bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spanish Cultural Adaptation and Inter-Rater Reliability of the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale
Authors: Serrada-Tejeda Sergio , Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres Marta , Knox Susan H. , Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza Patricia , Martínez-Piédrola Rosa M. , Obeso-Benítez Paula , Santos-del-Riego Sergio
Published: May 2023

Background: The Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale (RKPPS) is a comprehensive assessment test that observes the level of play development; however, there is no culturally adapted version available with stable psychometric values that would allow its widespread use and provide objective information during clinical evaluations. Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation included direct and retrospective translations, along with cognitive interviews with pediatric occupational therapists to analyze the comprehensibility of the translation. In addition, a final phase of linguistic revision was carried out to determine the grammatical and semantic fit of the adapted version. Finally, inter-rater reliability was analyzed in a sample of typically developing children aged four to six years old. Results: The processes of translation and back-translation, cognitive interview, and linguistic review determined an adequate grammatical and semantic equivalence to the Spanish cultural context. Almost perfect agreement, with values between 0.82 and 0.94, was obtained for items and play dimensions, indicating that the precision of the measurements between both evaluators was excellent. Conclusions: The cross-culturally adapted version of the RKPPS meets the necessary adjustments for the sociocultural context and can be used in the clinical practice of occupational therapy.
Awareness of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury—Preventive Training Programs among Saudi Athletes
Authors: Alyami Ali H. , Darraj Hussam , Hamdi Sulaiman , Saber Abdulaziz , Bakri Nawaf , Maghrabi Rawan , Hakami Khalid M. , Darraj Anwar
Published: May 2023

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a common medical condition that entails a stretch or sprain of the ACL, which is present in the knee joint. The incidence of ACL injury in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 31.4%. Prevention training programs (PTPs) can be used to reduce ACL injuries sustained during physical activity, as they primarily focus on improving strength, balance, and lower limb biomechanics and reducing landing impact. This study aimed to assess Saudi athletes’ awareness of ACL injury PTPs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the form of a self-administered questionnaire in the Arabic language was carried out from 22 December 2022 to 7 March 2023 and included 1169 Saudi athletes. Statistical analyses were performed on the collected data using frequency and percentages. Binary logistic regression was used for the adjusted analysis and determining associations between athletes playing high- and low-risk sports. Results: Overall, 52% of participants were female athletes, and 48% were male athletes. The western region of the country had the highest response rate (28.9%). The most common sport played was football at 36.6%. Most participants (70.97%) reported that their information on ACL injury was taken by their coaches. When assessing whether participants were familiar with the concept of an ACL injury PTP, the majority of the participants answered no, representing 971 (662 high-risk, 309 low-risk), compared to those who answered yes, representing only 198 (167 high-risk, 31 low-risk), with a statistically significant difference (adjusted OR: 2.106; 95% confidence interval: 1.544–2.873; p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: In general, the level of awareness of ACL injury PTPs among Saudi athletes was poor.
Cerebral Outflow Discrepancies in Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: Focus on Ultrasonographic Examination
Authors: Ciorba Andrea , Tessari Mirko , Natale Erennio , Buzzi Fabio , Baldazzi Giulia , Cosacco Alessio , Migliorelli Andrea , Corazzi Virginia , Bianchini Chiara , Stomeo Francesco , Pelucchi Stefano , Zamboni Paolo
Published: May 2023

This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate whether cerebral inflow and outflow abnormalities assessed by ultrasonographic examination could be associated with recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Twenty-four patients with recurrent BPPV, affected by at least two episodes, and diagnosed according to American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO–HNS) criteria, evaluated at our University Hospital, between 1 February 2020 and 30 November 2021, have been included. At the ultrasonographic examination, 22 of 24 patients (92%) reported one or more alterations of the extracranial venous circulation, among those considered for the diagnosis of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), although none of the studied patients were found to have alterations in the arterial circulation. The present study confirms the presence of alterations of the extracranial venous circulation in recurrent BPPV; these anomalies (such as stenosis, blockages or regurgitation of flow, or abnormal valves, as per the CCSVI) could cause a disruption in the venous inner ear drainage, hampering the inner ear microcirculation and then possibly causing recurrent otolith detachment.
An Intelligent Detection Method for Obstacles in Agricultural Soil with FDTD Modeling and MSVMs
Authors: Li Yuanhong , Wang Congyue , Wang Chaofeng , Luo Yangfan , Lan Yubin
Published: May 2023

Unknown objects in agricultural soil can be important because they may impact the health and productivity of the soil and the crops that grow in it. Challenges in collecting soil samples present opportunities to utilize Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) image processing and artificial intelligence techniques to identify and locate unidentified objects in agricultural soil, which are important for agriculture. In this study, we used finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulated models to gather training data and predict actual soil conditions. Additionally, we propose a multi-class support vector machine (MSVM) that employs a semi-supervised algorithm to classify buried object materials and locate their position in soil. Then, we extract echo signals from the electromagnetic features of the FDTD simulation model, including soil type, parabolic shape, location, and energy magnitude changes. Lastly, we compare the performance of various MSVM models with different kernel functions (linear, polynomial, and radial basis function). The results indicate that the FDTD-Yee method enhances the accuracy of simulating real agricultural soils. The average recognition rate of the hyperbola position formed by the GPR echo signal is 91.13%, which can be utilized to detect the position and material of unknown and underground objects. For material identification, the directed acyclic graph support vector machine (DAG-SVM) model attains the highest classification accuracy among all soil layers when using an RBF kernel. Overall, our study demonstrates that an artificial intelligence model trained with the FDTD forward simulation model can effectively detect objects in farmland soil.
Study on the Influence of Radial Inlet Chamber Splitter Blades on the Oblique Flow Compressor Performance
Authors: Chen Jixiang , Zuo Zhitao , Zhou Xin , Sun Jianting , Li Jingxin , Guo Wenbin , Chen Haisheng
Published: May 2023

The oblique flow compressor is one of the important components in the compressed air energy storage (CAES) system. The structural shape of the radial inlet chamber (RIC) directly affects the compressor performance, and a reasonable RIC design should achieve the smallest total pressure loss and outlet distortion as much as possible to meet the structural design. To study the influence of splitter blades, 4 RICs equipped with different numbers of splitter blades are designed, and the performance of 4 RICs and the overall performance of the compressor is calculated. The results show that with the increase in the number of splitter blades, the stall margin increases from 6.3% to 13.94%. At the design point, the isentropic efficiency is highest for the RIC with 17 splitter blades, and the pressure ratio is highest for the RIC with 11 splitter blades. Compared with the direct axial intake mode, the uniformity of the relative leakage distribution and the attack angle distribution of the impeller leading edge under 4 radial intake modes are poor. However, with an increase in the number of splitter blades, the uniformity of the relative tip leakage and the attack angle distribution gradually increase. The flow loss of RIC will increase simultaneously, though the uniformity of the outlet aerodynamic parameters distribution improves, and the influence on the downstream component performance gradually weakens. There is an optimal number of splitter blades in RIC, which balances the total pressure loss and distortion coefficient.
Physicochemical Composition of Local and Imported Honeys Associated with Quality Standards
Authors: Raweh Hael S. A. , Badjah-Hadj-Ahmed Ahmed Yacine , Iqbal Javaid , Alqarni Abdulaziz S.
Published: May 2023

The compliance with honey standards is crucial for its validity and quality. The present study evaluated the botanical origin (pollen analysis) and physicochemical properties: moisture, color, electrical conductivity (EC), free acidity (FA), pH, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and individual sugar content of forty local and imported honey samples. The local honey exhibited low moisture and HMF (14.9% and 3.8 mg/kg, respectively) than imported honey (17.2% and 23 mg/kg, respectively). Furthermore, the local honey showed higher EC and diastase activity (1.19 mS/cm and 11.9 DN, respectively) compared to imported honey (0.35 mS/cm and 7.6 DN, respectively). The mean FA of local honey (61 meq/kg) was significantly naturally higher than that of imported honey (18 meq/kg). All local nectar honey that originated from Acacia spp. exhibited naturally higher FA values that exceeded the standard limit (≤50 meq/kg). The Pfund color scale ranged from 20 to 150 mm in local honey and from 10 to 116 mm in imported honey. The local honey was darker, with a mean value of 102.3 mm, and was significantly different from imported honey (72.7 mm). The mean pH values of local and imported honey were 5.0 and 4.5, respectively. Furthermore, the local honey was more diverse in pollen grain taxa compared to imported honey. Local and imported honey elicited a significant difference regarding their sugar content within individual honey type. The mean content of fructose, glucose, sucrose, and reducing sugar of local honey (39.7%, 31.5%, 2.8%, and 71.2%, respectively) and imported honey (39.2%, 31.8%, 0.7%, and 72.0%, respectively) were within the permitted quality standards. This study indicates the necessity of increasing the awareness regarding quality investigations for healthy honey with good nutritional value.
From Industrial Food Waste to Bioactive Ingredients: A Review on the Sustainable Management and Transformation of Plant-Derived Food Waste
Authors: Jaouhari Yassine , Travaglia F. , Giovannelli L. , Picco A. , Oz E. , Oz F. , Bordiga M.
Published: May 2023

According to the United Nations, approximately one-third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted. The actual linear “Take-Make-Dispose” model is nowadays obsolete and uneconomical for societies and the environment, while circular thinking in production systems and its effective adoption offers new opportunities and benefits. Following the “Waste Framework Directive” (2008/98/CE), the European Green Deal, and the actual Circular Economy Action Plan, when prevention is not possible, recovering an unavoidable food waste as a by-product represents a most promising pathway. Using last year’s by-products, which are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as dietary fiber, polyphenols, and peptides, offer a wake-up call to the nutraceutical and cosmetic industry to invest and develop value-added products generated from food waste ingredients.
ADAMTS Proteases: Importance in Animal Reproduction
Authors: Hernández-Delgado Pamela , Felix-Portillo Monserrath , Martínez-Quintana José A.
Published: May 2023

Many reproductive physiological processes, such as folliculogenesis, ovulation, implantation, and fertilization, require the synthesis, remodeling, and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs) family genes code for key metalloproteinases in the remodeling process of different ECM. Several genes of this family encode for proteins with important functions in reproductive processes; in particular, ADAMTS1, 4, 5 and 9 are genes that are differentially expressed in cell types and the physiological stages of reproductive tissues. ADAMTS enzymes degrade proteoglycans in the ECM of the follicles so that the oocytes can be released and regulate follicle development during folliculogenesis, favoring the action of essential growth factors, such as FGF-2, FGF-7 and GDF-9. The transcriptional regulation of ADAMTS1 and 9 in preovulatory follicles occurs because of the gonadotropin surge in preovulatory follicles, via the progesterone/progesterone receptor complex. In addition, in the case of ADAMTS1, pathways involving protein kinase A (PKA), extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) might contribute to ECM regulation. Different Omic studies indicate the importance of genes of the ADAMTS family from a reproductive aspect. ADAMTS genes could serve as biomarkers for genetic improvement and contribute to enhance fertility and animal reproduction; however, more research related to these genes, the synthesis of proteins encoded by these genes, and regulation in farm animals is needed.
Optimal Growth and Biomass of Centella asiatica Using a Twin-Bottle Temporary Immersion Bioreactor
Authors: Wongsa Thanakorn , Kongbangkerd Anupan , Kunakhonnuruk Boworn
Published: May 2023

Centella asiatica or gotu kola has long been used as a traditional medicinal plant. Here, immersion times and culture systems on growth and biomass production of C. asiatica were investigated using a twin-bottle, temporary immersion system. Results indicated that all immersion times gave 100% survival, with a 5 min immersion 12 times/day, providing the highest number of new shoots (3.6 shoots/explant), leaves (10.2 leaves/explant), roots (8.3 roots/explant), and fresh and dry weights of clumps (5.06 g fresh weight and 0.48 g dry weight/clump). The temporary immersion system resulted in more than a three-fold increase in biomass accumulation, with the highest average number of new shoots, leaves, and roots compared to a semi-solid system.
Identification of Risk Areas of Dengue Transmission in Culiacan, Mexico
Authors: Román-Pérez Susana , Aguirre-Gómez Raúl , Hernández-Ávila Juan Eugenio , Íñiguez-Rojas Luisa Basilia , Santos-Luna René , Correa-Morales Fabián
Published: May 2023

Dengue is a public health problem in more than 100 countries around the world and in virtually the entire region of the Americas, including Mexico. Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes aegypti transmit dengue; its reproduction requires certain geographical, epidemiological, demographic and socioeconomic conditions. Detailed information on socioeconomic, epidemiological and entomological data is available, but detailed meteorological information is not. The objective of this study was to identify the areas of risk of dengue transmission for each month of the year based on environmental, social, entomological and epidemiological information from 2010 to 2020, in Culiacan, Mexico. LST, NDVI and NDMI were calculated from Landsat 8 satellite images with remote sensing techniques. Additional variables were human population density and overcrowding; mosquito egg density from positive ovitraps; and probable cases of dengue. A descriptive analysis of the study variables and a multiple linear regression analysis were performed to determine the significant variables. In addition, a multicriteria spatial analysis was applied through the AHP technique to identify areas at risk of dengue transmission. The results revealed that the variables NDVI, NDMI and overcrowding were not significant; however, the LST, population density, egg density per positive ovitrap and probable cases were. The highest population in the transmission risk areas was in November, and the highest transmission area was identified in October. In conclusion, it was possible to identify which of the study variables were significant; in addition, monthly maps of risk areas of dengue transmission for Culiacan were obtained. Each geographical area had its own characteristics that influenced, in one way or another, the incidence of dengue, highlighting that the strategies for control of dengue must be specific to each region.
Review of Diagnostic Modalities for Adrenal Incidentaloma
Authors: Okroj Dominika , Rzepecka Agata , Kłosowski Przemysław , Babińska Anna , Sworczak Krzysztof
Published: May 2023

Adrenal incidentalomas are common findings in clinical practice, with a prevalence of up to 4.2% in radiological studies. Due to the large number of focal lesions in the adrenal glands, it can be challenging to make a definitive diagnosis and determine the appropriate management. The purpose of this review is to present current diagnostic modalities used to preoperatively distinguish between adrenocortical adenoma (ACA) and adrenocortical cancer (ACC). Proper management and diagnosis are crucial in avoiding unnecessary adrenalectomies, which occur in over 40% of cases. A literature analysis was conducted to compare ACA and ACC using imaging studies, hormonal evaluation, pathological workup, and liquid biopsy. Before deciding on surgical treatment, the nature of the tumor can be accurately determined using noncontrast CT imaging combined with tumor size and metabolomics. This approach helps to narrow down the group of patients with adrenal tumors who require surgical treatment due to the suspected malignant nature of the lesion.
Clinical Assessment of Judgment in Adults and the Elderly: Development and Validation of the Three Domains of Judgment Test—Clinical Version (3DJT-CV)
Authors: Bernard-Arevalo Simon-Pierre , Laforce Robert Jr , Khayat Olivier , Bouchard Vital , Bruneau Marie-Andrée , Brunelle Sarah , Caron Stéphanie , Chamelian Laury , Chénard Marise , Côté Jean-François , Crépeau-Gendron Gabrielle , Doré Marie-Claire , Fortin Marie-Pierre , Gagnon Nadine , Gagnon Pierre R. , Giroux Chloé , Jean Léonie , Létourneau Geneviève , Marceau Émilie , Moreau Vincent , Morin Michèle , Ouellet Christine , Poulin Stéphane , Radermaker Steve , Rousseau Katerine , Touchette Catherine , Dumais Alexandre
Published: May 2023

(1) Background: This article discusses the first two phases of development and validation of the Three Domains of Judgment Test (3DJT). This computer-based tool, co-constructed with users and capable of being administered remotely, aims to assess the three main domains of judgment (practical, moral, and social) and learn from the psychometric weaknesses of tests currently used in clinical practice. (2) Method: First, we presented the 3DJT to experts in cognition, who evaluated the tool as a whole as well as the content validity, relevance, and acceptability of 72 scenarios. Second, an improved version was administered to 70 subjects without cognitive impairment to select scenarios with the best psychometric properties in order to build a future clinically short version of the test. (3) Results: Fifty-six scenarios were retained following expert evaluation. Results support the idea that the improved version has good internal consistency, and the concurrent validity primer shows that 3DJT is a good measure of judgment. Furthermore, the improved version was found to have a significant number of scenarios with good psychometric properties to prepare a clinical version of the test. (4) Conclusion: The 3DJT is an interesting alternative tool for assessing judgment. However, more studies are needed for its implementation in a clinical context.
Gender, Smoking History, and Age Prediction from Laryngeal Images
Authors: Zhang Tianxiao , Bur Andrés M. , Kraft Shannon , Kavookjian Hannah , Renslo Bryan , Chen Xiangyu , Luo Bo , Wang Guanghui
Published: May 2023

Flexible laryngoscopy is commonly performed by otolaryngologists to detect laryngeal diseases and to recognize potentially malignant lesions. Recently, researchers have introduced machine learning techniques to facilitate automated diagnosis using laryngeal images and achieved promising results. The diagnostic performance can be improved when patients’ demographic information is incorporated into models. However, the manual entry of patient data is time-consuming for clinicians. In this study, we made the first endeavor to employ deep learning models to predict patient demographic information to improve the detector model’s performance. The overall accuracy for gender, smoking history, and age was 85.5%, 65.2%, and 75.9%, respectively. We also created a new laryngoscopic image set for the machine learning study and benchmarked the performance of eight classical deep learning models based on CNNs and Transformers. The results can be integrated into current learning models to improve their performance by incorporating the patient’s demographic information.
Time-Series Hourly Sea Surface Temperature Prediction Using Deep Neural Network Models
Authors: Farhangi Farbod , Sadeghi-Niaraki Abolghasem , Safari Bazargani Jalal , Razavi-Termeh Seyed Vahid , Hussain Dildar , Choi Soo-Mi
Published: May 2023

Sea surface temperature (SST) is crucial in ocean research and marine activities. It makes predicting SST of paramount importance. While SST is highly affected by different oceanic, atmospheric, and climatic parameters, few papers have investigated time-series SST prediction based on multiple features. This paper utilized multi features of air pressure, water temperature, wind direction, and wind speed for time-series hourly SST prediction using deep neural networks of convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and CNN–LSTM. Models were trained and validated by different epochs, and feature importance was evaluated by the leave-one-feature-out method. Air pressure and water temperature were significantly more important than wind direction and wind speed. Accordingly, feature selection is an essential step for time-series SST prediction. Findings also revealed that all models performed well with low prediction errors, and increasing the epochs did not necessarily improve the modeling. While all models were similarly practical, CNN was considered the most suitable as its training speed was several times faster than the other two models. With all this, the low variance of time-series data helped models make accurate predictions, and the proposed method may have higher errors while working with more variant features.
Evaluation of Antibody Kinetics Following COVID-19 Vaccination in Greek SARS-CoV-2 Infected and Naïve Healthcare Workers
Authors: Pavlidis George , Giannoulis Vasileios , Pirounaki Maria , Lampropoulos Ioannis C. , Siafi Eirini , Nitsa Alkippi , Pavlou Efthymia , Xanthaki Anna , Perlepe Garyfallia , Fortis Sotirios P. , Charalambous George , Kampolis Christos F. , Pantazopoulos Ioannis
Published: May 2023

We investigated the antibody kinetics after vaccination against COVID-19 in healthcare workers of a Greek tertiary hospital. Eight hundred and three subjects were included, of whom 758 (94.4%) received the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech), eight (1%) mRNA-1273 (Moderna), 14 (1.7%) ChAdOx1 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and 23 (2.9%) Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen). Before the second dose, at 2, 6 and 9 months after the second dose and at 2 and 6 months after the third dose, anti-spike IgG were quantified by the chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay method. One hundred subjects were infected before vaccination (group A), 335 were infected after receiving at least one vaccine dose (group B), while 368 had never been infected (group C). Group A presented a greater number of hospitalizations and reinfections compared to group B (p < 0.05). By multivariate analysis, younger age was associated with an increased risk of reinfection (odds ratio: 0.956, p = 0.004). All subjects showed the highest antibody titers at 2 months after the second and third dose. Group A showed higher antibody titers pre-second dose, which remained elevated 6 months post-second dose compared to groups B and C (p < 0.05). Pre-vaccine infection leads to rapid development of high antibody titer and a slower decline. Vaccination is associated with fewer hospitalizations and fewer reinfections.
Morphodynamic Types of the Laptev Sea Coast: A Review
Authors: Kizyakov Alexander I. , Ermolov Alexander A. , Baranskaya Alisa V. , Grigoriev Mikhail N.
Published: May 2023

The Laptev Sea coast has a unique high-latitude and dynamic landscape. The presence of low-temperature permafrost (below −7 °C) and its high ice content (up to 90%) determine a wide array of permafrost landforms and features. Under the actions of thermal abrasion and thermal denudation, high rates of coastal retreat are evident within this region. Local differences in the geological structure and sea hydrodynamic conditions determine the diversity of this sea coast’s types. In this review, we present the results of a morphodynamic classification and segmentation of the Laptev Sea coast. The integrated approach used in the classification took into account the leading relief-forming processes that act upon this coastal zone. The research scale of 1:100,000 made it possible to identify and characterize the morphologies of the coast and their spatial distributions within the study area. The presented original classification can be considered to be universal for the eastern Arctic seas of Eurasia; it may be used as a basis for further scientific and applied research.
Stimulation of Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Modulates Pro-Inflammatory Response in Microglia and Macrophages: Therapeutic Implications for the Treatment of Stroke
Authors: Alshammari Abdulkarim , Han Yohan , Jones Timothy W. , Pillai Bindu , Zhang Duo , Ergul Adviye , Somanath Payaningal R. , Fagan Susan C.
Published: May 2023

Background: Sustained microglial activation contributes to the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Compound 21 (C21), an angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonist, has shown some neurovascular protection after stroke. This study aimed to investigate the direct anti-inflammatory effects of C21 on macrophages, as well as brain innate immune cells. Methods: Murine microglial cell line (C8-B4) and RAW 264.7 macrophages were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and co-treated with C21. Pro-inflammatory mediators were assessed via RT-qPCR and ELISA. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated via CellROXGreen staining, and nitrate production was assessed using Griess assay. Results: C21 suppressed LPS-induced inflammation and ROS generation in both cells. In microglia, C21 blunted LPS-induced mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-12b, COX-1, iNOS, and IL-6. A similar pattern was observed in macrophages, where C21 suppressed LPS-induced IL-1β, TNF-α, and CXCL1 expression. These anti-inflammatory effects in microglia and macrophages were associated with increased neuroprotective gene expression, including GDNF and BDNF, in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a protective effect of C21 against the inflammatory response, in both macrophages and microglia, via suppression of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and the generation of ROS while stimulating the production of neurotrophic factors.
Study on the Stability of Low-Carbon Magnesium Cementitious Materials in Sulfate Erosion Environments
Authors: Jia Yuan , Zou Xinmei , Jiang Yaoting , Zou Yuxin , Song Shuanglin , Qin Jianyun , Wang Yongjing , Zhu Lihua
Published: May 2023

The current investigation focuses on the stability of the magnesium oxide-based cementitious system under the action of sulfate attack and the dry-wet cycle. The phase change in the magnesium oxide-based cementitious system was quantitatively analyzed by X-ray diffraction, combined with thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscope, to explore its erosion behavior under an erosion environment. The results revealed that, in the fully reactive magnesium oxide-based cementitious system under the environment of high concentration sulfate erosion, there was only magnesium silicate hydrate gel formation and no other phase; however, the reaction process of the incomplete magnesium oxide-based cementitious system was delayed, but not inhibited, by the environment of high-concentration sulfate, and it tended to turn completely into a magnesium silicate hydrate gel. The magnesium silicate hydrate sample outperformed the cement sample, in terms of stability in a high-concentration sulfate erosion environment, but it tended to degrade considerably more rapidly, and to a greater extent, than Portland cement, in both dry and wet sulfate cycle environments.
Norm Estimates of the Pre-Schwarzian Derivatives for Functions with Conic-like Domains
Authors: Zafar Sidra , Wanas Abbas Kareem , Abdalla Mohamed , Bukhari Syed Zakar Hussain
Published: May 2023

The pre-Schwarzianand Schwarzian derivatives of analytic functions f are defined in U, where U is the open unit disk. The pre-Schwarzian as well as Schwarzian derivatives are popular tools for studying the geometric properties of analytic mappings. These can also be used to obtain either necessary or sufficient conditions for the univalence of a function f. Because of the computational difficulty, the pre-Schwarzian norm has received more attention than the Schwarzian norm. It has applications in the theory of hypergeometric functions, conformal mappings, Teichmüller spaces, and univalent functions. In this paper, we find sharp norm estimates of the pre-Schwarzian derivatives of certain subfamilies of analytic functions involving some conic-like image domains. These results may also be extended to the families of strongly starlike, convex, as well as to functions with symmetric and conjugate symmetric points.
Modeling and Optimal Operating Conditions of Hollow Fiber Membrane for CO2/CH4 Separation
Authors: Jasim Dheyaa J. , Mohammed Thamer J. , Harharah Hamed N. , Harharah Ramzi H. , Amari Abdelfattah , Abid Mohammed F.
Published: May 2023

In this work, the capture of carbon dioxide using a dense hollow fiber membrane was studied experimentally and theoretically. The factors affecting the flux and recovery of carbon dioxide were studied using a lab-scale system. Experiments were conducted using a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide to simulate natural gas. The effect of changing the CO2 concentration from 2 to 10 mol%, the feed pressure from 2.5 to 7.5 bar, and the feed temperature from 20 to 40 °C, was investigated. Depending on the solution diffusion mechanism, coupled with the Dual sorption model, a comprehensive model was implemented to predict the CO2 flux through the membrane, based on resistance in the series model. Subsequently, a 2D axisymmetric model of a multilayer HFM was proposed to simulate the axial and radial diffusion of carbon dioxide in a membrane. In the three domains of fiber, the CFD technique was used to solve the equations for the transfer of momentum and mass transfer by using the COMSOL 5.6. Modeling results were validated with 27 experiments, and there was a good agreement between the simulation results and the experimental data. The experimental results show the effect of operational factors, such as the fact that temperature was directly on both gas diffusivity and mass transfer coefficient. Meanwhile, the effect of pressure was exactly the opposite, and the concentration of CO2 had almost no effect on both the diffusivity and the mass transfer coefficient. In addition, the CO2 recovery changed from 9% at a pressure equal to 2.5 bar, temperature equal to 20 °C, and a concentration of CO2 equal to 2 mol%, to 30.3% at a pressure equal to 7.5 bar, temperature equal to 30 °C, and concentration of CO2 equal 10 mol%; these conditions are the optimal operating point. The results also manifested that the operational factors that directly affect the flux are pressure and CO2 concentration, while there was no clear effect of temperature. This modeling offers valuable data about the feasibility studies and economic evaluation of a gas separation unit operation as a helpful unit in the industry.
Parameter Optimization for Printing Barium Titanate Piezoelectric Ceramics through Digital Light Processing
Authors: Zhang Dongcai , Yang Yaodong , Rao Wei-Feng
Published: May 2023

Digital light processing (DLP) technology has emerged as a promising 3D printing technology with the potential for the efficient manufacturing of complex ceramic devices. However, the quality of printed products is highly dependent on various process parameters, including slurry formulation, heat treatment process, and poling process. This paper optimizes the printing process with respect to these key parameters, such as using a ceramic slurry with 75 wt% powder content. The employed degreasing heating rate is 4 °C/min, the carbon-removing heating rate is 4 °C/min, and the sintering heating rate is 2 °C/min for heat treatment of the printed green body. The resulting parts are polarized using a poling field of 10 kV/cm, a poling time of 50 min, and a poling temperature of 60 °C, which yields a piezoelectric device with a high piezoelectric constant of 211 pC/N. To demonstrate the practical application of the device, its use as a force sensor and magnetic sensor is validated.
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sequence Type 235 Isolated from Sudan
Authors: Hussain Mohamed A. , Mohamed Malik Suliman , Altayb Hisham N. , Mohamed Ahmed Osman , Ashour Ahmed , Osman Wadah , Sherif Asmaa E. , Ghazawi Kholoud F. , Miski Samar F. , Ibrahim Sabrin R. M. , Mohamed Gamal A. , Sindi Ikhlas A. , Alshamrani Ahmad A. , Elgaml Abdelaziz
Published: May 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is known to be associated with resistance to practically all known antibiotics. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, laboratory-based analytical study in which 200 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates were involved. The DNA of the most resistant isolate was extracted and its whole genome was sequenced, assembled, annotated, and announced, strain typing was ascribed, and it was subjected to comparative genomic analysis with two susceptible strains. The rate of resistance was 77.89%, 25.13%, 21.61%, 18.09%, 5.53%, and 4.52% for piperacillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, meropenem, and polymyxin B, respectively. Eighteen percent (36) of the tested isolates exhibited a MDR phenotype. The most MDR strain belonged to epidemic sequence type 235. Comparative genomic analysis of the MDR strain (GenBank: MVDK00000000) with two susceptible strains revealed that the core genes were shared by the three genomes but there were accessory genes that were strain-specific, and this MDR genome had a low CG% (64.6%) content. A prophage sequence and one plasmid were detected in the MDR genome, but amazingly, it contained no resistant genes for drugs with antipseudomonal activity and there was no resistant island. In addition, 67 resistant genes were detected, 19 of them were found only in the MDR genome and 48 genes were efflux pumps, and a novel deleterious point mutation (D87G) was detected in the gyrA gene. The novel deleterious mutation in the gyrA gene (D87G) is a known position behind quinolone resistance. Our findings emphasize the importance of adoption of infection control strategies to prevent dissemination of MDR isolates.
Geostatistical Evaluation of a Porphyry Copper Deposit Using Copulas
Authors: Sohrabian Babak , Soltani-Mohammadi Saeed , Pourmirzaee Rashed , Carranza Emmanuel John M.
Published: May 2023

Kriging has some problems such as ignoring sample values in giving weights to them, reducing dependence structure to a single covariance function, and facing negative confidence bounds. In view to these problems of kriging in this study to estimate Cu in the Iju porphyry Cu deposit in Iran, we used a convex linear combination of Archimedean copulas. To delineate the spatial dependence structure of Cu, the best Frank, Gumbel, and Clayton copula models were determined at different lags to fit with higher-order polynomials. The resulting Archimedean copulas were able to describe all kinds of spatial dependence structures, including asymmetric lower and upper tails. The copula and kriging methods were compared through a split-sample cross-validation test whereby the drill-hole data were divided into modeling and validation sets. The cross-validation showed better results for geostatistical estimation through copula than through kriging in terms of accuracy and precision. The mean of the validation set, which was 0.1218%, was estimated as 0.1278% and 0.1369% by the copula and kriging methods, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the estimated and measured values was higher for the copula method than for the kriging method. With 0.0143%2 and 0.0162%2 values, the mean square error was substantially smaller for copula than for kriging. A boxplot of the results demonstrated that the copula method was better in reproducing the Cu distribution and had fewer smoothing problems.
Calculation of Shear Layer Thickness of Ionic Rare Earth Particles in Mixture Electrolytes during In-Situ Leaching Process
Authors: Gao Zhongquan , Rao Yunzhang , Zhang Xiaoming , Xu Wei , Yang Zhihua , Xiang Run
Published: May 2023

During in-situ mining and leaching of ionic rare earth ore, a chemical replacement reaction occurs between the leaching agent and rare earth ore. The thickness of the shear layer on the surface of colloidal particles is an important physical parameter. Based on the Gouy–Chapman double-layer theory and Poisson–Boltzmann equation, the relational expression for the thickness of the shear layer in the electric double layer on the particle surface under the condition of 2:2 + 3:2 mixture electrolytes (MgSO4 + RE2(SO4)3) is derived. On this basis, an indoor column leaching experiment of MgSO4 solution is conducted, and the surface Zeta potential of rare earth ore particles is measured using a Zetaprobe potential analyzer. The surface potential and the thickness of the shear layer in the leaching process with different concentrations solutions (2.5%, 3.0%, and 3.5%) are calculated. The effects of a MgSO4 solution concentration and particle surface potential on the thickness of the shear layer in the electric double layer are analyzed. It provides a theoretical basis for the study of the internal seepage of the ore body under the condition of the coexistence of multiple ions in the leaching process.
The Role of the Mannich Reaction in Nitrogen Migration during the Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Bovine Serum Albumin and Lignin with Various Forms of Acid–Alcohol Assistance
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Mu Kai , Zhao Bo , Yi Linlin
Published: May 2023

Co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) of N-rich and lignocellulosic biomass is a potential way to produce hydrochar with high yield and quality, but the nitrogen will also enrich in a solid product. In this study, a novel co-HTC with acid–alcohol assistance is proposed, and the model compounds bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lignin were used to investigate the role of the acid–alcohol-enhanced Mannich reaction in nitrogen migration. The results showed that the acid–alcohol mixture could inhibit nitrogen enrichment in solids and the order of the denitrification rate was acetic acid > oxalic acid > citric acid. Acetic acid promoted solid-N hydrolysis to NH4+ while oxalic acid preferred to convert it to oil-N. More tertiary amines and phenols were generated with oxalic acid–ethanol addition and then formed quaternary-N and N-containing aromatic compounds through the Mannich reaction. In the citric acid–ethanol–water solution, NH4+ and amino acids were captured to form diazoxide derivatives in oil and pyrroles in solids through both nucleophilic substitution and the Mannich reaction. The results are able to guide biomass hydrochar production with the targeted regulation of nitrogen content and species.
Chronic Inflammation’s Transformation to Cancer: A Nanotherapeutic Paradigm
Authors: Sohrab Sayed Sartaj , Raj Riya , Nagar Amka , Hawthorne Susan , Paiva-Santos Ana Cláudia , Kamal Mohammad Amjad , El-Daly Mai M. , Azhar Esam I. , Sharma Ankur
Published: May 2023

The body’s normal immune response against any invading pathogen that causes infection in the body results in inflammation. The sudden transformation in inflammation leads to the rise of inflammatory diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, and colorectal cancer (different types of cancer develop at the site of chronic infection and inflammation). Inflammation results in two ways: short-term inflammation i.e., non-specific, involves the action of various immune cells; the other results in long-term reactions lasting for months or years. It is specific and causes angiogenesis, fibrosis, tissue destruction, and cancer progression at the site of inflammation. Cancer progression relies on the interaction between the host microenvironment and tumor cells along with the inflammatory responses, fibroblast, and vascular cells. The two pathways that have been identified connecting inflammation and cancer are the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Both have their own specific role in linking inflammation to cancer, involving various transcription factors such as Nuclear factor kappa B, Activator of transcription, Single transducer, and Hypoxia-inducible factor, which in turn regulates the inflammatory responses via Soluble mediators cytokines (such as Interleukin-6, Hematopoietin-1/Erythropoietin, and tumor necrosis factor), chemokines (such as Cyclooxygenase-2, C-X-C Motif chemokines ligand-8, and IL-8), inflammatory cells, cellular components (such as suppressor cells derived from myeloid, tumor-associated macrophage, and acidophils), and promotes tumorigenesis. The treatment of these chronic inflammatory diseases is challenging and needs early detection and diagnosis. Nanotechnology is a booming field nowadays for its rapid action and easy penetration inside the infected destined cells. Nanoparticles are widely classified into different categories based on their different factors and properties such as size, shape, cytotoxicity, and others. Nanoparticles emerged as excellent with highly progressive medical inventions to cure diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and others. Nanoparticles have shown higher binding capacity with the biomolecules in inflammation reduction and lowers the oxidative stress inside tissue/cells. In this review, we have overall discussed inflammatory pathways that link inflammation to cancer, major inflammatory diseases, and the potent action of nanoparticles in chronic inflammation-related diseases.
Huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis), an Iconic Mexican Fungal Resource: Biocultural Importance, Nutritional Content, Bioactive Compounds, and Potential Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Villagrán Zuamí , Martínez-Reyes Magdalena , Gómez-Rodríguez Horacio , Ríos-García Uzziel , Montalvo-González Efigenia , Ortiz-Basurto Rosa Isela , Anaya-Esparza Luis Miguel , Pérez-Moreno Jesús
Published: May 2023

Worldwide, the fungus known as huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda) is a phytopathogen of maize plants that causes important economic losses in different countries. Conversely, it is an iconic edible fungus of Mexican culture and cuisine, and it has high commercial value in the domestic market, though recently there has been a growing interest in the international market. Huitlacoche is an excellent source of nutritional compounds such as protein, dietary fiber, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. It is also an important source of bioactive compounds with health-enhancing properties. Furthermore, scientific evidence shows that extracts or compounds isolated from huitlacoche have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antiplatelet, and dopaminergic properties. Additionally, the technological uses of huitlacoche include stabilizing and capping agents for inorganic nanoparticle synthesis, removing heavy metals from aqueous media, having biocontrol properties for wine production, and containing biosurfactant compounds and enzymes with potential industrial applications. Furthermore, huitlacoche has been used as a functional ingredient to develop foods with potential health-promoting benefits. The present review focuses on the biocultural importance, nutritional content, and phytochemical profile of huitlacoche and its related biological properties as a strategy to contribute to global food security through food diversification; moreover, the biotechnological uses of huitlacoche are also discussed with the aim of contributing to the use, propagation, and conservation of this valuable but overlooked fungal resource.
Adsorption of Different Ionic Types of Polyacrylamide on Montmorillonite Surface: Insight from QCM-D and Molecular Dynamic Simulation
Authors: Ma Xiaomin , Sun Xiaosong , Chang Ming , Liu Qingxia , Dong Xianshu , Fan Yuping , Chen Ruxia
Published: May 2023

This study investigates the interaction between montmorillonite and polyacrylamide (PAM) with different ionic types using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The goal was to understand the effect of ionicity and ionic type on polymer deposition on montmorillonite surfaces. The results of the QCM-D analysis showed that a decrease in pH led to an increase in the adsorption of montmorillonite on the alumina surface. The ranking of adsorption mass on alumina and pre-adsorbed montmorillonite alumina surfaces was found to be cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) > polyacrylamide (NPAM) > anionic polyacrylamide (APAM). The study also found that CPAM had the strongest bridging effect on montmorillonite nanoparticles, followed by NPAM, while APAM had a negligible bridging effect. The MD simulations showed that ionicity had a significant influence on the adsorption of polyacrylamides. The cationic functional group N(CH3)3+ had the strongest attraction interaction with the montmorillonite surface, followed by the hydrogen bonding interaction of the amide functional group CONH2, and the anionic functional group COO- had a repulsive interaction. The results suggest that at high ionicity levels, CPAM can be adsorbed on the montmorillonite surface, while at low ionicity levels, APAM may still be adsorbed with a strong coordination trend.
New Perspectives on Lactose Malabsorption, Celiac Disease and Related Disorders
Authors: Usai-Satta Paolo , Lai Mariantonia
Published: May 2023

Lactose malabsorption (LM) is caused by the incomplete hydrolysis of lactose due to lactase deficiency [...]
Healthy Diet Promotion through Evidence-Informed Policies
Authors: An Ruopeng , Chen Chen
Published: May 2023

The Special Issue entitled “The Impact of Policy and Food Environment on Food Purchase and Dietary Behavior” comprises 13 articles that collectively provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between policy, food environment, and individual food purchase and consumption [...]