bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Method for the Automated Assessment of Corneal Nerve Tortuosity Using Confocal Microscopy Imaging
Authors: Fernández Itziar , Vázquez Amanda , Calonge Margarita , Maldonado Miguel J. , de la Mata Ana , López-Miguel Alberto
Published: October 2022

An automated tool for corneal nerve fiber tortuosity quantification from in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is described and evaluated. The method is a multi-stage process based on the splitting of the corneal nerve fibers into individual segments, whose endpoints are an extreme or intersection of white pixels on a binarized image. Individual segment tortuosity is quantified in terms of the arc-chord ratio. Forty-three IVCM images from 43 laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery patients were used for evaluation. Images from symptomatic dry eye disease (DED) post-LASIK patients, with (n=16) and without (n=7) ocular pain, and non-DED post-LASIK controls (n=20) were assessed. The automated tortuosity measure was compared to a manual grading one, obtaining a moderate correlation (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.49, p=0.0008). The new tortuosity index was significantly higher in post-LASIK patients with ocular pain than in control patients (p=0.001), while no significant differences were detected with manual measurement (p>0.28). The tortuosity quantification was positively correlated with the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and a numeric rating scale (NRS) assessing pain (p=0.0012 and p=0.0051, respectively). The results show good performance of the proposed automated methodology for the evaluation of corneal nerve tortuosity.
Feasibility Analyses and Prospects of CO2 Geological Storage by Using Abandoned Shale Gas Wells in the Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Lai Xiaopeng , Chen Xingyi , Wang Yunhan , Dai Dengjin , Dong Jie , Liu Wei
Published: October 2022

The geological storage of CO2 is a critical technique for reducing emissions, which significantly contributes to the mitigation of the greenhouse effect. Currently, CO2 is often geologically stored in coal seams, hydrocarbon reservoirs, and saline aquifers in order to store CO2 and improve the oil and gas recovery simultaneously. Shale formations, as candidates for CO2 storage, are drawing more attention because of their rich volumes. CO2 storage through shale formations in the Sichuan Basin, China, has tremendous potential because of the readily available CO2 injection equipment, such as abandoned shale gas wells. Therefore, we review the potential of using these wells to store CO2 in this paper. Firstly, we review the status of the geological storage of CO2 and discuss the features and filed applications for the most studied storage techniques. Secondly, we investigate the formation properties, shale gas field development process, and characteristics of the abandoned wells in the Sichuan Basin. Additionally, after carefully studying the mechanism and theoretical storage capacity, we evaluate the potential of using these abandoned wells to store CO2. Lastly, recommendations are proposed based on the current technologies and government policies. We hope this paper may provide some insights into the development of geological CO2 storage using unconventional reservoirs.
Plane Section Curves on Surfaces of NCP Functions
Authors: Li Shun-Wei , Chang Yu-Lin , Chen Jein-Shan
Published: October 2022

The goal of this paper is to investigate the curves intersected by a vertical plane with the surfaces based on certain NCP functions. The convexity and differentiability of these curves are studied as well. In most cases, the inflection points of the curves cannot be expressed exactly. Therefore, we instead estimate the interval where the curves are convex under this situation. Then, with the help of differentiability and convexity, we obtain the local minimum or maximum of the curves accordingly. The study of these curves is very useful to binary quadratic programming.
One-Pot Spray Engineering to Design Na0.44MnO2 Cathode Electrodes for High-Rate and Cycle-Stable Na-Ion Batteries
Authors: Koo Bon-Ryul , Lee Young-Geun , Lee Sang Ho , An Geon-Hyoung , Huang Chun
Published: October 2022

To improve the practical performance of Na-ion batteries, electrode structure engineering provides a new route to improve the electrochemical efficiency of the cathode active material. In this study, we suggest a new route of one-pot spray engineering to design Na0.44MnO2 cathodes to realize high-rate and cycle-stable Na-ion battery performance. This technique adjusts the electrode structure from a dense to an open sponge-like morphology during layer-by-layer deposition of the materials. The sponge-like cathode results in improved ion insertion and transport kinetics, thus accelerating the rate capability with increased capacity and high-rate cycling capability (100.1 mAh/g and 90.2% cycling retention after 100 cycles at 5 C). These results highlight the potential for design engineering of cathode structures to achieve high-rate and cycle-stable performance for Na-ion batteries.
Valorization of Pineapple Leaves Waste for the Production of Bioethanol
Authors: Saini Reetu , Chen Chiu-Wen , Patel Anil Kumar , Saini Jitendra Kumar , Dong Cheng-Di , Singhania Reeta Rani
Published: October 2022

Being a lignocellulose-rich biomass, pineapple leaves waste (PL) could be a potential raw material for the production of biofuel, biochemicals, and other value-added products. The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential of pineapple leaves in the sustainable production of bioethanol via stepwise saccharification and fermentation. For this purpose, PL was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment in a high-pressure reactor at 150 °C for 20 min without any catalyst, resulting in a maximum reducing sugar yield of 38.1 g/L in the liquid fraction after solid-liquid separation of the pretreated hydrolysate. Inhibitors (phenolics, furans) and oligomers production were also monitored during the pretreatment in the liquid fraction of pretreated PL. Enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) of both pretreated biomass slurry and cellulose-rich solid fraction maintained at a solid loading (dry basis) of 5% wt. was performed at 50 °C and 150 rpm using commercial cellulase at an enzyme dose of 10 FPU/gds. EH resulted in a glucose yield of 13.7 and 18.4 g/L from pretreated slurry and solid fractions, respectively. Fermentation of the sugar syrup obtained by EH of pretreated slurry and the solid fraction was performed at 30 °C for 72 h using Saccharomyces cerevisiae WLP300, resulting in significant ethanol production with more than 91% fermentation efficiency. This study reveals the potential of pineapple leaves waste for biorefinery application, and the role of inhibitors in the overall efficiency of the process when using whole biomass slurry as a substrate.
Iodine Intake and Related Cognitive Function Impairments in Elementary Schoolchildren
Authors: Bailote Helga B. , Linhares Diana , Carvalho Célia , Prazeres Susana , Rodrigues Armindo S. , Garcia Patrícia
Published: October 2022

Iodine deficiency, the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide, has been linked to poorer intellectual function in several studies. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been performed in moderate iodine-deficient schoolchildren using the complete form of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III; Portuguese version). The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether moderate iodine deficiency would affect the cognitive function of schoolchildren (7–11 years old; 3rd and 4th grades). Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM; Portuguese version) were used for measuring the intelligence quotient (IQ) of the total population (n = 256; median UIC = 66.2 μg/L), and the WISC-III was used to study two selected subgroups: one moderately iodine-deficient (n = 30) and the other with adequate iodine intake (n = 30). WISC-III was shown to be the prime instrument for cognitive function assessment among moderate iodine-deficient schoolchildren; this subgroup had a Full-Scale IQ 15.13 points lower than the adequate iodine intake subgroup, with a magnitude effect of d = 0.7 (p = 0.013). Significant differences were also registered in 6 of the 13 Verbal-Performance IQ subtests. Moderate iodine deficiency has a substantial impact on mental development and cognitive functioning of schoolchildren, with significant impairment in both Performance IQ and Verbal IQ spectrum, adversely impacting their educational performance.
Messenger RNA Gene Expression Screening of VIP and PACAP Neuropeptides and Their Endogenous Receptors in Ruminants
Authors: Hawley Emma , Mia Kafi , Yusuf Mustapha , Swanson Kendall C. , Doetkott Curt , Dorsam Glenn P.
Published: October 2022

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and Pituitary Adenylate-Cyclase-Activating Peptide (PACAP) are anti-inflammatory neuropeptides that play important roles in human and rodent gut microbiota homeostasis and host immunity. Pharmacologically regulating these neuropeptides is expected to have significant health and feed efficiency benefits for agriculturally relevant animals. However, their expression profile in ruminant tissues is not well characterized. To this end, we screened for VIP and PACAP neuropeptides and their endogenous GPCRs using 15 different tissues from wethers and steers by RT-qPCR. Our results revealed relatively similar expression profiles for both VIP and PACAP neuropeptide ligands in the brain and intestinal tissue of both species. In contrast, the tissue expression profiles for VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1 were more widespread and disparate, with VPAC1 being the most diversely expressed receptor with mRNA detection in the brain and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. These data are an important first step to allow for future investigations regarding the VIP and PACAP signaling pathways in livestock ruminant species.
Identification of Molecular Subtypes and a Novel Prognostic Model of Sepsis Based on Ferroptosis-Associated Gene Signature
Authors: Yang Hang , Cui Yanhui , Peng Wenzhong , Zhu Fei , Ma Shiyang , Rao Mingjun , Zhang Peipei , Chen Jie , Pan Pinhua
Published: October 2022

Ferroptosis has recently been associated with immunological changes in sepsis. However, the clinical significance of ferroptosis-associated genes (FAGs) remains unknown. In this paper, a FAG-based prognostic model was constructed for sepsis patients using an integrated machine learning approach. The prognosis model was composed of 14 FAGs that classify the patients as high or low risk. Based on immunological study, it was found that the immune status differed between the high-risk and low-risk clusters. Cox regression analysis revealed that FAGs were independent risk factors for the overall survival of sepsis patients. ROC curves and nomograms revealed that the FAG-based model was robust for prognosis prediction. Lastly, NEDD4L was identified from the 14 FAGs as a potential hub gene for sepsis prediction.
Identification of Biological Functions and Prognostic Value of NNMT in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Weixian , Jing Yue , Wang Shuai , Wu Yan , Sun Yawei , Zhuang Jia , Huang Xiaofeng , Chen Sheng , Zhang Xiaoxin , Song Yuxian , Hu Qingang , Ni Yanhong
Published: October 2022

Background: Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of nicotinamide (NAM) to generate 1-methyl nicotinamide (MNAM). Although previous studies have shown that NNMT is frequently dysregulated to promote the onset and progression of many malignancies, its expression profile, prognostic value and function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are still unknown. Methods: We used untargeted metabolomics based on mass spectrometry to analyze potential metabolite differences between tumors and matched adjacent normal tissues in 40 OSCC patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze the NNMT expression profile in OSCC, and the diagnostic and prognostic values of NNMT were evaluated. Next, qPCR and Western blot were used to compare the expression of NNMT in five OSCC cell lines. Stable transfected cell lines were constructed, and functional experiments were carried out to elucidate the effects of NNMT on the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data to investigate the potential functional mechanisms of NNMT in OSCC. Results: We found that the nicotinamide metabolic pathway was abnormally activated in OSCC tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. NNMT was expressed ubiquitously in tumor cells (TCs) and fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) but was absent in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). OSCC patients with highly expressed NNMT in TCs had higher risk of lymph node metastasis and showed a worse pattern of invasion (POI). Moreover, patients with highly expressed NNMT were also susceptible to postoperative recurrence. Highly expressed NNMT can independently predict shorter disease-free survival and recurrence-free survival. Functionally, we demonstrated that the ectopic expression of NNMT promoted OSCC tumor cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Conversely, silencing exerted significantly opposite effects in vitro. In addition, GSEA showed that highly expressed NNMT was mainly enriched in the epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) pathway, which displayed a significant positive correlation with the six classic EMT markers. Conclusions: Our study uncovered that NNMT may be a critical regulator of EMT in OSCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker for OSCC patients. These findings might provide novel insights for future research in NNMT-targeted OSCC metastasis and recurrence therapy.
Crystal Structure of the Human Copper Chaperone ATOX1 Bound to Zinc Ion
Authors: Mangini Vincenzo , Belviso Benny Danilo , Nardella Maria Incoronata , Natile Giovanni , Arnesano Fabio , Caliandro Rocco
Published: October 2022

The bioavailability of copper (Cu) in human cells may depend on a complex interplay with zinc (Zn) ions. We investigated the ability of the Zn ion to target the human Cu-chaperone Atox1, a small cytosolic protein capable of anchoring Cu(I), by a conserved surface-exposed Cys-X-X-Cys (CXXC) motif, and deliver it to Cu-transporting ATPases in the trans-Golgi network. The crystal structure of Atox1 loaded with Zn displays the metal ion bridging the CXXC motifs of two Atox1 molecules in a homodimer. The identity and location of the Zn ion were confirmed through the anomalous scattering of the metal by collecting X-ray diffraction data near the Zn K-edge. Furthermore, soaking experiments of the Zn-loaded Atox1 crystals with a strong chelating agent, such as EDTA, caused only limited removal of the metal ion from the tetrahedral coordination cage, suggesting a potential role of Atox1 in Zn metabolism and, more generally, that Cu and Zn transport mechanisms could be interlocked in human cells.
Metal-Based Complexes in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Gamberi Tania , Hanif Muhammad
Published: October 2022

Metal-based complexes contribute a vital part to the available arsenal of cytotoxic agents today [...]
Assessing the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of an Orally Dosed Enzymatically Liberated Fish Oil in a House Dust Model of Allergic Asthma
Authors: Currie Crawford , Framroze Bomi , Singh Dave , Lea Simon , Bjerknes Christian , Hermansen Erland
Published: October 2022

Eosinophils are a major driver of inflammation in a number of human diseases, including asthma. Biologic therapies targeting IL-5 have enabled better control of severe eosinophilic asthma, but no such advances have been made for enhancing the control of moderate asthma. However, a number of moderate asthma sufferers remain troubled by unresolved symptoms, treatment side effects, or both. OmeGo, an enzymatically liberated fish oil, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties including the reduction of eosinophilia. A house dust mite model of induced asthma in mice was utilized in this study, and OmeGo showed a significant reduction in eosinophilic lung and systemic inflammation and reduced lung remodelling compared to cod liver oil. The CRTH2 antagonist fevipiprant showed an anti-inflammatory profile similar to that of OmeGo. OmeGo has the potential to be a pragmatic, cost-effective co-treatment for less severe forms of eosinophilic asthma. Proof-of-concept studies are planned.
Involvement of Intestinal Enteroendocrine Cells in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Yu Liangen , Li Yihang
Published: October 2022

Neurological and psychiatric patients have increased dramatically in number in the past few decades. However, effective treatments for these diseases and disorders are limited due to heterogeneous and unclear pathogenic mechanisms. Therefore, further exploration of the biological aspects of the disease, and the identification of novel targets to develop alternative treatment strategies, is urgently required. Systems-level investigations have indicated the potential involvement of the brain–gut axis and intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis and regulation of neurological and psychiatric disorders. While intestinal microbiota is crucial for maintaining host physiology, some important sensory and regulatory cells in the host should not be overlooked. Intestinal epithelial enteroendocrine cells (EECs) residing in the epithelium throughout intestine are the key regulators orchestrating the communication along the brain-gut-microbiota axis. On one hand, EECs sense changes in luminal microorganisms via microbial metabolites; on the other hand, they communicate with host body systems via neuroendocrine molecules. Therefore, EECs are believed to play important roles in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review highlights the involvement of EECs and subtype cells, via secretion of endocrine molecules, in the development and regulation of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), schizophrenia, visceral pain, neuropathic pain, and depression. Moreover, the current paper summarizes the potential mechanism of EECs in contributing to disease pathogenesis. Examination of these mechanisms may inspire and lead to the development of new aspects of treatment strategies for neurological and psychiatric disorders in the future.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Panduratin A against LPS-Induced Microglial Activation
Authors: Jamornwan Sopana , Chokpanuwat Tanida , Uppakara Kwanchanok , Soodvilai Sunhapas , Saengsawang Witchuda
Published: October 2022

Uncontrolled and excessive microglial activation is known to contribute to inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration. Therefore, reducing neurotoxic microglial activation may serve as a new approach to preventing neurodegeneration. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of panduratin A against microglial activation induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the SIMA9 microglial cell line. We initially examined the anti-inflammatory properties of panduratin A by measuring LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). Panduratin A significantly reduced NO levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines’ production and secretion. In addition, panduratin A enhanced the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. The anti-inflammatory effects of panduratin A are related to the suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Together, these results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory properties of panduratin A against LPS-induced microglial activation, suggesting panduratin A has the potential to be further developed as a new agent for the prevention of neuroinflammation-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
Interplay between the m6A Epitranscriptome and Tumor Metabolism: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Fong Asa Sergei , Pan Yasi , Yu Jun , Wong Chi Chun
Published: October 2022

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of messenger RNA (mRNA) influences the stability and translation of the transcripts into functional proteins. Recent studies reveal the role of m6A modifications in regulating the metabolism of basic biomolecules such as glucose, lipids and amino acids. Such mechanisms are not only important for physiological functions of normal cells but also prove to be pivotal for the pathogenesis of cancers by driving dysregulated metabolism. M6A writers, readers and erasers function co-operatively to promote aberrant glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism in cancer cells, which in turn support increased proliferative and metastatic potential. Better understanding of the relationship between m6A and metabolism in malignancy may unravel novel therapeutic targets as well as biomarkers in cancer. In this review, we summarize the recent evidence demonstrating the interplay between m6A modification and cancer metabolism and their therapeutic implications.
Novel First-Trimester Prediction Model for Any Type of Preterm Birth Occurring before 37 Gestational Weeks in the Absence of Other Pregnancy-Related Complications Based on Cardiovascular Disease-Associated MicroRNAs and Basic Maternal Clinical Characteristics
Authors: Hromadnikova Ilona , Kotlabova Katerina , Krofta Ladislav
Published: October 2022

The goal of the study was to establish an efficient first-trimester predictive model for any type of preterm birth before 37 gestational weeks (spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) or preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM)) in the absence of other pregnancy-related complications, such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, or small for gestational age. The retrospective study was performed in the period from 11/2012 to 3/2020. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 6440 Caucasian individuals involving 41 PTB and 65 PPROM singleton pregnancies. A control group with 80 singleton term pregnancies was selected on the basis of equal sample-storage time. A combination of only six microRNAs (miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-155-5p, and miR-210-3p; AUC 0.812, p < 0.001, 70.75% sensitivity, 78.75% specificity, cut-off > 0.652) could predict preterm delivery before 37 gestational weeks in early stages of gestation in 52.83% of pregnancies with a 10.0% FPR. This predictive model for preterm birth based on aberrant microRNA expression profile was further improved via implementation of maternal clinical characteristics (maternal age and BMI at early stages of gestation, infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technology, occurrence of preterm delivery before 37 gestational weeks in previous pregnancy(ies), and presence of any kind of autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or other autoimmune disease)). With this model, 69.81% of pregnancies destined to deliver before 37 gestational weeks were identified with a 10.0% FPR at early stages of gestation. When other clinical variables as well as those mentioned above—such as positive first-trimester screening for early preeclampsia with onset before 34 gestational weeks and/or fetal growth restriction with onset before 37 gestational weeks using the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm, as well as positive first-trimester screening for spontaneous preterm birth with onset before 34 gestational weeks using the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm—were added to the predictive model for preterm birth, the predictive power was even slightly increased to 71.70% with a 10.0% FPR. Nevertheless, we prefer to keep the first-trimester screening for any type of preterm birth occurring before 37 gestational weeks in the absence of other pregnancy-related complications as simple as possible.
Pulegone and Eugenol Oral Supplementation in Laboratory Animals: Results from Acute and Chronic Studies
Authors: Ribeiro-Silva Carla M. , Faustino-Rocha Ana I. , Gil da Costa Rui M. , Medeiros Rui , Pires Maria J. , Gaivão Isabel , Gama Adelina , Neuparth Maria J. , Barbosa Joana V. , Peixoto Francisco , Magalhães Fernão D. , Bastos Margarida M. S. M. , Oliveira Paula A.
Published: October 2022

Essential oils are natural compounds used by humans for scientific purposes due to their wide range of properties. Eugenol is mostly present in clove oil, while pulegone is the main constituent of pennyroyal oil. To guarantee the safe use of eugenol and pulegone for both humans and animals, this study addressed, for the first time, the effects of these compounds, at low doses (chronic toxicity) and high doses (acute toxicity), in laboratory animals. Thirty-five FVB/n female mice were randomly assigned to seven groups (n = 5): group I (control, non-additive diet); group II (2.6 mg of eugenol + 2.6 mg of pulegone); group III (5.2 mg of eugenol + 5.2 mg of pulegone); group IV (7.8 mg of eugenol + 7.8 mg of pulegone); group V (7.8 mg of eugenol); group VI (7.8 mg of pulegone); and group VII (1000 mg of eugenol + 1000 mg of pulegone). The compounds were administered in the food. Groups I to VI were integrated into the chronic toxicity study, lasting 28 days, and group VII was used in the acute toxicity study, lasting 7 days. Animals were monitored to assess their general welfare. Water and food intake, as well as body weight, were recorded. On the 29th day, all animals were euthanized by an overdose of ketamine and xylazine, and a complete necropsy was performed. Blood samples were collected directly from the heart for microhematocrit and serum analysis, as well as for comet assay. Organs were collected, weighed, and fixed in formaldehyde for further histological analysis and enzymatic assay. Eugenol and pulegone induced behavioral changes in the animals, namely in the posture, hair appearance and grooming, and in mental status. These compounds also caused a decrease in the animals’ body weight, as well as in the food and water consumption. A mortality rate of 20% was registered in the acute toxicity group. Both compounds modulated the serum levels of triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase. Eugenol and pulegone induced genetic damage in all animals. Eugenol increased the activity of the CAT enzyme. Both compounds increased the GR enzyme at the highest dose. Moreover, pulegone administered as a single compound increased the activity of the GST enzyme. Histopathological analysis revealed inflammatory infiltrates in the lungs of groups II, III, and IV. The results suggest that eugenol and pulegone may exert beneficial or harmful effects, depending on the dose, and if applied alone or in combination.
Human Gingival Fibroblast Attachment to Smooth Titanium Disks with Different Surface Roughnesses
Authors: Yanagisawa Naoki , Ikeda Takayuki , Takatsu Masaki , Urata Kentaro , Nishio Kensuke , Tanaka Hideki , Kawato Takayuki , Iinuma Toshimitsu
Published: October 2022

Peri-implantitis is a significant problem associated with dental implants. It has been hypothesized that creating a soft-tissue seal around the implant neck prevents peri-implantitis. This study aims to clarify the effects of the surface smoothness of titanium disks on soft tissues. Thus, titanium disks were prepared through electrolytic composite polishing (ECP), sisal buffing (SB), hairline polishing (HP), and laser cutting (LC). The surface roughness values of seven items was measured. For ECP, SB, HP, and LC samples, the Ra values were 0.075, 0.217, 0.671, and 1.024 μm and the Sa values were 0.005, 0.115, 0.500, and 0.676, respectively, indicating that the surface roughness was remarkably lower with ECP. Moreover, the Wsk values for ECP, SB, HP, and LC were 0.521, 1.018, −0.678, and −0.558, respectively. The smooth surfaces produced by ECP and SB were biased toward the concave surface, whereas those produced by HP and LC were biased toward the convex surface. The Rku values for ECP, SB, HP, and LC were 2.984, 11.774, 14.182, and 26.232, respectively. Only the ECP exhibited a moderate bias peak and produced an extremely smooth surface. The contact angles in the cases of ECP, SB, HP, and LC were 60.1°, 66.3°, 68.4°, and 79.3°, respectively, indicating the hydrophobicity of the titanium disks. Human oral fibroblasts were then incubated on each disk for 24 and 48 h to measure cell attachment, and no significant differences were observed. The differences in Ra and Sa did not affect cell attachment. Therefore, by applying ECP to the abutment or implant neck, the cell attachment required for soft-tissue formation while preventing bacterial adhesion can be achieved.
The Combined Implementation of Electrocoagulation and Adsorption Processes for the Treatment of Wastewaters
Authors: Graça Nuno S. , Rodrigues Alírio E.
Published: October 2022

Effluent treatment and reuse are essential in order to address the global problem of water scarcity. Additionally, improving the quality of treated wastewater is necessary to reduce its adverse effects on natural water resources and, consequently, on human health. Electrocoagulation and adsorption have been successfully applied separately to treat different wastewaters. Each method has unique benefits, drawbacks, and parameters that affect the effectiveness of treatment. A review of both processes, including their theoretical principles, the effect of operating conditions, and practical applications, is presented to provide an overview of their capabilities. The combination of electrocoagulation and adsorption in a combined process can be used to amplify the advantages of each process while mitigating their limitations. In the present work, the combined process is analyzed in terms of its principles, applications, and integration in a circular economy model.
Investigation on Sliding Tribological Properties of Laser Cladding Alloy Coating for Subway Wheels
Authors: Xiao Qian , Zhang Bo , Yang Wenbin
Published: October 2022

The wheel pair is a key component of the subway. Routes of subway conditions are more complex, while frequent starting and braking are more likely to cause wheel damage. To improve the sliding tribological properties of subway wheels, this article focused on laser-cladding technology to repair the wheel. Ni-based and Fe-based alloy coatings were prepared. The microstructure of the coatings was studied by SEM, EDS, XRD, and 3D optical morphology. The mechanical properties of the coating were studied by the Vickers microhardness tester and MFT-EC4000 reciprocating electrochemical friction and wear tester. There are mainly γ(Ni, Fe), Cr7C3, Cr23C6, and other phases in the Ni-based coating, and there are mainly γ-Fe, (Fe, Ni), (Fe-Cr-Ni) solid solution and other phases in the Fe-based coating. The hardness of the Ni-based coating is 250 HV0.7, which is essentially the same as the hardness of the substrate. The hardness of the Fe-based coating reaches a maximum of 715HV0.7. The hardness of the Fe-based coating is 2.86 times higher than the hardness of the substrate. The Fe-based coating is strengthened by the solid solution due to the existence of the solid-solution phase. The Ni-based coating in high-temperature performance is general. Its hardness and friction performance were also ordinary. The results of the study can provide theoretical and technical guidance for the application of laser-cladding technology on subway wheels.
Effects of an Exercise Intervention on Gait Function in Young Survivors of Osteosarcoma with Megaendoprosthesis of the Lower Extremity—Results from the Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial proGAIT
Authors: Basteck Simon , Guder Wiebke K. , Dirksen Uta , Krombholz Arno , Streitbürger Arne , Reinhardt Dirk , Götte Miriam
Published: October 2022

Limb preservation with megaendoprosthesis in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with bone tumors is associated with functional limitations and gait abnormalities. The proGAIT trial evaluated the effectiveness of an exercise program on gait function and quality of life, functional scales (MSTS, TESS), functional mobility, and fatigue as secondary outcomes. Eleven AYA survivors of malignant osteosarcoma with a tumor endoprosthesis around the knee (mean age: 26.6 (±8.4) years) were randomized into an intervention group receiving an 8-week exercise program or into a control group. Gait function was assessed via 3D motion capture and analyzed using the Gait Profile Score (GPS) and the Gait Deviation Index (GDI). GDI and GPS scores of participants suggest deviations from a healthy reference group. The exercise intervention had small-to-medium positive effects on gait score GDI |d| = 0.50 (unaffected leg), |d| = 0.24 (affected leg), subjective functional scores TESS |d| = 0.74 and MSTS |d| = 0.49, and functional tests TUG and TUDS |d| = 0.61 and |d| = 0.52. None of these changes showed statistical significance. Promising intervention effects suggest that regular exercise could improve lower limb function and follow-up care for survivors; however, a powered RCT as a follow-up project needs to confirm the pilot findings.
Health Behavior and Cancer Prevention among Adults with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and Relatives in Germany—A Cohort Description
Authors: Nees Juliane , Kiermeier Senta , Struewe Farina , Keymling Myriam , Maatouk Imad , Kratz Christian P. , Schott Sarah
Published: October 2022

Li-Fraumeni-syndrome (LFS) is a rare, highly penetrant cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS) caused by pathogenic variants (PVs) in TP53. Physical activity (PA) and a Mediterranean diet lead to cancer reduction or survival benefits and increased quality of life (QoL), but this is yet unstudied among LFS. TP53 PV carriers (PVC) and their relatives were questioned on dietary patterns (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener), PA (Freiburg Questionnaire), QoL (Short-form-Health-Survey-12), smoking, alcohol consumption and perception of cancer risk in a German bi-centric study from March 2020–June 2021. The study enrolled 70 PVC and 43 relatives. Women compared to men (6.49 vs. 5.38, p = 0.005) and PVC to relatives (6.59 vs. 5.51; p = 0.006) showed a healthier diet, associated with participation in surveillance (p = 0.04) and education (diet p = 0.02 smoking p = 0.0003). Women smoked less (2.91 vs. 5.91 packyears; p = 0.03), psychological well-being was higher among men (SF-12: males 48.06 vs. females 41.94; p = 0.004). PVC rated their own cancer risk statistically higher than relatives (72% vs. 38%, p < 0.001) however, cancer risk of the general population was rated lower (38% vs. 70%, p < 0.001). A relative’s cancer-related death increased the estimated personal cancer risk (p = 0.01). The possibilities of reducing cancer through self-determined health behavior among PVC and relatives has not yet been exhausted. Educating families with a CPS on cancer-preventive behavior requires further investigation with regard to acceptance and real-life implementation.
Milk Coagulation Properties: A Study on Milk Protein Profile of Native and Improved Cattle Breeds/Types in Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerasingha Viraj , Priyashantha Hasitha , Ranadheera Chaminda Senaka , Prasanna Pradeep , Silva Pradeepa , Vidanarachchi Janak K. , Johansson Monika
Published: October 2022

This study was conducted to assess the variations of milk coagulation properties (MCP) among two native cattle types, e.g., Thamankaduwa White (TW), Lankan cattle (LC) and two improved cattle breeds, e.g., Friesian (FR) and Jersey (JS), in relation to distinctive milk protein compositions. MCP traits, including rennet coagulation time (RCT), curd firmness, meltability and yield, were measured. The milk protein profile of each breed/type was analyzed using capillary zone electrophoresis. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among two native and improved cattle breeds/types in relation to RCT. Friesian and TW milk had the longest and shortest (p < 0.05) RCT, respectively. There was no significant difference in firmness among the four breeds/types. The highest (p < 0.05) coagulum yield was recorded for TW milk, followed by LC, JS and FR. TW milk had the highest (p < 0.05) meltability values. As revealed by the protein profiles, κ-casein concentration was significantly higher in TW milk compared to the other three breeds/types. None of the other milk protein fractions showed significant differences among the four breeds/types. The overall results indicate the superior MCP of TW milk, emphasizing the value of native breeds which could be exploited in the development of niche dairy products while supporting the conservation effort of the native cattle gene pool.
Mastitis: What It Is, Current Diagnostics, and the Potential of Metabolomics to Identify New Predictive Biomarkers
Authors: Haxhiaj Klevis , Wishart David S. , Ametaj Burim N.
Published: October 2022

Periparturient diseases continue to be the greatest challenge to both farmers and dairy cows. They are associated with a decrease in productivity, lower profitability, and a negative impact on cows’ health as well as public health. This review article discusses the pathophysiology and diagnostic opportunities of mastitis, the most common disease of dairy cows. To better understand the disease, we dive deep into the causative agents, traditional paradigms, and the use of new technologies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mastitis. This paper takes a systems biology approach by highlighting the relationship of mastitis with other diseases and introduces the use of omics sciences, specifically metabolomics and its analytical techniques. Concluding, this review is backed up by multiple studies that show how earlier identification of mastitis through predictive biomarkers can benefit the dairy industry and improve the overall animal health.
Analysis of Rare Alleles of miRNA-146a (rs2910164) and miRNA-34b/c (rs4938723) as a Prognostic Marker in Thyroid Cancer in Pakistani Population
Authors: Khan Rashida , Abbasi Samina Asghar , Mansoor Qaisar , Ahmed Mehvish Naseer , Mir Kahkashan Bashir , Baig Ruqia Mehmood
Published: October 2022

Background: Rationale: The miRNAs are short non-coding functional RNAs that are involved in the regulation of transcriptomes. It was found that human miRNA-146a and miRNA34b/c are important microRNAs and are functioning either as onco-miRNAs, or acting as tumor suppressors, in different conditions. To date, no study has been performed to evaluate the alterations of miRNA-146ars2910164 and miRNA34b/crs4938723 polymorphism as a risk factor in the development of thyroid cancer in the Pakistani population. Mutational analysis of rs2910164 and rs4938723 of miRNA-146a and miRNA-34b/c was carried out to check their association with the development of thyroid carcinogenesis. Material and Methods: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with age and gender-matched controls were recruited for the present study. DNA extraction, genotyping of rs2910164 and rs4938723 was carried out by ARMS-PCR. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS software (version 20). Results: The odds ratio for risk allele C of rs2910164 for patients and controls was 23.0168 (3.0321–174.7208) with a p-value of <0.0001, showing that the frequency of the major allele G was lower in patients while the frequency of minor allele C was higher in patients. Similarly, the odds ratio for risk allele C of rs4938723 was 1.8621 (1.0321–3.3596) with a p-value of <0.03788 showing significant association with the development of thyroid cancer. Conclusions: The study highlights the significant association of miRNAs SNPs as one of the genetic risk factor for PTC. It was concluded that miRNA-146a (rs2910164) showed higher frequency of minor allele C in patients. Similarly in miRNA-34b/c gene SNP rs4938723 was observed to have a strong association with the development of thyroid cancer as the frequency of rare allele C was higher in patients.
Molecular Detection of Human Papillomaviruses in Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Sections from Different Anogenital Lesions in Duhok-Iraq
Authors: Othman Adil , Goreal Amer , Pity Intisar
Published: October 2022

Human Papilloma virus infection is the fundamental reason for the development of ano-genital malignancies and knowing the best tool for diagnostic purposes is mandatory. This study investigated the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV genotypes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 125 blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions were collected. Three internal sections were taken for HPV detection and genotyping using the paraffin tissue processing kit and HPV Direct Flow CHIP. HPV positivity was detected in 90 (72.0%), with 77 (85.6%) females and 13 (14.4%) males as follows: SCC 64.0%, CINIII 66.7%, CINII 100.0%, CINI 83.3%, KA 83.7%, NILM 44.0%, Anus 66.6%. A total of 44% of histologically unremarkable (negative) cases were positive for HPV genotypes while in only 64% of SCC were HPV genotypes detected. Sixty-six (73.3%) cases were low-risk, and 16 (17.8%) cases were high-risk genotypes, mostly cervical lesions, while seven (7.8%) cases showed a mixed viral detection. The most frequent low-risk genotype was HPV6 genotype (62–68.9%), while the prevalent high-risk HPV was HPV16 genotype (12–13.3%). In this study, HPV16 was more frequently detected than HR-HPV, but mainly in cervical lesion, while HPV6 topped the LR-HPV infections amongst different anogenital lesions in Duhok-Iraq. Higher HPV positivity among cytological unremarkable and abnormal cases may reflect the higher sensitivity of the direct flow CHIP diagnostic technique. The results demonstrate that screening for HPV is essential to reduce cancer development and planning for the vaccine’s introduction in Iraq.
A Formal Framework for Knowledge Acquisition: Going beyond Machine Learning
Authors: Hössjer Ola , Díaz-Pachón Daniel Andrés , Rao J. Sunil
Published: October 2022

Philosophers frequently define knowledge as justified, true belief. We built a mathematical framework that makes it possible to define learning (increasing number of true beliefs) and knowledge of an agent in precise ways, by phrasing belief in terms of epistemic probabilities, defined from Bayes’ rule. The degree of true belief is quantified by means of active information I+: a comparison between the degree of belief of the agent and a completely ignorant person. Learning has occurred when either the agent’s strength of belief in a true proposition has increased in comparison with the ignorant person (I+>0), or the strength of belief in a false proposition has decreased (I+<0). Knowledge additionally requires that learning occurs for the right reason, and in this context we introduce a framework of parallel worlds that correspond to parameters of a statistical model. This makes it possible to interpret learning as a hypothesis test for such a model, whereas knowledge acquisition additionally requires estimation of a true world parameter. Our framework of learning and knowledge acquisition is a hybrid between frequentism and Bayesianism. It can be generalized to a sequential setting, where information and data are updated over time. The theory is illustrated using examples of coin tossing, historical and future events, replication of studies, and causal inference. It can also be used to pinpoint shortcomings of machine learning, where typically learning rather than knowledge acquisition is in focus.
A Novel Color Image Encryption Scheme Based on Hyperchaos and Hopfield Chaotic Neural Network
Authors: Wu Yanan , Zeng Jian , Dong Wenjie , Li Xinyu , Qin Danyang , Ding Qun
Published: October 2022

Problems such as insufficient key space, lack of a one-time pad, and a simple encryption structure may emerge in existing encryption schemes. To solve these problems, and keep sensitive information safe, this paper proposes a plaintext-related color image encryption scheme. Firstly, a new five-dimensional hyperchaotic system is constructed in this paper, and its performance is analyzed. Secondly, this paper applies the Hopfield chaotic neural network together with the novel hyperchaotic system to propose a new encryption algorithm. The plaintext-related keys are generated by image chunking. The pseudo-random sequences iterated by the aforementioned systems are used as key streams. Therefore, the proposed pixel-level scrambling can be completed. Then the chaotic sequences are utilized to dynamically select the rules of DNA operations to complete the diffusion encryption. This paper also presents a series of security analyses of the proposed encryption scheme and compares it with other schemes to evaluate its performance. The results show that the key streams generated by the constructed hyperchaotic system and the Hopfield chaotic neural network improve the key space. The proposed encryption scheme provides a satisfying visual hiding result. Furthermore, it is resistant to a series of attacks and the problem of structural degradation caused by the simplicity of the encryption system’s structure.
Prices and Taxes in a Ramsey Climate Policy Model under Heterogeneous Beliefs and Ambiguity
Authors: von zur Muehlen Peter
Published: October 2022

In a Ramsey policy regime, heterogeneity in beliefs about the potential costs of climate change is shown to produce policy ambiguities that alter carbon prices and taxation. Three sources of ambiguity are considered: (i) the private sector is skeptical, with beliefs that are unknown to the government, (ii) private agents have pessimistic doubts about the model, or (iii) the policy authority itself does not trust the extant scientific climate model and fears the worst. These three sources of ambiguity give rise to four potential belief regimes characterized by differentials between the government’s and the private sector’s inter-temporal rates of substitutions, with implications for the prices of carbon and capital, framed in terms of distorted Arrow–Debreu pricing theory that establishes an equivalence between the optimal carbon tax and the permit price of an underlying asset—the government-imposed limit on emissions in economies with cap and trade. This paper shows that in most instances, skeptical beliefs and resulting ambiguities justify higher carbon taxes and lower capital taxes to offset the private sector’s increased myopia compared with rational expectations. Conversely, ambiguities created by worst-case fears in either the private sector or in government tend produce forces in the opposite direction.
EEG Emotion Recognition Based on Federated Learning Framework
Authors: Xu Chang , Liu Hong , Qi Wei
Published: October 2022

Emotion recognition based on the multi-channel electroencephalograph (EEG) is becoming increasingly attractive. However, the lack of large datasets and privacy concerns lead to models that often do not have enough data for training, limiting the research and application of Deep Learn (DL) methods in this direction. At present, the popular federated learning (FL) approach, which can collaborate with different clients to perform distributed machine learning without sending data to a central server, provides a solution to the above problem. In this paper, we extended the FL method to the field of emotion recognition based on EEG signals and evaluated its accuracy in the DEAP and SEED datasets, where the model accuracy reached 90.74% in our framework. We also divided the DEAP dataset into different clients. The accuracy of emotion recognition decreased by 29.31% compared to the FL method when the clients were trained using local data, which validates the necessity of the FL approach for emotion recognition tasks. In addition, we verified the impact of N-IID data on the accuracy of FL training. The experiment demonstrated that N-IID leads to a 14.89% decrease in accuracy compared to IID.