bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Cholesterol-Lowering and Detox Formulations Using Bentonite and Herbal Ingredients
Authors: Turgut Rana , Kartal Murat , Akkol Esra Küpeli , Demirbolat İlker , Taştan Hakkı
Published: December 2021

Detoxification enzymes involved in human metabolism works to minimize the potential xenobiotic-induced damage constantly. Studies have revealed that toxin accumulation plays an important role in the etiology of cardiovascular disease. This study has been designed to provide evidence of medicinal use of bentonite, turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed, flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), and psyllium (Plantago ovata L.) as detoxification and cholesterol-lowering agents using a hypercholesterolemic model in mice. The potential hypocholesterolemic effects and detoxification ability of these ingredients were evaluated at the same time: Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, malondialdehyde, plasma total antioxidant activity, nitric acid, leptin levels and glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase values were measured. It was determined that GBTF group (grape seed extract, bentonite, turmeric, and flaxseed), GBTP group (grape seed extract, bentonite, turmeric, and psyllium), and GBT group (grape seed extract, bentonite, and turmeric) of the tested materials decreased the serum total cholesterol concentration by 64.8, 57.5, and 48.9%, respectively, in mice fed a high cholesterol diet. In addition, it was determined that some detoxification parameters such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase were statistically significantly reversed in GBTF, GBTP, and GBT groups. Flaxseed, psyllium, and bentonite clay did not show significant effects in reducing total cholesterol; however, GBTF, GBTP, and GBT groups interventions had a significant effect in reducing total cholesterol levels. Moreover, it was observed that adding flaxseed or psyllium to the GBT group increased the cholesterol-lowering effect. Therefore, it can be thought that this significant effect is due to the synergistic effect of the raw materials. When the results obtained were evaluated, it was seen that the cholesterol-lowering and detoxification effects of the combinations were higher than from the effect of natural material used alone. As a result, combinations of some of these ingredients have a positive effect on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Hyperosmolarity Impairs Human Extravillous Trophoblast Differentiation by Caveolae Internalization
Authors: Reppetti Julieta , Medina Yollyseth , Farina Mariana , Damiano Alicia E. , Martínez Nora Alicia
Published: December 2021

We recently reported that an intact caveolar structure is necessary for adequate cell migration and tubulogenesis of the human extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. Emerging evidence supports that hyperosmolarity induces the internalization of caveolae into the cytoplasm and accelerates their turnover. Furthermore, signaling pathways associated with the regulation of trophoblast differentiation are localized in caveolae. We hypothesized that hyperosmolarity impairs EVT differentiation and caveolae/caveolin−1 (Cav-1) participates in this process. EVT cells (Swan 71 cell line) were cultured in complete Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F-12 and exposed to hyperosmolar condition (generated by the addition of 100 mM sucrose). Hyperosmolarity altered the EVT cell migration and the formation of tube-like structures. In addition, cell invasion was decreased along with a reduction in the latent and active forms of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP−2) secreted by these cells. With respect to Cav-1 protein abundance, we found that hyperosmolarity enhanced its degradation by the lysosomal pathway. Accordingly, in the hyperosmolar condition, we also observed a significant increase in the number of vacuoles and the internalization of the caveolae into the cytoplasm. Taken together, our findings suggest that hyperosmolarity may induce caveolae internalization and increase their turnover, compromising the normal differentiation of EVT cells.
Soluble Human Angiotensin- Converting Enzyme 2 as a Potential Therapeutic Tool for COVID-19 is Produced at High Levels In Nicotiana benthamiana Plant With Potent Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity
Authors: Mamedov Tarlan , Gurbuzaslan Irem , Yuksel Damla , Ilgin Merve , Mammadova Gunay , Ozkul Aykut , Hasanova Gulnara
Published: December 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread to more than 222 countries and has put global public health at high risk. The world urgently needs a safe, cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine as well as therapeutic and antiviral drugs to combat COVID-19. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as a key receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infections, has been proposed as a potential therapeutic tool in patients with COVID-19. In this study, we report a high-level production (about ∼0.75 g/kg leaf biomass) of human soluble (truncated) ACE2 in the Nicotiana benthamiana plant. After the Ni-NTA single-step, the purification yields of recombinant plant produced ACE2 protein in glycosylated and deglycosylated forms calculated as ∼0.4 and 0.5 g/kg leaf biomass, respectively. The plant produced recombinant human soluble ACE2s successfully bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Importantly, both deglycosylated and glycosylated forms of ACE2 are stable at increased temperatures for extended periods of time and demonstrated strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities in vitro. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of glycosylated ACE2 (gACE2) and deglycosylated ACE2 (dACE2) were ∼1.0 and 8.48 μg/ml, respectively, for the pre-entry infection, when incubated with 100TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, plant produced soluble ACE2s are promising cost-effective and safe candidates as a potential therapeutic tool in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
The Older, the More Forgiving? Characteristics of Forgiveness of Chinese Older Adults
Authors: Tao Linjin , Zhu Tingting , Min Yanglu , Ji Mingxia
Published: December 2021

This study explores the characteristics of forgiveness in the aging cohorts, which is regarded to be associated with healthy outcomes. Data were drawn from a sample of 308 older adults (aged from 60 to 98 years) who completed the forgiveness questionnaire: forgiving others of The Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) to examine explicit forgiveness, and among the participants, 44 older adults were administrated on the variant single category of implicit association test (SC-IAT) to examine the implicit forgiveness. The results revealed that (1) there is no correlation between explicit forgiveness and implicit forgiveness of older adults. (2) The result of explicit forgiveness is relatively high while that of implicit forgiveness is relatively low. (3) There was no significant correlation between explicit forgiveness and age, but there was significant difference between age groups, as forgiveness tendency of the elderly had a trough in the age group of 70–79 and then rebounded. (4) Implicit forgiveness was significantly correlated with age, and the difference between age groups was marginal. The forgiveness tendency of the elderly over 80 years old was significantly higher than that of the other two age groups. (5) Gender differences are found in both explicit and implicit forgiveness. The findings indicated that (1) explicit and implicit measures in this study have assessed independent and complementary aspects of forgiveness tendency in older adults. (2) Implicit forgiveness falls behind explicit forgiveness, and true internal forgiveness is difficult and rare in older adults according to data analysis. (3) The trend of explicit forgiveness with age is not obvious, because explicit forgiveness in the middle old age group presents an inflection point. However, implicit forgiveness increases slowly with age. (4) Women excel men in scores obtained with both explicit and implicit measures for forgiveness.
A Change of Scenery: Does Exposure to Images of Nature Affect Delay Discounting and Food Desirability?
Authors: Clarke Katie , Higgs Suzanne , Holley Clare E. , Jones Andrew , Marty Lucile , Hardman Charlotte A.
Published: December 2021

Previous research suggests that exposure to nature may reduce delay discounting (the tendency to discount larger future gains in favor of smaller immediate rewards) and thereby facilitate healthier dietary intake. This pre-registered study examined the impact of online exposure to images of natural scenes on delay discounting and food preferences. It was predicted that exposure to images of natural scenes (vs. images of urban scenes) would be associated with: (i) lower delay discounting; (ii) higher desirability for fruits and vegetables (and lower desirability for more energy-dense foods); and (iii) delay discounting would mediate the effect of nature-image exposure on food desirability. Adult participants (N = 109) were recruited to an online between-subjects experiment in which they viewed a timed sequence of six images either showing natural landscape scenes or urban scenes. They then completed measures of mood, delay discounting (using a five-trial hypothetical monetary discounting task) and rated their momentary desire to eat four fruits and vegetables (F&V), and four energy-dense foods. There was no statistically significant effect of experimental condition (natural vs. urban image exposure) on delay discounting or food desirability. Bayes factors supported the null hypothesis for discounting (BF01 = 4.89), and energy-dense food desirability (BF01 = 7.21), but provided no strong evidence for either hypothesis for F&V desirability (BF01 = 0.78). These findings indicate that brief online exposure to images of nature does not affect momentary impulsivity or energy-dense food preference, whereas for preference for less-energy dense foods, the evidence was inconclusive.
Physical Health Profile and Associated Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Sperling Jon Dyg , Dalkner Nina , Berndt Christina , Fleischmann Eva , Ratzenhofer Michaela , Martini Julia , Pfennig Andrea , Bauer Michael , Reininghaus Eva , Vinberg Maj
Published: December 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased psychological strain on public mental health and may impact behavioral, mental, and physical health, presumably with effects on patients with severe mental disorders. This study examines pandemic-related physical and mental health and (compensatory) behavioral changes, in patients with BD as compared to healthy control individuals.

Method: Physical and mental health and self-reported changes in daily structure and behavior due to the pandemic were assessed using a self-constructed questionnaire and the brief symptom inventory (BSI) in Germany, Austria, and Denmark in individuals with BD and a healthy control group.

Results: The present study included 118 individuals with BD and 215 healthy controls. Individuals with BD reported statistically significant higher physical risk burden, increased weight gain, more physical comorbidities, and a decrease in physical activity and they further reported higher rates of COVID-19 testing, had more worries concerning health, and experienced more anxiety but less social distancing.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a greater impact on physical health in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. Individuals with BD appear to be having more difficulties compensating their behavior due to the pandemic which could amplify the effect of risk factors associated with poorer physical health. This highlights the necessity for optimizing and targeting the overall treatment of both mental and physical health in patients with BD during periods with far-reaching changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Limitations: Sampling issues and self-report forms, selectivity (missing elderly, and those lacking access or knowledge of technology).
Neural Network Based Mental Depression Identification and Sentiments Classification Technique From Speech Signals: A COVID-19 Focused Pandemic Study
Authors: Ahmed Syed Thouheed , Singh Dollar Konjengbam , Basha Syed Muzamil , Abouel Nasr Emad , Kamrani Ali K. , Aboudaif Mohamed K.
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2020. This led to previously unforeseen measures that aimed to curb its spread, such as the lockdown of cities, districts, and international travel. Various researchers and institutions have focused on multidimensional opportunities and solutions in encountering the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focuses on mental health and sentiment validations caused by the global lockdowns across the countries, resulting in a mental disability among individuals. This paper discusses a technique for identifying the mental state of an individual by sentiment analysis of feelings such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness caused by isolation and pauses to the normal chains of operations in daily life. The research uses a Neural Network (NN) to resolve and extract patterns and validate threshold trained datasets for decision making. This technique was used to validate 2,173 global speech samples, and the resulting accuracy of mental state and sentiments are identified with 93.5% accuracy in classifying the behavioral patterns of patients suffering from COVID-19 and pandemic-influenced depression.
Time to Align: A Call for Consensus on the Assessment of Genetic Testing
Authors: Pitini Erica , Baccolini Valentina , Migliara Giuseppe , Isonne Claudia , Sindoni Alessandro , Mazzalai Elena , Turatto Federica , De Vito Corrado , Marzuillo Carolina , Villari Paolo
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we updated our 2018 systematic review aimed to identify and compare ad hoc designed frameworks for genetic testing evaluation. Overall, we identified 30 frameworks (29 in the first systematic review and one in the update): they were mainly based on the ACCE model, whereas a minority were adjustments of the more traditional Health Technology Assessment (HTA) approach. After discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the retrieved frameworks, this perspective calls for consensus on the assessment of genetic testing. In line with the recent European recommendations that encouraged the generation of comparable evidence across Member States, we believe that the time has come to align all the ideas that have emerged over the last few decades and find a sustainable and sharable tool for the evaluation of genetic and genomic applications. Therefore, we suggest stopping the evaluation of such technologies using ad hoc strategies–affected by validation, implementation, and adoption issues–and we propose to use a general HTA approach, particularly the European reference tool for the assessment of health technologies, the EUnetHTA HTA core model, that is built on solid theoretical and methodological principles and provides a comprehensive assessment of the technologies value.
Chitin Determination in Residual Streams Derived From Insect Production by LC-ECD and LC-MS/MS Methods
Authors: Nurfikari Azkia , de Boer Wietse
Published: December 2021

Chitin, a biopolymer present in fungi and arthropods, is a compound of interest for various applications, such as in the agricultural and medical fields. With the recently growing interest in the development of insect farming, the availability of chitin-containing residual streams, particularly the molting skins (exuviae), is expected to increase in the near future. For application purposes, accurate quantification of chitin in these insect sources is essential. Previous studies on chitin extraction and quantification often overlooked the purity of the extracted chitin, making the outcomes inconsistent and prone to overestimation. The present study aims to determine chitin content in the exuviae of three insect species mass-reared worldwide: black soldier fly (BSF), mealworm, and house cricket. Chitin was chemically extracted using acid and alkali treatments to remove minerals and proteins. The purity of extracted chitin was evaluated by hydrolyzing the chitin into glucosamine, followed by quantitative determination of the latter using two liquid chromatography methods: electrochemical detection (ECD) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Both methods proved accurate and precise, without the need for labor-intensive derivatization steps. Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman plots showed that the glucosamine determination results obtained by the two methods were comparable, and there is no consistent bias of one approach vs. the other. The chitin content in extracted residues ranged between 7.9 and 18.5%, with the highest amount found in BSF puparium. In summary, the study demonstrated that (1) the residual streams of the insect farming industry have a great potential for utilization as an alternative chitin source, and (2) both LC-ECD and LC-MS/MS are reliable for the quantitative determination of glucosamine in insect chitin.
The Arthroscopic Intra-Articular Stabilization of the Shoulder for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tear: A New Technique Proposal
Authors: Luciani Pierfrancesco , Farinelli Luca , De Berardinis Luca , Gigante Antonio
Published: December 2021

Background: Superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) has shown good results in the management of irreparable rotator cuff tears due to the depressive effect on the humeral head, but it is a technically demanding and expensive procedure.

Purpose: We hypothesized that an intra-articular neoligament that prevents the superior translation of the humeral head could give similar results in terms of the superior translation of humerus (STH) and range of motion (ROM).

Study Design: To compare our proposed technique and the SCR, we conducted a biomechanical study on 10 porcine shoulders in a custom shoulder testing system.

Methods: STH and total rotational ROM were quantified in the following four scenarios: (1) when the rotator cuff was intact, (2) after cutting the supraspinatus tendon, (3) after the reconstruction of the superior capsule by long head of the biceps tendon (LHB), and (4) after an arthroscopic intra-articular stabilization by an intra-articular graft. Our proposed technique provides the creation of a humeral and glenoid tunnel, the passage of a graft through these tunnels under arthroscopic guidance, and the graft fixation in the two tunnels. We analyzed the STH and total ROM in each scenario.

Results: With respect to the STH, we reported that the present proposed technique is characterized by a significant reduction of superior translation at 0 and 45° compared to scenario 2. In addition, the comparison between our proposed technique and SCR showed a significant difference of the STH at 0° of abduction. Total rotational ROMs of the two tenchinques were similar to scenario 2. Therefore, the use of an intra-articular ligament that prevents the STH can restore shoulder stability in irreparable rotator cuff injuries at both 0 and 45° of glenohumeral abduction without apparently limiting the total rotational ROM.

Conclusion: Our proposed technique could be an important treatment option in irreparable rotator cuff tears, especially in patients under 65 years in whom reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has shown poor results and many complications.
The Damaging Outcome of the POLAR Phase III Trials Was Due to Avoidable Time-Dependent Redox Interaction between Oxaliplatin and PledOx
Authors: Karlsson Jan Olof G. , Jynge Per , Ignarro Louis J.
Published: December 2021

On 2 July 2021, highly negative results were reported from the POLAR A and M phase III trials in patients with colorectal cancer, treated with an oxaliplatin-based regimen and co-treated with calmangafodipir (CaM; PledOx®; PledPharma AB/Egetis Therapeutics AB) or placebo. The results revealed persistent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in 54.8% of the patients treated with PledOx, compared with 40.0% of the patients treated with the placebo (p < 0.05), i.e., a 37% increase in incidence of the side effect that the trial was aimed to prevent. The damaging outcome of the trials differed diametrically from an in-parallel conducted mice study and from a clinical trial with mangafodipir, the active ingredient of CaM. According to the authors of the POLAR report, the etiology of the profound increase in CIPN in the PledOx arm is unclear. However, these devastating effects are presumably explained by intravenous administrations of PledOx and oxaliplatin being too close in time and, thereby, causing unfavorable redox interactions between Mn2+ and Pt2−. In the mice study as well as in the preceding phase II clinical trial (PLIANT), PledOx was administered 10 min before the start of the oxaliplatin infusion; this was clearly an administration procedure, where the devastating interactions between PledOx and oxaliplatin could be avoided. However, when it comes to the POLAR trials, PledOx was administered, for incomprehensible reasons, “on Top of Modified FOLFOX6” at day one, i.e., after the two-hour oxaliplatin infusion instead of before oxaliplatin. This is a time point when the plasma concentration of oxaliplatin and Pt2+-metabolites is at its highest, and where the risk of devastating redox interactions between PledOx and oxaliplatin, in turn, is at its highest.
Enhanced Performance of PVDF Composite Ultrafiltration Membrane via Degradation of Collagen-Modified Graphene Oxide
Authors: Hou Yonggang , Lv Shenghua , Hu Haoyan , Wu Xinming , Liu Leipeng
Published: December 2021

The collagen obtained from chrome leather waste can be used to modify graphene oxide (GO) to prepare polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite ultrafiltration membranes, a process that is conducive to the recovery of leather waste, comprehensive utilization of GO and improved performance of the membrane. In this paper, collagen-modified GO (CGO) was prepared by degradation of collagen from chrome leather waste and used to prepare a PVDF composite ultrafiltration membrane. The results show that the carboxyl content of CGO and dispersion were improved. The water flux and flux recovery rate of the modified ultrafiltration membrane were improved. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) intercepted on the membrane surface was easy to clean and the antifouling performance improved. The performance of the membrane decreased when the GO content exceeded 0.75 wt%, while CGO can reach 1.0 wt% without agglomeration due to its good dispersion.
Copper Chloro-Complexes Concentrated Solutions: An Electrochemical Study
Authors: Lacarbonara Giampaolo , Faggiano Luigi , Porcu Stefania , Ricci Pier Carlo , Rapino Stefania , Casey Declan P. , Rohan James F. , Arbizzani Catia
Published: December 2021

Basic studies on concentrated solutions are becoming more and more important due to the practical industrial and geological applications. The use in redox flow batteries is one of the most important applications of these solutions. Specifically, in this paper we investigated high-concentrated copper chloro-complexes solutions with different additives. The concentration of ligands and additives affects the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of 2 M solutions of Cu(I) and Cu(II). Solutions with calcium chloride and HCl as Cl− source were investigated with Cu:Cl ratios of 1:5 and 1:7, the 1:5 Cu:Cl ratio being the best performing. The substitution of calcium chloride with ammonium chloride increased the conductivity. However, while the effect on the positive electrode process was not very evident, the reversibility of the copper deposition–stripping process was greatly improved. Orthophosphoric acid could be a viable additive to decrease the complexation of calcium with chloride anions and to improve the stability of Cu(II) chloro-complexes. Absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that phosphate ions do not coordinate copper(II) but lead to a shift in the distribution of copper chloro-complexes toward more coordinated species. Electrochemically, the increased availability of chloride anions in solution stabilized the Cu(II)-rich solution and led to increased reversibility of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox process.
Switch from Omalizumab to Benralizumab in Allergic Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: A Real-Life Experience from Southern Italy
Authors: Pelaia Corrado , Crimi Claudia , Nolasco Santi , Carpagnano Giovanna Elisiana , Brancaccio Raffaele , Buonamico Enrico , Campisi Raffaele , Gagliani Claudia , Patella Vincenzo , Pelaia Girolamo , Valenti Giuseppe , Crimi Nunzio
Published: December 2021

Background. The wide availability of monoclonal antibodies for the add-on therapy of severe asthma currently allows for the personalization of biologic treatment by selecting the most appropriate drug for each patient. However, subjects with overlapping allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes can be often eligible to more than one biologic, so that the first pharmacologic choice can be quite challenging for clinicians. Within such a context, the aim of our real-life investigation was to verify whether allergic patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, not adequately controlled by an initial biologic treatment with omalizumab, could experience better therapeutic results from a pharmacologic shift to benralizumab. Patients and methods. Twenty allergic patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, unsuccessfully treated with omalizumab and then switched to benralizumab, were assessed for at least 1 year in order to detect eventual changes in disease exacerbations, symptom control, oral corticosteroid intake, lung function, and blood eosinophils. Results. In comparison to the previous omalizumab therapy, after 1 year of treatment with benralizumab our patients experienced significant improvements in asthma exacerbation rate (p < 0.01), rescue medication need (p < 0.001), asthma control test (ACT) score (p < 0.05), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (p < 0.05), and blood eosinophil count (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, with respect to the end of omalizumab treatment, the score of sino-nasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) significantly decreased after therapy with benralizumab (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The results of this real-life study suggest that the pharmacologic shift from omalizumab to benralizumab can be a valuable therapeutic approach for allergic patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, not adequately controlled by anti-IgE treatment.
Preparation of 1060, 2024 and 7075 Aluminum Alloy Anodic Oxide Films
Authors: Jing Chaojie , Wang Ruijue , Zhao Fangchao , Zhang Lunwu , He Qiongyao , Tong Xiaoqiang
Published: December 2021

On aluminum alloys of grades 1060, 2024 and 7075, regular and highly uniform oxide films were formed by anodic oxidation. Anodizing was carried out at a constant pressure in a phosphoric acid solution of various concentrations. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the optimal characteristics of the method of anodic oxidation for forming uniform oxide films on aluminum alloys were determined: anodic oxidation time, temperature, voltage and the concentration of H3PO4. It was found that, in the process of anodizing, the films have gone through four stages: a non-porosity stage, a mixed stage, an ordered porosity stage and a disordered porosity stage.
β-Ga2O3 Used as a Saturable Sbsorber to Realize Passively Q-Switched Laser Output
Authors: Li Baizhong , Chen Qiudi , Zhang Peixiong , Tian Ruifeng , Zhang Lu , Sai Qinglin , Wang Bin , Pan Mingyan , Liu Youchen , Xia Changtai , Chen Zhenqiang , Qi Hongji
Published: December 2021

β-Ga2O3 crystals have attracted great attention in the fields of photonics and photoelectronics because of their ultrawide band gap and high thermal conductivity. Here, a pure β-Ga2O3 crystal was successfully grown by the optical floating zone (OFZ) method, and was used as a saturable absorber to realize a passively Q-switched all-solid-state 1 μm laser for the first time. By placing the as-grown β-Ga2O3 crystal into the resonator of the Nd:GYAP solid-state laser, Q-switched pulses at the center wavelength of 1080.4 nm are generated under a output coupling of 10%. The maximum output power is 191.5 mW, while the shortest pulse width is 606.54 ns, and the maximum repetition frequency is 344.06 kHz. The maximum pulse energy and peak power are 0.567 μJ and 0.93 W, respectively. Our experimental results show that the β-Ga2O3 crystal has great potential in the development of an all-solid-state 1 μm pulsed laser.
A Randomized Trial Comparing 3- versus 4-Monthly Cardiac Monitoring in Patients Receiving Trastuzumab-Based Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Dent Susan , Fergusson Dean , Aseyev Olexiy , Stober Carol , Pond Gregory , Awan Arif A. , McGee Sharon F. , Ng Terry L. , Simos Demetrios , Vandermeer Lisa , Saunders Deanna , Hilton John F. , Hutton Brian , Clemons Mark
Published: December 2021

Purpose: The optimal frequency for cardiac monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients receiving trastuzumab-based therapy for early breast cancer (EBC) is unknown. We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing 3- versus 4-monthly cardiac monitoring. Patients and Method: Patients scheduled to receive trastuzumab-containing cancer therapy for EBC with normal (>53%) baseline LVEF were randomized to undergo LVEF assessments every 3 or 4 months. The primary outcome was the change in LVEF from baseline. Secondary outcomes included the rate of cardiac dysfunction (defined as a decrease in the LVEF of ≥10 percentage points, to a value <53%), delays in or discontinuation of trastuzumab therapy, and cardiology referral. Results: Of the 200 eligible and enrolled patients, 100 (50%) were randomized to 3-monthly and 100 (50%) to 4-monthly cardiac monitoring. Of these patients, 98 and 97 respectively underwent at least one cardiac scan. The estimated mean difference in LVEF from baseline was −0.94% (one-sided 95% lower bound: −2.14), which exceeded the pre-defined non-inferiority margin of −4%. There were also no significant differences between the two study arms for any of the secondary endpoints. The rate of detection of cardiac dysfunction was 16.3% (16/98) and 12.4% (12/97) in the 3- and 4-monthly arms, respectively (95% CI: 4.0 [−5.9, 13.8]). Conclusions: Cardiac monitoring every 4 months was deemed non-inferior to that every 3 months in patients with HER2-positive EBC being treated with trastuzumab-based therapy. Given its costs and inconvenience, cardiac monitoring every 4 months should be considered standard practice. Registration: NCT02696707, 18 February 2016.
Management of Localized Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer from a Multidisciplinary Perspective: Current Position of the Spanish Oncology Genitourinary (SOGUG) Working Group
Authors: Gómez Caamaño Antonio , García Vicente Ana M. , Maroto Pablo , Rodríguez Antolín Alfredo , Sanz Julián , Vera González María Almudena , Climent Miguel Ángel ,   on behalf of the Spanish Oncology Genitourinary (SOGUG) Multisiciplinary Working Group
Published: December 2021

This review presents challenges and recommendations on different aspects related to the management of patients with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), which were discussed by a group of experts of a Spanish Oncology Genitourinary (SOGUG) Working Group within the framework of the Genitourinary Alliance project (12GU). It is necessary to clearly define which patients are candidates for radical cystectomy and which are candidates for undergoing bladder-sparing procedures. In older patients, it is necessary to include a geriatric assessment and evaluation of comorbidities. The pathological report should include a classification of the histopathological variant of MIBC, particularly the identification of subtypes with prognostic, molecular and therapeutic implications. Improvement of clinical staging, better definition of prognostic groups based on molecular subtypes, and identification of biomarkers potentially associated with maximum benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy are areas for further research. A current challenge in the management of MIBC is improving the selection of patients likely to be candidates for immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors in the neoadjuvant setting. Optimization of FDG-PET/CT reliability in staging of MIBC and the selection of patients is necessary, as well as the design of prospective studies aimed to compare the value of different imaging techniques in parallel.
Impulsive Reaction-Diffusion Delayed Models in Biology: Integral Manifolds Approach
Authors: Stamov Gani , Stamova Ivanka , Spirova Cvetelina
Published: December 2021

In this paper we study an impulsive delayed reaction-diffusion model applied in biology. The introduced model generalizes existing reaction-diffusion delayed epidemic models to the impulsive case. The integral manifolds notion has been introduced to the model under consideration. This notion extends the single state notion and has important applications in the study of multi-stable systems. By means of an extension of the Lyapunov method integral manifolds’ existence, results are established. Based on the Lyapunov functions technique combined with a Poincarè-type inequality qualitative criteria related to boundedness, permanence, and stability of the integral manifolds are also presented. The application of the proposed impulsive control model is closely related to a most important problems in the mathematical biology—the problem of optimal control of epidemic models. The considered impulsive effects can be used by epidemiologists as a very effective therapy control strategy. In addition, since the integral manifolds approach is relevant in various contexts, our results can be applied in the qualitative investigations of many problems in the epidemiology of diverse interest.
Effect of Ti on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of TixZr2.5-xTa Alloys
Authors: Zhang Bin , Tang Yu , Li Shun , Ye Yicong , Zhu Li’an , Zhang Zhouran , Liu Xiyue , Wang Zhen , Bai Shuxin
Published: December 2021

To determine the effects of Ti and mixing entropy (ΔSmix) on the structure and mechanical proper-ties of Zr-Ta alloys and then find a new potential energetic structural material with good me-chanical properties and more reactive elements, TixZr2.5−xTa (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) alloys were investigated. The XRD experimental results showed that the phase transformation of TixZr2.5−xTa nonequal-ratio ternary alloys depended not on the value of ΔSmix, but on the amount of Ti atoms. With the addition of Ti, the content of the HCP phase decreased gradually. SEM analyses revealed that dendrite morphology and component segregation increasingly developed and then weakened gradually. When x increases to 2.0, TixZr2.5−xTa with the best mechanical properties can be ob-tained. The yield strength, compressive strength and fracture strain of Ti2.0Zr0.5Ta reached 883 MPa, 1568 MPa and 34.58%, respectively. The dependence of the phase transformation and me-chanical properties confirms that improving the properties of Zr-Ta alloys by doping Ti is feasible.
Electrohydrodynamic Enhancement of Phase Change Material Melting in Circular-Elliptical Annuli
Authors: He Kun , Wang Lei , Huang Jiangxu
Published: December 2021

Phase change material (PCM) has received significant attention due to its great potential for thermal energy storage. However, the major undesirable property of PCM is related to its low thermal conductivity. In this work, the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) enhancement of PCM melting in circular-elliptical annuli is investigated numerically by using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The key motivation for our choice of the elliptical shape is due to the fact that the more curved elliptical surface corresponds to stronger charge injection strength, which may lead to stronger flow field, and the consequent increase of heat transfer rate. The influences of several non-dimensional parameters, including electric Rayleigh number T, thermal Rayleigh number (Ra) and the aspect ratio (AR) of the inner ellipse are investigated in detail. Based on the numerical results, it is found that the radial electro-convective flow induced by the external electric field makes a significant contribution to the enhancement of melting heat transfer, and specially, the maximum time saving in some cases is more than 85%. Moreover, we observe that when the Coulomb force is dominant over the buoyancy force, no matter the inner elliptical tube is oriented horizontally or vertically, the total melting times in these two cases are nearly the same, and the melting performance obtained for the circular electrode is usually better than the other cases. However, when the flow regime is dominated by the buoyancy force, the use of a slender vertical-oriented elliptical electrode instead of the circular one is more efficient.
Novel Interleaved High Gain Boost Converter Using Switched Capacitor
Authors: Ramanathan Girish Ganesan , Urasaki Naomitsu
Published: December 2021

The increase in global energy demand has led to increased research in harvesting solar energy. Solar energy is widely used in homes, electric vehicles and is a great solution to power remote areas. DC–DC converters are essential in extracting power from solar panels. One of the main problems in designing converters for solar energy applications is boosting the low output voltage of the solar panel to meaningful levels. While there are several topologies to achieve high gain, some of the problems faced by them are the extreme duty ratio, complex design and discontinuous input current. This paper presents a novel topology that uses an interleaved input, a voltage lift capacitor and a hybrid switched capacitor network to achieve high gain without an extreme duty ratio or bulky magnetics. The proposed converter is controlled using a microcontroller which regulates the output voltage. The voltage lift capacitor and the switched capacitor network enhances the voltage gain over a conventional boost converter without an extreme duty ratio. The analysis and design of the proposed converter are presented and verified with a 100 W prototype. The results show that the converter provides a gain of 10, at a duty ratio of 30%, while delivering the designed output power with considerably high efficiency.
Thermal Performance of a Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Battery Module Cooled by Two-Phase Refrigerant Circulation
Authors: Lin Bichao , Cen Jiwen , Jiang Fangming
Published: December 2021

It is important for the safety and good performance of a Li-ion battery module/pack to have an efficient thermal management system. In this paper, a battery thermal management system with a two-phase refrigerant circulated by a pump was developed. A battery module consisting of 240 18650-type Li-ion batteries was fabricated based on a finned-tube heat-exchanger structure. This structural design offers the potential to reduce the weight of the battery thermal management system. The cooling performance of the battery module was experimentally studied under different charge/discharge C-rates and with different refrigerant circulation pump operation frequencies. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the cooling system. It was found that the refrigerant-based battery thermal management system could maintain the battery module maximum temperature under 38 °C and the temperature non-uniformity within 2.5 °C for the various operation conditions considered. The experimental results with 0.5 C charging and a US06 drive cycle showed that the thermal management system could reduce the maximum temperature difference in the battery module from an initial value of 4.5 °C to 2.6 °C, and from the initial 1.3 °C to 1.1 °C, respectively. In addition, the variable pump frequency mode was found to be effective at controlling the battery module, functioning at a desirable constant temperature and at the same time minimizing the pump work consumption.
Towards a Renewable Energy Source Cadastre—A Review of Examples from around the World
Authors: Bieda Agnieszka , Cienciała Agnieszka
Published: December 2021

In the age of the impending climate crisis, and further forecast ecological catastrophes, humankind has begun to think with growing interest about replacing existing energy sources with renewable ones. An increasing number of people have begun to discuss the need to implement registries that collect information about the energy potential of specific parts of the environment we live in. Additionally, the simultaneous registration of installations used for obtaining energy from alternative sources is desirable. In addition to quantitative attributes, such databases should also contain comprehensive spatial information. Since, in the era of globalization, the creation of such databases ought to be standardized, the purpose of this study is to indicate the directions in which the cadastre of renewable energy sources should be developed by: (i) reviewing the solutions of renewable energy sources that have been described in the scientific literature; (ii) analyzing the content of selected geoportals containing data on renewable energy sources. The literature review was preceded by a detailed bio-metric analysis, whereas the content analysis of the geoportals led to the creation of a flow chart containing a proposal for a renewable energy source cadastre, and a ranking of the analyzed portals. Nevertheless, the conceptual work was limited to the solar cadastre only.
Inter-Comparison of Particle and Gaseous Pollutant Emissions of a Euro 4 Motorcycle at Two Laboratories
Authors: Bielaczyc Piotr , Honkisz Wojciech , Woodburn Joseph , Szczotka Andrzej , Forloni Fabrizio , Lesueur Dominique , Giechaskiel Barouch
Published: December 2021

The Euro 4 regulation, applicable since 2016 for L-category vehicles (i.e., two and three-wheelers, and mini cars) reduced the emission limits, but also introduced a new cycle, the WMTC (World Harmonized Motorcycle Test Cycle). The emission studies of Euro 4 motorcycles are limited, and most importantly there are no published studies comparing the results of different laboratories applying the new cycle. In this study we compared the particle and gaseous pollutants of one Euro 4 motorcycle measured in two laboratories in 2017 and 2020. The gaseous pollutant results had a variance (one standard deviation of the means) of 0.5% for CO2, 4–19% for CO, NOx, HC (hydrocarbons) and SPN (Solid Particle Number). The particulate matter mass results had higher variance of 50–60%. Additional tests with open configuration to mimic dilution at the tailpipe gave equivalent results to the closed configuration for the gaseous pollutants and SPN. The total particles (including volatiles) had significant differences between the two configurations, with the closed configuration giving higher results. The main conclusion of this study is that the new procedures have very good reproducibility, even for the SPN that is not regulated for L-category vehicles. However, the measurement of total particles needs attention due to the high sensitivity of volatile particles to the sampling conditions.
An Environmental Assessment of Heat Pumps in Poland
Authors: Sewastianik Sara , Gajewski Andrzej
Published: December 2021

Greenhouse gas emissions are regarded as the cause of the rise in mean Earth temperature, the further increase of which may cause dramatic irreversible global changes. Their levels in Poland are some of the highest in the world. In this study, to evaluate the “Energy policy of Poland until 2040”, greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions were compared in all Polish climatic zones using a typical meteorological year. A comparison was made between air-to-water, brine-to-water, and water-to-water devices. The electrical energy consumption and coefficient of performance were determined hourly in the heating season. The determining algorithm took a buffer tank or separating heat exchanger into consideration, when they were required, and electricity transmission efficiency. Subsequently the emissions were estimated for the present Polish energy mix and a mix proposed in the “Energy policy of Poland until 2040”. After implementing this policy all heat pumps will be energetically viable devices. However, only in one location will water-to-water heat pumps cause less emissions than a condensing gas boiler. In other cases, condensing gas boilers will be significantly less emissive devices. Therefore, this policy is insufficient for reducing emissions. Hence, it is necessary to replace almost all coal-fired power plants with natural gas-fired gas turbines in a transitional period.
A Comparative Study on Fuel Consumption Prediction Methods of Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks Considering 21 Influencing Factors
Authors: Gong Jian , Shang Junzhu , Li Lei , Zhang Changjian , He Jie , Ma Jinhang
Published: December 2021

With increasingly prominent environmental problems, controlling automobile exhaust has become essential to the environment. The fuel consumption of transportation is the critical factor that determines exhaust gas. By analyzing the naturalistic driving data of heavy-duty diesel trucks (HDDTs), this paper explored the influence of engine technical state, road features, weather, and temperature conditions on fuel consumption during driving. The detailed process is as follows: Firstly, we collected 1153 naturalistic driving data from 34 HDDTs and made a specific analysis and summary description of the data; secondly, by establishing a binary Logistic regression model, we quantitatively explored the influence of significant factors on the fuel consumption; meanwhile, based on quantitative analysis of factor’s effectiveness, this research used several machine learning algorithms (back-propagation neural network, decision tree, and random forest) to build fuel consumption predictors, and compared the prediction performance of different algorithms. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of the decision tree, back-propagation (BP) neural network, and random forest is 81.38%, 83.98%, and 86.58%, respectively. The random forest showed the best performance in predicting. The conclusions can assist transportation companies in formulating driving training strategies and contribute to reducing energy consumption and emissions.
Public Attitudes toward Renewable Energy in Croatia
Authors: Slijepčević Sunčana , Kordej-De Villa Željka
Published: December 2021

Renewable energy sources (RES) play a key role in achieving the European Union’s energy and climate objectives. As a member of the European Union, Croatia has committed to adopting European Directive 2009/28/EC, a directive on promoting the use of RES. Croatia shows good potential for the use of different types of RES. In the period 2009–2019, the share of renewable energy in energy consumption increased from 23.6 to 28.5 percent. The Croatian energy strategy aims to increase the national share of renewable energy to at least 32 percent by 2030. Acceptance and public support are essential for renewable energy to be introduced into energy policy and particularly to encourage renewable energy implementation in the residential sector. The purpose of the paper is to explore the public perception of renewable energy and citizens’ willingness to pay for the use of RES. Data were collected through a 2021 survey of citizens 18 years and older. The survey results show a low level of implementation of RES technology in the residential sector; more than 80 percent of respondents did not use any sources of renewable energy in their households. Results related to respondents’ knowledge of different sources of renewable energy suggest they have the most knowledge of solar, wind, and hydropower energy. Respondents believe that combating climate change, reducing dependency on energy imports, reducing environmental impacts, and improving health are the most important benefits of RES implementation. The survey reveals general support for RES among respondents; almost 89 percent of them would purchase renewable energy from local suppliers. In addition, 79 percent of survey participants were willing to pay for the introduction of RES technology into their households. The research shows that environmental concerns are the primary reason for citizens’ higher willingness to pay for RES.