bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purification and Partial Characterization of a Bacteriocin Produced by Lactobacillus pentosus 124-2 Isolated from Dadih
Authors: Yuliana Tri , Pratiwi Annisa Rizka , Zahratunnisa Shafa , Rialita Tita , Cahyana Yana , Harlina Putri Widyanti , Marta Herlina
Published: March 2023

The fermentation process results in the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Traditional fermented buffalo milk from the Indonesian province of West Sumatra is known as dadih. Bacteriocins are naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides that can be produced by LAB. These bacteriocins have the potential to be used as natural preservatives. This research was conducted with the intention of isolating and partially characterizing a bacteriocin that was generated by Lactobacillus pentosus 124-2 that was isolated from dadih. Using MRS agar media and 16sRNA, the LAB that was found in dadih was successfully isolated. Bacteriocins were produced using media consisting of MRS broth. After the bacteriocins were obtained, they were subjected to a series of purification processes, one of which included ammonium sulfate (70%) followed by gel filtration chromatography for additional purification. According to the findings, the strain of LAB that was discovered in the dadih was Lactobacillus pentosus 124-2. The specific activity of the bacteriocins rose, allowing for the effective completion of the purification process. The pure bacteriocins had the greatest specific activity values, at 60.59 AU/mg, while the yield values were 0.41% and 3.15-fold. Bacteriocins in their purest form were able to inhibit the growth of Salmonella species as well as Staphylococcus aureus. The characterization results included partial bacteriocins that were resistant to pH 2, 4, and 6; antibacterial activity that was was stable at a temperature range of 25 °C to 121 °C; and resistance to the addition of 2%, 4%, and 6% salt concentrations. Microbial stability against the addition of surfactants EDTA, SDS, and Tween 80 was also obtained. In light of these findings, a bacteriocin derived from L. pentosus possesses the possible ability to be utilized in the food business as a biopreservative.
The Body as Memory: Breast Cancer and the Holocaust in Women’s Art
Authors: Presiado Mor
Published: March 2023

The Holocaust is a living trauma in the individual and collective body. Studies show that this trauma threatens to be reawakened when a new and traumatic experience, such as illness, emerges. The two traumas bring to the fore the experiences of death, pain, bodily injury, fear of losing control, and social rejection. This article examines the manifestation of this phenomenon in art through the works of three Jewish artists with autobiographical connections to the Holocaust who experienced breast cancer: the late Holocaust survivor Alina Szapocznikow, Israeli artist Anat Massad and English artist Lorna Brunstein, daughters of survivors. All three matured alongside the rise and development of feminist art, and their works address subjects such as femininity and race and tell their stories through their bodies and the traumas of breast cancer and the Holocaust, transmitting memory, working through trauma, and making their voices heard.
Detecting Early Ocular Choroidal Melanoma Using Ultrasound Localization Microscopy
Authors: Quan Biao , Liu Xiangdong , Zhao Shuang , Chen Xiang , Zhang Xuan , Chen Zeyu
Published: March 2023

Ocular choroidal melanoma (OCM) is the most common ocular primary malignant tumor in adults, and there is an increasing emphasis on its early detection and treatment worldwide. The main obstacle in early detection of OCM is its overlapping clinical features with benign choroidal nevus. Thus, we propose ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) based on the image deconvolution algorithm to assist the diagnosis of small OCM in early stages. Furthermore, we develop ultrasound (US) plane wave imaging based on three-frame difference algorithm to guide the placement of the probe on the field of view. A high-frequency Verasonics Vantage system and an L22-14v linear array transducer were used to perform experiments on both custom-made modules in vitro and a SD rat with ocular choroidal melanoma in vivo. The results demonstrate that our proposed deconvolution method implement more robust microbubble (MB) localization, reconstruction of microvasculature network in a finer grid and more precise flow velocity estimation. The excellent performance of US plane wave imaging was successfully validated on the flow phantom and in an in vivo OCM model. In the future, the super-resolution ULM, a critical complementary imaging modality, can provide doctors with conclusive suggestions for early diagnosis of OCM, which is significant for the treatment and prognosis of patients.
Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity Is Perturbed in a Mecp2-Null Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome
Authors: Pepe Giuseppe , Fioriniello Salvatore , Marracino Federico , Capocci Luca , Maglione Vittorio , D’Esposito Maurizio , Di Pardo Alba , Della Ragione Floriana
Published: March 2023

Rett syndrome (RTT, online MIM 312750) is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and cognitive disabilities. It is mainly caused by pathogenetic variants in the X-linked MECP2 gene, encoding an epigenetic factor crucial for brain functioning. Despite intensive studies, the RTT pathogenetic mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Impaired vascular function has been previously reported in RTT mouse models; however, whether an altered brain vascular homeostasis and the subsequent blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown occur in RTT and contribute to the disease-related cognitive impairment is still unknown. Interestingly, in symptomatic Mecp2-null (Mecp2-/y, Mecp2tm1.1Bird) mice, we found enhanced BBB permeability associated with an aberrant expression of the tight junction proteins Ocln and Cldn-5 in different brain areas, in terms of both transcript and protein levels. Additionally, Mecp2-null mice showed an altered expression of different genes encoding factors with a role in the BBB structure and function, such as Cldn3, Cldn12, Mpdz, Jam2, and Aqp4. With this study, we provide the first evidence of impaired BBB integrity in RTT and highlight a potential new molecular hallmark of the disease that might open new perspectives for the setting-up of novel therapeutic strategies.
Artificial Intelligence Assisted Pharmacophore Design for Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Leukemia with Gamma-Tocotrienol: A Toxicity Comparison Approach with Asciminib
Authors: Naveed Muhammad , Ain Noor , Aziz Tariq , Javed Khushbakht , Shabbir Muhammad , Alharbi Metab , Alsahammari Abdulrahman , Alasmari Abdullah
Published: March 2023

BCR-ABL1 is a fusion protein as a result of a unique chromosomal translocation (producing the so-called Philadelphia chromosome) that serves as a clinical biomarker primarily for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); the Philadelphia chromosome also occurs, albeit rather rarely, in other types of leukemia. This fusion protein has proven itself to be a promising therapeutic target. Exploiting the natural vitamin E molecule gamma-tocotrienol as a BCR-ABL1 inhibitor with deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) drug design, this study aims to overcome the present toxicity that embodies the currently provided medications for (Ph+) leukemia, especially asciminib. Gamma-tocotrienol was employed in an AI server for drug design to construct three effective de novo drug compounds for the BCR-ABL1 fusion protein. The AIGT’s (Artificial Intelligence Gamma-Tocotrienol) drug-likeliness analysis among the three led to its nomination as a target possibility. The toxicity assessment research comparing AIGT and asciminib demonstrates that AIGT, in addition to being more effective nonetheless, is also hepatoprotective. While almost all CML patients can achieve remission with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (such as asciminib), they are not cured in the strict sense. Hence it is important to develop new avenues to treat CML. We present in this study new formulations of AIGT. The docking of the AIGT with BCR-ABL1 exhibited a binding affinity of −7.486 kcal/mol, highlighting the AIGT’s feasibility as a pharmaceutical option. Since current medical care only exclusively cures a small number of patients of CML with utter toxicity as a pressing consequence, a new possibility to tackle adverse instances is therefore presented in this study by new formulations of natural compounds of vitamin E, gamma-tocotrienol, thoroughly designed by AI. Even though AI-designed AIGT is effective and adequately safe as computed, in vivo testing is mandatory for the verification of the in vitro results.
Human Urinary Volatilome Analysis in Renal Cancer by Electronic Nose
Authors: Costantini Manuela , Filianoti Alessio , Anceschi Umberto , Bove Alfredo Maria , Brassetti Aldo , Ferriero Mariaconsiglia , Mastroianni Riccardo , Misuraca Leonardo , Tuderti Gabriele , Ciliberto Gennaro , Simone Giuseppe , Torregiani Giulia
Published: March 2023

Currently, in clinical practice there are still no useful markers available that are able to diagnose renal cancer in the early stages in the context of population screening. This translates into very high costs for healthcare systems around the world. Analysing urine using an electronic nose (EN) provides volatile organic compounds that can be easily used in the diagnosis of urological diseases. Although no convincing results have been published, some previous studies suggest that dogs trained to sniff urine can recognize different types of tumours (bladder, lung, breast cancer) with different success rates. We therefore hypothesized that urinary volatilome profiling may be able to distinguish patients with renal cancer from healthy controls. A total of 252 individuals, 110 renal patients and 142 healthy controls, were enrolled in this pilot monocentric study. For each participant, we collected, stabilized (at 37 °C) and analysed urine samples using a commercially available electronic nose (Cyranose 320®). Principal component (PCA) analyses, discriminant analysis (CDA) and ROC curves were performed to provide a complete statistical analysis of the sensor responses. The best discriminating principal component groups were identified with univariable ANOVA analysis. The study correctly identified 79/110 patients and 127/142 healthy controls, respectively (specificity 89.4%, sensitivity 71.8%, positive predictive value 84.04%, negative predictive value 80.37%). In order to test the study efficacy, the Cross Validated Accuracy was calculated (CVA 81.7%, p < 0.001). At ROC analysis, the area under the curve was 0.85. The results suggest that urine volatilome profiling by e-Nose seems a promising, accurate and non-invasive diagnostic tool in discriminating patients from controls. The low costs and ease of execution make this test useful in clinical practice.
Influence of Superstructure Pouring Concrete Volume Deviation on Bridge Performance: A Case Study
Authors: Yu Jintian , Zhang Jinquan , Li Pengfei , Han Xu
Published: March 2023

Due to factors such as casting, mold making, and construction errors, the actual size of the bridge structure will inevitably deviate from the designed size and dimension, and the amount of deviation between the two volumes is generally random and the location of the deviation is not fixed. However, this phenomenon that occurs in the actual practice has not been paid enough attention within existing studies. From a theoretical point of view, the apparent size of concrete will directly affect the cross-sectional stiffness, especially for statically indeterminate structures. This effect will be further reflected in the internal force and stress distribution of the structure. In addition, the variation of the poured volume of the bridge superstructure can also influence the dead-load effect of the bridge structure. Therefore, the influence of pouring concrete volume deviation (PCVD) on the cross-sectional stiffness of large-span continuous reinforced concrete rigid-frame (CRCR) bridges was first stressed and investigated in this paper. Field data of PCVD were monitored by measuring demolished sections with tools that ensure accuracy, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of PCVD on the cross-sectional stiffness at different locations. Statistical analysis of the measured data concluded that PCVD has a significant influence on the internal-force distribution and structural stiffness of the bridge, up to 30%. Finally, a theoretical method that considers the influence of PCVD was proposed based on the field monitoring data and the statistical analysis results.
CDK4/6 Inhibition Induces Senescence and Enhances Radiation Response by Disabling DNA Damage Repair in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Shrivastava Nitisha , Chavez Claudia Gutierrez , Li Daniel , Mehta Vikas , Thomas Carlos , Fulcher Cory D. , Kawachi Nicole , Bottalico Danielle M. , Prystowsky Michael B. , Basu Indranil , Guha Chandan , Ow Thomas J.
Published: March 2023

Purpose: HPV(−) OCSCC resists radiation treatment. The CDKN2A gene, encoding p16INK4A, is commonly disrupted in OCSCC. p16 inhibits CDK4/CDK6, leading to cell cycle arrest, but the biological sequelae of CDK4/6 inhibition in OCSCC remains understudied. This study examines whether inhibition of CDK4/6 enhances radiation response in OCSCC. Methods: MTT assays were performed in OCSCC cell lines HN5 and CAL27 following treatment with palbociclib. Clonogenic survival and synergy were analyzed after radiation (RT-2 or 4Gy), palbociclib (P) (0.5 µM or 1 µM), or concurrent combination treatment (P+RT). DNA damage/repair and senescence were examined. CDK4/6 were targeted via siRNA to corroborate P+RT effects. Three-dimensional immortalized spheroids and organoids derived from patient tumors (conditionally reprogrammed OCSCC CR-06 and CR-18) were established to further examine and validate responses to P+RT. Results: P+RT demonstrated reduced viability and synergy, increased β-gal expression (~95%), and ~two-fold higher γH2AX. Rad51 and Ku80 were reduced after P+RT, indicating impairment of both HR and NHEJ. siCDK4/6 increased senescence with radiation. Spheroids showed reduced proliferation and size with P+RT. CR-06 and CR-18 further demonstrated three-fold reduced proliferation and organoids size with P+RT. Conclusion: Targeting CDK4/6 can lead to improved efficacy when combined with radiation in OCSCC by inducing senescence and inhibiting DNA damage repair.
Surgical Management of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Sulciner Megan L. , Clancy Thomas E.
Published: March 2023

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are relatively uncommon malignancies, characterized as either functional or nonfunctional secondary to their secretion of biologically active hormones. A wide range of clinical behavior can be seen, with the primary prognostic indicator being tumor grade as defined by the Ki67 proliferation index and mitotic index. Surgery is the primary treatment modality for PNETs. While functional PNETs should undergo resection for symptom control as well as potential curative intent, nonfunctional PNETs are increasingly managed nonoperatively. There is increasing data to suggest small, nonfunctional PNETs (less than 2 cm) are appropriate follow with nonoperative active surveillance. Evidence supports surgical management of metastatic disease if possible, and occasionally even surgical management of the primary tumor in the setting of widespread metastases. In this review, we highlight the evolving surgical management of local and metastatic PNETs.
Fibroblasts as Turned Agents in Cancer Progression
Authors: Wieder Robert
Published: March 2023

Differentiated epithelial cells reside in the homeostatic microenvironment of the native organ stroma. The stroma supports their normal function, their G0 differentiated state, and their expansion/contraction through the various stages of the life cycle and physiologic functions of the host. When malignant transformation begins, the microenvironment tries to suppress and eliminate the transformed cells, while cancer cells, in turn, try to resist these suppressive efforts. The tumor microenvironment encompasses a large variety of cell types recruited by the tumor to perform different functions, among which fibroblasts are the most abundant. The dynamics of the mutual relationship change as the sides undertake an epic battle for control of the other. In the process, the cancer “wounds” the microenvironment through a variety of mechanisms and attracts distant mesenchymal stem cells to change their function from one attempting to suppress the cancer, to one that supports its growth, survival, and metastasis. Analogous reciprocal interactions occur as well between disseminated cancer cells and the metastatic microenvironment, where the microenvironment attempts to eliminate cancer cells or suppress their proliferation. However, the altered microenvironmental cells acquire novel characteristics that support malignant progression. Investigations have attempted to use these traits as targets of novel therapeutic approaches.
Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activities of CeVO4-V2O3 Composite: Effect of Ethylene Glycol
Authors: Wang Yuxin , Jin Yinxiu , Jia Minghan , Ruan Hu , Tao Xuefen , Liu Xuefeng , Lu Guang , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: March 2023

CeVO4-V2O3 composites were prepared by simple hydrothermal method, and the effects of ethylene glycol(EG) on the products were studied by XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM, EDS, XPS, PL and UV-vis spectra. The characterization reveals a slight decrease in surface area and a slight enhancement of visible light absorption in the final sample, while the crystalline phase, morphology and separation efficiency of the collective carriers are severely affected by the EG. At the same time, the photocatalytic effect of CeVO4-V2O3 composites was evaluated by the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) under simulated visible light. The sample for 10 mL EG obtained the highest efficiency of 96.9%, while the one for 15 mL EG showed the lowest efficiency of 67.5% within 300 min. The trapping experiments and ESR experiment showed that the contribution of active species to the photocatalytic degradation of MB was ∙OH > h+ > ∙O2− in descending order, and a possible degradation mechanism was proposed.
Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF): An Emerging Therapeutic Target for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Sivakumar Bhadrapriya , Krishnan Anand
Published: March 2023

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a member of the new family of neurotrophic factors (NTFs) with a unique structure and functions compared to other conventionally known NTFs. MANF is broadly expressed in developing and mature tissues, including the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system tissues. Growing research demonstrated that MANF protects neurons from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated complications by restoring ER homeostasis and regulating unfolded protein response. This review discusses MANF signaling in neurodegenerative conditions with specific emphasis given to its overall effect and mechanisms of action in experimental models of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke. Additional perspectives on its potential unexplored roles in other neurodegenerative conditions are also given.
Infant with Parotid Sialoblastoma and Nevus Sebaceous, Treated with Surgery and Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Opiła Radosław , Feszak Sylwia , Wawryków Paweł , Peregud-Pogorzelski Jarosław
Published: March 2023

Sialoblastoma is an extremely rare embryonal tumor derived from salivary gland primordial cells. Treatment usually consists of surgery alone; however, in some cases, chemotherapy is required and is administered with good response. We present a case of a 5-week-old girl diagnosed with a parotid gland tumor and co-existing nevus sebaceous on the face. Initial tumorectomy was microscopically non-radical and histopathology revealed sialoblastoma. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide. Due to imaging studies being inconclusive regarding response and possible residual disease, a second surgery (total parotidectomy) was performed. The histopathology results showed fields of necrosis in the parotid gland but no neoplastic cells in the material. The patient remains under watchful observation and there is no evidence of relapse 12 months after the second surgery. The adjuvant chemotherapy regimen with vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide is a viable option of treatment in children with sialoblastoma.
The Influence of Participation in Pregnancy Courses and Breastfeeding Support Groups on Attitudes and Knowledge of Health Professionals about Breastfeeding
Authors: Čatipović Marija , Puharić Zrinka
Published: March 2023

Numerous factors affect the behavior, attitudes, and knowledge of health professionals about breastfeeding. The aim of this paper is to determine the impact of participation in pregnancy courses and breastfeeding support groups on the attitudes and knowledge of health professionals about breastfeeding. The study compares two groups of health professionals according to the results they achieved on a validated questionnaire of behavior, attitudes, and knowledge about breastfeeding. The authors did not make personal contact with the respondents, as the questionnaires were filled out online. The two groups of respondents differed according to the frequency of participation in pregnancy courses, that is, groups for breastfeeding support. The results are presented tabularly and graphically (frequencies and percentages), while differences in the results between the infrequent and regular participants are shown with the Mann–Whitney U test (asymmetric distribution). Better results on the questionnaire were achieved by those who regularly attended breastfeeding support groups (Mdn = 149, IQR = 11) in comparison to infrequent visitors (Mdn = 137, IQR = 23). The same is found for regular visitors of pregnancy courses (Mdn = 149, IQR = 15.75) in comparison to infrequent visitors (Mdn = 137, IQR = 23). The differences are statistically significant (p < 0.00). Partial correlation confirms a more significant influence of breastfeeding support groups (<0.00) than pregnancy courses (p = 0.34). Working in breastfeeding support groups had a statistically significant positive effect on the attitudes and knowledge of health professionals about breastfeeding. The topic of breastfeeding should be given more space and importance during pregnancy courses as well. Personal experience working in breastfeeding support groups and pregnancy courses should be incorporated into the training of medical students.
Overview of the Spectral Coherence between Planetary Resonances and Solar and Climate Oscillations
Authors: Scafetta Nicola , Bianchini Antonio
Published: March 2023

The complex dynamics of solar activity appear to be characterized by a number of oscillations ranging from monthly to multimillennial timescales, the most well-known of which being the 11-year Schwabe sunspot cycle. Solar oscillations are important because they also characterize the oscillations observed in Earth’s climate and can thus be used to explain and forecast climate changes. Thus, it is important to investigate the physical origin of solar oscillations. There appear to be two possibilities: either the oscillations in solar activity are exclusively controlled by internal solar dynamo mechanisms, or the solar dynamo is partially synchronized to planetary frequencies by planetary forcings. The latter concept has recently gained support from a growing amount of evidence. In this work, we provide an overview of the many empirical facts that would support a planetary hypothesis of the variability of solar activity and emphasize their importance for climate research. We show that the frequencies produced by the complex interactions of all of the planets are coherent with the major solar activity and climate cycles, from monthly to multimillennial timescales, including the well-known Schwabe 11-year solar cycle. We provide some persuasive theoretical and empirical support for the planetary hypothesis of solar and climate variability.
Epitaxial Integration of Dirac Semimetals with Si(001)
Authors: Rice Anthony , Alberi Kirstin
Published: March 2023

Topological semimetals contain novel combinations of properties that make them useful in a variety of applications, including optoelectronics, spintronics and low energy computing, and catalysis. Although they have been grown with high quality as bulk single crystals, incorporation with semiconductor substrates will ultimately be required to maximize their technological reach. Here, epitaxial growth of the Dirac semimetal Cd3As2 on Si(001) is demonstrated through two routes. First, Cd3As2(112) epilayers are grown on Si(001) via an intermediate CdTe(111) buffer layer. Second, Cd3As2(112) is grown directly on Si(001). This work sets the foundation for integration of novel semimetal materials with existing CMOS technology.
Integrating Tobacco Use Assessment and Treatment in the Oncology Setting: Quality Improvement Results from the Georgetown Lombardi Smoking Treatment and Recovery Program
Authors: Taylor Kathryn L. , Webster Marguerite A. , Philips Joanna G. , Whealan Julia M. , Lobo Tania , Davis Kimberly M. , Breece Chavalia J. , Wheeley Jennifer R. , Childs Jack E. , Le Ariel Q. , Williams Randi M. , Veytsman Irina G. , Kim Chul
Published: March 2023

As part of the NCI’s Cancer Center Cessation (C3i) initiative, we initiated, expanded, and maintained an evidence-based tobacco treatment program at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. We present a quality improvement (QI) assessment of the implementation process and patient-level outcomes. At two hematology/oncology outpatient clinical sites, five oncology-based teams (clinical administrators, clinical staff, pharmacy, information technology, and tobacco treatment staff) developed implementation strategies for opt-out patient assessment and enrollment, centralized tobacco treatment, audit, feedback, and staff training. Among eligible patients (tobacco use in ≤30 days), we assessed demographic, clinical, and tobacco-related characteristics to examine predictors of enrollment (baseline completed), treatment engagement (≥one sessions completed), and self-reported 7-day abstinence (6 months post-enrollment). Across both sites, medical assistants screened 19,344 (82.4%) patients for tobacco use, which identified 1345 (7.0%) current tobacco users, in addition to 213 clinician referrals. Of the 687/1256 (54.7%) eligible patients reached, 301 (43.8%) enrolled, and 199 (29.0%) engaged in treatment, of whom 74.5% were African American and 68% were female. At the larger site, significant multivariate predictors of enrollment included African American race (vs. white/other) and clinician referral (vs. MA assessment). Treatment engagement was predicted by greater nicotine dependence, and abstinence (27.4%) was predicted by greater treatment engagement. In summary, the systematic utilization of multiple oncology-based teams and implementation strategies resulted in the development and maintenance of a high-quality, population-based approach to tobacco treatment. Importantly, these strategies addressed inequities in tobacco treatment, as the program reached and engaged a majority-African-American patient population. Finally, the opt-out patient assessment strategy has been implemented in multiple oncology settings at MedStar Health through the Commission on Cancer’s Just Ask program.
Combination of Morphometric and Morphological Analyses: An Effective Approach for the Study of Platynus from the Italian W Alps (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Platynini)
Authors: Roggero Angela , Giachino Pier Mauro , Casale Achille , Allegro Gianni , Fiorito Alessandro , Palestrini Claudia
Published: March 2023

In the W Italian Alps, an area characterized by considerable environmental complexity, the widespread Platynus were studied by focusing on their species composition. The ecological niche realized by the genus in this area encompasses a preference for humid and cold environments, sometimes associated with altitude. Several specimens from private and public collections were investigated by geometric morphometrics, a powerful technique capable of detecting even minor morphological variation. The quantitative analysis was paired to a qualitative survey of anatomical traits. To classify and discriminate species, external traits (head, pronotum, right elytron) and internal structures (male and female genitalia, mouthparts) were evaluated by direct examination and dissection. The results supported the presence of the five species already known from the study area and also helped to identify four new cryptic taxa to which the specific rank was assigned. They are herein described as Platynus maritimus n. sp., Platynus occitanus n. sp., Platynus simonisi n. sp., and Platynus vignai n. sp.
Beyond Henssge’s Formula: Using Regression Trees and a Support Vector Machine for Time of Death Estimation in Forensic Medicine
Authors: Dani Lívia Mária , Tóth Dénes , Frigyik Andrew B. , Kozma Zsolt
Published: March 2023

Henssge’s nomogram is a commonly used method to estimate the time of death. However, uncertainties arising from the graphical solution of the original mathematical formula affect the accuracy of the resulting time interval. Using existing machine learning techniques/tools such as support vector machines (SVMs) and decision trees, we present a more accurate and adaptive method for estimating the time of death compared to Henssge’s nomogram. Using the Python programming language, we built a synthetic data-driven model in which the majority of the selected tools can estimate the time of death with low error rates even despite having only 3000 training cases. An SVM with a radial basis function (RBF) kernel and AdaBoost+SVR provided the best results in estimating the time of death with the lowest error with an estimated time of death accuracy of approximately ±20 min or ±9.6 min, respectively, depending on the SVM parameters. The error in the predicted time (tp[h]) was tp±0.7 h with a 94.45% confidence interval. Because training requires only a small quantity of data, our model can be easily customized to specific populations with varied anthropometric parameters or living in different climatic zones. The errors produced by the proposed method are a magnitude smaller than any previous result.
A Review of Colonoscopy in Intestinal Diseases
Authors: Hong Seung , Baek Dong
Published: March 2023

Since the development of the fiberoptic colonoscope in the late 1960s, colonoscopy has been a useful tool to diagnose and treat various intestinal diseases. This article reviews the clinical use of colonoscopy for various intestinal diseases based on present and future perspectives. Intestinal diseases include infectious diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neoplasms, functional bowel disorders, and others. In cases of infectious diseases, colonoscopy is helpful in making the differential diagnosis, revealing endoscopic gross findings, and obtaining the specimens for pathology. Additionally, colonoscopy provides clues for distinguishing between infectious disease and IBD, and aids in the post-treatment monitoring of IBD. Colonoscopy is essential for the diagnosis of neoplasms that are diagnosed through only pathological confirmation. At present, malignant tumors are commonly being treated using endoscopy because of the advancement of endoscopic resection procedures. Moreover, the characteristics of tumors can be described in more detail by image-enhanced endoscopy and magnifying endoscopy. Colonoscopy can be helpful for the endoscopic decompression of colonic volvulus in large bowel obstruction, balloon dilatation as a treatment for benign stricture, and colon stenting as a treatment for malignant obstruction. In the diagnosis of functional bowel disorder, colonoscopy is used to investigate other organic causes of the symptom.
Sun-Exposed versus Sun-Protected Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma: Clinico-Pathological Profile and p16 Immunostaining
Authors: Hasan Abdulkarim , Kandil Ahmad M. , Al-Ghamdi Hasan S. , Alghamdi Mohammad A. , Nasr Mohamed , Naeem Suhaib Alsayed , Abd-Elhay Wagih M. , Mohamed Osama Khalil E. , Ibrahim Hany Sabry A. , Ahmed Eman Mohamed , Abdrabo Ahmed Elsayed M. , Elgohary Shimaa Abdelraouf
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Although widespread, BCC is still relatively poorly understood in regards to pathogenesis and prognosis, particularly the lesions formed on anatomical sites away from sun exposure. With the aim of deepening our understanding of the pathogenesis and clinico-pathological correlations of BCCs, we conducted this study. Methods: Tissue blocks and data of 52 Egyptian patients diagnosed with BCC were retrieved for clinical information and inclusion criteria, then re-examined histologically; p16 immunostaining was carried out and evaluated for analysis and comparison between the two groups, i.e., sun-exposed and sun-protected. Results: Sex, age, clinical suspicion, tumor size, recurrence status, and histologic variants did not show a significant difference between the sun-protected and sun-exposed groups; however, the mean ages recorded were 67.2 vs. 62.7 for the sun-protected and sun-exposed groups, respectively. A total of 52% of BCCs were positive for p16. The sun-protected lesions showed p16 positivity in 61% of cases, whereas 49% of the sun-exposed lesions were positive with no significant difference. There was a significant difference in p16 expression between the recurrent and non-recurrent lesions. Conclusions: A significant difference was seen in the case of cancer recurrence, where all the recurrent BCCs in this study demonstrated negative p16 immunostaining of the primary lesions; however, the positively stained cases in total were 52% of BCCs. The mean patient age of the sun-protected group was much higher than in previous peer studies. We assume that the biological, prognostic, and clinical aspects of p16 protein expression in BCCs are still far from being clearly understood. Further studies are highly recommended, with more focus on its role in the pathogenesis and the prognostic factors.
The Coexistence of Antibodies to Neuronal Cell and Synaptic Receptor Proteins, Gangliosides and Selected Neurotropic Pathogens in Neurologic Disorders in Children
Authors: Lubarski Karol , Mania Anna , Michalak Sławomir , Osztynowicz Krystyna , Mazur-Melewska Katarzyna , Figlerowicz Magdalena
Published: March 2023

Various primarily non-autoimmune neurological disorders occur synchronously with autoantibodies against tissues in the nervous system. We aimed to assess serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) autoantibodies in children with neurologic disorders. To find new diagnostic tools, we compared the laboratory and clinical findings between the distinguished groups. Retrospectively, 508 patients were divided into six subgroups: neuroinfections, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, neurologic autoimmune and demyelinating diseases, epilepsy, pervasive developmental disorders and other patients. We analysed serum anti-aquaporin-4, antiganglioside, neuronal antinuclear and cytoplasmic antibodies, as well as antibodies against surface neuronal and synaptic antigens in the CSF and serum. We involved available demographic and clinical data. Autoantibodies appeared in 165 (32.3%) children, with 24 showing multiple types of them. The most common were anti-neuroendothelium (anti-NET), anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAr), anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-myelin antibodies bothering 46/463 (9.9%), 32/343 (9.4%), 27/463 (5.8%) and 27/463 (5.8%), respectively. Anti-NET and anti-NMDAr antibodies appeared more frequently in children with autoimmunity (p = 0.017; p < 0.001, respectively), increasing the autoimmune disease risk (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.13–13.97; OR = 3.91, 95% CI 1.86–8.22, respectively). Similar pathomechanisms appeared in diseases of different aetiology with clinical spectrums mimicking each other, so we proposed the model helping to diagnose autoimmune disease. We proved the influence of age, living place and medical history on the final diagnosis.
Cosmic and Thermodynamic Consequences of Kaniadakis Holographic Dark Energy in Brans–Dicke Gravity
Authors: Sania  , Azhar Nadeem , Rani Shamaila , Jawad Abdul
Published: March 2023

In this manuscript, we investigate the cosmological and thermodynamic aspects of the Brans–Dicke theory of gravity for a spatially flat FRW universe. We consider a theoretical model for interacting Kaniadakis holographic dark energy with the Hubble horizon as the infrared cutoff. We deal with two interaction scenarios (Q1 and Q2) between Kaniadakis holographic dark energy and matter. In this context, we study different possible aspects of cosmic evolution through some well-known cosmological parameters such as Hubble (H), deceleration (q), jerk (j), and equation of state (ωd). For both interaction terms, it is observed that the deceleration parameter exhibits early deceleration to the current accelerating universe and also lies within the suggested range of Planck data. The equation of state parameter shows quintessence behavior (for the first interaction term) and phantom-like behavior (for the second interaction term) of the universe. The jerk parameter represents consistency with the ΛCDM model for both interaction terms. In the end, we check the thermodynamic behavior of the underlying model. It is interesting to mention here that the generalized second law of thermodynamics holds for both cases of interaction terms.
Geometric Modeling for Control of Thermodynamic Systems
Authors: van der Schaft Arjan
Published: March 2023

This paper discusses the way that energy and entropy can be regarded as storage functions with respect to supply rates corresponding to the power and thermal ports of the thermodynamic system. Then, this research demonstrates how the factorization of the irreversible entropy production leads to quasi-Hamiltonian formulations, and how this can be used for stability analysis. The Liouville geometry approach to contact geometry is summarized, and how this leads to the definition of port-thermodynamic systems is discussed. This notion is utilized for control by interconnection of thermodynamic systems.
A Variational Quantum Linear Solver Application to Discrete Finite-Element Methods
Authors: Trahan Corey Jason , Loveland Mark , Davis Noah , Ellison Elizabeth
Published: March 2023

Finite-element methods are industry standards for finding numerical solutions to partial differential equations. However, the application scale remains pivotal to the practical use of these methods, even for modern-day supercomputers. Large, multi-scale applications, for example, can be limited by their requirement of prohibitively large linear system solutions. It is therefore worthwhile to investigate whether near-term quantum algorithms have the potential for offering any kind of advantage over classical linear solvers. In this study, we investigate the recently proposed variational quantum linear solver (VQLS) for discrete solutions to partial differential equations. This method was found to scale polylogarithmically with the linear system size, and the method can be implemented using shallow quantum circuits on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers. Herein, we utilize the hybrid VQLS to solve both the steady Poisson equation and the time-dependent heat and wave equations.
Digital and Sharing Economy for Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review
Authors: Awli Osho , Lau Evan
Published: March 2023

The concept of digitalization has become a common practice for adoption and integration across the economy in recent years. The rapid prospects of a spillover from digitalization quickly became the interest of countries and researchers, especially in the interest of sustainable development based on the SDGs of the United Nations. With several subsectors of the economy surfacing as a product of the digital economy, this study intends to identify the relationship between the digital economy and sharing economy, as well as their role in sustainable development. To achieve the objectives laid out, this study employs the use of bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review (SLR) to organize and extract the contents of the selected literature. The findings show that the contemporary sharing economy is driven by the digital economy and is reliant on its digital infrastructure, whereas there are mixed findings on the role of digitalization on sustainability.
A Robotic System for Remote Teaching of Technical Drawing
Authors: Hiroi Yutaka , Ito Akinori
Published: March 2023

This paper describes a robotic system that supports the remote teaching of technical drawing. The aim of the system is to enable a remote class of paper-based technical drawing, where the students draw the drawing in a classroom, and the teacher gives instructions to the students from a remote place while confirming the paper drawing. The robotic system has a document camera for confirming the paper, a projector, a flat screen to project a cursor on the paper, and a video conference system for communication between the teacher and the students. We conducted two experiments. The first experiment verified the usefulness of a projected cursor. Eight participants evaluated the comprehensibility of the drawing check instruction with or without the projected cursor, and the results suggested that the use of the cursor made the instructions more comprehensible. The second experiment was conducted in a real drawing class. We asked the students in the class to answer a questionnaire to evaluate the robotic system. The result showed that the students had a good impression (useful, easy to use, and fun) of the system. The contribution of our work is twofold. First, it enables a teacher in a remote site to point to a part of the paper to enhance the interaction. Second, the developed system enabled both the students and the teacher to view the paper from their own viewpoints.
GFNet: A Deep Learning Framework for Breast Mass Detection
Authors: Yu Xiang , Zhu Ziquan , Alon Yoav , Guttery David S. , Zhang Yudong
Published: March 2023

Background: Breast mass is one of the main symptoms of breast cancer. Effective and accurate detection of breast masses at an early stage would be of great value for clinical breast cancer analysis. Methods: We developed a novel mass detection framework named GFNet. The GFNet is comprised of three modules, including patch extraction, feature extraction, and mass detection. The developed breast mass detection framework is of high robustness and generality that can be self-adapted to images collected by different imaging devices. The patch-based detection is deployed to improve performance. A novel feature extraction technique based on gradient field convergence features (GFCF) is proposed to enhance the information of breast mass and, therefore, provide useful information for the following patch extraction module. A novel false positives reduction method is designed by combining the texture and morphological features in breast mass patch. This is the first attempt at fusing morphological and texture features for breast mass false positive reduction. Results: Compared to other state-of-the-art methods, the proposed GFNet showed the best performance on CBIS-DDSM and INbreast with an accuracy of 0.90 at 2.91 false positive per image (FPI) and 0.99 at only 0.97 FPI, respectively. Conclusions: The GFNet is an effective tool for detecting breast mass.
Research on Algorithm for Improving Infrared Image Defect Segmentation of Power Equipment
Authors: Zhang Jingwen , Zhu Wu
Published: March 2023

The existing infrared image processing technology mainly relies on the traditional segmentation algorithm, which is not only inefficient, but also has problems such as blurred edges, poor segmentation accuracy, and insufficient extraction of key power equipment features for the infrared image defect segmentation of power equipment. A CS_DeeplabV3+ network for the accurate segmentation of the infrared image defect segmentation of power equipment is designed for the situation of leakage and false detection after segmentation by traditional algorithms. The ASPP module is improved in the encoder part to enable the network to obtain a denser pixel sampling, an improved attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of the network for feature extraction, and a semantic segmentation feature enhancement module—the structured feature enhancement module (SFEM)—is introduced in the decoder part to enhance the feature processing to improve the segmentation accuracy. The CS_DeeplabV3+ network is validated using the dataset, and the experimental comparison proves that the improved model has finer contours compared with other models for segmenting infrared images of power equipment defects, and MPA is improved by 5.6% and MIOU is improved by 7.3% compared with the DeeplabV3+ network.
Anchor Fault Identification Method for High-Voltage DC Submarine Cable Based on VMD-Volterra-SVM
Authors: Zhu Wenwei , Fan Chenyang , Xu Chenghao , Dong Hantuo , Guo Jingen , Liang Aiwu , Zhao Long
Published: March 2023

This article introduces a new method for identifying anchor damage faults in fiber composite submarine cables. The method combines the Volterra model of Variation Mode Decomposition (VMD) with singular value entropy to improve the accuracy of fault identification. First, the submarine cable vibration signal is decomposed into various Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) using VMD. Then, a Volterra adaptive prediction model is established by reconstructing the phase space of each IMF, and the model parameters are used to form an initial feature vector matrix. Next, the feature vector matrix is subjected to singular value decomposition to extract the singular value entropy that reflects the fault characteristics of the submarine cable. Finally, singular value entropy is used as a feature value to input into the Support Vector Machine (SVM) for classification. Compared with Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), the proposed method achieves a higher fault identification accuracy and effectively identifies anchor damage faults in submarine cables. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed method.
Analysing Grid-Level Effects of Photovoltaic Self-Consumption Using a Stochastic Bottom-up Model of Prosumer Systems
Authors: Karalus Steffen , Köpfer Benedikt , Guthke Philipp , Killinger Sven , Lorenz Elke
Published: March 2023

Self-consumption of the energy generated by photovoltaics (PV) is playing an increasingly important role in the power grid. “Prosumer” systems consume part of the produced energy directly to meet the local demand, which reduces the feed-in into as well as the demand from the grid. In order to analyse the effects of PV self-consumption in the power grid, we introduce a stochastic bottom-up model of PV power generation and local consumption in the control area of the German transmission system operator TransnetBW. We set up a realistic portfolio of more than 100,000 PV/prosumer systems to generate representative time series of PV generation and consumption as a basis to derive self-consumption and feed-in. This model allows for the investigation of the time-dependent behaviour in detail for the full portfolio whereas measurements are presently only available as aggregated feed-in time series over a nonrepresentative subset of systems. We analyse the variation of self-consumption with PV generation and consumption at the portfolio level and its seasonal, weekly and diurnal cycles. Furthermore, we study a scenario of 100% prosumers as a limiting case for a situation without subsidized feed-in tariffs and local energy storage.