bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Multilevel Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Fatigue, Stress and Resilience
Authors: Jung Su Young , Mun Young Min , Lee Gyu Man , Kim Sung Wan
Published: September 2023

Objective: To evaluate the effects of surgical treatment on fatigue, stress, and resilience in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Sixty patients who underwent multilevel sleep surgery for OSA (OSA group) and 32 non-OSA participants (control group) were recruited at a university hospital in Korea between January 2020 and March 2022. Fatigue, stress, and resilience levels were evaluated in both groups using the Chalder fatigue scale (CFS), daily hassles scale revised (DHS-R), and Connor–Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), respectively. The scores of each group were compared before and 6 months after surgery. Results: The initial CFS and DHS-R scores were significantly higher, while the CD-RISC score was significantly lower, in the OSA group than in the control group (p < 0.05). In the patients with OSA, all three scores significantly improved after surgery (p < 0.05). Additionally, when compared between the groups at 6 months, there were no differences in the CFS, DHS-R, or CD-RISC scores (p > 0.05). Even when the OSA group was divided into a success group and a failure group according to surgical outcomes and compared with the control group, the three scores of both groups did not show statistical differences from the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Multilevel surgery may reduce fatigue as well as stress and increase resilience in patients with OSA to levels similar to those in non-OSA individuals.
Nonsteroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist (Finerenone) in Cardiorenal Disease
Authors: Shah Monarch , Awad Alaa , Abdel-Rahman Emaad
Published: September 2023

Nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) present a promising therapeutic option in cardiorenal diseases, mitigating the limitations of steroidal MRAs. Finerenone, a third-generation nonsteroidal MRA, has demonstrated beneficial effects in heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Clinical trials, including FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD, revealed finerenone’s efficacy in improving kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on finerenone experienced reduced rates of cardiovascular events, including hospitalization for HF. However, these trials excluded symptomatic HF patients, focusing on asymptomatic or early-stage HF. The ongoing FINEARTS-HF trial evaluates finerenone in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Additionally, studies exploring finerenone and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors’ (Empagliflozin) combination effects in CKD and T2DM (CONFIDENCE) and the selective MR modulator AZD9977 with another SGLT2 inhibitor (dapagliflozin) in HF and CKD (MIRACLE) aim to expand treatment options. While SGLT-2 inhibitors were shown to reduce hyperkalemia risk in FIDELIO-DKD and potentially lower new-onset HF incidence in FIGARO-DKD, further research is essential. So far, the evidence for the beneficial effect of finerenone in the spectrum of cardiorenal diseases is based only on the results of studies conducted in patients with T2DM, and clinical trials of finerenone in patients with nondiabetic kidney disease are ongoing. Nonsteroidal MRAs hold significant potential as pivotal treatment targets across the cardiorenal disease spectrum. This review will focus on the effects of finerenone on cardiorenal disease.
Preprocedural D-Dimer Level as a Predictor of First-Pass Recanalization and Functional Outcome in Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Baek Jang-Hyun , Heo Ji Hoe , Nam Hyo Suk , Kim Byung Moon , Kim Dong Joon , Kim Young Dae
Published: September 2023

We aimed to evaluate the association between preprocedural D-dimer levels and endovascular and clinical outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed patients with acute intracranial large-vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Plasma D-dimer levels were measured immediately before the endovascular procedure. Endovascular outcomes included successful recanalization, first-pass recanalization (first-pass effect (FPE) and modified FPE (mFPE)), thrombus fragmentation, and the number of passes of the thrombectomy device. Clinical outcomes were assessed at 3 months using the modified Rankin Scale. A total of 215 patients were included. Preprocedural D-dimer levels were lower in patients with FPE (606.0 ng/mL [interquartile range, 268.0–1062.0]) than in those without (879.0 ng/mL [437.0–2748.0]; p = 0.002). Preprocedural D-dimer level was the only factor affecting FPE (odds ratio, 0.92 [95% confidence interval, 0.85–0.98] per 500 ng/mL; p = 0.022). D-dimer levels did not differ significantly based on successful recanalization and thrombus fragmentation. The number of passes of the thrombectomy device was higher (p = 0.002 for trend) and the puncture-to-recanalization time was longer (p = 0.044 for trend) as the D-dimer levels increased. Patients with favorable outcome had significantly lower D-dimer levels (495.0 ng/mL [290.0–856.0]) than those without (1189.0 ng/mL [526.0–3208.0]; p < 0.001). Preprocedural D-dimer level was an independent factor for favorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.88 [0.81–0.97] per 500 ng/mL; p = 0.008). In conclusion, higher preprocedural D-dimer levels were significantly associated with poor endovascular and unfavorable functional outcomes.
Sexuality in Postmenopausal Women with Genital Prolapse
Authors: Fernández Rísquez Ana Cristina , Carballo García Antonio , Hijona Elósegui Jesús Joaquín , Mendoza Ladrón de Guevara Nicolás , Presa Lorite Jesús Carlos
Published: September 2023

Background: One of the most common complaints among menopausal women concerns changes in sexual function. This is attributed to various factors, including anatomical defects in the genital tract, with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) being one of the most prevalent problems affecting women during this stage of their lives. Additionally, symptoms resulting from gonadal hypofunction can also contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction during menopause. This research aimed to explore the way in which postmenopausal patients with POP experienced their sexuality in our setting. Methods: To achieve the proposed objective, we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study involving a total of 133 postmenopausal women with POP. Results: The results of our series are consistent with the scarce literature available in our setting and suggest a high rate of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal patients with POP. Conclusions: We can conclude that POP is associated with the presence of female sexual dysfunction.
“De Novo” Psoriasis and Relapse of Psoriasis Induced by Dupilumab: Three New Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Trave Ilaria , Salvi Ilaria , Burlando Martina , Cozzani Emanuele , Parodi Aurora
Published: September 2023

Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are traditionally considered diseases that cannot coexist, since they are described as the result of the activation of opposing inflammatory pathways. However, this belief has been debunked, and numerous cases of psoriasis induced by dupilumab, a biologic treatment for atopic dermatitis, have been reported. We report three cases of dupilumab-induced psoriasis and we present a literature review including cases of “de novo” psoriasis and of the relapse of psoriasis that occurred during treatment with dupilumab. In total, 39 publications met the inclusion criteria, including 112 AD patients, 101 of whom developed “de novo” psoriasis, and 11 with a flare of pre-existent psoriasis. In the first group, patients more frequently developed plaque psoriasis on the scalp and extremities, after an average latency period from the initiation of dupilumab of 5 months. In the second group, the incidence of dupilumab-induced relapses of psoriasis was 43%, after an average of 4 months since the first administration. The most common psoriasis type was plaque psoriasis, with the involvement of the scalp and upper extremities. Dupilumab was interrupted in 38% of patients with “de novo” psoriasis and in 50% of relapsed patients, leading, in most cases, to an improvement of psoriasis. In conclusion, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis can definitely co-exist, and biologic drugs used to treat the former can promote the latter. It is thus crucial to perform a careful personal and familiar anamnesis before prescribing any biologic treatment. Moreover, a study of cytokine expression and blood proteomic markers could be considered in these patients.
Benefits and Challenges of Treat-to-Target in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: West Jack , Tan Katrina , Devi Jalpa , Macrae Finlay , Christensen Britt , Segal Jonathan P.
Published: September 2023

There is notable disparity between symptomatology and disease activity in a significant proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and escalation of treatment based on symptoms alone can fail to significantly alter the course of disease. The STRIDE-II position statement, published in 2021 by the Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (STRIDE) initiative of the International Organisation for the Study of IBD (IOIBD) provides the most current recommendations for a treat-to-target (T2T) approach in IBD. Despite the benefits offered by a T2T approach in IBD, there are numerous drawbacks and current limitations to its widespread implementation in real-world clinical practice. Owing to the lack of a standardised definition of MH, outcome data are heterogeneous and limit the comparability of existing data. Further, studies investigating the likelihood of achieving MH with a T2T approach are limited and largely retrospective. Evidence of the real-world feasibility of tight monitoring is currently minimal and demonstrates sub-optimal adherence among patients. Further, the few studies on the acceptability and uptake of a T2T approach in real-world practice demonstrate the need for increased acceptability on both patients’ and clinicians’ behalf. Real-world applicability is further limited by the need for repeated endoscopic assessments of MH as well as a lack of guidance on how to incorporate the various treatment targets into therapeutic decision-making. We aim to review the benefits and challenges of the T2T approach and to discuss potential solutions to further patient care.
Parathyroid Retrospective Analysis of Neoplasms Incidence (pTRANI Study): An Italian Multicenter Study on Parathyroid Carcinoma and Atypical Parathyroid Tumour
Authors: Gurrado Angela , Pasculli Alessandro , Avenia Nicola , Bellantone Rocco , Boniardi Marco , Merante Boschin Isabella , Calò Pietro Giorgio , Camandona Michele , Cavallaro Giuseppe , Cianchi Fabio , Conzo Giovanni , D’Andrea Vito , De Crea Carmela , De Pasquale Loredana , Del Rio Paolo , Di Meo Giovanna , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Dobrinja Chiara , Docimo Giovanni , Famà Fausto , Galimberti Attilio , Giacomelli Laura , Graceffa Giuseppa , Iacobone Maurizio , Innaro Nadia , Lombardi Celestino Pio , Materazzi Gabriele , Medas Fabio , Mullineris Barbara , Oragano Luigi , Palestini Nicola , Perigli Giuliano , Pezzolla Angela , Prete Francesco Paolo , Raffaelli Marco , Renzulli Giuseppina , Rosato Lodovico , Scerrino Gregorio , Sgaramella Lucia Ilaria , Sorrenti Salvatore , Testini Carlotta , Veroux Massimiliano , Gasparri Guido , Testini Mario , pTRANI Study Group
Published: September 2023

Background: Parathyroid cancer (PC) is a rare sporadic or hereditary malignancy whose histologic features were redefined with the 2022 WHO classification. A total of 24 Italian institutions designed this multicenter study to specify PC incidence, describe its clinical, functional, and imaging characteristics and improve its differentiation from the atypical parathyroid tumour (APT). Methods: All relevant information was collected about PC and APT patients treated between 2009 and 2021. Results: Among 8361 parathyroidectomies, 351 patients (mean age 59.0 ± 14.5; F = 210, 59.8%) were divided into the APT (n = 226, 2.8%) and PC group (n = 125, 1.5%). PC showed significantly higher rates (p < 0.05) of bone involvement, abdominal, and neurological symptoms than APT (48.8% vs. 35.0%, 17.6% vs. 7.1%, 13.6% vs. 5.3%, respectively). Ultrasound (US) diameter >3 cm (30.9% vs. 19.3%, p = 0.049) was significantly more common in the PC. A significantly higher frequency of local recurrences was observed in the PC (8.0% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.022). Mortality due to consequences of cancer or uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism was 3.3%. Conclusions: Symptomatic hyperparathyroidism, high PTH and albumin-corrected serum calcium values, and a US diameter >3 cm may be considered features differentiating PC from APT. 2022 WHO criteria did not impact the diagnosis.
Biodegradation of Benzo[a]pyrene by a White-Rot Fungus Phlebia acerina: Surfactant-Enhanced Degradation and Possible Genes Involved
Authors: Zhang Wenquan , Li Qiaoyu , Wang Jianqiao , Wang Ziyu , Zhan Hongjie , Yu Xiaolong , Zheng Yan , Xiao Tangfu , Zhou Li-Wei
Published: September 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent environmental pollutants that pose a threat to human health. Among these PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a five-ring compound, exhibits high resistance to biodegradation. White-rot fungus Phlebia acerina S-LWZ20190614-6 has demonstrated higher BaP degradation capabilities compared with Phanerochaete chrysosporium and P. sordida YK-624, achieving a degradation rate of 57.7% after 32 days of incubation under a ligninolytic condition. To further enhance the biodegradation rate, three nonionic surfactants were used, and the addition of 1 or 2 g·L−1 of polyethylene glycol monododecyl ether (Brij 30) resulted in nearly complete BaP biodegradation by P. acerina S-LWZ20190614-6. Interestingly, Brij 30 did not significantly affect the activity of manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase, but it did decrease laccase activity. Furthermore, the impact of cytochrome P450 on BaP degradation by P. acerina S-LWZ20190614-6 was found to be relatively mild. Transcriptomic analysis provided insights into the degradation mechanism of BaP, revealing the involvement of genes related to energy production and the synthesis of active enzymes crucial for BaP degradation. The addition of Brij 30 significantly upregulated various transferase and binding protein genes in P. acerina S-LWZ20190614-6. Hence, the bioremediation potential of BaP by the white-rot fungus P. acerina S-LWZ20190614-6 holds promise and warrants further exploration.
Ratings of the Effectiveness of 13 Therapeutic Diets for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of a National Survey
Authors: Matthews Julie S. , Adams James B.
Published: September 2023

This study presents the results of the effectiveness of 13 therapeutic diets for autism spectrum disorder from 818 participants of a national survey, including benefits, adverse effects, and symptom improvements. The average Overall Benefit of diets was 2.36 (0 = no benefit, 4 = great benefit), which was substantially higher than for nutraceuticals (1.59/4.0) and psychiatric/seizure medications (1.39/4.0), p < 0.001. The average Overall Adverse Effects of diets was significantly lower than psychiatric/seizure medications (0.10 vs. 0.93, p < 0.001) and similar to nutraceuticals (0.16). Autism severity decreased slightly over time in participants who used diet vs. increasing slightly in those that did not (p < 0.001). Healthy and Feingold diets were the two top-rated diets by Overall Benefit; the ketogenic diet was the highest for nine symptoms (though had fewer respondents); and the gluten-free/casein-free diet was among the top for overall symptom improvements. Different diets were reported to affect different symptoms, suggesting that an individual’s symptoms could be used to guide which diet(s) may be the most effective. The results suggest that therapeutic diets can be safe and effective interventions for improving some ASD-related symptoms with few adverse effects. We recommend therapeutic diets that include healthy foods and exclude problematic foods. Therapeutic diets are inexpensive treatments that we recommend for consideration by most people with ASD.
Why Have China’s Poverty Eradication Policy Resulted in the Decline of Arable Land in Poverty-Stricken Areas?
Authors: Ran Rong , Hua Lei , Li Tingrou , Chen Yejing , Xiao Junfu
Published: September 2023

Arable land resources are the basic livelihood security for people in poverty-stricken areas, and poor people are prone to uncontrolled expansion of arable land and exogenous ecological damage to secure their livelihoods. To avoid this vicious cycle, China’s poverty eradication policy requires greater management and restoration of arable land in poverty-stricken areas, but it is unknown what impacts it may bring. Therefore, this study examines the impact of policy implementation on arable land by the Difference-in-Differences (DID) model and uses the mediating and moderating models to test the policy’s mechanism on arable land. The results reveal that the policy significantly reduces the arable land, and the results remain robust, controlling for potential endogeneity variables and robustness tests. What’s more, the results of the mediating and moderating effect models indicate that the reduction of arable land is mainly due to the increase of unit yield, guiding the local people to abandon degraded land and to carry out ecological restoration, thus reducing the arable land area and achieving sustainable development. Finally, recommendations are proposed from the perspective of human-land coordination.
The Heterogeneous Effects of Multilevel Centers on Farmland Transfer: Evidence from Tai’an Prefecture, China
Authors: Yang Meng , Sun Ting , Liu Tao
Published: September 2023

Land transfer is an important means to achieve agricultural scale production and improve land use efficiency, as well as an effective way to solve food security issues. Discussing the mechanism of how the multilevel urban centers affect rural farmland transfer can help understand the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of farmland transfer. It is helpful to provide more policy suggestions from the perspective of urban-rural spatial relations and achieve the goal of agricultural and rural modernization. Taking Tai’an prefecture as an example, this study examines the impact of multilevel urban centers on farmland transfer by mediating effect model. The results show that: (1) Distances to urban centers are negatively associated with rural farmland transfer rates, with lower rates farther from urban centers. There are two mechanisms about how the distances to urban centers influence farmland transfer: the first is that the farther a village is from urban centers, the lower the value of its farmland, which leads to lower benefits to those who transferring farmland; the second is that lower opportunity costs of agricultural labor in the villages which farther from cities increase household reliance on farmland, reducing the rates of transferring farmland out. (2) Multilevel centers differentially influence transfers. The higher-level prefectural centers affect farmland transfer through planting structure, while the lower-level county centers affect farmland transfer through off-farm employment. Additionally, the influence of county centers is less stable due to road accessibility. (3) It is critical to additional policy support to both towns and remote villages. Particular focus should be placed on increasing the non-agricultural industries and expanding the agricultural markets of towns. It is also important to enhance infrastructure development to encourage farmland transfer in remote villages.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Heart Failure: Impact of Gender in Predictive Value for Heart Transplantation Listing
Authors: Garcia Brás Pedro , Gonçalves António Valentim , Reis João Ferreira , Moreira Rita Ilhão , Pereira-da-Silva Tiago , Rio Pedro , Timóteo Ana Teresa , Silva Sofia , Soares Rui M. , Ferreira Rui Cruz
Published: September 2023

Background: Exercise testing is key in the risk stratification of patients with heart failure (HF). There are scarce data on its prognostic power in women. Our aim was to assess the predictive value of the heart transplantation (HTx) thresholds in HF in women and in men. Methods: Prospective evaluation of HF patients who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) from 2009 to 2018 for the composite endpoint of cardiovascular mortality and urgent HTx. Results: A total of 458 patients underwent CPET, with a composite endpoint frequency of 10.5% in females vs. 16.0% in males in 36-month follow-up. Peak VO2 (pVO2), VE/VCO2 slope and percent of predicted pVO2 were independent discriminators of the composite endpoint, particularly in women. The International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation recommended values of pVO2 ≤ 12 mL/kg/min or ≤14 if the patient is intolerant to β-blockers, VE/VCO2 slope > 35, and percent of predicted pVO2 ≤ 50% showed a higher diagnostic effectiveness in women. Specific pVO2, VE/VCO2 slope and percent of predicted pVO2 cut-offs in each sex group presented a higher prognostic power than the recommended thresholds. Conclusion: Individualized sex-specific thresholds may improve patient selection for HTx. More evidence is needed to address sex differences in HF risk stratification.
Identification of Glycoxidative Lesion in Isolated Low-Density Lipoproteins from Diabetes Mellitus Subjects
Authors: Alyahyawi Amjad R. , Khan Mohd Yasir , Alouffi Sultan , Maarfi Farah , Akasha Rihab , Khan Saif , Rafi Zeeshan , Alharazi Talal , Shahab Uzma , Ahmad Saheem
Published: September 2023

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a precursor for advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which have a significant role in diabetes. The present study is designed to probe the immunological response of native and glycated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in experimental animals. The second part of this study is to probe glycoxidative lesion detection in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in diabetes subjects with varying disease duration. The neo-epitopes attributed to glycation-induced glycoxidative lesion of LDL in DM patients’ plasma were, analyzed by binding of native and MG-modified LDL immunized animal sera antibodies using an immunochemical assay. The plasma purified human LDL glycation with MG, which instigated modification in LDL. Further, the NewZealand-White rabbits were infused with unmodified natural LDL (N-LDL) and MG-glycatedLDL to probe its immunogenicity. The glycoxidative lesion detection in LDL of DM with disease duration (D.D.) of 5–15 years and D.D. > 15 years was found to be significantly higher as compared to normal healthy subjects (NHS) LDL. The findings support the notion that prolonged duration of diabetes can cause structural alteration in LDL protein molecules, rendering them highly immunogenic in nature. The presence of LDL lesions specific to MG-associated glycoxidation would further help in assessing the progression of diabetes mellitus.
Exploring the Impact of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation and Non-Invasive Oocyte Assessment in ART Treatments
Authors: Sciorio Romualdo , Cariati Federica , Fleming Steven , Alviggi Carlo
Published: September 2023

Invasive and noninvasive features are normally applied to select developmentally competent oocytes and embryos that can increase the take-home baby rates in assisted reproductive technology. The noninvasive approach mainly applied to determine oocyte and embryo competence has been, since the early days of IVF, the morphological evaluation of the mature cumulus-oocyte complex at the time of pickup, first polar body, zona pellucida thickness, perivitelline space and cytoplasm appearance. Morphological evaluation of oocyte quality is one of the options used to predict successful fertilization, early embryo development, uterine implantation and the capacity of an embryo to generate a healthy pregnancy to term. Thus, this paper aims to provide an analytical revision of the current literature relating to the correlation between ovarian stimulation procedures and oocyte/embryo quality. In detail, several aspects of oocyte quality such as morphological features, oocyte competence and its surrounding environment will be discussed. In addition, the main noninvasive features as well as novel approaches to biomechanical parameters of oocytes that might be correlated with the competence of embryos to produce a healthy pregnancy and live birth will be illustrated.
Inflammatory Markers Showed Significant Incremental Value for Predicting Post-Hepatectomy Liver Failure in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Wang Xiao , Wang Wenjun , Lin Xixiang , Chen Xu , Zhu Mingxiang , Xu Hongli , He Kunlun
Published: September 2023

Background: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains a complication with the potential risk of mortality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The systemic inflammatory response (SIR) has been demonstrated to be associated with a bad prognosis of liver cirrhosis and tumors. This study aims to evaluate the incremental prognostic value of inflammatory markers in predicting PHLF in patients with HCC. Methods: Clinical characteristics and variables were retrospectively collected in 2824 patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent radical hepatectomy from the First Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army. A recently published prognostic model for PHLF was used as the reference model. The increase in AUC (ΔAUC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and the continuous version of the net reclassification improvement (NRI) were applied for quantifying the incremental value of adding the inflammatory markers to the reference model. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The reference PHLF model showed acceptable prediction performance in the current cohort, with an AUC of 0.7492 (95%CI, 0.7191–0.7794). The calculated ΔAUC associated with procalcitonin (PCT) was the only one that was statistically significant (p < 0.05), with a value of 0.0044, and demonstrated the largest magnitude of the increase in AUC. The continuous NRI value associated with the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) was 35.79%, second only to GPS (46.07%). However, the inflammatory markers of the new models with statistically significant IDI only included WBC count, lymphocyte count, and SII. IDI associated with SII, meanwhile, was the maximum (0.0076), which was consistent with the performance of using the ΔAUC (0.0044) to assess the incremental value of each inflammatory variable. Conclusions: Among a wide range of inflammatory markers, only PCT and SII have potential incremental prognostic value for predicting PHLF in patients with radical resectable HCC.
Preparation of a Wear-Resistant, Superhydrophobic SiO2/Polymethyl Methacrylate Composite Coating on Aluminum Surface Processed with Nanosecond Laser
Authors: Sun Jiyi , Zhu Lin , Liu Zhuang
Published: September 2023

Superhydrophobic coatings are limited by complex preparation processes and poor mechanical durability in practical applications. In this study, a mechanically robust superhydrophobic composite coating was applied to an aluminum surface that underwent processing with a nanosecond laser (referred to as a superhydrophobic aluminum surface). It exhibits a high water contact angle (WCA) of 158.81°, a low sliding angle (SA) of less than 5°, and excellent self-cleaning ability. The wear test shows its durability, and the corrosion test shows its excellent corrosion resistance. This study provides a framework for the preparation of robust superhydrophobic surfaces that may have potential applications in many fields.
Addressing the Transaction Validation Issue in IOTA Tangle: A Tip Selection Algorithm Based on Time Division
Authors: Chen Yinfeng , Wang Yaofei , Sun Baojun , Liu Junxin
Published: September 2023

IOTA is a new public chain system specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT), which provides strong support for the high concurrency, scalability, and zero handling fees of the IoT. The distributed ledger of IOTA, called the tangle, adopts a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure. However, compared to the single-chain architecture, the tangle is more complex and highly vulnerable to security threats. The existing transaction verification methods still cannot simultaneously meet the need for accelerating approval speed and improving security to resist illegal transactions, such as lazy tips and permanent tips. In this work, we propose TDTS, a tip-selection algorithm based on time division to improve the efficiency of transaction verification. The main idea of the algorithm is to quickly determine two tips of an incoming transaction that need to be confirmed by sorting tip values in a time slot. It shortens the transaction verification time and reduces the number of lazy tips and permanent tips. A comprehensive theoretical analysis confirmed the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. Based on 1000 IOTA nodes, the evaluations showed that TDTS can select tips quickly like URTS and resist lazy tips like MCMC.
On Linear Perfect b-Symbol Codes over Finite Fields
Authors: Abdukhalikov Kanat , Chen Jiajie , Feng Rongquan
Published: September 2023

Motivated by the application of high-density data storage technologies, Cassuto and Blaum introduced codes for symbol-pair read channels in 2011, and Yaakobi et al. generalized the coding framework to that for b-symbol read channels where b≥2 in 2016. In this paper, we establish a b-sphere-packing bound and present a recurrence relationship for the b-weight enumerator. We determine all parameters of linear perfect b-symbol e-error-correcting codes over Fq for e<2b and show that for 2b≤e<3b, there exist at most finite such codes for a given b, e, and q. We construct a family of linear perfect b-symbol b-error-correcting codes over Fq using constacyclic codes.
Performance Assessment of Wood Ash and Bone Char for Manganese Treatment in Acid Mine Drainage
Authors: Smičiklas Ivana , Janković Bojan , Jović Mihajlo , Maletaškić Jelena , Manić Nebojša , Dragović Snežana
Published: September 2023

Developing efficient methods for Mn separation is the most challenging in exploring innovative and sustainable acid mine drainage (AMD) treatments. The availability and capacity of certain waste materials for Mn removal warrant further exploration of their performance regarding the effect of process factors. This study addressed the influence of AMD chemistry (initial pH and concentrations of Mn, sulfate, and Fe), the solid/solution ratio, and the contact time on Mn separation by wood ash (WA) and bone char (BC). At an equivalent dose, WA displayed higher neutralization and Mn removal capacity over the initial pH range of 2.5–6.0 due to lime, dicalcium silicate, and fairchildite dissolution. On the other hand, at optimal doses, Mn separation by BC was faster, it was less affected by coexisting sulfate and Fe(II) species, and the carbonated hydroxyapatite structure of BC remained preserved. Efficient removal of Mn was feasible only at final pH values ≥ 9.0 in all systems with WA and at pH 6.0–6.4 using BC. These conclusions were confirmed by treating actual AMD with variable doses of both materials. The water-leaching potential of toxic elements from the AMD/BC treatment residue complied with the limits for inert waste. In contrast, the residue of AMD/WA treatment leached non-toxic quantities of Cr and substantial amounts of Al due to high residual alkalinity. To minimize the amount of secondary waste generated by BC application, its use emerges particularly beneficial after AMD neutralization in the finishing step intended for Mn removal.
Application of Damage Detection of Metal Structure Lamb Wave Modal Superposition Imaging Based on Scanning Laser Vibration Measurement
Authors: Wang Ziping , Li Bingqian , Cui Hangrui , Gorgin Rahim , Li Jian , Zhang Yang
Published: September 2023

Metal structural plates are extensively used in various engineering structures due to their high strength, high-temperature resistance, toughness, and plasticity. However, they are susceptible to damage from external loads and impacts over time. The current Lamb wave detection methods suffer from dispersion and multimodal effects, leading to ineffective identification of damage information. In this paper, we investigate Lamb wave propagation in steel structure plates with flat-bottomed holes using a sinusoidal modulation five-peak wave signal. Finite element numerical models are developed, and an experimental platform is constructed using steel and aluminum boards. Experimental data is collected using a Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer (SLDV, PSV-500, Polytec Inc., Baden-Württemberg, German). The results demonstrate that, under the same frequency, the damage reflection energy for different modes is distinct. By fusing the data from the two modes, more accurate damage imaging results are obtained in the frequency-wavenumber (f-k) domain compared to single-mode imaging. Furthermore, experiments are conducted to locate damage in a steel board with a through hole and an aluminum plate with double flat-bottomed holes, confirming the feasibility of the proposed algorithm in isotropic plates.
Material Health of NiCrBSi Alloy Parts Produced via the Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
Authors: Ty Anthony , Balcaen Yannick , Mokhtari Morgane , Rigaud Jordan , Dalverny Olivier , Alexis Joël
Published: September 2023

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is a novel process representing a possible solution for producing resistant parts using NiCrBSi hard-facing nickel alloys with complex geometry. Process parameters for more common alloys are explored with a standard Renishaw AM400 device (Renishaw, Wotton-under-Edge, UK) and an SLM Solution 250 device (SLM Solutions Group AG, Lübeck, Germany) modified with a baseplate preheated at high temperatures (300 °C and 500 °C). Laser remelting is also investigated in hopes of further improving material health. The origin of the main defects is studied. A lack of fusion is likely to be generated by spatters ejected from the melting pool while cracks are induced by the alloy’s lack of toughness. Using image analyses, those defects are quantified and correlated with processing parameters. Lack of fusion and total crack length decrease with an increase in baseplate’s preheating temperature. However, crack width increases with preheating temperature. Therefore, via a careful optimization of process parameters, samples with a surface density of 99% and narrow cracks are obtained.
A New Approach for Increasing the Chelating Capacity of the Tartrate Ion in the Extraction of Copper from Ores
Authors: Velarde Félix J. Sueros , Ortiz Jhon A. Quispe , Apaza Angie A. Hidalgo , de Namor Angela F. Danil
Published: September 2023

The role of the tartrate ion in the extraction of copper from oxidized ore in aqueous alkaline medium is first reported. This was demonstrated by a sequential evaluation of the following: (i) The formation of an ionic complex resulting from the interaction of copper salts (CuSO4, Cu(NO3)2) with an alkaline aqueous solution of tartrate ions. (ii) The treatment of metallic copper with hydrogen peroxide. (iii) Spectrophotometric and potentiometric studies of malaquite. These studies demonstrated that the Cu(II)–tartrate interaction is only possible due to the chelating activity of tartrate ion leading to the formation of the [Cu(OH)2C4H4O6]2− anion complex and the lixiviation of the oxidized mineral is controlled by the chelating agent. The advantage of this approach relative to previous ones is discussed. Final conclusions are given.
Surface Morphology Analysis of Laser Shock Peened 20CrMnTi Steel: A Statistical Evaluation
Authors: Wu Jiaoyi , Zhang Dongya , Wang Xiaodong
Published: September 2023

Surface morphology impacts material performance and durability significantly. To gain a deeper understanding of the impact of laser shock peening (LSP) treatment on the surface morphology of materials and to explore more optimized LSP treatment strategies, this study presents an investigation into the surface morphology of 20CrMnTi steel following LSP treatment. Through the application of statistical analysis, the study examines the induced surface morphology variations resulting from both single-point repetitive LSP and multiple LSP treatments. Experimental results demonstrate significant alterations in surface roughness and peak height distribution after LSP treatments, accompanied by the presence of high amplitude compressive residual stress (CRS). Moreover, the depth of laser-induced indentations is found to be closely related to the number of impacts, and the incidence angle of the laser exhibits a discernible influence on the directional texture and periodicity of the impacted surfaces. This investigation also proposes a method for estimating surface morphology variations after LSP treatment by means of analysis of impact patterns, thereby offering the potential for enhancing the friction and wear performance of the impacted surfaces through the adjustment of the impact region position during multi-layer LSP treatment.
A 1 × 2 Low-Profile Filtering Antenna Array Using Strip Dense Dielectric Patch
Authors: Deng Yuyan , Xu Mengyu , Lin Shixian , Xu Kai
Published: September 2023

A 1 × 2 low-profile filtering antenna array is proposed, using an H-shape resonator to feed two strip dense dielectric patch (DDP) resonators. The even–odd mode of the H-shape resonator and the TMδ1 mode of the strip DDP resonator form the radiation band. Additionally, the odd–odd mode of the H-shape resonator excites the TMδ2 mode of the strip DDP resonator, thus achieving an upper-edge radiation null for the filtering response. The H-shape resonator not only participates in the antenna array radiation, but also excites two strip media patches at the same time, avoiding the traditional power distribution network and effectively reducing the complexity of the antenna array. In addition, compared with the reported dielectric filtering antenna designs, this design has the advantageous features of a low profile, a compact structure, wide bandwidth and a simplified structure. For example, the antenna prototype operating at 4.9 GHz achieves 10 dB impedance, a matching bandwidth of 7.1%, a maximum gain of 8.6 dBi and the compact size of 1.29 × 0.18 × 0.038 λ03, without requiring a traditional power division network.
Simulation-Based Analysis of the Effect of Alpha Irradiation on GaN Particle Detectors
Authors: Lei Jianming , Wang Nan , Jiang Rukai , Hou Qianyu
Published: September 2023

Radiation-hardened semiconductor GaN has drawn considerable attention owing to its excellent properties such as large displacement energy. Many studies have focused on evaluating the degradation of GaN-based power device performance by proton beam or particle irradiation, while quantitative analysis of the energy transfer process of particles inside the material and the mechanisms involved in inducing degradation of electrical properties are rare. Here, on the basis of the fabricated alpha-particle detector, a device model validated by basic electrical experiments is established to simulate the influence of alpha-particle irradiation on the leakage current of the device. We observe that the current does not change significantly with increasing radiation fluence at low bias, while it shows a descending trend with increasing radiation fluence at higher bias. However, increasing the energy of the radiation particles at the same radiation fluence directly leads to a monotonically elevated leakage current. Such a series of phenomena is associated with radiation-induced changes in the density of trapped states within the active layers of the device.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Recently Isolated Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical and Aquatic Strains and Demonstration of Silver Nanoparticle Potency
Authors: Gheorghe-Barbu Irina , Corbu Viorica Maria , Vrancianu Corneliu Ovidiu , Marinas Ioana Cristina , Popa Marcela , Dumbravă Andreea Ștefania , Niță-Lazăr Mihai , Pecete Ionut , Muntean Andrei Alexandru , Popa Mircea Ioan , Marinescu Liliana , Ficai Denisa , Ficai Anton , Czobor Barbu Ilda
Published: September 2023

This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) strains isolated from the clinical and aquatic environment. Three types of Ag NPs were investigated for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antivirulence properties on a total number of 132 AB strains isolated in the same temporal sequence from intra-hospital infections (IHIs), wastewater (WW), and surface water (SW) samples between 2019 and 2022 from different Romanian locations and characterized at the phenotypic and genotypic levels. The comparative analysis of the antimicrobial resistance (AR) profiles according to the isolation source and the geographical location demonstrated a decrease in MDR level in AB recovered from WW samples in 2022 from north-eastern/central/southern regions (N-E/C-W/analyzed strains S): 87.5/60/32.5%. The AB strains were lecithinase, caseinase, amylase, and lipase producers, had variable biofilm formation ability, and belonged to six genotypes associated with the presence of different virulence genes (ompA, csuE, bap, and bfmS). The Ag NPs synthesized with the solvothermal method exhibited an inhibitory effect on microbial growth, the adherence capacity to the inert substratum, and on the production of soluble virulence factors. We report here the first description of a powerful antibacterial agent against MDR AB strains circulating between hospitals and anthropically polluted water in Romania.
Impact of Latent Virus Infection in the Cornea on Corneal Healing after Small Incision Lenticule Extraction
Authors: Liu Ming , Song Wenting , Gao Wen , Jiang Lili , Pan Hongbiao , Luo Dan , Shi Lei
Published: September 2023

The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of cornea virus latent infection on corneal healing after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and predict the positive rate of virus latent infection in corneal stroma. A total of 279 patients who underwent SMILE were included in this study. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect virus infection in the lenticules, which were taken from the corneal stroma during SMILE. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were detected. Postoperative visual acuity, spherical equivalent, intraocular pressure, corneal curvature (Kf and Ks), corneal transparency, and corneal staining were compared between the virus-positive group and the virus-negative group. The number of corneal stromal cells and inflammatory cells, corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), corneal total branch density (CTBD), and corneal nerve fiber width (CNFW) were evaluated using an in vivo confocal microscope. Out of 240 herpes simplex virus (HSV) tested samples, 11 (4.58%) were positive, among which 5 (2.08%) were HSV-1-positive and 6 (2.50%) were HSV-2-positive. None of the 91 CMV- and EBV-tested samples were positive. There was no statistical significance in the postoperative visual acuity, spherical equivalent, intraocular pressure, Kf and Ks, corneal transparency, corneal staining, the number of corneal stromal cells and inflammatory cells, CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, CTBD, and CNFW between the virus-positive and virus-negative groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, there is a certain proportion of latent HSV infection in the myopia population. Femtosecond lasers are less likely to activate a latent infection of HSV in the cornea. The latent infection of HSV has no significant impact on corneal healing after SMILE.
Immunoinformatic Execution and Design of an Anti-Epstein–Barr Virus Vaccine with Multiple Epitopes Triggering Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses
Authors: Ahmed Naveed , Rabaan Ali A. , Alwashmi Ameen S. S. , Albayat Hawra , Mashraqi Mutaib M. , Alshehri Ahmad A. , Garout Mohammed , Abduljabbar Wesam A. , Yusof Nik Yusnoraini , Yean Chan Yean
Published: September 2023

One of the most important breakthroughs in healthcare is the development of vaccines. The life cycle and its gene expression in the numerous virus-associated disorders must be considered when choosing the target vaccine antigen for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). The vaccine candidate used in the current study will also be effective against all other herpesvirus strains, based on the conservancy study, which verified that the protein is present in all herpesviruses. From the screening, two B-cell epitopes, four MHC-I, and five MHC-II restricted epitopes were chosen for further study. The refined epitopes indicated 70.59% coverage of the population in Malaysia and 93.98% worldwide. After removing the one toxin (PADRE) from the original vaccine design, it was projected that the new vaccine would not be similar to the human host and would instead be antigenic, immunogenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic. The vaccine construct was stable, thermostable, soluble, and hydrophilic. The immunological simulation projected that the vaccine candidate would be subject to a long-lasting active adaptive response and a short-lived active innate response. With IgM concentrations of up to 450 cells per mm3 and active B-cell concentrations of up to 400 cells per mm3, the B-cells remain active for a considerable time. The construct also discovered other conformational epitopes, improving its ability to stimulate an immune response. This suggests that, upon injection, the epitope will target the B-cell surface receptors and elicit a potent immune response. Furthermore, the discotope analysis confirmed that our conformational B-cell epitope was not displaced during the design. Lastly, the docking complex was stable and exhibited little deformability under heat pressure. These computational results are very encouraging for future testing of our proposed vaccine, which may potentially help in the management and prevention of EBV infections worldwide.
Research Advances in the High-Value Utilization of Peanut Meal Resources and Its Hydrolysates: A Review
Authors: Zhao Tong , Ying Peifei , Zhang Yahan , Chen Hanyu , Yang Xingbin
Published: September 2023

Peanut meal (PM) is a by-product of extracting oil from peanut kernels. Although peanut meal contains protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and small amounts of polyphenols and fiber, it has long been used as a feed in the poultry and livestock industries due to its coarse texture and unpleasant taste. It is less commonly utilized in the food processing industry. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of research conducted on the deep processing of by-products from oil crops, resulting in the high-value processing and utilization of by-products from various oil crops. These include peanut meal, which undergoes treatments such as enzymatic hydrolysis in industries like food, chemical, and aquaculture. The proteins, lipids, polyphenols, fibers, and other components present in these by-products and hydrolysates can be incorporated into products for further utilization. This review focuses on the research progress in various fields, such as the food processing, breeding, and industrial fields, regarding the high-value utilization of peanut meal and its hydrolysates. The aim is to provide valuable insights and strategies for maximizing the utilization of peanut meal resources.