Journals
2025 EN
Jalaeefar Amirmohsen · Mahmoodzadeh Habibollah · Shirkhoda Mohammad
+5 more
ABSTRACT Background The current standard surgical procedure for gastric cancer (GC) is gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy, which includes harvesting No. 12a lymph node (LN) station. Aim The purpose of this study was to identify the clinicopathologic factors associated with No. 12a lymph node metastasis. Methods and Results Eighty‐nine patients with GC undergoing gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy were included in this single‐arm prospective cohort study. Logistic regression analyses were used to clarify the correlation between No. 12a involvement and clinicopathologic characteristics. Eighty‐nine patients (66% males) with a mean age of 58.86 ± 13.06 years were included. The upper third of the stomach was the most common tumor site (43.8%). neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was administered to 77 patients (86.5%). Total gastrectomy was the most common surgical procedure (67.4%), and 49.4% of tumors were poorly differentiated. Ten patients (11.24%) had 12a LN metastasis. Patients with 12a LN involvement exhibited greater number of harvested LNs in other stations (28.5[27–39.25] vs. 25[21–30], p = 0.024) and a higher presence of LN involvement in other stations (22[11–32] vs. 0[0–4], p = < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of harvested other nodes (OR: 1.11[1.02–1.21]), number of involved other nodes (1.23[1.11–1.37]), omental involvement (OR: 10.86[1.84–64.24.57]), lymphovascular invasion (6.90[1.37–34.70]), and perineuronal invasion (OR: 6.16[1.23–31.11]) were significantly associated with No. 12a station metastasis. However, in multivariate logistic regression, only the number of involved other nodes showed a significant association with No. 12a station metastasis (OR: 1.30[1.09–1.55]). There was no difference between patients who received NAC and who did not in terms of No. 12a involvement ( p value = 0.61). Conclusion Among clinicopathologic risk factors, involvement of other lymph node stations was significantly associated with No. 12a lymph node metastasis. Therefore, No. 12a lymph node dissection should be considered in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Journals
2025 EN
Yan ShuRong · Nadershahi Mohadeseh · Guo Wei
+2 more
ABSTRACT Decision Neural Networks significantly improve the performance of complex models and create more transparent and accountable decision‐making systems that can be trusted in critical applications. However, their performance strongly depends on the amount of data and the learning algorithm. This article describes the development of a simplified structure and training algorithm based on the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm to enhance the decision neural network's training and assess the utility function's efficacy in multi‐objective issues. The suggested algorithm converges faster than traditional algorithms. Also, the designed scheme combines gradient descent with the Gauss‐Newton method, allowing it to escape shallow local minima more effectively than other similar techniques. Numerical examples demonstrate how well the suggested method estimates linear utility functions, even complicated and nonlinear ones. Additionally, the findings of applying the enhanced decision neural network to multi‐objective decision‐making issues show that this instructional technique produces responses with higher quality and faster convergence. By applying the designed scheme to a multi‐objective problem with seven primary answers, it is shown that accuracy is improved by more than 20%.
Journals
2025 EN
Barra Julian · Shahbazi Shayan · Birri Anthony
+6 more
Optimally designing applications of molten salts requires knowledge of their thermophysical properties over a wide range of temperatures and compositions. There exist significant gaps in existing databases and this data can be challenging to experimentally measure due to high temperatures, salt corrosivity, and salt hygroscopicity. Existing databases have been used to create Redlich–Kister (RK) models for mixture density showing improved accuracy with respect to ideal mixing assumptions, but these models require subcomponent data measurements for each new system, therefore lacking generality. In order to address generalizability and data sparsity, a transfer learning procedure is proposed to train deep neural networks (DNNs) using a combination of semi‐empirical relationships (RK), data from the thermophysical arm of the molten salt thermal properties database and universal ab initio properties of component mixtures taken from the joint automated repository for various integrated simulations (JARVIS) classical force‐field inspired descriptors database to predict density in molten salts. Herein, it is shown that DNNs predict molten salt density with an r 2 over 0.99 and a mean absolute percentage error under 1%, outperforming alternative methods.
Journals
2025 EN
BaQais Amal · Alreshaidan Salwa Bader · Abahussain Abdulaziz A. M.
+9 more
The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, such as CH 4 and CO 2 , in the environment is pushing the planet to the next level of global warming, where living creatures are becoming extinct one after another. The catalytic conversion of CH 4 and CO 2 together into syngas, known as dry reforming of methane (DRM), not only depletes the concentration of these gases but also provides an industrially important synthesis gas. Herein, the active sites (metallic Ni) supported over calcium‐stabilized zirconia (Ni– x CaSZ; x = 8, 10, 12, 14 mol%) are investigated toward DRM reaction. Catalysts are characterized by X‐ray diffraction, surface area and porosity, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, H 2 ‐temperature‐programmed reduction, and thermogravimetry. Calcium stabilizes the cubic phases of ZrO 2 and surges mixed oxide phases like cubic CaZrO 3 and monoclinic CaZr 4 O 9 . At high mol% of Ca, the interaction between CaO and ZrO 2 is grown, the covalence character about oxygen in MOM′ bond is raised, the surface area of catalyst is increased, and coke deposition is restricted. Upon increasing mol% of Ca from 8 to 12 mol%, the moderate‐level interaction of NiO over support is established, weak interaction of NiO is declined, and overall concentration of active sites is grown. As a result, 5Ni–12CaSZ achieves the highest 66% CH 4 conversion, 73% CO 2 conversion, and 0.86 H 2 /CO ratio at 700 °C reaction temperature. An excess amount of calcium (14 mol%) changes the surface composition of CaZrO x , as well as it may also block the oxide vacancy, which may inhibit the CO 2 activation vis‐à‐vis catalytic activity.
Journals
2025 EN
Alrejaye Najla S. · Abolfotouh Mostafa A. · Farook Fathima Fazrina
+12 more
ABSTRACT Objectives The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NSOFCs) among Saudi children. Materials and Methods A case–control study was carried out at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. Cases were children with NSOFCs who were matched by gender and year of birth to healthy controls from the same setting. Data on risk factors were collected by interviewing parents of both cases and controls using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the father's and mother's information and the child's information. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine the associated risk factors with NSOFCs. Results A total of 188 children were included (88 cases and 100 controls), with a mean age of 5.1 ± 2.3 years. Maternal fever during pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher risk of NSOFCs (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 0.05–2.5, p < 0.05). Additionally, the presence of maternal relatives with orofacial clefts increased the risk (OR = 6.02, 95% CI: 0.43–3.16, p < 0.001), whereas the strongest predictor was paternal relatives with orofacial clefts (OR = 8.00, 95% CI: 0.41–3.75, p = 0.014). These findings are of utmost importance for the understanding and potential prevention of NSOFCs. Conclusions The presence of paternal or maternal relatives with orofacial clefts and maternal fever during the first trimester were predictors for NSOFCs, with having affected paternal relatives being the strongest predictor.
Journals
2025 EN
Erdem Ali · Bilgin Mehmet Selim · Ersoy Ibrahim
+4 more
ABSTRACT Objectives Recently, CAD/CAM materials have become popular in dental clinics; however, information about their fracture resistance as post‐crowns remains limited. This study compared the initial fracture resistance of potential single‐piece post‐crown materials made with CAD/CAM milling to sound teeth. Materials and Methods Fifty freshly extracted, non‐carious human central incisor teeth underwent endodontic treatment. The roots were then randomly divided into five groups based on the post systems: the control group included teeth filled only with gutta‐percha. Monoblock post‐crowns were made using four different systems for the other groups: LDS (IPS e.max CAD®, lithium disilicate glass‐ceramic), YTZP (inCoris ZI®, Yttrium tetragonal zirconia polycrystal), RNC (Lava Ultimate®, resin‐based nanoceramic), and PICN (VITA Enamic®, polymer‐infiltrated ceramic network). The post‐crowns were cemented with resin cement and tested with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. Data analysis used one‐way ANOVA and multiple comparison post‐hoc Tukey tests ( α = 0.05). Results Significant differences were found between the groups ( p < 0.001). The control group exhibited the highest fracture resistance (749.25 ± 225.02 N). YTZP showed similar resistance to the control ( p = 0.99) and LDS (447.28 ± 168.72 N, p = 0.081), but was significantly higher than RNC (343.79 ± 157.08 N, p = 0.0051) and PICN (348.78 ± 157.44 N, p = 0.0059). LDS, RNC, and PICN did not differ significantly. YTZP experienced more non‐repairable fractures (5/10), while PICN predominantly failed in a repairable manner (9/10). Conclusions All CAD/CAM post‐crowns exceeded functional loads for the anterior region. YTZP and LDS demonstrated greater strength, whereas PICN and RNC, despite being weaker, favored repairable failures—highlighting the importance of balancing strength and clinical manageability.
Journals
2025 EN
Raman Rahul · Neely Haly L. · Rajan Nithya
+5 more
Abstract Leaf rust is a major biotic factor affecting wheat yield globally. However, the visual scoring technique to assess fungal disease in breeding programs requires significant expert manual labor and time. Unmanned aerial systems have the potential to scan large acreage in a short time for disease screening. An experiment was conducted at College Station and Castroville, TX, in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 to assess the performance of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference red edge index (NDRE), and green chlorophyll index (GCI) in detecting leaf rust infection. Other measurements included proximal canopy temperature, grain yield, and visual screening for infection type and severity. A significant positive relationship ( p < 0.001; R 2 = 0.42–0.62) of grain yield with all three vegetation indices (VIs) was observed in mid‐April 2019 at College Station. At College Station, the highest leaf rust severity coincided with the senescence stage in mid‐April 2020. No relationship between the VIs and grain yield was observed. In mid‐April 2020, when the leaf rust infection was high, the VIs showed a significant negative relationship ( p < 0.05; R 2 = 0.27) with grain yield at Castroville. All three VIs showed a significant linear negative relationship with canopy temperature at College Station ( p < 0.05; R 2 = 0.3–0.34) and Castroville ( p < 0.001; R 2 = 0.52–0.54) in mid‐April 2020. At high leaf rust severity, the repeatability of GCI was less than NDVI and NDRE at both locations in 2019 and 2020. These results may differ if multiple factors affect winter wheat simultaneously.
Journals
2025 EN
El Shlmani Zahra · Ibrahim Haslindar · Tahir Muhammad
+1 more
Abstract Existing research often highlights the impact of several categories of corporate enforcement action on corporate performance, thus overlooking the impossibility of isolating the impacts of other concurrent enforcement actions. The current study employed the gross value and volume of corporate enforcement actions to examine the influence of corporate moral hazard (CMH) on environmental, social, and governance performance (ESGP) along with ownership dynamics. The S&P data from 2018 to 2022 were analyzed, covering 1925 observations of US multinational corporations (MNCs) based on various aspects of corporate governance (CG). Institutional, insider, and family ownership were applied as proxies for ownership structure. CSRHub ratings represented ESGP, while Sustainalytics ratings were used for robustness. The analysis involved various econometric models, including the feasible generalized least squares model (FGLSM). Resultantly, CMH negatively affected ESGP, whereas CG mechanisms revealed a positive influence. Contrary to existing literature, the size of corporate law cases is a stronger proxy for CMH than the amount of enforcement actions. Although institutional owners decrease the number of enforcement actions, they encounter substantial penalties. Above‐average insiders reduce lawsuits and exert significant control over penalties, while below‐average insiders result in heavier penalties and lawsuits to an extent. Families are the most positively influential owners; having more family owners increases penalties and ESGP but reduces lawsuit size, particularly when ownership exceeds the mean percentage.
Journals
2025 EN
Fang Wei · Luo Haoran · Mwamburi Mwakitawa Ibrahim
+10 more
Abstract Thermogalvanic cells with organic redox couple (OTGCs) have received significant attention for low‐grade heat harvesting due to their high thermopower, versatile molecular design, and tailorable physiochemical properties. However, their thermogalvanic conversion power output is largely hindered by slow kinetic rate, which limits practical applications. In this work, we demonstrate a high‐performance liquid quinone/hydroquinone (Q/HQ) based OTGC by synergistic coupling redox reaction and thermogalvanic corrosion. By adding hydrochloric acid (HCl) into electrolyte solution, HCl not only boosts intrinsic redox kinetic rate of Q/HQ, but also induces rapid thermogalvanic corrosion of the copper electrode. Notably, these two processes reinforce each other kinetically. Consequently, the Q/HQ‐based OTGC exhibits a rapid kinetic rate alongside an increased thermopower, leading to a significantly enhanced power output density. As a result, the Q/HQ‐based OTGC achieves an enhanced effective conductivity σ eff of 4.22 S m −1 and a record high normalized power density P max (ΔT) −2 of 108.7 μW m −2 K −2 . This strategy provides a feasible and effective method for development of high‐performance OTGCs.
Journals
2025 EN
Folaranmi Olaleke O. · Olayiwola Oladunni I. · Ibiyeye Kehinde M.
+4 more
ABSTRACT Cytopathology is a cost‐effective diagnostic method crucial for investigating suspected neoplastic lesions, particularly in Nigeria's healthcare system, where non‐communicable diseases, especially with increasing rates of cancer. This review highlights the evolution of cytopathology practice in Nigeria, detailing its historical development, current methodologies, and the challenges faced within the healthcare framework. Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques such as immunocytochemistry and molecular diagnostics globally, conventional methods remain essential due to their affordability and accessibility. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has gained acceptance for its diagnostic accuracy; however, significant disparities exist in the availability of cytological services across various regions. The lack of trained personnel and inadequate infrastructure further complicate the effective implementation of cytopathology practices. The findings highlight the urgent need for specialized training programs and improved resource allocation to enhance cytopathology services in Nigeria. We advocate for strategic interventions aimed at optimizing cytopathology's potential to improve cancer diagnosis and patient outcomes in resource‐limited settings across the country.