bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis and Chemoprevention of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Authors: Saso Luciano , Reza Ahmad , Ng Emily , Nguyen Kimtrang , Lin Sheng , Zhang Pangzhen , Fantozzi Paolo Junior , Armagan Guliz , Romeo Umberto , Cirillo Nicola
Published: April 2022

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD). It is described as a scarring disease of the oral mucosa associated with excess oxidants and insufficient antioxidants. While it is becoming increasingly accepted that oxidative stress results in excessive accumulation of collagen and progressive fibrosis of the submucosal tissues, there is limited data regarding the moderation of oxidative stress to initiate or prevent OSMF. To assess the scope for mechanism-based approaches to prevent or reverse OSMF, we systematically evaluated the existing literature and investigated the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and chemoprevention of OSMF. A search for relevant articles on PubMed and Scopus was undertaken using pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 78 articles were selected in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The articles eligible for assessment investigated both OSMF and/or oxidative stress biomarkers or specific antioxidants. Both in vitro and human studies consistently demonstrated variations in oxidative stress biomarker levels in OSMF and revealed an increase in oxidative stress, paralleling the development of the disease. Furthermore, the use of antioxidant supplements was overall associated with an improvement in clinical outcomes. Having identified the significance of oxidative stress in OSMF and the therapeutic potential of antioxidant supplements, this scoping review highlights the need for further well-designed studies in the development of mechanism-based interventions for managing OSMF.
High Expression Levels of the Genes cyclin-A2 and glucocorticoid receptor Are Associated with High-Quality Embryos in Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata L.)
Authors: Georgiou Anastasia N. , Georga Ioanna , Stamopoulou Andriana , Tzokas Kostas , Koumoundouros George , Flytzanis Constantin N.
Published: April 2022

Identifying early egg-quality predictors is a major challenge in finfish hatcheries, and relevant research is now focused on the development of molecular markers. In our study, we examined whether fertilization rates and early morphological abnormalities in sea bream egg batches of high (HQ) and low quality (LQ) are associated with mRNA levels of cathepsin D, cathepsin Z, cyclin-A2, and glucocorticoid receptor. Additionally, we examined whether these early quality descriptors were associated with the development of skeletal abnormalities during the larval period. HQ egg batches were characterized by significantly higher rates of normal embryos (95.8 ± 2.3%) and lower rates of unfertilized (2.8 ± 1.0%) and abnormal eggs (1.3 ± 1.4%), compared to LQ (84.2 ± 0.8% normal embryos, 12.3 ± 12.3 unfertilized eggs, and 3.5 ± 1.4% abnormal eggs) (p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Relative expression of cyclin-A2 and glucocorticoid receptor was found to be significantly higher in HQ embryos compared to those of LQ (respectively, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). No statistically significant differences were observed in the mRNA transcripts of cathepsin D and cathepsin Z (p > 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Differences in the rate of skeletal abnormalities between the two quality groups of larvae were not significant (p > 0.05, G-test), indicating that cyclin-A2 and glucocorticoid receptor may serve as reliable molecular markers for early prediction of fish egg quality but not for later larval stages.
Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Gynecologic Cancer
Authors: Nakayama Naomi
Published: April 2022

The number of patients with gynecological cancers, such as ovarian and endometrial cancer, has been increasing worldwide [...]
An Improved Automated High-Throughput Efficient Microplate Reader for Rapid Colorimetric Biosensing
Authors: Yang Jinhu , Wu Yue , Wang Hao , Yang Wenjian , Xu Zhongyuan , Liu Dong , Chen Hui-Jiuan , Zhang Diming
Published: April 2022

A high-throughput instrument to measure the full spectral properties of biochemical agents is necessary for fast screening in fields such as medical tests, environmental monitoring, and food analysis. However, this need has currently not been fully met by the commercial microplate reader (CMR). In this study, we have developed an automated high-throughput efficient microplate reader (AHTEMR) platform by combining a spectrometer and high-precision ball screw two-dimensional motion slide together, for high-throughput and full-spectrum-required biochemical assays. A two-dimensional slide working on a ball screw was driven by a stepper motor with a custom-designed master control circuit and used as a motion system of the AHTEMR platform to achieve precise positioning and fast movement of the microplate during measurements. A compact spectrometer was coupled with an in-house designed optical pathway system and used to achieve rapid capture of the full spectral properties of biochemical agents. In a performance test, the AHTEMR platform successfully measured the full spectral absorbance of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glucose solution in multiple wells of the microplate within several minutes and presented the real-time full spectral absorbance of BSA and glucose solution. Compared with the CMR, the AHTEMR is 79 times faster in full-spectrum measurements and 2.38 times more sensitive at the optimal wavelength of 562 nm. The rapid measurement also demonstrated the great capacity of the AHTEMR platform for screening out the best colorimetric wavelengths for tests of BSA and glucose development, which will provide a promising approach to achieving high-throughput and full-spectrum-required biochemical assays.
Treatment Trials in Disorders of Consciousness: Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: Marino Michael H. , Whyte John
Published: April 2022

The evidence base supporting treatment interventions for patients with disorders of consciousness is limited, and rigorous treatment trials are needed to guide future management of this complex patient population. There are many potential study designs that can be employed to develop this evidence, but the process of selecting the optimal study design is challenging. This article reviews common obstacles that impede research progress in this population and a range of study designs that may be employed. In addition, we consider how the particular practical and scientific obstacles may drive selection of the optimal design and, in particular, how the optimal design changes as treatment research proceeds along the translational continuum from mechanistic discovery to real-world clinical impact.
The Influence Mechanism of Urban Spatial Structure on Urban Vitality Based on Geographic Big Data: A Case Study in Downtown Shanghai
Authors: Liu Danxuan , Shi Yishao
Published: April 2022

How can we construct the multidimensional evaluation framework of urban vitality from the perspective of urban spatial structure? Under the current intensity of land development, does the population density in the downtown area of Shanghai have the potential to be improved? Can a subdistrict be an appropriate spatial scale for evaluating urban vitality in central Shanghai? First, based on multisource geospatial big data, a comprehensive theoretical framework of the influence mechanism of urban spatial structure on urban vitality was constructed from the three dimensions of population, land use, and traffic, and 11 indicators were selected to form an evaluation index system. Second, the influence mechanism of urban spatial structure on urban vitality was analyzed from the six aspects of economic vitality, cultural vitality, quality of life, social governance, air quality, and nocturnal vitality, using binary spatial correlation analysis and a regression model based on eigenvector space filtering (ESF). The results show the following: (1) According to the combined impact analysis, the job–housing balance degree, floor area ratio, open space ratio, and road network density are positively correlated with urban vitality, while population density, land use mix degree, average block area, rail transit station density, and rail transit station accessibility are negatively correlated with urban vitality. (2) The correlation between population density and the urban comprehensive vitality index is related to the floor area ratio. Under the current land development intensity, the population density of the central urban area of Shanghai has approached the theoretical “ceiling”. (3) Different spatial scales have different effects on urban vitality. Finally, some policy suggestions are proposed to optimize the urban spatial structure and enhance urban vitality.
Heating and Cooling Primary Energy Demand and CO2 Emissions: Lithuanian A+ Buildings and/in Different European Locations
Authors: Valančius Kęstutis , Grinevičiūtė Monika , Streckienė Giedrė
Published: April 2022

National legal and political regulation in the field of energy efficiency is closely connected to minimizing energy consumption in buildings. Within the framework of implementing Directive 2018/844/EU on the energy performance of buildings in Europe, the practice of its application differs from country to country. This study aims to reveal the differences in the energy indicators of an energy-efficient building in European states. To that end, an analysis was made to compare the results of a single-family home model in 11 city locations with different climatic conditions (from the Mediterranean to Nordic) and appropriate national regulations in place for the past three years. The simulation was done using IDA Indoor Climate and Energy software, EQUA Simulation AB, Stockholm, Sweden. The demand for primary energy is based on primary energy factors. A comparison of overall heat transfer coefficients for walls and windows in an energy-efficient building in different locations was made to reveal the differences in applicable national regulations. The results showcase the primary energy demand depending on the different climatic conditions for building heating and cooling purposes, as appropriate, and on CO2 emissions. The study has shown the energy demand for cooling to increase significantly—by 65% in the case of Vilnius, whereas only a slight decrease in the demand for heating. Furthermore, a Lithuanian energy class A+ building is singled out as an individual case, its energy indicators determined for a different location under analysis.
Structure–Activity Relationship of Benzofuran Derivatives with Potential Anticancer Activity
Authors: Farhat Joviana , Alzyoud Lara , Alwahsh Mohammad , Al-Omari Basem
Published: April 2022

Benzofuran is a heterocyclic compound found naturally in plants and it can also be obtained through synthetic reactions. Multiple physicochemical characteristics and versatile features distinguish benzofuran, and its chemical structure is composed of fused benzene and furan rings. Benzofuran derivatives are essential compounds that hold vital biological activities to design novel therapies with enhanced efficacy compared to conventional treatments. Therefore, medicinal chemists used its core to synthesize new derivatives that can be applied to a variety of disorders. Benzofuran exhibited potential effectiveness in chronic diseases such as hypertension, neurodegenerative and oxidative conditions, and dyslipidemia. In acute infections, benzofuran revealed anti-infective properties against microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, and parasites. In recent years, the complex nature and the number of acquired or resistant cancer cases have been largely increasing. Benzofuran derivatives revealed potential anticancer activity with lower incidence or severity of adverse events normally encountered during chemotherapeutic treatments. This review discusses the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of several benzofuran derivatives in order to elucidate the possible substitution alternatives and structural requirements for a highly potent and selective anticancer activity.
Microsatellite Status Detection in Gastrointestinal Cancers: PCR/NGS Is Mandatory in Negative/Patchy MMR Immunohistochemistry
Authors: Zito Marino Federica , Amato Martina , Ronchi Andrea , Panarese Iacopo , Ferraraccio Franca , De Vita Ferdinando , Tirino Giuseppe , Martinelli Erika , Troiani Teresa , Facchini Gaetano , Pirozzi Felice , Perrotta Michele , Incoronato Pasquale , Addeo Raffaele , Selvaggi Francesco , Lucido Francesco Saverio , Caraglia Michele , Savarese Giovanni , Sirica Roberto , Casillo Marika , Lieto Eva , Auricchio Annamaria , Cardella Francesca , Docimo Ludovico , Galizia Gennaro , Franco Renato
Published: April 2022

Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors. The main goal was to investigate the discordance between IHC and PCR/NGS for MSI testing in gastrointestinal cancers. Methods: Two series were analyzed through IHC for mismatch-repair-system proteins (MMRP) and PCR, with one series of 444 colorectal cancers (CRC) and the other of 176 gastric cancers (GC). All cases with discordant results between IHC and PCR were analyzed by NGS. IHC staining was evaluated as follows: proficient MMR (pMMR), with all MMR positive; deficient MMR (dMMR), with the loss of one heterodimer; and cases with the loss/patchy expression of one MMR (lo-paMMR). Cases with instability in at least two markers by PCR were MSI-high (MSI-H) and with instability in one marker, MSI-low (MSI-L). Cases without instability were evaluated as microsatellite-stable (MSS). Results: In the CRC cohort, 15 out of 444 cases were dMMR and 46 lo-paMMR. Among the 15 dMMR, 13 were MSI-H and 2 MSS. Among the 46 lo-paMMR, 13 were MSI-H and 33 were MSS. In the GC cohort, 13 out of 176 cases were dMMR and 6 cases lo-paMMR. Among the 13 dMMR, 12 were MSI-H and only 1 was MSS. All six lo-paMMR cases were MSS. All NGS results were in agreement with PCR. Conclusions: In clinical practice, MMR–IHC could be used as a screening test and additional molecular analysis is mandatory exclusively in cases carrying loss/patchy MMR-IHC.
Metastatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of Unknown Primary: Clues from Pathology Workup
Authors: Juhlin Carl Christofer , Zedenius Jan , Höög Anders
Published: April 2022

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are diverse tumors arising in various anatomical locations and may therefore cause a variety of symptoms leading to their discovery. However, there are instances in which a NEN first presents clinically as a metastatic deposit, while the associated primary tumor is not easily identified using conventional imaging techniques because of small primary tumor sizes. In this setting (which is referred to as a “NEN of unknown primary”; NEN-UP), a tissue biopsy is often procured to allow the surgical pathologist to diagnose the metastatic lesion. If indeed a metastatic NEN-UP is found, several clues can be obtained from morphological assessment and immunohistochemical staining patterns that individually or in concert may help identify the primary tumor site. Herein, histological and auxiliary analyses of value in this context are discussed in order to aid the pathologist when encountering these lesions in clinical practice.
Kinetics of Catalytic Decarboxylation of Naphthenic Acids over HZSM-5 Zeolite Catalyst
Authors: Hassan Nihad Omer , Challiwala Mohamed , Beshir Dhallia Mamoun , Elbashir Nimir O.
Published: April 2022

Naphthenic acids are naturally occurring carboxylic acids in crude oil with cyclic or aromatic rings in their structure. These carboxylic acids are responsible for the acidity of crude oil, leading to corrosion problems in refinery equipment and the deactivation of catalysts while creating a continuous need for maintenance. Therefore, removing naphthenic acids has become an important requirement in refining acidic crude oil. In this paper, experiments are conducted to investigate the use of HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst to reduce the total acid number (TAN) of a typical acidic crude oil obtained from Al-Fula blocks in Western Sudan. TAN is an important metric signifying the acidity of crude oil. A full factorial design of the experiment (DOE) framework enabled a better understanding of the efficacy of the catalyst at three parametric levels (reaction temperature: 250-270-300 °C, reaction time: 2-3-4 h, and oil:catalyst weight ratio: 20-22-25 g/g). The results demonstrate that the HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst provides up to 99% removal of naphthenic acids via the decarboxylation route. Additionally, the removal efficiency increases with increasing temperature and residence time. The acidity of the crude oil was shown to decrease after treatment with the catalyst for four hrs.; from 6.5 mg KOH/g crude to 1.24; 0.39 and 0.17 mg KOH/g at 250; 270 and 300 °C, respectively. A sharp decrease of TAN was observed at the oil catalyst mass ratio of 20 g/g at 250 °C, and almost complete conversion of acids was achieved after 4 hrs. Another experiment at 270 °C showed a converse relationship between the oil:catalyst ratio and acid removal; suggesting the activation of side reactions at higher temperature conditions catalyzed by excess acid. Finally; a Langmuir–Hinshelwood (LH) kinetic model has been developed to enable rapid prediction of the performance of the HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst for decarboxylation reaction. The model has also been validated and tested in ASPEN® software for future simulation and scalability studies.
Natural Product Library Screens Identify Sanguinarine Chloride as a Potent Inhibitor of Telomerase Expression and Activity
Authors: Yan Siyu , Lin Song , Chen Kexin , Yin Shanshan , Peng Haoyue , Cai Nanshuo , Ma Wenbin , Songyang Zhou , Huang Yan
Published: April 2022

Reverse transcriptase hTERT is essential to telomerase function in stem cells, as well as in 85–90% of human cancers. Its high expression in stem cells or cancer cells has made telomerase/hTERT an attractive therapeutic target for anti-aging and anti-tumor applications. In this study, we screened a natural product library containing 800 compounds using an endogenous hTERT reporter. Eight candidates have been identified, in which sanguinarine chloride (SC) and brazilin (Braz) were selected due to their leading inhibition. SC could induce an acute and strong suppressive effect on the expression of hTERT and telomerase activity in multiple cancer cells, whereas Braz selectively inhibited telomerase in certain types of cancer cells. Remarkably, SC long-term treatment could cause telomere attrition and cell growth retardation, which lead to senescence features in cancer cells, such as the accumulation of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal)-positive cells, the upregulation of p16/p21/p53 pathways and telomere dysfunction-induced foci (TIFs). Additionally, SC exhibited excellent capabilities of anti-tumorigenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. In the mechanism, the compound down-regulated several active transcription factors including p65, a subunit of NF-κB complex, and reintroducing p65 could alleviate its suppression of the hTERT/telomerase. Moreover, SC could directly bind hTERT and inhibit telomerase activity in vitro. In conclusion, we identified that SC not only down-regulates the hTERT gene’s expression, but also directly affects telomerase/hTERT. The dual function makes this compound an attractive drug candidate for anti-tumor therapy.
Medical Comorbidities in MECP2 Duplication Syndrome: Results from the International MECP2 Duplication Database
Authors: Ta Daniel , Downs Jenny , Baynam Gareth , Wilson Andrew , Richmond Peter , Leonard Helen
Published: April 2022

Since the discovery of MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) in 1999, efforts to characterise this disorder have been limited by a lack of large datasets, with small case series often favouring the reporting of certain conditions over others. This study is the largest to date, featuring 134 males and 20 females, ascertained from the international MECP2 Duplication Database (MDBase). We report a higher frequency of pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, gastroesophageal reflux and slow gut motility in males compared to females. We further examine the prevalence of other medical comorbidities such as epilepsy, gastrointestinal problems, feeding difficulties, scoliosis, bone fractures, sleep apnoea, autonomic disturbance and decreased pain sensitivity. A novel feature of urinary retention is reported and requires further investigation. Further research is required to understand the developmental trajectory of this disorder and to examine the context of these medical comorbidities in a quality of life framework.
Time at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Focus Groups with Hispanic Parents
Authors: Hammons Amber J. , Robart Ryan , Gonzalez Guadalupe
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic upended family life, forcing many families to reorganize their daily routines. Hispanic families have been especially affected by the pandemic, experiencing cumulative stressors and increased risks of contracting the virus, hospitalization, and morbidity. To date, there is limited research examining home life within Hispanic families during the pandemic. Given the extended amount of time for which families have been isolated at home together, identifying factors that may enhance or detract from well-being within the home is important in advancing efforts to support at-risk families. In this qualitative study, 29 Hispanic parents (primarily mothers) living in California participated in one of eight focus groups conducted in Spanish. Parents described activities and behaviors during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following six themes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis: (1) parents focused on family time; (2) children adapted to the changes of the pandemic; (3) parents and children engaged in physical activity; (4) children mainly entertained themselves with screens; (5) COVID-19 media coverage was accessible in the home; and (6) parents worried about the virus, and its effects on the future. While findings include anxiety around the virus and its attendant effects, family strengths were also present throughout the discussions. Public policy should consider ways to leverage family strengths to preserve family relationships and routines during future public health crises.
Exploration of Contributory Factors to an Unpleasant Bracing Experience of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients a Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Authors: Wang Huan , Meng Xianglong , Tetteroo Daniel , Delbressine Frank , Xing Yaozhong , Ito Keita , Hai Yong , Markopoulos Panos
Published: April 2022

Background: To obtain a better understanding of the wearing habits and preferences of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing rigid brace treatment, we examine what factors contribute to patients’ perceived discomfort during the treatment. Methods: Seventeen AIS patients treated with a rigid brace were recruited. We asked them to complete a questionnaire and participate in an interview study. Finally, we measure the interface corrective force and perceived discomfort with the participants for different positions and assess the correlation. Results: Our survey reveals that participants scored the lowest in the domains of environmental factors, psycho-spiritual factors, satisfaction, and self-image. Appearance anxiety, physical and psychological discomfort and inconvenience were the three most frequently mentioned problems in the interviews on participants’ daily bracing experiences. A significant, moderately positive relationship between corrective force and discomfort level was found only when participants were lying on their left side, but not in any of the other positions. No significant correlation between treatment length and perceived discomfort was found. Conclusions: Future work should focus on reducing the psychological burden and the inconvenience of wearing a brace, rather than on reducing physical discomfort resulting from the corrective force.
Models and Interventions to Promote and Support Engagement of First Nations Women with Maternal and Child Health Services: An Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Austin Catherine , Hills Danny , Cruickshank Mary
Published: April 2022

Background: Studies show that participation in maternal and child health (MCH) services improves health outcomes for First Nations families. However, accessing MCH services can be associated with fear, anxiety, and low attendance at subsequent appointments. Objective: To identify the existing knowledge of models/interventions that support engagement of First Nations women with MCH services in the child’s first five years. Methods: An integrative review was undertaken of full-text, peer-reviewed journal articles and grey literature, which were analysed to identify barriers and enabling factors that influenced the engagement of First Nations families with MCH services. Results: Enabling factors that influenced the engagement with MCH services included service models/interventions that are timely and appropriate, and effective integrated community-based services that are flexible, holistic, culturally strong, and encourage earlier identification of risk and further assessment, intervention, referral, and support from the antenatal period to the child’s fifth birthday. Barriers to engagement included inefficient communication, lack of understanding, cultural differences between the client and the provider, poor continuity of care, limited flexibility of service delivery to meet individual needs, and a health care model that does not recognise the importance of the social determinants of health and wellbeing. Discussion: Timely, effective, holistic engagement with First Nations women during their child’s first 2000 days, which respects their culture and facilitates genuine partnerships built on co-design and shared decision making with the indigenous community, needs to be an essential part of the MCH service model if health care providers seek to practice within First Nations communities. Conclusion: Improving engagement with MCH services is important for First Nations families, nursing practice, and public health.
VOSviewer-Based Bibliometric Network Analysis for Evaluating Research on Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JPFS)
Authors: Vittori Alessandro , Cascella Marco , Leonardi Marianna , Monaco Federica , Nocerino Davide , Cuomo Arturo , Ottaiano Alessandro , Perri Francesco , Mascilini Ilaria , Francia Elisa , Petrucci Emiliano , Marinangeli Franco , Picardo Sergio Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

Background: Juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain syndrome that affects children and adolescents. Methods: A VOSviewer-based bibliometric network analysis was performed by scanning the global literature on JPFS in the Web of Science (WOS) online database. The search string applied to identify the closest matching articles was “juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (all field)”. Results: A total of 67 articles on JPFS were published from 1985 to March 2022, in the WOS. Regarding article types, 39 were research manuscripts, 16 reviews, 8 meeting abstracts, 2 letters, 1 book chapter, 1 correction, and 1 proceeding paper. The Quartile analysis demonstrated that 44% of papers were published in Q1, 37% in Q2, 8% in Q3, and 11% in Q4. Conclusions: Our analysis highlights that more efforts are warranted to increase the production of quality papers and enhance the connections between the various research groups. JFPS represents a research field still to be explored and which deserves greater investments to obtain quality scientific evidence.
System on Chip Noise Integrity Simulation
Authors: Gavriilidou Vasiliki , Voulkidou Andriana , Noulis Thomas , Codreanu Norocel , Ionescu Ciprian
Published: April 2022

In mixed-signal integrated circuits, interference between digital noisy and sensitive analog/RF circuits is a challenging performance issue. The high cost of chip fabrication requires accurate simulation of the circuits’ performance versus signal and noise integrity. In this paper, a substrate crosstalk noise analysis flow is described and the characteristics of the substrate noise coupling mechanism are analyzed. The proposed noise integrity aware simulation flow properly estimates the substrate coupling effect and predicts the analog/RF victim circuit performance degradation due to noise coupling mechanisms. The methodology is implemented seamlessly in the current standard virtuoso-based design suite and is used in parallel with any commercial design tool, compatible with the standard analog/RF simulation process. The efficiency of the proposed methodology is validated by a full substrate crosstalk aware system on chip vehicle, designed in an RFCMOS 65 nm process. Silicon substrate, interconnect parasitics and package parasitics are efficiently modeled so as to enable the substrate noise simulation. A substrate crosstalk system on chip vehicle is designed in a 65 nm RFCMOS. The crosstalk noise victim is a 5 GHz CMOS LNA and the noise aggressor is a 90 kGates digital logic. It is demonstrated that by applying the proposed methodology, substrate crosstalk performance degradation can be efficiently captured. The LNA carrier degradation and the spectrum distortion re efficiently simulated by identifying all of the noise spurs propagating through the common silicon substrate from the digital logic to the custom low noise amplifier noise victim. The respective inter-modulation spurs are also captured.
Challenges and Opportunities for Nematic Liquid Crystals in Radio Frequency and Beyond
Authors: Li Jinfeng
Published: April 2022

Revving up the rollout of high-data-rate low-latency next-generation communication and beyond (5G and 6G), the trend of developing tunable components based on tunable dielectrics is feeding the appetite for precise beam steering and wavefront phase control with more reconfigurability and bandwidth, as well as power-efficient stepless controllability (continuous analogue tuning) for mission-critical systems [...]
Health Literacy and Clinical Trial Participation in French Cancer Patients: A National Survey
Authors: Ousseine Youssoufa M. , Bouhnik Anne-Déborah , Mancini Julien
Published: April 2022

Few studies have explored the relationship between health literacy (HL) and trial participation. In this context, we aimed to study this relationship in French cancer patients. We used data from the French national VIe après le CANcer (VICAN) survey. Two questionnaire items focused on previous invitations to participate in clinical trials and subsequent enrollment. The Single Item Literacy Screener was used to measure functional HL. In total, 1954 cancer patients responded to both VICAN surveys (two and five years after diagnosis). Mean age was 54.1 ± 12.7 years at diagnosis, and 37.6% were classified as having limited HL. One in ten (10.3%) respondents reported having been previously invited to participate in a clinical trial. Of these, 75.5% had enrolled. Limited HL was associated with fewer trial invitations but not with enrollment once invited. Multivariate analysis confirmed the negative effect of limited HL on clinical trial invitation (adjOR = 0.55 (0.39 to 0.77), p < 0.001) after adjustment for multiple characteristics. Patients with limited HL received fewer invitations to participate in trials but were likely to enroll when asked. Addressing HL is necessary to create a more inclusive health system and to reduce inequalities not only in access to innovative cancer care, but to health inequalities in general.
Phylogenomic, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research Trends in Arachnology
Authors: Kuntner Matjaž
Published: April 2022

Textbook knowledge tells us that arachnids are a hyper diverse clade of chelicerates that have taken on terrestrial lifestyles [...]
Advances and Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure
Authors: Sullivan Ryan D. , Gladysheva Inna P.
Published: April 2022

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) with reduced (r) and preserved (p) ejection fraction (EF) continues to rise globally despite current advances in diagnostics and improvements to medical management [...]
An Exploratory Study of Mobile-Based Scenarios for Foreign Language Teaching in Early Childhood
Authors: Konstantakis Markos , Lykiardopoulou Aggeliki , Lykiardopoulou Electra , Tasiouli Georgia , Heliades Georgios
Published: April 2022

In today’s world, the ability to communicate in a foreign language is more highly prized than ever by prospective employers, which results in more options and possibilities for students, both academically and professionally. As a result of this tendency and the need for new communication methods, language instructors are driven to include cutting-edge language teaching approaches, resources, and materials in their classroom instruction, such as using ICT, or information, communication and ubiquitous technologies. In this paper, we introduce learning scenarios based on two mobile learning apps that facilitate language learning through interesting, interactive settings in a more personalized way based on children’s age. The writers’ emphasis will be on demonstrating interactive activities devised in their classrooms and on providing examples of student work in two languages, English and Spanish. Through this paper, we examine a range of educational tools and determine that Mondly Kids and Language Drops-Kahoot are the best acceptable teaching materials. On the basis of this assumption, we created three distinct groups of students, and the outcomes from the assessment technique show that mobile language learning enhances children’s experiences and increases their willingness to learn a new language. Additionally, students can use mobile applications to improve their speaking abilities and critical thinking skills throughout a language learning session.
Photocatalytic Fuel Cells for Simultaneous Wastewater Treatment and Power Generation: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Authors: Oli Hari Bhakta , Kim Allison A. , Park Mira , Bhattarai Deval Prasad , Pant Bishweshwar
Published: April 2022

Technological advancement is accompanied by excessive consumption of fossil fuels and affluent uses of chemical substances in many sectors, including transportation and manufacturing companies, and so on. Being an exhaustible resource, the excessive use of fossil fuels and of chemical substances may lead to a serious energy crisis in the long run, and it may additionally impose environmental pollution. Attempts have been made in the solution of such serious issues from every nook and corner. Nonetheless, no method has been found to be a panacea in waste water treatment and subsequent beneficiaries. One of the attempts in the solution to such issues is the application of photocatalytic technology, which could serve as a dual function in environmental remediation and clean energy production. A photocatalytic fuel cell is a tool developed for the recovery of energy from organic wastes. A rational cell construction needs the fabrication of photoelectrodes, the design of a photoanode and a photocathode chamber, in addition to an ion-transport membrane for pollution treatment and electricity generation. In this review, comprehensive fundamental assessments and recent developments in the design of photocatalytic fuel cells, their applications, future prospects, and challenges are covered.
Advanced Electrical Measurements Technologies
Authors: Manousakis Nikolaos
Published: April 2022

Many combinations of numbers had mystical implications in ancient times, prompting many mathematicians and historians to believe that the ancients often embraced intricacy for its own sake [...]
Hydrogen Production as a Clean Energy Carrier through Heterojunction Semiconductors for Environmental Remediation
Authors: Bahadoran Ashkan , Liu Qinglei , Ramakrishna Seeram , Sadeghi Behzad , De Castro Moara Marques , Cavaliere Pasquale Daniele
Published: April 2022

Today, as a result of the advancement of technology and increasing environmental problems, the need for clean energy has considerably increased. In this regard, hydrogen, which is a clean and sustainable energy carrier with high energy density, is among the well-regarded and effective means to deliver and store energy, and can also be used for environmental remediation purposes. Renewable hydrogen energy carriers can successfully substitute fossil fuels and decrease carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and reduce the rate of global warming. Hydrogen generation from sustainable solar energy and water sources is an environmentally friendly resolution for growing global energy demands. Among various solar hydrogen production routes, semiconductor-based photocatalysis seems a promising scheme that is mainly performed using two kinds of homogeneous and heterogeneous methods, of which the latter is more advantageous. During semiconductor-based heterogeneous photocatalysis, a solid material is stimulated by exposure to light and generates an electron–hole pair that subsequently takes part in redox reactions leading to hydrogen production. This review paper tries to thoroughly introduce and discuss various semiconductor-based photocatalysis processes for environmental remediation with a specific focus on heterojunction semiconductors with the hope that it will pave the way for new designs with higher performance to protect the environment.
Performance Analysis of Tubular Moving Magnet Linear Oscillating Actuator for Linear Compressors
Authors: Ahmad Aftab , Ullah Basharat , Ahmad Zahoor , Liu Guangchen , Jawad Muhammad
Published: April 2022

To overcome energy crises, attention is being paid to saving energy from household appliances. Traditional compressors are in need of being replaced by efficient linear compressors. This paper presents a new tubular moving magnet linear oscillating actuator (TMM-LOA) for compressor application. The proposed topology utilizes outer mover topology with separators between the mover and stator modules. The number of stator and mover modules can be increased or decreased based on the requirement. The addition of a separator avoids the flux cancellation and makes the proposed topology fault-tolerant. The design variables are optimized by using a parametric sweep, and the performance in terms of thrust force is observed. Both the static and transient analyses were performed to analyze the machine performance at various currents and stroke. Both mechanical and electrical resonance phenomena are discussed. The efficiency of the proposed TMM-LOA is calculated for one, two and three modules. Finally, the proposed topology is compared with other topologies proposed in the literature to show the superiority of the proposed design.
Design of a Compact 1-MV-Class Radial Closing Switch for Tesla Type Generator
Authors: Zhao Liang , Zhou Lin
Published: April 2022

The paper presents the development of a megavolt-class SF6-insulated radial switch. The switch is used as a crowbar in a MV Tesla-type generator to produce pulsed electric fields in very large volumes, for proof-of-concept experimentation of a novel non-invasive food processing technology. The main features of the switch include: (1) Using SF6 gas as the insulation gas; (2) a breakdown channel along the radial direction, rather than axial; (3) a compact configuration with its volume limited to 3.2 L. In order to achieve a ruggedized high voltage insulation as well as an enhanced operation safety, the following design techniques were applied: (1) Structures of the switch were well designed to minimize the local electric filed in the cathode triple junctions; (2) the grooves of surface of the insulators that enclose the switch were finely optimized to keep the surface flashover under control; (3) a prolate spheroid geometry of the high voltage electrode was adopted to achieve a better control of the gas breakdown. This paper describes in detail the design and the preliminary test of this switch.
Wind Power in Iran: Technical, Policy, and Financial Aspects for Better Energy Resource Management
Authors: Mirnezami Seyed Reza , Mohseni Cheraghlou Amin
Published: April 2022

Iran is situated in a wind belt. However, the installed wind capacity in Iran is around 300 MW, which is minuscule compared with the global 651 GW capacity as of 2021. Using novel data from wind trackers across Iran, the paper’s findings show immense potential for wind energy in Iran from a technical perspective. While attractive policies are already in place to incentivize wind energy development in Iran, the feed-in tariff (FiT) for wind energy has dropped to around 3 cents per kWh because of the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial between 2018 and 2020. This paper shows that there is no economic justification for the development of wind farms in Iran at such low FiTs. A minimum FiT of 12 cents per kWh is required to reinvigorate Iran’s wind energy industry investments. Given the extremely tight fiscal space of the Iranian government due to the sanctions and consequently reduced oil exports, the paper argues that a mere 2.14% of Iran’s wasteful fossil fuel subsidies are sufficient to provide a FiT of 12 cents per kWh for wind energy to meet 5% of the country’s total electricity demand.
Friction Factor and Heat Transfer of Giesekus-Fluid-Based Nanofluids in a Pipe Flow
Authors: Lin Wenqian , Yang Hailin , Lin Jianzhong
Published: April 2022

The friction factor and heat transfer of Giesekus-fluid-based nanofluids in a pipe flow were studied in the ranges of 0.5 ≤ Reynolds number (Re) ≤ 500, 1 ≤ Weissenberg number (Wi) ≤ 8, 0.5% ≤ particle volume concentration (Φ) ≤ 3.0%, 0 ≤ viscosity ratio (β0) ≤ 1, and 0 ≤ mobility parameter (α) ≤ 0.5. Our numerical method was validated by comparing the results with available ones in the literature. The effects of Wi, Φ, β0, Re, and α on the relative friction factor (Cf/CfNew), Nusselt number (Nu), and ratio (PECnf/PECf) of energy performance evaluation criterion for Giesekus-fluid-based nanofluids to those for Giesekus fluid were discussed. The results showed that the values for the Cf/CfNew and Nu of Giesekus-fluid-based nanofluids were larger than those for Newtonian fluid-based nanofluids and those for pure Giesekus fluid. The values for Cf/CfNew increased with increasing Φ and Re, but they increased with decreasing β0 and α. As Wi increased, the values of Cf/CfNew first increased and then decreased. The values of Nu and PECnf/PECf were enhanced with increasing Wi, Φ, Re, and α, but with decreasing β0. It is more effective to use Giesekus-fluid-based nanofluids to improve heat transfer with the conditions of a larger Wi, Φ, Re, and α and a smaller β0. Finally, the correlation formula for PECnf/PECf as a function of Wi, Φ, β0, Re, and α was derived.
Experimental Investigation on the Performance of an Aviation Piston Engine Fueled with Bio-Jet Fuel Prepared via Thermochemical Conversion of Triglyceride
Authors: Zhang Chen , Luo Lei , Chen Wei , Yang Fei , Luo Gang , Xu Junming
Published: April 2022

Bio-jet fuels prepared by the thermochemical conversion of triglyceride can be used as complete substitutes of jet fuels. A bio-jet fuel prepared as a substitute of the RP-3 jet fuel and the RP-3 jet fuel itself were, respectively, used to fuel a small aviation piston engine. The characteristic tests of the engine were carried out, and the performances of the power, economy, emissions, and heat release law of the engine fueled with the two fuels were analyzed. The feasibility of the bio-jet fuel as a substitute for the RP-3 jet fuel was proved by the experimental results, which show that when the engine is fueled with the bio-jet fuel, the power and economy performance do not deteriorate; however, the HC emissions increase at small and medium throttle openings, while at large throttle openings, the performances of power and economy decreases, the emissions of HC and NOx increase, and the CO emission decreases. The bio-jet fuel is more prone to spontaneous combustion than the RP-3 jet fuel, so knock combustion would be more likely to occur at large throttle openings, and large cooling air flux is required to cool the cylinder because spontaneous combustion would increase heat release.
Changes in Understory Composition of Rural North American Temperate Forests after a 14-Year Period with Focus on Exotic and Sensitive Plant Species
Authors: Bellerose Julien , Dupuch Angélique , Aubin Isabelle
Published: April 2022

A better understanding of the mechanisms influencing compositional changes in understory plant communities is crucial to protect temperate forests against global change stressors, including anthropogenic disturbances and invasion by exotic species. We assessed changes in species composition after a 14-year period in 20 rural temperate forest stands located in the northern hardwood biome of eastern Canada. We identified species that underwent the largest changes in relative occurrence during that period and assessed the influence of biotic and anthropogenic filters on the trajectory of those understory communities. We found small but significant compositional changes after 14 years, mostly related to a decrease in species diversity in the younger forest stands originating from abandoned pasture. The largest occurrence gains for understory species were observed in these stands, but also in stands with lower understory community diversity. Understory species occurrence losses could not be linked to any of the biotic and anthropogenic filters considered in this study presumably because they were difficult to isolate from secondary successional dynamics. Shade tolerant exotic species showed a small but significant increase in relative occurrence over 14 years, with notable gains in only a few stands. We observed generalized occurrence gains for sensitive spring geophytes during the same period throughout most sites. Overall, the understory vegetation community of rural temperate forests in this region was found to be relatively stable and seems to retain its potential for natural recovery after disturbance.