bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UV-Excited Fluorescence as a Basis for the In-Situ Identification of Natural Binders in Historical Painting: A Critical Study on Model Samples
Authors: Longoni Margherita , Cacciola Ester Sara , Bruni Silvia
Published: July 2022

The fluorescence emission by aged organic binders used in painting is a well-known phenomenon. Several literature studies were devoted to its investigation, both on pure binders and on their mixtures with some pigments. Nevertheless, a systematic study about the real possibility of exploiting such a phenomenon for the non-invasive identification of binders in ancient paintings is still lacking. In the present work, a prototype portable fluorimeter was used to analyze a significant number of model painting samples containing different binders (drying oils, egg yolk, milk, animal glue, and gum Arabic) mixed with various pigments having different hues. The model samples were naturally aged in a period ranging from fifteen to one year. The effects on the spectral pattern due to the different binders, the recipes used to prepare them, and the pigments mixed with them were examined. The fluorescence spectra were corrected for the absorption of the emitted radiation due to the pigments. Finally, the corrected spectra were treated by principal component analysis to determine if the possibility of distinguishing at least the most fluorescent and common binders, i.e., drying oils and egg, existed. It was shown that, even if the technique cannot be effectively applied in the case of mixed or superimposed binders, it allows to put forward at least a preliminary hypothesis when pure binders are used.
Analysis and Dynamic Monitoring of Indoor Air Quality Based on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
Authors: Zhang Xinyang , Sun Zhongmou , Zhou Zhuoyan , Jamali Saifullah , Liu Yuzhu
Published: July 2022

The air quality of the living area influences human health to a certain extent. Therefore, it is particularly important to detect the quality of indoor air. However, traditional detection methods mainly depend on chemical analysis, which has long been criticized for its high time cost. In this research, a rapid air detection method for the indoor environment using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and machine learning was proposed. Four common scenes were simulated, including burning carbon, burning incense, spraying perfume and hot shower which often led to indoor air quality changes. Two steps of spectral measurements and algorithm analysis were used in the experiment. Moreover, the proposed method was found to be effective in distinguishing different kinds of aerosols and presenting sensitivity to the air compositions. In this paper, the signal was isolated by the forest, so the singular values were filtered out. Meanwhile, the spectra of different scenarios were analyzed via the principal component analysis (PCA), and the air environment was classified by K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm with an accuracy of 99.2%. Moreover, based on the establishment of a high-precision quantitative detection model, a back propagation (BP) neural network was introduced to improve the robustness and accuracy of indoor environment. The results show that by taking this method, the dynamic prediction of elements concentration can be realized, and its recognition accuracy is 96.5%.
18p Deletion Syndrome Originating from Rare Unbalanced Whole-Arm Translocation between Chromosomes 13 and 18: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Choi Ji Young , Moon Ja Un , Yoon Da Hye , Yim Jisook , Kim Myungshin , Jung Min Ho
Published: July 2022

18p deletion (18p-) syndrome is a rare chromosome abnormality that has a wide range of phenotypes, with short stature, intellectual disability, and facial dysmorphism being the main clinical features. Here, we report the first case in Korea of a 16-year-old male adolescent with 18p- syndrome resulting from de novo unbalanced whole-arm translocation between chromosomes 13 and 18 (45, XY, der(13;18)(q10:q10)). Three rare clinical findings were discovered that had not been reported in the previous literature; morbid obesity without other hormonal disturbances, rib cage deformity leading to the direct compression of the liver, and lumbar spondylolisthesis at the L5-S1 level. This case expands the phenotypic spectrum of 18p- syndrome and highlights the importance of considering chromosomal analysis, since this syndrome can be easily overlooked in a clinical setting, especially without distinctive symptoms of other organs, due to its nonspecific but typical features of short stature and mild intellectual disability with a mildly dysmorphic face. Moreover, since not all cases of 18p- syndrome with unbalanced translocation (13;18) show the same phenotype, multidisciplinary examinations and follow-up seem to be important to monitor evolving and developing clinical manifestations and to predict prognosis in advance associated with the specific genes of 18p breakpoint regions.
Predictors of Early Language Outcomes in Children with Connexin 26 Hearing Loss across Three Countries
Authors: Holzinger Daniel , Dall Magdalena , Kiblböck Sandra , Dirks Evelien , Carew Peter , Smith Libby , Downie Lilian , Shepherd Daisy A. , Sung Valerie
Published: July 2022

GJB2-associated hearing loss (GJB2-HL) is the most common genetic cause of hearing loss in children. However, little is known about the clinical characteristics and early language outcomes in population-oriented samples including children with different degrees of hearing loss. Insight into these characteristics are relevant for the counselling of parents. Our sample consisted of 66 children at approximately 2 years of age (17–32 months) with bilateral hearing loss due to GJB2 from three population-based cohorts in Austria, Australia and the Netherlands. Predictors of early vocabulary, including demographic, audiological, genetic and intervention variables and the role of medical comorbidities and nonverbal cognition were examined. The vocabulary scores of children with GJB2-HL were approximately 0.7 standard deviations (SDs) below the norms of children with typical hearing. Age at access to family-centered early intervention and first-born position among siblings predicted language outcomes, whereas the degree of hearing loss and genetic subtype were not significantly correlated with expressive vocabulary. In children with GJB2-HL, early access to family-centered early intervention significantly affected language outcomes at the age of two.
Twenty-Four-Hour Urinary Sodium Excretion Predicts Therapeutic Effectiveness of Oral Rehydration Saline in Pediatric Vasovagal Syncope
Authors: Du Xiaojuan , Tao Chunyan , Wang Yaru , Sun Yan , Zhang Qingyou , Zhang Chunyu , Liu Ping , Wang Yuli , Liao Ying , Du Junbao , Jin Hongfang
Published: July 2022

The study was designed to explore whether 24-hour urinary sodium excretion could predict the therapeutic effectiveness of oral rehydration saline in pediatric cases of vasovagal syncope. Eighty children suffering from vasovagal syncope with oral rehydration saline treatment in Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, China, were recruited into the study. They were followed up for 3 (2, 3) months after treatment. Pre-treatment demographic, clinical, head-up tilt test-based hemodynamic and laboratory variables were compared between responders and non-responders. After univariate analysis, variables with p value < 0.05 in the comparison between responders and non-responders were further analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted to assess the value in predicting effectiveness of oral rehydration saline treatment. The results showed that 33 cases were responders, and 47 were non-responders. Blood sodium (138 ± 2 mmol/L vs. 139 ± 2 mmol/L, p < 0.05) and pre-treatment 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (74 ± 29 mmol/24 h vs. 109 (93, 141) mmol/24 h, p < 0.001) were lower in responders than in non-responders. The baseline 24-hour urinary sodium excretion was positively correlated to the duration from tilting to the positive response appearance in head-up tilt test (r = 0.289, p < 0.01). The cut-off value of baseline 24-hour urinary sodium excretion of the therapeutic effectiveness of oral rehydration saline on vasovagal syncope cases was 83 mmol/24 h, yielding a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 73% with AUC of 0.842 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, 24-hour urinary sodium excretion could be a useful biomarker to predict the therapeutic response to oral rehydration saline in pediatric cases of vasovagal syncope.
Children That Are Victims to Civil War: A Social Approach through Art and Culture—Molega, a Traditional Poso Children’s Game: Special Issue
Authors: Abdul Latief Juraid , Ibnu Khaldun Riady , Hatta Ikhtiar
Published: July 2022

Molega is a traditional game that is very popular among children and teenagers and is widely played. Molega has many benefits; it fosters solidarity and social harmony, builds responsibility, and develops honesty, sportsmanship, and egalitarian attitudes and behaviors, which make children happier in terms of mental growth. Before the Poso communal conflict, some games could still be played, especially those that were played in groups. However, several conditions hinder teaching molega to the next generation, such as the increase in modern games that children find more interesting and “prestigious”. In addition, some traditional game tools are difficult to find (such as wood shoots), and the amount of vacant land needed as a game medium continues to decrease. Prolonged conflict has also weakened the molega tradition, but it has had many positive impacts. The results of the social approach applied in this study found that molega, as a children’s game, can foster a spirit of solidarity and social harmony which is relevant and should be to be taught to the current generation of children to create harmony in an increasingly diverse society. Therefore, it inspires a sense of urgency to revitalize various folk games that come from tribes from all regions in Indonesia especially in Central Sulawesi, which can have a long-term positive impact on conflict-affected children. A transformation model requires support from families, schools, and communities to achieve the best results. At a basic education level, special learning modules or studies are needed on the importance of social and community values, which can be introduced by competent institutions at the national level.
The Impact of a Dedicated Sedation Team on the Incidence of Complications in Pediatric Procedural Analgosedation
Authors: Apostolidou Sofia , Kintscher Mirna , Schön Gerhard , Ebenebe Chinedu Ulrich , Bartz Hans-Jürgen , Singer Dominique , Zöllner Christian , Röher Katharina
Published: July 2022

The number of pediatric procedural sedations for diagnostic and minor therapeutic procedures performed outside the operating room has increased. Therefore, we established a specialized interdisciplinary team of pediatric anesthesiologists and intensivists (Children’s Analgosedation Team, CAST) at our tertiary-care university hospital and retrospectively analyzed the first year after implementation of the CAST. Within one year, 784 procedural sedations were performed by the CAST; 12.2% of the patients were infants <1 year, 41.9% of the patients were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade III or IV. Most children received propofol (79%) and, for painful procedures, additional esketamine (48%). Adverse events occurred in 51 patients (6.5%), with a lack of professional experience (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.42–0.81) and increased propofol dosage (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.17–1.55) being significant predictors. Overall, the CAST enabled safe and effective procedural sedation in children outside the operating room.
Asthma Comorbidities: Frequency, Risk Factors, and Associated Burden in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Fasola Salvatore , Ferrante Giuliana , Cilluffo Giovanna , Malizia Velia , Alfano Pietro , Montalbano Laura , Cuttitta Giuseppina , La Grutta Stefania
Published: July 2022

Identifying asthma comorbidities in children is fundamental for improving disease management. We aimed to investigate the frequency of allergy-related comorbidities in children and adolescents with asthma, and to identify associated risk factors and disease burden. Between September 2015 and December 2018, 508 asthmatic patients (5–17 years) were consecutively enrolled. Parents answered a standardized questionnaire on the history of disease and risk factors. Comorbidities were classified based on the involvement of respiratory and/or extra-respiratory districts: asthma only (A, 13%), asthma with respiratory comorbidities (AR, 37%), asthma with extra-respiratory comorbidities (AER, 10%), and asthma with both respiratory and extra-respiratory comorbidities (ARER, 40%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that membership in the AR group was significantly associated with a maternal history of asthma (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.23–7.72), breastfeeding ≥ three months (OR = 1.92, 1.06–3.46), early mold exposure (OR = 2.39, 1.12–5.11), and current environmental tobacco smoke exposure (OR = 2.06, 1.11–3.83). Membership in the AER group was significantly associated with the female gender (OR = 3.43, 1.54–7.68), breastfeeding ≥ three months (OR = 2.77, 1.23–6.22). ARER was significantly associated with all the aforementioned exposures. Patients with AR reported exacerbations in the last 12 months more frequently (p = 0.009). Several personal and environmental risk factors are associated with comorbidities in asthmatic children and adolescents, possibly worsening the disease burden.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluations of Novel Azothiazoles Based on Thioamide
Authors: Sayed Abdelwahed R. , Elsawy Hany , Shaaban Saad , Gomha Sobhi M. , Al-Faiyz Yasair S.
Published: July 2022

Herein we studied the preparation of different thiazoles via the reaction of 2-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (1) with hydrazonoyl halides under base-catalyzed conditions. The reactions proceed through nucleophilic substitution attack at the halogen atom of the hydrazonoyl halides by the thiol nucleophile to form an S-alkylated intermediate. The latter intermediate undergoes cyclization by the loss of water to afford the final products. The structures of the azo compounds were confirmed by FTIR, MS, NMR, and elemental analyses. Indeed, the newly synthesized azo compounds were estimated for their potential anticancer activities by an MTT assay against different human cancer cells, such as lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1). The caspase-3 levels were also estimated using Western blotting and the dual staining technique to evaluate the potency of the titled compounds to promote apoptosis.
A New EGFR Inhibitor from Ficus benghalensis Exerted Potential Anti-Inflammatory Activity via Akt/PI3K Pathway Inhibition
Authors: Alaaeldin Rania , Hassan Heba Ali , Abdel-Rahman Islam M. , Mohyeldin Reham H. , Youssef Nancy , Allam Ahmed E. , Abdelwahab Sayed F. , Zhao Qing-Li , Fathy Moustafa
Published: July 2022

Inflammation is a critical defensive mechanism mainly arising due to the production of prostaglandins via cyclooxygenase enzymes. This study aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of fatty acid glucoside (FAG), which is isolated from Ficus benghalensis against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The cytotoxic activity of the FAG on RAW 264.7 macrophages was evaluated with an MTT assay. The levels of PGE2 and NO and the activity of iNOS, COX-1, and COX-2 enzymes in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were evaluated. The gene expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE2 was investigated by qRT-PCR. The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Akt, and PI3K proteins was examined using Western blotting analysis. Furthermore, molecular docking of the new FAG against EGFR was investigated. A non-cytotoxic concentration of FAG increased NO release and iNOS activity, inhibited COX-1 and COX-2 activities, and reduced PGE2 levels in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. It diminished the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2, EGFR, Akt, and PI3K. Furthermore, the molecular docking study proposed the potential direct binding of FAG with EGFR with a high affinity. This study showed that FAG is a natural EGFR inhibitor, NO-releasing, and COX-inhibiting anti-inflammatory agent via EGFR/Akt/PI3K pathway inhibition.
The Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase and tRNA Expression Levels Are Deregulated in Cancer and Correlate Independently with Patient Survival
Authors: Sangha Anmolpreet Kaur , Kantidakis Theodoros
Published: July 2022

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are essential enzymes that load amino acids to their cognate tRNA molecules. The expression of certain ARSs and tRNAs has been shown to be deregulated in cancer, presumably to accommodate elevated protein synthesis requirements. In this work, the expression of cytoplasmic ARSs and tRNAs in ten TCGA cancers has been systematically examined. ARSs were found to be mostly upregulated in tumours and their upregulation often correlated with worse patient survival. tRNAs were found to be either upregulated or downregulated in tumours and their expression sometimes correlated to worse survival outcomes. However, although the expression of most ARSs and tRNAs was deregulated in tumours when compared to healthy adjacent tissues, only in a few cases, and independently, did it correlate to patient survival. These data point to the general uncoupling of concomitant ARS and tRNA expression deregulation and patient survival, highlighting the different ARS and tRNA requirements in cancers.
WMA Overlay Optimization Based on the LTPP Database: Using the RSM Method
Authors: Herozi Morteza Rezaeizadeh , Rigabadi Ali , Rezagholilou Alireza , Chegenizadeh Amin
Published: July 2022

This study investigates the field performance of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) road overlays containing various amounts of RAP and binder. Rutting, the International Roughness Index (IRI), and transverse, longitudinal and alligator cracking are the key parameters considered here. Our research is based on a Specific Pavement Study-10 experiment (SPS-10) conducted in nine states of North America (eight in the USA and one in Canada) that included 31 road sections in dry and wet regions. Road overlays were evaluated 1 and 4 years after their placement in terms of anti-cracking behavior and were compared with the pre-treatment status of the road. The best rutting resistance occurred at 15% and 12% RAP in dry and wet regions, respectively. For IRI, 30% and 0.0% RAP were the best for dry and wet regions as well. The maximum longitudinal crack recovery rates were found at site 3 (BA01, Arizona; dry region) and site 26 (AA65, Missouri; wet region), with RAP contents of 20% and 36%, respectively. In addition, alligator cracking did not occur post-overlay, so optimal RAP and binder contents cannot be suggested. The greatest improvements were found at site 15 (AA01, Washington state; dry) and site 30 (AA63, Oklahoma; wet). The response surface method (RSM) was also developed to explore the optimal models for RAP and selection of binder contents to minimize the rutting, IRI, and transverse and longitudinal crack lengths.
Estimation of Air Emissions Externalities Due to Shipping: Analytical Methodological Framework
Authors: Doundoulakis Emmanouil , Papaefthimiou Spiros
Published: July 2022

The main objective of this paper is to present an analytical methodological framework for the estimation of the external costs of air emissions from passenger ships. We used as a case study the two main ports of Crete (Souda and Heraklion) and studied all passenger ferries and cruise vessels that visited these ports in the last 5 years (2017–2021). A detailed inventory was created containing all technical details for 10 passenger ferries (owned by three different shipping companies) operating every day, following various itineraries all year around, and 88 different cruise vessels (which approached both ports mainly during the summer period). The estimated external costs due to air emissions cover health effects, materials and building damages, biodiversity and crop losses. Two levels of calculations for the total external costs per pollutant were implemented. At the first level, a bottom-up approach was applied to accurately calculate the total annual air emissions (CO2, SOX, NOX, PM2.5, PM10), while for the second level, the cost factors per pollutant were used as input values to estimate the annual total external costs. One of the most important findings is that externalities comprise a significant amount of shipping companies’ revenues (about 25–35%), thus, implying a substantial revenue loss in the case that they would be asked to bear these costs. Assuming that ship owners will pass these costs on to ticket fares, an attempt is made to allocate the “externalities surcharge” (i.e., the burden of external costs) to ticket fares per transportation category.
Coatings with Natural Products—One Perspective on the Challenges Related to New Coatings’ Development
Authors: Ungureanu Camelia
Published: July 2022

Currently, bacterial infection resulting from the prolonged use of medical devices in contact with the human body is a major problem [...]
Effect of Sewage Sludge Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Kaolin-Sewage Sludge Ceramic Bricks
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Jiao Yang , Yu Laihao , Liu Lili , Wang Xidong , Zhang Yingyi
Published: July 2022

The dramatic increase in sewage sludge production requires researchers to develop and explore more commercially viable ways for alleviating current environmental and socioeconomic challenges connected with its routine management. It has been established that sewage sludge can be processed to fabricate various valuable products or as fuels for electricity generation. In this research, kaolin (calcined from coal gangue) and sewage sludge were successfully used to prepare porous ceramic bricks without any additives. The effect of sewage sludge on the microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of kaolin-sewage sludge ceramic bricks was investigated. The results show that the kaolin-sewage sludge ceramic bricks are mainly composed of mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2), sillimanite (Al2SiO5), aluminum phosphate (AlPO4), hematite (Fe2O3) as well as a small amount of quartz (SiO2). The ceramic bricks present a typical porous structure, and the number and size of micropores increases noticeably with the increase of sewage sludge content. The sintering shrinkage rate and porosity of ceramic bricks increased significantly with the increase of sewage sludge content, which is mainly attributed to the increase of liquid phase proportion and high temperature volatilization. Sewage sludge can significantly improve the mechanical properties of kaolin-sewage sludge ceramic bricks. When the sewage sludge content is 30 wt.%, the ceramic bricks present the maximum compressive strength and flexural strength and high porosity (32.74%). The maximum sintering shrinkage rate and porosity are 12.17% and 40.51%, respectively.
Influence of Processing Time in Hydrogen Plasma to Prepare Gallium and Aluminum Codoped Zinc Oxide Films for Low-Emissivity Glass
Authors: Chang Shang-Chou , Hu Jhih-Ciang , Chan Huang-Tian , Hsiao Chuan-An
Published: July 2022

Low-emissivity glass has high transmission in the visible region and high reflectivity in the infrared region. Gallium and aluminum codoped zinc oxide (GAZO) processed by hydrogen (H2) plasma treatment holds promise for fabricating good low-emissivity glass. The applied processing time is one of the key factors in plasma treatment. The GAZO films were prepared by in-line sputtering at room temperature, and the effect of using different plasma processing times on the structural, electrical and optical properties of the films were surveyed. Experimental results indicate that H2 plasma treatment of GAZO film samples indeed influenced the structure, optical and electrical properties. An appropriate processing time can improve the electrical properties and reduce the emissivity of GAZO films. The optimum processing time is 5 min for plasma treatment of GAZO films. The electrical resistivity and emissivity of plasma-annealed films for 5 min decrease by 59% and 55% compared to those of as-deposited GAZO films. Values of 5.3 × 10−4 Ω-cm in electrical resistivity, 0.13 in emissivity and 94% in average optical transmittance in the visible wavelength region could be obtained for GAZO films after H2 treatment of 5 min in this work for low-emissivity glass applications.
Photocatalytic Activity of Orchid-Flower-Shaped ZnO Nanoparticles, toward Cationic and Anionic Dye Degradation under Visible Light, and Its Anti-Cancer Potential
Authors: Zheng Siwen , Rupa Esrat Jahan , Chokkalingam Mohan , Piao Xiangmin , Han Yaxi , Ahn Jong Chan , Nahar Jinnatun , Kong Byoung Man , Kwak Gi Young , Kim Jong Hak , Yang Deok Chun , Kang Se Chan , Wang Yingping
Published: July 2022

Orchid-flower-shaped ZnO nanomaterials were successfully synthesized via green synthesis and an eco-friendly approach using an aqueous extract of Lycium chinense fruit as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesized Lycium chinense orchid-flower-shaped ZnO (LC-ZnO/OF) nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using different analytical methods through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL). The FE-TEM analysis revealed the orchid flower shape of the nanoparticles, and the elemental composition was confirmed via XPS analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles was determined by the degrading cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and the anionic dye Eosin Y (EY) under visible light irradiation at (400 w) within 180 min time, where it showed a significant ability to degrade both cationic and anionic dye by almost 50%. The LC-ZnO/OF photocatalyst was also used to check the toxicity level in human cancer cells, where it exhibited remarkable cytotoxicity to the human lung cancer (A549 cell line) and human gastric adenocarcinoma hyperdiploid (AGS cell line). The present investigation suggests that LC-ZnO/OF has the potential photocatalytic ability to degrade toxic dye as well as have anti-cancer effects. These preliminary results suggest that LC-ZnO/OF could have a significant impact on the environmental and biomedical fields.
Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide 6 Composites Formed by In Situ Polymerization—Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Influence of Polymerization Temperature
Authors: Li Mei-Xian , Mo Hui-Lin , Ren Yu , Choi Sung-Woong
Published: July 2022

In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 composites were prepared by in situ polymerization via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) in order to evaluate the effect of processing parameters on the mechanical properties and mold filling ratio. At the molding temperature of 140 °C, a high degree of polymerization of the monomer and impregnation of the resin in the preform were empirically observed. The effect of the molding temperature was analyzed by monitoring the mechanical properties (tensile, bending, and impact strength). The mechanical tests showed that the tensile strength, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength were highest for the specimens molded at 140 °C compared to those treated at other temperatures. The experimental results were compared with numerical simulations in order to evaluate the relationship between the mold filling ratio and filling time for large-scale automotive parts with various shapes and sizes. The comparison is of great significance for predicting the mold design as well as processing parameters for large-scale automotive parts.
Modeling and Characteristics of Airless Spray Film Formation
Authors: Yang Guichun , Wu Zhaojie , Chen Yan , Chen Shiming , Jiang Junze
Published: July 2022

Based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) theory, this paper proposes a film formation model and a numerical simulation method that can be used in thickness prediction of airless spraying robots. The spraying flow field and the film formation process in the airless spraying process were simulated by the Eulerian–Eulerian approach, and the airless spraying film formation model including the paint expansion model and the wall hitting model was established. To verify the correctness of the model, numerical simulations of static spraying and dynamic spraying were carried out on the plane and arc surfaces. The simulation results showed that the width of the spraying flow field on the far wall increased linearly with the longitudinal distance in the major-axis direction. The busbar spraying on the outer surface of the arc surface showed the similar characteristics to the plane in the major-axis direction. Besides, the annular spraying was similar to the plane spraying in the minor-axis direction, but the inner surface spraying was completely opposite. When spraying the outer surface, the film thickness increased with the increase of the inner diameter but was smaller than that of the plane spraying, while the inner surface spraying was completely opposite. In the spraying experiment, the plane dynamic spraying and the arc plane inner and outer surface translation spraying were selected for verification. The experimental results were in good agreement with the simulation results, indicating that the film formation model of airless spraying established in this paper is basically correct. As a result, this model can be used for thickness prediction of spraying robots.
BFV-Based Homomorphic Encryption for Privacy-Preserving CNN Models
Authors: Wibawa Febrianti , Catak Ferhat Ozgur , Sarp Salih , Kuzlu Murat
Published: July 2022

Medical data is frequently quite sensitive in terms of data privacy and security. Federated learning has been used to increase the privacy and security of medical data, which is a sort of machine learning technique. The training data is disseminated across numerous machines in federated learning, and the learning process is collaborative. There are numerous privacy attacks on deep learning (DL) models that attackers can use to obtain sensitive information. As a result, the DL model should be safeguarded from adversarial attacks, particularly in medical data applications. Homomorphic encryption-based model security from the adversarial collaborator is one of the answers to this challenge. Using homomorphic encryption, this research presents a privacy-preserving federated learning system for medical data. The proposed technique employs a secure multi-party computation protocol to safeguard the deep learning model from adversaries. The proposed approach is tested in terms of model performance using a real-world medical dataset in this paper.
Effects of Sc Microalloying on Microstructure and Properties of As-Extruded Al-5Mg Alloy
Authors: Jiang Long , Zhang Zhifeng , Wang Yabao , Bai Yuelong , Mao Weimin
Published: July 2022

Al-Mg alloys were fabricated by hot extrusion process after vacuum + argon-protected casting. The effects of Sc microalloying on microstructure and properties of as-extruded Al-5Mg alloy were studied. The results show that alloy 2 containing Sc is partially recrystallized during hot extrusion, resulting in the structure of alloy 2 consisting of 21.8% equiaxed recrystallized structure and 78.2% fine banding structure. The grain size of alloy 2 is about 5.31 μm, which is 83.3% finer than that of alloy 1 without Sc. The sum of the yield strength increments due to grain boundary strengthening (σGB) in alloy 2 is 103.59 MPa, where low angle grain boundary strengthening (σLAGB) is increased by a factor of 4.5, and high angle grain boundary strengthening (σHAGB) is increased by 73.4% compared to that of alloy 1. The addition of 0.2% Sc leads to an increase in the lattice strain and dislocation density of alloy 2, and the dislocation strength (σdis) increases to 41.85 MPa. The alloy 2 with Sc has a higher tensile strength of 380.7 MPa, which is 34.1% higher than that of alloy 1, but alloy 2 has a 46.2% reduction in elongation compared to alloy 1.
The Impact of Full-Scale Substitution of Ca2+ with Ni2+ Ions on Brushite’s Crystal Structure and Phase Composition
Authors: Alshaaer Mazen , Issa Khalil , Afify Ahmed S. , Moustapha Moustapha E. , Alanazi Abdulaziz A. , Elsanousi Ammar , Qahtan Talal F.
Published: July 2022

Because the impact of the full-scale substitution of Ca2+ in brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O) with Ni2+ ions has never been systematically explored, it is the focus of this investigation, as it holds potential for use in CaxNi1−xHPO4·nH2O production. These biomaterials have many beneficial characteristics that can be modified to suit diverse applications, including bone tissue regeneration and pharmaceutics. For the present study, NaH2PO4·2H2O, Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, and Ni(NO3)2·6H2O were used in various molar concentrations to obtain the required starting solutions. Previous studies have shown that adding Ni ions in the initial solution below 20% results in the precipitation of monophasic brushite with slight changes in the crystal structure. However, this study confirms that when the Ni ions substitution increases to 20%, a mixture of phases from both brushite and hexaaquanickel(II) hydrogenphosphate monohydrate HNiP (Ni(H2O)6·HPO4·H2O) is formed. The results confirm that the full replacement (100%) of Ca ions by Ni ions results in a monophasic compound solely comprising orthorhombic HNiP nanocrystals. Therefore, a novel technique of HNiP synthesis using the precipitation method is introduced in this research work. These materials are subsequently analyzed utilizing powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained results confirm that the material microstructure is controlled by the Ni/Ca ratio in the starting solution and can be modified to obtain the desired characteristics of phases and crystals.
Anisotropy of the Electric Field Gradient in Two-Dimensional α-MoO3 Investigated by 57Mn(57Fe) Emission Mössbauer Spectroscopy
Authors: Schell Juliana , Zyabkin Dmitry , Bharuth-Ram Krish , Gonçalves João N. , Díaz-Guerra Carlos , Gunnlaugsson Haraldur P. , Martín-Luengo Aitana Tarazaga , Schaaf Peter , Bonanni Alberta , Masenda Hilary , Dang Thien Thanh , Mølholt Torben E. , Ólafsson Sveinn , Unzueta Iraultza , Mantovan Roberto , Johnston Karl , Gíslason Hafliði P. , Krastev Petko B. , Naidoo Deena , Qi Bingcui
Published: July 2022

Van der Waals α-MoO3 samples offer a wide range of attractive catalytic, electronic, and optical properties. We present herein an emission Mössbauer spectroscopy (eMS) study of the electric-field gradient (EFG) anisotropy in crystalline free-standing α-MoO3 samples. Although α-MoO3 is a two-dimensional (2D) material, scanning electron microscopy shows that the crystals are 0.5–5-µm thick. The combination of X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy, performed after sample preparation, provided evidence of the phase purity and crystal quality of the samples. The eMS measurements were conducted following the implantation of 57Mn (t1/2 = 1.5 min), which decays to the 57Fe, 14.4 keV Mössbauer state. The eMS spectra of the samples are dominated by a paramagnetic doublet (D1) with an angular dependence, pointing to the Fe2+ probe ions being in a crystalline environment. It is attributed to an asymmetric EFG at the eMS probe site originating from strong in-plane covalent bonds and weak out-of-plane van der Waals interactions in the 2D material. Moreover, a second broad component, D2, can be assigned to Fe3+ defects that are dynamically generated during the online measurements. The results are compared to ab initio simulations and are discussed in terms of the in-plane and out-of-plane interactions in the system.
Endoscopic Treatment of Superficial Gastric Cancer: Present Status and Future
Authors: Hisada Hiroyuki , Sakaguchi Yoshiki , Oshio Kaori , Mizutani Satoru , Nakagawa Hideki , Sato Junichi , Kubota Dai , Obata Miho , Cho Rina , Nagao Sayaka , Miura Yuko , Mizutani Hiroya , Ohki Daisuke , Yakabi Seiichi , Takahashi Yu , Kakushima Naomi , Tsuji Yosuke , Yamamichi Nobutake , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: July 2022

Although the mortality rates of gastric cancer (GC) are gradually declining, gastric cancer is still the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This may be due to the high rate of patients who are diagnosed with GC at advanced stages. However, in countries such as Japan with endoscopic screening systems, more than half of GCs are discovered at an early stage, enabling endoscopic resection (ER). Especially after the introduction of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Japan around 2000, a high en bloc resection rate allowing pathological assessment of margin and depth has become possible. While ER is a diagnostic method of treatment and may not always be curative, it is widely accepted as standard treatment because it is less invasive than surgery and can provide an accurate diagnosis for deciding whether additional surgery is necessary. The curability of ER is currently assessed by the completeness of primary tumor removal and the possibility of lymph node metastasis. This review introduces methods, indications, and curability criteria for ER of EGC. Despite recent advances, several problems remain unsolved. This review will also outline the latest evidence concerning future issues.
Clinical Significance of Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential in Hematology and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Hoermann Gregor
Published: July 2022

Liquid profiling uses circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for minimal invasive tumor mutational profiling from peripheral blood. The presence of somatic mutations in peripheral blood cells without further evidence of a hematologic neoplasm defines clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). CHIP-mutations can be found in the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of plasma, are a potential cause of false positive results in liquid profiling, and thus limit its usage in screening settings. Various strategies are in place to mitigate the effect of CHIP on the performance of ctDNA assays, but the detection of CHIP also represents a clinically significant incidental finding. The sequelae of CHIP comprise the risk of progression to a hematologic neoplasm including therapy-related myeloid neoplasms. While the hematological risk increases with the co-occurrence of unexplained blood count abnormalities, a number of non-hematologic diseases have independently been associated with CHIP. In particular, CHIP represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis or heart failure. The management of CHIP requires an interdisciplinary setting and represents a new topic in the field of cardio-oncology. In the future, the information on CHIP may be taken into account for personalized therapy of cancer patients.
Co-Infections and Superinfections in COVID-19 Critically Ill Patients Are Associated with CT Imaging Abnormalities and the Worst Outcomes
Authors: Brandi Nicolò , Ciccarese Federica , Balacchi Caterina , Rimondi Maria Rita , Modolon Cecilia , Sportoletti Camilla , Capozzi Chiara , Renzulli Matteo , Paccapelo Alexandro , Castelli Andrea , Golfieri Rita
Published: July 2022

Background: Bacterial and fungal co-infections and superinfections have a critical role in the outcome of the COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: The present study is a retrospective analysis of 95 patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19-related ARDS during the first (February–May 2020) and second waves of the pandemic (October 2020–January 2021). Demographic and clinical data, CT imaging features, and pulmonary and extra-pulmonary complications were recorded, as well as the temporal evolution of CT findings when more than one scan was available. The presence of co-infections and superinfections was registered, reporting the culprit pathogens and the specimen type for culture. A comparison between patients with and without bacterial and/or co-infections/superinfections was performed. Results: Sixty-three patients (66.3%) developed at least one confirmed co-infection/superinfection, with 52 (82.5%) developing pneumonia and 43 (68.3%) bloodstream infection. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common co-pathogens identified and Aspergillus spp. was the most frequent pulmonary microorganism. Consolidations, cavitations, and bronchiectasis were significantly associated with the presence of co-infections/superinfections (p = 0.009, p = 0.010 and p = 0.009, respectively); when considering only patients with pulmonary co-pathogens, only consolidations remained statistically significative (p = 0.004). Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was significantly associated with the presence of cavitations and bronchiectasis (p < 0.001). Patients with co-infections/superinfections presented a significantly higher mortality rate compared to patients with COVID-19 only (52.4% vs. 25%, p = 0.016). Conclusions: Bacterial and fungal co-infections and superinfections are frequent in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU and are associated with worse outcomes. Imaging plays an important role in monitoring critically ill COVID-19 patients and may help detect these complications, suggesting further laboratory investigations.
Comparison between Machine Learning and Multiple Linear Regression to Identify Abnormal Thallium Myocardial Perfusion Scan in Chinese Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Lin Jiunn-Diann , Pei Dee , Chen Fang-Yu , Wu Chung-Ze , Lu Chieh-Hua , Huang Li-Ying , Kuo Chun-Heng , Kuo Shi-Wen , Chen Yen-Lin
Published: July 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have a high risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scan (Th-201 scan) is a non-invasive and extensively used tool in recognizing CAD in clinical settings. In this study, we attempted to compare the predictive accuracy of evaluating abnormal Th-201 scans using traditional multiple linear regression (MLR) with four machine learning (ML) methods. From the study, we can determine whether ML surpasses traditional MLR and rank the clinical variables and compare them with previous reports.In total, 796 T2DM, including 368 men and 528 women, were enrolled. In addition to traditional MLR, classification and regression tree (CART), random forest (RF), stochastic gradient boosting (SGB) and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were also used to analyze abnormal Th-201 scans. Stress sum score was used as the endpoint (dependent variable). Our findings show that all four root mean square errors of ML are smaller than with MLR, which implies that ML is more precise than MLR in determining abnormal Th-201 scans by using clinical parameters. The first seven factors, from the most important to the least are:body mass index, hemoglobin, age, glycated hemoglobin, Creatinine, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, ML is not inferior to traditional MLR in predicting abnormal Th-201 scans, and the most important factors are body mass index, hemoglobin, age, glycated hemoglobin, creatinine, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. ML methods are superior in these kinds of studies.
Noninvasive NMR/MRS Metabolic Parameters to Evaluate Metabolic Syndrome in Rats
Authors: Htun Khin Thandar , Jaikumkao Krit , Pan Jie , Moe Moe Aye Thidar , Intachai Nuttawadee , Promsan Sasivimon , Lungkaphin Anusorn , Tapanya Monruedee , Pasanta Duanghathai , Tungjai Montree , Kaewjaeng Siriprapa , Kim Hong Joo , Kaewkhao Jakrapong , Lai Christopher , Kothan Suchart
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: Ectopic fat deposition and its effects, metabolic syndrome, have been significantly correlated to lifestyle and caloric consumption. There is no specific noninvasive evaluation tool being used in order to establish clinical markers for tracing the metabolic pathway implicated in obesity-related abnormalities that occur in the body as a result of a high-fat diet (HFD). The purpose of this work is to investigate in vivo ectopic fat distribution and in vitro metabolite profiles given by HFDs, as well as how they are inter-related, in order to find surrogate metabolic biomarkers in the development of metabolic syndrome utilizing noninvasive approaches. (2) Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into a standard normal chow diet, ND group, and HFD group. After 16 weeks of different diet administration, blood samples were collected for proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and biochemical analysis. Magnetic resonance imaging/proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRI/1H MRS) was performed on the abdomen, liver, and psoas muscle of the rats. (3) Results: Visceral fat showed the strongest relationship with blood cholesterol. Although liver fat content (LFC) was not associated with any biophysical profiles, it had the highest correlation with metabolites such as (-CH2)n very-low-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein (VLDL/LDL), lactate, and N-acetyl glycoprotein of serum 1H NMR. HFD showed no obvious influence on muscle fat accumulation. Acetoacetate, N-acetyl glycoprotein, lactate, (-CH2)n VLDL/LDL, and valine were the five possible metabolic biomarkers used to differentiate HFD from ND in the present study. (4) Conclusions: Our study has validated the influence of long-term HFD-induced ectopic fat on body metabolism as well as the metabolic profile deterioration both in vivo and in vitro.
Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging Provides Quantification of the Renal Cortical and Medullary Vasculature in Obese Zucker Rats: A Pilot Study
Authors: Søgaard Stinne Byrholdt , Andersen Sofie Bech , Taghavi Iman , Hoyos Carlos Armando Villagómez , Christoffersen Christina , Hansen Kristoffer Lindskov , Jensen Jørgen Arendt , Nielsen Michael Bachmann , Sørensen Charlotte Mehlin
Published: July 2022

Obesity is a risk factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to alterations in the renal vascular structure. This study tested if renal vascular density and tortuosity was quantifiable in vivo in obese rats using microbubble-based super-resolution ultrasound imaging. The kidneys of two 11-week-old and two 20-week-old male obese Zucker rats were compared with age-matched male lean Zucker rats. The super-resolution ultrasound images were manually divided into inner medulla, outer medulla, and cortex, and each area was subdivided into arteries and veins. We quantified vascular density and tortuosity, number of detected microbubbles, and generated tracks. For comparison, we assessed glomerular filtration rate, albumin/creatinine ratio, and renal histology to evaluate CKD. The number of detected microbubbles and generated tracks varied between animals and significantly affected quantification of vessel density. In areas with a comparable number of tracks, density increased in the obese animals, concomitant with a decrease in glomerular filtration rate and an increase in albumin/creatinine ratio, but without any pathology in the histological staining. The results indicate that super-resolution ultrasound imaging can be used to quantify structural alterations in the renal vasculature. Techniques to generate more comparable number of microbubble tracks and confirmation of the findings in larger-scale studies are needed.
Effects of Resveratrol on Metabolic, Biochemical, and Endocrine Manifestations in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Dubey Pallavi , Shi Ted , Coltharp Mallorie , Reddy Sireesha
Published: July 2022

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic disorder frequently associated with insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic stilbene found in trace amounts in some food items. It has been extensively used as a treatment option for metabolic disorders but its use in PCOS treatment has been limited. This review emphasizes the effect of resveratrol on the clinical features of PCOS, ovarian morphology, androgen profile, markers of oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and metabolic markers associated with PCOS.