bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extended Exposure Topotecan Significantly Improves Long-Term Drug Sensitivity by Decreasing Malignant Cell Heterogeneity and by Preventing Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Davis Joshua T. , Ghosh Taraswi Mitra , Mazumder Suman , Mitra Amit , Bird Richard Curtis , Arnold Robert D.
Published: May 2023

Maximum tolerable dosing (MTD) of chemotherapeutics has long been the gold standard for aggressive malignancies. Recently, alternative dosing strategies have gained traction for their improved toxicity profiles and unique mechanisms of action, such as inhibition of angiogenesis and stimulation of immunity. In this article, we investigated whether extended exposure (EE) topotecan could improve long-term drug sensitivity by preventing drug resistance. To achieve significantly longer exposure times, we used a spheroidal model system of castration-resistant prostate cancer. We also used state-of-the-art transcriptomic analysis to further elucidate any underlying phenotypic changes that occurred in the malignant population following each treatment. We determined that EE topotecan had a much higher barrier to resistance relative to MTD topotecan and was able to maintain consistent efficacy throughout the study period (EE IC50 of 54.4 nM (Week 6) vs. MTD IC50 of 2200 nM (Week 6) vs. 83.8 nM IC50 for control (Week 6) vs. 37.8 nM IC50 for control (Week 0)). As a possible explanation for these results, we determined that MTD topotecan stimulated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), upregulated efflux pumps, and produced altered topoisomerases relative to EE topotecan. Overall, EE topotecan resulted in a more sustained treatment response and maintained a less aggressive malignant phenotype relative to MTD topotecan.
Deep Eutectic Solvents Comprising Organic Acids and Their Application in (Bio)Medicine
Authors: Swebocki Tomasz , Barras Alexandre , Abderrahmani Amar , Haddadi Kamel , Boukherroub Rabah
Published: May 2023

Over the last years, we observed a significant increase in the number of published studies that focus on the synthesis and characterization of deep eutectic solvents (DESs). These materials are of particular interest mainly due to their physical and chemical stability, low vapor pressure, ease of synthesis, and the possibility of tailoring their properties through dilution or change of the ratio of parent substances (PS). DESs, considered as one of the greenest families of solvents, are used in many fields, such as organic synthesis, (bio)catalysis, electrochemistry, and (bio)medicine. DESs applications have already been reported in various review articles. However, these reports mainly described these components’ basics and general properties without focusing on the particular, PS-wise, group of DESs. Many DESs investigated for potential (bio)medical applications comprise organic acids. However, due to the different aims of the reported studies, many of these substances have not yet been investigated thoroughly, which makes it challenging for the field to move forward. Herein, we propose distinguishing DESs comprising organic acids (OA-DESs) as a specific group derived from natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). This review aims to highlight and compare the applications of OA-DESs as antimicrobial agents and drug delivery enhancers—two essential fields in (bio)medical studies where DESs have already been implemented and proven their potential. From the survey of the literature data, it is evident that OA-DESs represent an excellent type of DESs for specific biomedical applications, owing to their negligible cytotoxicity, fulfilling the rules of green chemistry and being generally effective as drug delivery enhancers and antimicrobial agents. The main focus is on the most intriguing examples and (where possible) application-based comparison of particular groups of OA-DESs. This should highlight the importance of OA-DESs and give valuable clues on the direction the field can take.
Quantitative Aspects of the Human Cell Proteome
Authors: Naryzhny Stanislav
Published: May 2023

The number and identity of proteins and proteoforms presented in a single human cell (a cellular proteome) are fundamental biological questions. The answers can be found with sophisticated and sensitive proteomics methods, including advanced mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with separation by gel electrophoresis and chromatography. So far, bioinformatics and experimental approaches have been applied to quantitate the complexity of the human proteome. This review analyzed the quantitative information obtained from several large-scale panoramic experiments in which high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomics in combination with liquid chromatography or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) were used to evaluate the cellular proteome. It is important that even though all these experiments were performed in different labs using different equipment and calculation algorithms, the main conclusion about the distribution of proteome components (proteins or proteoforms) was basically the same for all human tissues or cells. It follows Zipf’s law and has a formula N = A/x, where N is the number of proteoforms, A is a coefficient, and x is the limit of proteoform detection in terms of abundance.
The Psychometric Function for Focusing Attention on Pitch
Authors: Reeves Adam
Published: May 2023

What is the effect of focusing auditory attention on an upcoming signal tone? Weak signal tones, 40 ms in duration, were presented in 50 dB continuous white noise and were either uncued or cued 82 ms beforehand by a 12 dB SL cue tone of the same frequency and duration as the signal. Signal frequency was either constant for a block of trials or was randomly one of 11 frequencies from 632 to 3140 Hz. Slopes of psychometric functions for detection in single-interval (Yes/No) trials were obtained from three listeners by varying the signal level over a 1–9 dB range. Plots of log(d’) against signal dB were fit by linear functions. Slopes were similar whether signal frequency was constant or varied, as found by D. Green. Slopes for uncued tones increased by 14% to 20% more than predicted by signal energy (i.e., 0.10), as also found previously, whereas slopes for cued tones followed signal energy corrected for an 8 dB sensory threshold. That pre-cues help attention focus rapidly on signal frequency and permit listeners to act as near-ideal detectors of signal energy, which they do not do otherwise, supports a key hypothesis of Grossberg’s ART model that attention guided by conscious awareness can optimize perception.
Blockchain-Based Automated Market Makers for a Decentralized Stock Exchange
Authors: Dodmane Radhakrishna , K. R. Raghunandan , N. S. Krishnaraj Rao , Kallapu. Bhavya , Shetty Surendra , Aslam Muhammad , Jilani Syeda Fizzah
Published: May 2023

The advancements in communication speeds have enabled the centralized financial market to be faster and more complex than ever. The speed of the order execution has become exponentially faster when compared to the early days of electronic markets. Though the transaction speed has increased, the underlying architecture or models behind the markets have remained the same. These models come with their own disadvantages. The disadvantages are usually faced by non-institutional or small traders. The bigger players, such as financial institutions, have an advantage over smaller players because of factors such as information asymmetry and access to better infrastructure, which give them an advantage in terms of the speed of execution. This makes the centralized stock market an uneven playing field. This paper discusses the limitations of centralized financial markets, particularly the disadvantage faced by non-institutional or small traders due to information asymmetry and better infrastructure access by financial institutions. The authors propose the usage of blockchain technology and the data highway protocol to create a decentralized stock exchange that can potentially eliminate these disadvantages. The data highway protocol is used to generate new blocks with a flexible finality condition that allows for the consensus mechanism to configure security thresholds more freely. The proposed framework is compared with existing frameworks to confirm its effectiveness and identify areas that require improvement. The evaluation of the proposed approach showed that the improved highway protocol boosted the transaction rate compared to the other two mechanisms (PoS and PoW). Specifically, the transaction rate of the proposed model was found to be 2.2 times higher than that of PoS and 12 times higher than that of the PoW consensus model.
A Blockchain-Based Efficient and Verifiable Attribute-Based Proxy Re-Encryption Cloud Sharing Scheme
Authors: Feng Tao , Wang Dewei , Gong Renbin
Published: May 2023

When choosing a third-party cloud storage platform, the confidentiality of data should be the primary concern. To address the issue of one-to-many access control during data sharing, it is important to encrypt data with an access policy that enables fine-grained access. The attribute-based encryption scheme can be used for this purpose. Additionally, attribute-based proxy re-encryption (ABPRE) can generate a secret key using the delegatee’s secret key and access policy to re-encrypt the ciphertext, allowing for one-to-many data sharing. However, this scheme still has some flaws, such as low efficiency, inability to update access rules, and private data leakage. To address these issues, we proposed a scheme that combines attribute-based encryption (ABE) and identity-based encryption (IBE) to achieve efficient data sharing and data correctness verification. We also integrated this scheme with blockchain technology to ensure tamper-proof and regulated data storage, addressing issues such as data tampering and lack of supervision on third-party servers. Finally, to demonstrate the security of our scheme, we evaluated the communication overhead and computation overhead. Our results showed that our scheme is more efficient than other schemes and is secure against chosen plaintext attacks with verifiable properties.
Enhanced Thermal Stability of Sputtered TiN Thin Films for Their Applications as Diffusion Barriers against Copper Interconnect
Authors: Aljaafari Abdullah , Ahmed Faheem , Shaalan Nagih M. , Kumar Shalendra , Alsulami Abdullah
Published: May 2023

In this work, the deposition of titanium nitride (TiN) thin film using direct current (DC) sputtering technique and its application as diffusion barriers against copper interconnect was presented. The deposited film was analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. XRD patterns showed the face-centered cubic (FCC) structure for the TiN/SiO2/Si film, having (111) and (200) peaks and TiN (111), Cu(111), and Cu(200) peaks for Cu/TiN/SiO2/Si film. FESEM images revealed that the grains were homogeneously dispersed on the surface of the TiN film, having a finite size. XPS study showed that Ti2p doublet with peaks centered at 455.1 eV and 461.0 eV for TiN film was observed. Furthermore, the stoichiometry of the deposited TiN film was found to be 0.98. The sheet resistance of the TiN film was analyzed by using a four-point probe method, and the resistivity was calculated to be 11 μΩ cm. For the utilization, TiN film were tested for diffusion barrier performance against Cu interconnect. The results exhibited that TiN film has excellent performance in diffusion barrier for copper metallization up to a temperature of 700 °C. However, at a higher annealing temperature of 800 °C, the formation of Cu3Si and TiSi2 compounds were evident. Thus, stoichiometric TiN film with high thermal stability and low resistivity produced in this study could be applied for the fabrication of microelectronic devices.
Primary Cardiac Schwannoma: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Case Reports
Authors: Rahouma Mohamed , Baudo Massimo , Khairallah Sherif , Dabsha Anas , Tafuni Alessandro , El-Sayed Ahmed Magdy , Lau Christopher , Iannacone Erin , Naka Yoshifumi , Girardi Leonard , Gaudino Mario , Lorusso Roberto , Mick Stephanie
Published: May 2023

Primary cardiac schwannoma (PCS) is a neurogenic tumor that arises from Schwann cells. Malignant schwannoma (MSh) is an aggressive cancer comprising 2% of all sarcomas. Information on the proper management of these tumors is limited. Four databases were searched for case reports/series of PCS. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included therapeutic strategies and the corresponding outcomes. Among 439 potentially eligible studies, 53 met the inclusion criteria. The patients included had 43.72 ± 17.76 years and 28.3% were males. Over 50% of patients had MSh, with 9.4% also demonstrating metastases. Schwannoma commonly occurs in the atria (66.0%). Left-sided PCS were more common than right-sided ones. Surgery was performed in almost 90% of the cases; chemotherapy and radiotherapy were used in 16.9% and 15.1% of cases, respectively. Compared to benign cases, MSh occurs at a younger age and is commonly located on the left side. OS of the entire cohort at 1 and 3 years were 60.7%, and 54.0%, respectively. Females and males OS were similar up to 2 years follow-up. Surgery was associated with higher OS (p < 0.01). Surgery is the primary treatment option for both benign and malignant cases and was the only factor associated with a relative improvement in survival.
The Rehabilitation Program Improves Balance Control in Children with Excessive Body Weight and Flat Feet by Activating the Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Markowicz Maria , Skrobot Wojciech , Łabuć Agnieszka , Poszytek Paulina , Orlikowska Agnieszka , Perzanowska Ewelina , Krasowska Katarzyna , Drewek Konrad , Kaczor Jan J.
Published: May 2023

Background: determining the appropriate rehabilitation protocol is essential to influence the correction of flat feet, e.g., by activating the intrinsic muscles of the foot. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impact of the exercises activating the intrinsic foot muscles for postural control in children with flat feet, with normal and excessive body weight. Methods: Fifty-four children aged 7 to 12 were enrolled in the research. Forty-five children were qualified for the final evaluation. Each child in the experimental group was demonstrated an appropriate technique for performing a short foot exercise without compensation by extrinsic muscle. The participants then performed a supervised short foot training session once a week and on other days of the week under the supervision of caregivers for 6 weeks. Flat feet were scored on the foot posture index scale. A postural test was evaluated with a Biodex balance system SD. Statistical significance in the foot posture index scale and postural test were evaluated using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: according to the six indices of the foot posture index scale, five indicators showed statistically significant improvement after rehabilitation. At the 8–12 platform mobility level, it was revealed that the excessive body weight group had significant improvements in the overall stability index and medio-lateral stability index, with eyes closed. Conclusion: our results indicate that a 6-week rehabilitation program based on the activation of the intrinsic muscles of the foot resulted in an improvement in the foot position. This, in turn, affected balance control, especially in children with excess body weight in conditions of closed eyes.
COPD Exacerbation: Why It Is Important to Avoid ICU Admission
Authors: Prediletto Irene , Giancotti Gilda , Nava Stefano
Published: May 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hospitalization due to acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) is a relevant health problem both for its impact on disease outcomes and on health system resources. Severe AECOPD causing acute respiratory failure (ARF) often requires admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) with endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. AECOPD also acts as comorbidity in critically ill patients; this condition is associated with poorer prognoses. The prevalence reported in the literature on ICU admission rates ranges from 2 to 19% for AECOPD requiring hospitalization, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 20–40% and a re-hospitalization rate for a new severe event being 18% of the AECOPD cases admitted to ICUs. The prevalence of AECOPD in ICUs is not properly known due to an underestimation of COPD diagnoses and COPD misclassifications in administrative data. Non-invasive ventilation in acute and chronic respiratory failure may prevent AECOPD, reducing ICU admissions and disease mortality, especially when associated with a life-threating episode of hypercapnic ARF. In this review, we report on up to date evidence from the literature, showing how improving the knowledge and management of AECOPD is still a current research issue and clinical need.
EGFR-Driven Mutation in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Influences the Features and Outcome of Brain Metastases
Authors: Armocida Daniele , Pesce Alessandro , Palmieri Mauro , Cofano Fabio , Palmieri Giuseppe , Cassoni Paola , Busceti Carla Letizia , Biagioni Francesca , Garbossa Diego , Fornai Francesco , Santoro Antonio , Frati Alessandro
Published: May 2023

Background: Brain metastases (BMs) is one of the most frequent metastatic sites for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is a matter of debate whether EGFR mutation in the primary tumor may be a marker for the disease course, prognosis, and diagnostic imaging of BMs, comparable to that described for primary brain tumors, such as glioblastoma (GB). This issue was investigated in the present research manuscript. Methods: We performed a retrospective study to identify the relevance of EGFR mutations and prognostic factors for diagnostic imaging, survival, and disease course within a cohort of patients affected by NSCLC-BMs. Imaging was carried out using MRI at various time intervals. The disease course was assessed using a neurological exam carried out at three-month intervals. The survival was expressed from surgical intervention. Results: The patient cohort consisted of 81 patients. The overall survival of the cohort was 15 ± 1.7 months. EGFR mutation and ALK expression did not differ significantly for age, gender, and gross morphology of the BM. Contrariwise, the EGFR mutation was significantly associated with MRI concerning the occurrence of greater tumor (22.38 ± 21.35 cm3 versus 7.68 ± 6.44 cm3, p = 0.046) and edema volume (72.44 ± 60.71 cm3 versus 31.92 cm3, p = 0.028). In turn, the occurrence of MRI abnormalities was related to neurological symptoms assessed using the Karnofsky performance status and mostly depended on tumor-related edema (p = 0.048). However, the highest significant correlation was observed between EGFR mutation and the occurrence of seizures as the clinical onset of the neoplasm (p = 0.004). Conclusions: The presence of EGFR mutations significantly correlates with greater edema and mostly a higher seizure incidence of BMs from NSCLC. In contrast, EGFR mutations do not affect the patient’s survival, the disease course, and focal neurological symptoms but seizures. This contrasts with the significance of EGFR in the course and prognosis of the primary tumor (NSCLC).
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Infliximab in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Gordon Benjamin L. , Battat Robert
Published: May 2023

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a useful strategy in ulcerative colitis (UC). Nearly a quarter of UC patients will experience acute severe UC (ASUC) in their lifetime, including 30% who will fail first-line corticosteroid therapy. Steroid-refractory ASUC patients require salvage therapy with infliximab, cyclosporine, or colectomy. Fewer data are available for the use of TDM of infliximab in ASUC. The pharmacokinetics of ASUC make TDM in this population more complex. High inflammatory burden is associated with increased infliximab clearance, which is associated with lower infliximab drug concentrations. Observational data support the association between increased serum infliximab concentrations, lower clearance, and favorable clinical and endoscopic outcomes, as well as decreased rates of colectomy. Data regarding the benefit of accelerated or intensified dosing strategies of infliximab—as well as target drug concentration thresholds—in ASUC patients remain more equivocal, though limited by their observational nature. Studies are underway to further evaluate optimal dosing and TDM targets in this population. This review examines the evidence for TDM in patients with ASUC, with a focus on infliximab.
Anastomosis Groups and Mycovirome of Rhizoctonia Isolates Causing Sugar Beet Root and Crown Rot and Their Sensitivity to Flutolanil, Thifluzamide, and Pencycuron
Authors: Zhao Can , Li Siwei , Ma Zhihao , Wang Wenjun , Gao Lihong , Han Chenggui , Yang Anpei , Wu Xuehong
Published: May 2023

Anastomosis groups (AGs) or subgroups of 244 Rhizoctonia isolates recovered from sugar beet roots with symptoms of root and crown rot were characterized to be AG-A, AG-K, AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3 PT, AG-4HGI, AG-4HGII, and AG-4HGIII, with AG-4HGI (108 isolates, 44.26%) and AG-2-2IIIB (107 isolates, 43.85%) being predominate. Four unclassified mycoviruses and one hundred and one putative mycoviruses belonging to six families, namely Mitoviridae (60.00%), Narnaviridae (18.10%), Partitiviridae (7.62%), Benyviridae (4.76%), Hypoviridae (3.81%), and Botourmiaviridae (1.90%), were found to be present in these 244 Rhizoctonia isolates, most of which (88.57%) contained positive single-stranded RNA genome. The 244 Rhizoctonia isolates were all sensitive to flutolanil and thifluzamide, with average median effective concentration (EC50) value of 0.3199 ± 0.0149 μg·mL−1 and 0.1081 ± 0.0044 μg·mL−1, respectively. Among the 244 isolates, except for 20 Rhizoctonia isolates (seven isolates of AG-A and AG-K, one isolate of AG-4HGI, and 12 isolates of AG-4HGII), 117 isolates of AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3 PT, and AG-4HGIII, 107 isolates of AG-4HGI, and six isolates of AG-4HGII were sensitive to pencycuron, with average EC50 value of 0.0339 ± 0.0012 μg·mL−1. Correlation index (ρ) of cross-resistance level between flutolanil and thifluzamide, flutolanil and pencycuron, and thifluzamide and pencycuron was 0.398, 0.315, and 0.125, respectively. This is the first detailed study on AG identification, mycovirome analysis, and sensitivity to flutolanil, thifluzamide, and pencycuron of Rhizoctonia isolates associated with sugar beet root and crown rot.
Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation Results in Secondary Glaucoma
Authors: Szilagyi Zsuzsa , Kranitz Kinga , Nagy Zoltan Zsolt , Recsan Zsuzsa
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term outcome of first session of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-CPC) for refractory glaucoma developed after vitreoretinal surgery combined with silicone oil implantation. The inclusion criteria of this consecutive case series were: patients with secondary glaucoma in the refractory stage who underwent MP-CPC between 2018 and 2021, vitreoretinal surgery combined with silicon oil implantation, and at least a 24-month follow-up period after MP-CPC. Success was defined as the baseline eye pressure reduced at least 20%, and it should be ranged between 10 to 20 mmHg without further MP-CPC at the end of the follow-up. For this retrospective study, 11 eyes of 11 patients were selected. The reduction in IOP was found to be significant (p = 0.004) at the end of the follow-up time, and the success rate was 72% according to our results. The change in the number of antiglaucoma agents in the administered eyedrops was not significant compared to the baseline values. At the end of the follow-up period the change in BCVA values was not significant (p = 0.655). Our results confirm significant IOP lowering effect of this subthreshold method preserving visual performance safely even in eyes with previous vitrectomy surgery with a silicone oil implantation.
Cold Ironing: Socio-Economic Analysis in the Port of Genoa
Authors: Canepa Monica , Ballini Fabio , Dalaklis Dimitrios , Frugone Giampaolo , Sciutto Davide
Published: May 2023

Background: The emissions of ships in ports are increasingly becoming an issue, and particularly those of NOx, SOx, and PM, rather than CO2. One realistic solution for reducing GHG emissions is cold ironing technology. This paper highlights the socio-economic impact of increasing utilization of cold ironing in the port of Genoa, quantifying the achievable emissions reductions and estimating the effects over a defined time horizon. Methods: This research employs an interdisciplinary approach and uses quantitative data with a bottom-up approach for data collection. For the quantification of health costs, reference was made to the CAFE program, which defines a calculation method to estimate the external costs generated by polluting agents such as NH3, NOx, SO2, VOCs, and PM2.5. Results: Analysis of results shows the significant importance of relying on cold ironing and the importance of renewable port generation. Health cost savings using cold ironing and a different mix of generations are calculated, and these results strongly signal the importance of cold ironing. Conclusions: Cold ironing is indeed an effective anti-pollution measure. Its use to reduce polluting emissions is to be strongly recommended. Investments are cost-effective versus health costs and are sustainable by all parties.
Performance Analysis of the C/C Composite Cylindrical Reverse Inter-Shaft Gas Film Seal
Authors: Su Hua , Zhao Shuaike , Yang Xiaofei
Published: May 2023

The reverse inter-shaft gas film seal is a gas path seal used in the intermediate bearing cavity of an aero-engine, which is challenging to implement due to its special installation and usage conditions. This paper proposes a C/C (Carbon/Carbon) composite cylindrical reverse inter-shaft seal structure and carries out a performance simulation analysis based on bidirectional fluid–solid coupling technology. The results show that the cylindrical reverse inter-shaft gas film seal with double-layer C/C composite sealing rings with different material mesoscopic parameters can balance seal leakage and friction power consumption and is beneficial to improving the comprehensive performance of the seal. As the mesoscopic parameters of the inner sealing ring material increase in warp and weft density, the sealing leakage rate decreases, and the gas film force and gas friction power consumption all increase. As the pressure difference increases, the sealing leakage rate and gas film force increase. As the rotation speed of the inner and outer rotors increases, the seal leakage rate increases, and the gas film force decreases. A C/C composite sealing ring cylindrical reverse inter-shaft gas film seal has a lower leakage rate and larger gas film force than a graphite sealing ring cylindrical reverse inter-shaft seal, which confers certain performance advantages. The work in this paper can provide a reference for the design of reverse inter-shaft seals.
Effect of Shear Stress during Processing on Structure, Morphology, and Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene Nucleated with Silsesquioxane-Based β-Nucleating Agent
Authors: Barczewski Mateusz , Mysiukiewicz Olga , Dutkiewicz Michał , Szołyga Mariusz , Dobrzyńska-Mizera Monika , Piasecki Adam
Published: May 2023

The study aimed to determine the influence of shear stress during real-life industrial processes such as compression molding and injection molding to different cavities on the crystallization of the isotactic polypropylene nucleated with a novel silsesquioxane-based β-nucleating agent. Octakis(N2,N6-dicyclohexyl-4-(3-(dimethylsiloxy)propyl)naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxamido)octasilsesquioxane (SF-B01) is a highly effective nucleating agent (NA) based on the hybrid organic-inorganic silsesquioxane cage. The samples containing various amounts of the silsesquioxane-based and commercial iPP β-nucleants (0.01–0.5 wt%) were prepared by compression molding and injection molding, including forming in the cavities with different thicknesses. The study of the thermal properties, morphology, and mechanical properties of iPP samples allows for obtaining comprehensive information about the efficiency of silsesquioxane-based NA in shearing conditions during the forming. As a reference sample, iPP nucleated by commercial β-NA (namely N2,N6-dicyclohexylnaphthalene-2,6-dicarboxamide, NU-100) was used. The static tensile test assessed the mechanical properties of pure and nucleated iPP samples formed in different shearing conditions. Variations of the β-nucleation efficiency of the silsesquioxane-based and commercial nucleating agents caused by shear forces accompanying the crystallization process during forming were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The investigations of changes in the mechanism of interactions between silsesquioxane and commercial nucleating agents were supplemented by rheological analysis of crystallization. It was found that despite the differences in the chemical structure and solubility of the two nucleating agents, they influence the formation of the hexagonal iPP phase in a similar way, taking into consideration the shearing and cooling conditions.
A Simple Method for the Fabrication of Silicon Inverted Pyramid Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Jia , Yan Yao , Zhang Zimu , Liu Yuchen , Ge Jia , Guan Zisheng
Published: May 2023

Silicon inverted pyramids have been shown to exhibit superior SERS properties compared to ortho-pyramids, yet low-cost, simple preparation processes are lacking at present. This study demonstrates a simple method, silver-assisted chemical etching combined with PVP, to construct silicon inverted pyramids with a uniform size distribution. Two types of Si substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) were prepared via silver nanoparticles deposited on the silicon inverted pyramids by electroless deposition and radiofrequency sputtering, respectively. The experiments were conducted using rhodamine 6G (R6G), methylene blue (MB) and amoxicillin (AMX) molecules to test the SERS properties of the Si substrates with inverted pyramids. The results indicate that the SERS substrates show high sensitivity to detect the above molecules. In particular, the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SERS substrates with a denser silver nanoparticle distribution, prepared by radiofrequency sputtering, are significantly higher than those of the electroless deposited substrates to detect R6G molecules. This study sheds light on a potential low-cost and stable method for preparing silicon inverted pyramids, which is expected to replace the costly commercial Klarite SERS substrates.
Effect of SiO2/Organosilicone Double Insulation Coating Processes on the Properties of Ferrosilicon Magnetic Cores
Authors: Lin Shaochuan , Zhou Zihan , Jin Jinghan , Hu Xueyan , Li Shaogang , Ju Nachaun
Published: May 2023

A nano-SiO2 inorganic insulation layer was coated on the surface of FeSi magnetic powder via in situ fluidised vapour deposition. The surface was then coated with organosilicon resin to form an inorganic/organic double-insulating layer. Post-forming and annealing, a ferrosilicon magnetic powder core was prepared. The effects of organosilicon resin content and pressing pressure on the permeability and loss of the ferrosilicon magnetic core were studied. When the ferrosilicon magnetic core was doubly insulated with SiO2/silicone resin, the silicone resin content increased, the insulation coating gradually thickens, and the saturation magnetic-induction intensity of the magnet gradually decreases; the density and effective permeability showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. Increasing the forming pressure can reduce the loss of the core, thereby improving the performance of the core and increasing the permeability without damaging the double-cladding layer. In the powder with the optimised silicone resin content (1.5 wt.%), the magnetic properties of the magnetic core were maximised after preparation at 1500 MPa followed by heat treatment at 773 K. The saturation magnetisation was 187.5 emu/g and the resistivity and permeability reached 10.5 Ω·cm and 49.6, respectively, at 100 mT and 50 kHz. The total loss was 905 mW/cm3.
Reconstruction of Unsteady Wind Field Based on CFD and Reduced-Order Model
Authors: Zhang Guangchao , Liu Shi
Published: May 2023

Short-term wind power forecasting is crucial for updating the wind power trading strategy, equipment protection and control regulation. To solve the difficulty surrounding the instability of the statistical model and the time-consuming nature of the physical model in short-term wind power forecasting, two innovative wind field reconstruction methods combining CFD and a reduced-order model were developed. In this study, POD and Tucker decomposition were employed to obtain the spatial–temporal information correlation of 2D and 3D wind fields, and their inverse processes were combined with sparse sensing to reconstruct multi-dimensional unsteady wind fields. Simulation and detailed discussion were performed to verify the practicability of the proposed algorithms. The simulation results indicate that the wind speed distributions could be reconstructed with reasonably high accuracy (where the absolute velocity relative error was less than 0.8%) using 20 sensors (which only accounted for 0.04% of the total data in the 3D wind field) based on the proposed algorithms. The factors influencing the results of reconstruction were systematically analyzed, including all-time steps, the number of basis vectors and 4-mode dimensions, the diversity of CFD databases, and the reconstruction time. The results indicated that the reconstruction time could be shortened to the time interval of data acquisition to synchronize data acquisition with wind field reconstruction, which is of great significance in the reconstruction of unsteady wind fields. Although there are still many studies to be carried out to achieve short-term predictions, both unsteady reconstruction methods proposed in this paper enable a new direction for short-term wind field prediction.
A Finite State Machine-Based Improved Cryptographic Technique
Authors: Hazzazi Mohammad Mazyad , Budaraju Raja Rao , Bassfar Zaid , Albakri Ashwag , Mishra Sanjay
Published: May 2023

With the advent of several new means of communication, safeguarding the confidentiality of messages has become more crucial. Financial institutions, virtual currencies, and government organizations are all examples of high-risk contexts where information exchanges need particular care. The importance of data security in preventing unauthorized access to data is emphasized. Several cryptographic methods for protecting the secrecy and integrity of data were compared. In this research, the proposed work includes a new Turbo Code-based encryption algorithm. The Turbo encoder’s puncturing process is controlled by a secret key, and a typical random sequence is generated to encrypt the data and fix any mistakes. Key generation utilizing pre-existing data eliminates the requirement for sending keys over a secure channel. Using recurrence relations and the Lower–Upper (LU) decomposition method, the presented study suggests a novel approach to message encryption and decryption. The resulting encrypted grayscale image has a very high level of security, with an entropy of 7.999, a variation from perfection of 0.0245, and a correlation of 0.0092 along the diagonal, 0.0009 along the horizontal, and −0.0015 along the vertical. Directly decrypted pictures have a Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of 56.22 dB, but the suggested approach only manages an embedding capacity of 0.5 bpp (bits per pixel). This may be achieved by decreasing the size of the location map by only 0.02 bpp.
Study on the Behavior of Assembled T-Shaped Aluminum Alloy Specimens under Axial Compression
Authors: Ouyang Yuanwen , Liu Hongbo , Ying Jiaojie , Zhao Jianxiong , Liu Xiaowei , Liu Zhenfei
Published: May 2023

Assembled T-shaped aluminum alloy components represent a new type of structural member in aluminum alloy structures with broad application prospects. In this study, axial compression tests were carried out on 32 aluminum alloy components, considering parameters such as the cross-sectional type and slenderness ratio of the components, to obtain the ultimate bearing capacity and failure mode of the members. The test results show that, for the equilateral assembled T-shaped aluminum alloy components with obvious strong and weak axes, bending instability was most common, and local buckling of the plate occurred when the slenderness ratio of the component was relatively small. For the unequal T-shaped aluminum alloy structures without an obvious strong or weak axis, torsional buckling instability occurred, accompanied by local deformation of the connecting limbs due to mutual compression. A verified finite element model was also established. Based on this model, a parametric analysis was conducted to study the influence of parameters such as initial defects, slenderness ratio, and cross-sectional type on the axial compressive bearing capacity of the assembled T-shaped aluminum alloy components. The experimental and numerical results were then compared with Chinese and European standards, revealing that the standard calculation methods tend to be unsafe. Finally, the calculation parameters for component defects in Chinese and European standards were revised.
Correlation between Selected Clinical Symptoms and Severity of Aggression, Impulsiveness and Their Selected Behavioral Manifestations in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotype A
Authors: Barabasz-Gembczyk Aleksandra , Mędrala Wojciech , Rodek Patryk , Alli-Balogun Barbara , Chrobak Jan , Cwynar Marlena , Sikora Dominika , Wójtowicz Mariusz , Franik Grzegorz , Madej Paweł , Kucia Krzysztof
Published: May 2023

Previous studies on aggressiveness and impulsiveness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are ambiguous. Furthermore, no biochemical or clinical factors related to these variables have been definitively confirmed. The aim of the study was to clarify whether, in women with phenotype A of PCOS, variables such as body mass index and clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism have an impact on either the intensity of impulsivity or aggression or on other selected behavioral manifestations of these variables. The study included 95 patients diagnosed with PCOS phenotype A. The criterion for recruitment into the study group and the control group was body mass index. The study was conducted with the use of a closed-format questionnaire and calibrated clinical scales. Higher body mass index (BMI) values in women with PCOS phenotype A are associated with poor eating habits. The severity of impulsivity and aggression syndrome, as well as the tendency to engage in risky sexual behavior and patterns of alcohol consumption among patients diagnosed with PCOS phenotype A, are not dependent on BMI. The severity of impulsiveness and the syndrome of aggression in women with phenotype A PCOS are not associated with clinical symptoms of hyperandrogenism or with androgen levels.
Simultaneous Quantitation and Discovery (SQUAD) Analysis: Combining the Best of Targeted and Untargeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics
Authors: Amer Bashar , Deshpande Rahul R. , Bird Susan S.
Published: May 2023

Untargeted and targeted approaches are the traditional metabolomics workflows acquired for a wider understanding of the metabolome under focus. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. The untargeted, for example, is maximizing the detection and accurate identification of thousands of metabolites, while the targeted is maximizing the linear dynamic range and quantification sensitivity. These workflows, however, are acquired separately, so researchers compromise either a low-accuracy overview of total molecular changes (i.e., untargeted analysis) or a detailed yet blinkered snapshot of a selected group of metabolites (i.e., targeted analysis) by selecting one of the workflows over the other. In this review, we present a novel single injection simultaneous quantitation and discovery (SQUAD) metabolomics that combines targeted and untargeted workflows. It is used to identify and accurately quantify a targeted set of metabolites. It also allows data retro-mining to look for global metabolic changes that were not part of the original focus. This offers a way to strike the balance between targeted and untargeted approaches in one single experiment and address the two approaches’ limitations. This simultaneous acquisition of hypothesis-led and discovery-led datasets allows scientists to gain more knowledge about biological systems in a single experiment.
Antioxidant Nanozymes: Mechanisms, Activity Manipulation, and Applications
Authors: Thao Nguyen Thi My , Do Hoang Dang Khoa , Nam Nguyen Nhat , Tran Nguyen Khoi Song , Dan Thach Thi , Trinh Kieu The Loan
Published: May 2023

Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase play important roles in the inhibition of oxidative-damage-related pathological diseases. However, natural antioxidant enzymes face some limitations, including low stability, high cost, and less flexibility. Recently, antioxidant nanozymes have emerged as promising materials to replace natural antioxidant enzymes for their stability, cost savings, and flexible design. The present review firstly discusses the mechanisms of antioxidant nanozymes, focusing on catalase-, superoxide dismutase-, and glutathione peroxidase-like activities. Then, we summarize the main strategies for the manipulation of antioxidant nanozymes based on their size, morphology, composition, surface modification, and modification with a metal-organic framework. Furthermore, the applications of antioxidant nanozymes in medicine and healthcare are also discussed as potential biological applications. In brief, this review provides useful information for the further development of antioxidant nanozymes, offering opportunities to improve current limitations and expand the application of antioxidant nanozymes.
Avian Influenza: Could the H5N1 Virus Be a Potential Next Threat?
Authors: Imperia Elena , Bazzani Liliana , Scarpa Fabio , Borsetti Alessandra , Petrosillo Nicola , Giovanetti Marta , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: May 2023

Avian influenza virus (AIV) poses a significant challenge to poultry production, with negative repercussions for both the economy and public health worldwide. Since January 2003, a total of 868 human cases of AIV H5N1 have been reported from four countries in the Western Pacific Region, as of 9 March 2023. When AIVs are circulating in poultry, there is a risk of sporadic infections and small clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments. The increase in reported A(H5N1) infections may reflect continued virus circulation in birds, as well as enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capacity resulting from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous countermeasures, including vaccines and antiviral treatments, are available for influenza infection. However, their effectiveness is often debated due to the ongoing resistance to antivirals and the relatively low and unpredictable efficiency of influenza vaccines compared to other vaccines. Vaccination remains the primary method for preventing influenza acquisition or avoiding serious complications related to the disease. In this review, we summarize the global landscape of the Influenza A virus and provide insights into human clinical symptomatology. We call for urgent investment in genomic surveillance strategies to timely detect and shape the emergence of any potential viral pathogen, which is essential for epidemic/pandemic preparedness.
Insights into the Biology of Leucocytozoon Species (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae): Why Is There Slow Research Progress on Agents of Leucocytozoonosis?
Authors: Valkiūnas Gediminas , Iezhova Tatjana A.
Published: May 2023

Blood parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon (Leucocytozoidae) only inhabit birds and represent a readily distinct evolutionary branch of the haemosporidians (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa). Some species cause pathology and even severe leucocytozoonosis in avian hosts, including poultry. The diversity of Leucocytozoon pathogens is remarkable, with over 1400 genetic lineages detected, most of which, however, have not been identified to the species level. At most, approximately 45 morphologically distinct species of Leucocytozoon have been described, but only a few have associated molecular data. This is unfortunate because basic information about named and morphologically recognized Leucocytozoon species is essential for a better understanding of phylogenetically closely related leucocytozoids that are known only by DNA sequence. Despite much research on haemosporidian parasites during the past 30 years, there has not been much progress in taxonomy, vectors, patterns of transmission, pathogenicity, and other aspects of the biology of these cosmopolitan bird pathogens. This study reviewed the available basic information on avian Leucocytozoon species, with particular attention to some obstacles that prevent progress to better understanding the biology of leucocytozoids. Major gaps in current Leucocytozoon species research are discussed, and possible approaches are suggested to resolve some issues that have limited practical parasitological studies of these pathogens.
Electroactive Bacteria in Natural Ecosystems and Their Applications in Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioremediation: A Review
Authors: Garbini Gian Luigi , Barra Caracciolo Anna , Grenni Paola
Published: May 2023

Electroactive bacteria (EAB) are natural microorganisms (mainly Bacteria and Archaea) living in various habitats (e.g., water, soil, sediment), including extreme ones, which can interact electrically each other and/or with their extracellular environments. There has been an increased interest in recent years in EAB because they can generate an electrical current in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFCs rely on microorganisms able to oxidize organic matter and transfer electrons to an anode. The latter electrons flow, through an external circuit, to a cathode where they react with protons and oxygen. Any source of biodegradable organic matter can be used by EAB for power generation. The plasticity of electroactive bacteria in exploiting different carbon sources makes MFCs a green technology for renewable bioelectricity generation from wastewater rich in organic carbon. This paper reports the most recent applications of this promising technology for water, wastewater, soil, and sediment recovery. The performance of MFCs in terms of electrical measurements (e.g., electric power), the extracellular electron transfer mechanisms by EAB, and MFC studies aimed at heavy metal and organic contaminant bioremediationF are all described and discussed.