bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physicochemical Analysis of Particle Matter from a Gasoline Direct Injection Engine Based on the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle
Authors: Wang Hao , He Chao , Yu Haisheng , Li Jiaqiang , Liu Xueyuan
Published: April 2023

This paper investigated the physical and chemical properties of gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine particulate matter (PM). The physical properties mainly included the particulate aggregate morphology, primary particle size, and internal nanostructure. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to obtain particle morphology information and to conduct image processing and analysis. The chemical characterization tests included X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive scanning (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). XPS can be used to observe the content of carbon and oxygen components and the surface carbon chemistry status, EDS can be used to obtain the elemental composition of particles, and TGA is used to analyze the oxidative kinetics of particles. Samples were collected from the exhaust emissions of a passenger vehicle compliant with China’s VI emission standards under China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) test conditions. The study found that the particle morphology mainly comprised primary particles stacked on top of each other to form agglomerate structures, and the primary particles exhibited a core–shell structure. Analysis showed that carbon and oxygen were the predominant components of the particles, with other metallic elements also present. The XPS observations agreed with the FTIR results, indicating a small amount of oxygen was present on the particle surface and that the carbon components consisted mainly of sp2 hybridized graphite and sp3 hybridized organic carbon. The TGA results indicated high characteristic temperatures and low oxidation activity.
Comprehensive Analysis of Current Primary Measures to Mitigate Brake Wear Particle Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles
Authors: Storch Lukas , Hamatschek Christopher , Hesse David , Feist Felix , Bachmann Thomas , Eichler Philipp , Grigoratos Theodoros
Published: April 2023

Exhaust regulations and improved exhaust gas treatment systems have already initiated the trend that brings emissions from brakes and tires to the forefront of traffic-induced particulate matter. The health and environmental relevance of particulate matter has resulted in regulators, industry, and research institutions prioritising the mitigation of non-exhaust particle emissions. To this end, under the umbrella of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (UNECE WP.29), the Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) mandated the Particle Measurement Programme Informal Working Group (PMP-IWG) to develop a Global Technical Regulation (GTR) for measuring brake dust. The standards and procedures defined within the GTR should eventually form the basis for the introduction of a Euro 7 limit value for brake emissions. The purpose of this measurement campaign is to provide an exemplary overview of the emission behaviour of wheel brakes and friction pairings currently available on the market and to identify possible reduction potential with regard to particulate emissions. All measurements were carried out taking into account the draft GTR valid at the time of execution. For the investigations, brakes were selected using the example of different vehicle classes, brake concepts (disc and drum brake), vehicle axles (front and rear axle), and alternative friction materials (brake disc and pads/shoes). Thus, the use of wear-resistant discs and improved brake pad compositions are able to achieve significantly lower emissions. In addition, the measurement of brake dust emissions from vehicles with different levels of electrification was considered. Electrical braking was modelled and applied to the Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) Brake Cycle, which has demonstrated high emission reduction potentials depending on the electrification level.
Numerical Study on the Impact of Large Air Purifiers, Physical Distancing, and Mask Wearing in Classrooms
Authors: Jain Aman , Duill Finn F. , Schulz Florian , Beyrau Frank , van Wachem Berend
Published: April 2023

The risk of COVID-19 infection from virulent aerosols is particularly high indoors. This is especially true for classrooms, which often do not have pre-installed ventilation and are occupied by a large number of students at the same time. It has been found that precautionary measures, such as the use of air purifiers (AP), physical distancing, and the wearing of masks, can reduce the risk of infection. To quantify the actual effect of precautions, it is not possible in experimental studies to expose subjects to virulent aerosols. Therefore, in this study, we develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to evaluate the impact of applying the aforementioned precautions in classrooms on reducing aerosol concentration and potential exposure in the presence of index or infected patients. A CFD-coupled Wells–Riley model is used to quantify the infection probability (IP) in the presence of index patients. Different cases are simulated by varying the occupancy of the room (half/full), the volumetric flow rate of the AP, two different locations of the AP, and the effect of wearing masks. The results suggest that using an AP reduces the spread of virulent aerosols and thereby reduces the risk of infection. However, the risk of the person sitting adjacent to the index patient is only marginally reduced and can be avoided with the half capacity of the class (physical distancing method) or by wearing face masks of high efficiencies.
Short-Term Probabilistic Forecasting Method for Wind Speed Combining Long Short-Term Memory and Gaussian Mixture Model
Authors: He Xuhui , Lei Zhihao , Jing Haiquan , Zhong Rendong
Published: April 2023

Wind speed forecasting is advantageous in reducing wind-induced accidents or disasters and increasing the capture of wind power. Accordingly, this forecasting process has been a focus of research in the field of engineering. However, because wind speed is chaotic and random in nature, its forecasting inevitably includes errors. Consequently, specifying the appropriate method to obtain accurate forecasting results is difficult. The probabilistic forecasting method has considerable relevance to short-term wind speed forecasting because it provides both the predicted value and the error distribution. This study proposes a probabilistic forecasting method for short-term wind speeds based on the Gaussian mixture model and long short-term memory. The precision of the proposed method is evaluated by prediction intervals (i.e., prediction interval coverage probability, prediction interval normalized average width, and coverage width-based criterion) using 29 monitored wind speed datasets. The effects of wind speed characteristics on the forecasting precision of the proposed method were further studied. Results show that the proposed method is effective in obtaining the probability distribution of predicted wind speeds, and the forecast results are highly accurate. The forecasting precision of the proposed method is mainly influenced by the wind speed difference and standard deviation.
Recent Results on Expansive-Type Evolution and Difference Equations: A Survey
Authors: Djafari Rouhani Behzad , Piranfar Mohsen Rahimi
Published: April 2023

In this survey, we review some old and new results initiated with the study of expansive mappings. From a variational perspective, we study the convergence analysis of expansive and almost-expansive curves and sequences governed by an evolution equation of the monotone or non-monotone type. Finally, we propose two well-defined algorithms to remedy the shortcomings concerning the ill-posedness of expansive-type evolution systems.
DLBCNet: A Deep Learning Network for Classifying Blood Cells
Authors: Zhu Ziquan , Ren Zeyu , Lu Siyuan , Wang Shuihua , Zhang Yudong
Published: April 2023

Background: Blood is responsible for delivering nutrients to various organs, which store important health information about the human body. Therefore, the diagnosis of blood can indirectly help doctors judge a person’s physical state. Recently, researchers have applied deep learning (DL) to the automatic analysis of blood cells. However, there are still some deficiencies in these models. Methods: To cope with these issues, we propose a novel network for the multi-classification of blood cells, which is called DLBCNet. A new specifical model for blood cells (BCGAN) is designed to generate synthetic images. The pre-trained ResNet50 is implemented as the backbone model, which serves as the feature extractor. The extracted features are fed to the proposed ETRN to improve the multi-classification performance of blood cells. Results: The average accuracy, average sensitivity, average precision, average specificity, and average f1-score of the proposed model are 95.05%, 93.25%, 97.75%, 93.72%, and 95.38%, accordingly. Conclusions: The performance of the proposed model surpasses other state-of-the-art methods in reported classification results.
Featured Papers in the Wine, Spirit and Oenological Product Sections
Authors: Kallithraka Stamatina , Marangon Matteo
Published: April 2023

Current research trends in oenology concerned with contemporary issues that are of outmost important for the success of the wine industry [...]
Do Wine Flaws Really Matter to Wine Consumers’ Intention to Purchase Wine—An Online Study
Authors: Taylor D. Christopher , Norris Cortney L. , Barber Nelson A. , Taylor Scott
Published: April 2023

Purpose: Exploring antecedents of flawed wine purchase intention, this study attempts to assess consumer acceptance leading to the purchase or consumption of a flawed wine product as well as build a profile of flawed wine consumers. Design/Methodology/Approach: A survey, from Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk) with 260 valid survey responses collected. ANOVA with post hoc testing was used to analyze the data. Findings: Results reflect that attitude, subjective knowledge, perceived behavioral control, perceived risk, and sensory appeal all significantly influence intent to purchase a flawed wine product. Additionally, environmental attitude significantly influences their intent to purchase wines with flaws and their attitude toward flawed wine. Originality: To date, no research has explored consumer acceptance of flawed wines. This study attempted to fill a gap in the literature and add to the overall body of knowledge regarding flawed wines and consumer understanding/acceptance of flawed wines, as well as generating a profile of potential flawed wine consumers. Research Limitations/Implications: Consumer panel data is not as rich as an experimental study design; however, this work starts an academic conversation on flawed wine and provides a foundation for future research. Practical Implications: The results of this study offer practical opportunities, from educating consumers toward a richer understanding of wine flaws; promotional opportunities for wine producers with a product to be disposed of, enhancing revenue generation; and how sensory appeal and environmental concern are beneficial to furthering the understanding and predictability of consumer intentions to purchase flawed wines.
Exploring the Potential of Zirconium-89 in Diagnostic Radiopharmaceutical Applications: An Analytical Investigation
Authors: Mostafa Ahmed M. A. , Zakaly Hesham M. H. , Issa Shams A. M. , Uosif Mohamed A. M. , Alrowaili Ziyad A. , Zhukovsky Michael V.
Published: April 2023

This study highlights the use of 89Zr-oxalate in diagnostic applications with the help of WinAct and IDAC2.1 software. It presents the biodistribution of the drug in various organs and tissues, including bone, blood, muscle, liver, lung, spleen, kidneys, inflammations, and tumors, and analyzes the maximum amount of nuclear transformation per Bq intake for each organ. The retention time of the maximum nuclear transformation and the absorbed doses of the drug in various organs and tissues are also examined. Data from clinical and laboratory studies on radiopharmaceuticals are used to estimate the coefficients of transition. The accumulation and excretion of the radiopharmaceutical in the organs is assumed to follow an exponential law. The coefficients of transition from the organs to the blood and vice versa are estimated using a combination of statistical programs and digitized data from the literature. WinAct and IDAC 2.1 software are used to calculate the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the human body and to estimate the absorbed doses in organs and tissues. The results of this study can provide valuable information for the biokinetic modeling of wide-spectrum diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. The results show that 89Zr-oxalate has a high affinity for bones and a relatively low impact on healthy organs, making it helpful in targeting bone metastases. This study provides valuable information for further research on the development of this drug for potential clinical applications.
Quantitative Ultrasound and Bone Health in Elderly People, a Systematic Review
Authors: Escobio-Prieto Isabel , Blanco-Díaz María , Pinero-Pinto Elena , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Alvaro Manuel , Ruiz-Dorantes Francisco Javier , Albornoz-Cabello Manuel
Published: April 2023

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis, and their associated fractures are one of the main musculoskeletal disorders of the elderly. Quickness in diagnosis could prevent associated complications in these people. This study aimed to perform a systematic review (SR) to analyze and synthesize current research on whether a calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) can estimate BMD and predict fracture risk in elderly people compared to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), following the PRISMA guidelines. A search was conducted in the main open-access health science databases: PubMed and Web of Science (WOS). DXA is the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Despite controversial results, it can be concluded that the calcaneal QUS tool may be a promising method to evaluate BMD in elderly people, facilitating its prevention and diagnosis. However, further studies are needed to validate the use of calcaneal QUS.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Incidence and Risk Factors for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Unrepaired Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Sharma Chinmay , Singh Tejas P. , Thanigaimani Shivshankar , Nastasi Domenico , Golledge Jonathan
Published: April 2023

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and cardiovascular death, cause substantial morbidity and mortality. This review assessed the incidence rate of MACE and the association with modifiable risk factors (diabetes, hypertension) and medication use (aspirin, statins) in patients with unrepaired abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Electronic databases were searched systematically for observational studies reporting the incidence of MI, stroke or cardiovascular death in patients with unrepaired AAAs. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death reported as an incidence rate (events per 100 person-years (PY)). Fourteen studies, including 69,579 participants with a mean follow-up time of 5.4 years, were included. Meta-analysis revealed the overall incidence of cardiovascular death, MI and stroke of 2.31 per 100 PY (95% CI, 1.63–3.26; I2 = 98%), 1.65 per 100 PY (95% CI, 1.01–2.69, I2 = 88%) and 0.89 per 100 PY (95% CI, 0.53–1.48, I2 = 87.0%), respectively. The mean rates of statin and aspirin prescriptions were 58.1% and 53.5%, respectively. In conclusion, there is a substantial incidence of MACE in patients with unrepaired AAA, but the prescription of preventative medication is suboptimal. Greater emphasis should be placed on secondary prevention in this population.
The Influence of Antipsychotic Treatment on the Activity of Abzymes Targeting Myelin and Levels of Inflammation Markers in Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Kamaeva Daria A. , Kazantseva Daria V. , Boiko Anastasiia S. , Mednova Irina A. , Smirnova Liudmila P. , Kornetova Elena G. , Ivanova Svetlana A.
Published: April 2023

Catalytic antibodies, or abzymes, are capable of not only binding but also hydrolyzing various proteins. Previously, an increase in the level of myelin basic protein (MBP)-hydrolyzing activity of antibodies was shown in patients with a number of neurological and mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Furthermore, antipsychotic therapy is known to induce a change in cytokine levels in patients with schizophrenia, which affects regulation of the immune response and inflammatory status. This study investigated the influence of typical and atypical antipsychotics on catalytic antibody activity and the 10 major pro- and anti-inflammatory serum cytokine levels. The study included 40 patients with schizophrenia: 15 treated with first-generation antipsychotics and 25 treated with atypical antipsychotics for 6 weeks. It was found that treatment with atypical antipsychotics changed the levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. Antipsychotic therapy also caused a significant decrease in MBP-hydrolyzing activity in patients with schizophrenia (p = 0.0002), and associations of catalytic activity with interleukins were observed.
Design and Optimization of Lower Limb Rehabilitation Exoskeleton with a Multiaxial Knee Joint
Authors: Jiang Jiandong , Chen Peisong , Peng Jiyu , Qiao Xin , Zhu Fengle , Zhong Jiang
Published: April 2023

To facilitate rehabilitation training for patients, we proposed the implementation of an anthropomorphic exoskeleton structure that incorporates a variable instantaneous center of rotation (ICR). This design considers the variability in knee ICR among individuals, resulting from the irregular form of the human knee joint, and leverages a double-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) five-bar mechanism to adapt to these differences. The walking gait of the human lower limb and the corresponding knee ICR were measured and calculated using an optical 3D motion capture system. The optimal dimension parameters of the five-bar mechanism were then obtained through the optimization of human movement position inputs and rod length constraints to minimize the error in knee ICR, gait angle, and ankle trajectory between the human and the exoskeleton. Finally, we established an exoskeleton prototype to conduct relevant experimental tests. The experiment results showed that the average errors of knee ICR trajectory, hip angle, knee angle, and ankle trajectory were 5.52 × 10−4 m, 0.010 rad, 0.014 rad, and 1.57 × 10−3 m, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the exoskeleton’s movement trajectory was close to the human’s, reducing the human–mechanism interaction force and improving patient comfort during rehabilitation training.
Development of a Dual Mode UCNPs-MB Biosensor in Combination with PCR for Sensitive Detection of Salmonella
Authors: Han Lu , Chen Min , Song Yaqi , Yan Zhongyu , Zhou Dandan , Pan Leiqing , Tu Kang
Published: April 2023

In recent years, the high prevalence of Salmonella has emerged as a serious threat to public safety, prompting attempts to utilize accurate, rapid, and direct methods to ensure food safety. In this study, a multifunctional platform featuring dual-mode detection channels (colorimetric-fluorescence) combined with polymer chain reaction (PCR) was proposed for the sensitive and rapid detection of Salmonella. Additionally, the colorimetric measurements were achieved by color changes induced by methylene blue (MB) insertion into the double-stranded DNA, and the fluorescence measurements were performed by internal filter effect (IFE)-induced fluorescence quenching of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) by MB. The results showed that the IFE and PCR amplification processes improved the sensitivity of the sensor towards Salmonella detection, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 21.8 CFU/mL. Moreover, this colorimetric-fluorescence dual-mode PCR biosensor was applied to determine Salmonella in food samples, such as chicken, egg, and fish, which produced satisfactory results. Overall, the present study results demonstrate the potential for combining PCR amplification with IFE to develop an efficient and reliable dual-mode analysis platform to safeguard food security.
Enzyme-Based Biosensors and Their Applications
Authors: Fan Yu-Fan , Guo Zhao-Bin , Ge Guang-Bo
Published: April 2023

Enzymes constitute an extremely important class of biomacromolecules with diverse catalytic functions, which have been validated as key mediators for regulating cellular metabolism and maintaining homeostasis in living organisms [...]
Evaluation of EEG Oscillatory Patterns and Classification of Compound Limb Tactile Imagery
Authors: Lakshminarayanan Kishor , Shah Rakshit , Daulat Sohail R. , Moodley Viashen , Yao Yifei , Sengupta Puja , Ramu Vadivelan , Madathil Deepa
Published: April 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cortical activity and digit classification performance during tactile imagery (TI) of a vibratory stimulus at the index, middle, and thumb digits within the left hand in healthy individuals. Furthermore, the cortical activities and classification performance of the compound TI were compared with similar compound motor imagery (MI) with the same digits as TI in the same subjects. Methods: Twelve healthy right-handed adults with no history of upper limb injury, musculoskeletal condition, or neurological disorder participated in the study. The study evaluated the event-related desynchronization (ERD) response and brain–computer interface (BCI) classification performance on discriminating between the digits in the left-hand during the imagery of vibrotactile stimuli to either the index, middle, or thumb finger pads for TI and while performing a motor activity with the same digits for MI. A supervised machine learning technique was applied to discriminate between the digits within the same given limb for both imagery conditions. Results: Both TI and MI exhibited similar patterns of ERD in the alpha and beta bands at the index, middle, and thumb digits within the left hand. While TI had significantly lower ERD for all three digits in both bands, the classification performance of TI-based BCI (77.74 ± 6.98%) was found to be similar to the MI-based BCI (78.36 ± 5.38%). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that compound tactile imagery can be a viable alternative to MI for BCI classification. The study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of TI in BCI applications, and future research can build on this work to explore the potential of TI-based BCI for motor rehabilitation and the control of external devices.
Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Attenuates Postoperative Neurocognitive Impairment and Salvages Hippocampal Synaptogenesis in Aged Mice
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Taotao , Chang Huixian , Li Zhengqian , Chen Lei , Mi Xinning , Xing Huayi , Wang Xiaoxiao , Hong Jingshu , Liu Kaixi , Li Yitong , Han Dengyang , Li Yue , Yang Ning , Li Xiaoli , Li Yingwei , Guo Xiangyang
Published: April 2023

Postoperative neurocognitive impairment is an urgent problem with global aging accelerating. The prevention and treatment of postoperative neurocognitive impairment have been widely investigated but lack effective strategies. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), a non-invasive tool, has shown an effect on neuroprotection, but whether it could attenuate the postoperative neurocognitive impairment and the underlying mechanisms remains unknown. An experimental setup for LIPUS stimulation of the hippocampus was well established. A laparotomy model in aged mice was applied, and a Morris water maze was used to assess cognitive function. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect levels of Piezo1, synapse-associated proteins in the hippocampus, respectively. Immunofluorescent staining was also used to determine the neural activation and Piezo1 expression. The results showed that LIPUS increased synapse-related proteins of the hippocampus and attenuated cognitive impairment in aged mice. Meanwhile, LIPUS suppressed the overexpression of Piezo1 in the hippocampus. We further found that LIPUS promoted Calpain1 activity and increased extracellular regulated protein kinases (Erk) phosphorylation. Our results suggested that LIPUS could improve cognitive impairment and increase hippocampal synaptogenesis through the Piezo1-mediated Calpain1/ Erk pathway. LIPUS could be used as an effective physical intervention to alleviate postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the aged population.
The Use of Neurofeedback in Sports Training: Systematic Review
Authors: Rydzik Łukasz , Wąsacz Wojciech , Ambroży Tadeusz , Javdaneh Norollah , Brydak Karolina , Kopańska Marta
Published: April 2023

Biofeedback training is a method commonly used in various fields of life, for example, in medicine, sports training or business. In recent studies, it has been shown that biofeedback, and neurofeedback, can affect the performance of professional athletes. Training based on the neurofeedback method includes exercising the brain waves. The aim of the article is to evaluate the influence of neurofeedback training on the physical fitness of professional athletes representing various sports disciplines, such as judo, volleyball and soccer. Based on 10 scientific papers from various sources, including PubMed, the latest research on neurofeedback and its impact on athletes has been reviewed. On the basis of the literature review from 2012 to 2022 on the neurofeedback method in sports training, it can be stated that this type of practice has a significant impact on physical fitness and sports performance. This review comprised 10 research studies with 491 participants in the neurofeedback groups, and 62 participants in the control group. Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated the quality of the studies utilising the PEDro scale. Properly planned and conducted neurofeedback training affects stimulation and improvement of many variables (reducing stress levels, increasing the ability to self-control physiological factors, enhancing behavioural efficiency and meliorating the speed of reaction to a stimulus).
Investigation on Shrinkage Characteristics of Polyester-Fiber-Reinforced Cement-Stabilized Concrete Considering Fiber Length and Content
Authors: Wang Jian , Li Min , Chen Jingchun , Zhao Zedong , Zhao Hongbo , Zhang Lin , Ren Jiaolong
Published: April 2023

Polyester-fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized concrete is widely adopted to prevent the shrinkage cracking in pavement engineering. However, the effects of fiber length and content on the dry shrinkage and temperature shrinkage are not clear. The relationship between shrinkage resistance and strength is also discussed scantily. Hence, five types of polyester fiber length (1 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, 7 cm, and 9 cm) and six types of polyester fiber content (0.1‰, 0.3‰, 0.5‰, 0.7‰, 0.9‰, and 1.1‰) were selected to prepare the fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized concrete. The dry shrinkage coefficients and temperature shrinkage coefficients were used to evaluate the shrinkage resistance. Moreover, the relationships among these shrinkage coefficients, compressive strength, and splitting strength at different curing ages were investigated to realize the prediction of shrinkage resistance of polyester-fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized concrete. This study aimed to seek the optimal fiber characteristics and conveniently evaluate the shrinkage resistance for the polyester-fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized concrete. Results show that: increasing the content of polyester fiber can significantly improve the shrinkage resistance of cement-stabilized concrete, especially for the temperature shrinkage. The fiber length should not be too long, especially for dry shrinkage. The optimum fiber content and fiber length is 0.7‰ and 5 cm for the dry shrinkage resistance and 0.7‰ and 9 cm for the temperature shrinkage resistance. There was higher correlation between compressive strengths and shrinkage coefficients, while the correlation between splitting strength and shrinkage coefficients was not obvious.
Research on Characterization of 3D Morphology of Coarse Aggregate Based on Laser Scanning
Authors: Song Jinbiao , Zhou Xinglin , Jiang Ruiqie
Published: April 2023

The morphology of coarse aggregate has a significant impact on the road performance of asphalt mixtures and aggregate characterization studies, but many studies were based on the two-dimensional morphology of coarse aggregate, which failed to consider morphological characteristics in a holistic manner. In order to quantitatively analyze the shape, angularity, and texture characteristics of roadway coarse aggregates, a rapid and accurate multiparameter characterization method of coarse aggregate 3D morphology is explored in this article. A 3D laser scanner is used to obtain the 3D point cloud data of pebble, granite, and basalt, and the solid models of the three coarse aggregates are reconstructed. In addition, the fitted ellipsoidal algorithm and Laplace smoothing algorithm are proposed for the characterization analysis of the overall shape, angularity, and surface roughness of coarse aggregate, and the variation rules of multicharacteristic parameters of coarse aggregate are summarized. The results of the study show that the ratio of the three axes of the fitted ellipsoid can be used to classify the shape of coarse aggregate into four types, among which the cubic shape accounts for the majority of the coarse aggregate. By analyzing the fitted ellipsoidal value and the change rate of angularity of coarse aggregate, it is concluded that the larger the values of both, the more angular the aggregate is. Moreover, the study finds that the fitted ellipsoidal value can characterize not only the shape of coarse aggregate, but also its angularity to some extent. Compared with the spherical value, the fitted ellipsoidal value has better variability and is more “sensitive” to the overall data. The change in surface area can well characterize the texture of coarse aggregate. When the particle size is small, the larger the surface area change rate of the coarse aggregates, the better the roughness of the aggregates, among which the surface area change rate of basalt is the largest. The influence of aggregate morphology was not adequately considered in previous studies of asphalt-aggregate adhesion, and this study provides parameter help for subsequent quantitative analysis of the relationship between asphalt-aggregate adhesion and coarse aggregate morphology.
Adopting Green Behaviors in the Construction Sector: The Role of Behavioral Intention, Motivation, and Environmental Consciousness
Authors: Maqsoom Ahsen , Umer Muhammad , Alaloul Wesam , Salman Alaa , Ullah Fahim , Ashraf Hassan , Musarat Muhammad
Published: April 2023

Non-renewable resources have been becoming scarcer on a global scale by the day, while energy demand has been rising exponentially. To tackle this problem, organizations worldwide have been striving to learn and adopt green practices to sustain themselves and benefit society. In this context, the current study aims to identify and understand the critical factors that encourage individuals working in construction organizations to adopt green behavior. The current study surveyed 121 top managers working in 150 construction firms deployed across Pakistan. It was found that knowledge and awareness significantly contributed to green behavioral adoption. Additionally, behavioral intention, motivation, and environmental consciousness have been found to positively mediate the impact of knowledge and awareness on green behavior adoption. The findings of this study highlight the important factors to consider when developing future policies. Moreover, the research provides a stepping stone for future researchers to evaluate other sectors and regions in similar contexts to draw comparisons and identify areas for improvement.
Rising Incidence of Non-Cardia Gastric Cancer among Young Women in the United States, 2000–2018: A Time-Trend Analysis Using the USCS Database
Authors: Oh Janice , Abboud Yazan , Burch Miguel , Gong Jun , Waters Kevin , Ghaith Jenan , Jiang Yi , Park Kenneth , Liu Quin , Watson Rabindra , Lo Simon K. , Gaddam Srinivas
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Although the global incidence of non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC) is decreasing, there are limited data on sex-specific incidence in the United States. This study aimed to investigate time trends of NCGC from the SEER database to externally validate findings in a SEER-independent national database, and to further assess trends among subpopulations. Methods: Age-adjusted incidence rates of NCGC were obtained from the SEER database from 2000 to 2018. We used joinpoint models to calculate average annual percentage change (AAPC) to determine sex-specific trends among older (≥55 years) and younger adults (15–54 years). Using the same methodology, findings were then externally validated using SEER-independent data from the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). Stratified analyses by race, histopathology, and staging at diagnosis were also conducted in younger adults. Results: Overall, there were 169,828 diagnoses of NCGC from both independent databases during the period 2000–2018. In SEER, among those <55 years, incidence increased at a higher rate in women (AAPC = 3.22%, p < 0.01) than men (AAPC = 1.51%, p = 0.03), with non-parallel trends (p = 0.02), while a decreasing trend was seen in both men (AAPC = −2.16%, p < 0.01) and women (AAPC = −1.37%, p < 0.01) of the ≥55 years group. Validation analysis of the SEER-independent NPCR database from 2001 to 2018 showed similar findings. Further stratified analyses showed that incidence is disproportionately increasing in young non-Hispanic White women [AAPC = 2.28%, p < 0.01] while remaining stable in their counterpart men [AAPC = 0.58%, p = 0.24] with non-parallel trends (p = 0.04). This pattern was not observed in other race groups. Conclusion: NCGC incidence has been increasing at a greater rate in younger women compared to counterpart men. This disproportionate increase was mainly seen in young non-Hispanic White women. Future studies should investigate the etiologies of these trends.
Deep Learning Approaches to Osteosarcoma Diagnosis and Classification: A Comparative Methodological Approach
Authors: Vezakis Ioannis A. , Lambrou George I. , Matsopoulos George K.
Published: April 2023

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of the bone, being most prevalent in childhood and adolescence. Despite recent progress in diagnostic methods, histopathology remains the gold standard for disease staging and therapy decisions. Machine learning and deep learning methods have shown potential for evaluating and classifying histopathological cross-sections. Methods: This study used publicly available images of osteosarcoma cross-sections to analyze and compare the performance of state-of-the-art deep neural networks for histopathological evaluation of osteosarcomas. Results: The classification performance did not necessarily improve when using larger networks on our dataset. In fact, the smallest network combined with the smallest image input size achieved the best overall performance. When trained using 5-fold cross-validation, the MobileNetV2 network achieved 91% overall accuracy. Conclusions: The present study highlights the importance of careful selection of network and input image size. Our results indicate that a larger number of parameters is not always better, and the best results can be achieved on smaller and more efficient networks. The identification of an optimal network and training configuration could greatly improve the accuracy of osteosarcoma diagnoses and ultimately lead to better disease outcomes for patients.
Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Considerations, and Outcomes of Infants with Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Yan Adam P. , Venkatramani Rajkumar , Bradley Julie A. , Lautz Timothy B. , Urla Cristian I. , Merks Johannes H. M. , Oberoi Sapna
Published: April 2023

RMS most commonly presents in children and adolescents, however a subset of tumors are diagnosed in infants under one year of age. Due to the rarity of infant RMS, utilization of different treatment approaches and goals, and small sample sizes, the published studies of infants with RMS have yielded heterogeneous results. In this review, we discuss the outcomes of infants with RMS treated in various clinical trials and the strategies that various international cooperative groups have employed to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to treatment without compromising the overall survival of this population. This review discusses the unique scenarios of diagnosing and managing congenitals or neonatal RMS, spindle cell RMS and relapsed RMS. This review concludes by exploring novel approaches to diagnosis and management of infants with RMS that are currently being studied by various international cooperative groups.
Decreased Lipid Phosphate Phosphatase 1/3 and Increased Lipid Phosphate Phosphatase 2 Expression in the Human Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment Promotes Tumor Progression and Immune System Evasion
Authors: Benesch Matthew G. K. , Wu Rongrong , Tang Xiaoyun , Brindley David N. , Ishikawa Takashi , Takabe Kazuaki
Published: April 2023

The LPP family is comprised of three enzymes that dephosphorylate bioactive lipid phosphates both intracellularly and extracellularly. Pre-clinical breast cancer models have demonstrated that decreased LPP1/3 with increased LPP2 expression correlates to tumorigenesis. This though has not been well verified in human specimens. In this study, we correlate LPP expression data to clinical outcomes in over 5000 breast cancers from three independent cohorts (TCGA, METABRIC, and GSE96058), investigate biological function using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and the xCell cell-type enrichment analysis, and confirm sources of LPP production in the tumor microenvironment (TME) using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) data. Decreased LPP1/3 and increased LPP2 expression correlated to increased tumor grade, proliferation, and tumor mutational burden (all p < 0.001), as well as worse overall survival (hazard ratios 1.3–1.5). Further, cytolytic activity was decreased, consistent with immune system invasion. GSEA data demonstrated multiple increased inflammatory signaling, survival, stemness, and cell signaling pathways with this phenotype across all three cohorts. scRNAseq and the xCell algorithm demonstrated that most tumor LPP1/3 was expressed by endothelial cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts and LPP2 by cancer cells (all p < 0.01). Restoring the balance in LPP expression levels, particularly through LPP2 inhibition, could represent novel adjuvant therapeutic options in breast cancer treatment.
atm Mutation and Oxidative Stress Enhance the Pre-Cancerous Effects of UHRF1 Overexpression in Zebrafish Livers
Authors: Ajouaou Yousra , Magnani Elena , Madakashira Bhavani , Jenkins Eleanor , Sadler Kirsten C.
Published: April 2023

The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (atm) gene is activated in response to genotoxic stress and leads to activation of the tp53 tumor suppressor gene which induces either senescence or apoptosis as tumor suppressive mechanisms. Atm also serves non-canonical functions in the response to oxidative stress and chromatin reorganization. We previously reported that overexpression of the epigenetic regulator and oncogene Ubiquitin Like with PHD and Ring Finger Domains 1 (UHRF1) in zebrafish hepatocytes resulted in tp53-dependent hepatocyte senescence, a small liver and larval lethality. We investigated the role of atm on UHRF1-mediated phenotypes by generating zebrafish atm mutants. atm−/− adults were viable but had reduction in fertility. Embryos developed normally but were protected from lethality caused by etoposide or H2O2 exposure and failed to fully upregulate Tp53 targets or oxidative stress response genes in response to these treatments. In contrast to the finding that Tp53 prevents the small liver phenotype caused by UHRF1 overexpression, atm mutation and exposure to H2O2 further reduced the liver size in UHRF1 overexpressing larvae whereas treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine suppressed this phenotype. We conclude that UHRF1 overexpression in hepatocytes causes oxidative stress, and that loss of atm further enhances this, triggering elimination of these precancerous cells, leading to a small liver.
Evaluation of Response to Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using the Combination of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and Alpha-Fetoprotein
Authors: Kinami Takahiro , Amioka Kei , Kawaoka Tomokazu , Uchikawa Shinsuke , Yamasaki Shintaro , Kosaka Masanari , Johira Yusuke , Yano Shigeki , Naruto Kensuke , Ando Yuwa , Yamaoka Kenji , Fujii Yasutoshi , Fujino Hatsue , Nakahara Takashi , Ono Atsushi , Murakami Eisuke , Okamoto Wataru , Yamauchi Masami , Miki Daiki , Tsuge Masataka , Imamura Michio , Aikata Hiroshi , Oka Shiro
Published: April 2023

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy (Atezo + Beva) is currently positioned as the first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC). It may be difficult to decide whether to continue this treatment if radiological response is assessed as stable disease (SD). Therefore, the relationship between radiological response and prognosis was analyzed. A total of 109 patients with u-HCC and Child–Pugh Score of 5–7 received this treatment. Radiological response was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and modified RECIST at the first and second evaluations. Of SD patients (n = 71) at the first RECIST evaluation, partial response, SD, and progressive disease (PD) were seen in 10, 55, and 6 patients, respectively, at the second evaluation. On multivariate analysis, in patients with SD at the first RECIST evaluation, a 25% or greater increase in the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) value from initiation of treatment (odds ratio, 7.38; p = 0.037) was the independent factor for PD at the second evaluation. In patients with SD (n = 59) at the second RECIST evaluation, decreased AFP from initiation of treatment (hazard ratio, 0.46; p = 0.022) was the independent factor related to progression-free survival on multivariate analysis. AFP trends could help decide the Atezo + Beva treatment strategy.
Extracellular Vesicles in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Tumor Microenvironment Messengers as a Basis for New Targeted Therapies?
Authors: Dubois Kenza , Tannoury Mariana , Bauvois Brigitte , Susin Santos A. , Garnier Delphine
Published: April 2023

In addition to intrinsic genomic and nongenomic alterations, tumor progression is also dependent on the tumor microenvironment (TME, mainly composed of the extracellular matrix (ECM), secreted factors, and bystander immune and stromal cells). In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), B cells have a defect in cell death; contact with the TME in secondary lymphoid organs dramatically increases the B cells’ survival via the activation of various molecular pathways, including the B cell receptor and CD40 signaling. Conversely, CLL cells increase the permissiveness of the TME by inducing changes in the ECM, secreted factors, and bystander cells. Recently, the extracellular vesicles (EVs) released into the TME have emerged as key arbiters of cross-talk with tumor cells. The EVs’ cargo can contain various bioactive substances (including metabolites, proteins, RNA, and DNA); upon delivery to target cells, these substances can induce intracellular signaling and drive tumor progression. Here, we review recent research on the biology of EVs in CLL. EVs have diagnostic/prognostic significance and clearly influence the clinical outcome of CLL; hence, from the perspective of blocking CLL-TME interactions, EVs are therapeutic targets. The identification of novel EV inhibitors might pave the way to the development of novel combination treatments for CLL and the optimization of currently available treatments (including immunotherapy).
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Volatile Organic Compound Analysis in the Detection of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancers
Authors: Pelling Melina , Chandrapalan Subashini , West Emily , Arasaradnam Ramesh P.
Published: April 2023

Background: Hepatobiliary cancers are notoriously difficult to detect, frequently leading to diagnosis in later stages of disease when curative treatment is not an option. The currently used biomarkers such as AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) and CA19.9 lack sensitivity and specificity. Hence, there is an unmet need for an alternative biomarker. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the detection of hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. Methods: A systematic review of VOCs’ use in the detection of hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers was performed. A meta-analysis was performed using the software R. Heterogeneity was explored through meta-regression analysis. Results: A total of 18 studies looking at 2296 patients were evaluated. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of VOCs for the detection of hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer were 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72−0.85) and 0.81 (97.5% CI, 0.76−0.85), respectively. The area under the curve was 0.86. Meta-regression analysis showed that the sample media used contributed to heterogeneity. Bile-based VOCs showed the highest precision values, although urine and breath are preferred for their feasibility. Conclusions: Volatile organic compounds have the potential to be used as an adjunct tool to aid in the early diagnosis of hepatobiliary cancers.
Simultaneous Oxidation of Emerging Pollutants in Real Wastewater by the Advanced Fenton Oxidation Process
Authors: Bracamontes-Ruelas Alexis Rubén , Reyes-Vidal Yolanda , Irigoyen-Campuzano José Rafael , Reynoso-Cuevas Liliana
Published: April 2023

Since the conventional processes employed in most wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) worldwide are not designed to entirely remove or oxidize emerging pollutants, which, due to their incidence and persistence, can cause damage to both the environment and human health, several options for their degradation and removal have emerged. Coupling the advanced Fenton oxidation process as a polishing or tertiary wastewater treatment alternative within conventional WWTP processes stands out among the treatment options. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to evaluate, at the laboratory level, the ability of the advanced Fenton oxidation process to oxidize triclosan, ibuprofen, DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), carbamazepine, caffeine, and acesulfame-K, which represent several groups of emerging pollutants in real wastewater from the second settling tank of a municipal WWTP. The compound used as a catalyst (Fe2+) supplier in the advanced Fenton oxidation process was ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4•7H2O). The results obtained upon application showed that the advanced Fenton oxidation process could simultaneously oxidize and remove practically the total concentration of the above-mentioned emerging pollutants, except for DEET (85.21%), in conjunction with the chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and fecal coliforms (FC, pathogen group) in the effluent generated by the advanced Fenton oxidation process.