bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluconazole Failure in the Treatment of Coccidioidal Meningitis
Authors: Gupta Simran , Ampel Neil M. , Klanderman Molly , Grill Marie F. , Blair Janis E.
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Coccidioidal meningitis (CM) is the most lethal form of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Current guidelines recommend fluconazole as initial therapy but there has been a paucity of data regarding failure of fluconazole and optimal fluconazole dosage in the treatment of CM. We conducted this study to understand risk factors for fluconazole failure. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with coccidioidal meningitis between 1 January 1988 and 15 May 2021. Relevant demographic and clinical variables were collected, along with outcomes including treatment failure and death at any point. Univariate tests were conducted using the chi-squared goodness of fit test and analysis of variance. Results: Among 71 patients who began treatment for CM with fluconazole, 22 (31%) developed worsening meningitis at a median time of 206 days. Longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis of CM was a risk factor for fluconazole failure. Although the absolute failure rate of fluconazole starting dose of 400 mg daily was higher than that of 800 mg daily, the differences did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.39). Conclusion: Fluconazole failure is not uncommon in the treatment of CM. A dose of 800 mg daily was not superior to a dose of 400 mg daily. All patients on fluconazole for CM require close monitoring.
The Journal of Respiration—A Look to the Future
Authors: Moran Cesar
Published: November 2022

The launching of a new journal is always complicated for many factors, mainly when the journal has special focus [...]
Optimal Nozzle Position and Patient’s Posture to Enhance Drug Delivery into the Peritoneum during Rotational Intraperitoneal Pressurized Aerosol Chemotherapy in a Swine Model
Authors: Hwang Dong Won , Lee Eun Ji , Chung Joo Yeon , Lee Eun Joo , Kim Dayoung , Oh Soo Hyun , Lee Seungmee , Yim Ga Won , Shim Seung-Hyuk , Lee Sung Jong , Lee San-Hui , Park Ji Won , Chang Suk-Joon , Pak Kyung Ah , Park Soo Jin , Kim Hee Seung ,   on behalf of the KoRIA Trial Group
Published: November 2022

Even though rotational intraperitoneal pressurized aerosol chemotherapy (RIPAC) has been developed to improve the distribution and penetration depth of anti-cancer agents by pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC), the optimal nozzle position and patient’s posture have not been investigated. Thus, we used nine pigs weighing 50–60 kg, and sprayed 150 mL of 1% methylene blue as an aerosol through the nozzle, DreamPen® (Dreampac Corp., Wonju, Republic of Korea), with a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min under a pressure of 140 to 150 psi for RIPAC in six and three pigs with supine and Trendelenburg positions, respectively. When we evaluated its distribution and penetration depth, even distribution among 13 regions of the abdomen was observed in three pigs with Trendelenburg position regardless of the depth of the nozzle. Regarding penetration depth, the numbers of regions with maximal penetration depth were high in the 2 cm depth of the nozzle with supine position (n = 5) and the 4 cm depth with Trendelenburg position (n = 3). Conclusively, even distribution and maximal penetration of anti-cancer agents can be expected during RIPAC in the medium depth (4 cm) between the nozzle inlet and the visceral peritoneum located on the opposite side of it and the Trendelenburg position.
Role of microRNA-132 in Opioid Addiction through Modification of Neural Stem Cell Differentiation
Authors: Fauser Anne-Marie , Stidham Emily , Cady Craig , Gupta Ashim
Published: November 2022

In this editorial, we focused on the article, “MicroRNA-132 in the Adult Dentate Gyrus is Involved in Opioid Addiction Via Modifying the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells” by Jia and colleagues [...]
Personalized Nursing and Health Care: Advancing Positive Patient Outcomes in Complex and Multilevel Care Environments
Authors: Suhonen Riitta , Stolt Minna , Edvardsson David
Published: November 2022

This Special Issue of the Journal of Personalised Medicine invited manuscripts that further establish the current state of science relating to personalized nursing and health care [...]
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Management and Outcomes in Patients with Septic Shock in the Emergency Department
Authors: Jeong Daun , Lee Gun Tak , Park Jong Eun , Shin Tae Gun , Kim Kyunga , Jang Doeun , Kim Won Young , Jo You Hwan , Chung Sung Phil , Beom Jin Ho , Choi Sung-Hyuk , Kwon Woon Yong , Suh Gil Joon , Ko Byuk Sung , Han Kap Su , Shin Jong Hwan , Cho Hanjin ,   Korean Shock Society (KoSS) Investigators, Hwang Sung Yeon
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to determine the impact of modifications in emergency department (ED) practices caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the clinical outcomes and management of patients with septic shock. We performed a retrospective study. Patients with septic shock who presented to the ED between 1 January 2018 and 19 January 2020 were allocated to the pre-COVID-19 group, whereas those who presented between 20 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 were assigned to the post-COVID-19 group. We used propensity score matching to compare the sepsis-related interventions and clinical outcomes. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Of the 3697 patients included, 2254 were classified as pre-COVID-19 and 1143 as post-COVID-19. A total of 1140 propensity score-matched pairings were created. Overall, the in-hospital mortality rate was 25.5%, with no statistical difference between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups (p = 0.92). In a matched cohort, the post-COVID-19 group had delayed lactate measurement, blood culture test, and infection source control (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in time to antibiotics (p = 0.19) or vasopressor administration (p = 0.09) between the groups. Although sepsis-related interventions were delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups.
Geo-Design in Planning for Bicycling: An Evidence-Based Approach for Collaborative Bicycling Planning
Authors: Zare Parisa , Pettit Christopher , Leao Simone , Gudes Ori , Soundararaj Balamurugan
Published: November 2022

In recent times, cities have increasingly promoted bicycling as a mode of transport as part of their strategy to develop a more sustainable transportation system. Australia is one of the countries that seeks to promote bicycling in a significant manner. There are two primary barriers faced in this effort. The first is the organizational complexity of planning and of implementing cycling-related projects, which can span across different agencies in government at various levels, from federal to local. Second is the lack of a clear framework for effectively planning a bicycling network using multiple data and tools available to these agencies within a limited budget. This study investigates the use of a geo-design-based, collaborative, and data-driven framework for planning bicycling networks, which brings various stakeholders, such as transport planners, urban designers, and academics, into the planning practice, thus overcoming the mentioned barriers. Geo-design is an environmental design framework for complex problems involving the collaboration of different teams and stakeholders, supported by digital computing and communication technologies. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the literature applying the geo-design approach for bicycling planning. Therefore, this study aims to develop and test a geo-design framework for planning bicycling networks to examine possible design scenarios and facilitate decision-making processes. In this regard, this study developed a geo-design framework for planning for bicycling using various bicycling-related datasets and digital tools, such as the Agent-Based Model. Then, it applied the framework to design a real-world bicycle network through a geo-design workshop while examining the usefulness and effectiveness of the developed procedures and tools. Policymakers attended the geo-design workshop from the local government authority of the case study area, Penrith, and post-graduate level urban planning students from UNSW. Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, the workshop was held in a hybrid format, with half of the participants joining online. The results of this study revealed that by facilitating collaboration and applying data-driven approaches, the proposed geo-design bicycling framework could improve the process of planning for bicycling infrastructure. This study also enabled the research team to understand the strengths and limitations of the developed framework and associated tools, which will help to optimize them for other planning practices in the future.
Fingerspelling and Its Role in Translanguaging
Authors: Lee Brittany , Secora Kristen
Published: November 2022

Fingerspelling is a critical component of many sign languages. This manual representation of orthographic code is one key way in which signers engage in translanguaging, drawing from all of their linguistic and semiotic resources to support communication. Translanguaging in bimodal bilinguals is unique because it involves drawing from languages in different modalities, namely a signed language like American Sign Language and a spoken language like English (or its written form). Fingerspelling can be seen as a unique product of the unified linguistic system that translanguaging theories purport, as it blends features of both sign and print. The goals of this paper are twofold: to integrate existing research on fingerspelling in order to characterize it as a cognitive-linguistic phenomenon and to discuss the role of fingerspelling in translanguaging and communication. We will first review and synthesize research from linguistics and cognitive neuroscience to summarize our current understanding of fingerspelling, its production, comprehension, and acquisition. We will then discuss how fingerspelling relates to translanguaging theories and how it can be incorporated into translanguaging practices to support literacy and other communication goals.
Application of Grazing-Incidence X-ray Methods to Study Terrace-Stepped SiC Surface for Graphene Growth
Authors: Roschin Boris S. , Argunova Tatiana S. , Lebedev Sergey P. , Asadchikov Victor E. , Lebedev Alexander A. , Volkov Yuri O. , Nuzhdin Alexander D.
Published: November 2022

The synthesis of graphene by the graphitization of SiC surface has been driven by a need to develop a way to produce graphene in large quantities. With the increased use of thermal treatments of commercial SiC substrates, a comprehension of the surface restructuring due to the formation of a terrace-stepped nanorelief is becoming a pressing challenge. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the utility of X-ray reflectometry and grazing-incidence off-specular scattering for a non-destructive estimate of depth-graded and lateral inhomogeneities on SiC wafers annealed in a vacuum at a temperature of 1400–1500 °C. It is shown that the grazing-incidence X-ray method is a powerful tool for the assessment of statistical parameters, such as effective roughness height, average terrace period and dispersion. Moreover, these methods are advantageous to local probe techniques because a broad range of spatial frequencies allows for faster inspection of the whole surface area. We have found that power spectral density functions and in-depth density profiles manifest themselves differently between the probing directions along and across a terrace edge. Finally, the X-ray scattering data demonstrate quantitative agreement with the results of atomic force microscopy.
A Phase-Field Approach to Continuum Damage Mechanics
Authors: Morro Angelo
Published: November 2022

This paper develops a phase-field approach to describe the damage within continuum mechanics. The body is associated with the standard stresses and body forces of macroscopic character. As is the case in many contexts, the phase field is a scalar variable whose time rate is governed by a constitutive equation. The generality of the approach allows the modeling of non-stationary heat conduction, mechanical hysteretic effects, and the macroscopic damage. The thermodynamic consistency is investigated through the constraint of the Clausius–Duhem inequality following the standard procedure of Rational Thermodynamics. The entropy production is considered as a constitutive function; this view was proved to be essential in the elaboration of hysteretic models. Here, the scheme is improved by viewing the entropy production as a sum of two terms, one induced by the other constitutive equations and one given by a constitutive equation of the entropy production per se.
CuZn Complex Used in Electrical Biosensors for Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Lim Yan Yik , Miskon Azizi , Zaidi Ahmad Mujahid Ahmad
Published: November 2022

This paper is to discuss the potential of using CuZn in an electrical biosensor drug carrier for drug delivery systems. CuZn is the main semiconductor ingredient that has great promise as an electrochemical detector to trigger releases of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). This CuZn biosensor is produced with a green metal of frameworks, which is an anion node in conductive polymers linked by bioactive ligands using metal–polymerisation technology. The studies of Cu, Zn, and their oxides are highlighted by their electrochemical performance as electrical biosensors to electrically trigger API. The three main problems, which are glucose oxidisation, binding affinity, and toxicity, are highlighted, and their solutions are given. Moreover, their biocompatibilities, therapeutic efficacies, and drug delivery efficiencies are discussed with details given. Our three previous investigations of CuZn found results similar to those of other authors’ in terms of multiphases, polymerisation, and structure. This affirms that our research is on the right track, especially that related to green synthesis using plant extract, CuZn as a nanochip electric biosensor, and bioactive ligands to bind API, which are limited to the innermost circle of the non-enzymatic glucose sensor category.
A Design for the High Yield Photoneutron Source Target Station
Authors: Lai Yuxuan , Yang Yigang
Published: November 2022

Low energy accelerator driven neutron sources are promising candidates to obtain a neutron yield as high as 1014 n/s, which is required for a variety of applications, such as boron neutron capture therapy, neutron imaging, and neutron scattering. The methods to generate neutrons can be divided into two categories: hadron-based and photon-based methods. In order to better understand which kind of source would be the better choice for delivering a brilliant neutron beam robustly, in this paper, the underlying principles of neutron production, as well as the simulation results of neutron yield, target heat dissipation, thermal stress, and reaction byproducts concentration of these two types of neutron sources, will be elaborated on. A preliminary photoneutron target station design based on a 50 MeV/50 kW electron linear accelerator, including the optimized neutron yield, thermal hydraulic analysis, and shielding calculation, is presented as well to demonstrate the method to deliver brilliant thermal neutron beam of 1.03 × 1010 cm−2 s−1 sr−1.
Engineering the Optical Properties of CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets through Cd2+ Doping
Authors: Skurlov Ivan D. , Sokolova Anastasiia V. , Tatarinov Danila A. , Parfenov Peter S. , Kurshanov Danil A. , Ismagilov Azat O. , Koroleva Aleksandra V. , Danilov Denis V. , Zhizhin Evgeniy V. , Mikushev Sergey V. , Tcypkin Anton N. , Fedorov Anatoly V. , Litvin Aleksandr P.
Published: November 2022

Lead halide perovskite nanoplatelets (NPls) attract significant attention due to their exceptional and tunable optical properties. Doping is a versatile strategy for modifying and improving the optical properties of colloidal nanostructures. However, the protocols for B-site doping have been rarely reported for 2D perovskite NPls. In this work, we investigated the post-synthetic treatment of CsPbBr3 NPls with different Cd2+ sources. We show that the interplay between Cd2+ precursor, NPl concentrations, and ligands determines the kinetics of the doping process. Optimization of the treatment allows for the boosting of linear and nonlinear optical properties of CsPbBr3 NPls via doping or/and surface passivation. At a moderate doping level, both the photoluminescence quantum yield and two-photon absorption cross section increase dramatically. The developed protocols of post-synthetic treatment with Cd2+ facilitate further utilization of perovskite NPls in nonlinear optics, photonics, and lightning.
Thin-Copper-Layer-Induced Early Fracture in Graphene-Nanosheets (GNSs)-Reinforced Copper-Matrix-Laminated Composites
Authors: Shi Hailong , Wang Xiaojun , Li Xuejian , Hu Xiaoshi , Gan Weimin , Xu Chao , Wang Guochao
Published: November 2022

The strength–ductility trade-off has been a long-standing challenge when designing and fabricating a novel metal matrix composite. In this study, graphene-nanosheets (GNSs)-reinforced copper (Cu)-matrix-laminated composites were fabricated through two methods, i.e., the alternating electrodeposition technique followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and direct electrodeposition followed by hot-press sintering. As a result, a Cu-GNS-Cu layered structure formed in the composites with various Cu layer thicknesses. Compared with the pure Cu, the yield strength of the GNS/Cu composites increased. However, the mechanical performance of the GNS/Cu composites was strongly Cu-layer-thickness-dependent, and the GNS/Cu composite possessed a brittle fracture mode when the Cu layer was thin (≤10 μm). The fracture mechanism of the GNS/Cu composites was thoroughly investigated and the results showed that the premature failure of the GNS/Cu composites with a thin Cu layer may be due to the lack of Cu matrix, which can relax the excessive stress intensity triggered by GNSs and delay the crack connection between neighboring GNS layers. This study highlights the soft Cu matrix in balancing the strength and ductility of the GNS/Cu-laminated composites and provides new technical and theoretical support for the preparation and optimization of other laminated metal matrix composites.
A New Modeling Approach for Parameter Design of Stewart Vibration Isolation System Integrated into Complex Systems
Authors: Zhang Tianqing , Gong Xiaoxue , Zhang Lei , Yu Yang
Published: November 2022

A possible application for multi-dimensional vibration isolation is the Stewart vibration isolation system (SVIS). An innovative parameter design method is provided in this research, in which the SVIS is equated to an elastic node with stiffness-damping characteristics of six degrees of freedom. This paper addresses parameter design as a crucial issue for the SVIS integrated in large and complex systems. Two levels make up most of the content. First, the stiffness synthesis and deconstruction processes of the SVIS are inferred and demonstrated, suggesting that the elastic node may be used to quickly and effectively identify the stiffness-dumping of the SVIS. A system of parameter design flow for the SVIS integrated into complex systems is suggested based on the theory. A Stewart platform prototype is next created. To validate the hypothesis, FEM simulations and dynamics tests are carried out sequentially. The simulation findings demonstrate that the prototype’s six natural frequencies depart from the theory within 1%, and the frequency response curves closely match the theory. According to test results, the Z-directional resonant frequency falls 1.7% below predictions. The X/Y-direction frequency response curves include certain poor characteristics caused by structural clearances, but overall trends support the notion. The study offers theoretical direction for SVIS-integrated optimization design in complex systems.
A Predictive Maintenance System Design and Implementation for Intelligent Manufacturing
Authors: Cinar Eyup , Kalay Sena , Saricicek Inci
Published: November 2022

The importance of predictive maintenance (PdM) programs has been recognized across many industries. Seamless integration of the PdM program into today’s manufacturing execution systems requires a scalable and generic system design and a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to make condition monitoring and PdM activities more effective. In this study, a new PdM system and its implementation are presented. KPIs and metrics are proposed and implemented during the design to enhance the system and the PdM performance monitoring needs. The proposed system has been tested in two independent use cases (autonomous transfer vehicle and electric motor) for condition monitoring applications to detect incipient equipment faults or operational anomalies. Machine learning-based data augmentation tools and models are introduced and automated with state-of-the-art AutoML and workflow automation technologies to increase the system’s data collection and data-driven fault classification performance.
A Numerical Intuition of Activation Energy in Transient Micropolar Nanofluid Flow Configured by an Exponentially Extended Plat Surface with Thermal Radiation Effects
Authors: Zeeshan NFN , Ahammad N. Ameer , Rasheed Haroon Ur , El-Deeb Ahmed A. , Almarri Barakah , Shah Nehad Ali
Published: November 2022

In recent times, heat and mass transportation have had some of the most recognized and attractive research areas in computational fluid dynamics. It is useful in the modeling of the flow of nuclear reactors, bioinformatics, the medical discipline, etc. Driven by the execution of the flow in the manufacturing application, the goal of the present analysis is to explore the novel effect of micropolar fluid configured by an exponentially elongated sheet positioned horizontally in a porous channel. The impact of activation energy, internal heating, and heat and mass transfer features are integrated into the revised flow model. A mathematical framework for different flow fields is developed in order to highlight the significant aspects of the thermal and concentration slip effects evaluated on the extended plat surface, with the aid of appropriate transformation factors to diminish the nonlinear fundamental flow equations (PDEs) to a system of (ODEs). Precise numerical treatment for a wide range of pertinent parameters is adopted to solve the nonlinear system through a built-in algorithm in the MATHEMATICA platform. The features of prominent emerging parameters against various flow fields are viewed and addressed through plotted visuals. The influence of the factors on skin friction, heat, and mass coefficients offered through 3D animation is evaluated. The temperature profile improves with ascending values of Brownian parameter and thermophoretic diffusion force but diminishes with subject expansions in Prandtl number and thermal slip parameter. It has been noticed that the concentration outlines increase for reaction rate and activation energy parameters but dwindle for expending values of porosity parameter, Lewis number, and concentration slip parameter. Skin fraction values increase due to the growing nature of the micropolar and second-grade fluid parameters. Nusselt numbers upsurge for increasing thermophoretic diffusion parameters while exhibiting a declining trend for Brownian motion parameters.
Task Scheduling Approach in Cloud Computing Environment Using Hybrid Differential Evolution
Authors: Abdel-Basset Mohamed , Mohamed Reda , Abd Elkhalik Waleed , Sharawi Marwa , Sallam Karam M.
Published: November 2022

Task scheduling is one of the most significant challenges in the cloud computing environment and has attracted the attention of various researchers over the last decades, in order to achieve cost-effective execution and improve resource utilization. The challenge of task scheduling is categorized as a nondeterministic polynomial time (NP)-hard problem, which cannot be tackled with the classical methods, due to their inability to find a near-optimal solution within a reasonable time. Therefore, metaheuristic algorithms have recently been employed to overcome this problem, but these algorithms still suffer from falling into a local minima and from a low convergence speed. Therefore, in this study, a new task scheduler, known as hybrid differential evolution (HDE), is presented as a solution to the challenge of task scheduling in the cloud computing environment. This scheduler is based on two proposed enhancements to the traditional differential evolution. The first improvement is based on improving the scaling factor, to include numerical values generated dynamically and based on the current iteration, in order to improve both the exploration and exploitation operators; the second improvement is intended to improve the exploitation operator of the classical DE, in order to achieve better results in fewer iterations. Multiple tests utilizing randomly generated datasets and the CloudSim simulator were conducted, to demonstrate the efficacy of HDE. In addition, HDE was compared to a variety of heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms, including the slime mold algorithm (SMA), equilibrium optimizer (EO), sine cosine algorithm (SCA), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), grey wolf optimizer (GWO), classical DE, first come first served (FCFS), round robin (RR) algorithm, and shortest job first (SJF) scheduler. During trials, makespan and total execution time values were acquired for various task sizes, ranging from 100 to 3000. Compared to the other metaheuristic and heuristic algorithms considered, the results of the studies indicated that HDE generated superior outcomes. Consequently, HDE was found to be the most efficient metaheuristic scheduling algorithm among the numerous methods researched.
Deep Learning-Based Plant Classification Using Nonaligned Thermal and Visible Light Images
Authors: Batchuluun Ganbayar , Nam Se Hyun , Park Kang Ryoung
Published: November 2022

There have been various studies conducted on plant images. Machine learning algorithms are usually used in visible light image-based studies, whereas, in thermal image-based studies, acquired thermal images tend to be analyzed with a naked eye visual examination. However, visible light cameras are sensitive to light, and cannot be used in environments with low illumination. Although thermal cameras are not susceptible to these drawbacks, they are sensitive to atmospheric temperature and humidity. Moreover, in previous thermal camera-based studies, time-consuming manual analyses were performed. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a novel study by simultaneously using thermal images and corresponding visible light images of plants to solve these problems. The proposed network extracted features from each thermal image and corresponding visible light image of plants through residual block-based branch networks, and combined the features to increase the accuracy of the multiclass classification. Additionally, a new database was built in this study by acquiring thermal images and corresponding visible light images of various plants.
Stochastic Modeling of Within-Host Dynamics of Plasmodium Falciparum
Authors: Sun Xiao , McCaw James M. , Cao Pengxing
Published: November 2022

Malaria remains a major public health burden in South-East Asia and Africa. Mathematical models of within-host infection dynamics and drug action, developed in support of malaria elimination initiatives, have significantly advanced our understanding of the dynamics of infection and supported development of effective drug-treatment regimens. However, the mathematical models supporting these initiatives are predominately based on deterministic dynamics and therefore cannot capture stochastic phenomena such as extinction (no parasitized red blood cells) following treatment, with potential consequences for our interpretation of data sets in which recrudescence is observed. Here we develop a stochastic within-host infection model to study the growth, decline and possible stochastic extinction of parasitized red blood cells in malaria-infected human volunteers. We show that stochastic extinction can occur when the inoculation size is small or when the number of parasitized red blood cells reduces significantly after an antimalarial treatment. We further show that the drug related parameters, such as the maximum killing rate and half-maximum effective concentration, are the primary factors determining the probability of stochastic extinction following treatment, highlighting the importance of highly-efficacious antimalarials in increasing the probability of cure for the treatment of malaria patients.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Novel Kunitz-Type Toxin-like Peptide in the Giant Triton Snail Charonia tritonis
Authors: Zhang Gege , Jia Huixia , Luo Lei , Zhang Yang , Cen Xitong , Yao Gaoyou , Zhang Hua , He Maoxian , Liu Wenguang
Published: November 2022

It has been reported that the giant triton snail (Charonia tritonis) inserts its large proboscis and then injects venom or acid saliva from its salivary gland into its prey, the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci (COTS), paralyzing it. A full-length cDNA sequence of the C. tritonis Ct-kunitzin gene was obtained by RACE PCR based on a transcriptomic database constructed by our laboratory (data not published), which contains an open reading frame (ORF) sequence with a length of 384 bp including a 1–32aa Kunitz domain. The Ct-kunitzin peptide was synthesized by solid-phase polypeptide methods according to its conserved amino acid sequence, with a molecular weight of 3746.0 as well as two disulfide bonds. Renatured Ct-kunitzin was injected into mice ventricles to evaluate its potential function. Compared with the normal control group (physiological saline), the spontaneous locomotor activity of the Ct-kunitzin group decreased significantly. There was a significant effect on Ct-kunitzin on mice grip strength in the grip strength test. In addition, Ct-kunitzin exhibited remarkable biological activity in suppressing pain in the pain thresholds test. There were no significant differences between the Ct-kunitzin group and the normal control group in terms of various hematological indexes and histopathological observations. When tested in COTS, the most significant histological change was the destruction, disorganization, and significant reduction in the amount of COTS tube feet tissues. Altogether, the potential paralyzing effect on mice suggests that Ct-kunitzin is a possible agent for novel drug development.
Preparation of l-Arginine Schiff Bases Modified Chitosan Derivatives and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Cui Jingmin , Sun Yan , Wang Linqing , Miao Qin , Tan Wenqiang , Guo Zhanyong
Published: November 2022

We successfully prepared a series of l-arginine Schiff bases acylated chitosan derivatives, aiming to improve the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of chitosan by introducing a furan ring, pyridine ring, and l-arginine structure. The accuracy of the structures of ten compounds was characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR. In terms of DPPH radical scavenging activity, except for compound CR3PCA, the scavenging rate of other compounds was higher than chitosan, especially CRCF and CRBF had strong scavenging abilities. At the same time, in the superoxide-radical scavenging activity assay, CRCF, CRBF, CR3PCA, CR2C3PCA, and CR2B3PCA were comparable to positive control at 1.60 mg/mL. Simultaneously, CRFF, CRCF, and CRBF had a certain inhibitory effect on Botrytis cinerea. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of CRFF, CRCF, and CR3PCA on Staphylococcus aureus was very well, close to the positive control at 1.00 mg/mL. CRCF and CR2B3PCA showed better inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli than other compounds. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the chitosan derivatives, which proved their safety to fibroblast cells. In summary, the study indicated that some of these compounds have the potential for further development and utilization in the preparation of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.
Treatment of Radial Nerve Palsy in Paediatric Humeral Shaft Fractures—STROBE-Compliant Investigation
Authors: Wiktor Łukasz , Tomaszewski Ryszard
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Due to the rarity of radial nerve palsy in humeral shaft fractures in the paediatric population and the lack of data in the literature, the purpose of our study was to report the treatment results of six children who sustained a radial nerve injury following a humeral shaft fracture. Materials and Methods: We treated six paediatric patients with radial nerve palsy caused by a humeral shaft fracture in our department from January 2011 to June 2022. The study group consisted of four boys and one girl aged 8.6 to 17.2 (average 13.6). The mean follow-up was 18.4 months. To present our results, we have used the STROBE protocol designed for retrospective observational studies. Results: We diagnosed two open and four closed humeral shaft fractures. Two simple transverse AO 12A3c; one simple oblique AO 12A2c; two simple spiral AO 12A1b/AO 12A1c and one intact wedge AO 12B2c were recognized. The humeral shaft was affected in the distal third five times and in the middle third one time. In our study group, we found two cases of neurotmesis; two entrapped nerves within the fracture; one stretched nerve over the bone fragments and one case of neuropraxia. We found restitution of the motor function in all cases. For all patients, extensor muscle strength was assessed on the grade M4 according to the BMRC scale (except for a patient with neuropraxia—M5). The differences in patients concerned the incomplete extension at the radiocarpal and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. Conclusions: In our small case series, humeral shaft fractures complicated with radial nerve palsy are always challenging medical issues. In paediatric patients, we highly recommend an US examination where it is possible to be carried out to improve the system of decision making. Expectant observation with no nerve exploration is reasonable only in close fractures caused by low-energy trauma. Early surgical nerve exploration related with fracture stabilisation is highly recommended in fractures after high-energy trauma, especially in open fractures and where symptoms of nerve palsy appear at any stage of conservative treatment.
Identification of Human Gut Microbiome Associated with Enterolignan Production
Authors: Sawane Kento , Hosomi Koji , Park Jonguk , Ookoshi Kouta , Nanri Hinako , Nakagata Takashi , Chen Yi-An , Mohsen Attayeb , Kawashima Hitoshi , Mizuguchi Kenji , Miyachi Motohiko , Kunisawa Jun
Published: November 2022

Dietary plant lignans are converted inside the gut to enterolignans enterodiol (ED) and enterolactone (EL), which have several biological functions, and health benefits. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiome composition associated with enterolignan production using data from a cross-sectional study in the Japanese population. We identified enterolignan producers by measuring ED and EL levels in subject’s serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Enterolignan producers show more abundant proportion of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae than non-enterolignan producers. In particular, subjects with EL in their serum had a highly diverse gut microbiome that was rich in Ruminococcaceae and Rikenellaceae. Moreover, we built a random forest classification model to classify subjects to either EL producers or not using three characteristic bacteria. In conclusion, our analysis revealed the composition of gut microbiome that is associated with lignan metabolism. We also confirmed that it can be used to classify the microbiome ability to metabolize lignan using machine learning approach.
Agricultural Crops Grown in Laboratory Conditions on Chernevaya Taiga Soil Demonstrate Unique Composition of the Rhizosphere Microbiota
Authors: Kravchenko Irina , Rayko Mikhail , Tikhonova Ekaterina , Konopkin Aleksey , Abakumov Evgeny , Lapidus Alla
Published: November 2022

Chernevaya taiga in West Siberia is a unique environment, with gigantism of grasses and shrubs. Exceptionally high productivity of plants is determined by the synergistic interaction of various factors, with a special role belonging to microorganisms colonizing the plant roots. This research explored whether agricultural plants can recruit specific microorganisms from within virgin Chernevaya Umbrisol and thus increase their productivity. Radish and wheat plants were grown on the Umbrisol (T1) and control Retisol of Scotch pine forest stand (T3) soils in the phytotron, and then a bacterial community analysis of the rhizosphere was performed using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. In laboratory experiments, the plant physiological parameters were significantly higher when growing on the Umbrisol as compared to the Retisol. Bacterial diversity in T1 soil was considerably higher than in the control sample, and the principal coordinate analysis demonstrated apparent differences in the bacterial communities associated with the plants. Agricultural plants growing in the T1 soil form specific prokaryotic communities, with dominant genera Chthoniobacter, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Massilia. These communities also include less abundant but essential for plant growth nitrifiers Cand. Nitrosocosmius and Nitrospira, and representatives of Proteobacteria, Bacilli, and Actinobacteria, known to be gibberellin-producers.
Propolis, Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Cranberry, Calendula, Myrrha and Salvia Properties against Periodontal Microorganisms
Authors: Figueiredo Luciene Cristina , Figueiredo Nathalia Freitas , Cruz Daniele Ferreira da , Baccelli Gustavo Titonele , Sarachini Gabriela Espinoza , Bueno Manuela Rocha , Feres Magda , Bueno-Silva Bruno
Published: November 2022

The oral cavity harbors hundreds of microorganisms that may be uncontrolled and provoke several diseases. In this sense, periodontitis is a complex multifactorial disease with an essential microbial component in its etiology. Periodontal treatment involves mechanical control of the supra- and subgingival biofilm, but not all patients respond predictably to treatment. In this way, the biofilm chemical control helps in the reduction of periodontal pathogens during treatment or in the delay of bacterial re-colonization after scaling and root planning. Several products have been studied as adjunctive therapy and have shown promising results. Therefore, the present article reviews the biological effects of propolis, aloe vera, green tea, cranberry, calendula, myrrha and salvia that may support their use in the control of subgingival biofilm in patients with periodontitis. All the natural products cited above showed exciting results against microorganisms related to oral diseases, mainly periodontitis. These substances also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The natural agents propolis, aloe vera, green tea, cranberry, calendula, myrrha and salvia demonstrated potential to be used as oral hygiene products, based on their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions.
Secondary Immobilization as a Phase of N mineralization Dynamics of Soil Organic Inputs
Authors: Dalias Panagiotis , Christou Anastasis
Published: November 2022

Current understanding of nitrogen (N) mineralization from organic soil inputs considers three alternative processes: immediate net mineralization of N, net immobilization followed by net mineralization, or exclusively net immobilization. The three processes are compatible and linked with the C:N ratio rule. However, research evidence from a number of incubation studies incorporating processed materials like manures, composts, manure composts, or already decomposed plant residues suggest the presence of a second N immobilization phase. The mechanisms and conditions of this process, which is against the prevailing theory of soil N cycling, have not been ascertained, but they should most likely be attributed to impeded dead microbial biomass turnover. The transfer of mineral forms of N to the organic N pool may reasonably be explained by the chemical stabilization of nitrogenous compounds with secondary products of lignin degradation, which occurs late after incorporation of an organic input in soil. Secondary immobilization questions the reliability of the C:N ratio and most likely of other quality indices if proved to be real, even to some extent, while it may also have significant consequences on the management of soil organic additives applied as fertilizers.
Structural Modelling Prediction of Recombinant Plasmodium falciparum K13-F446I and K13-C580Y Gene by AlphaFold Method and Heterologous Expression in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 Cells
Authors: Yan He , Feng Jun , Chen Min
Published: November 2022

P. falciparum Kelch 13 (Pfk13) is an essential protein that contains BTB and Kelch-repeat propeller domains (KRPD), which was predicted to bind substrate during ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathway. However, the function of Pfk13 and the structural alterations associated with artemisinin resistance mutations remain unknown. Herein, we screened two proteins, namely Pfk13-F446I and Pfk13-C580Y, which are closely associated with artemisinin, for structural prediction analysis. The 389 amino acids from 1011 nt to 2178 nt of KRPD were cloned into pFastBacTM1. The recombinant plasmids were heterologously expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 cells (SF9) and a ~44 kDa protein band was yielded by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot. A total of five structure models were generated and predicted by AlphaFold for each protein. The models predicted that Pfk13-F446I would be located in the central protein cavity, proximal to mutations in cysteine residues primarily in β strands. Unlike Pfk13-F446I, the Pfk13-C580Y is located on the small channel that runs through the center of the K13 protein. Interestingly, the hydrogen bond between C580 and C533 in the wide type (WT) was not detected, suggesting that the hydrogen bond may be lost during the mutation. Besides, the Pfk13-F446I and Pfk13-C580Y mutation were found to add 11 and 9 hydrogen bonds variations that may lead to conformational change of the protein structure compared to WT, respectively. Future work should pay more attention to the binding characteristics of those mutations related with KPRD pockets and their binding substrates, which will further clarify the structure and function of Pfk13 and its mutant.
Maternal–Fetal Infections (Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma, Syphilis): Short-Term and Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children Infected and Uninfected at Birth
Authors: Auriti Cinzia , Bucci Silvia , De Rose Domenico Umberto , Coltella Luana , Santisi Alessandra , Martini Ludovica , Maddaloni Chiara , Bersani Iliana , Lozzi Simona , Campi Francesca , Pacifico Concettina , Balestri Martina , Longo Daniela , Grimaldi Teresa
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Infections in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, infections in newborns, and developmental disabilities in babies. Infected infants, symptomatic at birth, can have long-term sequelae, and asymptomatic babies are also at increased risk of developing long-term sensorineural outcomes. Targeted therapy of the pregnant mother can reduce fetal and neonatal harm. (2) Aim of the study: To explore the association between symptoms and time of onset of long-term sequelae in infected children born from mothers who contracted an infection during pregnancy, by a long-term multidisciplinary follow-up. (3) Methods: For up to 2–4 years, we evaluated cognitive, motor, audiological, visual, and language outcomes in infants with symptomatic and asymptomatic congenital infections and in uninfected infants. (4) Results: 186 infants born from women who acquired Cytomegalovirus infection (n = 103), Toxoplasma infection (n = 50), and Syphilis (n = 33) during pregnancy were observed. Among them, 119 infants acquired the infection in utero. Infected infants, symptomatic at birth, obtained lower scores on the Cognitive and Motor Scale on Bayley-III compared to asymptomatic and uninfected infants (p = 0.026; p = 0.049). Many severe or moderate sequelae rose up within the first year of life. At 24 months, we observed sequelae in 24.6% (14/57) of infected children classified as asymptomatic at birth, compared to 68.6% (24/35) of symptomatic ones (χ2 = 15.56; p < 0.001); (5) Conclusions: Infected babies symptomatic at birth have a worse prognosis than asymptomatic ones. Long-term sequelae may occur in infected children asymptomatic at birth after the first year of life. Multidisciplinary follow-up until 4–6 years of age should be performed in all infected children, regardless of the presence of symptoms at birth.
Synthesis of Integrated Flower Waste Biorefinery: Multi-Objective Optimisation with Economic and Environmental Consideration
Authors: Chong Emily Hau Yan , Andiappan Viknesh , Ng Lik Yin , Shivaprasad Parimala , Ng Denny K. S.
Published: November 2022

The improper disposal of flower waste from cultural activities is one of the main challenges in certain countries such as India. If the flower waste is not managed properly, it causes a number of environmental issues. Therefore, various technologies have been developed to transform flower waste into value-added products. To integrate multiple technologies holistically to maximise the energy and material recovery, an integrated flower-waste biorefinery is required. Since there are a wide range of technologies available that can convert the waste into multiple products, there is a need to develop a systematic approach to evaluate all the technologies. This research proposes a systematic approach to synthesise an integrated flower-waste biorefinery based on different optimisation objectives, e.g., maximum economic performance and minimum environmental impact. Due to the conflicting nature between the two objectives, a fuzzy optimisation approach has been adapted to synthesise a sustainable integrated flower-waste biorefinery that satisfies both objectives at once. The efficacy of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a case study in India based on the optimised results with fuzzy optimisation—a synthesised flower-waste integrated biorefinery with economy performance of $400,932 and carbon emission of 46,209 kg CO2/h.
Evaluation of Antiaging Effect of Sheep Placenta Extract Using SAMP8 Mice
Authors: Chou Ming-Yu , Yang Chi-Pei Ou , Li Wen-Ching , Yang Yao-Ming , Huang Yu-Ju , Wang Ming-Fu , Lin Wan-Teng
Published: November 2022

Widely used in traditional medicine, sheep placenta extract (SPE) is known for its physiological effects such as wound healing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of SPE on antiaging is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of SPE on aging through the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) strain. We designed an experiment using both male and female mice randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10) as follows: Group A—control group; Group B—low-dose SPE (61.5 mg/kg BW/day); Group C—medium-dose SPE (123 mg/kg BW/day); and Group D—high-dose SPE (184.5 mg/kg BW/day). As a result of measuring the aging index parameters such as skin glossiness, spine lordosis, and kyphosis, it was found that the treatment of SPE lowered the aging index. In addition, we found that biochemical parameters such as lactic acid, glucose, ketone bodies, free fatty acids, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were not changed in the experimental group treated with SPE for 13 weeks. Finally, we found that lipid peroxidation (LPO) was decreased, while the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased in the brain tissues of SPE-treated male and female mice. Supplementation of SPE lowered the oxidative stress caused by the aging process in mice without toxicity and decreased the aging index, suggesting the value of SPE as an effective antiaging treatment.