bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Impact of Inclusions on the Behavior of 3D-Printed Composite Sandwich Beams
Authors: El Hassan Amged , Ahmed Waleed , Zaneldin Essam
Published: September 2022

In this study, a finite element model was developed, and a detailed analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of inclusions on the mechanical characteristics of a 3D-printed composite sandwich beam that could initiate when printing the layers, especially during the transition period between the dissimilar material that would affect the interfacial strength between the layers that would cause the failure of the 3D-printed beams. Several parameters that could influence the failure mechanism have been investigated. These parameters include the location, size, material properties, and interfacial location of the inclusion along the beam. Linear elastic behavior has been adopted in this finite element analysis using the ‘Ansys’ simulation tool to model and analyze the defective beams compared to the intact ones. The effects of defects related to maximum shear stress (MSS) and maximum principal stress (MAPS) were investigated. The results revealed that the midpoint of the composite is highly stressed (31.373 MPa), and the concentration of stress decreases outward as we move toward the edges of the composite to reach zero at the edges. For the intact case, the deformation was maximum at the center of the composite (4.9298 mm) and zero at both ends of the beam. The MSS was highest at the center (23.284 MPa) and decreased gradually as we approached the ends on both sides to reach 0.19388 MPa at the edges, making the shear stress distribution symmetrical. The MAPS is constant throughout the beam apart from the lower face of the beam and is maximum at the face material. The MSS is high at the endpoints where we have the support reactions, which may weaken the entire material’s mechanical properties. It was also observed that along the load L3 (applied at 2 mm from the top face of the beam), the MSS values decrease as we move away from the center, which may cause failure at the end of the beam. It was also noticed that the presence of inclusions along load L2 (applied at 2 mm from the bottom face of the beam) initially causes a sharp decrease in MAPS while moving away from the center, at 25 mm, while the MAPS increases as it approaches the end of the beam. This increase in the MAPS near the beam support might be due to the reaction of the fixed support, which tends to oppose the applied flexural load and hence increases the principal stress capability of the beam.
Clinical Strategies for Enhancing the Efficacy of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Liu Qianzhen , Liu Zengping , Wan Rongxue , Huang Wenhua
Published: September 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been successfully used for hematological malignancies, especially for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Patients who have undergone conventional chemo-immunotherapy and have relapsed can achieve complete remission for several months with the infusion of CAR T-cells. However, side effects and short duration of response are still major barriers to further CAR T-cell therapy. To improve the efficacy, multiple targets, the discovery of new target antigens, and CAR T-cell optimization have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, the fact that the determination of the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy is inseparable from the discussion of clinical application strategies has rarely been discussed. In this review, we will discuss some clinical application strategies, including lymphodepletion regimens, dosing strategies, combination treatment, and side effect management, which are closely related to augmenting and maximizing the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy.
The Evolving Landscape of Immunotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Germani Marco Maria , Carullo Martina , Boccaccino Alessandra , Conca Veronica , Masi Gianluca
Published: September 2022

Standard treatments of localized rectal cancer are surgery or the multimodal approach with neoadjuvant treatments (chemo-radiotherapy, short-course radiotherapy, induction, or consolidation chemotherapy) followed by surgery. In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now the first choice in patients with a deficient mismatch repair system/microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI-H) and are being explored in combination with chemotherapy to rewire the immune system against malignant cells in subjects with proficient mismatch repair system/microsatellite low (pMMR/MSI-L) cancers, with promising signals of efficacy. Recently, some efforts have been made to translate ICIs in earlier stages of CRC, including localized rectal cancer, with breakthrough efficacy and an organ preservation rate of mono-immunotherapy in dMMR/MSI-H patients and promising anti-tumor activity of immunotherapy plus neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy in pMMR/MSI-L subjects. Here, we present the rationale, results, and limitations of the most remarkable trials assessing ICIs in dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSI-L localized rectal cancer patients, at the same time highlighting the most promising research perspectives that have followed these studies.
Exploring Metabolic Signatures of Ex Vivo Tumor Tissue Cultures for Prediction of Chemosensitivity in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Mendes Rita , Graça Gonçalo , Silva Fernanda , Guerreiro Ana C. L. , Gomes-Alves Patrícia , Serpa Jacinta , Boghaert Erwin R. , Alves Paula M. , Félix Ana , Brito Catarina , Isidro Inês A.
Published: September 2022

Predicting patient response to treatment and the onset of chemoresistance are still major challenges in oncology. Chemoresistance is deeply influenced by the complex cellular interactions occurring within the tumor microenvironment (TME), including metabolic crosstalk. We have previously shown that ex vivo tumor tissue cultures derived from ovarian carcinoma (OvC) resections retain the TME components for at least four weeks of culture and implemented assays for assessment of drug response. Here, we explored ex vivo patient-derived tumor tissue cultures to uncover metabolic signatures of chemosensitivity and/or resistance. Tissue cultures derived from nine OvC cases were challenged with carboplatin and paclitaxel, the standard-of-care chemotherapeutics, and the metabolic footprints were characterized by LC-MS. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed metabolic signatures that discriminated high-responder from low-responder tissue cultures to ex vivo drug exposure. As a proof-of-concept, a set of potential metabolic biomarkers of drug response was identified based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, comprising amino acids, fatty acids, pyrimidine, glutathione, and TCA cycle pathways. Overall, this work establishes an analytical and computational platform to explore metabolic features of the TME associated with response to treatment, which can leverage the discovery of biomarkers of drug response and resistance in OvC.
Embedding Thiophene-Amide into g-C3N4 Skeleton with Induction and Delocalization Effects for High Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Authors: Tang Shuang , Xu Yang-Sen , Zhang Wei-De
Published: September 2022

Molecular skeleton modification has become a recognized method that can effectively improve the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4 because it not only effectively promotes charge separation, but also tunes the conjugated system of g-C3N4 to make it more conducive to photocatalytic reaction. Herein, thiophene-amide embedded g-C3N4 (TA-CN-x) was successfully prepared by simple one-step thermal polycondensation using urea as a precursor and ethyl-2-amino-4-phenylthiophene-3-carboxylate (EAPC) as an additive. After embedding with thiophene-amide, the induction and delocalization effects are formed in TA-CN-x, which significantly improves the migration efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. Meanwhile, the conjugate structure is changed due to structural modification, resulting in significant enhancement of visible light absorption compared to the pure g-C3N4 (CN). Specifically, the optimized photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of TA-CN-2 reaches 245.4 μmol·h−1, which is 8.4 times that of CN (with Pt nanoparticles as a co-catalyst), and the apparent quantum efficiency (AQY) at 450 nm is 13.6%. This work opens up a new modification process for fully tapping the photocatalytic hydrogen absorption potential of g-C3N4-based materials.
Use of Photocatalytically Active Supramolecular Organic–Inorganic Magnetic Composites as Efficient Route to Remove β-Lactam Antibiotics from Water
Authors: Ion Sabina G. , Pavel Octavian D. , Guzo Nicolae , Tudorache Madalina , Coman Simona M. , Parvulescu Vasile I. , Cojocaru Bogdan , Jacobsen Elisabeth E.
Published: September 2022

Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to identify an optimal treatment method for the removal of antibiotics from wastewaters. A series of supramolecular organic-inorganic magnetic composites containing Zn-modified MgAl LDHs and Cu-phthalocyanine as photosensitizers were prepared with the aim of removing β-lactam antibiotics from aqueous solutions. The characterization of these materials confirmed the anchorage of Cu-phthalocyanine onto the edges of the LDH lamellae, with a negligible part inserted in the interlayer space. The removal of the β-lactam antibiotics occurred via concerted adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. The efficiency of the composites depended on (i) the LDH: magnetic nanoparticle (MP) ratio, which was strongly correlated with the textural properties of the catalysts, and (ii) the phthalocyanine loading in the final composite. The maximum efficiency was achieved with a removal of ~93% of the antibiotics after 2 h of reaction.
Recent Advances on Metal Oxide Based Nano-Photocatalysts as Potential Antibacterial and Antiviral Agents
Authors: Prakash Jai , Krishna Suresh Babu Naidu , Kumar Promod , Kumar Vinod , Ghosh Kalyan S. , Swart Hendrik C. , Bellucci Stefano , Cho Junghyun
Published: September 2022

Photocatalysis, a unique process that occurs in the presence of light radiation, can potentially be utilized to control environmental pollution, and improve the health of society. Photocatalytic removal, or disinfection, of chemical and biological species has been known for decades; however, its extension to indoor environments in public places has always been challenging. Many efforts have been made in this direction in the last two–three years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Furthermore, the development of efficient photocatalytic nanomaterials through modifications to improve their photoactivity under ambient conditions for fighting with such a pandemic situation is a high research priority. In recent years, several metal oxides-based nano-photocatalysts have been designed to work efficiently in outdoor and indoor environments for the photocatalytic disinfection of biological species. The present review briefly discusses the advances made in the last two to three years for photocatalytic viral and bacterial disinfections. Moreover, emphasis has been given to the tailoring of such nano-photocatalysts in disinfecting surfaces, air, and water to stop viral/bacterial infection in the indoor environment. The role of such nano-photocatalysts in the photocatalytic disinfection of COVID-19 has also been highlighted with their future applicability in controlling such pandemics.
ToBRFV Infects the Reproductive Tissues of Tomato Plants but Is Not Transmitted to the Progenies by Pollination
Authors: Avni Ben , Gelbart Dana , Sufrin-Ringwald Tali , Zemach Hanita , Belausov Eduard , Kamenetsky-Goldstein Rina , Lapidot Moshe
Published: September 2022

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a newly identified Tobamovirus, has recently emerged as a significant pathogen of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum). The virus can evade or overcome the known tobamovirus resistance in tomatoes, i.e., Tm-1, Tm-2, and its allele Tm-22. ToBRFV was identified for the first time only a few years ago, and its interactions with the tomato host are still not clear. We investigated ToBRFV’s presence in the reproductive tissues of tomato using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and RT-PCR. In infected plants, the virus was detected in the leaves, petals, ovary, stamen, style, stigma, and pollen grains but not inside the ovules. Fruits and seeds harvested from infected plants were contaminated with the virus. To test whether the virus is pollen transmitted, clean mother plants were hand pollinated with pollen from ToBRFV-infected plants and grown to fruit. None of the fruits and seeds harvested from the pollinated clean mother plants contained ToBRFV. Pollen germination assays revealed the germination arrest of ToBRFV-infected pollen. We concluded that ToBRFV might infect reproductive organs and pollen grains of tomato but that it is not pollen transmitted.
Identification of Cardiovascular Disease-Related Genes Based on the Co-Expression Network Analysis of Genome-Wide Blood Transcriptome
Authors: Lee Taesic , Hwang Sangwon , Seo Dong Min , Shin Ha Chul , Kim Hyun Soo , Kim Jang-Young , Uh Young
Published: September 2022

Inference of co-expression network and identification of disease-related modules and gene sets can help us understand disease-related molecular pathophysiology. We aimed to identify a cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related transcriptomic signature, specifically, in peripheral blood tissue, based on differential expression (DE) and differential co-expression (DcoE) analyses. Publicly available blood sample datasets for coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) statuses were integrated to establish a co-expression network. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to construct modules that include genes with highly correlated expression values. The DE criterion is a linear regression with module eigengenes for module-specific genes calculated from principal component analysis and disease status as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. The DcoE criterion is a paired t-test for intramodular connectivity between disease and matched control statuses. A total of 21 and 23 modules were established from CAD status- and ACS-related datasets, respectively, of which six modules per disease status (i.e., obstructive CAD and ACS) were selected based on the DE and DcoE criteria. For each module, gene–gene interactions with extremely high correlation coefficients were individually selected under the two conditions. Genes displaying a significant change in the number of edges (gene–gene interaction) were selected. A total of 6, 10, and 7 genes in each of the three modules were identified as potential CAD status-related genes, and 14 and 8 genes in each of the two modules were selected as ACS-related genes. Our study identified gene sets and genes that were dysregulated in CVD blood samples. These findings may contribute to the understanding of CVD pathophysiology.
Establishment of a Spermatogonial Stem Cell Line with Potential of Meiosis in a Hermaphroditic Fish, Epinephelus coioides
Authors: Zhong Chaoyue , Tao Yuhao , Liu Meifeng , Wu Xi , Yang Yang , Wang Tong , Meng Zining , Xu Hongyan , Liu Xiaochun
Published: September 2022

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are unique adult stem cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into sperm. Grouper is a protogynous hermaphroditic fish farmed widely in the tropical and subtropical seas. In this study, we established an SSC line derived from adult testis of orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. In the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), the cells could be maintained with proliferation and self-renewal over 20 months and 120 passages under in vitro culture conditions. The cells exhibited strong alkaline phosphatase activity and the characteristics of SSCs with the expression of germ cell markers, including Vasa, Dazl, and Plzf, as well as the stem cell markers Nanog, Oct4, and Ssea1. Furthermore, the cultured cells could be induced by 11-ketotestosterone treatment to highly express the meiotic markers Rec8, Sycp3, and Dmc1, and produce some spherical cells, and even sperm-like cells with a tail. The findings of this study suggested that the cultured grouper SSC line would serve as an excellent tool to study the molecular mechanisms behind SSCs self-renewal and differentiation, meiosis during spermatogenesis, and sex reversal in hermaphroditic vertebrates. Moreover, this SSC line has great application value in grouper fish aquaculture, such as germ cell transplantation, genetic manipulation, and disease research.
Liquid Biopsy Analysis as a Tool for TKI-Based Treatment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Buszka Karolina , Ntzifa Aliki , Owecka Barbara , Kamińska Paula , Kolecka-Bednarczyk Agata , Zabel Maciej , Nowicki Michał , Lianidou Evi , Budna-Tukan Joanna
Published: September 2022

The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has recently evolved with the introduction of targeted therapy based on the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with certain gene alterations, including EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, and MET genes. Molecular targeted therapy based on TKIs has improved clinical outcomes in a large number of NSCLC patients with advanced disease, enabling significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS). Liquid biopsy is an increasingly popular diagnostic tool for treating TKI-based NSCLC. The studies presented in this article show that detection and analysis based on liquid biopsy elements such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), exosomes, and/or tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) can contribute to the appropriate selection and monitoring of targeted therapy in NSCLC patients as complementary to invasive tissue biopsy. The detection of these elements, combined with their molecular analysis (using, e.g., digital PCR (dPCR), next generation sequencing (NGS), shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS)), enables the detection of mutations, which are required for the TKI treatment. Despite such promising results obtained by many research teams, it is still necessary to carry out prospective studies on a larger group of patients in order to validate these methods before their application in clinical practice.
Notch3 Transactivates Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3-Beta and Inhibits Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Chen Weiling , Zhang Yongqu , Li Ronghui , Huang Wenhe , Wei Xiaolong , Zeng De , Liang Yuanke , Zeng Yunzhu , Chen Min , Zhang Lixin , Gao Wenliang , Zhu Yuanyuan , Li Yaochen , Zhang Guojun
Published: September 2022

As a critical transformational process in the attributes of epithelial cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in tumor invasion, metastasis, and resistance to treatment, which contributes to the ultimate death of some patients with breast cancer. Glycogen synthase kinase-3-beta (GSK3β) is thought to be an EMT suppressor that down-regulates the protein, snail, a zinc finger transcription inhibitor, and regulates E-cadherin expression and the Wnt signaling pathway. Our previous studies have shown that Notch3 also inhibits EMT in breast cancer. In mammary gland cells, GSK3β physically bound and phosphorylated the intracellular domain of two Notch paralogs: N1ICD was positively regulated, but N2ICD was negatively regulated; however, the relationship between Notch3, GSK3β, and EMT in breast cancer is still unclear and crosstalk between Notch3 and GSK3β has not been widely investigated. In this study, we revealed that Notch3 was an essential antagonist of EMT in breast cancer cells by transcriptionally upregulating GSK3β. In breast cancer, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, the silencing of Notch3 reduced GSK3β expression, which is sufficient to induce EMT. Conversely, ectopic Notch3 expression re-activated GSK3β and E-cadherin. Mechanistically, Notch3 can bind to the GSK3β promoter directly and activate GSK3β transcription. In human breast cancer samples, Notch3 expression is positively associated with GSK3β (r = 0.416, p = 0.001); moreover, high expressions of Notch3 and GSK3β mRNA are correlated to better relapse-free survival in all breast cancer patients via analysis in “the Kaplan–Meier plotter” database. In summary, our preliminary results suggested that Notch3 might inhibit EMT by trans-activating GSK3β in breast cancer cells. The suppression of Notch3 expression may contribute to EMT by transcriptionally downregulating GSK3β in breast cancer.
Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles Based on Anthracene and Tetraphenylethene for Nitroaromatics Detection in Aqueous Phase
Authors: Ouyang Tianwen , Guo Xue , Cui Qihao , Zhang Wei , Dong Wenyue , Fei Teng
Published: September 2022

The sensitive and selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives is of great significance to national security and human health. Herein, the novel linear polymer l-PAnTPE and cross-linked polymer PAnTPE nanoparticles based on anthracene and tetraphenylethene groups were designed and successfully synthesized via Suzuki-miniemulsion polymerization. The particle sizes of the polymers are around 73 nm, making them well dispersible in water. The cross-linked polymer PAnTPE exhibits porous structure, which is beneficial for the diffusion/adsorption of analytes. The fluorescence sensing towards nitroaromatics was performed in the aqueous phase, and l-PAnTPE and PAnTPE nanoparticles showed different quenching degree towards different nitroaromatics. Among them, the quenching constant KSV values of l-PAnTPE and PAnTPE towards 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) reach 1.8 × 104 M−1 and 4.0 × 104 M−1, respectively, which are 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than other nitroaromatic explosives, thus demonstrating the high sensitivity and selectivity of TNP detection in the aqueous phase. The sensing mechanism was further discussed to clarify this phenomenon by analyzing UV–Vis absorption, excitation, fluorescence spectra, cyclic voltammograms and fluorescence decay measurements. In addition, the paper strips tests exhibit that l-PAnTPE and PAnTPE have great potential in the application of fast, low-cost and on-site nitroaromatics detection.
Gender Differences in the Effects of BMI on School Bullying and Victimization in China: Comparing Normal Weight, Underweight and Overweight Secondary School Students
Authors: Xie Yang , Wang Xiying , Wang Xiaotao , Liu Liu
Published: September 2022

Weight-related school bullying and victimization have become important public health issues among adolescents around the world. This study aims to examine gender differences in the effects of Body Mass Index (BMI) on school bullying and victimization among secondary school students. This study conducted a survey among 2849 adolescents—1393 girls (48.9%) and 1456 boys (51.1%). The students were between 12 and 18 years of age and were recruited from ten secondary schools in 2019 in Suqian City in China. The study showed that overweight boys were more likely to bully others and be bullied by peers compared to normal weight boys. In contrast, overweight girls reported less bullying than normal-weight girls. No significant relationship was found between overweight and victimization among female students. The implications for comprehensive sexuality education practices are also discussed.
Pulmonary Artery Banding for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Children: Returning to the Bench from Bedside
Authors: Ponzoni Matteo , Castaldi Biagio , Padalino Massimo A.
Published: September 2022

Current treatment paradigms for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in children include heart transplantation and mechanical support devices. However, waitlist mortality, shortage of smaller donors, time-limited durability of grafts, and thrombo-hemorrhagic events affect long-term outcomes. Moreover, both these options are noncurative and cannot preserve the native heart function. Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) has been reinvented as a possible “regenerative surgery” to retrain the decompensated left ventricle in children with DCM. The rationale is to promote positive ventricular–ventricular interactions that result in recovery of left ventricular function in one out of two children, allowing transplantation delisting. Although promising, global experience with this technique is still limited, and several surgical centers are reluctant to adopt PAB since its exact biological bases remain unknown. In the present review, we summarize the clinical, functional, and molecular known and supposed working mechanisms of PAB in children with DCM. From its proven efficacy in the clinical setting, we described the macroscopic geometrical and functional changes in biventricular performance promoted by PAB. We finally speculated on the possible underlying molecular pathways recruited by PAB. An evidence-based explanation of the working mechanisms of PAB is still awaited to support wider adoption of this surgical option for pediatric heart failure.
Diurnal Preference and Correlates of Multidimensional Perfectionism, Type-D Personality, and Big Five Personality Traits
Authors: Stevenson Jodie C. , Johann Anna , Akram Asha , Allen Sarah , Akram Umair
Published: September 2022

This study examined the extent to which the dimensions of the five-factor model, Type-D personality, and multidimensional perfectionism were associated with a diurnal preference in the general population. A sample of (N = 864) individuals completed the measures of diurnal preference, multidimensional perfectionism, Type-D personality, and the Big Five traits. A correlational analysis determined that agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, organization, and personal standards were independently related to morningness. In contrast, negative affect, social inhibition, Type-D personality, and perfectionistic doubts and concerns, as well as an increased perception of critical parental evaluation, were independently related to eveningness. After accounting for the shared variance amongst the personality traits, only negative affect, conscientiousness, organization, personal standards, and parental perception were significantly associated with diurnal preference. The current outcomes offer further insight into the relationship between personality and diurnal preference. Here, we observed greater reports of adaptive personality traits in relation to morningness, whereas negative affect and perceived parental evaluation and criticism were related to eveningness. As the first study to examine the relationship between Type-D personality, multidimensional perfectionism, and diurnal preference, the current outcomes should be considered preliminary.
Bioactive Surface of Zirconia Implant Prepared by Nano-Hydroxyapatite and Type I Collagen
Authors: Kim Hun , Lee Yang-Ho , Kim Nam-Kwon , Kang Inn-Kyu
Published: September 2022

Zirconia, with its excellent mechanical strength and esthetics, has a growing potential for applications in dentistry and orthopedics. However, in order for zirconia to have a high affinity with bone tissue, the bioactivity of the surface must be further increased. In order to increase the bioactivity of zirconia, research was conducted to make a porous support or to fill the porous structure with nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA). In this case, there is a risk that physically filled nHA could be released depending on the living environment. In this study, nHA and type I collagen were introduced to the zirconia surface by chemical covalent bonding to increase bioactivity and ensure safety in the body. The chemical reaction of the surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In addition, the biological activity was evaluated by examining the cytotoxicity and bone formation ability of the modified zirconia using osteoblasts. As a result, it was found that the bioactivity of the zirconia surface was greatly improved by immobilizing nHA and type I collagen.
In Situ Preparation of Nano-Cu/Microalloyed Gradient Coating with Improved Antifriction Properties
Authors: Sun Jinquan , Wang Dongrui , Yang Jie , Li Fujie , Zuo Lingli , Ge Feng , Chen Yunbo
Published: September 2022

In order to solve the failure problem between the crankshaft and the connecting rod friction pair, nano-Cu/microalloyed gradient coating was prepared on the surface of the crankshaft by in situ gaseous nitriding process. Electron probe analysis confirmed the change of delamination after the in situ nitriding process, and the formed coating included three layers: the upper layer is a nano-copper layer, the middle is a microalloyed layer (containing Cu, N, and Fe elements), and the bottom is a nitriding diffusion layer. The change of profile hardness curve was analyzed by microhardness test. The bonding force between the coating and the substrate was analyzed by the scratch test. The friction and wear test showed that the nano-Cu/microalloyed coating could achieve the effect of antifriction. Moreover, self-lubricating and antifriction mechanisms of nano-copper coating were proposed. These results indicated that the in situ gaseous nitriding process could provide a new surface modification technique for the precision friction pairs.
A FCEEMD Energy Kurtosis Mean Filtering-Based Fault Feature Extraction Method
Authors: Zhou Chengjiang , Xing Ling , Jia Yunhua , Wan Shuyi , Zhou Zixuan
Published: September 2022

Aiming at the problem that fault feature extraction is susceptible to background noises and burrs, we proposed a new feature extraction method based on a new decomposition method and an effective intrinsic mode function (IMF) selection method. Firstly, pairs of white noises with opposite signs were introduced to neutralize the residual noises in ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and suppress mode mixing. Both the reconstruction error (1.8445 × 10−17) and decomposition time (0.01 s) were greatly reduced through fast, complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (FCEEMD). Secondly, we integrated the energy and kurtosis of the IMF and proposed an effective IMF selection method based on energy kurtosis mean filtering, and the background noise of the signal was greatly suppressed. Finally, the periodic impacts were extracted from the IMF reconstruction signal by multipoint optimal minimum entropy deconvolution adjusted (MOMEDA). The fault frequencies were extracted from the periodic impacts through Hilbert demodulation, and the relative errors between the measured values and the theoretical values were all less than 0.05. The experimental results show that the proposed method can extract fault features more efficiently and provide a novel method for the fault diagnosis of rotating machinery.
Cytotoxicity of Silver-Containing Coatings Used in Dentistry, a Systematic Review
Authors: Gawlik-Maj Marta , Babczyńska Alicja , Gerber Hanna , Kotuła Jacek , Sobieszczańska Beata , Sarul Michał
Published: September 2022

Silver is an element that has been widely used in medicine. As a result of its remarkable properties, this metal is now extensively used in virtually all areas of dentistry. Its anti-caries and antibacterial properties are used in (but not limited to) periodontal therapy or during endodontic treatment. The addition of silver ions to materials, such as cements and substances used for fillings, proved to increase their flexural strength and surface microhardness. This element has also found use in orthodontics, e.g., as a material covering components of fixed braces or in implantology as one of the components of coatings applied to dental implants. The following systematic review aims to find and analyze available studies that evaluate silver according to cytotoxicity. For this purpose, information was gathered from three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. This was followed by the Risk of Bias (RoB) analysis and the GRADE analysis of selected articles in which cytotoxicity was tested on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). A total of 387 articles were evaluated using required criteria, and, 13 papers were selected for final review. As all studies were evaluated to be of relatively good quality, it may be concluded that silver used in dentistry in low concentrations is free of significant cytotoxicity, and its use helps to improve the properties of the materials used.
Optimization of Pea Protein Isolate-Stabilized Oil-in-Water Ultra-Nanoemulsions by Response Surface Methodology and the Effect of Electrolytes on Optimized Nanoemulsions
Authors: Niroula Anuj , Alshamsi Rodah , Sobti Bhawna , Nazir Akmal
Published: September 2022

Nanoemulsions are optically transparent and offer good stability, bioavailability, and control over the targeted delivery and release of lipophilic active components. In this study, pea protein isolate (PPI)-stabilized O/W nanoemulsions were evaluated using response surface methodology to obtain optimized ultra-nanoemulsions of Sauter mean diameter (D3,2) < 100 nm using a high-pressure homogenizer (HPH). Furthermore, the effect of food matrix electrolytes, i.e., the pH and ionic strength, on the emulsion (prepared at optimized conditions) was investigated. The results revealed that the droplet size distribution of emulsions was mainly influenced by the PPI concentration and the interaction of oil concentration and HPH pressure. Moreover, a non-significant increase in droplet size was observed when the nanoemulsions (having an initial D3,2 < 100 nm) were stored at 4 °C for 7 days. Based on the current experimental design, nanoemulsions with a droplet size < 100 nm can effectively be prepared with a high PPI concentration (6.35%), with less oil (1.95%), and at high HPH pressure (46.82 MPa). Such emulsions were capable of maintaining a droplet size below 100 nm even at ionic conditions of up to 400 mM NaCl and at acidic pH.
Secure Medical Image Transmission Scheme Using Lorenz’s Attractor Applied in Computer Aided Diagnosis for the Detection of Eye Melanoma
Authors: Santos Daniel Fernando , Espitia Helbert Eduardo
Published: September 2022

Early detection of diseases is vital for patient recovery. This article explains the design and technical matters of a computer-supported diagnostic system for eye melanoma detection implementing a security approach using chaotic-based encryption to guarantee communication security. The system is intended to provide a diagnosis; it can be applied in a cooperative environment for hospitals or telemedicine and can be extended to detect other types of eye diseases. The introduced method has been tested to assess the secret key, sensitivity, histogram, correlation, Number of Pixel Change Rate (NPCR), Unified Averaged Changed Intensity (UACI), and information entropy analysis. The main contribution is to offer a proposal for a diagnostic aid system for uveal melanoma. Considering the average values for 145 processed images, the results show that near-maximum NPCR values of 0.996 are obtained along with near-safe UACI values of 0.296 and high entropy of 7.954 for the ciphered images. The presented design demonstrates an encryption technique based on chaotic attractors for image transfer through the network. In this article, important theoretical considerations for implementing this system are provided, the requirements and architecture of the system are explained, and the stages in which the diagnosis is carries out are described. Finally, the encryption process is explained and the results and conclusions are presented.
Sheep Nocturnal Activity Dataset
Authors: Monteiro António , Gonçalves Pedro , Marques Maria R. , Belo Ana T. , Braz Fernando
Published: September 2022

Monitoring sheep’s behavior is of paramount importance, because deviations from normal patterns may indicate nutritional, thermal or social stress, changes in reproductive status, health issues, or predator attacks. The night period, despite being a more restful period in which animals are theoretically sleeping and resting, represents approximately half of the life cycle of animals; therefore, its study is of immense interest. Wearable sensors have become a widely recognized technique for monitoring activity, both for their precision and the ease with which the sensorized data can be analyzed. The present dataset consists of data from the sensorization of 18 Serra da Estrela sheep, during the nocturnal period between 18 November 2021 and 16 February 2022. The data contain measurements taken by ultrasound and accelerometry of the height from neck to ground, as well as measurements taken by an accelerometer in the monitoring collar. Data were collected every 10 s when the animals were in the shelter. With the collection of data from various sensors, active and inactive periods can be identified throughout the night, quantifying the number and average time of those periods.
Heart Rate Variability and Salivary Biomarkers Differences between Fibromyalgia and Healthy Participants after an Exercise Fatigue Protocol: An Experimental Study
Authors: Costa Ana Rodrigues , Freire Ana , Parraca Jose A. , Silva Vanda , Tomas-Carus Pablo , Villafaina Santos
Published: September 2022

Previous studies showed that people with Fibromyalgia (FM) suffer from dysautonomia. Dysautonomia consists of persistent autonomic nervous system hyperactivity at rest and hyporeactivity during stressful situations. There is evidence that parameters reflecting the complex interplay between the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular system during exercise can provide significant prognostic information. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the differences between people with FM and healthy controls on heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary parameters (such as flow, protein concentration, enzymatic activities of amylase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in two moments: (1) at baseline, and (2) after an exercise fatigue protocol. A total of 37 participants, twenty-one were people with fibromyalgia and sixteen were healthy controls, participated in this cross-sectional study. HRV and salivary samples were collected before and after an exercise fatigue protocol. The fatigue protocol consisted of 20 repetitions of knee extensions and flexions of the dominant leg at 180 °·s−1 (degrees per second). Significant differences were found in the HRV (stress index, LF and HF variables) and salivary biomarkers (with a higher concentration of salivary amylase in people with FM compared to healthy controls). Exercise acute effects on HRV showed that people with FM did not significantly react to exercise. However, significant differences between baseline and post-exercise on HRV significantly induce alteration on the HRV of healthy controls. Catalase significantly increased after exercise in healthy controls whereas salivary flow significantly increased in women with FM after an exercise fatigue protocol. Our study suggests that a higher α-amylase activity and an impaired HRV can be used as possible biomarkers of fibromyalgia, associated with a reduction in salivary flow without changes in HRV and catalase activity after a fatigue exercise protocol. More studies should be carried out in the future to evaluate this hypothesis, in order to find diagnostic biomarkers in fibromyalgia.
Evaluation of the EasyScreen™ ESBL/CPO Detection Kit for the Detection of ß-Lactam Resistance Genes
Authors: Gonzalez Camille , Oueslati Saoussen , Biez Laura , Dortet Laurent , Naas Thierry
Published: September 2022

Early detection of multidrug resistant bacteria is of paramount importance for implementing appropriate infection control strategies and proper antibacterial therapies. We have evaluated a novel real-time PCR assay using fluorescent probes and 3base® technology, the EasyScreenTM ESBL/CPO Detection Kit (Genetic Signatures, Newtown, Australia), for the detection of 15 β-lactamase genes (blaVIM, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaOXA-48, blaKPC, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-51, blaSME,blaIMI, blaGES,blaTEM,blaSHV, blaCTX-M,blaCMY, blaDHA) and colistin resistance mcr-1 gene from 341 bacterial isolates (219 Enterobacterales, 66 P. aeruginosa and 56 A. baumannii) that were grown on Mueller–Hinton (MH) agar plates. One colony was suspended in provided extraction buffer, which lyses and converts the nucleic acids into a 3base®-DNA form (cytosines are converted into uracil, and subsequently thymine during PCR). The converted bacterial DNA is then added to the 6 PCR mixes, with primers for three targets plus one internal control. The EasyScreenTM ESBL/CPO Detection Kit was able to detect the 5-major (NDM, VIM, IMP, KPC, OXA-48) and 2-minor (IMI, Sme) carbapenemases and their variants irrespective of the species expressing them with nearly 100% sensitivity and specificity. With cephalosporinases CMY (82% of sensitivity) and DHA (87% of sensitivity) detection of chromosomally encoded variants was less efficient. Similarly, the chromosomally encoded OXA-51 variants were not consistently detected in A. baumannii. Despite being capable of efficiently detecting blaCTX-M-, blaTEM-, blaSHV- and blaGES-like genes, the EasyScreen™ ESBL/CPO Detection Kit was not able to distinguish between penicillinases and ESBL-variants of TEM and SHV and between GES-ESBLs and GES-carbapenemases. As GES enzymes are still rare, their detection as an ESBL or a carbapenemase remains important. Detection of mcr-1 was efficient, but none of the other mcr-alleles were detected in the 341 bacterial isolates tested. The EasyScreenTM ESBL/CPO Detection Kit is adapted for the detection of the most prevalent carbapenemases encountered in Gram-negatives isolated worldwide.
Indication, Location of the Lesion, Diagnostic Yield, and Therapeutic Yield of Double-Balloon Enteroscopy: Seventeen Years of Experience
Authors: Lee Sang Pyo , Jang Hyun Joo , Kae Sea Hyub , Lee Jae Gon , Kwon Ji Hye
Published: September 2022

Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has become one of the standard methods in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel (SB) disease. However, previous studies for DBE have limitations due to heterogeneity of indications and operators. The aim was to investigate the indication, location of the lesion, diagnostic yield, and therapeutic yield of DBE based on long-term data from a single operator. A retrospective study was performed by reviewing medical records of subjects who had received DBE at our unit in the past 17 years. Overall diagnostic yield was 78.7% (210/267). The diagnostic yield for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) was 68.3% (84/123). The diagnostic yield for OGIB was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that for other indications. Therapeutic yield was 24.7% (66/267). Complications occurred in 7 (2.6%). Crohn’s disease, intestinal tuberculosis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug enteropathy, and diverticular lesions were mainly found in the ileum. Vascular lesions, non-specific inflammation, and neoplastic lesions were found more frequently in the jejunum. DBE is an excellent and safe endoscopic method for the diagnosis and treatment of SB lesions. DBE has a lower diagnostic rate for OGIB than for other indications. The location where a lesion is commonly found depends on the type of the lesion.
Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRGF) Preserves Genomic Stability of Gingival Fibroblasts and Alveolar Osteoblasts after Long-Term Cell Culture
Authors: Anitua Eduardo , Fuente María de la , Troya María , Zalduendo Mar , Alkhraisat Mohammad Hamdan
Published: September 2022

Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) has several applications in dentistry that may require repeated applications of PRGF. Furthermore, it has been used for ex vivo expansion of human origin cells for their clinical application. One of the most relevant issues in these applications is to guarantee the genetic stability of cells. In this study, the chromosomal stability of gingival fibroblasts and alveolar osteoblasts after long-term culture was evaluated. Cells were expanded with PRGF or foetal bovine serum (FBS) as a culture medium supplement until passage 7 or 8 for gingival fibroblast or alveolar osteoblasts, respectively. A comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) array was used for the genetic stability study. This analysis was performed at passage 3 and after long-term culture with the corresponding culture medium supplements. The cell proliferative rate was superior after PRGF culture. Array CGH analysis of cells maintained with all the three supplements did not reveal the existence of alterations in copy number or genetic instability. The autologous PRGF technology preserves the genomic stability of cells and emerges as a safe substitute for FBS as a culture medium supplement for the clinical translation of cell therapy.
Entropy–Based Diversification Approach for Bio–Computing Methods
Authors: Olivares Rodrigo , Soto Ricardo , Crawford Broderick , Riquelme Fabián , Munoz Roberto , Ríos Víctor , Cabrera Rodrigo , Castro Carlos
Published: September 2022

Nature–inspired computing is a promising field of artificial intelligence. This area is mainly devoted to designing computational models based on natural phenomena to address complex problems. Nature provides a rich source of inspiration for designing smart procedures capable of becoming powerful algorithms. Many of these procedures have been successfully developed to treat optimization problems, with impressive results. Nonetheless, for these algorithms to reach their maximum performance, a proper balance between the intensification and the diversification phases is required. The intensification generates a local solution around the best solution by exploiting a promising region. Diversification is responsible for finding new solutions when the main procedure is trapped in a local region. This procedure is usually carryout by non-deterministic fundamentals that do not necessarily provide the expected results. Here, we encounter the stagnation problem, which describes a scenario where the search for the optimum solution stalls before discovering a globally optimal solution. In this work, we propose an efficient technique for detecting and leaving local optimum regions based on Shannon entropy. This component can measure the uncertainty level of the observations taken from random variables. We employ this principle on three well–known population–based bio–inspired optimization algorithms: particle swarm optimization, bat optimization, and black hole algorithm. The proposal’s performance is evidenced by solving twenty of the most challenging instances of the multidimensional knapsack problem. Computational results show that the proposed exploration approach is a legitimate alternative to manage the diversification of solutions since the improved techniques can generate a better distribution of the optimal values found. The best results are with the bat method, where in all instances, the enhanced solver with the Shannon exploration strategy works better than its native version. For the other two bio-inspired algorithms, the proposal operates significantly better in over 70% of instances.
Experimental Study on a Multi-Evaporator Refrigeration System Equipped with EEV-Based Ejector
Authors: Yan Jia , Wang Chen
Published: September 2022

This study presents an experimental rig of a multi-evaporator refrigeration system, in which the pressure difference between two evaporators can be maintained by using both the pressure-regulating valve (PRV) and electronic expansion valve (EEV)-based ejector. The proposed EEV-based ejector that is used to partially recover the throttling losses of the PRV consists of an EEV and the main body of an ejector. The established experimental system can work in both PRV-based mode and ejector-based mode by switching the valves. Via experimental means, the performances of both modes were evaluated by varying the cooling loads. Moreover, the effects of the spindle-blocking area percentage of the EEV-based ejector and the condensing temperature on the system performance were identified. The results showed that: (1) the system performance of the ejector-based mode was 3.6% higher than the PRV-based mode; (2) both entrainment ratio and coefficient of performance dropped along with the increase in ejector spindle-blocking area percentage; (3) compared to ejector spindle-blocking area percentage, the condensing temperature had a more evident influence on the system performance.