bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Impact Law of V-Shaped Gully Debris Avalanches on Double-Column Piers
Authors: Cheng Mai-Li , Gao Wen-Wei
Published: February 2024

The concrete piers in steep mountain areas are highly susceptible to damage disasters due to the impact of debris avalanches, which pose a serious threat to the safe operation of bridge structures. In order to investigate the impact load characteristics of debris avalanches on bridge pier structures in V-shaped valley mountain areas, Particle Flow Code 3D (PFC3D) models based on a discrete element method were applied in this study to establish a full-scale three-dimensional model of a debris avalanche in a V-shaped valley. By installing double-column piers in the influence zone of the debris avalanche, the impact force, accumulation morphology, motion characteristics of debris particles, internal force response of the double-column piers, and impact energy indicators were investigated. In addition, parameters such as the layout position of the piers and the impact angle of the debris were studied. The results showed that the particles at the front edge of the debris avalanche have a significant impact on the magnitude and distribution of the impact force on the piers. It is important to consider the layout position of the piers and the impact angle of the debris when designing bridge pier structures in high, steep mountain areas. There was a significant difference in the movement patterns between the particles at the front and rear edges of the landslide. The particles at the front edge had a higher velocity and stronger impact, while the particles at the rear edge had a slower velocity and were more likely to be obstructed by bridge piers, leading to accumulation. The obstruction effect of the piers on the debris particles was closely related to their positioning and the impact angle. Piers that were closer to the center of the valley and had a larger impact angle have a more significant obstruction effect, and the topography of the valley had a significant focusing effect on the debris avalanche, resulting in a greater impact force and energy on the piers located closer to the center of the valley. The impact force amplitude and duration of landslide debris on bridge piers showed a significant difference between the bottom and upper piers, as well as between the piers on the upstream and downstream sides. These research findings can provide valuable references for the design and disaster assessment of bridge piers for impact prevention in steep slopes and mountainous areas with deep ravines.
Current Status of Targeted Therapy for Biliary Tract Cancer in the Era of Precision Medicine
Authors: Mie Takafumi , Sasaki Takashi , Okamoto Takeshi , Furukawa Takaaki , Takeda Tsuyoshi , Kasuga Akiyoshi , Ozaka Masato , Sasahira Naoki
Published: February 2024

First-line chemotherapy has been established for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, few treatment options are available as second-line treatment. Advances in comprehensive genomic analysis revealed that nearly half of patients with BTC harbor targetable genetic alterations such as fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), BRAF, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), microsatellite instability (MSI)-high, neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK), rearranged during transfection (RET), and poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). This review summarizes currently available options in precision medicine and clinical trials for patients with advanced BTC.
A Review of Contemporary Guidelines and Evidence for Wide Local Excision in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma Management
Authors: Orme Sophie E. , Moncrieff Marc D.
Published: February 2024

Surgical wide local excision (WLE) remains the current standard of care for primary cutaneous melanoma. WLE is an elective procedure that aims to achieve locoregional disease control with minimal functional and cosmetic impairment. Despite several prospective randomised trials, the optimal extent of excision margin remains controversial, and this is reflected in the persistent lack of consensus in guidelines globally. Furthermore, there is now the added difficulty of interpreting existing trial data in the context of the evolving role of surgery in the management of melanoma, with our increased understanding of clinicopathologic and genomic prognostic markers leading to the often routine use of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) as a staging procedure, in addition to the development of adjuvant systemic therapies for high-risk disease. An ongoing trial, MelMarT-II, has been designed with the aim of achieving a definitive answer to guide this fundamental surgical decision.
Treatment of Undifferentiated Embryonal Sarcoma of the Liver in Children
Authors: Lin Wen-Ya , Wu Kang-Hsi , Chen Chun-Yu , Guo Bei-Cyuan , Chang Yu-Jun , Lin Mao-Jen , Wu Han-Ping
Published: February 2024

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver is a rare mesenchymal tumor with a highly malignant potential. It occurs almost exclusively in the pediatric population and typically has a poor outcome. Although previous studies have reported dismal prognoses, recent advances in combined treatment modalities, e.g., surgery and chemotherapy, have given cause for optimism. Even in those diseases not amenable to complete surgical resection or refractory diseases, other treatment modalities, such as liver transplant, have yielded promising results. This paper provides a review of the current treatment modalities for hepatic undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma in children.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Transvaginal Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Detection of Myometrial Infiltration in Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Madár István , Szabó Anett , Vleskó Gábor , Hegyi Péter , Ács Nándor , Fehérvári Péter , Kói Tamás , Kálovics Emma , Szabó Gábor
Published: February 2024

In endometrial cancer (EC), deep myometrial invasion (DMI) is a prognostic factor that can be evaluated by various imaging methods; however, the best method of choice is uncertain. We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative detection of DMI in patients with EC. Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically searched in May 2023. We included original articles that compared TVS to MRI on the same cohort of patients, with final histopathological confirmation of DMI as reference standard. Several subgroup analyses were performed. Eighteen studies comprising 1548 patients were included. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 76.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 70.9–81.4%) and 87.4% (95% CI, 80.6–92%) for TVS. The corresponding values for MRI were 81.1% (95% CI, 74.9–85.9%) and 83.8% (95% CI, 79.2–87.5%). No significant difference was observed (sensitivity: p = 0.116, specificity: p = 0.707). A non-significant difference between TVS and MRI was observed when no-myometrium infiltration vs. myometrium infiltration was considered. However, when only low-grade EC patients were evaluated, the specificity of MRI was significantly better (p = 0.044). Both TVS and MRI demonstrated comparable sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are needed to assess the presence of myometrium infiltration in patients with fertility-sparing wishes.
Pre-Infection Innate Immunity Attenuates SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Viral Load in iPSC-Derived Alveolar Epithelial Type 2 Cells
Authors: Kumar Satish , Granados Jose , Aceves Miriam , Peralta Juan , Leandro Ana C. , Thomas John , Williams-Blangero Sarah , Curran Joanne E. , Blangero John
Published: February 2024

A large portion of the heterogeneity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility and severity of illness (SOI) remains poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated damage to alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AT2s) in the distal lung may directly contribute to disease severity and poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Our in vitro modeling of SARS-CoV-2 infection in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived AT2s from 10 different individuals showed interindividual variability in infection susceptibility and the postinfection cellular viral load. To understand the underlying mechanism of the AT2′s capacity to regulate SARS-CoV-2 infection and cellular viral load, a genome-wide differential gene expression analysis between the mock and SARS-CoV-2 infection-challenged AT2s was performed. The 1393 genes, which were significantly (one-way ANOVA FDR-corrected p ≤ 0.05; FC abs ≥ 2.0) differentially expressed (DE), suggest significant upregulation of viral infection-related cellular innate immune response pathways (p-value ≤ 0.05; activation z-score ≥ 3.5), and significant downregulation of the cholesterol- and xenobiotic-related metabolic pathways (p-value ≤ 0.05; activation z-score ≤ −3.5). Whilst the effect of post-SARS-CoV-2 infection response on the infection susceptibility and postinfection viral load in AT2s is not clear, interestingly, pre-infection (mock-challenged) expression of 238 DE genes showed a high correlation with the postinfection SARS-CoV-2 viral load (FDR-corrected p-value ≤ 0.05 and r2-absolute ≥ 0.57). The 85 genes whose expression was negatively correlated with the viral load showed significant enrichment in viral recognition and cytokine-mediated innate immune GO biological processes (p-value range: 4.65 × 10−10 to 2.24 × 10−6). The 153 genes whose expression was positively correlated with the viral load showed significant enrichment in cholesterol homeostasis, extracellular matrix, and MAPK/ERK pathway-related GO biological processes (p-value range: 5.06 × 10−5 to 6.53 × 10−4). Overall, our results strongly suggest that AT2s’ pre-infection innate immunity and metabolic state affect their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral load.
Regulation of Epithelial and Endothelial Barriers by Molecular Chaperones
Authors: Lechuga Susana , Marino-Melendez Armando , Naydenov Nayden G. , Zafar Atif , Braga-Neto Manuel B. , Ivanov Andrei I.
Published: February 2024

The integrity and permeability of epithelial and endothelial barriers depend on the formation of tight junctions, adherens junctions, and a junction-associated cytoskeleton. The establishment of this junction–cytoskeletal module relies on the correct folding and oligomerization of its protein components. Molecular chaperones are known regulators of protein folding and complex formation in different cellular compartments. Mammalian cells possess an elaborate chaperone network consisting of several hundred chaperones and co-chaperones. Only a small part of this network has been linked, however, to the regulation of intercellular adhesions, and the systematic analysis of chaperone functions at epithelial and endothelial barriers is lacking. This review describes the functions and mechanisms of the chaperone-assisted regulation of intercellular junctions. The major focus of this review is on heat shock protein chaperones, their co-chaperones, and chaperonins since these molecules are the focus of the majority of the articles published on the chaperone-mediated control of tissue barriers. This review discusses the roles of chaperones in the regulation of the steady-state integrity of epithelial and vascular barriers as well as the disruption of these barriers by pathogenic factors and extracellular stressors. Since cytoskeletal coupling is essential for junctional integrity and remodeling, chaperone-assisted assembly of the actomyosin cytoskeleton is also discussed.
H2S Protects from Rotenone-Induced Ferroptosis by Stabilizing Fe-S Clusters in Rat Cardiac Cells
Authors: Linjacki Sara , Wang Yuehong , Baath Navjeet , Mantle Devin , Yang Guangdong
Published: February 2024

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recently recognized as an important gasotransmitter with cardioprotections, and iron is vital for various cellular activities. This study explored the regulatory role of H2S on iron metabolism and mitochondrial functions in cultured rat cardiac cells. Rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, was used for establishing an in vitro model of ischemic cell damage. It was first found that rotenone induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP generation, eventually causing cell death. The supplement of H2S at a physiologically relevant concentration protected from rotenone-induced ferroptotic cell death by reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, maintaining GPx4 expression and intracellular iron level. Deferiprone, an iron chelator, would also protect from rotenone-induced ferroptosis. Further studies demonstrated that H2S inhibited ABCB8-mediated iron efflux from mitochondria to cytosol and promoted NFS1-mediated Fe-S cluster biogenesis. It is also found that rotenone stimulated iron-dependent H2S generation. These results indicate that H2S would protect cardiac cells from ischemic damage through preserving mitochondrial functions and intracellular Fe-S cluster homeostasis.
Zebrafish CCNF and FUS Mediate Stress-Specific Motor Responses
Authors: Aksoy Yagiz Alp , Cole Alexander J , Deng Wei , Hesselson Daniel
Published: February 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Mutations in the cyclin F (CCNF) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) genes have been associated with ALS pathology. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional role of CCNF and FUS in ALS by using genome editing techniques to generate zebrafish models with genetic disruptions in these genes. Sequence comparisons showed significant homology between human and zebrafish CCNF and FUS proteins. We used CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN-mediated genome editing to generate targeted disruptions in the zebrafish ccnf and fus genes. Ccnf-deficient zebrafish exhibited abnormal motor neuron development and axonal outgrowth, whereas Fus-deficient zebrafish did not exhibit developmental abnormalities or axonopathies in primary motor neurons. However, Fus-deficient zebrafish displayed motor impairments in response to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The Ccnf-deficient zebrafish were only sensitized to endoplasmic reticulum stress, indicating that ALS genes have overlapping as well as unique cellular functions. These zebrafish models provide valuable platforms for studying the functional consequences of CCNF and FUS mutations in ALS pathogenesis. Furthermore, these zebrafish models expand the drug screening toolkit used to evaluate possible ALS treatments.
Allopurinol Disrupts Purine Metabolism to Increase Damage in Experimental Colitis
Authors: Worledge Corey S. , Kostelecky Rachael E. , Zhou Liheng , Bhagavatula Geetha , Colgan Sean P. , Lee J. Scott
Published: February 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is marked by a state of chronic energy deficiency that limits gut tissue wound healing. This energy shortfall is partially due to microbiota dysbiosis, resulting in the loss of microbiota-derived metabolites, which the epithelium relies on for energy procurement. The role of microbiota-sourced purines, such as hypoxanthine, as substrates salvaged by the colonic epithelium for nucleotide biogenesis and energy balance, has recently been appreciated for homeostasis and wound healing. Allopurinol, a synthetic hypoxanthine isomer commonly prescribed to treat excess uric acid in the blood, inhibits the degradation of hypoxanthine by xanthine oxidase, but also inhibits purine salvage. Although the use of allopurinol is common, studies regarding how allopurinol influences the gastrointestinal tract during colitis are largely nonexistent. In this work, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to dissect the relationship between allopurinol, allopurinol metabolites, and colonic epithelial metabolism and function in health and during disease. Of particular significance, the in vivo investigation identified that a therapeutically relevant allopurinol dose shifts adenylate and creatine metabolism, leading to AMPK dysregulation and disrupted proliferation to attenuate wound healing and increased tissue damage in murine experimental colitis. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of purine salvage on cellular metabolism and gut health in the context of IBD and provide insight regarding the use of allopurinol in patients with IBD.
Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Acute Plant Exposure in Patients Aged between 0 and 18 Years—A Six-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Nițescu Gabriela Viorela , Grama Andreea , Turcu Teodora , Strătulă Andreea , Dragomirescu Ana , Pană Elena Silvia , Baciu Andreea , Baconi Daniela Luiza , Crăciun Maria Dorina , Ulmeanu Coriolan Emil
Published: February 2024

Background: Exposure to plants accounts for approximately 5% of human poisoning cases reported by poison control centers in North America and Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate acute plant poisoning in patients aged 0–18 years admitted to a Romanian pediatric poison center, focusing on epidemiological and clinical aspects. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2017 and 2022, analyzing medical records for demographic information, clinical features, biological findings, and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. Results: 71 patients (aged 7 months to 16 years) presented with acute plant poisoning. Most cases were unintentional (92.9%), peaking during the autumn season. Colocasia (18.3%), Dieffenbachia (9.8%), and Ricinus (5%) were the most frequently involved plants. Gastrointestinal symptoms, especially vomiting, predominated. The Poisoning Severity Score classified most cases as mild (52.1%), with no severe or fatal cases. The mean length of hospitalization was 1.8 days. Conclusions: Unintentional plant exposure, mainly in children under 5 years of age, accounted for more than 90% of cases. Gastrointestinal exposure and symptoms were prevalent, and treatment consisted mainly of symptomatic and supportive measures. Severe and fatal cases were rare, highlighting the generally favorable outcome and low incidence of severe poisoning in the pediatric population.
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine: A Narrative Exploration of Antibiotic Overprescribing, Stewardship Interventions, and Performance Metrics
Authors: Meesters Kevin , Buonsenso Danilo
Published: February 2024

Antibiotic overprescribing is prevalent in pediatric emergency medicine, influenced by clinician–caregiver dynamics and diagnostic uncertainties, and poses substantial risks such as increasing antibacterial resistance, adverse drug reactions, and increased healthcare expenditures. While antimicrobial stewardship programs have proven effective in optimizing antibiotic use within inpatient healthcare settings, their implementation in pediatric emergency medicine presents specific challenges. Existing biomarkers like white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and presepsin have limitations in their ability to distinguish (serious) bacterial infections from other etiologies of fever. Furthermore, rapid antigen detection tests and guidelines aimed at guiding antibiotic prescriptions for children have not consistently reduced unnecessary antibiotic use. To improve antibiotic prescribing practices, potential strategies include the utilization of decision support tools, audit and feedback, establishing follow-up procedures, implementing safety netting systems, and delivering comprehensive training and supervision. Notably, host genome signatures have also gained attention for their potential to facilitate rapid and precise diagnoses of inflammatory syndromes. Standardized metrics are crucial for evaluating antimicrobial use within pediatric healthcare settings, enabling the establishment of benchmarks for assessing antibiotic utilization, quality enhancement initiatives, and research endeavors.
Relationship between Androgens and Vascular and Placental Function during Pre-eclampsia
Authors: Fernandes Lara M. , Lorigo Margarida , Cairrao Elisa
Published: February 2024

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represent a substantial risk to maternal and fetal health. Emerging evidence suggests an association between testosterone and pre-eclampsia (PE), potentially mediated through androgen receptors (AR). Nevertheless, the mechanism driving this association is yet to be elucidated. On the other hand, reports of transgender men’s pregnancies offer a limited and insightful opportunity to understand the role of high androgen levels in the development of HDP. In this sense, a literature review was performed from a little over 2 decades (1998–2022) to address the association of testosterone levels with the development of HDP. Furthermore, this review addresses the case of transgender men for the first time. The main in vitro outcomes reveal placenta samples with greater AR mRNA expression. Moreover, ex vivo studies show that testosterone-induced vasorelaxation impairment promotes hypertension. Epidemiological data point to greater testosterone levels in blood samples during PE. Studies with transgender men allow us to infer that exogenous testosterone administration can be considered a risk factor for PE and that the administration of testosterone does not affect fetal development. Overall, all studies analyzed suggested that high testosterone levels are associated with PE.
Phimosis in Adults: Narrative Review of the New Available Devices and the Standard Treatments
Authors: Rosato Eleonora , Miano Roberto , Germani Stefano , Asimakopoulos Anastasios D.
Published: February 2024

Background: Phimosis is the inability to completely retract the foreskin and expose the glans. The treatment of phimosis varies depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the disease; a great number of conservative or surgical treatments are currently available. Aim: To provide the first review summarizing the available options for the treatment of adult phimosis. Methods: A PubMed, Cochrane and Embase search for peer-reviewed studies, published between January 2001 and December 2022 was performed using the search terms “phimosis AND treatment”. Results: A total of 288 publications were initially identified through database searching. Thirty manuscripts were ultimately eligible for inclusion in this review. Conservative treatment is an option. and it includes topical steroid application and the new medical silicon tubes (Phimostop™) application for gentle prepuce dilation. Concerning the surgical approach, the gold-standard treatment is represented by circumcision in which tissue synthesis after prepuce removal can be also obtained with barbed sutures, fibrin glues or staples. Laser circumcision seems to be providing superior outcomes in terms of operative time and postoperative complication rate when compared to the traditional one. Several techniques of preputioplasty and use of in situ devices (which crush the foreskin and simultaneously create haemostasis) have been also described. These in situ devices seem feasible, safe and effective in treating phimosis while they also reduce the operative time when compared to traditional circumcision. Patient satisfaction rates, complications and impact on sexual function of the main surgical treatments are presented. Conclusion: Many conservative and surgical treatments are available for the treatment of adult phimosis. The choice of the right treatment depends on the grade of phimosis, results, complications, and cost-effectiveness.
Advances in Antimicrobial Coatings for Preventing Infections of Head-Related Implantable Medical Devices
Authors: Negut Irina , Albu Catalina , Bita Bogdan
Published: February 2024

During surgery and after, pathogens can contaminate indwelling and implanted medical devices, resulting in serious infections. Microbial colonization, infection, and later biofilm formation are major complications associated with the use of implants and represent major risk factors in implant failure. Despite the fact that aseptic surgery and the use of antimicrobial medications can lower the risk of infection, systemic antibiotic use can result in a loss of efficacy, increased tissue toxicity, and the development of drug-resistant diseases. This work explores the advancements in antimicrobial coatings for head-related implantable medical devices, addressing the critical issue of infection prevention. It emphasizes the significance of these coatings in reducing biofilm formation and microbial colonization and highlights various techniques and materials used in creating effective antimicrobial surfaces. Moreover, this article presents a comprehensive overview of the current strategies and future directions in antimicrobial coating research, aiming to improve patient outcomes by preventing head-related implant-associated infections.
Study on the Forming Process and Properties of AlSi60 Alloy by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Li Guo , Zhi Geng , He Youling , Zhang Zhenlin , Chen Yong , Rong Peng , Ma Sida , Xie Pu , Chen Hui
Published: February 2024

Hypereutectic Al-Si alloys, which have a silicon content ranging from 12% to 70%, are a new generation of casing materials for chip packaging. They have broad applications in aerospace, weaponry, and civilian communications. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) offers significant advantages in achieving near-net shaping of complex casings. This paper presents a study on the formation defects, microstructure, and room temperature tensile properties of AlSi60 alloy prepared by SLM. The results indicate that the primary forming defects in the SLM AlSi60 alloy are balling, lack of fusion, and porosity. These defects are mainly influenced by the volumetric energy density. Samples of good quality can be produced within the range of 150 J/mm3 to 250 J/mm3. However, the same volumetric energy density can result in differences in sample quality due to various combinations of process parameters. Therefore, it has been determined that a well-formed AlSi60 alloy can be obtained within a laser power range of 300 W–350 W, scanning speed of 400 mm/s–800 mm/s, and hatch spacing of 0.09 mm–0.13 mm, with a density close to 98%. The microstructure of the SLM AlSi60 alloy consists of primary Si phases with irregular shapes and sharp edges measuring 5–10 μm, eutectic Si particles of 0.5 μm, and α-Al phases, with eutectic Si dispersed within the α-Al. The SLM AlSi60 alloy exhibits fine and evenly distributed primary Si phases with an average hardness of 203 HV. No significant anisotropy in hardness values was observed in the X and Y directions. The tensile strength of the alloy reached an average of 219 MPa, with an average elongation of 2.99%. During the tensile process, cracks initiated by the primary Si phases rapidly expanded, exhibiting minor ductile fracture characteristics in the Al phases. Due to the high volume fraction of Si phases, the tensile test was dominated by brittle fracture. The tensile curve only exhibited the elastic stage.
Hydrophobic and Transparent Tantalum Pentoxide-Based Coatings for Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Panels
Authors: Mocioiu Oana Cătălina , Atkinson Irina , Aricov Ludmila , Bratan Veronica , Mocioiu Ana-Maria , Tudor Ioan Albert , Băilă Diana Irinel
Published: February 2024

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels suffer from efficiency losses due to the accumulation of dust on their surface during operation, as well as the loss of transparency in the top glass. The efficiency can be increased when hydrophobic films are deposited on the top glass of the solar cells. The top glass of solar cells must have three characteristics: high transmittance in the 380–750 nm range, a band gap greater than 3.2 eV and a refractive index higher than 1.23. So, the films require the same characteristics. This work presents an increase in the contact angle (related to an increase in the hydrophobic character) when Ta2O5 is partially substituted with ZnO. The studied films, physically deposited on glass by e-gun technology, present a non-crystalline state in the form of the X-ray patterns shown. The films have a transmission of 75%–80% in the visible range. The morphology and roughness of the coatings were evaluated by atomic force microscopy. All films show the values of the Millipore water contact angle higher than 91 degrees, leading to the acquisition of hydrophobic properties on the surface. In comparison, the substrate is hydrophilic, with an average contact angle of 53.81 ± 2.16. The hydrophobic properties and self-cleaning ability make the films recommendable for application. The band gap of the coatings was calculated with the Tauc method, and they have values of 4.5–4.6 eV.
Analysis of Phase-Specific Strain Pole Figures for Duplex Steels under Elasto-Plastic Uniaxial Tension—Experiment vs. EPSC Modelling
Authors: Pulvermacher Samuel , Loebich Florian , Prahs Andreas , Liu Hangning , Cabeza Sandra , Pirling Thilo , Hofmann Michael , Gibmeier Jens
Published: February 2024

For the duplex stainless steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3, phase-specific strain pole figures (strain PFs) for the phases ferrite (bcc) and austenite (fcc) were analysed under uniaxial tensile loading for various loading states in purely elastic and elasto-plastic regimes. Experimentally, strain PFs were determined by means of in situ neutron diffraction strain measurements under defined uniaxial loading. These experimental results were compared with strain PFs calculated using elasto-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) modelling. The comparison was performed for two different {hkl} planes per phase. While classic load stress and load partitioning analyses for multi-phase materials are often limited to the load direction and a selected direction transverse to it, the results illustrate the added value of determining a strain PF, especially when a phase-specific texture is present. The comparison with experimental data shows how well the load partitioning behaviour can be predicted using common EPSC models, using the example of a duplex stainless steel. The EPSC model used was validated with the software ISODEC in its elastic range. Based on the results of the EPSC model, and taking into account the local phase-specific crystallographic texture, a prediction can be made as to what extent intergranular stresses and phase-specific textures could affect the results of a (residual) stress analysis by means of the diffraction method. This makes it possible to assess whether, for technical applications, meaningful residual stress results can be expected in certain component directions.
Three New Periconia Species Isolated from Wurfbainia villosa in Guangdong, China: A Discussion on the Doubtful Taxa Clustering in this Genus
Authors: Liao Chunfang , Hyde Kevin D. , Thilini Chethana Kandawatte Wedaralalage , Dong Wei , Yang Yunhui , Doilom Mingkwan
Published: February 2024

During a survey of fungi on Wurfbainia villosa in Guangdong Province, China, three novel species, Periconia endophytica, P. yangjiangensis, and P. wurfbainiae, belonging to Periconiaceae in Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes are proposed based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Periconia endophytica was isolated from the healthy leaves of W. villosa, while P. yangjiangensis and P. wurfbainiae were obtained from the dead stems of the same host. Notably, holomorphs were observed in P. wurfbainiae. The morphological characteristics of the novel taxa are compared with closely related species within Periconia. Illustrations, morphological descriptions, and phylogenetic analyses are provided for the novel taxa. Multilocus phylogeny of the combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit nuclear rDNA (LSU), small subunit nuclear ribosomal rDNA (SSU), and partial translation elongation factor 1–α (tef1-α) regions supported the establishment of three new species. Furthermore, the taxa clustering in Periconia, Flavomyces fulophazii, and Sporidesmium tengii, are discussed for further investigation of their taxonomic placements.
Potential Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Regenerative Therapy
Authors: Chiarella Emanuela , Ceniti Carlotta , Castagna Fabio , Britti Domenico
Published: February 2024

Bovine colostrum is the first mammary secretion after parturition; it is rich in Igs and bioactive compounds and could play a role in the development of naturally based products with positive effects on human health. In this discussion, we critically examine the effect of bovine colostrum on the properties of mesenchymal stem cells. Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous subset of fibroblast-like cells that can be isolated from various biological tissues, such as bone marrow, umbilical cord, and adipose tissues. They are characterized by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into cells of the mesodermal lineage, including adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. Additionally, MSCs display an immunomodulatory capacity due to their ability to interact with effector cells typical of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Considering these important properties, MSCs have gained increasing attention in the field of regenerative medicine in recent decades. To date, most experimental protocols are based on cell culture media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) to promote the ex vivo expansion of MSCs while preserving their differentiative and immunomodulatory capacities. Future trends could involve the application of bovine colostrum in regenerative medicine.
CybAttT: A Dataset of Cyberattack News Tweets for Enhanced Threat Intelligence
Authors: Lughbi Huda , Mars Mourad , Almotairi Khaled
Published: February 2024

The continuous developments in information technologies have resulted in a significant rise in security concerns, including cybercrimes, unauthorized access, and cyberattacks. Recently, researchers have increasingly turned to social media platforms like X to investigate cyberattacks. Analyzing and collecting news about cyberattacks from tweets can efficiently provide crucial insights into the attacks themselves, including their impacts, occurrence regions, and potential mitigation strategies. However, there is a shortage of labeled datasets related to cyberattacks. This paper describes CybAttT, a dataset of 36,071 English cyberattack-related tweets. These tweets are manually labeled into three classes: high-risk news, normal news, and not news. Our final overall Inner Annotation agreement was 0.99 (Fleiss kappa), which represents high agreement. To ensure dataset reliability and accuracy, we conducted rigorous experiments using different supervised machine learning algorithms and various fine-tuned language models to assess its quality and suitability for its intended purpose. A high F1-score of 87.6% achieved using the CybAttT dataset not only demonstrates the potential of our approach but also validates the high quality and thoroughness of its annotations. We have made our CybAttT dataset accessible to the public for research purposes.
Correction: Chatzimichail, T.; Hatjimihail, A.T. A Software Tool for Calculating the Uncertainty of Diagnostic Accuracy Measures. Diagnostics 2021, 11, 406
Authors: Chatzimichail Theodora , Hatjimihail Aristides T.
Published: February 2024

In the original publication [...]
PrecisionLymphoNet: Advancing Malignant Lymphoma Diagnosis via Ensemble Transfer Learning with CNNs
Authors: Rajadurai Sivashankari , Perumal Kumaresan , Ijaz Muhammad Fazal , Chowdhary Chiranji Lal
Published: February 2024

Malignant lymphoma, which impacts the lymphatic system, presents diverse challenges in accurate diagnosis due to its varied subtypes—chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Lymphoma is a form of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, impacting lymphocytes, which are a specific type of white blood cell. This research addresses these challenges by proposing ensemble and non-ensemble transfer learning models employing pre-trained weights from VGG16, VGG19, DenseNet201, InceptionV3, and Xception. For the ensemble technique, this paper adopts a stack-based ensemble approach. It is a two-level classification approach and best suited for accuracy improvement. Testing on a multiclass dataset of CLL, FL, and MCL reveals exceptional diagnostic accuracy, with DenseNet201, InceptionV3, and Xception exceeding 90% accuracy. The proposed ensemble model, leveraging InceptionV3 and Xception, achieves an outstanding 99% accuracy over 300 epochs, surpassing previous prediction methods. This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed approach, showcasing its potential in real-world medical applications for precise lymphoma diagnosis.
Effects of UAS Rotor Wash on Air Quality Measurements
Authors: Aurell Johanna , Gullett Brian K.
Published: February 2024

Laboratory and field tests examined the potential for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) rotor wash effects on gas and particle measurements from a biomass combustion source. Tests compared simultaneous placement of two sets of CO and CO2 gas sensors and PM2.5 instruments on a UAS body and on a vertical or horizontal extension arm beyond the rotors. For 1 Hz temporal concentration comparisons, correlations of body versus arm placement for the PM2.5 particle sensors yielded R2 = 0.85, and for both gas sensor pairs, exceeded an R2 of 0.90. Increasing the timestep to 10 s average concentrations throughout the burns improved the R2 value for the PM2.5 to 0.95 from 0.85. Finally, comparison of the whole-test average concentrations further increased the correlations between body- and arm-mounted sensors, exceeding an R2 of 0.98 for both gases and particle measurements. Evaluation of PM2.5 emission factors with single-factor ANOVA analyses showed no significant differences between the values derived from the arm, either vertical or horizontal, and those from the body. These results suggest that rotor wash effects on body- and arm-mounted sensors are minimal in scenarios where short-duration, time-averaged concentrations are used to calculate emission factors and whole-area flux values.
Floods, Poverty, and Happiness of Rural Farmers in Northern Benin
Authors: Bonou Alice , Zafar Sameen , Ammara Suman
Published: February 2024

Floods destroy crop production; nevertheless, the extent of their impact on farmers’ livelihoods in developing countries has been poorly investigated. This paper contributes to the growing evidence-based assessment of the impacts of shocks on communities. It assessed the post-disaster livelihood of farmers affected by the 2012 flooding in the semi-arid zone of Benin. To this end, a survey was conducted on 228 farmers in two municipalities of the flood-prone part of the semi-arid zone of Benin (Malanville, Karimama). Information on the well-being of households was collected using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using income and consumption approaches focusing on poverty and on subjective assessment using happiness approach. Additionally, a probit model was used for a poverty assessment. The survey revealed that flooded farmers were amongst the poorest in the study system. Seven variables determined poverty in this study: household size, location, the percentage of the farm size that was flooded, fishing, the farmer’s gender, farm size, and “holding a secondary activity”. Regarding happiness, 99% of the flooded farmers were unhappier after the flood in 2012. The results clearly show that being subjected to floods increases the incidence of poverty. The capacity of flood risk management and governance should be strengthened in the study system.
Are Creativity, L2 Motivation and Soft Skills Related? A Study in VET Students
Authors: Calero López Inmaculada , González-Peiteado Margarita , Rodríguez-López Beatriz
Published: February 2024

Vocational Education and Training (VET) studies aim to improve students’ skills to carve their niche in the labour market. Speaking different languages, showing teamwork skills and creativity are among the skills most in demand by employers. Thus, understanding students’ motivation and their perception of their teamwork skills and creativity level may help to identify their weaknesses and strengths and to develop educational programs adapted to the current demands. This research was conducted with 596 students of higher-level and intermediate Vocational Education who answered an online questionnaire in class. The answers were analysed to seek the link between the students’ motivation, their manifested teamwork skills, and their perceived level of creativity. The results confirmed the positive correlation between the three of them. However, and despite the positive results, further empirical research is needed, especially to understand how motivation, soft skills and creativity develop and what kind of initiatives have an impact on these variables.
Incentivizing Student Participation in QAS Questionnaires: An Evaluation of a Guaranteed Prize System at the University of Malaga
Authors: Vereda-Alonso Cristina , Cerrillo-Gonzalez Maria del Mar , Gomez-Lahoz Cesar , Villen-Guzman Maria , Vereda-Alonso Carlos
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates the effects of a guaranteed prize incentive, in the form of an extra score, on student engagement in the quality assurance system (QAS) questionnaires employed for evaluating teaching performance at the University of Malaga. The incentive system aims to counteract declining participation rates and mitigate potential survey fatigue among students. Employing a comprehensive dataset spanning multiple academic years and subjects, the study utilized statistical analyses to evaluate the incentive’s effectiveness, considering its potential impact on both final grades and QAS questionnaire outcomes. The results demonstrate a substantial increase in participation rates, with over 85% of students acknowledging the motivating influence of the incentive. However, concerns regarding the compromise of anonymity arose among 40% of students, possibly linked to the physical presence of teachers during the verification process of the QAS questionnaire submission. The statistical analyses raise questions about the incentive’s influence on students’ final grades while indicating that the incentive system does not significantly affect the results of the QAS questionnaires. The study contributes valuable insights into the complexities of incentivizing student participation in teaching assessments within the higher education landscape. To the best of our knowledge, there are few publications that investigate the use of an additional score as an incentive for students’ participation in QAS questionnaires.
Promotion of Values Education (Factors Involved in Prosocial Behaviors and Volunteering)
Authors: Olmos-Gómez María del Carmen , Portillo-Sánchez Raquel , Mohamed-Mohand Laila , Estrada-Vidal Ligia Isabel
Published: February 2024

(1) Background: Prosocial behavior aligns with the current societal model, where human values hold greater importance considering cultural, social, and personal variables that may influence the opportunity to benefit others. Hence, the objective of this research was established: to understand how diverse factors influence the values of young people, aiming to promote education and enhance prosocial behavior. (2) Methods: This study is quantitative research employing an empirical–analytical, cross-sectional social research method. A validated instrument was used with a sample of 1702 individuals from the city of Melilla, noteworthy for its multicultural context due to its location in North Africa. (3) Results: Inferential analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression to predict future behaviors, focusing on the factors influencing values. Various models were employed, incorporating twelve variables and four scales: sociability, transcendence, culture, and effects. (4) Conclusions: The results and conclusions suggest the need to enhance affect and sociability, primarily among the most prominent factors.
Joint Optimization on Trajectory, Data Relay, and Wireless Power Transfer in UAV-Based Environmental Monitoring System
Authors: Lee Jaewook , Ko Haneul
Published: February 2024

In environmental monitoring systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT), sensor nodes (SNs) typically send data to the server via a wireless gateway (GW) at regular intervals. However, when SNs are located far from the GW, substantial energy is expended in transmitting data. This paper introduces a novel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based environmental monitoring system. In the proposed system, the UAV conducts patrols in the designated area, and SNs periodically transmit the collected data to the GW or the UAV. This transmission decision is made while taking into account the respective distance between both the GW and the UAV. To ensure a high-quality environmental map, characterized by a consistent collection of a satisfactory amount of up-to-date data while preventing energy depletion in the SNs and the UAV, the UAV periodically decides on three types of UAV operations. These decisions involve deciding where to move, deciding whether to relay or aggregate the data from the SNs, and deciding whether to transfer energy to the SNs. For the optimal decisions, we introduce an algorithm, called DeepUAV, using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to make decisions in UAV operations. In DeepUAV, the controller continually learns online and enhances the UAV’s decisions through trial and error. The evaluation results indicate that DeepUAV successfully gathers a substantial amount of the current data consistently while mitigating the risk of energy depletion in SNs and the UAV.
Evaluating the Potential of Floating Photovoltaic Plants in Pumped Hydropower Reservoirs in Spain
Authors: Barbón Arsenio , Rodríguez-Fernández Claudia , Bayón Luis , Aparicio-Bermejo Javier
Published: February 2024

The Spanish government is a strong advocate of reducing CO2 emissions and has made a clear commitment to the implementation of renewable energies. As reflected in Spain’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), its objective is to double the current capacity of pumped hydropower storage (PHS) plants by 2030. Therefore, the study presented here is both current and forward-looking. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the technical potential of installing floating photovoltaic (FPV) plants at 25 PHS plants in Spain, i.e., the total capacity of Spanish hydropower plants. The study was conducted using various assessment indicators: the global horizontal irradiance ratio, electrical efficiency ratio, area required ratio, pumping area ratio, volume ratio of water pumped per day, and achievable power ratio. In summary, the following conclusions can be drawn: (i) The global horizontal irradiance ratio indicates whether a FPV plant is economically viable. From this point of view, the Aguayo PHS plant and the Tanes PHS plant are not suitable, as this ratio is very low; (ii) the compliance with the electrical efficiency ratio is flexible, and all hydropower plants meet this criterion; (iii) maximising the use of the assigned grid connection capacity is one of the goals sought by electrical companies when implementing FPV plants at existing PHS plants. The following hydropower plants are not suitable for the implementation of an FPV plant in view of the following: La Muela I, La Muela II, Aguayo, Sallente, Aldeadavila II, Moralets, Guillena, Bolarque II, Montamara, and IP; (iv) if the aim is energy storage, the following hydropower plants are not suitable for the implementation of an FPV plant: the La Muela I, La Muela II, Tajo de la Encantada, Aguayo, Sallente, Aldeadavila II, Conso, Moralets, Guillena, Bolarque II, Tanes, Montamara, Soutelo, Bao-Puente Bibey, Santiago de Jares, IP, and Urdiceto; (v) if the aim is to expand an FPV plant already installed at a PHS plant, the following hydropower plants do not meet this criterion: the La Muela I, La Muela II, Aguayo, Sallente, Aldeadavila, Moralets, Guillena, Bolarque II, Montamara, and IP. There are only eight hydropower plants that meet conditions (i), (iii) and (iv): the Villarino, Torrejon, Valparaiso, Gabriel y Galan, Guijo de Granadilla, Pintado, and Gobantes.