bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy Concomitant with Taxanes for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Vergote Ignace , Macarulla Teresa , Hirsch Fred R. , Hagemann Carsten , Miller David Scott
Published: January 2023

Non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer all present with high morbidity and mortality. Systemic chemotherapies have historically been the cornerstone of standard of care (SOC) regimens for many cancers, but are associated with systemic toxicity. Multimodal treatment combinations can help improve patient outcomes; however, implementation is limited by additive toxicities and potential drug–drug interactions. As such, there is a high unmet need to develop additional therapies to enhance the efficacy of SOC treatments without increasing toxicity. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that exert physical forces to disrupt cellular processes critical for cancer cell viability and tumor progression. The therapy is locoregional and is delivered noninvasively to the tumor site via a portable medical device that consists of field generator and arrays that are placed on the patient’s skin. As a noninvasive treatment modality, TTFields therapy-related adverse events mainly consist of localized skin reactions, which are manageable with effective acute and prophylactic treatments. TTFields selectively target cancer cells through a multi-mechanistic approach without affecting healthy cells and tissues. Therefore, the application of TTFields therapy concomitant with other cancer treatments may lead to enhanced efficacy, with low risk of further systemic toxicity. In this review, we explore TTFields therapy concomitant with taxanes in both preclinical and clinical settings. The summarized data suggest that TTFields therapy concomitant with taxanes may be beneficial in the treatment of certain cancers.
Identification of Highly Sensitive Pleural Effusion Protein Biomarkers for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma by Affinity-Based Quantitative Proteomics
Authors: Palstrøm Nicolai B. , Overgaard Martin , Licht Peter , Beck Hans C.
Published: January 2023

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an asbestos-associated, highly aggressive cancer characterized by late-stage diagnosis and poor prognosis. Gold standards for diagnosis are pleural biopsy and cytology of pleural effusion (PE), both of which are limited by low sensitivity and markedly inter-observer variations. Therefore, the assessment of PE biomarkers is considered a viable and objective diagnostic tool for MPM diagnosis. We applied a novel affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry-based proteomics method for explorative analysis of pleural effusions from a prospective cohort of 84 patients referred for thoracoscopy due to clinical suspicion of MPM. Protein biomarkers with a high capability to discriminate MPM from non-MPM patients were identified, and a Random Forest algorithm was applied for building classification models. Immunohistology of pleural biopsies confirmed MPM in 40 patients and ruled out MPM in 44 patients. Proteomic analysis of pleural effusions identified panels of proteins with excellent diagnostic properties (90–100% sensitivities, 89–98% specificities, and AUC 0.97–0.99) depending on the specific protein combination. Diagnostic proteins associated with cancer growth included galactin-3 binding protein, testican-2, haptoglobin, Beta ig-h3, and protein AMBP. Moreover, we also confirmed previously reported diagnostic accuracies of the MPM markers fibulin-3 and mesothelin measured by two complementary mass spectrometry-based methods. In conclusion, a novel affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry-based proteomics identified panels of proteins in pleural effusion with extraordinary diagnostic accuracies, which are described here for the first time as biomarkers for MPM.
Novel Non-Cyclooxygenase Inhibitory Derivative of Sulindac Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro and Reduces Mammary Tumorigenesis in Rats
Authors: Tinsley Heather N. , Mathew Bini , Chen Xi , Maxuitenko Yulia Y. , Li Nan , Lowe Whitney M. , Whitt Jason D. , Zhang Wei , Gary Bernard D. , Keeton Adam B. , Grizzle William E. , Grubbs Clinton J. , Reynolds Robert C. , Piazza Gary A.
Published: January 2023

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sulindac demonstrates attractive anticancer activity, but the toxicity resulting from cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition and the suppression of physiologically important prostaglandins precludes its long-term, high dose use in the clinic for cancer prevention or treatment. While inflammation is a known tumorigenic driver, evidence suggests that sulindac’s antineoplastic activity is partially or fully independent of its COX inhibitory activity. One COX-independent target proposed for sulindac is cyclic guanosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase (cGMP PDE) isozymes. Sulindac metabolites, i.e., sulfide and sulfone, inhibit cGMP PDE enzymatic activity at concentrations comparable with those associated with cancer cell growth inhibitory activity. Additionally, the cGMP PDE isozymes PDE5 and PDE10 are overexpressed during the early stages of carcinogenesis and appear essential for cancer cell proliferation and survival based on gene silencing experiments. Here, we describe a novel amide derivative of sulindac, sulindac sulfide amide (SSA), which was rationally designed to eliminate COX-inhibitory activity while enhancing cGMP PDE inhibitory activity. SSA was 68-fold and 10-fold less potent than sulindac sulfide (SS) in inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2, respectively, but 10-fold more potent in inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The pro-apoptotic activity of SSA was associated with inhibition of cGMP PDE activity, elevation of intracellular cGMP levels, and activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) signaling, as well as the inhibition of β-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activity. SSA displayed promising in vivo anticancer activity, resulting in a 57% reduction in the incidence and a 62% reduction in the multiplicity of tumors in the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced model of breast carcinogenesis. These findings provide strong evidence for cGMP/PKG signaling as a target for breast cancer prevention or treatment and the COX-independent anticancer properties of sulindac. Furthermore, this study validates the approach of optimizing off-target effects by reducing the COX-inhibitory activity of sulindac for future targeted drug discovery efforts to enhance both safety and efficacy.
Facial One-Pot Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance of Porous Ceria
Authors: Atran Amal A. , Ibrahim Fatma A. , Awwad Nasser S. , Shkir Mohd , Hamdy Mohamed S.
Published: January 2023

A facial one-step synthesis procedure was applied to prepare porous sponge-like ceria (CeO2). The synthesis was performed by mixing cerium nitrate with citric acid, followed by thermal treatment. The produced solid material was characterized by several techniques, such as XRD, SEM, N2 sorption measurement, DR-UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy. The characterization data showed that the nanoparticles of the porous ceria were formed with a three-dimensional pore system. Moreover, the measured surface area of the porous sample was eight times higher than the commercially available ceria. The photocatalytic performance of the porous ceria was investigated in two different applications under visible light illumination. The first was the decolorization of a methyl green aqueous solution, while the second was the photocatalytic elimination of a gaseous mixture consisting of five short-chain hydrocarbons (C1–C3). The obtained results showed that the photocatalytic activity of porous ceria was higher than that of the commercial sample. Finally, the recycling of porous ceria showed low deactivation (less than 9%) after four consecutive runs.
Synthesis and Characterization of Terbium-Based Metal Organic Framework for Environmental Remediation Application
Authors: Alomari Asma D. , Alezi Dalal , Abdel Salam Mohamed
Published: January 2023

In the present study, terbium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on fcu topology, fcu-Tb- FTZB-MOF, was synthesized using 2-fluoro-4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzoic acid (FTZB) as a linear ligand, and then was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and to study the texture properties of the Tb-FTZB-MOF. The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of the high surface area Tb-FTZB-MOF (1220 m2/g). The synthesized Tb-FTZB-MOF was then applied as a catalytic adsorbent to remove direct violet 31 (DV31) dye as an example of organic pollutants, from a model and real solution. The effect of various operational parameters such as adsorbent loading, contact time, initial DV31 dye concentration, initial solution pH, different water matrix, temperature, and ionic strength have also been evaluated. Solution pH and temperature significantly influenced the adsorption of DV31 dye using Tb-FTZB-MOF, and the results should efficiently remove the DV31 dye at ambient temperature, and at pH value of 8.0 using 35 mg Tb-FTZB-MOF, within few minutes. The process was studied kinetically and found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and thermodynamically the process was spontaneous, endothermic, with a positive entropy. Finally, the result showed that Tb-FTZB-MOF was able to adsorb a high percentage of DV31 dye and maintained reasonable efficiency even after five cycles, indicating that Tb-FTZB-MOF could be a promising adsorbent in wastewater remediation.
Unraveling Presenilin 2 Functions in a Knockout Zebrafish Line to Shed Light into Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Barazzuol Lucia , Cieri Domenico , Facchinello Nicola , Calì Tito , Washbourne Philip , Argenton Francesco , Pizzo Paola
Published: January 2023

Mutations in presenilin 2 (PS2) have been causally linked to the development of inherited Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Besides its role as part of the γ-secretase complex, mammalian PS2 is also involved, as an individual protein, in a growing number of cell processes, which result altered in AD. To gain more insight into PS2 (dys)functions, we have generated a presenilin2 (psen2) knockout zebrafish line. We found that the absence of the protein does not markedly influence Notch signaling at early developmental stages, suggesting a Psen2 dispensable role in the γ-secretase-mediated Notch processing. Instead, loss of Psen2 induces an exaggerated locomotor response to stimulation in fish larvae, a reduced number of ER-mitochondria contacts in zebrafish neurons, and an increased basal autophagy. Moreover, the protein is involved in mitochondrial axonal transport, since its acute downregulation reduces in vivo organelle flux in zebrafish sensory neurons. Importantly, the expression of a human AD-linked mutant of the protein increases this vital process. Overall, our results confirm zebrafish as a good model organism for investigating PS2 functions in vivo, representing an alternative tool for the characterization of new AD-linked defective cell pathways and the testing of possible correcting drugs.
Rapid Identification of Infectious Pathogens at the Single-Cell Level via Combining Hyperspectral Microscopic Images and Deep Learning
Authors: Tao Chenglong , Du Jian , Wang Junjie , Hu Bingliang , Zhang Zhoufeng
Published: January 2023

Identifying infectious pathogens quickly and accurately is significant for patients and doctors. Identifying single bacterial strains is significant in eliminating culture and speeding up diagnosis. We present an advanced optical method for the rapid detection of infectious (including common and uncommon) pathogens by combining hyperspectral microscopic imaging and deep learning. To acquire more information regarding the pathogens, we developed a hyperspectral microscopic imaging system with a wide wavelength range and fine spectral resolution. Furthermore, an end-to-end deep learning network based on feature fusion, called BI-Net, was designed to extract the species-dependent features encoded in cell-level hyperspectral images as the fingerprints for species differentiation. After being trained based on a large-scale dataset that we built to identify common pathogens, BI-Net was used to classify uncommon pathogens via transfer learning. An extensive analysis demonstrated that BI-Net was able to learn species-dependent characteristics, with the classification accuracy and Kappa coefficients being 92% and 0.92, respectively, for both common and uncommon species. Our method outperformed state-of-the-art methods by a large margin and its excellent performance demonstrates its excellent potential in clinical practice.
Clinical Investigation of Leukocyte DNA Damage in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Doğan Hasan , Kara Aslı , Çankaya Erdem , Balkan Eda , Gürbüz Muhammet Ali , Kızılkaya Murat , Aykaç Merve
Published: January 2023

This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate leukocyte DNA damage in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. In this study, 50 COVID-19-positive patients attending the Erzurum City Hospital Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic and 42 control group patients were included. DNA damage was detected in living cells through leukocyte isolation in 50 COVID-19-positive patients using the comet assay method. DNA tail/head (olive) moments were evaluated and compared. White blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM), eosinophils (EO), monocytes (MONO), basophils (BASO), platelets (PLT), and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were analyzed. The RBC, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and monocyte means were significantly higher in the control group (p < 0.05), whereas the HGB and neutrophile means were significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05). There were significant negative correlations between COVID-19 and RBC (r = −0.863), LYM (r = −0.542), EO (r = −0.686), and MONO (r = −0.385). Meanwhile, there were significant positive correlations between COVID-19 and HGB (r = 0.863), NEU (r = 0.307), tail moment (r = 0.598), and olive moment (r = 0.582). Both the tail and olive moment mean differences were significantly higher in the study group, with higher ranges (p < 0.05). COVID-19 infection caused statistically significant increases in both the tail and olive damage percentage in patients, causing DNA damage. Lastly, the NLR rate was associated with the presence and progression of COVID-19.
Study of the Unstable Rotational Dynamics of a Tor-Fullerene Molecular System
Authors: Borodin Vladislav , Bubenchikov Mikhail , Bubenchikov Alexey , Mamontov Dmitriy , Azheev Sergey , Azheev Alexandr
Published: January 2023

This work is devoted to modeling the dynamics of large molecules. The key issue in modeling the dynamics of real molecular systems is to correctly represent the temperature of the system using the available theoretical tools. In most works on molecular dynamics, vibrations of atoms inside a molecule are modeled with enviable persistence, which has nothing to do with physical temperature. These vibrations represent the energy internal to the molecule. Therefore, it should not be present in problems in the dynamics of inert molecular systems. In this work, by means of classical mechanics, it is shown that the simplest system containing only three molecular bodies, due to multiple acts of pair interactions of these bodies, reproduces the temperature even in an extremely complex unstable motion of the system. However, at the same time, it is necessary to separate the stochastic part of the movement from the deterministic one. Calculations also show that translational fluctuations in the motion of molecules make the greatest contribution to temperature. The contribution of rotational energy to the total energy of fluctuation motions is small. It follows from these results that the thermal state of the system is determined only by the translational temperature. The latter, in turn, opens up possibilities for a simplified description of many complex systems composed of carbon molecules such as fullerenes and nanotori.
Observation of Structural Diversity Based on the Cationic Influence in a Series of Zn/Cd Pyridine Carboxylate Coordination Compounds
Authors: Sen Rupam , Banerjee Abhishek , Brandão Paula , Lin Zhi
Published: January 2023

In this study, we used a 6-methyl-2,3-pyridine dicarboxylate ligand to develop the frameworks. Two novel compounds, [Zn2(L)2(H2O)4] (1) and [Cd(L)(H2O)] (2) (where L = 6-methyl-pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylate) were produced. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. We successfully tuned the framework dimensionality by varying the size of the metal ions from small Zn to large Cd ions. Single crystal X-ray investigations of compound 1 show a good dimeric motif, while compound 2 shows a 2D network. In compound 1, the dimeric units are further bonded by strong hydrogen bonds and create a 3D network whereas compound 2 produces a 2D layer that in turn connects via short contacts to form a 3D network in the crystallographic space.
Pilomatrix Carcinoma: Report of Two Cases of the Head and Review of the Literature
Authors: Toffoli Ludovica , Bazzacco Giulia , Conforti Claudio , Guarneri Claudio , Giuffrida Roberta , Zelin Enrico , di Meo Nicola , Zalaudek Iris
Published: January 2023

Background: Pilomatrix carcinoma (PC) is a rare skin tumor arising from hair follicle matrix cells. It is locally aggressive with a high rate of local recurrence after surgical excision. Few cases in the literature have been described and the management is not well defined. Objectives: The aim of this study was to present two cases of PC located on the head and review the relevant literature about epidemiology, clinical and dermoscopic evaluation, characteristics of local and distant metastases, local recurrence rate and management of this rare skin tumor. Methods: We consulted databases from PubMed, Research Gate and Google Scholar, from January 2012 to November 2022. We reviewed the literature and reported two additional cases. Results: We selected 52 tumors in middle-aged to older patients located mostly on the head. Dermoscopy evaluation was rarely performed in the pre-operative diagnostic setting. The most definitive treatment was wide local excision, but local recurrences were common. In total, we observed 11 cases of recurrences and 9 patients with locoregional or distant metastases. Four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, two patients needed chemotherapy and local cancer therapy and one patient received radiochemotherapy. Conclusion: Our reports and the review of the literature can provide a better awareness and management of this rare tumor.
Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae) Invading One in Five Natura 2000 Protected Areas of Greece and One in Four Habitat Types: What Is Next?
Authors: Krigas Nikos , Votsi Nefta-Eleftheria , Samartza Ioulietta , Katsoulis Georgios , Tsiafouli Maria A.
Published: January 2023

Invasive alien plants have severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide. To assess the invasion of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. (a major alien invasive plant; Solanaceae) in Greek protected areas (PAs), we conducted an extensive drive-by survey across the country crossing half of the Greek Natura 2000 sites. The occurrence data were then linked in GIS with (i) the boundaries of the Natura 2000 sites, (ii) the mapped habitat types in the invaded sites, and (iii) the Corine land cover, from which we calculated the ecosystem services. The results showed that approximately 24% of the investigated PAs were invaded by S.elaeagnifolium to varying degrees of extension and density of the populations. A variety of 29 different habitat types of Annex I of the Directive 92/43/EEC (including a priority habitat and seven habitat types of national importance) were found to be invaded (one in four habitat types present in Greece). In the invaded Natura 2000 sites, we recorded human activities/threats that were mostly related to agricultural activities of high intensity, while the potential in ecosystem service provision was relatively low for the category of regulating services in the invaded sites. Our study provides the first nationwide report of the distribution of S. elaeagnifolium in Natura 2000 sites of Greece, providing baseline maps and information for future monitoring. Our results highlight the need of an effective management strategy across the Natura 2000 network to effectively protect the local biodiversity, which should include management measures for invasive species, mitigating habitat fragmentation, and soil degradation, as well as the adaptation of eco-enhancing management strategies for the provision of multiple ecosystem services in agriculture.
Clinicopathological Features and Significance of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation in Surgically Resected Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Lu Chao-Wen , Lin Mong-Wei , Chiang Xu-Heng , Hsu Hsao-Hsun , Hsieh Min-Shu , Chen Jin-Shing
Published: January 2023

The clinicopathological presentation of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations has been seldom studied. Our study enrolled patients with stage I and II lung adenocarcinoma between January 2014 and December 2017 at the National Taiwan University Hospital. Clinicopathological features and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed depending on EGFR mutation status. EGFR mutations were detected in 622 (60%) out of 1034 patients. Compared to the group without EGFR mutations, the group with EGFR mutations had more patients above 65 years of age (p < 0.001), more non-lepidic histological subtypes (p < 0.001), higher CEA levels (p = 0.044), higher grade of pleural (p = 0.02) and lymphovascular (p = 0.001) invasion, higher histological grade (p < 0.001), and a more advanced pathological stage (p = 0.022). In multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in PFS or OS between the EGFR mutant and wild-type groups. In subtype analysis, the tumors with an L858R mutation had a more lepidic predominant histological type (p = 0.019) and less lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.011). No significant differences in PFS or OS were detected between the exon 19 deletion and L858R mutation groups. In early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, EGFR mutation may be considered as a treatment response predictor for tyrosine kinase inhibitors, instead of a predictor of clinical prognosis.
Human Action Recognition for Dynamic Scenes of Emergency Rescue Based on Spatial-Temporal Fusion Network
Authors: Zhang Yongmei , Guo Qian , Du Zhirong , Wu Aiyan
Published: January 2023

Targeting the problems of the insufficient utilization of temporal and spatial information in videos and a lower accuracy rate, this paper proposes a human action recognition method for dynamic videos of emergency rescue based on a spatial-temporal fusion network. A time domain segmentation strategy based on random sampling maintains the overall time domain structure of the video. Considering the spatial-temporal asynchronous relationship, multiple asynchronous motion sequences are increased as input of the temporal convolutional network. spatial-temporal features are fused in convolutional layers to reduce feature loss. Because time series information is crucial for human action recognition, the acquired mid-layer spatial-temporal fusion features are sent into Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) to obtain the human movement features in the whole video temporal dimension. Experiment results show the proposed method fully fuses spatial and temporal dimension information and improves the accuracy of human action recognition in dynamic scenes. It is also faster than traditional methods.
Traction System for Electric Vehicles Based on Synchronous Reluctance Permanent Magnet Machine
Authors: Sousa Joao D. C. , Sousa Tiago J. C. , Monteiro Vitor , Afonso Joao L.
Published: January 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) integrate two main power electronics systems, namely, the battery charging system and the traction system. In this study, we aimed to complement and deepen the study of the latter, more specifically, focusing on a traction system based on a synchronous reluctance permanent magnet (SRPM) machine, since this is an emerging electric machine in the EV paradigm. The developed prototype integrates bidirectional ac-dc and dc-dc converters, allowing for regenerative braking, and the SRPM machine is controlled using a maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) algorithm. Computer simulations and the experimental results for the traction system are presented in this paper. The dynamic characteristics of the SRPM machine proved to be relevant for EV applications, with effective results obtained during load and speed changes. The effective behavior of the SRPM machine was partially rooted in the use of the MTPA algorithm, which has proven itself to be an effective algorithm for the electric machines of EVs.
The Flow of a Thermo Nanofluid Thin Film Inside an Unsteady Stretching Sheet with a Heat Flux Effect
Authors: Alrehili Mohammed
Published: January 2023

This research investigated the flow and heat mass transmission of a thermal Buongiorno nanofluid film caused by an unsteady stretched sheet. The movement of the nanoparticles through the thin film layer is caused by the strength of the heat flow and the stretching force of the sheet working together. The thermal thin-film flow and heat mechanism, and the properties of mass transfer along the film layer, were comprehensively investigated. The consequences of the heat generation, magnetic field, and dissipation phenomenon were also thoroughly examined. Using appropriate dimensionless variables, the fundamental time-dependent equations of thin film nanofluid flow and heat mass transfer were modeled and converted to the ordinary differential equations system. Mathematica version 12 is the software that was used to build the numerical code here. Next, the shooting technique was applied to numerically solve the transformed equations. The elegance of the shooting technique and evidence of the consistency, dependability, and precision of our acquired results is that the results are more effective than those for the thin film nanofluid equations that are now available. There is a significant degree of consistency between the recently calculated results and the results that have been published for a limiting condition. Investigations were conducted into the effects of a variety of parameters on the flow of nanoliquid films, including the Nusselt number, skin friction, and Sherwood number. In addition, a detailed overview of the physical embedded parameters is provided through graphs and tables. However, the important features of the most relevant outcomes are the effects of higher porous and unsteadiness parameters on minimizing the thickness of the thin film; and the viscoelastic parameter has the reverse effect. Additionally, it is seen that the temperature profile improves as a result of higher thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameter values.
Oral Health Professionals’ and Patients’ Opinions of Type-2 Diabetes Screenings in an Oral Healthcare Setting
Authors: Mariño Rodrigo , Priede Andre , King Michelle , Adams Geoffrey G. , Sicari Maria , Morgan Mike
Published: January 2023

Objectives: As part of an evaluation of an oral healthcare practice-based model that identifies patients with prediabetes or type-2 diabetes (T2D), this study reports on the experiences and opinions of oral health professionals and patients on the screening program. Methodology: Urban and rural oral healthcare practices were invited to participate. Participating practices invited eligible patients to participate in the screening program. Patients were categorised as low, intermediate, or high-risk for prediabetes/T2D. Patients in the intermediate or high-risk category were referred to their general practitioner (GP) for further investigation. Post-screening surveys were used to assess acceptability, barriers and facilitators of the screening program among participating oral health professionals (OHP) and patients. Results: The post-screening survey was completed by 135 patient, and 38 OHPs (i.e., dentists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists). the majority of OHPs (94.6%) who delivered the protocol were satisfied with the approach. Most patients reported satisfaction with the approach (73.2%) and would recommend it to others. Several barriers for implementation were identified by OHPs and patients. Conclusion: OHPs feedback indicated that the screening model was generally acceptable. The feedback from patients following their participation in this study was overwhelmingly positive, indicating that the screening protocols were accepted by patients.
Analysis of the Influence of Microwave Treatment Parameters of Wood
Authors: Mascarenhas Fernando J. R. , Dias Alfredo M. P. G. , Christoforo André L.
Published: January 2023

Microwave (MW) treatment is an effective method in the wood modification field. It has become more popular in the past decade since it enhances wood permeability, allowing a more efficient impregnation of preservative chemicals. Due to the number of parameters involved in the MW treatment of wood, multiple regression models and statistical analysis can effectively evaluate the relationship between various parameters. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the effects that the isolated and combined parameters of the MW treatment had on the variations of the flexural modulus of rupture (MOR) after wood specimens were MW-treated. The analyzed variables and their respective data were obtained from works on the use of MW technology for wood treatment present in the literature. Even faced with the reduced database, sufficient information was available to be used and important and accurate results were drawn. Based on the ANOVA results, wood density, initial moisture content (IMC), MW applied energy, and the product between MW power and exposure time were considered significant and could distinctly explain the reductions in the MOR values of MW-treated wood samples.
Bark Beetle Attacks Reduce Survival of Wood Ant Nests
Authors: Véle Adam , Frouz Jan
Published: January 2023

Central European coniferous forests are facing the most significant bark beetle outbreak in history. The consequence is the creation of large clearings, which are associated with changes in environmental parameters. We studied how these changes affected the survival of wood ant nests. Specifically, we monitored the relationship between mound occurrence, tree coverage, and the coverage and height of vegetation on ant mounds. We found that wood ant nests were less likely to survive (39% decline) in bark beetle-affected forests than in unaffected forests. The Formica rufa species was more affected than F. polyctena. The bark beetle attack was significantly positively correlated with increases in understory vegetation cover and height. Several factors may explain the negative effects of bark beetles on wood ants. The removal of trees subsequently increased the amount of light on ground vegetation. The support of understory vegetation growth on ant mounds cast shadows on the nests and disrupted nest thermoregulation. Additionally, the bark beetle attack may have been associated with a loss of food resources for wood ants. Our results showed that early (small-scale) management intervention against the spread of bark beetles is the preferred method for maintaining the ant population in conifer forests prone to bark beetle attacks.
Quantitative Assessment of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP): Employing Landsat Data and Socio-Economic Survey
Authors: Ahmed Hiba , Jallat Hamayoon , Hussain Ejaz , Saqib Najam u , Saqib Zafeer , Khokhar Muhammad Fahim , Khan Waseem Razzaq
Published: January 2023

Deforestation and forest degradation is a global concern, especially in developing countries. The Margalla Hills of Pakistan—Himalayan foothills—also face the threat of deforestation and forest degradation. These Margalla Hills, considering the need for forest protection activities in Pakistan, were declared a reserved national forest and named “the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP)”. This study quantitively evaluates whether deforestation and forest degradation have occurred at MHNP and identifies their possible drivers. Satellite (Landsat) data 1988–2020 was employed for the land use change analysis, whereas a socio-economic survey of the local population and structured interviews with government officials were conducted to identify the drivers of deforestation. Supervised classification was performed for imagery classification and the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) was also calculated to measure degradation. Supervised classification showed that the forest cover increased from 65% of the total area in 1988 to 69% in 2020. The VCI results show that the moderate level of degradation has increased from 3.5% of MHNP area in 1988 to 8.8% in 2020. The cumulative measure of degradation from 1988 to 2020 is 1.09% of the total forest (using p < 0.05). Major drivers identified are fuel wood and timber collection. The results reveal a decline in both deforestation and forest degradation. There is a need for further quantitative analysis of the drivers, strict implementation of legislative and control measures, and continuous invigilation of the deforestation trends in MHNP.
Expression of Long Noncoding RNAs in Fibroblasts from Mucopolysaccharidosis Patients
Authors: Cyske Zuzanna , Gaffke Lidia , Pierzynowska Karolina , Węgrzyn Grzegorz
Published: January 2023

In this report, changes in the levels of various long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were demonstrated for the first time in fibroblasts derived from patients suffering from 11 types/subtypes of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). Some kinds of lncRNA (SNHG5, LINC01705, LINC00856, CYTOR, MEG3, and GAS5) were present at especially elevated levels (an over six-fold change relative to the control cells) in several types of MPS. Some potential target genes for these lncRNAs were identified, and correlations between changed levels of specific lncRNAs and modulations in the abundance of mRNA transcripts of these genes (HNRNPC, FXR1, TP53, TARDBP, and MATR3) were found. Interestingly, the affected genes code for proteins involved in various regulatory processes, especially gene expression control through interactions with DNA or RNA regions. In conclusion, the results presented in this report suggest that changes in the levels of lncRNAs can considerably influence the pathomechanism of MPS through the dysregulation of the expression of certain genes, especially those involved in the control of the activities of other genes.
Effect of the Rho-Kinase/ROCK Signaling Pathway on Cytoskeleton Components
Authors: Guan Guangzhao , Cannon Richard D. , Coates Dawn E. , Mei Li
Published: January 2023

The mechanical properties of cells are important in tissue homeostasis and enable cell growth, division, migration and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mechanical properties are determined to a large extent by the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is a complex and dynamic network composed of microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules. These cellular structures confer both cell shape and mechanical properties. The architecture of the networks formed by the cytoskeleton is regulated by several pathways, a key one being the Rho-kinase/ROCK signaling pathway. This review describes the role of ROCK (Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase) and how it mediates effects on the key components of the cytoskeleton that are critical for cell behaviour.
Identification of CmbHLH Transcription Factor Family and Excavation of CmbHLHs Resistant to Necrotrophic Fungus Alternaria in Chrysanthemum
Authors: Ding Yifeng , Wang Xiaomeng , Wang Dandan , Jiang Liwei , Xie Jing , Wang Tianle , Song Lingyu , Zhao Xiting
Published: January 2023

Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. ‘Huaihuang’ is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. However, a black spot disease caused by Alternaria sp., a typical necrotrophic fungus, has a serious damaging influence on the field growth, yield, and quality of the plant. ‘Huaiju 2#’ being bred from ‘Huaihuang’, shows resistance to Alternaria sp. bHLH transcription factor has been widely studied because of their functions in growth development, signal transduction, and abiotic stress. However, the function of bHLH in biotic stress has rarely been studied. To characterize the resistance genes, the CmbHLH family was surveyed in ‘Huaiju 2#’. On the basis of the transcriptome database of ‘Huaiju 2#’ after Alternaria sp. inoculation, with the aid of the Chrysanthemum genome database, 71 CmbHLH genes were identified and divided into 17 subfamilies. Most (64.8%) of the CmbHLH proteins were rich in negatively charged amino acids. CmbHLH proteins are generally hydrophilic proteins with a high aliphatic amino acid content. Among the 71 CmbHLH proteins, five CmbHLHs were significantly upregulated by Alternaria sp. infection, and the expression of CmbHLH18 was the most significant. Furthermore, heterologous overexpression of CmbHLH18 could improve the resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana to necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola by enhancing callose deposition, preventing spores from entering leaves, reducing ROS accumulation, increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and defense enzymes, and promoting their gene expression levels. These results indicate that the five CmbHLHs, especially CmbHLH18, may be considered candidate genes for resistance to necrotrophic fungus. These findings not only increase our understanding of the role CmbHLHs play in biotic stress but also provide a basis by using CmbHLHs to breed a new variety of Chrysanthemum with high resistance to necrotrophic fungus.
Caregivers’ Experiences with School–Work Transitions for Their Children with Disorders of Intellectual Development
Authors: Garrels Veerle , Sigstad Hanne Marie Høybråten
Published: January 2023

During the period of school–work transition, caregivers of young adults with disorders of intellectual development (ID) often play an extended and leading role in supporting their children. This article explores caregivers’ overall experiences with their children’s school–work transition. Ten qualitative in-depth interviews were carried out with eleven parents/guardians of ten young adults with disorders of ID. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the following themes emerged: (i) varying degrees of preparation for employment during school years; (ii) the experience of transition collapse; (iii) struggling to navigate the system; (iv) caregivers’ ambitions and high expectations; and (v) positive meetings with professionals. All caregivers in our study had clear ambitions about employment for their children, and they supported them by advocating for their rights and by collaborating as best as possible with the support system. However, their experiences bring to light how the transition process often appears random and without an overarching implementation strategy. The overall picture of the transition process is a time of concern and stress for caregivers, with room for improvement in most areas.
Psychological Resilience and Coping Strategies with Anxiety among Malaysian Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Teh Bentham Liang Sen , Ang Jin Kiat , Koh Eugene Boon Yau , Pang Nicholas Tze Ping
Published: January 2023

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) swept the world by storm and caused a myriad of devastating consequences, particularly disruptions in medical education. This study aims to examine the association between sociodemographic factors, psychological factors, coping strategies and anxiety among medical students, as well as to identify the predictors of anxiety among them. A cross-sectional study design was used. Self-rated Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale (Brief COPE), and General Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7) were used. A total of 371 respondents from a tertiary education center were recruited. The prevalence of anxiety was 37% which corresponded to 21.6% and 15.4% for moderate and severe anxiety, respectively. Sociodemographic factors such as age group and academic year were significantly associated with anxiety, while those with higher self-esteem (rs = −0.487), self-competence (rs = −0.407), self-liking (rs = −0.499), and self-efficacy (rs = −0.245) had lower anxiety. Inversely, those who adopted emotion-focused (rs = 0.130) and dysfunctional coping styles (rs = 0.559) showed higher anxiety. The main predictors of anxiety were self-liking as a protective factor (aOR = 0.81) and dysfunctional coping as a risk factor (aOR = 1.16). Therefore, resilience building and inculcating positive coping strategies are imperative in equipping our budding healthcare providers to weather through future unforeseeable disasters.
Simplified Unified BARGE Method to Assess Migration of Phthalate Esters in Ingested PVC Consumer Products
Authors: Mohamed Dana Fahad M. S. , Kim Du Yung , An Jinsung , Kim Minhye , Chun Sa-Ho , Kwon Jung-Hwan
Published: January 2023

The unified bioaccessibility research group of Europe (BARGE) method (UBM) suggests using in vitro experimental conditions for simulating the release of chemicals from confined matrices, such as soils and sediments, in the human gastrointestinal tract. It contains comprehensive steps that simulate human digestion pathways and has good potential for application in the leaching of plastic additives from accidentally ingested plastic particles. However, its complexity could be a challenge for routine screening assessments of the migration of chemicals from consumer plastic products. In this study, the UBM was modified to assess the migration of plastic additives from consumer products with five model phthalate esters (i.e., dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP)) from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The migration of phthalate esters was observed in four digestive phases (saliva, gastric, duodenal, and bile). Three separate experiments were conducted with the addition of (1) inorganic constituents only, (2) inorganic and organic constituents, and (3) inorganic and organic constituents in combination with digestive enzymes. While using enzymes with the UBM solution, the migrated mass for leached compounds was comparatively low (0.226 ± 0.04 μg) in most digestion phases, likely due to a self-generated coating of enzymes on the plastic materials. However, higher mass migration (0.301 ± 0.05) was observed when phthalate esters were analyzed in the UBM solution, excluding the enzymes. A ring test among six independent laboratories confirmed the robustness of the modified method. Therefore, we propose a simplified version of the original UBM designed mainly for the migration of inorganic elements using only the inorganic and organic components of the solution throughout all phases of digestion.
Relationships between Interpersonal Goals and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ezeokonkwo Francesca C. , Sekula Kathleen L. , Stokes Jeffrey E. , Theeke Laurie A. , Zoucha Rick , Troutman-Jordan Meredith , Sharma Dinesh
Published: January 2023

Loneliness is linked to many physiological and psychological issues and disproportionately affects older adults. Interpersonal goals (compassion and self-image) are essential to interpersonal relationships; however, how they relate to loneliness in older adults is unknown. We investigated the impact of interpersonal goals on loneliness using the Ecosystem–Egosystem Theory of Social Motivation. This study, adopting a descriptive cross-sectional correlational design, used data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Participants (n = 3212) included people aged >65 years (mean age: 75; female: 60.1%). We performed exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring and varimax rotation to examine the suitability of compassionate and self-image goals as separate factors. The complex samples general linear model was used to assess the relationship between loneliness and interpersonal goals. Interpersonal goals were significantly negatively associated with loneliness. Respondents with higher compassion and self-image goals reported lower loneliness levels. Our results contribute to understanding how interpersonal goals relate to loneliness in older adults. These initial findings warrant further investigation.
Electrochemical Mechanisms and Optimization System of Nitrate Removal from Groundwater by Polymetallic Nanoelectrodes
Authors: Liu Fang , Zhang Zhili , Xu Jindun
Published: January 2023

Zn-Cu-TiO2 polymetallic nanoelectrodes were developed using Ti electrodes as the substrate. The reaction performance and pollutant removal mechanism of the electrodes were studied for different technological conditions by analyzing the electrochemical properties of the electrodes in the electrochemical system, using Ti, TiO2, Cu-TiO2, and Zn-Cu-TiO2 electrodes as cathodes and Pt as the anode. The Tafel curve was used for measuring the corrosion rate of the electrode. The Tafel curve resistance of the Zn-Cu-TiO2 polymetallic nanoelectrode was the smallest, so the Zn-Cu-TiO2 nanoelectrode was the least prone to corrosion. The electrode reaction parameters were determined using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Zn-Cu-TiO2 polymetallic nanoelectrodes have the lowest peak position and the highest electrochemical activity. The surface area of the electrode was determined by the time-current (CA) method, and it was found that the Zn-Cu-TiO2 polymetallic nanoelectrode had a larger surface area and the highest removal rate of nitrate. The Ti, TiO2, Cu-TiO2, and Zn-Cu-TiO2 electrodes also had higher removal rates for real groundwater, and the differences between the removal rates of nitrates for deionized water and real groundwater decreased as removal time increased. The Zn-Cu-TiO2 polymetallic nanoelectrode exhibited the highest removal rate for real groundwater. This study reveals the reaction mechanism of the cathode reduction of nitrate, which provides the basis for constructing electrochemical reactors and its application in treating nitrate-contaminated groundwater. A mathematical model of optimized working conditions was created by the response surface method, and optimum time, NaCl concentration, and current density were 93.39 min, 0.22 g/L, and 38.34 mA/cm2, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the nitration removal rate and ammonium nitrogen generation in the process solution were 100% and 0.00 mg/L, respectively.
Long-Term Trends in Shooting Performance in the NBA: An Analysis of Two- and Three-Point Shooting across 40 Consecutive Seasons
Authors: Zając Tomasz , Mikołajec Kazimierz , Chmura Paweł , Konefał Marek , Krzysztofik Michał , Makar Piotr
Published: January 2023

This study aims to depict two-point and three-point shooting trends and explore their influence on game outcomes in the NBA across 40 consecutive seasons. Therefore, the following game-related statistics were considered: total points per game (PPG), games played (GP), field goals made (FGM), field goal attempts (FGA), field goal percentage (FG%), two-point field goals made (2PM), two-point field goal attempts (2PA), two-point field goal percentage (2P%), three-point field goals made (3PM), three-point field goal attempts (3PA), three-point field goal percentage (3P%), and a three-point field goal to two-point field goal ratio (3P/2P). The fixed-base indexes and inter-decade ANOVAs or Friedman tests were used as the main statistical tools. The number of 3PA significantly increased over time, while the number of 2PA decreased. A significant increase in 3P% was also observed, whereas 2P% remained relatively stable over the analyzed period. This study also revealed a higher number of ball possessions and more points scored per game, especially in the last decade of NBA competition.