bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectral readout of SPR excited in diffraction grating
Authors: Belina E , Mankov V , Kisov H , Dimitrova T L , Dyankov G
Published: April 2022

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing has emerged as a powerful tool for measuring the binding of analytes to functionalized surfaces and immobilized (bio)molecules. We describe the development of a grating for spectral readout of SPR excited in a diffraction grating. The SPR chips based on a metallized diffraction grating have two main problems: undesired reflection from the non-metallic substrate and the half-width of the resonance curve, which determines the accuracy of the SPR sensors [1]. In this report, we demonstrate that a few metal layers with a fixed thickness deposited on a polycarbonate substrate in a certain sequence represent a structure as required for high-quality SPR chips. The structure can provide correct spectral readout, which was confirmed by our numerous experiments. Also, the layers deposition can be performed in one technological step by sputtering or by thermal evaporation in vacuum. We discuss the dependence of the SPR parameters on the multilayer structure parameters.
Extraction of accompanying metals through electron beam refining of copper
Authors: Vassileva V , Vutova K , Markov M
Published: April 2022

This work presents a study on applying the electron beam method for refining pyro-refined copper (as initial material) and obtaining multiple metals through electron beam melting. Studies of and results on the refining processes under different technological modes are presented and discussed. The experiments were performed in single-melt operations with different e-beam power inputs and refining times. Evaluation is provided concerning the extraction of some valuable metals (such as Ni, As, Bi, Pb, Sb, Ag) generated in the condensate during their removal from the liquid metal in the e-beam refining process.
Coherent optical spectroscopy characterization of the magnetic properties of oriented Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Authors: Taskova E , Alipieva E , Kolev S , Koutzarova T , Brazhnikov D
Published: April 2022

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are widely used in microwave components, such as microwave absorbers and anti-reflection coatings. Their magnetic properties are important for these applications. In this work, the weak magnetic field created by the Fe3O4 nanoparticles was estimated using a coherent-spectroscopy all-optical method for measurement of weak magnetic fields. Both the magnitude and the direction of the magnetic field were evaluated through the position and amplitude of a magneto-optical resonance obtained in a paraffin-coated sensor cell containing Rb vapors. A pump-probe scheme was used to prepare a high-contrast magneto-optical resonance. Different possible geometries related to this concept are discussed, including sensor miniaturization.
Design of a plasmonic sensor based on a nanosized structure for biochemical application
Authors: Salah Hocine Ben , Bahri Hocine , Hocini Abdesselam , Zegaar Imane , Ingebrandt Sven , Pachauri Vivek
Published: April 2022

A novel design of an integrated ring cavity consisting of two merged and opposite triangles formed on a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide is suggested and analyzed for refractive index sensing application. The cavity design can be optimized provide the best sensing performance. In this work, we simulated numerically the device design by utilizing the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) technique in a two-dimensional (2D) structure. The detection of the refractive index changes was numerically simulated and analyzed using RSoft™. Small variations in the geometric parameters can enhance the sensitivity achieved, which we found to be 3575 nm/RIU. We believe that the sensor can achieve a resolution of 2.79×10−6. The structure proposed has a simple design for easy and compact realization, paving the way of detecting rare biochemical analytes and for finding applications in optical filters.
Thermodynamic analysis of the processes during electron beam melting and refining of copper
Authors: Stefanova V , Vutova K , Vassileva V
Published: April 2022

In the paper, results are presented and discussed obtained by thermodynamic analysis of the refining processes of copper aimed at removing metal impurities and oxygen via electron beam melting (EBM) in vacuum. Thermodynamic evaluations of the possible chemical interactions between the base metal (Cu) and the metal impurities present in Cu that can proceed during the refining of copper are made based on the calculated values of the Gibbs free energy and equilibrium constants taking into account the physical state of copper and of the metal impurities during EBM.
Simulations of a capacitor with graphene electrodes
Authors: Vachkov V , Kiss’ovski Zh
Published: April 2022

In this work, the behavior of a graphene-based capacitor was investigated by using an electromagnetic (EM) simulator. The graphene electrodes were simulated as a porous structure with a varying pore diameter as derived from experimental data. The main issue in modeling such a structure is the large number of objects with nano- or micro-dimensions (∼millions), which imposes a significant computation challenge for the simulator. A solution was developed by introducing an externally created matrix of the electrode with a fixed number of elements, which allowed the successful and accurate simulation of the complex porous-based structure. The pores of the electrodes are modeled as cylindrical holes in a solid graphene parallelepiped, while the capacitance is determined for different dimensions of pores of electrodes with a corresponding shape of the dielectric medium. The results obtained show a significant increase in the capacitance compared to a capacitor with flat metal electrodes.
Model-based multicriterial optimization of electron beam melting and refining of copper
Authors: Koleva E , Koleva L , Vassileva V , Vutova K , Tsonevska Ts
Published: April 2022

Experimental results on the quality of electron beam melting and refining of copper samples by implementing the “method of washers” are analyzed by using an empirical model estimation approach. The influence is studied of the process parameters – melting power and time of refining, on the residual content of impurities, the refining rate, the overall removal efficiency and the material losses. A graphical user interface is designed and developed for calculation, investigation and multicriterial optimization of the quality of the refined copper samples.
Altering the surface morphology and wettability of chitosan/graphene coatings by femtosecond and nanosecond laser processing
Authors: Filipov E , Angelova L , Aceti D , Marinova V , Karashanova D , Trifonov A , Buchvarov I , Daskalova A
Published: April 2022

A major drawback of the currently used orthopedic implants is the formation of a bacterial biofilm on their surface after implantation. A potential strategy for overcoming this problem is developing micro- and nano-structured motifs on the implant’s surface to prevent bacterial attachment. Additionally, the use of materials with inherent antimicrobial properties could further stall the aggregation of bacteria. This paper demonstrates an approach to obtaining a modified surface topography on chitosan-graphene 2D films via femtosecond and nanosecond laser treatment. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that laser irradiation leads to a strong surface roughness increase due to formation of non-ordered topography features with peak-to-valley distance ranging between 200 nm and 1 μm. Interestingly, sharp single protrusions (∼200 nm) were observed on the untreated samples. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the presence of graphene monolayers within the composite films. Wettability tests showed that nanosecond laser ablation of the samples resulted in super hydrophilic surface properties, which repel bacteria per se. Based on our findings, we hypothesized that the topography motifs of both laser treated and untreated samples could potentially impede bacterial attachment via different mechanisms – reduction of contact points for adhesion or restriction of motility.
Ultra-fast laser modification of poly-lactic acid (PLA) -towards enhanced biocompatibility
Authors: Angelova L , Daskalova A , Mincheva R , Carette X , Trifonov A , Filipov E , Aceti D , Buchvarov I
Published: April 2022

In this study, the interaction was investigated of femtosecond laser radiation (pulse duration τ = 130 fs, wavelengthλ= 800 nm) with poly-lactic acid (PLA) 2D scaffolds. Two sets of laser fluences(F)and scanning speed(V)values were applied to PLA matrices -F= 1.66 J/cm2,V= 3.8 mm/s, andF= 0.83 J/cm2,V= 3.8 mm/s. The PLA samples thickness, roughness, and water contact angle (WCA) were characterized before and after the laser structuring. The fs-induced micro structures were investigated by SEM, EDX, and FTIR analyses. Preliminary cell fibroblast studies were performed. The results obtained clearly show that a precise laser surface structuring could orient the cells matrix ingrowth and thus make PLA bone tissue engineering interbody future application more successful and adaptable to the personal needs of the recipients.
Laser processing of nitride ceramics
Authors: Nedyalkov N , Dilova T , Dikovska A , Nikov Ru , Nikov Ro , Koleva M , Stankova N , Daskalova Al , Angelova L
Published: April 2022

In this work, the surface modifications are studied of aluminium nitride (AlN) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics irradiated by nanosecond laser pulses. The laser processing is performed by a Nd:YAG laser system at four wavelengths - 266 nm, 355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm. It is found that the average ablation rate per pulse is in the order of few hundreds of nanometers, as the laser treatment leads to the appearance of a variety of micro- and nanostructures on the surface of the material. In the case of AlN, a conductive layer is formed on the surface whose resistance can be modified by varying the processing conditions. Using a model based on the heat-conduction equation, the temperature evolution, ablation depth and temporal dynamics of the ablation process are followed.
Study of neutron irradiation effects in Depleted CMOS detector structures
Authors: Mandić I. , Cindro V. , Debevc J. , Gorišek A. , Hiti B. , Kramberger G. , Skomina P. , Zavrtanik M. , Mikuž M. , Vilella E. , Zhang C. , Powell S. , Franks M. , Marco-Hernandez R. , Steininger H.
Published: March 2022

In this paper the results of Edge-TCT and I-V measurements
with passive test structures made in LFoundry 150 nm HV-CMOS process
on p-type substrates with different initial resistivities ranging
from 0.5 to 3 kΩcm are presented. Samples were irradiated
with reactor neutrons up to a fluence of
2·1015 neq/cm2. The depletion depth was
measured with Edge-TCT. The effective space charge concentration
Neff was estimated from the dependence of the
depletion depth on bias voltage and studied as a function of neutron
fluence. The dependence of Neff on fluence changes
with initial acceptor concentration in agreement with other
measurements with p-type silicon. A long term accelerated annealing
study of Neff and detector current up to 1280 minutes
at 60°C was made. It was found that Neff and
current in reverse biased detector behave as expected for irradiated
silicon.
Installation, integration and first operating experiences of the ALICE ITS upgraded readout system
Authors: Groettvik O.
Published: April 2022

The ALICE inner tracking system has gone through a significant upgrade for the upcoming third running period of the CERN LHC. The new detector consists of seven layers of high-granularity pixel sensors, while 192 custom FPGA-based readout units control the sensors and transmit the data upstream for analysis. This contribution describes the current system status and the expertise gained by moving from surface commissioning to the installation and throughout the data-taking preparation period, focusing on the intricate integration with other system components. Selected challenges, issues, and lessons learned during the various commissioning periods are presented.
The influence of thinning and prescribed burning on future forest fires in fire-prone regions of Europe
Authors: Rabin S S , Gérard F N , Arneth A
Published: March 2022

Climate change is expected to increase fire risk in many forested regions, posing a potential threat to forest functioning (i.e. carbon pools and fluxes). At the same time, expansion of the wildland-urban interface threatens to bring more and more people, property, and infrastructure into contact with wildfire events. It is critical that fire be managed in a way that minimizes risk to human health and well-being and maintains forest climate change mitigation potential without affecting the important ecological role fire plays in many ecosystems. Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) simulate processes over large geographic regions and long time periods and could provide information that supports fire and fuel management programs by assessing performance of such measures under different climate change scenarios in different regions. However, thus far DGVMs have not been put to this use. In this work, we introduce a novel prescribed burning (PB) module to the LPJ-GUESS DGVM. Focusing on two regions (Eastern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula), we compare the effectiveness of PB and mechanical thinning on various aspects of the fire regime under two climate change scenarios through the end of the 21st century. We find that PB and thinning, by reducing fuel load, reduce fireline intensity; this suggests that what wildfires do occur could be more easily controlled. While this would reduce risks to human health and well-being, PB comes with the tradeoff of increased fire emissions, which could contribute to respiratory problems. Mechanical thinning reduces fireline intensity by as much or more while also reducing emissions. While net primary production remained unaffected by fire management, cumulative net biome production until the end of the 21st century declined especially under the influence of thinning. While these results are based on stylized management treatments, this work shows the potential of DGVMs in exploring fire management options.
The unrecognized importance of carbon stocks and fluxes from swamps in Canada and the USA
Authors: Davidson Scott J , Dazé Emily , Byun Eunji , Hiler Dean , Kangur Markus , Talbot Julie , Finkelstein Sarah A , Strack Maria
Published: April 2022

Swamps are a highly significant wetland type in North America both in terms of areal extent and their role in terrestrial carbon cycling. These wetlands, characterized by woody vegetation cover, encompass a diverse suite of ecosystems, including broad-leaved, needle-leaved, mixedwood or shrub/thicket swamps. Uncertainties in the role of swamps in carbon uptake and release continue to be substantial due to insufficient data on variabilities in carbon densities across diverse swamp types and relatively few flux measurements from swamp sites. Robust measurements of rates of vertical accretion of swamp soils and the associated long-term rates of carbon accumulation, alongside measurements of carbon losses from swamps, are needed for emerging frameworks for carbon accounting, and for assessments of the impacts of climate warming and land use change on this important wetland type. Based on data compilation, we present here a comparative analysis from a series of North American swamp sites on carbon dioxide, methane and dissolved organic carbon fluxes, aboveground biomass, net primary productivity (NPP), and soil carbon properties including bulk densities, organic carbon contents, peat depths, rates of vertical accretion, and rates of long-term carbon accumulation. We compare these properties for four major swamp types: needle-leaved, broad-leaved, mixedwood and shrub/thicket swamps. We show differences in carbon fluxes, biomass and NPP across the four types, with broad-leaved swamps having the largest CH4 flux, highest soil bulk densities, thinnest peat depths and lowest soil organic matter contents, whereas needle-leaved swamps have the smallest CH4 flux, highest aboveground biomass and highest NPP. We show high soil carbon stocks (kg C m−2) in all types of swamps, even those where organic deposits were too shallow to meet the definition of peat. However, we note there is a significant lack of studies focused on swamp carbon dynamics despite their abundance across Canada and the United States.
Integrable and superintegrable extensions of the rational Calogero–Moser model in three dimensions
Authors: Fordy Allan P , Huang Qing
Published: April 2022

We consider a class of Hamiltonian systems in 3 degrees of freedom, with a particular type of quadratic integral and which includes the rational Calogero–Moser system as a particular case. For the general class, we introduce separation coordinates to find the general separable (and therefore Liouville integrable) system, with two quadratic integrals. This gives a coupling of the Calogero–Moser system with a large class of potentials, generalising the series of potentials which are separable in parabolic coordinates. Particular cases are superintegrable, including Kepler and a resonant oscillator. The initial calculations of the paper are concerned with the flat (Cartesian type) kinetic energy, but in section 5, we introduce a conformal factor
φ to H and extend the two quadratic integrals to this case. All the previous results are generalised to this case. We then introduce some two and three dimensional symmetry algebras of the Kinetic energy (Killing vectors), which restrict the conformal factor. This enables us to reduce our systems from 3 to 2 degrees of freedom, giving rise to many interesting systems, including both Kepler type and Hénon–Heiles type potentials on a Darboux–Koenigs D
2 background.
A generalization of Laurent biorthogonal polynomials and related integrable lattices
Authors: Wang Bao , Chang Xiang-Ke , Yue Xiao-Lu
Published: April 2022

This paper is concerned about certain generalization of Laurent biorthogonal polynomials together with the corresponding related integrable lattices. On one hand, a generalization for Laurent biorthogonal polynomials is proposed and its recurrence relation and Christoffel transformation are derived. On the other hand, it turns out the compatibility condition between the recurrence relation and the Christoffel transformation for the generalized Laurent biorthogonal polynomials yields an extension of the fully discrete relativistic Toda lattice. And also, it is shown that isospectral deformations of the generalized Laurent biorthogonal polynomials lead to two different generalizations of the continuous-time relativistic Toda lattice, one of which can reduce to the Narita–Itoh–Bogoyavlensky lattice.
Effect of rotating liquid samples on dynamic propagation and aqueous activation of a helium plasma jet
Authors: XU Han , GUO Shaoshuai , ZHANG Hao , XIE Kai
Published: March 2022

This paper aims to explore the effects of a rotating plasma-activated liquid on the dynamic propagation and biomedical application of a helium plasma jet. The spatial distribution of reactive species and the associated physico-chemical reactions are altered by the rotating liquid, which shows a significant weakening in the axial propagation of the plasma bullet and a strengthening in its radial expansion at the liquid surface. The phenomenon is prompted by the nonzero rotational velocity of the liquid and is regulated by airflow, target distance and liquid permittivity. The concentrations of aqueous reactive species, especially OH and

O

2

−

,

and the inactivation effectiveness on cancer cells are weakened, indicating that a rotating liquid is not conducive to water treatment of the plasma jet although the treatment area of the plasma jet increases dynamically. This finding is of significance for the plasma–liquid interaction and the biomedical-related applications of plasma jets.
Too close for comfort? COVID-19-related stress among older couples and the moderating role of closeness
Authors: Birditt Kira , Turkelson Angela , Oya Angela
Published: March 2022

Married and cohabiting couples have important influences on one another’s stress and well-being. Pandemic-related stress may influence the extent to which couples' stress levels are coregulated. This study examined the experience of nonspecific stress and pandemic-related stress and the moderating role of closeness among couples aged 50 and over in which at least one member had hypertension. A total of 30 couples reported their feelings of closeness to one another in a baseline interview and their feelings of nonspecific stress and pandemic-related stress every three hours for 5 days. There was no difference in closeness and nonspecific stress between husbands and wives. Wives reported greater pandemic-related stress than husbands. Actor-partner interdependence models revealed that wives’ nonspecific stress predicted husbands’ nonspecific stress (b = 0.17, SE = 0.04, p < .001) and that husbands’ nonspecific stress predicted wives’ nonspecific stress in each three hour period (b = 0.19, SE = 0.04, p < .001) and these associations were not moderated by closeness. Coregulation in pandemic-related stress among husbands and wives was moderated by wives’ feelings of closeness such that when wives’ feelings of closeness were lower, greater husband pandemic-related stress predicted lower pandemic-related stress for wives (b = -0.16, SE = 0.07, p < .05) whereas when wives’ feelings of closeness were higher, greater husband pandemic-related stress predicted greater pandemic-related stress for wives (b = 0.22, SE = 0.09, p < .05). These findings indicate that closeness may have detrimental effects especially when considering emotional coregulation in couples regarding the pandemic.
Your suffering is also mine: Older and younger couples’ responses to the partner’s upsetting memory
Authors: Cortez Jared Isaac , Wilson Stephanie J , Shrout M Rosie , Kiecolt-Glaser Janice
Published: March 2022

Aging theories posit that older adults maximize their well-being by regulating their emotions and investing in their closest relationships. Most research has examined these mechanisms using study confederates rather than close dyads. The existing work on couples has focused on marital conflict; none has examined responses to the spouse’s emotional suffering. To address this, 107 married couples ages 40-86 listened to their partner disclose an upsetting personal memory. Afterward, listeners rated their own and their partner’s emotions and perspective-taking; observers reliably coded listeners’ engagement and disclosers’ emotional intensity. Aging theories offer competing predictions: older listeners may disengage from their partner’s disclosure to avoid experiencing negative emotions. Alternatively, older adults may be more engaged and thus more reactive, given the increased investment in their close relationships. Findings showed that older listeners rated their disclosing partner as less sad compared to younger counterparts (p < .05). However, this effect was attenuated (p = .077) by observed emotional intensity, as older disclosers exhibited less intense emotions. There were no age differences in listeners’ own reactivity, perspective-taking, or observed engagement. Taken together, older adults disclosed with less emotional intensity, consistent with theory. By contrast, older listeners’ ratings were validated by external coders, not driven by positivity biases. Further, older listeners were no more or less engaged or reactive to their spouse’s disclosure than younger listeners. This study highlights a context wherein social and emotional motivations are at odds. Teasing these motivations apart will help us to better understand how social-emotional processes develop across adulthood.
Caspar, an adapter for VAPB and TER94, modulates the progression of ALS8 by regulating IMD/NFκB-mediated glial inflammation in aDrosophilamodel of human disease
Authors: Tendulkar Shweta , Hegde Sushmitha , Garg Lovleen , Thulasidharan Aparna , Kaduskar Bhagyashree , Ratnaparkhi Anuradha , Ratnaparkhi Girish S
Published: April 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, late-onset, progressive motor neurodegenerative disorder. A key pathological feature of the disease is the presence of heavily ubiquitinated protein inclusions. Both the unfolded protein response and the ubiquitin–proteasome system appear significantly impaired in patients and animal models of ALS. We have studied cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in ALS using a vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB/ALS8) Drosophila model [Moustaqim-Barrette, A., Lin, Y.Q., Pradhan, S., Neely, G.G., Bellen, H.J. and Tsuda, H. (2014) The ALS 8 protein, VAP, is required for ER protein quality control. Hum. Mol. Genet., 23, 1975–1989], which mimics many systemic aspects of the human disease. Here, we show that VAPB, located on the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, interacts with Caspar, an orthologue of human fas associated factor 1 (FAF1). Caspar, in turn, interacts with transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase (TER94), a fly orthologue of ALS14 (VCP/p97, valosin-containing protein). Caspar overexpression in the glia extends lifespan and also slows the progression of motor dysfunction in the ALS8 disease model, a phenomenon that we ascribe to its ability to restrain age-dependent inflammation, which is modulated by Relish/NFκB signalling. Caspar binds to VAPB via an FFAT motif, and we find that Caspar’s ability to negatively regulate NFκB signalling is not dependent on the VAPB:Caspar interaction. We hypothesize that Caspar is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of ALS. The VAPB:Caspar:TER94 complex appears to be a candidate for regulating both protein homeostasis and NFκB signalling, with our study highlighting a role for Caspar in glial inflammation. We project human FAF1 as an important protein target to alleviate the progression of motor neuron disease.
Janelle Monáe, Dirty Computers, and Embodied Posthumanism
Authors: Rodine Zoë
Published: April 2022

Janelle Monáe has been a driving force in Afrofuturism and a practical theorist of Black embodiment for the past fifteen years, and with her 2018 album and (e)motion picture, Dirty Computer, she has cemented herself as a pop sensation. While many critics have celebrated Dirty Computer for its embrace of queer identity and assertion of Black humanity, they have often done so by pitting it against her earlier work, which often features her cyborg alter-ego and riffs on iconic imagery from the films Metropolis (1927) and Blade Runner (1982), aligning her with speculative traditions concerned with the enmeshment of human and machine. I argue that the formulation of the “dirty computer” is not a departure but an intensification and distillation of her commitment to deconstructing the category of the human and disrupting the human/machine divide. The body as dirty computer interrogates the efficacy of Donna J. Haraway’s version of cyborg being for Black women, whose bodies have been scripted as less-than-human for so long, by calling on Black feminist traditions from Hortense J. Spillers onward that center fleshy materiality as a means of resistance to the hegemonic construction of the human body. In conversation with scholars such as Alexander Weheliye and Uri McMillan, who argue that Blackness is itself a technics, the dirty computer performs an always already virtual Black body materialized through technologies of the voice and citational practices that disrupt linear temporality. Monáe articulates an Afrofuturist feminist vision for embodiment that rejects transhumanism by embracing the messiness of the body as an essential tool for testifying.
Association Between the Intracellular Tacrolimus Concentration in CD3+ T Lymphocytes and CD14+ Monocytes and Acute Kidney Transplant Rejection
Authors: Udomkarnjananun Suwasin , Francke Marith I. , Dieterich Marjolein , van de Velde Daan , Verhoeven Jeroen G. H. P. , Boer Karin , Clahsen-Van Groningen Marian C. , De Winter Brenda C. M. , Baan Carla C. , Hesselink Dennis A.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Intracellular tacrolimus concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (TAC[PBMC]) has been proposed to better represent its active concentration than its whole blood concentration. As tacrolimus acts on T lymphocytes and other white blood cells, including monocytes, we investigated the association of tacrolimus concentration in CD3+ T lymphocytes (TAC[CD3]) and CD14+ monocytes (TAC[CD14]) with acute rejection after kidney transplantation.

Methods:

From a total of 61 samples in this case–control study, 28 samples were obtained during biopsy-proven acute rejection (rejection group), and 33 samples were obtained in the absence of rejection (control group). PBMCs were collected from both cryopreserved (retrospectively) and freshly obtained (prospectively) samples. CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD14+ monocytes were isolated from PBMCs, and their intracellular tacrolimus concentrations were measured.

Results:

The correlation between tacrolimus whole-blood and intracellular concentrations was poor. TAC[CD3] was significantly lower than TAC[CD14] (median 12.8 versus 81.6 pg/million cells; P < 0.001). No difference in TAC[PBMC] (48.5 versus 44.4 pg/million cells; P = 0.82), TAC[CD3] (13.4 versus 12.5 pg/million cells; P = 0.28), and TAC[CD14] (90.0 versus 72.8 pg/million cells; P = 0.27) was found between the rejection and control groups. However, freshly isolated PBMCs showed significantly higher TAC[PBMC] than PBMCs from cryopreserved samples. Subgroup analysis of intracellular tacrolimus concentrations from freshly isolated cells did not show a difference between rejectors and nonrejectors.

Conclusions:

Differences in TAC[CD3] and TAC[CD14] between patients with and without rejection could not be demonstrated. However, further optimization of the cell isolation process is required because a difference in TAC[PBMC] between fresh and cryopreserved cells was observed. These results need to be confirmed in a study with a larger number of patients.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Black and White Patients Hospitalized With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Qayed Emad , Migdal Alexandra L. , Jagannathan Ram , Miller Lesley S. , Pasquel Francisco J.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly common etiology for liver-related hospitalizations in the United States. The aim of this study was to examine the differences of disease characteristics and outcomes between hospitalized Black and White patients with NASH.

Materials and Methods:

We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify all adult hospitalizations with NASH (ICD-10 code: K75.81) from 2016 to 2018. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics between Black and White patients. Multivariable models were computed to compare all-cause mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital costs between the groups.

Results:

There were 43,409 hospitalizations with NASH (41,143 White, 2266 Black). Black patients were less likely to have cirrhosis (33.6%) compared with Whites (56.4%), P<0.0001. Black patients were less likely to have esophageal variceal bleeding (1.2% vs. 3.5%), ascites (17.1% vs. 28.8%), and acute liver failure (16.2% vs. 28.9%) compared with Whites (all P<0.0001). These findings were consistent among patients with cirrhosis. Mortality was higher among Blacks compared with Whites (3.9% vs. 3.7%, adjusted odds ratio=1.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.71, P=0.018). Compared with Whites, Blacks had a longer LOS (6.3 vs. 5.6, P<0.001), and higher hospital costs ($18,602 vs. $17,467; P=0.03).

Conclusion:

In this large population of inpatients with NASH, Black patients were less likely to have cirrhosis and liver disease-related complications, but had overall worse hospital mortality, longer LOS, and higher hospital costs. Further research is warranted to elaborate on factors that generate the health inequities in NASH outcomes between Black and White patients.
Hypertension in Quilombola children and adolescents
Authors: de Jesus Viviane Silva , da Conceição Nascimento Costa Maria , de Camargo Climene Laura , Trad Leny Alves Bomfim , Nery Joilda Silva
Published: March 2022

To determine the prevalence of prehypertension (PH) and hypertension (AH) in quilombola children and adolescents, as well as to analyze sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics.

Prevalence study conducted in random samples of quilombola children and adolescents from 06 to 19 years of age, in remaining quilombo communities in Cachoeira-Bahia. Identification, sociodemographic, behavioral, anthropometric, and blood pressure (BP) data were used. Descriptive analyses of the variables of interest were performed based on absolute (N) and included frequencies (percentage, prevalence). Pearson’s Chi-square (χ
2) and Fisher Exact tests determined possible differences.

Of the 668 participants, 54.3% were children, 51.2% were male, and 29.4% presented alterations in BP. PH and AH were found in 12.7% and 14.3% of the children, respectively; for adolescents, these values were 12.5% and 15.4%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of AH in the 2 population groups, nor between the PH measurements. Most families reported a low socioeconomic status. Among children, 6.6% were underweight, 14.6% were overweight, 10.7% were obese, 12.7% presented a Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) > 0.5; 70.1% were inactive and 88.4% had a sedentary lifestyle; 5.6% of the adolescents were underweight, 12.8% were overweight, 9.2% were obese, 11.5% presented a WHtR > 0.5; 78% were inactive and 92.1% had a sedentary lifestyle. Normotensive children and adolescents, and those with alterations in BP differed only in terms of the Body Mass Index (P = .007) and WHtR (P < .001). The consumption of unhealthy foods was high.

The high prevalence of PH and AH, as well as of exposure to potential risk factors for AH in quilombola children and adolescents, reveals a worrisome situation, and demands further studies to identify risk factors for this disease and the need for interventions beyond the health sector, especially as regards disease prevention and control in the early stages of life, aiming to reduce its prevalence as adults.
Transverse thoracic muscle plane block as a routine strategy for cardiac enhanced recovery after surgery in sternotomy
Authors: Deng Qiweixi , Zheng Chuandong , Xia Keshu
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze and evaluate the effect of transverse thoracic muscle plane (TTP) block as a routine analgesic strategy for cardiac enhanced recovery after surgery in sternotomy.

Patients received TTP block after general anesthesia and tracheal intubation were included in this study. The baseline clinical data of the patients, intraoperative use of sufentanil, internal mammary artery separating time, the postoperative duration of invasive ventilation, visual analogue scale, the compression times of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia in the first 3 days after surgery, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded.

A total of 104 cases was included and divided to G group (without TTP block) and TTP group (with TTP). Sufentanil use (sufentanil dose/min, sufentanil dose/kg body weight, sufentanil dose/[min kg]) in TTP group was significantly lower than that of G group. In G group, intraoperative use of sufentanil was correlated to the duration of anesthesia (P = .035). The postoperative visual analogue scale pain scores and the compression times of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia in the TTP group were significantly decreased compared with G group (P < .01). The postoperative duration of invasive ventilation of patients with normal and mildly impaired pulmonary function was significantly correlated to the use of sufentanil (P = .027, .009).

TTP block has certain analgesic effect and can reduce sufentanil use in medium-length cardiac surgery and postoperative use of opioids. It is indicated that TTP block can be used as a routine enhanced recovery after surgery strategy for sternotomy in cardiac surgery.
Esophageal stenosis after chemotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Ou Zhen-Fei , Ren Lin-Lin , Yin Xiao-Yan , Zhang Cui-Ping , Xu Yong-Hong , Min Cong-Cong
Published: March 2022

Rationale:

Esophageal stenosis after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients is rare. Distinguishing esophageal stenosis from esophageal metastasis caused by breast cancer is important.

Patient concerns and diagnosis:

A 62-year-old woman diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and no distant metastases gradually developed skin changes, oral ulcers and mucosal injures after four cycles of chemotherapy. Dysphagia was the most severe symptom that greatly affected the patient’s quality of life. Ultimately, esophageal stenosis and ulceration were confirmed by serial radiological examinations and endoscopic biopsy.

Interventions:

Due to difficulties in eating orally, the patient was initially placed on a nasogastric tube in order to improve her nutritional status. Simultaneously, she was administered powerful proton pump inhibitors. She underwent modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer after her nutritional status improved. However, the patient was still suffering from severe dysphagia after more than 4 months of follow-up. Subsequently, she underwent removable esophageal stent implantation after after unsuccessful attempts to dilate her esophagus.

Outcomes:

The dysphagia symptoms were immediately alleviated to a certain degree, and the dilated cavity of the upper esophagus showed slight retraction.

Lessons:

Esophageal stenosis is very infrequent in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy. It needs to be. distinguished from esophageal metastasis caused by breast cancer. Esophageal stent implantation may provide benefits in terms of both symptom control and survival in patients with severe esophageal structures.
Shaoyao Gancao Decoction for limb dysfunction after fractures around the knee
Authors: Shi Xiaohua , Bai Yu , He Xiaoming , Wang Aiguo
Published: March 2022

Background:

After reduction and fixation of a fracture around the knee (FAK), excessive injury, improper treatment, soft tissue damage, and blood circulation damage often lead to limb dysfunction, which seriously affects limb rehabilitation and the patient’s quality of life. Shaoyao Gancao Decoction (SGD) is an important means of treatment; however, it is not widely applied because of the lack of evidence about the effectiveness of oral drugs in the treatment of limb dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SGD on patients with limb dysfunction from the perspectives of pain, limb edema, stiffness, as well as physical dysfunction.

Methods:

The Chinese and English databases, the Wanfang database, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, EMBASE, China BioMedical Literature, PubMed, and Web of Science will be searched from inception to September 30, 2021. Both researchers will select the articles, collect the data and evaluate the quality of the methodology independently using the Cochrane bias risk tool.

Results:

High-quality evidence will be obtained to evaluate the beneficial and detrimental effects of SGD on limb dysfunction after FAK, including knee pain, limb edema, stiffness, and physical dysfunction, as well as adverse events.

Conclusion:

This study will provide evidence regarding whether SGD is beneficial for treating limb dysfunction after FAK in humans.

INPLASY registration number:

INPLASY202210028.
Photodynamic therapy for stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Chhatre Sumedha , Murgu Septimiu , Vachani Anil , Jayadevappa Ravishankar
Published: March 2022

We analyzed mortality (all-cause and lung cancer-specific) and time to follow-up treatment in stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) compared with ablation therapy and radiation therapy.

From Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data, patients diagnosed with stage I and II NSCLC between 2000 and 2015 were identified. Outcomes were mortality (overall and lung cancer-specific) and time to follow-up treatment. We analyzed mortality using Cox proportional hazard models. We used generalized linear model to assess time to follow-up treatment (PDT and ablation groups). Models were adjusted for inverse probability weighted propensity score.

Of 495,441 NSCLC patients, 56 with stage I and II disease received PDT (mono or multi-modal), 477 received ablation (mono or multi-modal), and 14,178 received radiation therapy alone. None from PDT group had metastatic disease (M0) and 70% had no nodal involvement (N0). Compared with radiation therapy alone, PDT therapy was associated with lower hazard of overall (hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.39-0.80), and lung cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.43-0.97). Unadjusted mean time to follow-up treatment was 70days (standard deviation = 146) for PDT group and 67 days (standard deviation = 174) for ablation group. Compared with ablation, PDT was associated with an average increase of 125days to follow-up treatment (P = .11).

Among stage I and II NSCLC patients, PDT was associated with improved survival, compared with radiation alone; and longer time to follow-up treatment compared with ablation. Currently, PDT is offered in various combinations with surgery and radiation. Larger studies can investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of these combinations.
Diversity of academic general medicine
Authors: Takahashi Noriyuki , Matsuhisa Takaharu , Takahashi Kunihiko , Ban Nobutaro
Published: March 2022

Although research in general medicine is diverse, it has not been compared with research in a different medical specialty. The study aim was to understand the characteristics of research produced at Japanese university departments of general medicine and published in English-language journals, via comparison with another academic specialty, cardiology.

In this cross-sectional study, a nationwide survey of the official websites of 82 university-affiliated medical schools in Japan was conducted in April 2020 to identify the heads of general medicine departments. We then surveyed the research output of these individuals in terms of original article output and research field diversity for journals listed in the Web of Science Core Collection of journals from 2010 to 2019. A similar survey of cardiology department publications was also conducted to provide a reference for intergroup comparisons and analysis of covariance.

The analysis included 128 researchers from 78 general medicine departments and 96 researchers from 81 cardiology departments. The dominant research field of general medicine was general and internal medicine; that of cardiology was cardiac/cardiovascular systems. Data stratification by research field showed that general medicine researchers published significantly more articles than researchers in cardiology, a field that contains relatively few researchers. Furthermore, a comparison of individual researchers with the same number of published articles showed that researchers in general medicine departments published across a significantly wider range of fields than those in cardiology.

This is the first study to describe the research characteristics of general medicine university departments in Japan through comparison with research in a different academic specialty. General medicine researchers in Japan comprise a heterogeneous group that mainly publishes research on general and internal medicine. Some general medicine researchers take a multidisciplinary approach to research and publishing.
Comparing the efficacy and safety of short-term spinal cord stimulation and pulsed radiofrequency for zoster-related pain
Authors: Xue Song , Yang Wen-jie , Cao Zhen-xin , Sun Tao
Published: March 2022

Background:

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a commonly used method for the treatment of zoster-related pain in the clinic. However, PRF therapy has a high recurrence rate and many adverse reactions. Recent studies have shown that short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) can effectively alleviate zoster-related pain. Due to the lack of evidence, it is unclear whether stSCS is superior to PRF in the efficacy of treating zoster-related pain.

Objective:

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of stSCS and PRF for zoster-related pain.

Methods:

We searched seven electronic databases from the establishment of the database to January 2021. Related randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. After extracting the data and evaluating the methodological quality of the included trials, the outcome indicators were statistically analyzed by using RevManV.5.3.

Results:

This meta-analysis included 6 trials with a total of 509 patients. Compared with PRF group, stSCS group showed lower pain intensity (standardized mean difference=-0.83, 95%CI [-1.37, -0.30], P=.002), better sleep quality (mean difference=-1.43, 95%CI [-2.29, -0.57], P=.001), lower pain rating index scores, and less incidence of adverse events (RR=0.32, 95%CI [0.12, 0.83], P<.05). However, the efficacies of PRF and stSCS for treating postherpetic neuralgia were consistent in the response rate (RR= 1.10, 95% CI [0.82, 1.48], P=.51) and the complete remission rate (RR=1.05, 95% CI [0.66, 1.68], P=.84).

Conclusions:

In this study, stSCS showed a better analgesic effect and higher safety than PRF. Our meta-analysis results suggested that stSCS may be a feasible and safe invasive treatment for zoster-related pain. However, high-quality, randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed to further verify our conclusions.
Effect of different physical activity training methods on epilepsy
Authors: Zhang Chen Qi , Li Hong Yan , Wan Yong , Bai Xue Yang , Gan Lu , Sun Hong Bin
Published: March 2022

Background:

Over the past few decades, people with epilepsy were advised not to engage in sports based on the fear that sporting activity may cause injuries, potentially induce seizures, and have a negative effect on disease course. However, in recent years, numerous studies have indicated a positive role of physical exercise in reducing the frequency of seizures and improving health condition of patients with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology and health condition of individuals with epilepsy and provide guidance for selecting the optimal modality of physical exercise for patients with epilepsy via a meta-analysis of available literature.

Methods:

A literature search was carried out in MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Embase, China National Knowledge (CNKI), and Wan fang databases to gather relevant data about different physical exercise modalities and epilepsy. We will use Endnote X9 software for studies selection and Stata16.0 software for the data analysis.

Results:

This present study aimed to provide the most up to date evidence and recommendations for clinicians and epilepsy patients to choose an optimal type of exercise.

Conclusion:

Aerobic exercise and resistance exercises both had a positive effect on epilepsy patients. Persons with epilepsy should be encouraged to participate in sports activities.

INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202220070.