bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creation of Three-Dimensional Anatomical Vascular and Biliary Models for the Study of the Feline Liver (Felis silvestris catus L.): A Comparative CT, Volume Rendering (Vr), Cast and 3D Printing Study
Authors: Rojo Ríos Daniel , Ramírez Zarzosa Gregorio , Soler Laguía Marta , Kilroy David , Martínez Gomariz Francisco , Sánchez Collado Cayetano , Gil Cano Francisco , García García María I. , Jáber José Raduán , Arencibia Espinosa Alberto
Published: May 2023

In this study, six adult feline cadavers were examined using CTA, 3D printing, and casts injected with epoxy. The aorta, the portal vein, and the gallbladder of 3 feline cadavers were separately injected with a 50% mixture of colored vulcanized latex and hydrated barium sulfate as contrast medium to analyze by CT the arterial, venous and biliary systems. The other three cadavers were injected with a mixture of epoxy resin in the aorta, gallbladder and hepatic veins, separately. After the corrosion and washing process, hepatic vascular and biliary casts were obtained. The images obtained by CT showed the vascular and biliary system using a soft tissue window. For the identification of vascular and biliary structures, the 3D prints together with the 3D reconstructions were analyzed, and the results were compared with the casts obtained with epoxy resin. Each of the arterial, venous and biliary branches associated with each of the liver lobes were identified with the help of the printings. In conclusion, the creation of 3D prototypes of nonpathological feline hepatic parenchyma can be used in the veterinary clinic as a basis for the detection of pathological problems in addition to obtaining future pathological hepatic 3D models.
Does Better Post-Thaw Motility of Dog Sperm Frozen with CLC Mean Better Zona Pellucida Binding Ability?
Authors: Ligocka Zuzanna , Partyka Agnieszka , Schäfer-Somi Sabine , Mucha Anna , Niżański Wojciech
Published: May 2023

Even though the search for methods improving cryopreservation of canine spermatozoa led to an improvement of post-thaw quality, fertilizing results after insemination with frozen–thawed semen are still not satisfying. In this study, we focused on modification of spermatozoa membrane fluidity and investigated whether kinematic parameters as assessed by computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA) can be improved. The primary aim of our study was to investigate whether the use of cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins (CLC; 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg) and 2-Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HBCD; 1 mg) positively influence capacitation status as examined by tyrosinphosphorylation, cholesterol efflux and zona binding assay (ZBA) of spermatozoa. The use of 0.5 mg of CLC increased the percentage of motile, progressive and rapid spermatozoa compared to the control. Addition of HBCD decreased motility and progressive motility of spermatozoa and the population with rapid movement in comparison to the control. The percentage of live spermatozoa without efflux of cholesterol compared to the control was increased when extender with 0.5 mg of CLC was used. There was no change in capacitation status. The zona binding ability of spermatozoa was significantly lower in the group with 0.5 mg of CLC than in the control. In conclusion, these results suggest that improvement of kinematic parameters does not necessarily coincide with better zona pellucida binding ability of spermatozoa.
Liposomes-Based Drug Delivery Systems of Anti-Biofilm Agents to Combat Bacterial Biofilm Formation
Authors: Makhlouf Zinb , Ali Amaal Abdulraqeb , Al-Sayah Mohammad Hussein
Published: May 2023

All currently approved antibiotics are being met by some degree of resistance by the bacteria they target. Biofilm formation is one of the crucial enablers of bacterial resistance, making it an important bacterial process to target for overcoming antibiotic resistance. Accordingly, several drug delivery systems that target biofilm formation have been developed. One of these systems is based on lipid-based nanocarriers (liposomes), which have shown strong efficacy against biofilms of bacterial pathogens. Liposomes come in various types, namely conventional (charged or neutral), stimuli-responsive, deformable, targeted, and stealth. This paper reviews studies employing liposomal formulations against biofilms of medically salient gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species reported recently. When it comes to gram-negative species, liposomal formulations of various types were reported to be efficacious against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and members of the genera Klebsiella, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Serratia, Porphyromonas, and Prevotella. A range of liposomal formulations were also effective against gram-positive biofilms, including mostly biofilms of Staphylococcal strains, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus subspecies bovis, followed by Streptococcal strains (pneumonia, oralis, and mutans), Cutibacterium acnes, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis, Mycobacterium abscessus, and Listeria monocytogenes biofilms. This review outlines the benefits and limitations of using liposomal formulations as means to combat different multidrug-resistant bacteria, urging the investigation of the effects of bacterial gram-stain on liposomal efficiency and the inclusion of pathogenic bacterial strains previously unstudied.
Design and Experimentation of a Residual-Input Tube-End Cutting System for Plasma Bags Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Ye Jiawei , Zhao Lihong , Liu Shuang , Wu Peiwei , Cai Jintao
Published: May 2023

In response to the lack of plasma bag-breaking equipment and time-consuming manual recovery of plasma in China, this study focuses on the distal end cutting of a plasma bag residual-input tube and designs a machine-vision-based plasma bag residual-input tube cutting system. The system comprises a plasma bag rotation device, a bottom disc, an image acquisition device, a cutting device, and a device control system. The image acquisition device captures images of the rotating plasma bag and calculates the Euclidean distance from the end of the plasma bag input-tube distal end to the outer edge of the bottom support plate and the distance from the input-tube distal end to the centerline of the plasma bag. Two distinct value acquisition algorithms are designed for the two types of input tubes. The screw slide moves accordingly. When the plasma bag is above the cutting part, the cutting part cuts the end of the residual-input tube of the plasma bag. The prototype performance tests reveal that the cutting error is within 10% of the end of the plasma bag input tube distal end, the cutting success rate is 100%, and the processing time for each bag is 2.5 s, which meets the time requirements of the plasma bag breaker.
A Hybrid Approach for Efficient and Secure Point Multiplication on Binary Edwards Curves
Authors: Sajid Asher , Sonbul Omar S. , Rashid Muhammad , Zia Muhammad Yousuf Irfan
Published: May 2023

The focus of this article is to present a novel crypto-accelerator architecture for a resource-constrained embedded system that utilizes elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). The architecture is built around Binary Edwards curves (BEC) to provide resistance against simple power analysis (SPA) attacks. Furthermore, the proposed architecture incorporates several optimizations to achieve efficient hardware resource utilization for the point multiplication process over GF(2m). This includes the use of a Montgomery radix-2 multiplier and the projective coordinate hybrid algorithm (combination of Montgomery ladder and double and add algorithm) for scalar multiplication. A two-stage pipelined architecture is employed to enhance throughput. The design is modeled in Verilog HDL and verified using Vivado and ISE design suites from Xilinx. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed BEC accelerator offers significant performance improvements compared to existing solutions. The obtained throughput over area ratio for GF(2233) on Virtex-4, Virtex-5, Virtex-6, and Virtex-7 Xilinx FPGAs are 9.43, 14.39, 26.14, and 28.79, respectively. The computation time required for a single point multiplication operation on the Virtex-7 device is 19.61 µs. These findings indicate that the proposed architecture has the potential to address the challenges posed by resource-constrained embedded systems that require high throughput and efficient use of available resources.
Addition of Organic Matter to Pine Plantations on Agricultural Land Positively Alters the Mycobiome of Agricultural Soils
Authors: Malewski Tadeusz , Borowik Piotr , Olejarski Ireneusz , Rutkiewicz Artur , Okorski Adam , Oszako Tomasz
Published: May 2023

Afforestation of former agricultural land poses a real challenge for foresters because soil life is often severely limited by the loss of natural soil fungal diversity. In addition, former agricultural soils have low levels of fungal species typical of forest soils, which have a unique microbiome that plays a protective role (antagonists, plant growth promoters, mycorrhizal fungi, etc.). This study aimed to determine the effect of using organic material in the form of bark compost, wood waste, and sawdust to improve the soil mycobiome of soils that have been damaged by their agricultural use. This study used experimental plots established 20 years ago, and we compared the biodiversity of the treated soils with that of the control soils by analysing soil samples with powerful molecular methods. Next-generation sequencing analysis of DNA extracted from soil samples and subsequent analysis of their species composition and biodiversity showed that the mycobiome of soil fungi has been altered by the addition of various forms of organic material. The proportion of fungi belonging to the Ascomycota decreased in favour of species from the Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota. The dominant fungal groups in the soil of the control area were Sagenomella, Wilcoxina, Oidiodendron, Meliniomyces, and Penicillium. Enrichment with organic matter by adding bark compost under the roots led to an increase in Penicillium, Inocybe, and Amphinema. The application of bark compost on the surface led to an increase in the dominance of Inocybe fungi in the soil. The mycobiome of the plant to which woody debris was applied was characterised by a marked dominance of fungi of the genera Russula, Oidiodendron, and Penicillium. Similar ratios were found in the plant to which sawdust was applied, where the fungi Meliniomyces, Penicillium, Oidiodendron, and Russula dominated. A comparative analysis of fungal diversity with the Shannon diversity index showed that the most diverse fungal communities were found in the sawdust plant (6.56), while the control sample (a soil sample from an agricultural area where no organic material was applied) had an index of 5.71. After the treatments, more potential antagonists against pine pathogens and mycorrhizal fungi were found to form beneficial symbiotic relationships with them. In our opinion, the results of this study show that it is worthwhile to introduce different forms of organic matter to post-agricultural land to improve soil biodiversity and mycorrhizal associations of pine roots with fungi to ensure the sustainability of the first generation of forests created.
Lightweight Multiscale CNN Model for Wheat Disease Detection
Authors: Fang Xin , Zhen Tong , Li Zhihui
Published: May 2023

Wheat disease detection is crucial for disease diagnosis, pesticide application optimization, disease control, and wheat yield and quality improvement. However, the detection of wheat diseases is difficult due to their various types. Detecting wheat diseases in complex fields is also challenging. Traditional models are difficult to apply to mobile devices because they have large parameters, and high computation and resource requirements. To address these issues, this paper combines the residual module and the inception module to construct a lightweight multiscale CNN model, which introduces the CBAM and ECA modules into the residual block, enhances the model’s attention to diseases, and reduces the influence of complex backgrounds on disease recognition. The proposed method has an accuracy rate of 98.7% on the test dataset, which is higher than classic convolutional neural networks such as AlexNet, VGG16, and InceptionresnetV2 and lightweight models such as MobileNetV3 and EfficientNetb0. The proposed model has superior performance and can be applied to mobile terminals to quickly identify wheat diseases.
Risk Assessment of a Coastal Ecosystem from SW Spain Exposed to CO2 Enrichment Conditions
Authors: Passarelli Marina Cunha , Bonnail Estefanía , Cesar Augusto , Riba Inmaculada
Published: May 2023

The Weight-of-Evidence (WOE) approach uses multiple lines of evidence to analyze the adverse effects associated with CO2 enrichment in two stations from the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain) with different contamination degrees. Sediment contamination and metal (loid) mobility, toxicity, ecological integrity, and bioaccumulation from the samples exposed to different acidification scenarios (pH gradient from 8.0 to 6.0) were used in the WOE. The experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions using a CO2-bubbling system. Different integration approaches such as multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the results. The results indicated that the adverse biological effects under pH 6.5 were related to the mobility of dissolved elements (As, Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn). Furthermore, the pH reduction was correlated to the increase of bioaccumulation of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Ni in the tissues of mussels at pH 7.0. The noncontaminated sediment showed environmental degradation related to the acidification at pH values of 7.0; whereas the sediment moderately contaminated showed both environmental risks, caused by acidification and the presence and the increase of the bioavailability of contaminants. The WOE approach supposes an effective tool to identify and distinguish the causes of adverse effects related to the enrichment of CO2 in marine environments.
Applications and Future Perspective of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in Foot and Ankle Sport-Related Injuries
Authors: Mazzotti Antonio , Langone Laura , Artioli Elena , Zielli Simone Ottavio , Arceri Alberto , Setti Stefania , Leigheb Massimiliano , Samaila Elena Manuela , Faldini Cesare
Published: May 2023

Foot and ankle injuries are common in many sports. One of the main athletes issues is the time for sport resumption after trauma. Recently, extensive efforts have been made to speed up the athletes’ return-to-sport and to prevent joint degeneration. Among the conservative treatment options, biophysical stimulation with pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) is listed. This narrative review aims to outline current applications of PEMFs in main foot and ankle sport-related injuries, in particular in the treatment of bone marrow edema, osteochondral defects, fractures, and nonunions. Despite further high-quality studies on foot and ankle injuries are needed, PEMFs seem to be a valid aid to enhance the endogenous osteogenesis, to resolve the bone marrow edema, to inhibit the joint inflammation, preserving articular cartilage degeneration, and to relieve pain.
The Effect of Particle Type and Size on CoCr Surface Properties by Fine-Particle Shot Peening
Authors: Jarungvittayakon Chavarat , Khantachawana Anak , Sa-ngasoongsong Paphon
Published: May 2023

Cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloy is widely used for medical implants such as for dental or joint replacements because of its strength and high corrosion resistance. By throwing a spherical media against a material surface, fine-particle shot peening can modify surface properties and, as a result, has been widely used as a low-cost and simple method to increase a metal’s wear resistance. However, no recent literature has reported the effect of particle type and size on the surface properties of CoCr alloys. This study examined two different particle types (ceramic (alumina–zirconia composites) and silica (SiO2)) and three different particle sizes to determine their effects on CoCr’s surface properties after fine-particle shot peening. The surface properties, including morphology, roughness, hardness, residual stress, and cytotoxicity, were tested to evaluate the effect of the process. The larger size and higher hardness of the particle (ceramic) changed the surface microstructure more than particles with smaller sizes and lower hardness (silica). The results of the cytotoxicity test showed that the fine-particle shot peening on the CoCr material did not affect cell viability, an important fact when considering its potential use as a surface material for medical implants. The results showed that fine-particle shot peening on CoCr material can improve several surface properties and that the larger ceramic particle offers the best results.
Channel Emulator Framework for Underwater Acoustic Communications
Authors: Dey Indrakshi , Marchetti Nicola
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we develop a tractable mathematical model and an emulation framework for communicating information through water using acoustic signals. Water is considered one of the most complex media to model due to its vastness and variety of characteristics, which depend on the scenario, the type of water body (lakes, rivers, tanks, sea, etc.), and the geographical location of the water body being considered. Our proposed mathematical model involves the concept of damped harmonic oscillators to represent the medium (water); Milne’s oscillator technique is used to map the interaction between the acoustic signal and water. Wave equations formulated for acoustic pressure and acoustic wave velocity are employed to characterise the travelling acoustic signal. The signal strength, phase shift, and time delay generated from the mathematical model are then inputted into a Simulink-based emulator framework to generate channel samples and channel impulse responses. The emulator utilises the wide sense stationary uncorrelated scattering (WSSUS) assumption and a finite sum-of-sinusoids (SOS) approach with a uniformly distributed phase to generate the channel samples. By utilising this emulator platform, it becomes feasible to generate profiles for amplitude variation, the Doppler shift, and spread experienced by any travelling signal in various underwater communication scenarios. Such a platform can be employed to simulate different communication scenarios, underwater network topologies, and data for training various learning models. Additionally, it can predict the performance of different modulation, multiplexing, error correction, and multi-access techniques for underwater acoustic communication (UWAC) systems.
Abusive Content Detection in Arabic Tweets Using Multi-Task Learning and Transformer-Based Models
Authors: Alrashidi Bedour , Jamal Amani , Alkhathlan Ali
Published: May 2023

Different social media platforms have become increasingly popular in the Arab world in recent years. The increasing use of social media, however, has also led to the emergence of a new challenge in the form of abusive content, including hate speech, offensive language, and abusive language. Existing research work focuses on automatic abusive content detection as a binary classification problem. In addition, the existing research work on the automatic detection task surrounding abusive Arabic content fails to tackle the dialect-specific phenomenon. Consequently, this has led to two important issues in the automatic abusive Arabic content detection task. In this study, we used a multi-aspect annotation schema to tackle the automatic abusive content detection problem in Arabic countries, based on the multi-class classification task and the dialectal Arabic (DA)-specific phenomenon. More precisely, the multi-aspect annotation schema includes five attributes: directness, hostility, target, group, and annotator. We specifically developed a framework to automatically detecting abusive content on Twitter using natural language processing (NLP) techniques. The developed framework used different models of machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and pretrained Arabic language models (LMs) using the multi-aspect annotation dataset. In addition, to investigate the impact of the other approaches, such as multi-task learning (MTL), we developed four MTL models built on top of a pretrained DA language model (called MARBERT) and trained on the multi-aspect annotation dataset. Our MTL models and pretrained Arabic LMs enhanced the performance compared to the existing DL model mentioned in the literature.
Designing and Evaluating a Serious Game for Learning Artificial Intelligence Algorithms: SpAI War as a Case Study
Authors: Barmpakas Anastasios , Xinogalos Stelios
Published: May 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) nowadays is the technology of the future, as its applications are constantly expanding in every aspect of human life. The spread of the internet has given a great impetus to technologies that apply AI algorithms and make their presence more and more intense in everyday life. However, despite the ubiquitous presence of AI, few people can comprehend its true meaning and the reason for its existence, especially the way it is applied. The purpose of this work is to present the design and pilot evaluation of SpAI War, which is a serious game that aims to introduce the user–student to the field of AI and its algorithms. Specifically, the paper presents the design of SpAI War in the context of the Educational Games (EG) design framework. This is followed by the results of the pilot evaluation of the game by 58 undergraduates and graduates of Informatics. The study utilized a survey based on the MEEGA+ model, and positive results were recorded in terms of player experience, game scenario, and perceived short-term learning.
Lateral–Torsional Buckling of Cantilever Steel Beams under 2 Types of Complex Loads
Authors: Cai Yong , Ling Angyang , Lv Xiaoyong
Published: May 2023

Cantilever steel beams are an essential structural element in civil engineering fields such as bridges and buildings. However, there is very little research on the critical moment (Mcr) of cantilever beams subjected to a concentrated load (CL) or a combination of concentrated load and uniformly distributed load (CUDL) when the concentrated load is not limited to the free end. Therefore, the focus of the current paper is the calculation of Mcr for cantilever steel beams under CL and CUDL. This paper proposes a program and a simple closed-form solution for Mcr that are applicable to the elastic buckling analysis of cantilever I-beams under CL and CUDL. Based on the Rayleigh–Ritz method, a matrix equation and the corresponding procedure about Mcr under CL and CUDL are derived by using infinite trigonometric series for the buckling deformation functions. The value of Mcr and the corresponding mode of buckling can be obtained efficiently by considering the symmetry of the section, the ratio of two load values and the load action position. Experimental results and finite element calculations validate the numerical solutions of the procedure. A closed-form solution for Mcr is derived according to the assumption of a small torsion angle and the specific values of each coefficient in the closed-form solution of Mcr are calculated by the proposed procedure. The results show that the procedure and closed-form solution for Mcr presented in this paper have a high degree of accuracy in calculating the Mcr of the cantilever beam under CL and CUDL. The deviations between the results calculated by the proposed procedure and data from existing literature are less than 8%. These conclusions are capable of solving the calculation problem of Mcr for cantilever beams under CL or CUDL, which are both significant load cases in engineering. The study provides a reference for the design of cantilever steel beams.
Environmental Risk Source Analysis and Classification of Zones: Subway Construction
Authors: Yuan Yangchun , Qin Yongjun , Zhang Yongkang , Xie Liangfu , Meng Xin , Guo Zheyi
Published: May 2023

Examining the environmental risk sources of regional subway construction is crucial for ensuring construction safety and providing guidance for future subway line planning. This study focused on Urumqi’s main urban area and used SBAS-InSAR analysis technology to extract the settlement rate field within 600 m of Urumqi Metro Line 1 and investigate these risk sources. Results showed that the environmental risk sources affecting subway construction in the study area could be classified into four categories: geological conditions, distribution of high-rise buildings, density of road networks, and density of clustered buildings. The study further analyzed the spatial distribution of each risk source and developed a comprehensive impact zoning evaluation model for environmental risk sources in the study area. The model was then used to assess the risk of the currently planned subway lines (1–7), revealing that the largest area of subway construction environmental risk sources (1444 partitions) was associated with soil layer, IV high-rise building risk, IV road network risk, and IV building density risk. Additionally, the study found that environmental risk sources had the most significant impact on Metro Line 6, emphasizing the importance of closely monitoring risk factors during future construction.
The Isolation, Screening, and Characterization of Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Producing Bacteria from Hypersaline Lakes in Kenya
Authors: Muigano Martin N. , Anami Sylvester E. , Onguso Justus M. , Omare Godfrey M.
Published: May 2023

Extremophilic microorganisms such as those that thrive in high-salt and high-alkaline environments are promising candidates for the recovery of useful biomaterials including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs are ideal alternatives to synthetic plastics because they are biodegradable, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly. This work was aimed at conducting a bioprospection of bacteria isolated from hypersaline-alkaliphilic lakes in Kenya for the potential production of PHAs. In the present study, 218 isolates were screened by Sudan Black B and Nile Red A staining. Of these isolates, 31 were positive for PHA production and were characterized using morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods. Through 16S rRNA sequencing, we found that the isolates belonged to the genera Arthrobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Exiguobacterium spp., Halomonas spp., Paracoccus spp., and Rhodobaca spp. Preliminary experiments revealed that Bacillus sp. JSM-1684023 isolated from Lake Magadi had the highest PHA accumulation ability, with an initial biomass-to-PHA conversion rate of 19.14% on a 2% glucose substrate. Under optimized fermentation conditions, MO22 had a maximum PHA concentration of 0.516 g/L from 1.99 g/L of cell dry weight and 25.9% PHA conversion, equivalent to a PHA yield of 0.02 g/g of biomass. The optimal PHA production media had an initial pH of 9.0, temperature of 35 °C, salinity of 3%, and an incubation period of 48 h with 2.5% sucrose and 0.1% peptone as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. This study suggests that bacteria isolated from hypersaline and alkaliphilic tropical lakes are promising candidates for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates.
Impacts of Mir146a Genotypes on Bladder Cancer Risk in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Bo-Ren , Chang Wen-Shin , Liao Cheng-Hsi , Wang Yun-Chi , Gu Jian , Bau Da-Tian , Tsai Chia-Wen
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mir146a and mir196a and bladder cancer (BLCA) risk in Taiwan. The genotypes of mir146a rs2910164 and mir196a rs11614913 were determined in 375 BLCA patients and 375 healthy controls using PCR-RFLP methodology, and their associations with BLCA risk were evaluated. The study also measured the serum expression level of mir146a using quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the distributions of CC, CG and GG genotypes of mir146a rs2910164 were 31.7%, 45.6% and 22.7% in the control group, and 21.9%, 44.3% and 33.8% in the case group, respectively. In logistic regression analyses, the heterozygous variant genotype CG carriers showed a marginally significant association with increased BLCA risk (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.99–2.01), while the homozygous variant genotype GG carriers had a 2.17-fold increased risk of BLCA (OR = 2.17, 95%CI = 1.46–3.21). Moreover, carriers of the GG/CG genotypes had significantly higher serum levels of mir146a than those with the CC genotype (p < 0.0001), indicating a genotype–phenotype correlation. In contrast, mir196a rs11614913 was not associated with BLCA risk. Therefore, the genotypes of mir146a rs2910164 may serve as a useful biomarker for predicting the risk of BLCA.
Noninvasive Estimation of Tumor Interstitial Fluid Pressure from Subharmonic Scattering of Ultrasound Contrast Microbubbles
Authors: Wang Yun , Lu Huimin , Huang Laixin , Li Deyu , Qiu Weibao , Li Lingling , Xu Gang , Su Min , Zhou Jianhua , Li Fei
Published: May 2023

The noninvasive estimation of interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) using ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) microbubbles as pressure sensors will provide tumor treatments and efficacy assessments with a promising tool. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of the optimal acoustic pressure in vitro in the prediction of tumor IFPs based on UCA microbubbles’ subharmonic scattering. A customized ultrasound scanner was used to generate subharmonic signals from microbubbles’ nonlinear oscillations, and the optimal acoustic pressure was determined in vitro when the subharmonic amplitude reached the most sensitive to hydrostatic pressure changes. This optimal acoustic pressure was then applied to predict IFPs in tumor-bearing mouse models, which were further compared with the reference IFPs measured using a standard tissue fluid pressure monitor. An inverse linear relationship and good correlation (r = −0.853, p < 0.001) existed between the subharmonic amplitude and tumor IFPs at the optimal acoustic pressure of 555 kPa, and pressure sensitivity was 1.019 dB/mmHg. No statistical differences were found between the pressures measured by the standard device and those estimated via the subharmonic amplitude, as confirmed by cross-validation (mean absolute errors from 2.00 to 3.09 mmHg, p > 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that in vitro optimized acoustic parameters for UCA microbubbles’ subharmonic scattering can be applied for the noninvasive estimation of tumor IFPs.
Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Sensors for Food Safety Applications
Authors: Zhang Chi , Lai Qingteng , Chen Wei , Zhang Yanke , Mo Long , Liu Zhengchun
Published: May 2023

Considering the increasing concern for food safety, electrochemical methods for detecting specific ingredients in the food are currently the most efficient method due to their low cost, fast response signal, high sensitivity, and ease of use. The detection efficiency of electrochemical sensors is determined by the electrode materials’ electrochemical characteristics. Among them, three-dimensional (3D) electrodes have unique advantages in electronic transfer, adsorption capacity and exposure of active sites for energy storage, novel materials, and electrochemical sensing. Therefore, this review begins by outlining the benefits and drawbacks of 3D electrodes compared to other materials before going into more detail about how 3D materials are synthesized. Next, different types of 3D electrodes are outlined together with common modification techniques for enhancing electrochemical performance. After this, a demonstration of 3D electrochemical sensors for food safety applications, such as detecting components, additives, emerging pollutants, and bacteria in food, was given. Finally, improvement measures and development directions of electrodes with 3D electrochemical sensors are discussed. We think that this review will help with the creation of new 3D electrodes and offer fresh perspectives on how to achieve extremely sensitive electrochemical detection in the area of food safety.
Improving School Reconstruction Projects Satisfaction Outcomes Using Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment (FQFD)
Authors: Chen Wei-Tong , Liem Ferdinan Nikson , Kao Chih-Han , Mubasher Muhammad , Lin Kao-Hung
Published: May 2023

School buildings and facilities constitute essential educational infrastructure and have a formative impact on the safety, development, and socialization of students. However, many existing school buildings are increasingly aging and deteriorating, requiring urgent refurbishment, raising the need to assess and develop a quality function to propose strategies for improved school building reconstruction. Apart from the initial planning phase, the reconstruction design process usually requires detailed information regarding owner/user demands and is often presented in terms of user dissatisfaction. This paper applies fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD) to transform actual user needs into an improved technical strategy that can be realized by the design unit through the sequence of the matrix method. The resulting framework identifies a total of eight major components of user dissatisfaction, along with three key school-design improvement strategies, including the use of environmentally sound materials, overall quality of design and planning, and playground planning. In terms of technology improvement strategies, the prioritized design improvement strategies for increasing school reconstruction satisfaction include considerations of practicality and constructability, planning use points and maintenance methods, designing the site according to the local terrain, and using materials that match the layout of the environment. The approach proposed in this study can be used to enhance the efficiency of the reconstruction of aging buildings and the research results can also augment ontological knowledge on the reconstruction of aging campus buildings.
Endorsement of TNBC Biomarkers in Precision Therapy by Nanotechnology
Authors: Chaudhuri Aiswarya , Kumar Dulla Naveen , Dehari Deepa , Patil Rohit , Singh Sanjay , Kumar Dinesh , Agrawal Ashish Kumar
Published: May 2023

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease which accounts globally for approximately 1 million new cases annually, wherein more than 200,000 of these cases turn out to be cases of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is an aggressive and rare breast cancer subtype that accounts for 10–15% of all breast cancer cases. Chemotherapy remains the only therapy regimen against TNBC. However, the emergence of innate or acquired chemoresistance has hindered the chemotherapy used to treat TNBC. The data obtained from molecular technologies have recognized TNBC with various gene profiling and mutation settings that have helped establish and develop targeted therapies. New therapeutic strategies based on the targeted delivery of therapeutics have relied on the application of biomarkers derived from the molecular profiling of TNBC patients. Several biomarkers have been found that are targets for the precision therapy in TNBC, such as EGFR, VGFR, TP53, interleukins, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, c-MET, androgen receptor, BRCA1, glucocorticoid, PTEN, ALDH1, etc. This review discusses the various candidate biomarkers identified in the treatment of TNBC along with the evidence supporting their use. It was established that nanoparticles had been considered a multifunctional system for delivering therapeutics to target sites with increased precision. Here, we also discuss the role of biomarkers in nanotechnology translation in TNBC therapy and management.
Evaluation of Semen Self-Sampling Yield Predictors and CTC Isolation by Multi-Color Flow Cytometry for Liquid Biopsy of Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: Saitta Cesare , De Simone Ilaria , Fasulo Vittorio , Corbetta Marinella , Duga Stefano , Chiereghin Chiara , Colombo Federico Simone , Benetti Alessio , Contieri Roberto , Avolio Pier Paolo , Uleri Alessandro , Saita Alberto , Guazzoni Giorgio Ferruccio , Hurle Rodolfo , Colombo Piergiuseppe , Buffi Nicolò Maria , Casale Paolo , Lughezzani Giovanni , Asselta Rosanna , Soldà Giulia , Lazzeri Massimo
Published: May 2023

Liquid biopsy (LB) for prostate cancer (PCa) detection could represent an alternative to biopsy. Seminal fluid (SF) is a source of PCa-specific biomarkers, as 40% of ejaculate derives from the prostate. We tested the feasibility of an SF-based LB by evaluating the yield of semen self-sampling in a cohort of >750 patients with clinically localized PCa. The overall SF collection yield was 18.2% (39% when considering only compliant patients), with about a half of the patients (53.15%) not consenting to SF donation. Independent favorable predictors for SF collection were younger age and lower prostate volume. We implemented a protocol to enrich prostate-derived cells by multi-color flow cytometry and applied it on SF and urine samples from 100 patients. The number of prostate-enriched cells (SYTO-16+ PSMA+ CD45−) was variable, with higher numbers of cells isolated from SF than urine (p value < 0.001). Putative cancer cells (EpCAMhigh) were 2% of isolated cells in both specimens. The fraction of EpCAMhigh cells over prostate-enriched cells (PSMA+) significantly correlated with patient age in both semen and urine, but not with other clinical parameters, such as Gleason Score, ISUP, or TNM stage. Hence, enumeration of prostate-derived cells is not sufficient to guide PCa diagnosis; additional molecular analyses to detect patient-specific cancer lesions will be needed.
Novel Copper(II) Complexes with BIAN Ligands: Synthesis, Structure and Catalytic Properties of the Oxidation of Isopropylbenzene
Authors: Fomenko Iakov S. , Koshcheeva Olga S. , Kuznetsova Nina I. , Larina Tatyana V. , Gongola Marko I. , Afewerki Medhanie , Abramov Pavel A. , Novikov Alexander S. , Gushchin Artem L.
Published: May 2023

Two new isomeric complexes [CuBr2(R-bian)] (R = 4-Me-Ph (1), 2-Me-Ph (2)) were obtained by reacting copper(II) bromide with 1,2-bis[(2-methylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene ligands and characterized. The crystal structure of 2 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The copper atom has a distorted square-planar environment; the ω angle between the CuN2 and CuBr2 planes is 37.004°. The calculated ω parameters for optimized structures 1 and 2 were 76.002° and 43.949°, indicating significant deviations from the ideal tetrahedral and square-plane geometries, respectively. Molecules 2 form dimers due to non-covalent Cu···Br contacts, which were analyzed by DFT calculations. The complexes were also characterized by cyclic voltammetry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. A quasi-reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox event with E1/2 potentials of 0.81 and 0.66 V (vs. SHE) was found for 1 and 2, respectively. The electronic absorption spectra showed the presence of Cu(I) species as a result of the partial reduction of the complexes in the acetonitrile solution. Both complexes were tested as homogenous catalysts for the oxidation of isopropylbenzene (IPB) in acetonitrile at low temperatures. Differences in the mechanism of the catalytic reaction and the composition of the reaction products depending on the oxidizing ability of the catalyst were revealed.
Recent Progress in Conjugated Polymers-Based Donor–Acceptor Semiconductor Materials for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting
Authors: Zhao Yanhui , Sheng Jingfu , Zhao Xiaobo , Mo Jian , Wang Jilong , Chen Zhuang , Dong Hongjun , Li Chunmei
Published: May 2023

Exploration of high-efficiency stabilization and abundant source-conjugated polymers semiconductor materials with suitable molecular orbital energy levels has always been a hot topic in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) from water splitting. In the recent years, constructing the intramolecular donor–acceptor (D–A)-conjugated architecture copolymers has been proved as one of the most excellent photocatalyst modification tactics for optimizing the PHE properties because of unique advantages, including easy regulate band-gap position, fast transfer charge carrier in the intramolecular architecture, superior sunlight absorption capacity and range, large interfacial areas, and so forth. Therefore, in this minireview, we summarize the latest research progress of D–A architecture semiconductor materials for PHE from water splitting. First, we briefly overview the fundamental description and principles for the construction D–A heterostructures in the photocatalytic system. After that, the application of D–A architecture photocatalyst for PHE reaction over different classes of organic semiconductors have been discussed in detail. At last, the present development prospects and future potential challenges of D–A architecture materials are proposed. We hope this minireview has some parameter values for the further developments of intermolecular special structured organic semiconductor material in the future PHE research.
Synthetic Methods and Applications of Carbon Nanodots
Authors: Banger Anjali , Gautam Sakshi , Jadoun Sapana , Jangid Nirmala Kumari , Srivastava Anamika , Pulidindi Indra Neel , Dwivedi Jaya , Srivastava Manish
Published: May 2023

In the recent decade, carbon dots have drawn immense attention and prompted intense investigation. The latest form of nanocarbon, the carbon nanodot, is attracting intensive research efforts, similar to its earlier analogues, namely, fullerene, carbon nanotube, and graphene. One outstanding feature that distinguishes carbon nanodots from other known forms of carbon materials is its water solubility owing to extensive surface functionalization (the presence of polar surface functional groups). These carbonaceous quantum dots, or carbon nanodots, have several advantages over traditional semiconductor-based quantum dots. They possess outstanding photoluminescence, fluorescence, biocompatibility, biosensing and bioimaging, photostability, feedstock sustainability, extensive surface functionalization and bio-conjugation, excellent colloidal stability, eco-friendly synthesis (from organic matter such as glucose, coffee, tea, and grass to biomass waste-derived sources), low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. Recent advances in the synthesis and characterization of carbon dots have been received and new insight is provided. Presently known applications of carbon dots in the fields of bioimaging, drug delivery, sensing, and diagnosis were highlighted and future applications of these astounding materials are speculated.
The Role of Polo-Like Kinase 1 in Regulating the Forkhead Box Family Transcription Factors
Authors: Moore Xavier T. R. , Gheghiani Lilia , Fu Zheng
Published: May 2023

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase with more than 600 phosphorylation substrates through which it regulates many biological processes, including mitosis, apoptosis, metabolism, RNA processing, vesicle transport, and G2 DNA-damage checkpoint recovery, among others. Among the many PLK1 targets are members of the FOX family of transcription factors (FOX TFs), including FOXM1, FOXO1, FOXO3, and FOXK1. FOXM1 and FOXK1 have critical oncogenic roles in cancer through their antagonism of apoptotic signals and their promotion of cell proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance. In contrast, FOXO1 and FOXO3 have been identified to have broad functions in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this review, we discuss PLK1-mediated regulation of FOX TFs, highlighting the effects of PLK1 on the activity and stability of these proteins. In addition, we review the prognostic and clinical significance of these proteins in human cancers and, more importantly, the different approaches that have been used to disrupt PLK1 and FOX TF-mediated signaling networks. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting PLK1-regulated FOX TFs in human cancers.
Migration of TiO2 from PET/TiO2 Composite Films Used for Polymer-Laminated Steel Cans in Acidic Solution
Authors: Cui Jingying , Chen Jinyang , Gu Jie , Hong Xiaomin , Hong Menghan , Wu Zheying , Hu Yu
Published: May 2023

Nano-TiO2 is widely used as a commercial food contact material (FCM), which poses potential risks to food. Therefore, the migration of TiO2 is crucial for the safety of FCM. Since PET/TiO2 composite films are food contact layers used for producing polymer-laminated steel cans and the majority of beverages contained in cans are acidic, it is necessary to study the migration of TiO2 from PET/TiO2 composite films in acidic solutions. The migration of TiO2 in 4% (v/v) acetic acid was studied through the ICP-OES method. The corrosion process that occurred during the migration process was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The morphology of Ti nanoparticles and films was measured by SEM, TEM, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The results indicate that, at a temperature of 60 °C, the maximum migration concentration of TiO2 is 0.32 mg/kg. The TiO2 particles released during the migration process are unstable and tend to aggregate in the simulated material, with most of the Ti being present in the form of particles. Therefore, the migration of TiO2 does not follow the Fick law of diffusion but rather conforms to the Weibull model based on the non-Fick law of diffusion.
Surface Modification of Pure Mg for Enhanced Biocompatibility and Controlled Biodegradation: A Study on Graphene Oxide (GO)/Strontium Apatite (SrAp) Biocomposite Coatings
Authors: Yigit Oktay , Gurgenc Turan , Dikici Burak , Kaseem Mosab , Boehlert Carl , Arslan Ersin
Published: May 2023

Magnesium alloys have excellent biodegradability but suffer from high corrosion rates and unfavorable biological responses. Thus, a surface modification strategy to regulate the corrosion rate and enhance biocompatibility is required. In this study, pure Mg substrate surfaces were coated with strontium apatite (SrAp) and graphene oxide (GO) biocomposite structures using the hydrothermal method to increase the biocompatibility of the surface of the Mg and obtain a moderate biodegradation rate. The effect of the GO concentration (0, 2, 4, and 6 wt.%) on the surface microstructure and its corrosion behavior were systematically studied. The corrosion behavior of the coatings was characterized in-vitro using the electrochemical polarization method in Hank’s solution. An EDS-connected SEM was used to examine the coatings’ surface properties. The functional groups of the coatings were identified using ATR-IR spectroscopy. To determine the degree of crystallization and examine the elemental distribution of the coatings, an XRD was used with a grazing incidence attachment. The XRD and SEM-EDS results showed that increasing the GO ratio in the SrAp-based coatings significantly enhanced the homogeneity and crystallinity, and the ATR-IR spectroscopy revealed that the SrAp/GO coatings were rich in functional groups, including hydroxyl, phosphate, and carbonate groups, that are known to promote bone formation and regeneration. The results of the electrochemical polarization tests demonstrated a considerable decrease in the corrosion rates for the samples with SrAp matrix and GO coatings. Additionally, the coatings containing GO exhibited higher polarization resistance (Rp) values, indicating their potential as a promising surface modification technique for biodegradable implants. These findings suggest that incorporating GO into the SrAp coatings could enhance their biocompatibility and provide a moderate biodegradation rate, which is desirable for biomedical applications.