with factory farming. To date, however, the challenges of maintaining satellite cells in vitro and reducing the costs of the culture media are still substantial. Gelatin, collagen, and fibronectin are commonly used extracellular matrices (ECMs) that facilitate signal integration with the cells and promote cell adhesion. In this study, we compared the proliferation, cell cycle, immunocytochemistry, and expression levels of Pax7, Pax3, Myf5, MyoD1, and MyoG genes in bovine satellite cells (BSCs) cultured on gelatin-, collagen- and fibronectin-coated dishes as part of short- and long-term cultures. We observed that BSCs cultured on gelatin-coated dishes showed higher levels of Pax7 expression than BSCs cultured on collagen- and fibronectin-coated dishes in both short- and long-term cultures, indicating that BSCs cultured on gelatin effectively maintained the satellite cell population in both the short- and long-term cultures. Our study highlights that gelatin is an effective ECM for the maintenance of BSCs and the production of cultured meat.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis F-ATP Synthase Inhibitors and Targets
Authors: Harikishore Amaravadhi , Grüber Gerhard
Published: December 2024

Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb) infection causes tuberculosis (TB). TB is one of the most intractable infectious diseases, causing over 1.13 million deaths annually. Under harsh growing conditions, the innate response of mycobacteria is to shut down its respiratory metabolism to a basal level, transit into a dormant, non-replicating phase to preserve viability, and establish latent infection. Mtb utilizes non-canonical regulatory mechanisms, such as alternative oxidase pathways, to survive in low oxygen/nutrient conditions. The bacterium’s survival in its native microenvironmental niches is aided by its ability to evolve mutations to drug binding sites, enhance overexpression of various enzymes that activate β-lactam antibiotics hydrolysis, or stimulate efflux pathways to ward off the effect of antibiotics. Bedaquiline and its 3,5-dialkoxypyridine analogs, sudapyridine and squaramide S31f, have been shown to be potent Mtb F1FO-ATP synthase inhibitors of replicating and non-replicating Mtb and have brought oxidative phosphorylation into focus as an anti-TB target. In this review, we attempt to highlight non-canonical structural and regulatory pathogen-specific epitopes of the F1-domain, ligand development on such sites, structural classes of inhibitors targeting the Fo-domain, and alternative respiratory metabolic responses that Mtb employs in response to bedaquiline to ensure its survival and establish latent infection.
Digital Holography and Its Application
Authors: Khodadad Davood
Published: December 2024

Digital holography represents a pioneering frontier in optical imaging, intertwining cutting-edge computational approaches with sophisticated optical methodologies [...]
An Assessment of Agent-Based Modelling Tools for Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change
Authors: Selje Tom , Islam Rayhan , Heinz Boris
Published: December 2024

Human-induced climate change has highlighted the need for community-based adaptation (CBA) to build resilience in vulnerable communities. CBA empowers communities to leverage their resources and skills in shaping effective adaptation strategies. Agent-based modelling (ABM) is a suitable tool to develop tailored strategies that account for local capacities, priorities, and cultural contexts. This study assesses ABM tools for their suitability to model CBA, focusing on key criteria such as agent definition, sensitivity analysis, scalability, and experiment design. A comprehensive review of available ABM tools identifies NetLogo as the most fitting tool by its features, due to its flexibility in handling complex community–environment interactions. GAMA and Envision are nearly as suitable, offering robust support for modelling socio-economic and environmental dynamics. This article provides guidance for researchers and practitioners in choosing an appropriate ABM tool aligning with the specific needs of CBA, ensuring contextually relevant and sustainable adaptation solutions.
Nanosecond Breakdown Characteristics of C4F7N and Various Mixtures at Pressures Above 1 Atmosphere in Comparison with SF6
Authors: Silvestre Luke , Matthies Jakob , Boswell Luke , Stephens Jacob , Dickens James , Young Andrew , Neuber Andreas
Published: December 2024

This report evaluates the pulsed breakdown performance of C4F7N under a 6.8 kV/ns voltage excitation. The pulsed dielectric strength of C4F7N is compared to SF6 in the same experimental setup, and it is found that C4F7N concentrations of 50% or greater are required to achieve a dielectric strength greater than or equal to SF6. Pure C4F7N demonstrated higher electric field hold-off for longer time periods and less statistical variance under pulsed conditions when compared to SF6. Mixtures of 50%C4F7N with N2 or CO2 as buffer gases showed no appreciable difference in pulsed dielectric strength.
Mathematical Modeling of Load Capacity and Durability of Metal-Polymeric Bearings with a Composite Bushing Based on Polyamides, Polytetrafluoroethylenes, Polyetheretherketones, or Polyethylene Terephthalates
Authors: Czerniec Myron , Czerniec Jerzy , Zubrzycki Jarosław
Published: December 2024

Predictive assessments of the performance characteristics of metal-polymer (MP) plain bearings at the design stage are necessary and important for engineering practice. They include assessments of bearing capacity, linear wear of the bushing, and bearing life. However, no method for their calculation has been developed. The authors created a generalized analytical method for the mathematical modeling of MP sliding bearings as a classical science-based method to study the contact mechanics of conformal cylindrical bodies with consideration of polymer bushing wear. The contact problem of the theory of elasticity takes into account the significant difference in the elasticity characteristics of polymeric materials from those of steel: their Young’s modulus is 60–250 times smaller, and Poisson’s ratio is 1.27–1.37 times larger. The method was used to study MP bearings with bushings made from several common groups of tribopolymers: polyamides (PAs), polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFEs), polyethylene terephthalates (PETs), and polyetheretherketones (PEEKs). The maximum contact pressures and durability of the dry friction bearings were calculated while taking into account the load; radial clearance; bushing thickness; the tribopolymers’ elasticity characteristics and wear resistance; the sliding friction coefficient; and the type of tribopolymer material. The Young’s modulus of a polymer material had a significant impact on the level of maximum contact pressures. Polymer fillers, depending on their type and the type of polymer, had very different effects on pressure changes (increase, no change, or decrease). An increase in pressure caused an increase in contact pressures. The durability of a mechanical bearing depended not only on the contact pressure but also on the polymer’s wear resistance, Young’s modulus, and friction coefficient. This study determined the quantitative and qualitative effects of these factors on the maximum contact pressures and bearing durability. The presented analytical method provides an effective and reasonable assessment of the specified service characteristics of sliding bearings with consideration of the multifactorial influence of the above factors.
Neural Radiance Fields with Hash-Low-Rank Decomposition
Authors: Wang Jiaxin , Dai Weichen , Ma Kangcheng , Kong Wanzeng
Published: December 2024

In recent advancements in novel view synthesis and neural rendering, neural radiance field (NeRF) has emerged as a powerful technique for synthesizing high-quality novel views of complex 3D scenes. However, the computational and storage demands of NeRF limit its applicability. In this paper, we present a novel approach to NeRF by combining low-rank decomposition and multi-hash encoding through a novel integration process to enhance efficiency and scalability. Our method reduces the model complexity and accelerates the training processes while maintaining high rendering quality. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through extensive experiments on various datasets, showing significant improvements in performance and memory usage compared to traditional NeRF implementations. These results suggest that our approach can make NeRF more practical for real-world applications, such as virtual reality, gaming, and 3D reconstruction.
Ground-Based Cloud Image Segmentation Method Based on Improved U-Net
Authors: Yin Deyang , Wang Jinxin , Zhai Kai , Zheng Jianfeng , Qiang Hao
Published: December 2024

Cloud image segmentation is a technique that divides images captured by meteorological satellites or ground-based observations into different regions or categories. By extracting the distribution, shape, and dynamic features of clouds, it provides precise data support for the meteorological and environmental fields, significantly influencing photovoltaic (PV) power generation forecasting, astronomical telescope observatory site selection, and weather forecasting. A ground-based cloud image segmentation model based on an improved U-Net is proposed, which adopts an overall encoder–decoder structure. In the encoder phase, this paper constructs a dilated convolution–atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP)–dilated convolution structure to enhance early cloud feature extraction. Dilated convolution is a novel type of convolution that expands the receptive field by inserting holes into standard convolution, thereby capturing a larger range of contextual information. ASPP maintains high resolution while paying attention to both local details and global structures of the image. In the decoder stage, the bicubic interpolation method is used for up-sampling to restore the feature map resolution and improve the clarity of the segmented image. The bicubic interpolation method refers to the use of cubic polynomial functions to interpolate the pixel values of the input image. In addition, this paper designs a novel skip connection layer structure between the encoder and decoder, composed of a depthwise separable path (DS path) and an improved channel spatial attention module (Im-CSAM) connected in sequence. The DS path combines depthwise separable convolutions and residual structures to facilitate information exchange between high-level and low-level features. The Im-CSAM is a modular attention mechanism that focuses on important cloud features in spatial and channel dimensions to enhance segmentation accuracy. Experiments show that compared to the traditional U-Net, the accuracy, precision, and MIoU of this model improved by 2.2%, 4.1%, and 5.0%, respectively, in the SWINySEG dataset, and by 3.2%, 3.6%, and 5.8%, respectively, in the TCDD dataset, proving that the improved method has a better generalization ability and segmentation performance.
Hydrogen Production from Wastewater Degradation on a Rotating Hole-Arranged Boron-Doped Diamond Anode
Authors: Luo Daibing , Luo Yong , Ma Daichuan
Published: December 2024

An electrochemical system using a rotating hole-arranged boron-doped diamond (HABDD) film anode was designed for wastewater degradation. Meanwhile, in a reciprocal process, a foam nickel (FNi) cathode was employed for hydrogen evolution using the ions liberated from the HABDD. The HABDD was custom-made using an MWCVD device and characterized by SEM, Raman and electrochemical measurement. Some wastewater was tested on the HABDD anode to examine its electrochemical performance. The efficiency of the electrochemical system was evaluated by COD removal rate and hydrogen production yields. The influence of the rotating and flowing rates of the electrolyte on electrochemical performance was discussed. The rotating HABDD with dynamic three-dimensional flowing paths provided a high mass transfer, which promoted the overall performance of the wastewater mineralization. Meanwhile, the ions released from the anode to the cathode improved the hydrogen generation performance on the cathode. The hydrogen production efficiency in relation to the electrochemical oxidation process was studied in terms of the COD change and treatment time.
Synthesis of Three Ternary NiPP@PDA@DTA by Bridging Polydopamine and Its Flame Retardancy in Epoxy Resin
Authors: Zhu Wenxin , Chai Huiyu , Lu Yue , Zhan Wang , Kong Qinghong
Published: December 2024

Epoxy resin (EP) is an indispensable packaging material for batteries. Excellent thermal and flame-retardant properties of EP can ensure the safety performance of batteries. To solve the low-efficiency flame retardant of EP, nickel phenyl phosphate (NiPP) was synthesized and its surface was modified by polymerization of dopamine (PDA). [3-(hydroxy-phenyl-methylidene) imimine] triazole (DTA) was synthesized using 9,10-dihydro-9-oxygen-10-phosphophene-10-oxide (DOPO), 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The hybrid flame retardance NiPP@PDA@DTA was further synthesized by self-assembly between the negative charge on the surface of DTA and the positive charge on the surface of modified NiPP@PDA. Then, NiPP@PDA@DTA was added to EP to prepare EP/NiPP@PDA@DTA composites. The results showed that the incorporation of NiPP@PDA@DTA promoted the residual yield at high temperatures. Furthermore, EP composites showed excellent flame retardancy when NiPP@PDA@DTA was added. The EP/4 wt% NiPP@PDA@DTA composites can reach UL-94 V0 grade with a limit oxygen index (LOI) of 33.7%. While the heat release rate (HRR), total release rate (THR), CO2 production (CO2P) and total smoke release (TSR) of EP/4 wt% NiPP@PDA@DTA composites decreased by 16.9%, 30.8%, 16.9% and 27.7% compared with those of EP. These improvements are mainly due to the excellent catalytic carbonization performance of Ni metal and P compounds. The azazole and phosphaphenanthrene groups have the effects of dilution quenching in the gas phase and cross-linking network blocking, as well as enhanced blowing-out effects.
Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium Phosphate (Li3PO4) as a Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Zakariyaou Seybou Yacouba , Ye Hua , Jiang Chongwen
Published: December 2024

Due to its high thermal stability, environmental friendliness, and safety, lithium phosphate (Li3PO4) is used as a solid electrolyte in battery applications, but it is usually used with dopants due to its lower ionic conductivity, which is required for ion transport. However, due to its stability and environmentally friendly aspect, lithium phosphate is still a hot topic among suitable energy materials that need further research to improve its electrochemical properties. In the current work, a novel synthesis of lithium phosphate was proposed from the raw materials lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na3PO4*12H2O) under suitable stoichiometric conditions using the co-precipitation method. In the set of synthesized samples, a single-phase β-Li3PO4 (named LPO-4) with 99.7% purity and 93.49% yield was successfully prepared under appropriate stoichiometric conditions and pH 13 at 90 °C. The average particle size was 10 nm with a large surface area of 9.02 m2g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of LPO-4 revealed a conductivity of 7.1 × 10−6 S.cm−1 at room temperature and 2.7 × 10−5 S.cm−1 at 80 °C with a low activation energy of 0.38 eV. This performance is attributed to the morphology of the nanotubes and the smaller particle size, which enlarge the reaction interfaces and shorten the diffusion distance of lithium ions. The kinetic and thermodynamic key parameters showed that the β-Li3PO4 exhibits thermal stability in the room temperature range up to 208.8 °C. All these property values indicate a promising application of lithium phosphate as a solid electrolyte in solid-state batteries and a new route for further investigation.
Enhancing the Sustainable Performance of Public–Private Partnership Projects: The Buffering Effect of Environmental Uncertainty
Authors: Tipu Waseem Ali , Mughal Yasir Hayat , Kundi Ghulam Muhammad , Nair Kesavan Sreekantan , Thurasamy Ramayah
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate the buffering (moderating) effect of environmental uncertainty (EU) on the relationship between the critical success factors (CSFs) of public–private partnership projects (PPPPs) and sustainable performance. A survey approach was adopted to collect primary data from construction industries that have signed an agreement with the public sector. The public sector includes federal and provincial government departments such as the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for the construction of roads, and the private sector includes engineering companies registered with the Pakistan engineering council. The non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to select the sample, and the Krejcie and Morgan table was used to calculate the sample size. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed but 394 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis of the data, yielding a response rate of 78.8%. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to check the reliability and validity of the scales; the findings revealed that the scales met the threshold, and all the factor loadings, average variance extracted, composite reliability, Cronbach alpha, and discriminant validities met the cut-off level. Hence, the questionnaires were found to be reliable and valid. The results revealed that environmental uncertainty significantly moderates the CSFs (technical, procurement, and economic factors) of PPPs and the sustainable performance of PPPPs. Furthermore, the interaction terms of all moderating effects revealed negative beta values; this implies that a low level of uncertainty results in better economic performance, better technical and procurement factors, and highly sustainable performance. It is concluded from the findings that if EU is high, then the sustainability of PPPPs is low; moreover, fewer economic resources and no technical support and procurement also have a weak impact on enhancing sustainable performance. On the contrary, if EU is low, there is a high level of sustainability in PPPPs.
Impact of Patient’s Age and Physician’s Professional Background on the Number Needed to Treat in Malignant Melanoma Detection
Authors: Schreieder Laura , Zenderowski Veronika , Berneburg Mark , Haferkamp Sebastian , Drexler Konstantin , Niebel Dennis
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: With regard to excision of pigmented lesions for detection of malignant melanoma (MM), the number needed to treat (NNT) describes the number of melanocytic nevi that need to be biopsied/excised to detect one MM. The aim should be a low NNT. Methods: Single-center data analysis, including dermatohistopathological records of all nevi and MM cases during 2004–2013 at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg (UKR), was performed. We calculated the NNT, correlating it with the patient’s age and referring physician. The MM to MM in situ ratio was calculated to quantify early detection. As a secondary objective, we stratified into a pre- and post-2008 dataset, coinciding with the introduction of statutory skin cancer screening in Germany. Results: The overall NNT of 118,668 pigmented lesions was 17.2. We found a linear decrease in NNT towards older patients (R2 = 62%; p < 0.001). The impact of skin cancer screening in 2008 was marked by a reduction in biopsies/excisions, a shift in age distribution, and a decrease in the NNT from 20.3 to 14.7. Office-based dermatologists had an NNT of 22.3, UKR-based dermatologists had an NNT of 8.0, and non-dermatologists had an NNT of 16.5. Conclusions: The age-related decrease in the NNT emphasizes the importance of age stratification for pigmented lesions. The NNT differed between professional settings. The implementation of skin cancer screening in 2008 was associated with a reduced NNT.
Synergistic Strategies for KMT2A-Rearranged Leukemias: Beyond Menin Inhibitor
Authors: Cantilena Sandra , AlAmeri Mohamed , Che Noelia , Williams Owen , de Boer Jasper
Published: December 2024

KMT2A-rearranged leukemias are a highly aggressive subset of acute leukemia, characterized by poor prognosis and frequent relapses despite intensive treatment. Menin inhibitors, which target the critical KMT2A–menin interaction driving leukemogenesis, have shown promise in early clinical trials. However, resistance to these inhibitors, often driven by menin mutations or alternative oncogenic pathways, remains a significant challenge. This review explores combination therapies aimed at overcoming resistance and improving patient outcomes. Potential strategies include inhibiting DOT1L, a histone methyltransferase essential for KMT2A-driven transcription, and BRD4, a regulator of transcriptional super-enhancers. Additionally, targeting MYC, a key oncogene frequently upregulated in KMT2A-rearranged leukemia, offers another approach. Direct inhibition of KMT2A-fusion proteins and c-MYB, a transcription factor critical for leukemic stem cell maintenance, is also explored. By integrating these diverse strategies, we propose a comprehensive therapeutic paradigm that targets multiple points of the leukemic transcriptional and epigenetic network. These combination approaches aim to disrupt key oncogenic pathways, reduce resistance, and enhance treatment efficacy, ultimately providing more durable remissions and improved survival for patients with KMT2A-rearranged leukemias.
Prehabilitation—A Simple Approach for Complex Patients: The Results of a Single-Center Study on Prehabilitation in Patients with Ovarian Cancer Before Cytoreductive Surgery
Authors: Zębalski Marcin Adam , Krzywon Aleksandra , Nowosielski Krzysztof
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Prehabilitation is a low-cost, safe procedure with no side effects, and it may have a positive impact on postoperative outcomes. However, it is not widely implemented. Our study aimed to assess the impact of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer within the field of gynecological oncology. Methods: We analyzed 110 patients with ovarian cancer who participated in a prehabilitation program before cytoreductive surgery. Based on the results of a 6-min walk test (6MWT), patients were divided into two groups: Group A (patients who improved their 6MWT results) and Group B (patients who did not improve their 6MWT results). Results: Patients in Group A demonstrated better postoperative outcomes. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group A compared to Group B (median 7 [5, 9] vs. 9 [6, 17], p = 0.032). Group A also had a lower overall number of complications and also fewer complications, as summarized by the Clavien–Dindo classification, compared to Group B. Conclusions: Patient adherence to prehabilitation recommendations was adequate. Prehabilitation was associated with improved postoperative outcomes, including shorter hospital stays and fewer complications. These benefits were more pronounced with higher patient compliance with the prehabilitation program and improvements were recorded in preoperative physical capacity.
Patient-Representative Cell Line Models in a Heterogeneous Disease: Comparison of Signaling Transduction Pathway Activity Between Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines and Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Hendrikse Cynthia S. E. , Theelen Pauline M. M. , Verhaegh Wim , Lambrechts Sandrina , Bekkers Ruud L. M. , van de Stolpe Anja , Piek Jurgen M. J.
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Advances in treatment options have barely improved the prognosis of ovarian carcinoma (OC) in recent decades. The inherent heterogeneity of OC underlies challenges in treatment (development) and patient stratification. One hurdle for effective drug development is the lack of patient-representative disease models available for preclinical drug research. Based on quantitative measurement of signal transduction pathway (STP) activity in cell lines, we aimed to identify cell line models that better mirror the different clinical subtypes of OC. Methods: The activity of seven oncogenic STPs (signal transduction pathways) was determined by previously described STP technology using transcriptome data from untreated OC cell lines available in the GEO database. Hierarchal clustering of cell lines was performed based on STP profiles. Associations between cell line histology (original tumor), cluster, and STP profiles were analyzed. Subsequently, STP profiles of clinical OC tissue samples were matched with OC cell lines. Results: Cell line search resulted in 80 cell line transcriptome data from 23 GEO datasets, with 51 unique cell lines. These cell lines were derived from eight different histological OC subtypes (as determined for the primary tumor). Clustering revealed seven clusters with unique STP profiles. When borderline tumors (n = 6), high-grade serous (n = 51) and low-grade (n = 31) OC were matched with cell lines, twelve different cell lines were identified as potentially patient-representative OC cell line models. Conclusions: Based on STP activity, we identified twelve different cell lines that were the most representative of the common subtypes of OC. These findings are important to improve drug development for OC.
Multimodal MRI Deep Learning for Predicting Central Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Wang Xiuyu , Zhang Heng , Fan Hang , Yang Xifeng , Fan Jiansong , Wu Puyeh , Ni Yicheng , Hu Shudong
Published: December 2024

Background: Central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) significantly influences surgical decision-making strategies. Objectives: This study aims to develop a predictive model for CLNM in PTC patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinicopathological data. Methods: By incorporating deep learning (DL) algorithms, the model seeks to address the challenges in diagnosing CLNM and reduce overtreatment. The results were compared with traditional machine learning (ML) models. In this retrospective study, preoperative MRI data from 105 PTC patients were divided into training and testing sets. A radiologist manually outlined the region of interest (ROI) on MRI images. Three classic ML algorithms (support vector machine [SVM], logistic regression [LR], and random forest [RF]) were employed across different data modalities. Additionally, an AMMCNet utilizing convolutional neural networks (CNNs) was proposed to develop DL models for CLNM. Predictive performance was evaluated using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and clinical utility was assessed through decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Lesion diameter was identified as an independent risk factor for CLNM. Among ML models, the RF-(T1WI + T2WI, T1WI + T2WI + Clinical) models achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) at 0.863. The DL fusion model surpassed all ML fusion models with an AUC of 0.891. Conclusions: A fusion model based on the AMMCNet architecture using MRI images and clinicopathological data was developed, effectively predicting CLNM in PTC patients.
Genetic Blueprints in Lung Cancer: Foundations for Targeted Therapies
Authors: Dan Andra , Burtavel Livia-Malina , Coman Madalin-Codrut , Focsa Ina-Ofelia , Duta-Ion Simona , Juganaru Ioana-Ruxandra , Zaruha Andra-Giorgiana , Codreanu Patricia-Christina , Strugari Irina-Maria , Hotinceanu Iulian-Andrei , Bohiltea Laurentiu-Camil , Radoi Viorica-Elena
Published: December 2024

Lung cancer, a malignant neoplasm originating from the epithelial cells of the lung, is characterized by its aggressive growth and poor prognosis, making it a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally [...]
Carcinoembryonic Antigen Expression in Human Tumors: A Tissue Microarray Study on 13,725 Tumors
Authors: Jansen Kristina , Kornfeld Lara , Lennartz Maximilian , Dwertmann Rico Sebastian , Kind Simon , Reiswich Viktor , Viehweger Florian , Bawahab Ahmed Abdulwahab , Fraune Christoph , Gorbokon Natalia , Luebke Andreas M. , Hube-Magg Claudia , Menz Anne , Uhlig Ria , Krech Till , Hinsch Andrea , Jacobsen Frank , Burandt Eike , Sauter Guido , Simon Ronald , Kluth Martina , Steurer Stefan , Marx Andreas H. , Clauditz Till S. , Dum David , Lebok Patrick , Minner Sarah , Bernreuther Christian
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a cell-surface glycoprotein serving as a drug target, diagnostic marker, and serum marker for cancer monitoring. However, prevalence data on CEA expression in cancer tissues vary considerably. This study was designed to determine CEA expression in normal and neoplastic tissues. Methods: A tissue microarray containing 13,725 samples from 120 different tumor types, as well as 76 different normal tissue types, was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: CEA was detectable in 65 (54.2%) of 120 tumor categories, including 49 (40.8%) tumor types with at least one strongly positive case. CEA positivity was most common in colorectal adenomas (100%) and carcinomas (98.7%), other gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas (61.1–80.3%), medullary carcinomas of the thyroid (96.3%), pulmonary adenocarcinoma (73.7%), mucinous carcinomas of the ovary (79.8%) and the breast (43.2%), small-cell carcinomas of the lung (64.3%), and urinary bladder (38.9%). CEA overexpression was linked to high tumor grade and invasive growth (p < 0.0001 each) in urinary bladder cancer, and estrogen and HER2 receptor positivity (p ≤ 0.0158) in invasive breast cancer of no special type. In colorectal adenocarcinomas, reduced CEA expression was associated with mismatch repair deficiency (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The comprehensive list of CEA-positive human tumor types demonstrates that CEA is expressed in a broad range of epithelial neoplasms, many of which might benefit from CEA serum monitoring and anti-CEA therapies.
Fusion Genes in Myeloid Malignancies
Authors: Ang Chieh Hwee , Than Hein , Tuy Tertius T. , Goh Yeow Tee
Published: December 2024

Fusion genes arise from gross chromosomal rearrangements and have been closely linked to oncogenesis. In myeloid malignancies, fusion genes play an integral role in the establishment of diagnosis and prognostication. In the clinical management of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, fusion genes are deeply incorporated in risk stratification criteria to guide the choice of therapy. As a result of their intrinsic ability to define specific disease entities, oncogenic fusion genes also have immense potential to be developed as therapeutic targets and disease biomarkers. In the current era of genomic medicine, breakthroughs in innovation of sequencing techniques have led to a rise in the detection of novel fusion genes, and the concept of standard-of-care diagnostics continues to evolve in this field. In this review, we outline the molecular basis, mechanisms of action and clinical impact of fusion genes. We also discuss the pros and cons of available methodologies that can be used to detect fusion genes. To contextualize the challenges encountered in clinical practice pertaining to the diagnostic workup and management of myeloid malignancies with fusion genes, we share our experience and insights in the form of three clinical case studies.
Differential Infiltration of Key Immune T-Cell Populations Across Malignancies Varying by Immunogenic Potential and the Likelihood of Response to Immunotherapy
Authors: Eljilany Islam , Coleman Sam , Tan Aik , McCarter Martin , Carpten John , Colman Howard , Naqash Abdul , Puzanov Igor , Arnold Susanne , Churchman Michelle , Spakowicz Daniel , Salhia Bodour , Marin-Acevedo Julian , Ganesan Shridar , Ratan Aakrosh , Shriver Craig , Hwu Patrick , Dalton William , Weiner George , Conejo-Garcia Jose , Rodriguez Paulo , Tarhini Ahmad
Published: December 2024

Background: Solid tumors vary by the immunogenic potential of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the likelihood of response to immunotherapy. The emerging literature has identified key immune cell populations that significantly impact immune activation or suppression within the TME. This study investigated candidate T-cell populations and their differential infiltration within different tumor types as estimated from mRNA co-expression levels of the corresponding cellular markers. Methods: We analyzed the mRNA co-expression levels of cellular biomarkers that define stem-like tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), tissue-resident memory T-cells (TRM), early dysfunctional T-cells, late dysfunctional T-cells, activated-potentially anti-tumor (APA) T-cells and Butyrophilin 3A (BTN3A) isoforms, utilizing clinical and transcriptomic data from 1892 patients diagnosed with melanoma, bladder, ovarian, or pancreatic carcinomas. Real-world data were collected under the Total Cancer Care Protocol and the Avatar® project (NCT03977402) across 18 cancer centers. Furthermore, we compared the survival outcomes following immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) based on immune cell gene expression. Results: In melanoma and bladder cancer, the estimated infiltration of APA T-cells differed significantly (p = 4.67 × 10−12 and p = 5.80 × 10−12, respectively) compared to ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Ovarian cancer had lower TRM T-cell infiltration than melanoma, bladder, and pancreatic (p = 2.23 × 10−8, 3.86 × 10−28, and 7.85 × 10−9, respectively). Similar trends were noted with stem-like, early, and late dysfunctional T-cells. Melanoma and ovarian expressed BTN3A isoforms more than other malignancies. Higher densities of stem-like TILs; TRM, early and late dysfunctional T-cells; APA T-cells; and BTN3A isoforms were associated with increased survival in melanoma (p = 0.0075, 0.00059, 0.013, 0.005, 0.0016, and 0.041, respectively). The TRM gene signature was a moderate predictor of survival in the melanoma cohort (AUROC = 0.65), with similar findings in testing independent public datasets of ICI-treated patients with melanoma (AUROC 0.61–0.64). Conclusions: Key cellular elements related to immune activation are more heavily infiltrated within ICI-responsive versus non-responsive malignancies, supporting a central role in anti-tumor immunity. In melanoma patients treated with ICIs, higher densities of stem-like TILs, TRM T-cells, early dysfunctional T-cells, late dysfunctional T-cells, APA T-cells, and BTN3A isoforms were associated with improved survival.
Advancing Planetary Health Through Interspecies Justice: A Rapid Review
Authors: Johnson Kira L. , Gislason Maya K. , Silva Diego S. , Smith Maxwell J. , Buse Chris
Published: December 2024

Planetary health definitions are clear about advancing human well-being, aiming for the highest standard of health worldwide. Planetary health recognizes human health is dependent on natural systems; however, framing human health as the central consideration of planetary health may risk rendering invisible the non-human species that are central to the viability of ecosystem services and human survival. This review seeks to discover and describe opportunities for advancing discourses on planetary health justice through exploration of the interspecies justice literature. This rapid review of forty-three articles asks the following: how does health arise in interspecies justice literature and how can interspecies justice advance broader conceptualizations of justice in planetary health? Results suggest opportunities for epistemological expansion within planetary health to include consideration of other species, ecosystems, and relationships between them. Examining what health is for more-than-humans, reflecting on how we understand these interdependencies, and advocating for decolonizing planetary health study and practice are critical to growing planetary health justice.
An Intensity-Variation RI Sensor for Multi-Variant Alcohol Detection with Twisted Structure Using Polymer Optical Fiber
Authors: Ghaffar Abdul , Mehdi Rehan , Mehdi Irfan , Das Bhagwan , Kumar Vicky , Hussain Sadam , Sher Gul , Memon Kamran Ali , Ali Sikandar , Mehdi Mujahid , Qureshi Khurram Karim
Published: December 2024

This research introduces an RI sensor for detecting various alcohol species with a designed twisted polymer optical fiber (POF) sensor. The sensor is developed via a straightforward twisting technique to form an effective coupling mechanism. The sensor works on intensity variation where coupled intensity varies when different types of alcohol are added. The structure relies on the twisting of two fibers, where one fiber is used as the illuminating fiber and the other fiber is used as the receiving fiber. Five different types of alcohol are tested (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and pentanol) as a substant. The experimental results reveal that the sensor is able to detect all five distinct substants effectively by optical power intensity variation. Moreover, the sensor’s sensitivity is analyzed with different factors such as the influence of the bending radius and the coupling length, which reveals that the sensing parameters could be customized depending on specific requirements. The sensor demonstrated consistent responses in repeatability tests, with minimal variation across multiple measurements, highlighting its stability. Additionally, the study explores temperature’s influence, revealing a sensitivity shift for every degree Celsius of change. This POF-based alcohol sensor represents a significant leap forward in optical sensing technology.