bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Construction Risk Assessment of Tunnel Crossing Goaf Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process‐Extension Theory Model
Authors: Yuan Chao , Li Lian‐xin , Su Xiao‐wei , Du Rong‐jie 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTIn the tunnel construction project, it is possible to encounter coal mine goaf. The goaf is often accompanied by a large number of toxic and harmful gases such as gas, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. These factors undoubtedly increase the occurrence of geological disaster risk accidents such as gas combustion and explosion, resulting in tunnel excavation shutdown, plan delay and even a large number of casualties. To grasp the risk status of tunnel construction safety in coal mine goaf, we selected 11 risk factors as evaluation indicators on the basis of investigation and analysis of risk factors in a large number of engineering cases of tunnel crossing coal mine goaf. The construction risk evaluation indicator system of tunnel crossing coal mine goaf is constructed, the weight of construction risk evaluation indicator is calculated, and the risk evaluation grade of tunnel construction is determined. On this basis, the construction risk assessment judgment matrix is established by using the analytic hierarchy process, and the calculation system of the weight of each indicator in the risk assessment system is developed by using the Java programming language. Based on the theory of extension evaluation, a matter‐element extension model for the construction risk assessment of tunnel crossing coal mine goaf is established, and the construction risk assessment of Wanmin tunnel is carried out by using this model. The results of risk assessment grade provide an important theoretical basis and guidance for the selection of safe construction methods for subsequent tunnels crossing coal mine goaf. The successful application of the matter‐element extension model established in this paper provides a new idea for the quantitative evaluation of the construction risk of tunnel uncovering coal mine goaf.
Study on the effect of alcohol additives on ammonia decarburization performance and ammonia escape
Authors: Wang Yu Bin , Yu Jie Rui , Zhang Xiao Xian , Chen Hao , Ruan Han Bang , Yang Guo Hua 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAmmonia carbon capture is characterized by low corrosion, resistance to oxidation and degradation, and low energy consumption for regeneration. However, it also presents challenges such as a slow absorption rate and notable ammonia escape. Current ammonia decarbonization research primarily focuses on the flue gas from power plants, which differs in composition from ship exhaust gas. To address this, we constructed a small carbon absorption test bench and used a mixture of CO2 and N2 as the ship exhaust gas. Ammonia solution and alcohol served as absorbents and additives, respectively, to explore the effects of the additive hydroxyl number, the concentrations of the additive and ammonia solution, and the reaction temperature on carbon loading, absorption rate, and ammonia escape. Results indicated that n‐propanol was most effective in inhibiting ammonia escape, and a low concentration of ammonia solution was more suitable for absorbing CO2. Specifically, when the concentration of ammonia was 4% and the concentration of n‐propanol was 0.2 mol/L, the cumulative ammonia escape was reduced by 34% compared to the scenario without additives. Additionally, the carbon loading and average absorption rate reached 0.49 mol CO2/mol NH3 and 2.33 × 10−3 mol·kg−1·min−1, respectively, representing increases of 34.2 and 60.7%. However, as the reaction temperature increased, the effectiveness of n‐propanol in enhancing ammonia absorption diminished. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tract‐Specific White Matter Hyperintensities Disrupt Brain Networks and Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Li Xuan , Wang Zhuonan , Zhang Haonan , Zhao Wenpu , Ji Qiuyu , Zhang Xiang , Jia Xiaoyan , Bai Guanghui , Pan Yizhen , Wu Tingting , Yin Bo , Shi Lei , Li Zhiqi , Ding Jierui , Zhang Jie , Salat David H. , Bai Lijun 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered to initiate cerebrovascular pathology, involving in the development of multiple forms of neurodegeneration. However, it is unknown the relationships between imaging marker of cerebrovascular injury (white matter hyperintensity, WMH), its load on white matter tract and disrupted brain dynamics with cognitive function in mild TBI (mTBI). MRI data and neuropsychological assessments were collected from 85 mTBI patients and 52 healthy controls. Between‐group difference was conducted for the tract‐specific WMH volumes, white matter integrity, and dynamic brain connectivity (i.e., fractional occupancies [%], dwell times [seconds], and state transitions). Regression analysis was used to examine associations between white matter damage, brain dynamics, and cognitive function. Increased WMH volumes induced by mTBI within the thalamic radiation and corpus callosum were highest among all tract fibers, and related with altered fractional anisotropy (FA) within the same tracts. Clustering identified two brain states, segregated state characterized by the sparse inter‐independent component connections, and default mode network (DMN)‐centered integrated state with strongly internetwork connections between DMN and other networks. In mTBI, higher WMH loads contributed to the longer dwell time and larger fractional occupancies in DMN‐centered integrated state. Every 1 mL increase in WMH volume within the left thalamic radiation was associated with a 47% increase fractional occupancies, and contributed to 65.6 s delay in completion of cognitive processing speed test. Our study provided the first evidence for the structural determinants (i.e., small vessel lesions) that mediate the spatiotemporal brain dynamics to cognitive impairments in mTBI.
SkinSage XAI: An explainable deep learning solution for skin lesion diagnosis
Authors: Munjal Geetika , Bhardwaj Paarth , Bhargava Vaibhav , Singh Shivendra , Nagpal Nimish 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundSkin cancer poses a significant global health threat, with early detection being essential for successful treatment. While deep learning algorithms have greatly enhanced the categorization of skin lesions, the black‐box nature of many models limits interpretability, posing challenges for dermatologists.MethodsTo address these limitations, SkinSage XAI utilizes advanced explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques for skin lesion categorization. A data set of around 50,000 images from the Customized HAM10000, selected for diversity, serves as the foundation. The Inception v3 model is used for classification, supported by gradient‐weighted class activation mapping and local interpretable model‐agnostic explanations algorithms, which provide clear visual explanations for model outputs.ResultsSkinSage XAI demonstrated high performance, accurately categorizing seven types of skin lesions—dermatofibroma, benign keratosis, melanocytic nevus, vascular lesion, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. It achieved an accuracy of 96%, with precision at 96.42%, recall at 96.28%, F1 score at 96.14%, and an area under the curve of 99.83%.ConclusionsSkinSage XAI represents a significant advancement in dermatology and artificial intelligence by bridging gaps in accuracy and explainability. The system provides transparent, accurate diagnoses, improving decision‐making for dermatologists and potentially enhancing patient outcomes.
COVID‐19 Vaccine Uptake and Associated Factors Among Persons With Disabilities in Ghana's Ashanti Region
Authors: Seidu Abdul‐Aziz , Ampomah Irene G. , Emeto Theophilus I. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundPersons with disabilities (PWD) are often marginalized and face barriers to accessing health services. This study aimed to examine the COVID‐19 vaccine uptake and its predictors among PWDs in the Ashanti region of Ghana, where about 17% of the population has some form of disability.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 402 PWDs in two districts of the Ashanti Region of Ghana from December 2021 to March 2022. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (binary logistic regression).ResultsThe majority (68.7%) of the respondents had received the COVID‐19 vaccine. The vaccine uptake was significantly higher among PWDs with visual impairments (aOR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.07–3.09; p = 0.028), older age groups (aOR = 4.95; 95% CI = 1.86–13.21; p = 0.001 for those aged 60 and above), those with junior high school level of education (aOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.05–4.64; p = 0.036), and those who were employed (aOR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.07–3.99; p = 0.031), compared to their respective reference groups.ConclusionThe study revealed a moderate level of COVID‐19 vaccine uptake among PWDs in the Ashanti region, which may indicate some positive attitudes towards the prevention of the virus. However, there were disparities in the vaccine uptake by disability type, age, education, and employment status, which suggest the need for tailored interventions to address the specific needs and preferences of different subgroups of PWDs. The study also provides a basis for further research on the factors influencing COVID‐19 vaccine acceptance among PWDs in Ghana and other similar settings. To enhance the vaccine coverage and equity among the marginalized groups in the region, more practical and inclusive strategies are needed to overcome the barriers and challenges faced by PWDs in accessing the COVID‐19 vaccine.
Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Pathogens in Patients With Esophageal Cancer From 2013 to 2022: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Meng Hongwei , Wang Yulan , Li Zhifu , Yan Jun , Yu Wenjun , Chen Changqiang 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsPathogenic microbial infections are closely related to the development and prognosis of esophageal cancer. The distribution and resistance of pathogens in different diseases are regional and gradually change over time. This study aimed to determine the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens isolated from patients with esophageal cancer and provide a reference for the rational use of antibiotics.MethodsThe results of strain identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of pathogens in patients with esophageal cancer from January 2013 to December 2022 at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. SPSS Statistics 26.0 (IBM) and R software 4.3.1 were used for data analysis.ResultsIn total, 2322 non‐repetitive pathogens were isolated from 14,037 samples. Of all strains, 1713 (73.77%) were Gram‐negative bacteria, 483 (20.80%) were Gram‐positive bacteria, and 126 (5.43%) were fungi. The top 10 pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.81%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (12.88%), A. baumannii (9.91%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.82%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.54%), Candida albicans (3.92%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (3.19%), Escherichia coli (3.14%), Enterococcus faecalis (2.97%), and Serratia marcescens (2.15%). The isolation rate of S. maltophilia showed an upward trend (p < 0.05). The resistance rates of P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia, A. baumannii, and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria to some common antibiotics showed a tendency to change (p < 0.05), and 2019 became a turning point to some extent. All common Gram‐positive pathogens were sensitive to vancomycin, except for three Enterococcus spp. isolates that showed intrinsic resistance. The prevalence of MRSA was 65.14% (114/175) in this study. In addition, the resistance rates of MRSA and MSSA to moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and penicillin were significantly different (p < 0.001).ConclusionPathogens are diverse in patients with esophageal cancer, with the most common being P. aeruginosa, followed by S. maltophilia. The pathogens exhibited different patterns of resistance. Antibiotics should be used rationally according to pathogen resistance patterns.
Computational Analysis and Experimental Investigation of the Performance of an Evacuated Tube Solar Air Heater Incorporating Therminol‐55 as a Thermal Energy Storage Medium
Authors: Mathew Adarsh Abi , Mandhare Neeta 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTThe evacuated tube solar air heaters (ETSAHs) are gaining popularity today because of their reduced heat loss capability. A performance evaluation of the evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) using a thermal energy storage (TES) facility was carried out during the study. A new heat pipe (HP) system with a TES unit directly integrated into it was used in the study along with ETSAH. The novel HP system directly stores the thermal energy and is capable of heating the air uniformly from all directions. Therminol‐55 (T‐55) was the sensible heat storage material integrated inside a common condenser HP system. The solar collector's performance was evaluated at air flow rates ranging from 0.003 to 0.02 kg/s. The HP and T‐55 exhibited a maximum temperature of 121°C and 127°C. The highest temperature of the air leaving ETSAH‐TES was 128°C. ETSAH‐TES delivered hot air over 100°C continuously for 7 h. The results depict that even when solar energy was erratic, the HP developed in this research supplied a continuous hot air flow. The average energy and exergy efficiency achieved was 37.87% and 2.8%, respectively. T‐55 can store a maximum of 1920 kJ of energy. With a standard deviation ranging from 0.2% to 1.87%, the ETSC‐TES numerical analysis is in excellent agreement with experimental results.
Decellularized Extracellular Matrix and Polyurethane Vascular Grafts Have Positive Effects on the Inflammatory and Pro‐Thrombotic State of Aged Endothelial Cells
Authors: Specht Sophie J. , Rohringer Sabrina , Hager Pia , Grasl Christian , Schmitt Anna‐Maria , Pach Virginia J. C. , Ehrmann Katharina , Baudis Stefan , Liska Robert , Kiss Herbert , Schneider Karl H. , Podesser Bruno K. , Bergmeister Helga 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTIn vitro assessment of small‐diameter synthetic vascular grafts usually uses standard cell culture conditions with early‐passage cells. However, these conduits are mainly implanted in elderly patients and are subject to complex cellular interactions influenced by age and inflammation. Understanding these factors is central to the development of vascular grafts tailored to the specific needs of patients. In this study, the effects of aged endothelial cells subjected to pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory agents and cultivated on a newly developed biodegradable electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane/poly(urethane‐urea) blend (TPU/TPUU), on clinically available expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE), and on decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) grafts were investigated. Young and aged endothelial cells were exposed to pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory agents and characterized by morphology, migration capacity, and gene expression. In addition, the cells were seeded onto the various graft materials and examined microscopically alongside gene expression analyses. When exposed to pro‐inflammatory cytokines, young and aged cells demonstrated signs of endothelial activation. Cells seeded on ePTFE showed reduced attachment and increased expression of pro‐inflammatory genes compared with the other materials. dECM and TPU/TPUU substrates provided better support for endothelialization with aged cells under inflammatory conditions compared with ePTFE. Moreover, TPU/TPUU showed positive effects on reducing pro‐thrombotic and pro‐inflammatory gene expression in endothelial cells. Our results thus emphasize the importance of developing new synthetic graft materials as an alternative for clinically used ePTFE.
Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Differences in Slow‐Twitch and Fast‐Twitch Muscles of a Cigarette Smoke‐Exposed Rat Model
Authors: Fung Timothy K. H. , Cheung Kwok Kuen , Wang Xia , Lau Benson W. M. , Ngai Shirley P. C. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundCigarette smoking is known to affect muscle function and exercise capacity, including muscle fatigue resistance. Most studies showed diminished cross‐sectional area and fibre type shifting in slow‐twitch muscles such as the soleus, while effects on fast‐twitch muscles were seldom reported and the differential responses between muscle types in response to exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) were largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the histomorphological, biochemical and transcriptomic changes induced by CS on both slow‐twitch and fast‐twitch muscles.MethodMale Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: sham air (SA) and CS. The rats were exposed to CS for 8 weeks using an exposure chamber system to mimic smoking conditions. Histomorphological analyses on muscle fibre type and cross‐sectional area were determined in soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL). Transcriptomic profiles were investigated for identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and potential mechanistic pathways involved. Inflammatory responses in terms of the macrophage population and the level of inflammatory cytokines were measured. Markers for muscle‐specific proteolysis were also examined.ResultSoleus muscle, but not in EDL, exhibited a significant increase in Type IIa fibres (SA: 9.0 ± 3.3%; CS: 19.8 ± 2.4%, p = 0.002) and decrease in Type I fibres (SA: 90.1 ± 3.6%; CS: 77.9 ± 3.3%, p = 0.003) after CS exposure. RNA sequencing revealed 165 identified DEGs in soleus including upregulation of ‘Cd68’, ‘Ccl2’ and ‘Ucp2’ as well as downregulation of ‘Ucp3’, etc. Pathways enrichment analysis revealed that the upregulated pathways in soleus were related to immune system and cellular response, while the downregulated pathways were related to oxidative metabolism. Only 10 DEGs were identified in EDL with less enriched pathways. The soleus also showed elevated pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and the total macrophage marker CD68 was significantly higher in soleus of CS compared to the SA group (CD68+/no. of fibre: SA = 60.3 ± 39.3%; CS = 106.5 ± 27.2%, p = 0.0039), while the two groups in EDL muscle showed no significant difference. The expression of E3 ubiquitin ligase atrogin‐1 associated with muscle degradation pathways was 1.63‐fold higher in the soleus after CS, while no significant differences were observed in the EDL.ConclusionThe CS‐induced inflammatory responses on soleus muscle are likely mediated via targeting mitochondrial‐related signalling, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired oxidative capacity. The presumably less active mitochondrial‐related signalling in EDL renders it less susceptible to changes towards CS, accounting for differential impacts between muscle types.
Transpancreatic precut sphincterotomy: Can nonexperts match the outcomes of experts?
Authors: Niiya Fumitaka , Tamai Naoki , Yamawaki Masataka , Noda Jun , Azami Tetsushi , Takano Yuichi , Nishimoto Fumiya , Nagahama Masatsugu 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundNonexpert endoscopists cannot achieve high‐quality performance during difficult biliary cannulation, representing a significant challenge; precutting is an effective approach for managing these cases. Transpancreatic biliary sphincterotomy (TPBS) is considered more effective than needle‐knife precutting owing to its wire‐guided technique, which may be suitable for nonexpert endoscopists; however, comparisons between nonexpert and expert endoscopists performing TPBS are not well documented.MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent TPBS between January 2010 and April 2024 were evaluated. Rates of successful biliary duct cannulation, time to TPBS and bile duct cannulation, and adverse events were compared between both groups. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with successful bile duct cannulation using TBPS.ResultsThe study included 140 patients (77 and 63 in the nonexpert and expert groups, respectively). The rates of successful biliary cannulation and overall adverse events (including pancreatitis, 9.1% vs. 9.5%) were 88.3% and 93.7% (p = .38) and 15.6% and 9.5% (p = .32) in the nonexpert and expert groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that early TPBS (<22 min) was a significant predictive factor for successful bile duct cannulation.ConclusionsTBPS may be an effective technique for nonexpert endoscopists; additionally, early TPBS is a significant predictive factor for successful bile duct cannulation.
Prevalence of Human Polyomaviruses in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma From Patients Treated at a Cancer Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Gomes Rafael Tomaz , Sobrinho João Simão , Pimentel Dalva Regina Neto , López Rossana Verónica Mendoza , Uno Miyuki , Silva Ana Carolina Prado Ribeiro e , Santos‐Silva Alan Roger , Sichero Laura , Tomimori Jane 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) predisposing factors include smoking and alcohol consumption. However, other agents have been investigated, including viruses. We aimed to investigate the presence of DNA of four different types of human polyomavirus (HPyV) in the oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC samples from an oncology center in Brazil and evaluate the association between HPyV detection and clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Sixty fresh frozen samples from three different anatomical sites (tongue, floor of the mouth, and oropharynx, 20 samples for each region) were retrospectively selected. Data from medical records such as age, sex, alcohol consumption, smoking, tumor staging and death in less than 5 years of diagnosis were collected. DNA was extracted for the identification of MCPyV, BKPyV, JCPyV, and TSPyV using PCR followed by Sanger sequencing of positive samples. The identity of the generated DNA sequences was confirmed by alignment reference sequences. The investigation of the presence of HPyV DNA showed positivity of 5% for MCPyV (n = 3), 0% for both BKPyV or TSPyV, and 60% for JCPyV (n = 36). No association was found between the positivity of any HPyV in samples with any clinical or sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, nor with a certain anatomical site, except for the association between death in less than 5 years after diagnosis and positivity for JCPyV (p = 0.009). Positivity for HPyV in oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC was low for MCPyV, high for JCPyV and null for BKPyV and TSPyV. Further studies should be carried out to better understand the high prevalence of JCPyV found in oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC.