bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vero CCL-81 and Calu-3 Cell Lines as Alternative Hosts for Isolation and Propagation of SARS-CoV-2 Isolated in Malaysia
Authors: Rosli Siti Nur Zawani , Dimeng Sitti Rahmawati , Shamsuddin Farah , Mohd Ali Mohammad Ridhuan , Muhamad Hendri Nur Afrina , Suppiah Jeyanthi , Mohd Zain Rozainanee , Thayan Ravindran , Ahmad Norazah
Published: June 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the etiologic agent for the pneumonia outbreak that started in early December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. To date, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused almost 6 million deaths worldwide. The ability to propagate the virus into a customizable volume will enable better research on COVID-19 therapy, vaccine development, and many others. In the search for the most efficient replication host, we inoculated three (3) local SARS-CoV-2 isolates of different lineages (Clade L/Lineage B Wuhan, Clade GR/Lineage B.1.1.354, and Clade O/Lineage B.6.2) into various clinically important mammalian cell lines. The replication profile of these isolates was evaluated based on the formation of cytopathic effects (CPE), viral load (Ct value and plaque-forming unit (pfu)), as well as observation by electron microscopy (EM). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to examine the genomic stability of the propagated SARS-CoV-2 in these cell lines. Our study found that Vero E6 and Vero CCL-81 cell lines posed similar capacities in propagating the local isolates, with Vero CCL-81 demonstrating exceptional potency in conserving the genomic stability of the Lineage B Wuhan isolate. In addition, our study demonstrated the utility of Calu-3 cells as a replication host for SARS-CoV-2 without causing substantial cellular senescence. In conclusion, this study provides crucial information on the growth profile of Malaysian SARS-CoV-2 in various mammalian cell lines and thus will be a great source of reference for better isolation and propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus isolated in Malaysia.
Progress in the Optical Sensing of Cardiac Biomarkers
Authors: Polonschii Cristina , Potara Monica , Iancu Madalina , David Sorin , Banciu Roberta Maria , Vasilescu Alina , Astilean Simion
Published: June 2023

Biomarkers play key roles in the diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment and supervision of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Optical biosensors and assays are valuable analytical tools answering the need for fast and reliable measurements of biomarker levels. This review presents a survey of recent literature with a focus on the past 5 years. The data indicate continuing trends towards multiplexed, simpler, cheaper, faster and innovative sensing while newer tendencies concern minimizing the sample volume or using alternative sampling matrices such as saliva for less invasive assays. Utilizing the enzyme-mimicking activity of nanomaterials gained ground in comparison to their more traditional roles as signaling probes, immobilization supports for biomolecules and for signal amplification. The growing use of aptamers as replacements for antibodies prompted emerging applications of DNA amplification and editing techniques. Optical biosensors and assays were tested with larger sets of clinical samples and compared with the current standard methods. The ambitious goals on the horizon for CVD testing include the discovery and determination of relevant biomarkers with the help of artificial intelligence, more stable specific recognition elements for biomarkers and fast, cheap readers and disposable tests to facilitate rapid testing at home. As the field is progressing at an impressive pace, the opportunities for biosensors in the optical sensing of CVD biomarkers remain significant.
Electrical/Optical Biosensing and Regulating Technology
Authors: Hu Ning , Wan Hao
Published: June 2023

Biosensing has emerged as a powerful tool for exploring biomedical mechanisms [...]
Electroacupuncture Relieves Visceral Hypersensitivity via Balancing PAR2 and PAR4 in the Descending Pain Modulatory System of Goats
Authors: Guo Panpan , Zhang Qiulin , Nan Sha , Wang Haolong , Ma Ning , Kiani Faisal Ayub , Ding Mingxing , Chen Jianguo
Published: June 2023

Electroacupuncture (EA) is an efficient treatment for visceral hypersensitivity (VH). However, the mechanism underlying VH remains obscure. This study aimed to examine the effect of EA at Housanli acupoint on PAR2 and PAR4 expression in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) axes, as well as on expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, COX-2 enzyme, c-Fos, and the neuropeptides CGRP and SP in the same areas of the descending pain modulatory system. To induce VH in male goats, a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS)–ethanol solution was administered to the ileal wall. The visceromotor response (VMR) and nociceptive response at different colorectal distension pressures were measured to evaluate VH. Goats in the TNBS group displayed significantly increased VMR and nociceptive response scores, and elevated protein and mRNA levels of PAR2 and PAR4 in the descending pain modulatory system compared to those in the control group. EA alleviated VMR and nociceptive responses, decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of PAR2, and elevated those of PAR4 in the descending pain modulatory system. EA may relieve VH by reducing PAR2 expression and increasing PAR4 expression in the descending pain modulatory system.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Chloride Is Associated with Disease Activity of Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Fang Xingwei , Lu Yaxin , Fu Yongmei , Liu Zifeng , Kermode Allan G. , Qiu Wei , Ling Li , Liu Chunxin
Published: June 2023

Background: Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in active multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions leads to pathological changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This study aimed to investigate the possible association between routine CSF findings, especially CSF chloride, at the time of the first lumbar puncture and the relapse risk and disability progression of relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS). Methods: This retrospective study included 77 patients with RRMS at the MS Center of our institution from January 2012 to December 2020. The Anderson and Gill (AG) model and Spearman correlation analysis were used to explore predictors of relapse and disability during follow-up. Results: In the multivariate AG model, patients with elevated CSF chloride level (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.22; p = 0.001) had a high risk of MS relapse. Using median values of CSF chloride (123.2 mmol/L) as a cut-off, patients with CSF chloride level ≥ 123.2 mmol/L had a 120% increased relapse risk compared with those with CSF chloride level < 123.2 mmol/L (HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.19–4.05; p = 0.012). Conclusions: Elevated CSF chloride levels might be a biologically unfavorable predictive factor for disease relapse in RRMS.
Research on the Application of CGAN in the Design of Historic Building Facades in Urban Renewal—Taking Fujian Putian Historic Districts as an Example
Authors: Lin Hongpan , Huang Linsheng , Chen Yile , Zheng Liang , Huang Minling , Chen Yashan
Published: June 2023

In recent years, artificial intelligence technology has widely influenced the design field, introducing new ideas to efficiently and systematically solve urban renewal design problems. The purpose of this study is to create a stylized generation technology for building facade decoration in historic districts, which will aid in the design and control of district style and form. The goal is to use the technical advantages of the conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) in image generation and style transfer to create a method for independently designing a specific facade decoration style by interpreting image data of historical district facades. The research in this paper is based on the historical district of Putian in Fujian Province and facilitates an experiment of image data acquisition, image processing and screening, model training, image generation, and style matching of the target area. The research found the following: (1) CGAN technology can better identify and generate the decorative style of historical districts. It can realize the overall or partial scheme design of the facade. (2) In terms of adaptability, this method can provide a better scheme reference for historical district reconstruction, facade renovation, and renovation design projects. Especially for districts with obvious decorative styles, the visualization effect is better. In addition, it also has certain reference significance for the determination and design of the facade decoration style of a specific historical building. (3) Lastly, this method can better learn the internal laws of the complex district style and form to generate a new design with a clear decoration style attribute. It can be extended to other fields of historical heritage protection to enhance practitioners’ stylized control of the heritage environment and improve the efficiency and capability of professional design.
Evaluating the Impact of Public Participation Processes on Participants in Smart City Development: A Scoping Review
Authors: Senior Coline , Temeljotov Salaj Alenka , Johansen Agnar , Lohne Jardar
Published: June 2023

This paper provides an overview of the current state of research on the evaluation methods of participatory processes in smart cities. Specifically, it aims to identify and analyze existing evaluation methods and frameworks for public participation (PP) in smart city development. The study focuses on the evaluation of participatory processes to find key indicators and enable an assessment of PP from multiple perspectives. A scoping literature review was conducted to analyze the past ten years of scientific literature on the topic. Relevant literature was retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and articles were selected based on a set of criteria to ensure quality and relevance. We found that digital participation, also known as “e-participation”, is the most used method either exclusively or mixed with in-person methods. The level of participation achieved was mostly limited to the first two degrees of PP (i.e., information and consultation), and only a few papers addressed the highest degrees (i.e., agenda-setting and co-management). The impact on participants was mostly related to knowledge and skills, awareness raising, and satisfaction with the process and method. This paper highlights the potential to upskill citizens and enhance their understanding of sustainable urban development, fostering their commitment to achieving the United Nations’ sustainability goals for climate change mitigation in the urban context.
Withaferin A Increases the Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Blocker for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Khalil Roukiah , Green Ryan J. , Sivakumar Kavya , Varandani Payal , Bharadwaj Srinivas , Mohapatra Shyam S. , Mohapatra Subhra
Published: June 2023

Treatment of late-stage lung cancers remains challenging with a five-year survival rate of 8%. Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by reactivating anti-tumor immunity. Despite achieving durable responses, ICBs are effective in only 20% of patients due to immune resistance. Therefore, synergistic combinatorial approaches that overcome immune resistance are currently under investigation. Herein, we studied the immunomodulatory role of Withaferin A (WFA)—a herbal compound—and its effectiveness in combination with an ICB for the treatment of NSCLC. Our in vitro results show that WFA induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) in NSCLC cell lines and increases expression of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). The administration of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, abrogated WFA-induced ICD and PD-L1 upregulation, suggesting the involvement of ROS in this process. Further, we found that a combination of WFA and α-PD-L1 significantly reduced tumor growth in an immunocompetent tumor model. Our results showed that WFA increases CD-8 T-cells and reduces immunosuppressive cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment. Administration of NAC partially inhibited the anti-tumor response of the combination regimen. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that WFA sensitizes NSCLC to α-PD-L1 in part via activation of ROS.
Regulations of Tumor Microenvironment by Prostaglandins
Authors: Nie Jeffrey Z. , Wang Man-Tzu , Nie Daotai
Published: June 2023

Prostaglandins, the bioactive lipids generated from the metabolism of arachidonic acid through cyclooxygenases, have potent effects on many constituents of tumor microenvironments. In this review, we will describe the formation and activities of prostaglandins in the context of the tumor microenvironment. We will discuss the regulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune constituents by prostaglandins and their roles in immune escapes during tumor progression. The review concludes with future perspectives on improving the efficacy of immunotherapy through repurposing non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and other prostaglandin modulators.
Correction: Schroyen et al. Neuroinflammation and Its Association with Cognition, Neuronal Markers and Peripheral Inflammation after Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Cancers 2021, 13, 4198
Authors: Schroyen Gwen , Blommaert Jeroen , van Weehaeghe Donatienne , Sleurs Charlotte , Vandenbulcke Mathieu , Dedoncker Nina , Hatse Sigrid , Goris An , Koole Michel , Smeets Ann , van Laere Koen , Sunaert Stefan , Deprez Sabine
Published: June 2023

In the original publication [...]
Prevalence of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in First-Line PARP Inhibitor Maintenance Clinical Trials and Further Implication of Personalized Treatment in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Paik E Sun , Chang Ha Kyun , Lee Sanghoon
Published: June 2023

Among ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutation or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), the efficacy of Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors such as olaparib, niraparib, veliparib, and rucaparib has been proven in a number of clinical trials. BRCA mutation and HRD are currently indicated for PARP inhibitor maintenance treatment in ovarian cancer. HRD diagnostic tests examine various components, resulting in different HRD status definitions and, as a result, different treatment decisions. A number of HRD diagnostic tests exist, but test results provided by different companies may differ as they use different methods and different cutoffs. HRD prevalence difference was shown between PARP inhibitor maintenance trials. It is important to select an appropriate method that can present accurate HRD phenotypes to predict sensitivity to PARP inhibitors so that patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment are selected. Additionally, in the subset data of the PARP inhibitor maintenance trials, there was a difference in HRD prevalence by race as higher HRD prevalence in Japanese and Chinese ovarian cancer patients was shown. Further large-scale investigations on racial differences in HRD prevalence are needed and this may contribute to changes in determining the treatment plan and personalized treatment in ovarian cancer patients.
Impact of Shape Irregularity in Medial Sphenoid Wing Meningiomas on Postoperative Cranial Nerve Functioning, Proliferation, and Progression-Free Survival
Authors: Wach Johannes , Naegeli Johannes , Vychopen Martin , Seidel Clemens , Barrantes-Freer Alonso , Grunert Ronny , Güresir Erdem , Arlt Felix
Published: June 2023

Medial sphenoid wing meningiomas (MSWM) are surgically challenging skull base tumors. Irregular tumor shapes are thought to be linked to histopathology. The present study aims to investigate the impact of tumor shape on postoperative functioning, progression-free survival, and neuropathology. This monocentric study included 74 patients who underwent surgery for primary sporadic MSWM (WHO grades 1 and 2) between 2010 and 2021. Furthermore, a systematic review of the literature regarding meningioma shape and the MIB-1 index was performed. Irregular MSWM shapes were identified in 31 patients (41.9%). Multivariable analysis revealed that irregular shape was associated with postoperative cranial nerve deficits (OR: 5.75, 95% CI: 1.15–28.63, p = 0.033). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, irregular MSWM shape was independently associated with tumor progression (HR:8.0, 95% CI: 1.04–62.10, p = 0.046). Multivariable regression analysis showed that irregular shape is independently associated with an increased MIB-1 index (OR: 7.59, 95% CI: 2.04–28.25, p = 0.003). A systematic review of the literature and pooled data analysis, including the present study, showed that irregularly shaped meningiomas had an increase of 1.98 (95% CI: 1.38–2.59, p < 0.001) in the MIB-1 index. Irregular MSWM shape is independently associated with an increased risk of postoperative cranial nerve deficits and a shortened time to tumor progression. Irregular MSWM shapes might be caused by highly proliferative tumors.
Are There Ethnic Differences in Recorded Features among Patients Subsequently Diagnosed with Cancer? An English Longitudinal Data-Linked Study
Authors: Martins Tanimola , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Hamilton Willie , Abel Gary
Published: June 2023

We investigated ethnic differences in the presenting features recorded in primary care before cancer diagnosis. Methods: English population-based cancer-registry-linked primary care data were analysed. We identified the coded features of six cancers (breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, oesophagogastric, and myeloma) in the year pre-diagnosis. Logistic regression models investigated ethnic differences in first-incident cancer features, adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, deprivation, and comorbidity. Results: Of 130,944 patients, 92% were White. In total, 188,487 incident features were recorded in the year pre-diagnosis, with 48% (89,531) as sole features. Compared with White patients, Asian and Black patients with breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer were more likely than White patients to have multiple features; the opposite was seen for the Black and Other ethnic groups with lung or prostate cancer. The proportion with relevant recorded features was broadly similar by ethnicity, with notable cancer-specific exceptions. Asian and Black patients were more likely to have low-risk features (e.g., cough, upper abdominal pain) recorded. Non-White patients were less likely to have alarm features. Conclusion: The degree to which these differences reflect disease, patient or healthcare factors is unclear. Further research examining the predictive value of cancer features in ethnic minority groups and their association with cancer outcomes is needed.
Updates in Thyroid Cancer Surgery
Authors: Sorrenti Salvatore , Calò Pietro Giorgio
Published: June 2023

This Special Issue of Cancers entitled “Updates in thyroid surgery” is a collection of nine articles that covers a wide range of topics, providing a comprehensive picture of the latest developments in thyroid surgery [...]
A Comprehensive Review of miRNAs and Their Epigenetic Effects in Glioblastoma
Authors: Hasan Hera , Afzal Mohammad , Castresana Javier S. , Shahi Mehdi H.
Published: June 2023

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain tumor originating from glial cells with a maximum life expectancy of 14.6 months. Despite the establishment of multiple promising therapies, the clinical outcome of glioblastoma patients is abysmal. Drug resistance has been identified as a major factor contributing to the failure of current multimodal therapy. Epigenetic modification, especially DNA methylation has been identified as a major regulatory mechanism behind glioblastoma progression. In addition, miRNAs, a class of non-coding RNA, have been found to play a role in the regulation as well as in the diagnosis of glioblastoma. The relationship between epigenetics, drug resistance, and glioblastoma progression has been clearly demonstrated. MGMT hypermethylation, leading to a lack of MGMT expression, is associated with a cytotoxic effect of TMZ in GBM, while resistance to TMZ frequently appears in MGMT non-methylated GBM. In this review, we will elaborate on known miRNAs linked to glioblastoma; their distinctive oncogenic or tumor suppressor roles; and how epigenetic modification of miRNAs, particularly via methylation, leads to their upregulation or downregulation in glioblastoma. Moreover, we will try to identify those miRNAs that might be potential regulators of MGMT expression and their role as predictors of tumor response to temozolomide treatment. Although we do not impact clinical data and survival, we open possible experimental approaches to treat GBM, although they should be further validated with clinically oriented studies.
Impact of Coaching on the Development of Personal and Social Competences among Secondary School Students
Authors: Avilés-Dávila Andrés , Palacio María , Valle Cristina
Published: June 2023

In this study, the impact of school coaching in Spain on the dimensions that comprise the effective personality construct and the development of those dimensions among secondary school students is analyzed. Differences relating to the variables of gender, course year/age, and the state/private sector of each educational center are specified. A longitudinal study employing a quasi-experimental methodology was conducted with a sample of 310 students in attendance at 6 educational centers within the Community of Madrid, Spain; the study cohort comprised 156 (50.3%) male students and 154 (49.7%) female students. The effective personality questionnaire in secondary education was used for the pre- and post-intervention evaluations, as well as to conduct an open survey once the program had ended. The students who attended the six-session intervention expressed high degrees of satisfaction. Despite the brevity of each session (45–60 min), a slight non-significant improvement was observed in the experimental group relative to the control group in the dimensions that were studied (p > 0.05). Regarding gender, the program worked better with male rather than with female students. It was also more effective within state-aided than in state schools.
Impact of HepG2 Cells Glutathione Depletion on Neutral Sphingomyelinases mRNA Levels and Activity
Authors: Gamal Marie , Tallima Hatem , Azzazy Hassan M. E. , Abdelnaser Anwar
Published: June 2023

Liver cancer is a prevalent form of cancer worldwide. While research has shown that increasing sphingomyelin (SM) hydrolysis by activating the cell surface membrane-associated neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) can control cell proliferation and apoptosis, the role of total glutathione depletion in inducing tumor cell apoptosis via nSMase2 activation is still under investigation. Conversely, glutathione-mediated inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is necessary for the enzymatic activity of nSMase1 and nSMase3, increased ceramide levels, and cell apoptosis. This study evaluated the effects of depleting total glutathione in HepG2 cells using buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). The study assessed nSMases RNA levels and activities, intracellular ceramide levels, and cell proliferation using RT-qPCR, Amplex red neutral sphingomyelinase fluorescence assay, and colorimetric assays, respectively. The results indicated a lack of nSMase2 mRNA expression in treated and untreated HepG2 cells. Depletion of total glutathione resulted in a significant increase in mRNA levels but a dramatic reduction in the enzymatic activity of nSMase1 and nSMase3, a rise in ROS levels, a decrease in intracellular levels of ceramide, and an increase in cell proliferation. These findings suggest that total glutathione depletion may exacerbate liver cancer (HCC) and not support using total glutathione-depleting agents in HCC management. It is important to note that these results are limited to HepG2 cells, and further studies are necessary to determine if these effects will also occur in other cell lines. Additional research is necessary to explore the role of total glutathione depletion in inducing tumor cell apoptosis.
Synergistic Effects of New Curcumin Analog (PAC) and Cisplatin on Oral Cancer Therapy
Authors: Semlali Abdelhabib , Beji Sarra , Ajala Ikram , Al-Zharani Mohammed , Rouabhia Mahmoud
Published: June 2023

Oral cancer has traditionally been treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these therapies. Although cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug, can effectively kill oral cancer cells by forming DNA adducts, its clinical use is limited due to adverse effects and chemo-resistance. Therefore, there is a need to develop new, targeted anticancer drugs to complement chemotherapy, allowing for reduced cisplatin doses and minimizing adverse effects. Recent studies have shown that 3,5-Bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-N-methyl-4-piperidine (PAC), a new curcumin analog, possesses anticancer properties and could be considered a complementary or alternative therapy. In this study, we aimed to assess the potential complementary effects of PAC in combination with cisplatin for treating oral cancer. We conducted experiments using oral cancer cell lines (Ca9-22) treated with different concentrations of cisplatin (ranging from 0.1 μM to 1 μM), either alone or in conjunction with PAC (2.5 and 5 μM). Cell growth was measured using the MTT assay, while cell cytotoxicity was evaluated using an LDH assay. Propidium iodide and annexin V staining were employed to examine the impact on cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects of the PAC/cisplatin combination on cancer cell autophagy, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Additionally, a Western Blot analysis was performed to assess the influence of this combination on pro-carcinogenic proteins involved in various signaling pathways. The results demonstrated that PAC enhanced the efficacy of cisplatin in a dose-dependent manner, leading to a significant inhibition of oral cancer cell proliferation. Importantly, treatment with PAC (5 μM) alongside different concentrations of cisplatin reduced the IC50 of cisplatin tenfold. Combining these two agents increased apoptosis by further inducing caspase activity. In addition, the concomitant use of PAC and cisplatin enhances oral cancer cell autophagy, ROS, and MitoSOX production. However, combined PAC with cisplatin inhibits the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), which is a marker for cell viability. Finally, this combination further enhances the inhibition of oral cancer cell migration via the inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition genes, such as E-cadherin. We demonstrated that the combination of PAC and cisplatin markedly enhanced oral cancer cell death by inducing apoptosis, autophagy, and oxidative stress. The data presented indicate that PAC has the potential to serve as a powerful complementary agent to cisplatin in the treatment of gingival squamous cell carcinomas.
Data-Driven Method for Porosity Measurement of Thermal Barrier Coatings Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy
Authors: Ye Dongdong , Li Rui , Xu Jianfei , Pan Jiabao
Published: June 2023

Accurate measurement of porosity is crucial for comprehensive performance evaluation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on aero-engine blades. In this study, a novel data-driven predictive method based on terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was proposed. By processing and extracting features from terahertz signals, multivariate parameters were composed to characterize the porosity. Principal component analysis, which enabled effective representation of the complex signal information, was introduced to downscale the dimensionality of the time-domain data. Additionally, the average power spectral density of the frequency spectrum and the extreme points of the first-order derivative of the phase spectrum were extracted. These extracted parameters collectively form a comprehensive set of multivariate parameters that accurately characterize porosity. Subsequently, the multivariate parameters were used as inputs to construct an extreme learning machine (ELM) model optimized by the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) for predicting porosity. Based on the experimental results, it was evident that the predictive accuracy of SSA-ELM was significantly higher than the basic ELM. Furthermore, the robustness of the model was evaluated through K-fold cross-validation and the final model regression coefficient was 0.92, which indicates excellent predictive performance of the data-driven model. By introducing the use of THz-TDS and employing advanced signal processing techniques, the data-driven model provided a novel and effective solution for the rapid and accurate detection of porosity in TBCs. The findings of this study offer valuable references for researchers and practitioners in the field of TBCs inspection, opening up new avenues for improving the overall assessment and performance evaluation of these coatings.
Effect of the Working Pressure and Oxygen Gas Flow Rate on the Fabrication of Single-Phase Ag2O Thin Films
Authors: Choi Jiyoon , Seong Jiha , Park Sangbin , Kim Hyungmin , Kim Sangmo , Kim Kyung Hwan , Hong Jeongsoo
Published: June 2023

Ag2O thin films have been applied in various devices, such as photodetectors, photocatalysts, and gas sensors, because of their excellent thermal stability, strong electrical properties, and stable structures. However, because various phases of silver oxide exist, the fabrication of single-phase Ag2O thin films using a general deposition system is difficult. In this study, Ag2O thin films were deposited on glass substrates at different working pressures and O2 gas flow rates using a facing-target sputtering (FTS) system. After optimizing the working pressure and O2 gas flow rate, the Ag2O thin films were post-annealed at different temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 °C to improve their crystallographic properties. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the as-fabricated Ag2O thin films indicated the presence of a single phase of Ag2O, and the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectral analysis indicated transmittance of 65% in the visible light region. The optimum working pressure and O2 gas flow rate were determined to be 4 mTorr and 3.4 sccm, respectively. Finally, the effect of the post-annealing temperature on the thin film was investigated; the Ag2O peak had high intensity at 300 °C, suggesting this as the optimum post-annealing temperature.
Highly Efficient and Stable CsPbBr3-Alginic Acid Composites for White Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Wang Muyi , Wang Song , Chen Renjie , Zhu Mengmeng , Liu Yunpeng , Ding Haojie , Ren Jun , Xuan Tongtong , Li Huili
Published: June 2023

All-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have attractive potential for applications in display and lighting fields due to their special optoelectronic properties. However, they still suffer from poor water and thermal stability. In this work, green CsPbBr3-alginic acid (CsPbBr3-AA) perovskite composites were synthesized by an in situ hot-injection process which showed a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 86.43% and improved moisture and thermal stability. Finally, white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) were fabricated by combining the green CsPbBr3-AA perovskite composites with red K2SiF6:Mn4+ phosphors and blue InGaN LED chips. The WLEDs show a relatively high luminous efficacy of 36.4 lm/W and a wide color gamut (124% of the National Television System Committee). These results indicate that the green CsPbBr3-AA perovskite composites have great potential applications in backlight displays.
Prediction of Deposition Layer Morphology Dimensions Based on PSO-SVR for Laser–arc Hybrid Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Wang Junhua , Xu Junfei , Lu Yan , Xie Tancheng , Peng Jianjun , Chen Junliang , Xu Yanwei
Published: June 2023

Laser–arc composite additive manufacturing holds significant potential for a wide range of industrial applications, and the control of morphological dimensions in the deposited layer is a critical aspect of this technology. The width and height dimensions within the deposited layer of laser–arc hybrid additive manufacturing serve as essential indicators of its morphological characteristics, directly influencing the shape quality of the deposited layer. Accurate prediction of the shape dimensions becomes crucial in providing effective guidance for size control. To achieve precise prediction of shape dimensions in laser–arc composite additive manufacturing and ensure effective regulation of the deposited layer’s shape quality, this study introduces a novel approach that combines a particle swarm algorithm (PSO) with an optimized support vector regression (SVR) technique. By optimizing the SVR parameters through the PSO algorithm, the SVR model is enhanced and fine-tuned to accurately predict the shape dimensions of the deposited layers. In this study, a series of 25 laser–arc hybrid additive manufacturing experiments were conducted to compare different approaches. Specifically, the SVR model was built using selected radial basis function (rbf) kernel functions. Furthermore, the penalty factors and kernel parameters of the SVR model were optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, leading to the development of a PSO-SVR prediction model for the morphological dimensions of the deposited layers. The performance of the PSO-SVR model was compared with that of the SVR, BPNN, and LightGBM models. Model accuracy was evaluated using a test set, revealing average relative errors of 2.39%, 7.719%, 9.46%, and 5.356% for the PSO-SVR, SVR, BPNN, and LightGBM models, respectively. The PSO-SVR model exhibited excellent prediction accuracy with minimal fluctuations in prediction error. This performance demonstrates the model’s ability to effectively capture the intricate and non-linear relationship between process parameters and deposition layer dimensions. Consequently, the PSO-SVR model can provide a foundation for the control of morphological dimensions in the deposition layer, offering an effective guide for deposition layer morphology dimension control in laser–arc composite additive manufacturing.
The Microstructural and Hardness Changes of Tungsten Fiber after Au2+ Irradiation
Authors: Du Juan , Li Jialin , Wu Chuan , Zhang Qihang , Wen Pan , Tang Jun , Zhao Tianyu , Wang Pinghuai , Liu Xiang , Chen Jiming
Published: June 2023

Tungsten fiber-reinforced tungsten composite (Wf/W) material is considered a plasma-facing material (PFM) with good application prospects. Commercial tungsten wire (fiber) prepared through forging and drawing processes has excellent mechanical properties, as well as a very high recrystallization temperature due to the unique texture of it grain structure. Commercial tungsten fiber is the most proper reinforcement for Wf/W. The change in the properties of tungsten fiber because of neutron irradiation makes it inevitable for Wf/W to be used as PFMs. However, there is very little research on the change in the properties of tungsten fiber caused by neutron irradiation. In this work, we used heavy ion irradiation to simulate the displacement damage generated by neutron irradiation to explore the alteration of the properties of a commercial tungsten fiber caused by neutron irradiation. The investigated subject was tungsten fiber with a diameter of 300 μm. The irradiation source was 7.5 MeV Au2+, which generated a maximum displacement damage of 60 dpa at a depth of 400 nm, and the irradiation influenced depth was 1000 nm. Because of the irradiation, significant lattice distortion occurred within the tungsten fiber, resulting in the transition from (110) texture to (100) texture at the fiber’s cross-section. The results of the Schmidt factor and Taylor factor analysis indicate a decrease in the plasticity of the tungsten fiber after irradiation, but it did not completely lose its plasticity. The results of the nanoindentation test confirmed the radiation hardening. After irradiation, the hardness of the tungsten fiber increased by approximately 0.33 GPa, but this increase was relatively small compared to other tungsten-based materials. This indicates that commercial tungsten fiber is a low-cost and highly reliable reinforcement material for Wf/W composite materials.
Estimating the Associated Burden of Illness and Healthcare Utilization of Newly Diagnosed Patients Aged ≥65 with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Anglin Peter , Elia-Pacitti Julia , Eberg Maria , Muratov Sergey , Kukaswadia Atif , Sharma Arushi , Ewara Emmanuel M.
Published: June 2023

Background: With the emergence of therapies for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), understanding the treatment patterns and burden of illness among older patients with MCL in Canada is essential to inform decision making. Methods: A retrospective study using administrative data matched individuals aged ≥65 who were newly diagnosed with MCL between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016 with general population controls. Cases were followed for up to 3 years in order to assess healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), healthcare costs, time to next treatment or death (TTNTD), and overall survival (OS); all were stratified according to first-line treatment. Results: This study matched 159 MCL patients to 636 controls. Direct healthcare costs were highest among MCL patients in the first year following diagnosis (Y1: CAD 77,555 ± 40,789), decreased subsequently (Y2: CAD 40,093 ± 28,720; Y3: CAD 36,059 ± 36,303), and were consistently higher than the costs for controls. The 3-year OS after MCL diagnosis was 68.6%, with patients receiving bendamustine + rituximab (BR) experiencing a significantly higher OS compared to patients treated with other regimens (72.4% vs. 55.6%, p = 0.041). Approximately 40.9% of MCL patients initiated a second-line therapy or died within 3 years. Conclusion: Newly diagnosed MCL presents a substantial burden to the healthcare system, with almost half of all patients progressing to a second-line therapy or death within 3 years.
Is the Northern Goshawk an Efficient Bioindicator of Avian Abundance and Species Richness in Urban Environments?
Authors: Väli Ülo , Grosberg Jaan , Mellov Pelle , Tali Tiiu , Mirski Paweł
Published: June 2023

Monitoring of biodiversity in expanding urban areas is an essential part of wildlife conservation. There is evidence that raptors, such as Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), are effective bioindicator species in urban areas, however, their relationship with other bird populations is not clearly established. We asked whether activity patterns of Goshawks are a reliable indicator of wintering bird abundance and diversity in urban ecosystems. We tracked the movement of eight GPS-tagged Goshawks in the city of Tartu (Estonia) and analysed the numbers and diversity of birds in the same area using direct mapping and occasional data obtained from birdwatchers. The direct mapping approach revealed that the number of birds and avian species richness were higher in Goshawk activity hotspots than at random sites in 2022, however, no such differences were detected in 2023. Analysis of occasional citizen-collected data showed no effect of avian abundance nor species richness on the distribution of Goshawk activity. These results suggested that the movements of Goshawks may indicate the abundance and diversity of its prey, however, this relationship depends on the detection methodology. Hence, raptors are a promising bioindicator in urban environments, but results should be interpreted with caution, particularly when using citizen-collected data.
Mass Bleaching in Intertidal Canopy-Forming Seaweeds after Unusually Low Winter Air Temperatures in Atlantic Canada
Authors: Scrosati Ricardo A. , Cameron Nicole M.
Published: June 2023

Contemporary climate change is increasing the occurrence of extreme weather events, heat waves being common examples. Here, we present visual evidence of mass bleaching in intertidal seaweeds following an unusually severe cold snap in Atlantic Canada. In February 2023, the air temperature on the Nova Scotia coast dropped below −20 °C for the first time in at least ten years. Such extreme temperatures lasted for several hours at low tide and were followed by extensive bleaching in whole thalli of the canopy-forming algae Chondrus crispus and Corallina officinalis. The loss of these foundation species might negatively impact intertidal biodiversity.
Multimodal Imaging Techniques in Monitoring a Patient with Ocular Decompression Retinopathy
Authors: Mędrzycka Justyna , Szabelska Paulina , Rerych Magdalena , Różycki Radosław , Gołębiewska Joanna
Published: June 2023

Ocular decompression retinopathy (ODR) is characterized by multiple retinal hemorrhages. It is a rare complication associated with rapid decrease of intraocular pressure (IOP). The course of ODR is usually asymptomatic and self-limiting, which was confirmed by the observation of our patient. In this study, we present a 5-month follow up of a 77-year-old woman with acute right eye (RE) filtration angle closure who developed symptoms of ODR. Clinical examination and multimodal imaging modalities, including color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA) and fluorescein angiography (FA), were used to confirm the diagnosis and performed regularly in monitoring the course of the disease. Fundus lesions in the RE included diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages in the posterior pole, which gradually resolved during follow-up time. The fundus of the left eye (LE) was normal. The patient underwent conservative therapy, laser therapy and surgery, achieving stabilization of the IOP and improvement of the local condition in the RE. Of the various multimodal imaging techniques, color fundus photography and OCT seemed to be the most specific and helpful in monitoring the patient with ODR.
A Case Report of Intratesticular Hematoma in a Patient with Reiter’s Syndrome
Authors: Jhang Jia-Jyun , Chen Szu-Ju , Huang Chi-Ping , Chen Huey-Yi , Lin Wei-Ching , Chen Yung-Hsiang , Chen Wen-Chi
Published: June 2023

We present a case of a 28-year-old male patient with a spontaneous intratesticular hematoma. He had no history of trauma but experienced sudden onset of painful swelling in his right testis. Initially, testicular malignancy was suspected. The tumor marker of testis, including alfa-fetoprotein, lactic dehydrogenase, and β-human chorionic gonadotropin, was within normal range. The patient had been diagnosed with Reiter’s syndrome at the age of 20 and had been treated with sulfasalazine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and acetaminophen for eight years. Various imaging techniques before operation planning, including ultrasonography and computed tomography, revealed a hematoma that accounted for 32% of the testicular volume. During the waiting period before the operation, the patient was diagnosed with a hematoma and avoided a possible diagnosis of malignancy. Follow-up imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of an intratesticular hematoma that had decreased in size. Since no other related factor contributed to this hematoma, and considering the possible hematological side effects of sulfasalazine, we suggest that this may be a rare side effect of sulfasalazine. Although the patient’s testis was preserved, further fertility should be observed because animal studies have reported that testicular hematoma may cause fertility changes if the initial volume occupied is over 30% of the testis.
Optimal Deep Learning Architecture for Automated Segmentation of Cysts in OCT Images Using X-Let Transforms
Authors: Darooei Reza , Nazari Milad , Kafieh Rahele , Rabbani Hossein
Published: June 2023

The retina is a thin, light-sensitive membrane with a multilayered structure found in the back of the eyeball. There are many types of retinal disorders. The two most prevalent retinal illnesses are Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a vital retinal imaging technology. X-lets (such as curvelet, DTCWT, contourlet, etc.) have several benefits in image processing and analysis. They can capture both local and non-local features of an image simultaneously. The aim of this paper is to propose an optimal deep learning architecture based on sparse basis functions for the automated segmentation of cystic areas in OCT images. Different X-let transforms were used to produce different network inputs, including curvelet, Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DTCWT), circlet, and contourlet. Additionally, three different combinations of these transforms are suggested to achieve more accurate segmentation results. Various metrics, including Dice coefficient, sensitivity, false positive ratio, Jaccard index, and qualitative results, were evaluated to find the optimal networks and combinations of the X-let’s sub-bands. The proposed network was tested on both original and noisy datasets. The results show the following facts: (1) contourlet achieves the optimal results between different combinations; (2) the five-channel decomposition using high-pass sub-bands of contourlet transform achieves the best performance; and (3) the five-channel decomposition using high-pass sub-bands formations out-performs the state-of-the-art methods, especially in the noisy dataset. The proposed method has the potential to improve the accuracy and speed of the segmentation process in clinical settings, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases.
Dynamic Regression Prediction Models for Customer Specific Electricity Consumption
Authors: Shaqiri Fatlinda , Korn Ralf , Truong Hong-Phuc
Published: June 2023

We have developed a conventional benchmark model for the prediction of two days of electricity consumption for industrial and institutional customers of an electricity provider. This task of predicting 96 values of 15 min of electricity consumption per day in one shot is successfully dealt with by a dynamic regression model that uses the Seasonal and Trend decomposition method (STL) for the estimation of the trend and the seasonal components based on (approximately) three years of real data. With the help of suitable R packages, our concept can also be applied to comparable problems in electricity consumption prediction.
Do Oil Price, Renewable Energy, and Financial Development Matter for Environmental Quality in Oman? Novel Insights from Augmented ARDL Approach
Authors: Samour Ahmed , Tawfik Omar Ikbal , Radulescu Magdalena , Baldan Cristina Florentina
Published: June 2023

As an oil-exporting country, Oman traditionally relies on oil sources to meet its energy demand. The country has not been able to safeguard its environment from carbon emissions (CO2)-related adversities. In this context, this study evaluated the impacts of the price of oil, financial development, economic growth, and nonrenewable energy on the environmental quality in Oman. The research used the recently developed augmented autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to investigate annual data from 1980 to 2018. The outcomes revealed the following: (i) financial development negatively affected ecological quality in the short and long term; (ii) oil prices positively impact carbon emissions in the long term; however, the price of oil does not significantly influence CO2 emissions in the short term; (iii) nonrenewable energy is harmful for ecological quality over both the short and long term; (iv) there is a causal link among financial development, nonrenewable energy, and carbon emissions. The current research outcomes present valuable findings for Oman’s policymakers in heading toward sustainable financial and energy sectors.