Average Intensity Research Articles

A Hyper-chaotic Medical Image Encryption with Optimized Key Value

This article delves into a medical image encryption/decryption method based on hyper chaotic dynamics and genetic algorithms. The proposed algorithm boasts simplicity in implementation, featuring straightforward operations that render it well-suited for real-time applications while elevating its security measures. Leveraging the sensitivity of chaotic behaviour to initial conditions, a genetic algorithm is employed to select optimal initial conditions for the 5D multi-wing hyper-chaotic system. Initially, a secret key generation method based on the input image is applied, followed by stages of diffusion and encryption utilizing the chaotic system. The secret key undergoes optimization through a genetic algorithm, considering specific parameters within the encrypted image as encryption factors. Subsequently, the encrypted image with the optimized secret key is finalized, serving as the basis for decrypting the cipher image. The proposed method undergoes simulation, testing, and comparison against other image encryption algorithms. Both experimental results and computer simulations affirm the robustness of this cryptographic system, showcasing a significant key space value (2^256), high key sensitivity (Number of Pixels Change Rate: NPCR > 99.55%, Unified Average Changing Intensity: UACI > 33.37%), and its ability to fend off various types of attack.

Enhancing temperature resilience in dioecious Salix myrtillacea: The role of acetic acid in eco-physiological and microbial adaptations

The effects of climate change on dioecious plants are of growing concern. Dioecious plants have sex-specific eco-physiological responses. This study investigated the response of Salix myrtillacea, a dioecious wood-producing plant with industrial potential, to high (35°C) and low (15°C) temperature stresses. The efficacy of exogenously applied acetic acid (AA) in enhancing sex-specific temperature stress tolerance was also investigated. The research found that female willows showed greater resilience to both temperature extremes than males. The average stress intensity indices for height and basal diameter growth rate were 19.20 % and 10.87 % higher in males than in females, respectively. This was also evidenced by greater physiological adaptations (antioxidant enzyme activity, hormone accumulation) and nutrient assimilation. Compared with high temperature, willows showed better adaptation to low temperature, resulting in a significant stress reduction. In addition, the application of AA significantly reduced stress in both sexes, while distinct sex-specific differences were observed in the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community. The application of AA particularly influenced certain microbial phyla. For example, it increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes by 46.11 % and Chloroflexi by 42.16 %, while decreased Acidobacteria by 29.28 %. This supported carbon uptake and storage to improve stress tolerance in females under high temperature stress. Conversely, males showed a stronger association with fungi to maintain stability. In conclusion, the application of AA significantly improved the temperature stress resistance of dioecious willows. There were pronounced improvements in growth, physiological adaptations, and microbial interactions. These effects were particularly evident in female plants. These findings highlight the potential of AA in tailoring climate resilience strategies for dioecious species.

A prospective cohort study of chronic postsurgical pain after ambulatory surgeries

Objective The incidence and factors associated with chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after ambulatory surgeries have not been well studied. Our primary objective was to determine the incidence of CPSP and secondary objectives included assessment of intensity of CPSP, incidence of moderate-to-severe CPSP, and exploration of factors associated with CPSP. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of ambulatory surgery patients having procedures with a potential to cause moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. All patients had participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing no difference in achieving satisfactory analgesia in a recovery unit with either morphine or hydromorphone. CPSP was defined as chronic pain that developed or increased in intensity after the surgical procedure and is localized to the surgical field or within the innervation territory of a nerve in the surgical field, and has persisted for 3 months post-surgery, with the exclusion of other causes of pain. Incidences of CPSP were reported as rate (%) with 95% CI, and intensity using a 0–10 numerical rating scale (95% CI). We used logistic regression to explore factors associated with CPSP adjusting for baseline catastrophizing and depression. Results Among 402 RCT patients, 208 provided data for the 3-month outcome. Incidence of CPSP was 18.8% (39/208), 95% CI = 13.7%–24.7% and 78% (28/39) of them had moderate-to-severe CPSP. Average CPSP intensity was 5.5, 95% CI = 4.7–6.4. Every unit increase in pain over the first 24 h was significantly associated with increased odds of moderate-to-severe CPSP at 3 months; odds ratio = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.04–1.58. Conclusions Nearly one in five patients develop CPSP after ambulatory surgeries with the majority of them having moderate-to-severe pain. Considering that acute pain after discharge is associated with CPSP and that there are no formal care pathways to address this need, studies need to focus on evaluating feasible strategies to provide continuing care.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology guided margin design in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a single-centre retrospective study.

The margin status of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients is considered to be predictive of recurrence and long-term survival. Therefore, precise intraoperative margin assessment is crucial. This study investigated the feasibility of using near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology to guide margin design in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. In this retrospective study, indocyanine green solution was intravenously injected preoperatively into patients. Intraoperatively, the surgical area was illuminated using a near-infrared fluorescence imaging system, which caused the lesion to fluoresce in the surgical area. Surgery was performed with the assistance of fluorescence imaging. The fluorescence intensity of the lesion area and surrounding normal tissue was recorded during surgery. Intraoperative margins were sent for rapid pathology, and postoperative margin pathology results were documented. Sixteen patients were included in this study (7 males, 9 females), with an average age of 65.65 ± 12.37 years. Preoperative biopsy and postoperative pathology confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma in all patients. No cancer cells were found in the margin pathology results. The average fluorescence intensity of the lesion area was 214 ± 4.70, and that of the surrounding normal tissue was 104.63 ± 3.14. There was no significant difference in the fluorescence intensity values of the lesion areas among all patients (F=0.38, P>0.05). There was a significant difference in fluorescence intensity between the lesion area and surrounding normal tissue (t=33.76, P<0.05). Near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology can aid in real-time imaging differentiation of lesion areas based on differences in fluorescence intensity during surgery. The use of this technology can assist surgeons in assessing the safety margin and reliably guide surgery.

Night-time light loss during the 2022 Kyiv offensive revealed through VIIRS DNB

ABSTRACT The satellite low-light imagers can detect changes in nighttime lights caused by ground military conflict. The Kyiv Offensive in Kyiv, Ukraine, which lasted less than 40 days during the Russia – Ukraine conflict, began on 24 February 2022. In addition to the monthly light product, we included a daily light product to analyse the number and average intensity of light pixels in the area around Kyiv over time. The changing trends of two parameters are similar. From February to March, the number of light pixels dropped by 65.2%, and average intensity by 24.5%. To account for daily fluctuations, the relative light ratio was introduced, comparing Kyiv to Moscow, Gomel, and Warsaw. This parameter showed a significant decrease in both the number and intensity of light pixels between days 411 and 423 since January 1, 2021, aligning with the conflict’s start. The relative light ratio revealed a 70.6%, 63.5%, and 57.3% drop in light pixel numbers, and a 9.5%, 24.2%, and 48.4% drop in their average intensity for the respective city pairs. However, unusual fluctuations in the reference cities, such as in Gomel during Christmas and in Moscow at the conflict’s onset, present some problems in using the relative light ratio.

PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF GASTROINTESTINAL PROTOZOAN INFECTION IN BALINESE CATTLE CALVES AT BERINGKIT ANIMAL MARKET, BADUNG REGENCY

Bali cattle are one of the indigenous cattle breeds in Indonesia that are the direct result of domestication from wild bulls. Gastrointestinal protozoan infection is still a factor that often disturbs the health of bali cattle. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal protozoa infection in bali calves breeds in Beringkit Animal Market, Badung Regency. The examination was conducted using the floating method, with fecal samples from 100 bali cattle seedlings and the Mc Master method to determine protozoan infection. The results found 41% of the samples were infected with gastrointestinal protozoa. Based on gender, the prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa infection in male bali calves was 41.1% and in female bali calves was 40.9%. The types of gastrointestinal protozoa found were Eimeria sp, and Balantidium sp. The average infection intensity of Eimeria sp, 36% with an infection intensity of 622.5 ± 2359.21 oocysts/gram of feces, and Balantidium sp, 17% with an infection intensity of 58.82 ± 75.99 cysts/gram of feces. The prevalence in this study was moderate. Male and female cattle have the same chance of being infected with gastrointestinal protozoa. The average infection intensity of Eimeria sp, and Balantidium sp, both protozoa were mild. It is recommended to improve environmental sanitation around bali breeding calves, routine feces cleaning and hygienic feeding methods

A novel functional electrical stimulation sleeve based on textile-embedded dry electrodes

BackgroundFunctional electrical stimulation (FES) is a rehabilitation technique that enables functional improvements in patients with motor control impairments. This study presents an original design and prototyping method for a smart sleeve for FES applications. The article explains how to integrate a carbon-based dry electrode into a textile structure and ensure an electrical connection between the electrodes and the stimulator for effective delivery of the FES. It also describes the materials and the step-by-step manufacturing processes.ResultsThe carbon-based dry electrode is integrated into the textile substrate by a thermal compression molding process on an embroidered conductive matrix. This matrix is composed of textile silver-plated conductive yarns and is linked to the stimulator. Besides ensuring the electrical connection, the matrix improves the fixation between the textile substrate and the electrode. The stimulation intensity, the perceived comfort and the muscle torque generated by the smart FES sleeve were compared to hydrogel electrodes. The results show a better average comfort and a higher average stimulation intensity with the smart FES sleeve, while there were no significant differences for the muscle torque generated.ConclusionsThe integration of the proposed dry electrodes into a textile is a viable solution. The wearable FES system does not negatively impact the electrodes’ performance, and tends to improve it. Additionally, the proposed prototyping method is applicable to an entire garment in order to target all muscles. Moreover, the process is feasible for industrial production and commercialization since all materials and processes used are already available on the market.

Noninvasive quantitative ultrasound fatty liver evaluation of hepato-renal index in pediatric patients using 3D-slicer

AimHepato-renal index (HRI) calculated by ultrasound images has been shown to be an effective, noninvasive tool to screen patients with steatosis. The aim of this study was to non-invasively explore a new method for the calculation, directly on DICOM images, of HRI in pediatric patients using 3D Slicer, a free and open-source software for medical image analysis, especially used for artificial intelligence data annotation. Previous studies in literature were based on non-medical image format (such as png and tiff) and analyzed by using ImageJ, a popular image analysis software.Materials and methodsDICOM images were collected retrospectively between November 2022 and December 2023 at a tertiary institution on any patient under 18 years referred to US assessment of suspected steatosis. The HRI was measured on sagittal images with a clear visualization of both the liver and the kidney by 3D Slicer. The HRI was calculated as the ratio of average pixel intensity values between the two ROIs. Also, we correlated the index with the qualitative operator assessment grade of steatosis made by two expert radiologists with more than 15 years of experience.Results49 patients (59% male, age 11.6 ± 2.6 year) were recruited. Of these, 29 (59%) had qualitative ultrasound confirmation of the diagnosis. The Bland–Altman plots showed a good agreement between the HRI indexes calculated with the standard tool ImageJ and 3D Slicer. Furthermore, the quantitative HRI calculated by the two software showed a correlation (Spearman’s coefficient = 0.52, P < 0.0001) with the qualitative operator measurement.ConclusionsFor the first time, an estimation of HRI directly on DICOM images was executed by using 3D Slicer, obtained quantitative information directly from clinically approved image format.

Distribution Pattern of ELF Field Exposure Electricity Distribution Substation Portal Pole Type 20 kV Medium Voltage Network

The electricity distribution substation is one of the components of the electricity distribution system. Electrical distribution substations, especially portal pole-type electrical distribution substations, can emit ELF fields. However, people need to be aware of the health risks of ELF fields and continue to carry out various activities near electricity distribution substations. This research aims to create a distribution pattern for ELF Field and determine its safety level based on WHO thresholds. The research was conducted in the Jember Regency, particularly in Sumbersari District. This research uses a portal pole-type electricity distribution substations. The substation criteria studied were a portal pole distribution substation on a 20 kV transmission line with a transformer capacity of 160 kVA. The measurement points are 0 m below the transformer, 0.7 m, 1.4 m, 2.1 m, 2.8 m, 3.5 m, 4.1 m, and 4.9 m from the distribution substation building at a height of 1.5 m from the ground for three days at 21.00 WIB and 30 measurements were taken. The distances of these points to the transformer are 4.256 m, 4.313 m, 4.480 m, 4.745 m, 5.094 m, 5.510 m, 5.979 m and 6.490 m respectively. The type of research used is quantitative research with survey data collection techniques. The research design used was cross sectional study. Cross sectional study is a type of observational research design that collects data at one specific point in time from a sample which represents the population studied. ELF field measurements show a spherical distribution pattern with an average magnetic field intensity between 0.0358 µT and 2.91 µT and an average electric field intensity between 2.35 V/m and 16.42 V/m. The magnitude of the magnetic field and electric field measured gets smaller as the distance from the measurement point increases. According to WHO, these results are below the threshold for the general group. This research concludes that the portal pole-type distribution substation in the medium voltage network produces a safe ELF field with a spherical distribution pattern that is inversely proportional to the distance.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain in Amateur Golfers in the State of São Paulo: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objective To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in amateur golfers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods The present is a cross-sectional study performed from September 2019 to March 2020 in golf clubs affiliated to Federação Paulista de Golfe (São Paulo Golf Federation). Federation players were evaluated regarding data on golf practice and sport routine by a main investigator, though an assessment form with multiple-choice questions, to determine sample characteristics and recent pain intensity by the Visual Analogue Scale. Results Approximately 359 amateur golfers were analyzed. The prevalence of pain was of 55.15% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 50.0% to 60.3%); the average pain intensity according to the VAS was moderate (mean ± standard deviation: 5.21 ± 2.04; odds ration [OR]: 47,98%). The golfer's age range was significantly associated with the presence of pain ( p < 0.05). The highest prevalence estimate of pain was of 68.80% in the age group between 30 and 39 years (OR: 7,33; 95%CI: 2,26 to 23,85; p = 0,0009). The segments most affected by pain were the upper limbs (65.66%), followed by the spine (59.09%) and the lower limbs (32.83%). Conclusion There is a high prevalence rate of pain in Brazilian amateur golfers, especially in younger players in the age group between 30 and 39 years.

Hederagenin Induces Apoptosis of Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells via the Mitochondrial Pathway.

The objective of this study is to assess the antitumor effects of hederagenin (HDG) in liver cancer (LC) cells and explore the related mechanisms. HepG2 cells were treated with HDG and cisplatin, respectively. The CCK8 assay was used to detect cell activity, DAPI staining was used to detect the proportion of living cells, TUNEL assay to detect the proportion of apoptotic cells, flow cytometry to detect the membrane potential, fluoroscopic electron microscopy to detect microstructural changes to the mitochondrial, and western blot analysis and high-content screening to detect apoptosisrelated proteins. Treatment with HDG inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells, decreased the proportion of viable cells, increased the proportion of apoptotic cells, and significantly increased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase. Fluorescence staining showed that HDG damaged the mitochondria of HepG2 cells and significantly decreased the number of mitochondria. Flow cytometry showed that HDG decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential of HepG2 cells. Observations by electron microscopy showed that HDG caused swelling and vacuole formation of the mitochondria of HepG2 cells. HDG significantly reduced the average fluorescence intensity of Bcl-2 in HepG2 cells and significantly increased that of the pro-apoptosis proteins Bax, Cytochrome-c, and Caspase-3. HDG induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells via the mitochondrial pathway.

Seismic fragility analysis of human perception in high‐rise buildings subjected to far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motions: A case study for Shanghai tower

AbstractHuman perception in high‐rise buildings during far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motions often induces psychological discomfort, including fear and anxiety. A comprehensive understanding on human perception of seismic events is vital for city planning and emergency management, facilitating effective evacuation plans and minimizing stampede risks. This study addresses a gap by employing the seismic fragility analysis method to delineate how human perception in high‐rise buildings is affected during far‐field long‐period ground motions. The methodology involves several key steps. First, the far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motion was identified by detecting the later‐arriving surface waves, and a series of records were selected from the next generation attenuation (NGA) West‐2 ground motion database of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research center. Then, a high‐rise building in Shanghai, China was modeled using ETABS 20. Through the linear‐elastic time history analysis, the structural seismic response at each floor was computed. Furthermore, human perception thresholds to vibration were introduced to assess the degree of human perception at each floor, illustrating the difference of human perception to seismic tremor at different floors. Finally, a novel earthquake intensity measure (IM), namely average response spectrum intensity (ARSI) within the vibration period ranging from 0.1 s to 10 s was introduced to generate seismic fragility curves for human perception. According to the investigation, it was found that the corner frequency and the associated energy ratio are useful indicators to identify the far‐field long‐period earthquake ground motions. The ARSI is an effective parameter to assess human perception to seismic tremor compared to the spectral acceleration at a given fundamental period. The generated seismic fragility analysis can provide a complete and thorough understanding on the probability of people that should be evacuated under different earthquake intensity levels. The probability of human perception at different floors varies along the building height, demonstrating the difficulty to make crowd evacuation plan in practice. This insight is vital for understanding and mitigating seismic concerns in high‐rise buildings, particularly in low‐to‐moderate seismicity regions.

Clinic-Based Characterization of Adolescents and Young Adults With Migraine: Psychological Functioning, Headache Days, and Disability.

This cross-sectional observational study retrospectively examined clinical data collected from adolescents and young adults (AYAs) seeking care in a specialty headache clinic. We characterized participants' headache characteristics and psychological functioning and examined the association between self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms and headache frequency, severity, and disability. During their clinic visit, AYAs (M age = 18.36; range = 14-32, 79.5% female) completed an intake questionnaire and reported about their headache characteristics (i.e., frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms in months), mental health history (i.e., previous diagnosis of an anxiety or depressive disorder), and utilization of emergency department (ED) services for migraine. AYAs also completed psychometrically validated screening tools for anxiety and depressive symptoms (i.e., the GAD-7 and PHQ-9). We computed descriptive statistics and examined associations among scores on psychological measures and headache characteristics, including migraine-related disability. We also tested whether individuals with clinically elevated GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores had higher levels of disability relative to those with fewer/subclinical levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants (N = 283) reported more than 19 headache days per month on average, with more than 90% describing their average headache intensity as moderate or severe. Nearly half of AYAs reported severe headache-related disability. Approximately one-quarter of AYAs reported a previous diagnosis anxiety or depressive disorder diagnosis, and more than one-third scored above clinical cutoffs on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Higher scores on both psychological screening instruments were associated with greater headache frequency. More than 10% of patients endorsed current suicidal ideation; this was not related to headache-related disability. Participants reported a high degree of ED utilization for headache; these rates were unrelated to endorsement of psychological comorbidities. In this sample of AYAs, headache characteristics were generally unrelated to scores on measures on psychological functioning. However, the observed rates of clinically elevated anxiety/depressive symptoms and suicidality in this sample of AYAs underscore the importance of screening for psychological comorbidities in neurology clinics that serve this age group, irrespective of self-reported disability. Results also emphasize the need to expand access to behavioral health services for AYAs with headache disorders and the importance of incorporating a biopsychosocial perspective to the transition of health care from pediatrics to adult neurology practice.

The effect of nacelle-to-rotor size on the wake of a miniature wind turbine

Wind tunnel experiments are performed to investigate the effect of nacelle-to-rotor size on the wake of a wind turbine under different Reynolds numbers. Four different turbine configurations are tested, which vary in the rotor diameter and nacelle length and diameter. The near wake region is observed to be significantly affected by the nacelle-to-rotor size of the turbine. The difference in the averaged streamwise velocity and streamwise turbulence intensity is affected more by the change in the rotor diameter than by the change in the nacelle diameter. This is likely due to the change in the nacelle length to rotor diameter ratio, and the change in the distance between the ground and rotor lower tip. The differences in the near wake characteristics are reduced by the increase in the Reynolds number. The onset of the far wake is unaffected by the nacelle-to-rotor size, and consequently, the far wake modeling can be performed with good accuracy using existing analytical models. The power coefficient values show an improvement with the increase in the Reynolds number due to the higher efficiency of the rotor and motor.

Effect of fuel injection pressure on biodiesel blended combustion of Inland River diesel engine

Abstract Compared with ordinary diesel, biodiesel has greater viscosity, density, and flash point, especially under medium and low load, which is easy to cause poor atomization and inadequate combustion. In this paper, an in-line six-cylinder inland river ship diesel engine was used as a model to conduct simulation tests under 50% load of propulsion characteristics to explore the effects of different fuel injection pressures on oil-gas mixing, combustion, and emission of fuel blended with a small percentage of biodiesel. The results show that the increase of fuel injection pressure can enhance the average turbulence intensity in the cylinder as well as increase the relative flow velocity between oil and gas, which is beneficial to the mixture combustion. High fuel injection pressure will promote flame propagation, increasing the maximum burst pressure and the average temperature in the cylinder. Compared to the fuel injection pressure of 24 MPa, NOx emission increases by 5.5% and 15.6% respectively at 27 MPa and 30 MPa, and decreases by 10% and 25% respectively by SOOT.

Arthralgia and myalgias associated with aromatase inhibitors: Frequency and characterization in real-life patients.

e12504 Background: Adjuvant treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AI) in estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive breast cancer (BC) has been shown to increase overall survival (OS). However, arthralgias and myalgias are common adverse effects in patients treated with AI. Objective: To evaluate the frequency and characteristics of arthralgias and myalgias in patients with early BC, treated adjuvantly with AI at the Mastology Unit of the Oncology Service of the Hospital de Clínicas and the Soriano Departmental Hospital. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. A questionnaire was administered to the patients to assess the presence and characteristics of arthralgias and myalgias associated with AI. Statistical analysis: "Age" was described using measures of central tendency and dispersion. Qualitative variables were presented in absolute and relative frequencies. Logistic models were used to assess the association between patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics and the presence of pain. Results: Results were presented using Odds Ratio and p-value, using R software (version 4.1.2) with a significance threshold of 5%. 83 patients were included, with a median age of 69 years. 75.9% presented treatment-related arthralgias and/or myalgias, with an average intensity of 5 to 7. 80.9% received NSAIDs, achieving satisfactory analgesia. The presence of arthralgias and myalgias was significantly associated with age and time since last menstruation, being more frequent in patients over 50 years old and those with more than 5 years since the last menstruation. Conclusions: Approximately 70% of the patients presented arthralgias or myalgias. These findings suggest a possible role of estrogen withdrawal in their development mechanism. It is crucial to carry out multidisciplinary and translational research to evaluate the etiology and therapeutic options for patients with AI-related arthralgia.

Integrating deep learning network and liquid biopsy for the evaluation and prediction of response in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Initial results from the RATIONALE prospective study.

e20036 Background: Lung cancerstill represents one of the most common and lethal diseases worldwide. There remains an unmet clinical need for the discovery of biomarkers to refine the management of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The combined evaluation of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and deep learning-based radiomic methods remains to be validated in the clinical setting. Methods: The RATIONALE study is a retro-prospective observational clinical trial consecutively enrolling treatment-naïve patients with advanced NSCLC who received standard first-line systemic treatments at Paolo Giaccone University Hospital, Palermo (Italy). Baseline and follow-up blood samples were collected according to computed tomography (CT) examinations performed using the same equipment (Siemens SOMATOM 128 slices), the same acquisition protocol, and the same contrast medium (Iomeron 400) every twelve weeks. All primary lung tumor internal regions of interest (ROIs) were segmented. Radiomic feature extraction was performed on the ROIs using Pyradiomics, an extension of the 3DSlicer. Circulating cfDNA was extracted from 1 ml of plasma using a QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit (Qiagen) and quantified in terms of ng/μL using a QubitTM dsDNA HS Assay Kit (ThermoFisher Scientific). The diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Between June 2021 and November 2023, fifty-five patients were included. Here we present the first results from the cohort of twenty patients undergoing first-line pembrolizumab-based treatments. Among the thirteen features extracted, the feature 'original_glcm_Id' evaluating the local image homogeneity emerged as statistically significant for differentiating adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (sensitivity of 83.7%, specificity of 81.0%, accuracy of 82.8%; p &lt; 0.001). When correlating cfDNA dynamics and radiologic response, out of the eight features examined, the feature 'first order_mean' measuring the average intensity of gray levels proved to be statistically significant (sensitivity of 86.0%, specificity of 87.7%, accuracy of 86.9%; p &lt; 0.006). Finally, the feature 'size zone non-uniformity' measuring the variability of volumes in different gray level zones within the image showed a good performance in predicting overall survival (sensitivity of 65.8%, specificity of 100.0%, accuracy of 77.8%; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The preliminary results of this ongoing study suggest the combined evaluation of liquid biopsy and radiomic features for obtaining minimally invasive and cost-effective biomarkers in the first-line clinical setting of NSCLC undergoing first-line pembrolizumab.

Confusion and Diffusion Techniques for Image Encryption Process Based on Chaos System

Face recognition uses biometric technologies to identify humans based on their facial characteristics. This method is commonly used to restrict information access control. The benefits of face recognition systems encompass their ease of use and security. The human face recognition process consists of face detection, face tracking, and face recognition. The process uses some algorithms: the Viola-Jones for face detection, the Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT) for face tracking, and the principal component analysis (PCA) for face recognition. Furthermore, this research proposed face recognition with an encryption process to protect the data stored in a database. The encryption process consists of two main processes: confusion and diffusion. The confusion process is randomizing the position of the original image pixels. This research utilized the Arnold’s cat map (ACM) for the confusion process, and the diffusion process was performed using the XOR operation with the key generated from the 1D chaos system. Three different 1D chaos systems, namely logistic map, Bernoulli map, and tent map, were compared to see which chaos system had the best encryption results. Tests were conducted by comparing various parameters on the three proposed 1D chaos systems, including correlation coefficient, histogram analysis, entropy value, number of pixel rate changes (NPCR), and unified average change intensity (UACI). Based on testing the image encryption results, the diffusion process utilizing the tent map produced the best image encryption compared to other chaotic systems.

Cellulase-assisted refining in a paperboard mill: Avoided emissions from energy savings. A case study of a Finnish paperboard mill

The 2023 being on its way to be the warmest year in the 174-year global surface temperature history it is becoming more and more evident how crucial it is to break the linkage between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions.The pulp and paper industry is highly energy intensive industry sector. It is the fourth largest industrial energy user and currently produces approximately 1.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While the demand for paper and paperboard products keeps rising, it is essential for the industry to find energy efficient solutions for reducing the environmental impact of the pulp and paper products. 80% of the progress in energy efficiency in Finnish paper mills is due to improved technology and more optimal operational modes. Optimizing existing processes has bigger effect on energy efficiency than closing old and starting new paper mills.Pulp refining is one of the most energy intense steps in the paperboard production, representing 15%–18% of the total energy consumption of a paper mill. The effect of a commercial cellulase enzyme product was evaluated for energy savings and avoided emissions in the refining process of a paperboard mill. Data from a paperboard line using Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp (BSKP) from a separate pulp mill was provided by a Finnish paperboard mill containing production runs both with and without commercial cellulase product ECOPULP® R. Data was collected from the mill automation system to evaluate and compare a refining capacity restricted run and a run that was not refining capacity restricted.Analysis of the data showed a reduction of refining energy by approximately 16%–17% when the cellulase enzyme was used. This corresponds to 2 kg of CO2 emissions avoided per tonne of pulp refined when calculated using the Finnish average electricity emissions intensity in 2022. Use of the cellulase enzyme enabled the refining results that could not have been reached with the bare mechanical refining capacity of the mill.Cellulases can be efficient processing aids in pulp refining. The reduction of required mechanical refining and electrical power to run the refiners to achieve the required freeness can significantly affect the carbon footprint of the paperboard products, whereas the negative impact of emissions from enzyme production is negligible. Reduction of CO2 emissions is especially significant in the areas where the electricity mix used for the production is based heavily on fossil fuels.

Quantifying the impact of buildings on land surface temperature: Intrinsic structure and extrinsic morphology

Rapid changes in urban buildings have profoundly impacted on the thermal environment. However, there is a limited understanding of the influences of different building structures on land surface temperature (LST). Simultaneously, uncertainties persist regarding the potential thermal environmental effects of building structures and morphology. To address these issues, this study was focused on both the intrinsic structure and the external morphology, to comprehensively explore thermal environmental characteristics and investigate into the complex latent relationships between the thermal environment and building structure and morphology. This study revealed the following: (1) The effects of the different structural buildings on the enhancement of the LST in Futian District, Shenzhen city, in the following descending order: barrel structure, masonry structure, steel structure, frame structure, mixed structure, and shear wall structure. (2) Different morphological indicators have different effects on clusters with different building structure compositions. In the single-building structure clusters, the three average indicator importance intensities are the perimeter-area ratio average (PARA) (0.2), building area (Area) (0.15), and building height (Height) (0.13); in the non-single-building structure cluster, they are Height (0.4), PARA (0.13), and Area (0.1), respectively. These findings highlight that in addition to prioritizing Area, PARA, and Height in building design, more shear wall structural buildings are recommended for urban planning.