bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of potential risk factors associated with COVID-19 and hospitalization
Authors: Alharbi Abdul-Hakeem Moazi , Rabbani Syed Imam , Halim Mohamed Ashraf Abdel , Almushayti Basil Khalid , Aldhwayan Nasser Ibrahim , Almohaimeed Ali Tami , Alharbi Abdullah Abdulrhman , Alharbi Naif Saad , Asdaq Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin , Alamri Abdulhakeem S. , Alsanie Walaa F. , Alhomrani Majid
Published: August 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was found to cause complications in certain groups of people, leading to hospitalization. Several factors have been linked to this, such as gender, age, comorbidity, and race. Understanding the precise reasons for the COVID-19-induced complications might help in designing strategies to minimize hospitalization. A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study was conducted for patients in a COVID-19-designated specialty hospital after obtaining ethical clearance. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, race, vaccinated status, complications, comorbidities, and medications, were retrieved from the hospital medical database. The data were statistically analyzed to determine the association between the predictors and the outcomes of COVID-19. An odds ratio (both unadjusted and adjusted) analysis was carried out to determine the risk factors for hospitalization [non-intensive care (non-ICU) and intensive care (ICU)] due to COVID-19. The data from the study indicated that the majority of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 were male (>55%), aged > 60 years (>40%), married (>80%), and unvaccinated (>71%). The common symptoms, complications, comorbidities, and medications were fever, pneumonia, hypertension, and prednisolone, respectively. Male gender, patients older than 60 years, unemployed, unvaccinated, complicated, and comorbid patients had an odds ratio of more than 2 and were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher in ICU admission. In addition, administration of prednisolone and remdesivir was found to significantly reduce (p < 0.05) the odds ratio in ICU patients. The analysis of the data suggested that male gender, age above 60 years, and unvaccinated with comorbidities increased the complications and resulted in hospitalization, including ICU admission. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes associated with obesity as metabolic syndrome could be considered one of the major risk factors. Preventive strategies need to be directed toward these risk factors to reduce the complications, as well as hospitalization to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can online health information sources really improve patient satisfaction?
Authors: Sun Yide , Yu Jiajun , Chiu Ya-Ling , Hsu Yuan-Teng
Published: August 2022

Internet information has become the main way for individuals to obtain health information. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role online information sources play in health decision-making. Specifically, we investigated the relationship between online information sources and patient satisfaction, as well as their moderating effects as compared to those of other information sources. Using logistical regression analysis, we conducted the longitudinal data on 54,027 doctors and 952,877 online doctor reviews from 3,525 hospitals in 31 provinces to test a proposed research model. The results showed that patient satisfaction was generally lower for individuals who found a doctor through online information sources. Therefore, we suggest that patients consider the doctor quality, the doctor popularity, and patient involvement. In addition, we found that the doctor popularity had a negative moderating effect between online information sources and patient satisfaction, while patient involvement had a positive moderating effect between online information sources and patient satisfaction. The study provides strategic guidance and practical implications for policies, online healthcare community managers, and patients.
Case report: An outbreak of viral conjunctivitis among the students and staff of visually impaired school, Tamil Nadu, India, 2020
Authors: Madurapandian Yazhini , Rubeshkumar Polani , Raju Mohankumar , Janane Aishwarya , Ganeshkumar Parasuraman , Selvavinayagam T. S. , Kaur Prabhdeep
Published: August 2022

Introduction

On February 2, 2020, the head of a visually impaired school notified similar eye symptoms among the students. We investigated the cluster to confirm the diagnosis, identify potential exposures, and propose recommendations.

Methodology

We defined a case as redness/watering/discharge from any eye among the students and staff, January–February 2020. We actively searched for the cases and calculated attack rates. We drew epicurve by date of symptoms onset. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of students and staff. We collected data on potential exposures and calculated Risk Ratio (RR), 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI), and Population Attributable Risk (PAR). We sent a conjunctival swab of the three cases for microbiological analysis.

Results

We diagnosed the cases as acute conjunctivitis and identified 39 (76%) cases among 51 individuals. All the 39 cases reported watering and redness; 28 (72%) and 12 (31%) reported eye pain and discharge, respectively. The median age of the case was 11 years (range: 6–48 years). The attack rate didn't differ significantly between males [77% (20/26)] and females [76% (19/25), p = 0.9]. The attack rate was higher among the students [86%, (38/44)] than staffs [14%, (1/7), p = <0.01]. Contact with a case [RR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.3–4.8, PAR = 51%] and staying inside campus [RR = 6.0, 95%CI = 1.0–37.3, PAR = 81%] were associated with the acute conjunctivitis outbreak. All the three conjunctival swabs were negative for bacterial growth.

Conclusion

Close contact with the case and staying inside the campus led to the outbreak of acute conjunctivitis among the students and staff of the visually impaired school.
Congeners-Specific Intestinal Absorption Of Microcystins In An In Vitro 3D Human Intestinal Epithelium: The Role Of Influx/Efflux Transporters
Authors: Turco Laura , Santori Nicoletta , Buratti Franca M. , Dorne Jean-Lou C. M. , Testai Emanuela
Published: August 2022

Microcystins constitute a group of over 200 variants and are increasingly considered as emerging toxins in food and feed safety, particularly with regards to sea-food and fish consumption. Toxicity of MCs is congener-specific, being characterised by different acute potencies, likely related to the differential activity of metabolic enzymes and transporters proteins involved in their cellular uptake. However, the active transport of MCs across intestinal membranes has not been fully elucidated. Our results, obtained using a fit for purpose 3D human reconstructed intestinal epithelium, provide new information on the complex mechanisms involved in the absorption of 5 MC variants’: it is indeed characterised by the equilibrium between uptake and extrusion, since the selected congeners are substrates of both influx and efflux proteins. In the range of tested nominal concentrations (10–40 µM) fully representative of relevant exposure scenarios, none of the active tested transporters were saturated. The comparison of permeability (Papp) values of MCs variants highlighted a dose independent relationship for MC-LR, -YR and -RR (Papp x 10–7 ranged from 2.95 to 3.54 cm/s), whereas -LW and–LF showed a dose dependent increase in permeability reaching Papp values which were similar to the other congeners at 40 µM. MC-RR, -LR, -YR show absorption values around 5% of the administered dose. Due to their lipophilicity, MC-LW and -LF were also detected within the cellular compartment. The intestinal uptake was only partially attributable to OATPs, suggesting the involvement of additional transporters. Regarding the efflux proteins, MCs are not P-gp substrates whereas MRP2 and to a lesser extent Breast cancer resistance protein are active in their extrusion. Despite the presence of GST proteins, as an indication of metabolic competence, in the intestinal tissue, MC-conjugates were never detected in our experimental settings.
Effects of chronic hypoxia on the gene expression profile in the embryonic heart in three Chinese indigenous chicken breeds (Gallus gallus)
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Moneim Eid , Hu Zhongze , Mesalam Noura M. , Yang Bing
Published: August 2022

Hypoxia exposure (HE) has adverse impacts on the embryonic development of chicken, whereas the mechanism underlying the response of the heart to HE during embryo development in birds is still unclear. Therefore, our study was designed to reveal the hub genes and the signaling pathways linked to chronic hypoxia stress. Thus, the gene expression microarray GSE12675, downloaded from the GEO database, included 12 embryonic heart samples in hypoxia and normoxia of three Chinese indigenous chicken breeds [Shouguang (SG), Tibetan (TB), and Dwarf Recessive White (DRW) chickens]. A total of 653 to 714 breed-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in each pairwise comparison. Gene ontology (GO) showed that the DEGs were mainly involved in biological processes, including vasoconstriction, cell differentiation, and the positive regulation of vasoconstriction. KEGG enrichment revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in MAPK, PPAR, insulin, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, etc. Moreover, 48 genes (e.g., SGCD, DHRS9, HELQ, MCMDC2, and ESCO2) might contribute to the response of the heart to HE. Taken together, the current study provides important clues for understanding the molecular mechanism of the heart's response to HE during the embryonic period of chicken.
MicroRNA-199a-3p regulates proliferation and milk fat synthesis of ovine mammary epithelial cells by targeting VLDLR
Authors: Wang Jiqing , Hao Zhiyun , Hu Liyan , Qiao Lirong , Luo Yuzhu , Hu Jiang , Liu Xiu , Li Shaobin , Zhao Fangfang , Shen Jiyuan , Li Mingna , Zhao Zhidong
Published: August 2022

In our previous study, microRNA (miR)-199a-3p was found to be the most upregulated miRNA in mammary gland tissue during the non-lactation period compared with the peak-lactation period. However, there have been no reports describing the function of miR-199a-3p in ovine mammary epithelial cells (OMECs) and the biological mechanisms by which the miRNA affects cell proliferation and milk fat synthesis in sheep. In this study, the effect of miR-199a-3p on viability, proliferation, and milk fat synthesis of OMECs was investigated, and the target relationship of the miRNA with very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) was also verified. Transfection with a miR-199a-3p mimic increased the viability of OMECs and the number of Edu-labeled positive OMECs. In contrast, a miR-199-3p inhibitor had the opposite effect with the miR-199a-3p mimic. The expression levels of three marker genes were also regulated by both the miR-199a-3p mimic and miR-199-3p inhibitor in OMECs. Together, these results suggest that miR-199a-3p promotes the viability and proliferation of OMECs. A dual luciferase assay confirmed that miR-199a-3p can target VLDLR by binding to the 3′-untranslated regions (3'UTR) of the gene. Further studies found a negative correlation in the expression of miR-199a-3p with VLDLR. The miR-199a-3p mimic decreased the content of triglycerides, as well as the expression levels of six milk fat synthesis marker genes in OMECs, namely, lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL), acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha gene (ACACA), fatty acid binding protein 3 gene (FABP3), CD36, stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene (SCD), and fatty acid synthase gene (FASN). The inhibition of miR-199a-3p increased the level of triglycerides and the expression of LPL, ACACA, FABP3, SCD, and FASN in OMECs. These findings suggest that miR-199a-3p inhibited milk fat synthesis of OMECs. This is the first study to reveal the molecular mechanisms by which miR-199a-3p regulates the proliferation and milk fat synthesis of OMECs in sheep.
Social Support for Acculturative Stress, Job Stress, and Perceived Discrimination Among Migrant Workers Moderates COVID-19 Pandemic Depression
Authors: Kim Youlim , Lee Hyeonkyeong , Lee Mikyung
Published: August 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the practical moderating effect of social support on the relationship between acculturative stress, job stress, and perceived discrimination, and depression among migrant workers during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic as a vulnerable group susceptible to mental health problems.

Methods: Data for this cross-sectional descriptive study were collected using an online survey from 214 Vietnamese and Cambodian migrant workers, who are among the largest migrant groups residing in South Korea. Participants were asked to report on acculturative stress, job stress, perceived discrimination, depression, and social support through questionnaires in their native languages.

Results: The findings showed that acculturative stress affected depression, and this effect was moderated by social support. The impact of acculturative stress on depression was significant in the group with low mean scores of social support. However, the effect of the interaction of social support on the relationship of job stress and perceived discrimination to depression was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest the need for differentiated strategies to improve the mental health of migrant workers based on the level of social support.
Communication-Efficient Vertical Federated Learning
Authors: Khan Afsana , ten Thij Marijn , Wilbik Anna
Published: August 2022

Federated learning (FL) is a privacy-preserving distributed learning approach that allows multiple parties to jointly build machine learning models without disclosing sensitive data. Although FL has solved the problem of collaboration without compromising privacy, it has a significant communication overhead due to the repetitive updating of models during training. Several studies have proposed communication-efficient FL approaches to address this issue, but adequate solutions are still lacking in cases where parties must deal with different data features, also referred to as vertical federated learning (VFL). In this paper, we propose a communication-efficient approach for VFL that compresses the local data of clients, and then aggregates the compressed data from all clients to build an ML model. Since local data are shared in compressed form, the privacy of these data is preserved. Experiments on publicly available benchmark datasets using our proposed method show that the final model obtained by aggregation of compressed data from clients outperforms the performance of the local models of the clients.
A Neural Network Approach for the Analysis of Reproducible Ribo–Seq Profiles
Authors: Giacomini Giorgia , Graziani Caterina , Lachi Veronica , Bongini Pietro , Pancino Niccolò , Bianchini Monica , Chiarugi Davide , Valleriani Angelo , Andreini Paolo
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the Ribosome profiling technique (Ribo–seq) has emerged as a powerful method for globally monitoring the translation process in vivo at single nucleotide resolution. Based on deep sequencing of mRNA fragments, Ribo–seq allows to obtain profiles that reflect the time spent by ribosomes in translating each part of an open reading frame. Unfortunately, the profiles produced by this method can vary significantly in different experimental setups, being characterized by a poor reproducibility. To address this problem, we have employed a statistical method for the identification of highly reproducible Ribo–seq profiles, which was tested on a set of E. coli genes. State-of-the-art artificial neural network models have been used to validate the quality of the produced sequences. Moreover, new insights into the dynamics of ribosome translation have been provided through a statistical analysis on the obtained sequences.
New Step Size Control Algorithm for Semi-Implicit Composition ODE Solvers
Authors: Fedoseev Petr , Pesterev Dmitriy , Karimov Artur , Butusov Denis
Published: August 2022

Composition is a powerful and simple approach for obtaining numerical integration methods of high accuracy order while preserving the geometric properties of a basic integrator. Adaptive step size control allows one to significantly increase the performance of numerical integration methods. However, there is a lack of efficient step size control algorithms for composition solvers due to some known difficulties in constructing a low-cost embedded local error estimator. In this paper, we propose a novel local error estimator based on a difference between the semi-implicit CD method and semi-explicit midpoint methods within a common composition scheme. We evaluate the performance of adaptive composition schemes with the proposed local error estimator, comparing it with the other state-of-the-art approaches. We show that composition ODE solvers with the proposed step size control algorithm possess higher numerical efficiency than known methods, by using a comprehensive set of nonlinear test problems.
Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts in Decentralized Governance Systems
Authors: Balcerzak Adam P. , Nica Elvira , Rogalska Elżbieta , Poliak Miloš , Klieštik Tomáš , Sabie Oana-Matilda
Published: August 2022

The aim of our systematic review was to inspect the recently published literature on decentralized governance systems and integrate the insights it articulates on blockchain technology and smart contracts by employing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Throughout January and May 2022, a quantitative literature review of ProQuest, Scopus, and the Web of Science databases was carried out, with search terms including “city” + “blockchain technology”, “smart contracts”, and “decentralized governance systems”. As the analyzed research studies were published between 2016 and 2022, only 371 sources satisfied the eligibility criteria. A Shiny app was harnessed for the PRISMA flow diagram to include evidence-based acquired and handled data. Analyzing the most recent and relevant sources and leveraging screening and quality assessment tools such as AMSTAR, Dedoose, Distiller SR, ROBIS, and SRDR, we integrated the core outcomes and robust correlations related to smart urban governance. As data visualization tools, for initial bibliometric mapping dimensions were harnessed, together with layout algorithms provided by VOSviewer. Future research should investigate smart contract governance of blockchain applications and infrastructure using decision-making tools and spatial cognition algorithms.
Modification of Cuticular Wax Composition and Biosynthesis by Epichloë gansuensis in Achnatherum inebrians at Different Growing Periods
Authors: Zhao Zhenrui , Tian Mei , Zeng Peng , Christensen Michael J. , Kou Mingzhu , Nan Zhibiao , Zhang Xingxu
Published: August 2022

Cuticular wax plays a critical role as a plant protectant against various environmental stresses. We predicted that the presence of the mutualistic fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis in Achnatherum inebrians would change both the composition of leaf cuticular wax as plants aged during the growing season and the gene expression levels associated with the wax biosynthesis pathway. Endophyte-infected (EI) and endophyte-free (EF) A. inebrians plants were established for a four-month pot experiment. In agreement with our prediction, the presence of E. gansuensis can change the composition of leaf cuticular wax at different growing periods, particularly the proportion of esters, fatty acids and hydrocarbons. The proportion of fatty acids in EI plants was lower than that in EF plants. The proportion of hydrocarbons increased and esters decreased as plants grew. Furthermore, we found 11 DEGs coding for proteins involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis, including FabF, FAB2, ECR, FAR, CER1, ABCB1 and SEC61A. The present study highlights the significant contribution of E. gansuensis to leaf cuticular wax composition and biosynthesis in A. inebrians plants.
Deep Network with Score Level Fusion and Inference-Based Transfer Learning to Recognize Leaf Blight and Fruit Rot Diseases of Eggplant
Authors: Haque Md. Reduanul , Sohel Ferdous
Published: August 2022

Eggplant is a popular vegetable crop. Eggplant yields can be affected by various diseases. Automatic detection and recognition of diseases is an important step toward improving crop yields. In this paper, we used a two-stream deep fusion architecture, employing CNN-SVM and CNN-Softmax pipelines, along with an inference model to infer the disease classes. A dataset of 2284 images was sourced from primary (using a consumer RGB camera) and secondary sources (the internet). The dataset contained images of nine eggplant diseases. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieved better accuracy and lower false-positive results compared to other deep learning methods (such as VGG16, Inception V3, VGG 19, MobileNet, NasNetMobile, and ResNet50).
Contour-Based Wild Animal Instance Segmentation Using a Few-Shot Detector
Authors: Tang Jiaxi , Zhao Yaqin , Feng Liqi , Zhao Wenxuan
Published: August 2022

Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research, conservation, and management, and abundant images are acquired every day. Efficient real-time instance segmentation networks can help ecologists label and study wild animals. However, existing deep convolutional neural networks require a large number of annotations and labels, which makes them unsuitable for small datasets. In this paper, we propose a two-stage method for the instance segmentation of wildlife, including object detection and contour approximation. In the object detection stage, we use FSOD (few-shot object detection) to recognize animal species and detect the initial bounding boxes of animals. In the case of a small wildlife dataset, this method may improve the generalization ability of the wild animal species recognition and even identify new species that only have a small number of training samples. In the second stage, deep snake is used as the contour approximation model for the instance segmentation of wild mammals. The initial bounding boxes generated in the first stage are input to deep snake to approximate the contours of the animal bodies. The model fuses the advantages of detecting new species and real-time instance segmentation. The experimental results show that the proposed method is more suitable for wild animal instance segmentation, in comparison with pixel-wise segmentation methods. In particular, the proposed method shows a better performance when facing challenging images.
Relative Bioavailability of Trace Minerals in Production Animal Nutrition: A Review
Authors: Byrne Laurann , Murphy Richard A.
Published: August 2022

The importance of dietary supplementation of animal feeds with trace minerals is irrefutable, with various forms of both organic and inorganic products commercially available. With advances in research techniques, and data obtained from both in-vitro and in-vivo studies in recent years, differences between inorganic and organic trace minerals have become more apparent. Furthermore, differences between specific organic mineral types can now be identified. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, we carried out an extensive literature search on previously published studies detailing performance responses to trace minerals, in addition to their corresponding relative bioavailability values. This review covers four of the main trace minerals included in feed: copper, iron, manganese and zinc, and encompasses the different types of organic and inorganic products commercially available. Their impact from environmental, economic, and nutritional perspectives are discussed, along with the biological availability of various mineral forms in production animals. Species-specific sections cover ruminants, poultry, and swine. Extensive relative bioavailability tables cover values for all trace mineral products commercially available, including those not previously reviewed in earlier studies, thereby providing a comprehensive industry reference guide. Additionally, we examine reasons for variance in reported relative bioavailability values, with an emphasis on accounting for data misinterpretation.
Particle Swarm Optimisation in Practice: Multiple Applications in a Digital Microscope System
Authors: Ryan Louis , Kuhn Stefan , Colreavy-Donnely Simon , Caraffini Fabio
Published: August 2022

We demonstrate that particle swarm optimisation (PSO) can be used to solve a variety of problems arising during operation of a digital inspection microscope. This is a use case for the feasibility of heuristics in a real-world product. We show solutions to four measurement problems, all based on PSO. This allows for a compact software implementation solving different problems. We have found that PSO can solve a variety of problems with small software footprints and good results in a real-world embedded system. Notably, in the microscope application, this eliminates the need to return the device to the factory for calibration.
Erosion Rate Measurements for DART Spacecraft Ion Propulsion System
Authors: Crofton Mark W. , Schoeffler Donner T. , Young Jason A. , Patterson Michael J.
Published: August 2022

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft was developed to provide the first measurement for orbital deflection of an asteroid upon intentional impact. The NEXT ion engine is part of the mission, on its maiden voyage. As part of the pre-launch risk reduction, erosion characteristics of the extraction grid system were evaluated using laser measurements of sputtered molybdenum atoms over the envelope of potential throttle conditions for the mission. Erosion rate dependence on propellant flow rate as well as relative density and directionality of molybdenum sputter from grid center to edge were measured. Sputtered atoms were found to have average radial velocity directed toward the engine perimeter and increasing with radial distance. The relative contribution of source and facility background gas and other sources of accelerator grid current was examined as well as the influence of several engine operating parameters. Facility background gas was found to influence engine operation more than a wall-mounted pressure gauge and typical assumptions about ingestion would indicate. Far-field flux was estimated over the full angular range based on the near-field relative density and velocity results and relying on quartz crystal microbalance data at one location to fix absolute numbers everywhere. The results substantially deepen knowledge and understanding of the complex grid erosion process of the engine and its lifetime, as grid failure via erosion is the normal life limiter. Study results are also relevant to thruster–spacecraft integration issues such as molybdenum deposition rate on solar cells and other spacecraft surfaces.
Measurement Precision of a Planar Nanopositioning Machine with a Range of Motion of Ø100 mm
Authors: Stauffenberg Jaqueline , Ortlepp Ingo , Belkner Johannes , Dontsov Denis , Langlotz Enrico , Hesse Steffen , Rangelow Ivo , Manske Eberhard
Published: August 2022

This work deals with various investigations into the accuracy of a newly developed planar nanopositioning machine. This machine, called Nanofabrication Machine 100 (NFM-100), has a positioning range of 100 mm in diameter. To determine the precision, various movement scenarios are performed with the machine table, and the trajectory deviation from the set trajectory is determined. In particular, the focus is on high velocities of up to 20 mm/s. Even at high speeds in the range of several millimetres per second, this machine can impress with its performance and only has a deviation in the nanometre range.
Relationship between Accuracy, Speed, and Consistency in a Modern Pentathlon Shooting Event
Authors: Park Jongchul , Lee Seunghun , Chun Sabin
Published: August 2022

In the modern pentathlon, the laser run is the highest influence on the results, and fast and accurate shooting is essential. This study evaluates the relationship between shooting characteristics (shot speed, consistency, accuracy) according to sex, competition type, and round number during laser run competitions among 19,648 modern shooting round cases from 2015 to 2019. As a result, men showed faster shot speed than women (p < 0.05, d = 0.493), and final rounds were significantly better than qualifier round in shot speed (p < 0.05, d = 0.176), consistency (p < 0.05, d = 0.138), and accuracy (p < 0.05, d = 0.151). Series-1 had the highest consistency (p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.01) and accuracy (p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.07) compared to other series. Series-4 had the lowest shooting speed (p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.01) compared to other series. Consistency and speed showed moderate positive correlation (r = 0.362, p < 0.05). These results show differences in shot characteristics according to sex, competition type, and round number, and explain the relationship between shot speed and consistency. We believe these results will help relevant coaches and players aiming to improve performance understand shot characteristics and reduce shot time.
Experimental Investigation on OBD Signal and PN Emission Characteristics by Damaged-DPF Types of 2.0 L Diesel Vehicle
Authors: Cho Insu , Moon Iljoo , Kim Daekuk , Park Taeyoung , Lee Dokyeong , Lee Jinwook
Published: August 2022

A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is an exhaust after-treatment device designed to capture and store exhaust particulate matter, such as soot and ash, to reduce emissions from diesel-powered vehicles. A DPF has a finite capacity and typically uses a substrate made of ceramic material that is formed into a honeycomb structure. Diesel particulate filters play an important role in diesel-fueled vehicles. Failure to maintain these filters can have significant consequences for vehicles. In this study, we investigated the failure type in cordierite DPF substrates. In addition, we experimentally characterized the particle number (PN) emission and on-board diagnostics (OBD) signal of a 2.0 L diesel-fueled vehicle generated by three types of DPF failure (crack, melting, and hollow). Specifically, X-ray photography analysis of the cordierite DPF was performed. The PN and OBD signals were assessed via the KD-147 vehicle driving mode and measured using a DMS-500 (PN measurement device) and global diagnosis tool (GDS) scanner (OBD diagnostic device), respectively. X-ray photography was used to characterize the internal structure of the three DPF-failure samples. A key result was that the maximum value of the OBD data, including airflow mass, boost pressure, and VGT actuator, was distinctly different for each DPF sample. The exhaust temperature gradient for the normal DPF and crack-damaged DPF followed the KD-147 driving pattern. This was because there was no volume damage inside the cordierite DPF substrates. However, in the case of the hollow and melting-damaged DPF, the volume inside the cordierite DPF substrates was reduced or the time for the exhaust gas to stay in the DPF substrates was decreased. The melting-damaged DPF continuously emitted the largest number of nanoparticles (of the order of 109 #/cc). This was regardless of the vehicle driving speed in the KD-147 driving mode. Eventually, an OBD-based algorithm to determine whether a DPF is damaged was derived in this study.
Special Issue on Biotechnology and Sports Engineering
Authors: Mun Joung-Hwan
Published: August 2022

We are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, a time of change and innovation [...]
Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Value-Added Liquid Fuels and Aromatics over Fe-Based Catalysts Based on the Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Route
Authors: Wang Qiang , Hu Kehao , Gao Ruxing , Zhang Leiyu , Wang Lei , Zhang Chundong
Published: August 2022

Hydrogenation of CO2 to value-added chemicals and fuels not only effectively alleviates climate change but also reduces over-dependence on fossil fuels. Therefore, much attention has been paid to the chemical conversion of CO2 to value-added products, such as liquid fuels and aromatics. Recently, efficient catalysts have been developed to face the challenge of the chemical inertness of CO2 and the difficulty of C–C coupling. Considering the lack of a detailed summary on hydrogenation of CO2 to liquid fuels and aromatics via the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) route, we conducted a comprehensive and systematic review of the research progress on the development of efficient catalysts for hydrogenation of CO2 to liquid fuels and aromatics. In this work, we summarized the factors influencing the catalytic activity and stability of various catalysts, the strategies for optimizing catalytic performance and product distribution, the effects of reaction conditions on catalytic performance, and possible reaction mechanisms for CO2 hydrogenation via the FTS route. Furthermore, we also provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities for future research associated with hydrogenation of CO2 to liquid fuels and aromatics.
Development and Characterization of Zein/Ag-Sr Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles Coatings for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Batool Syeda Ammara , Liaquat Ushna , Channa Iftikhar Ahmad , Gilani Sadaf Jamal , Makhdoom Muhammad Atif , Yasir Muhammad , Ashfaq Jaweria , Jumah May Nasser bin , Rehman Muhammad Atiq ur
Published: August 2022

Implants are used to replace damaged biological structures in human body. Although stainless steel (SS) is a well-known implant material, corrosion of SS implants leads to the release of toxic metallic ions, which produce harmful effects in human body. To prevent material degradation and its harmful repercussions, these implanted materials are subjected to biocompatible coatings. Polymeric coatings play a vital role in enhancing the mechanical and biological integrity of the implanted devices. Zein is a natural protein extracted from corn and is known to have good biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, zein/Ag-Sr doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Ag-Sr MBGNs) were deposited on SS substrates via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) at different parameters. Ag and Sr ions were added to impart antibacterial and osteogenic properties to the coatings, respectively. In order to examine the surface morphology of coatings, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. To analyze mechanical strength, a pencil scratch test, bend test, and corrosion and wear tests were conducted on zein/Ag-Sr doped MBGN coatings. The results show good adhesion strength, wettability, corrosion, and wear resistance for zein/Ag-Sr doped MBGN coatings as compared to bare SS substrate. Thus, good mechanical and biological properties were observed for zein/Ag-Sr doped MBGN coatings. Results suggested these zein/Ag-Sr MBGNs coatings have great potential in bone regeneration applications.
Elevated Serum Levels of IgG4 in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Prospective Controlled Study
Authors: Volodarsky Igor , Anton Anamaria , Zilberman Liaz , Fugenfirov Irina , Neumark Eran , Malnick Stephen , Levy Yair , George Jacob , Goland Sorel
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Immunoglobulin gamma subclass 4 (IgG4) is a serum protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It has a central role in certain immune-mediated conditions defined as IgG4-related disease. There is a paucity of data regarding the potential association of IgG4 and cardiovascular diseases. Our aim is to study the serum levels of IgG4 in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). (2) Methods: patients with ischemic and non-ischemic DCM were included in this study. Non-ischemic DCM was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% without coronary artery disease (CAD). Ischemic DCM was defined as a LVEF < 40% and proven CAD. The serum concentrations of IgG4 were measured by turbidimetry. (3) Results: Overall 98 patients with cardiomyopathy had significantly higher levels of IgG4 compared with the control group (77.4 ± 64.0 vs. 50.3 ± 28.8 mg/dL, p < 0.01). Although there was no difference in the total IgG levels in patients with ischemic DCM, the serum concentrations of IgG4 were significantly higher than the corresponding values in the control group (89.8 ± 67.3 vs. 50.3 ± 28.8 mg/dL; interquartile ranges: 40.4–126.5 vs. 31.8–66.8 mg/dL, p < 0.01). This was altered by gender and smoking. (4) Conclusions: The patients with ischemic DCM had increased serum concentrations of IgG4. Future studies are warranted to explore the potential role of an IgG4-mediated process in patients with heart failure with reduced LVEF.
NPM1-Mutated Patient-Derived AML Cells Are More Vulnerable to Rac1 Inhibition
Authors: Hemsing Anette Lodvir , Rye Kristin Paulsen , Hatfield Kimberley Joanne , Reikvam Håkon
Published: August 2022

The prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is poor, especially for the elderly population. Targeted therapy with small molecules may be a potential strategy to overcome chemoresistance and improve survival in AML. We investigated the inhibition of the signaling molecule ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) in leukemia cells derived from 79 consecutive AML patients, using five Rac1 inhibitors: ZINC69391, ITX3, EHOP-016, 1A-116, and NSC23766. In vitro cell proliferation and apoptosis assays and the assessment of cytokine profiles in culture media were conducted. All five inhibitors had an antiproliferative effect; IC50 ranged from 3–24 µM. They induced significant apoptosis and necrosis compared to the untreated controls (p < 0.0001) at concentrations around IC40 and IC80. A high versus an intermediate or low antiproliferative effect was more common in NPM1-mutated (p = 0.002) and CD34-negative (p = 0.008) samples, and when NPM1 and FLT3 (p = 0.027) were combined. Presence of NPM1 mutation was associated with reduced viability after treatment with EHOP-016 (p = 0.014), ITX3 (p = 0.047), and NSC23766 (p = 0.003). Several cytokines crucial for leukemogenesis were reduced after culture, with the strongest effects observed for 1A-116 and NSC23766. Our findings suggest potent effects of Rac1 inhibition in primary AML cells and, interestingly, samples harboring NPM1 mutation seem more vulnerable.
Differential Effects of Anti-TNFα and Anti-α4β7 Drugs on Circulating Dendritic Cells Migratory Capacity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Soleto Irene , Fernández-Tomé Samuel , Mora-Gutiérrez Irene , Baldan-Martin Montserrat , Ramírez Cristina , Santander Cecilio , Moreno-Monteagudo José Andrés , Casanova María José , Casals Fernando , Casabona Sergio , Becerro Irene , Chaparro María , Bernardo David , Gisbert Javier P.
Published: August 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic and chronic disorder that includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Both diseases show an uncontrolled intestinal immune response that generates tissue inflammation. Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that play a key role in tolerance maintenance in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Although it has been reported that DC recruitment by the intestinal mucosa is more prominent in IBD patients, the specific mechanisms governing this migration are currently unknown. In this study, the expression of several homing markers and the migratory profile of circulating DC subsets towards intestinal chemo-attractants were evaluated and the effect of biological drugs with different mechanisms of action, such as anti-TNFα or anti-integrin α4β7 (vedolizumab), on this mechanism in healthy controls (HCs) and IBD patients was also assessed. Our results revealed that type 2 conventional DCs (cDC2) express differential homing marker profiles in UC and CD patients compared to HCs. Indeed, integrin β7 was differentially modulated by vedolizumab in CD and UC. Additionally, although CCL2 displayed a chemo-attractant effect over cDC2, while biological therapies did not modulate the expression of the homing markers, we paradoxically found that anti-TNF-treated cDC2 increased their migratory capacity towards CCL2 in HCs and IBD. Our results therefore suggest a key role for cDC2 migration towards the intestinal mucosa in IBD, something that could be explored in order to develop novel diagnostic biomarkers or to unravel new immunomodulatory targets in IBD.
Effective Extracorporeal Photopheresis of Patients with Transplantation Induced Acute Intestinal GvHD and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome
Authors: Reschke Robin , Zimmerlich Stephanie , Döhring Christine , Behre Gerhard , Ziemer Mirjana
Published: August 2022

Background: Patients with steroid-refractory intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) represent a population with a high need for alternative and effective treatment options. Methods: We report real-life data from 18 patients treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). This cohort consisted of nine patients with steroid-refractory intestinal aGvHD and nine patients with BOS. Results: We document partial or complete clinical response and reduction of symptoms in half of the patients with intestinal acute GvHD and patients with BOS treated ECP. Responding patients tended to stay on treatment longer. In patients with BOS, stabilization of lung function and forced expiratory volume was observed, whereas, less abdominal pain, less diarrhea, and a reduction of systemic corticosteroids were seen in patients with intestinal acute GvHD. Conclusions: ECP might not only abrogate symptoms but also reduce mortality caused by complications from high-dose steroid treatment. Taken together, ECP offers a serious treatment avenue for patients with steroid-refractory intestinal acute GvHD and BOS.
Change in PD-L1 and CD8 Expression after Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Wei-Chung , Wu Chun-Chieh , Chen Yi-Hsun , Lee Jui-Ying , Wang Yao-Kuang , Wu Nian-Siou , Wu Ming-Tsang , Wu I-Chen
Published: August 2022

Esophageal cancer has a dismal prognosis with a five-year survival rate below 20%. Recently, immunotherapy has become a new standard of care for this cancer; therefore, we aimed to examine the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues before and after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). In total, 64 patients with pre-CCRT ESCC specimens were examined for PD-L1 expression, with twenty-three of them having a partial response (N = 23) or stable disease (N = 1) after CCRT while post-CCRT tissue specimens were collected. All of them were tested for PD-L1 and 15 of them also had CD8 expression in the paired ESCC samples. The prevalence of PD-L1 positivity was 54.7% and we found a trend of decreased PD-L1 expression and increased CD8 positive signal after CCRT. High pre-CCRT PD-L1 H-score in tumors was related to poor prognosis (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.81; p = 0.02), although CD8 signal was not associated with overall survival either in pre- or post-CCRT treatment. In conclusion, we found that PD-L1 expression tended to decrease in CCRT responders and our result supports PD-L1 expression in tumor as a predictor of ESCC prognosis.
In Vivo and Ex Vivo Gene Electrotransfer in Ophthalmological Disorders
Authors: Fusco Roberta , Perazzolo Gallo Giacomo , Di Bernardo Elio , D’Alessio Valeria , Ronchetti Mattia , Cadossi Matteo , Cadossi Ruggero
Published: August 2022

The aim of this document is to present an overview of gene electrotransfer in ophthalmological disorders. In order to ensure an adequate variety of the assessed studies, several electronic databases were considered and studies published between January 1998 and December 2021 were analysed. Three investigators carried out data extraction and analysis, focusing on both technical (i.e., electrical protocol, type of electrode, plasmid) and medical (i.e., type of study, threated disease) aspects and highlighting the main differences in terms of results obtained. Moreover, the IGEA experience in the project “Transposon-based, targeted ex vivo gene therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration” (TargetAMD) was reported in the results section. No clinical trial was found on international literature and on ClinicalTrials.gov. Twelve preclinical studies were found including in vivo and ex-vivo applications. The studied showed that electrotransfer could be very efficient for plasmid DNA transfection. Many attempts such as modification of the electric field, buffers and electrodes have been made and the optimization of electric field setting seems to be very important. Using this technique, gene replacement can be designed in cases of retinal inheritance or corneal disease and a wide range of human eye diseases could, in the future, benefitfrom these gene therapy technologies.
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) for Therapeutic Targeting of Thrombin, a Key Mediator of Cerebrovascular and Neuronal Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Grossmann Klaus
Published: August 2022

Although preclinical research and observer studies on patients with atrial fibrillation concluded that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) can protect against dementia like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), clinical investigation towards therapeutical approval is still pending. DOACs target pathological thrombin, which is, like toxic tau and amyloid-ß proteins (Aß), an early hallmark of AD. Especially in hippocampal and neocortical areas, the release of parenchymal Aß into the blood induces thrombin and proinflammatory bradykinin synthesis by activating factor XII of the contact system. Thrombin promotes platelet aggregation and catalyzes conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, leading to degradation-resistant, Aß-containing fibrin clots. Together with oligomeric Aß, these clots trigger vessel constriction and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) with vessel occlusion and hemorrhages, leading to vascular and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. As consequences, brain blood flow, perfusion, and supply with oxygen (hypoxia) and nutrients decrease. In parenchymal tissue, hypoxia stimulates Aß synthesis, leading to Aß accumulation, which is further enhanced by BBB-impaired perivascular Aß clearance. Aß trigger neuronal damage and promote tau pathologies. BBB dysfunction enables thrombin and fibrin(ogen) to migrate into parenchymal tissue and to activate glial cells. Inflammation and continued Aß production are the results. Synapses and neurons die, and cognitive abilities are lost. DOACs block thrombin by inhibiting its activity (dabigatran) or production (FXa-inhibitors, e.g., apixaban, rivaroxaban). Therefore, DOAC use could preserve vascular integrity and brain perfusion and, thereby, could counteract vascular-driven neuronal and cognitive decline in AD. A conception for clinical investigation is presented, focused on DOAC treatment of patients with diagnosed AD in early-stage and low risk of major bleeding.